Before he had finished speaking, Wolverine, Logan, blurted out, "Professor, you think that highly of the kid?"
He had known Professor X for decades, but this was the first time he had seen him speak so highly of a teenager.
Professor X smiled faintly and nodded. "Of course. I've been quietly observing him all this time. I know him very well."
"Logan, don't underestimate him because he's young. In terms of overall strength, he's already a match for most of the people here, including you."
Logan's eyebrows shot up.
Of course, he did not feel the slightest resentment.
As a veteran who had survived countless brushes with death amid gunfire, he never underestimated any opponent,
especially when those words came from Professor X.
At that moment, his interest in the teenager he had only briefly met at the school gates deepened abruptly.
As the school's leader, once Professor X made his decision, no one said anything more.
"I'm... joining this mission?"
Chen Xiao looked up at Cyclops, who stood in the doorway delivering the message, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.
Scott nodded. "That's right. This rescue shouldn't be too difficult. The professor thinks you should get some practical combat experience, so he asked me to bring you along."
He had expected Chen Xiao's eyes to light up with eagerness, but instead, the boy shook his head without hesitation. "Mr. Scott, can I turn it down?"
"...Why?" Scott froze for a moment.
Any other student at the school would probably have jumped with excitement at the chance to join the X-Men on a mission.
After all, over the past few decades, Professor X and the team he had personally assembled had long since become a beacon and an object of faith for countless mutants.
Chen Xiao paused, then answered honestly, "I don't think I'm qualified yet."
"...You still don't think you're strong enough?" Scott frowned slightly.
Chen Xiao nodded. "That's right. I'm really not."
For that brief moment, he had indeed been tempted. Going on a mission with this group of top-tier fighters sounded cool.
But once he calmed down and thought about it, it seemed entirely unnecessary.
He had only acquired Superman-level power half a month ago. He looked impressive on the surface, but his foundation was still shallow.
A single high-yield tactical nuclear bomb could leave him severely wounded on the ground.
And what if he ran into a mutant whose abilities countered his, or whose methods were bizarre?
As he was now, he was nowhere near Superman at his peak.
He was not some hotheaded brat who let a little power go to his head and insisted on taking everyone head-on.
Nor would he rely on a little cheat to gamble with his life again and again for a chance to turn things around.
That sort of plot sounded thrilling, just like a hero's rise.
But in reality, without plot armor protecting him, he would have died long ago during some reckless escapade.
As for him, he could grow steadily stronger just by basking in the sun. What he should do most was remain patient and quietly build his strength, not go charging around everywhere.
Unless...
"Mission activation conditions met. Main quest officially issued." "Destroy the Chris Research Institute alongside the X-Men squad. Mission reward: 1 Origin point." "Accept? (Yes/No)"
The voice that suddenly rang out in his mind jolted Chen Xiao.
The system had been online for over ten days, but apart from the initial status panel, it had shown no sign of activity. He had almost thought it was nothing more than a static display tool.
To think it could actually issue missions on its own, and the objective was to follow the X-Men and take down that research institute?
Chen Xiao did not rush to confirm. Instead, he immediately asked, System, what exactly can this "Origin" do?
"Origin is the beginning of all laws and the foundation of evolution." "When your strength reaches the peak of Bronze Age Superman, you may consume Origin to greatly shorten the time needed to advance to Silver or Golden Age Superman." "1 Origin point is equivalent to a 1% increase in evolution progress." "You may also choose to use it to enhance your currently awakened X-Gene ability."
Chen Xiao drew in a sharp breath. This thing was worth far more than he had imagined.
Even setting aside accelerated advancement to Silver Age Superman, enhancing his X-Gene ability alone was tempting enough.
His Energy Berserk was only level one, yet it could already multiply his strength fivefold. If it reached level two, the boost would probably double outright, starting at tenfold at the very least.
Once his base strength rose to a thousand tons, ten thousand tons, or even a million tons, the explosive power of a tenfold boost would be almost impossible to measure.
Thoughts raced through his mind, countless possibilities flashing past, while barely a blink passed in the outside world.
Just as Scott was about to try persuading him again, Chen Xiao suddenly straightened his back, his expression resolute. "I never imagined the professor trusted me so much! And this is to rescue our persecuted brethren. As a mutant, I, Vitas, cannot shirk my duty!"
"Mr. Scott, I'm willing to join this rescue."
"..." Scott froze on the spot. Beside him, Clarice blinked, her face full of bewilderment.
Neither had expected his attitude to change so suddenly or so completely.
Chen Xiao then changed the subject. "But, Mr. Scott, we have an old saying in the East: know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Have you thoroughly investigated the target of this mission?"
"...We have." Scott quickly recovered. Though he did not understand the reason for the change, he answered honestly. "The organization is called the Chris Research Institute. Several dozen retired special forces soldiers lead its security, with a group of armed gang members stationed alongside them."
