The Invisible Net

"Madeleine... wake up..."

"Wake up..."

In Madeleine's mindscape, Miles desperately reached out toward Madeleine amid the firestorm, calling out to her again and again.

Yet this time, the girl seemed completely unable to hear him. She lay curled up motionlessly in the endless sea of flames, allowing the fire to continuously devour her mind.

The entire world was gradually sinking into deathly silence.

Three hours after the Battle of Roosevelt Island Bridge.

Xavier Institute, underground medical ward.

"Haa..."

Miles awoke from Madeleine's mindscape and suddenly opened his eyes wide.

It took him several full minutes to recover from the agony of having his soul scorched by flames. Then he slowly lowered his gaze toward the girl.

On the cold metal hospital bed, Madeleine lay with her eyes tightly shut and her brows furrowed. Her skin bore an unnatural flush, and the heat radiating from her carried a faint but terrifying sense of danger.

[Her condition is getting worse. Even entering her mindscape myself is useless now...]

"Mr. Joshua's judgment was correct. The conflict between the Phoenix Force inside Miss Madeleine and her own cells is intensifying. While it grants her tremendous power, it is also frantically consuming her cellular vitality."

"Continue the simulation." Miles stood before the screen, a sharp gleam flickering in his eyes.

Within the underground base of Essex Corporation, Miles had forcibly read all the data stored in the mainframe using his powers. Aside from ordinary information such as the experiment subject roster, experiment logs, and base maintenance plans, eighty percent of the remaining data consisted of Essex Corporation's most critical genetic technology files!

It even included the complete experimental data for the Apocalypse Plan, as well as portions of Metempsychosis technology that Obadiah had completed with his own genetic expertise!

It was no exaggeration to say that these were the foundations that made Essex Corporation one of the world's premier genetic medicine conglomerates. If Miles and Aurora could fully master these technologies, he could even begin, like Obadiah, to attempt advancing a second Apocalypse Plan!

But the problem was that although Aurora had already begun digesting Essex Corporation's core technologies, she still found Madeleine's condition extremely difficult to handle.

After another data simulation, Miles looked at the string of glaring abnormal readings on the screen and let out a deep sigh.

Still no good?

"Sorry, Miles... I'm powerless against Miss Madeleine's condition as well," Aurora said heavily.

"Why did she suddenly become like this..." Miles muttered instinctively. "She was clearly still normal during her first few days at the Institute."

"When Miss Madeleine first arrived at the Institute, I conducted a physical examination. Her condition was highly unusual. The Phoenix Force and her body had reached a delicate balance, which was why she appeared relatively stable," Aurora slowly replied. "But now, that balance has clearly been completely broken."

"Can you conduct a more detailed analysis?"

"Based on Essex Corporation's latest technical theories, I need to conduct an in-depth analysis at the genetic level and attempt to simulate a model of the interaction between Phoenix Force energy and her genes. But that will take a considerable amount of time, and... the accuracy will not be very high."

"Time..." Miles asked weakly, "Aurora, tell me first. How much longer can Madeleine hold on?"

"Less than two days."

"..." Miles fell silent.

"...I'm sorry," Aurora said.

The medical ward fell quiet.

Miles stared blankly at Madeleine on the hospital bed, gradually sinking into thought.

Even Obadiah's technology was helpless... Could it be that only Madeleine's creator, Dr. Stasis, could save her now?

"Wait!" Miles's expression shifted as he suddenly thought of something.

Dr. Stasis...

Miles forced himself to calm down and began sorting through every incident Xavier Institute had encountered so far.

At present, their primary enemies were Obadiah, who had fused Mutant genes to become an Artificial Apocalypse, as well as Project ATHENA and the human authorities represented by Ritts Yoel...

Ritts's target was Obadiah, but it also included Mutants like them...

Then what was Obadiah's goal?

Miles sank into deep thought.

Based on what he currently knew about Obadiah, his goal should have been to gather more Mutant genes in order to fight Ritts and the human authorities...

From that perspective, Obadiah's sudden appearance at Xavier Institute to kidnap them was understandable... but why at this particular time?

Then Miles recalled his brief exchange with Obadiah beneath Essex Corporation. When he had asked whether Obadiah intended to kill them, Obadiah had seemed to tacitly admit it, but...

At that thought, Miles looked at Madeleine.

[Except for her.]

His target was Madeleine?!

