War on the Brink (Three-in-One)

When Oliver emptied his magazine and saw that Shaw was completely unscathed, he finally understood why the CIA had sacrificed dozens of elite agents the previous night without managing to leave behind even a single enemy corpse.

Humanity's greatest strength lay in its ability to use tools, but against mutants completely immune to firearms, even the most elite agents were merely tigers with their fangs pulled.

"Every form of energy can be used by me, sir."

"Kinetic energy, thermal energy, nuclear energy, chemical energy..."

"What could you possibly use to hurt someone like me? Mutants are a species superior to humanity. We are extraordinary from birth, blessed with greater gifts and strength."

Shaw pressed his face against Oliver's still-smoking, scorching gun barrel, rapidly absorbing every trace of thermal energy within it.

He exhaled a smoke ring that drifted straight into Oliver's stunned face.

"I know you have always been smearing mutants, treating us as pitiful, hateful freaks. I can understand your feelings."

"After all, when you see 'kindred' who are more exceptional and superior than yourselves, how could you not feel fear and unease?"

"You envy our abilities, so you hate us and slaughter mutants. Countless mutants have died because of your discrimination and rejection.

All I wanted was to stand up and seek justice for them. I speak for mutants and claim what we have earned."

Shaw's speech was indeed highly persuasive and stirring. The young mutant students present had lost the fear in their eyes, replaced by varying degrees of agreement.

Nearly every mutant had experienced discrimination. In Shaw, they found recognition and felt a sense of resonance.

Before this, they had been scattered individuals within human society, hiding their existence out of fear.

Only after Professor Charles found them and promised to shelter and teach them did