"They're all ordinary humans, but the institute also controls two mutants whose abilities shouldn't be underestimated."
"That's only their visible defenses. They have a large number of high-precision detection and surveillance devices set up out of sight. Logan tried infiltrating three times, and each time they detected him in advance and forced him back."
"Three factions support them. So far, we've only confirmed that one is a large local gang. We still haven't identified the other two."
"But with our current strength, that level of resistance poses no real threat, and the risk is relatively low. That's precisely why the professor hopes you can use this opportunity to familiarize yourself with actual combat."
"The professor also mentioned that after the mission, if you're interested in staying, you can apply to become a permanent X-Man and register with the defense ministries of certain friendly countries."
"Wait, sir." Chen Xiao looked slightly puzzled. "Why do the X-Men need to register with other countries' defense ministries?"
Scott smiled, a trace of pride appearing on his face. "The outside world has always been prejudiced against mutants, but the professor has spent decades tirelessly negotiating and mediating. He's managed to secure quite a few tangible rights for us."
"For example, during missions, friendly countries open their airspace to us, so their air defense systems won't mistake our aircraft for an enemy plane and shoot it down."
"We also enjoy operational authority equivalent to their senior agents and can enter and leave those countries without visas."
"In emergencies, we can temporarily call on local police forces to assist in combat."
"Of course, these privileges apply only when we're carrying out mutant-related missions, and we must strictly obey the laws of our partner countries."
"In exchange, we also have to help them deal with mutant criminals who endanger society and take action against illegal mutant activities in accordance with the law."
"I see." Understanding dawned on Chen Xiao.
That also explained why the X-Men's Blackbird took flight so many times in the movies without ever attracting the attention of various countries' air defense radars.
But nothing in this world came free. While the X-Men enjoyed that exemption, they also had to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities.
Night deepened.
Suddenly, the lawn on the left side of Xavier's School, which had been full of students running and playing during the day, began to tremble slightly. Then the entire section of ground silently sank and slid aside. A fighter jet with sleek, sharp lines and a cold silver sheen emerged from underground. Blinding blue flames suddenly burst from its engine nozzles with a deafening roar, and the aircraft hovered steadily before slowly climbing.
"Look! The Blackbird's taking off!"
"That's so cool! When can I take a ride in it?"
"Go get them, teachers!"
The commotion was so loud that windows lit up throughout the dormitory buildings as soon as the jet left the ground. Students crowded around the windows, standing on tiptoe to look out, their faces filled with irrepressible excitement.
In their eyes, the X-Men were more than a team. They were a beacon for mutants, and every deployment was a declaration of war against injustice and a defense of the weak.
Inside the cabin, Chen Xiao was gazing out at the inky-blue sky racing past the window. He had flown on planes plenty of times, but this was his first time aboard a fighter jet tearing through the air right alongside the clouds.
He had changed into an all-black combat suit today as well. Though only fifteen, he was already nearly 1.8 meters tall. The closely fitted suit emphasized his clean shoulder line and upright figure. Coupled with his sharply defined jaw, refined features, and the smooth skin and composed bearing that differed from the rugged Western style, he exuded a youthful gallantry tempered by maturity.
Even with the sharp-eyed Cyclops, Storm with her billowing cape, and the untamed, feral Wolverine seated beside him, Chen Xiao's presence as he stood there was no less imposing.
Across from him, Kitty Pryde, Shadowcat, quietly stole a few extra glances at him, her gaze shifting slightly.
Ten thousand meters in the air, the Blackbird, with its twenty-meter wingspan, streaked through the sky like a silver shuttle.
The composed Storm occupied the pilot's seat, with Cyclops beside her as copilot. In the rear cabin, Shadowcat and Colossus sat on opposite sides, with Chen Xiao and Wolverine in the middle.
"The Blackbird is currently flying supersonic at maximum thrust. In two hours, we'll have covered over three thousand miles and reached the target area."
"Rescuing the captives comes first on this mission." Storm's voice was steady as she laid out their assignments concisely:
"Scott, Peter, and I will launch a frontal assault and draw all enemy fire toward the top level."
"Logan, Vitas, use Kitty's phasing ability to head straight to the institute's lowest level. Ensure all the children are safe, then break out from the inside and rendezvous with us."
She paused, then turned toward the rear seats. "Kitty's ability is unique, but her own defenses are weak. You must protect her."
After another brief pause, she asked, "Vitas, you've memorized the institute's internal layout, haven't you?"
"I've memorized all of it." Chen Xiao nodded, then asked, "Ms. Ororo, aside from the captive mutant children, the retired special forces soldiers and researchers in the institute... as long as they haven't raised their hands in surrender, they can all be eliminated, correct?"
Ororo's gaze darkened, her tone remaining perfectly level. "As long as they offer armed resistance and pose a substantive threat, you have the authority to deal with them on the spot."
"Understood." Chen Xiao nodded, his expression calm.