Come to think of it, when Obadiah first appeared, he had also targeted Madeleine first and knocked her unconscious. Yet once Madeleine woke up, she lost control the moment she saw Obadiah...

Following that line of thought...

Madeleine had been a target assigned to them by Ritts of the ATHENA Office, and afterward, when Charles requested to keep Madeleine, Ritts had not seemed to insist on opposing it...

Then "Obadiah Apocalypse" appeared.

"..."

Miles looked at Madeleine again, at this innocent girl shrouded in mystery, then took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm.

Now, start again from the very beginning...

Regarding Madeleine's creator, Dr. Stasis...

He was Obadiah's brother, another son of Dr. Nathaniel, also a top geneticist, and Madeleine's creator...

"..."

Miles's brow gradually furrowed.

[The loop is complete.]

He had discovered a problem. Obadiah, Dr. Nathaniel, Ritts, Dr. Stasis, Madeleine... the existence of these people seemed to form a closed "net." They had certain connections with one another, yet they were also mutually hostile...

In a daze, Miles realized that he was already standing at the center of this "net." Around him stood vague figures, both overt and hidden—Obadiah, Reyes, Charles, Madeleine, Ritts, Dr. Stasis, Dr. Nathaniel... and others.

Then, as though sensing something, Miles slowly turned around.

At the very center of this "net," Miles vaguely saw a... terrifying figure hidden in the darkness.

This person had never appeared, yet had watched everyone within this "net" from beginning to end...

[Who is that?!]

At that thought, a trace of instinctive dread rose in Miles's heart.

If that was truly the case...

Did that not mean that they, Obadiah, Ritts... everyone was being used as pieces by someone hidden behind the scenes?

"Hello, Miles."

Suddenly, an aged yet steady voice came from behind him.

Miles turned around and discovered that Magneto, Erik Lehnsherr, had somehow appeared at the doorway.

"Hello, Mr. Erik," Miles replied politely.

"You look somewhat tense. Are you worried about this girl?" Magneto slowly walked over to his side, his gaze falling on Madeleine's face. There was a complicated hint of emotion in his voice. "It truly is unbelievable..."

"A younger Jean, with even greater potential," Magneto murmured. "She inherited Jean's appearance and power... Unfortunately, she also inherited the tragic fate that belonged to the Phoenix."

"Mr. Erik," Miles said seriously as his gaze shifted toward Magneto, "her name is Madeleine Pryor."

"Oh, Madeleine." Magneto nodded, then said, "My apologies. Old men like us who have lived too long are always prone to sentimentality..."

"I have seen too many sacrifices... First my parents, then friends, comrades, even my daughter... We Mutants have lost far too much. Far too much..."

After sighing emotionally for a few moments, Magneto said to Miles, "Thank you for telling me her name. Madeleine. I will remember her."

"Mr. Erik." Miles's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "I want to save her."

"I can tell that you truly care about her," Magneto said. "So, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to find Dr. Stasis," Miles replied. "He is Madeleine's creator and father. Perhaps only he knows how to cure her."

"So what do you want to say to me?" Magneto continued.

"..." Miles was silent for a moment, then said, "Aurora cannot find any trace of Dr. Stasis on the network. Not every clue in this world is left online. I need to leave the Institute for a while and personally search for some things."

"While I'm gone, I hope you can help Charles watch over this place, Mr. Erik... Please."

"Why say that?" Magneto asked with some surprise. "Do you not even trust your teacher?"

"It's not that I don't trust Charles," Miles replied. "I simply feel that after what happened before, the government and ATHENA will never let this go. Charles is powerful, but he is not 'hard' enough... because he has never been good at turning 'power' into the necessary 'deterrence'!"

"Deterrence?" Magneto repeated to himself, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Miles. It seems the 'heroic shackles' Charles placed on you have not been entirely successful."

"I have never considered myself a righteous hero," Miles replied. "I understand both your ideals and Charles's, but I have my own thoughts as well. I hope you can understand."

"Of course." Magneto nodded and patted Miles on the shoulder. "I look forward to seeing you forge a third path, different from both Charles's and mine."

"Thank you for your support, Mr. Erik."

"No need for courtesy."

After chatting a little longer, Magneto bid Miles farewell and left.

Clearly, their exchange just now had been a form of "assessment" of Miles, and the result was probably "basically satisfactory."

Because Miles possessed such unusual powers, if he continued to grow, he would undoubtedly become someone capable of profoundly affecting the struggle between Mutants and humans. From Magneto's perspective, there was naturally no reason to overlook such a "strategic deterrent weapon."

After Magneto left, the medical ward returned to silence.

"Aurora, can you investigate the specific information on the research center where Madeleine originally came from?" Miles suddenly asked.

"'Aegis Bioscience Research Center,' located northwest of the Wachino Mountains in Oklahoma. Officially, it belongs to a private defense contractor, but it is actually a secretly outsourced project formerly under Northern Command."

"Due to the experiment subject containment breach three days ago, many key facilities at the research center were damaged, and all research projects have been suspended. It is currently under military control pending further damage assessment. In addition, the former director, Dr. Stasis, is currently missing, and his whereabouts are unknown."

"Is that all the information you can gather online?"

"There is also some research data, but none of it is particularly important."

"I understand. The truly core data is naturally safer on local servers." Miles sighed. "Aurora, prepare to launch the Blackbird. I'm going there myself!"

"No problem."

Miles nodded and was about to say something else when he suddenly saw Madeleine tremble on the hospital bed and slowly open her eyes.

"Miles..."

The girl spoke weakly.

"Madeleine, you're awake?" Miles hurriedly bent over and asked, "How do you feel now? Are you feeling any better?"

Yet Madeleine did not answer his question. She merely asked, "Just now... who was that person?"

"That person just now?" Miles froze, then realized she was referring to Magneto. He explained, "That was Magneto, Erik Lehnsherr. Professor Charles's old friend. He was the one who saved us on the bridge earlier..."

Xavier Institute, headmaster's office.

It was barely dawn when a group of representatives from the highest levels of government arrived at the Institute. They surrounded the desk and argued fiercely with Charles.

"...Acting without authorization, releasing multiple high-risk Mutant experiment subjects, severely damaging urban infrastructure... Professor Xavier, you need to give us an explanation for these accusations!"

"After your agents led us into a trap and prepared to send both us and the citizens of New York into the sky with a thermobaric bomb, what exactly do you think I need to explain to you?"

Faced with the government representatives' relentless pressure, anger rarely seen on Charles's face surfaced as he argued back without yielding an inch!

"That was an unauthorized action by Long Island Base!" the government representatives continued to protest.

"You mean something like 'deploying fighter jets to drop bombs in a city' can also be considered an 'unauthorized action'?!"

"That was merely strategic deterrence. In the end, there were no casualties!"

"That was because we responded in time!" Charles growled. "If our response had been any slower and the bomb had detonated inside the city... forget New York, the entire United States would have gone mad!"

"It was Magneto who threw it away!"

"Don't forget, it was your bomb!"

"Click—"

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, the office door was gently pushed open.

Magneto strode in with casual ease. He said nothing. He merely swept his cold eyes slowly across every person present.

The government representatives, who had been so aggressive moments earlier, instantly fell silent as though their throats had been gripped.

"The situation is complicated. I need to report to my superiors."

"We need to return and discuss this further as well."

Under Magneto's deterrence, all parties unanimously decided to set aside the dispute for now before hurriedly leaving.

Before long, only Charles and Magneto remained in the room, facing each other.

"..."

After a long while, Charles spoke. "It seems you've recovered well, Erik."

"Because that little fellow named Joshua really knows what he's doing," Magneto replied. Then he asked, "And what about you, Charles? What frame of mind are you in as you deal with these hypocritical politicians?"

"To make our position clear," Charles answered. "Now is not the time to completely provoke them. We need to buy ourselves a little more time."

"Is that all?" Magneto asked. "That truly surprises me. I thought you would never abandon your naive ideals in this lifetime."

"I have not abandoned my ideals. It's just that this time... the circumstances are different." Charles shook his head. "No matter what, we must stop Project ATHENA!"

"Project ATHENA?"

"It is a secret plan targeting Mutants, proposed by Ritts Yoel a year ago..." As Charles explained, he took out an X Terminal and projected a three-dimensional holographic map of the entire United States between them.

Then red dots gradually began appearing across the holographic map, distributed throughout every major city and densely populated area in the country!

"Using Super Leech technology as its foundation, they intend to establish thousands of Leech Towers across the country, covering the vast majority of cities and suppressing the abilities of every Mutant hidden within human society! If the plan succeeds, the initiative will expand to more regions and even spread across the entire world. Like network signal stations, it will completely cover every inch of the planet and truly usher Earth into an 'Age Without Mutants'!"

As Charles spoke, the red dots representing Leech Towers on the holographic map steadily increased, even spreading toward other countries and continents.

In the end, the map's perspective continuously pulled back until it became a virtual model of the entire Earth. Above it, red dots crowded together in endless numbers, filling every corner!

Every red dot represented a Leech Tower. Once he understood what the sight before him represented, even Magneto could not help feeling a chill rise from the depths of his heart.

"When did this begin?" Magneto narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice.

"Super Leech technology had already been mostly perfected several years ago, but large-scale cultivation only began within the past year." Charles sighed. "Originally, in an age when Mutants were dwindling, this proposal was not taken seriously. But because of what happened at Whiteman Air Force Base, along with the worldwide arrival of the 'New Mutant surge,' those people in the government could no longer sit still. That was why Ritts Yoel was able to rise through this plan and establish the ATHENA Office... From the beginning, she intended to catch us all in one net!"

As Charles spoke, he put away the Earth projection and the X Terminal, then continued, "Over the past year, they have secretly established hundreds of Leech Factories around the world, cultivating Super Leeches day and night..."

"Think about it, Erik. If we do nothing, within just a few years, countless Super Leeches will spread into every corner of the Earth. This world... will no longer have a place for us!"

Charles took another deep breath, his eyes turning icy as he said, "I truly do not wish for us to solve problems through extreme methods... But this time, the situation is exceptional!"

"The new era belonging to us Mutants has only just arrived. I cannot stand by and watch our future be erased by them!"

Magneto silently listened to Charles's account, his face frighteningly cold.

"Can you pinpoint the locations of those Leech Factories?" Magneto asked in a deep voice. "We must act as soon as possible!"

Magneto's meaning was simple: he would personally strike and directly destroy those "Leech Factories." It was what he had once done best, and what he had always been doing.

"That's where the trouble lies, Erik," Charles replied. "The military and ATHENA know us very well. Every Leech Factory has been equipped with a Psychic Shielding Device. Not long ago, I used Cerebro to conduct a global search, but I only barely managed to locate the positions of more than thirty 'Leech Factories'..."

"Aurora has also been gathering information through the network, but they're very cunning. They seem to have realized that we possess cyberattack capabilities, so all important facilities are managed under information lockdown. Their movements have become increasingly covert as well. Aurora has currently found only a little over twenty..."

"Damn it..." Magneto muttered, then suddenly asked, "Ordinary Telepathy can't find them, but what if we use Miles's ability?"

"If Miles's Telepathy range can be expanded to a global scale, then theoretically, he could instantly obtain all the data in the world! A Psychic Shielding Zone can block Telepathy, but it can't completely block data exchanges between electronic devices! Those facilities use electricity too!"

"His psychic power isn't strong enough!" Charles shook his head. "To truly withstand Cerebro's psychic load, he needs at least Alpha-level Telepathy!"

"Erik, I need you to help improve Cerebro again. Ideally, it should be able to counter the Psychic Shielding Devices, or lower the requirements enough for Miles to use it."

"Neither of those will be easy," Magneto muttered before slowly saying, "But if we do that, Miles can't just leave whenever he wants."

"He's leaving?" Charles froze.

While Charles and Magneto discussed matters in the conference room, Miles left the underground base and headed to the academy's recreation room.

After returning from the Roosevelt Island Bridge, a large group had already gathered there. They included the young X-Men from before, as well as the Mutants rescued from Essex Corporation.

"Everyone, I'm leaving the academy to find someone." Miles stood before the crowd and got straight to the point. "There may be some danger involved. Is anyone willing to take this risk with me?"

The group exchanged looks, then Richter spoke up. "Miles, who are you leaving to find?"

"I'm going to find Dr. Stasis," Miles answered. "I have a feeling that, as Obadiah's brother, he must be plotting something in secret as well. Besides... perhaps only he can save Madeleine now."

Faced with Miles's request, everyone exchanged looks again.

Then Laura, X-23, was the first to rise and step over to Miles's side.

There was no need for words between her and Miles. A single look was enough to make their intentions clear.

"I'll go with you too." Prosta, Warpath, rose as well. "Consider it repayment for saving my life."

"I'm not leaving." Sunspot spoke. "I just told my father where I am. He's already on his way here."

"I'll go too." Dani, Moonstar, stood as well.

"I'll stay at the academy." Richter, Quake, said, "My ability is better suited for defense."

"Miles... I..." Sam, Cannonball, who was the most seriously injured, opened his mouth and said helplessly, "Sorry, I can't move for now."

Whether during the escape from Essex Corporation's underground base or the desperate battle on the island bridge, Sam had always been the one charging at the front. He had truly burned through everything he had and fought desperately until the final moment.

"No need to apologize, Sam." Miles comforted him. "We really had you to thank before. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for us to leave the Essex base alive."

A few minutes later.

"Whoosh..."

As a low engine rumble sounded, the Blackbird parked on the academy field slowly lowered its hatch.

Miles secured the freshly reloaded X-0 Reaper onto the Flying Dragon S and boarded the aircraft first.

Behind him, Prosta, Warpath, Laura, X-23, Dani, Moonstar, and Charlotte, Wraith, all fully equipped and ready to go, followed without hesitation.

"Do you really not need me to come with you?"

Logan, who had just returned, called out from outside the aircraft.

"No." Miles replied, "Logan, honestly, I won't feel at ease without you protecting Charles."

"With that helmet guy around, no one can hurt him." Logan said dismissively. "Anyway, be careful out there."

"I will." Miles nodded.

"Miles!"

At that moment, Charles's voice suddenly rang out in his mind. "You're leaving to find Dr. Stasis?"

"That's right."

"You should know that the military and ATHENA are focused on us right now. It's dangerous for you to leave alone like this."

"I understand, Charles." Miles replied. "But I also have a feeling that Obadiah, Dr. Nathaniel, Stasis, Madeleine, Ritts, and Project ATHENA... there must be some kind of connection among them!"

"Under the current circumstances, it's obviously unrealistic for us to seek out Obadiah or Ritts. Dr. Stasis may be our only remaining lead to investigate!"

"Is that so?" Charles considered it briefly before speaking again. "Are you confident?"

"To be honest, not really." Miles replied. "But I think it's worth trying."

"...In that case, be careful in everything you do."

"We'll act as covertly as possible, so you don't need to worry about our ability to protect ourselves... Since I've already encountered a Super Leech once, I've made the necessary preparations."

"Good." Charles sighed. "Stay in contact. If anything happens, I'll immediately ask Clarice to find you!"

"Thanks, Charles." Miles continued, "Come to think of it, are you preparing to report my whereabouts to the local government now?"

"Do you think we still care about that agreement at this point?" Charles asked in return.

"Ha, I knew it..." Miles laughed and said no more. "We're leaving."

In the principal's office, Charles ended the telepathic conversation.

"You shouldn't have allowed him to act on his own!" Magneto said. "His ability is one of a kind. What he should be doing now is staying at the academy and improving his abilities as quickly as possible! Then helping us counter Project ATHENA!"

"Improving psychic abilities isn't something that can be done overnight, Erik." Charles replied. "And besides, I believe in Miles."

"Since he made this decision, he must have his own reasons."

"Perhaps." Magneto neither agreed nor disagreed as he turned to leave.

Just then, Charles suddenly asked, "Erik, have you worn that helmet all these years?"

Magneto paused and glanced back at him. "Of course."

As Logan left, the Blackbird's hatch slowly closed.

Just then, another figure hurried over.

"Madeleine?" Miles froze, then hurriedly called out, "Aurora, lower the hatch!"

The hatch lowered again, and the group saw Madeleine approaching with a pale face and unsteady steps.

"Why are you here?" Miles asked as he pulled Madeleine aboard.

"I was worried about you, Miles," Madeleine replied.

"You should be worried about yourself first." Miles said helplessly. "Listen to me. In your current condition, what you should be doing is resting in the medical room, not flying around everywhere with us."

"I know my own condition very well. My time... is probably running out." Madeleine looked at Miles and said softly, "For the time I have left, I hope... I can be with you."

"..." Miles fell silent. He instinctively looked toward the others and, as expected, saw them all turn their heads away.

"Ah..." Miles sighed. "All right, I understand."

Then Madeleine continued, "Also... I keep feeling that staying at the academy is somewhat dangerous..."

"Dangerous?" Miles froze. "What danger?"

"...I don't know. I just have that feeling."

Madeleine answered softly.