The door creaked open, the metal groaning softly under its own weight. Inside the familiar dimly lit chamber, Magneto sat tall and calm upon his makeshift throne of iron, a composition of old metals melted and fused together, and restructured iron beams—each piece held together by sheer will and magnetic force. His eyes going over a few reports in hand, did not move as a lanky figure approached and kneeled.
"Speak," Magneto commanded.
The mutant, one of many informants stationed around the world, each wired into a private network of surveillance, bowed low. "A new group of mutants has surfaced, my lord. Location Havelstadt, Eastern Europe. Civilians and local authorities are reacting violently."
Magneto's eyes narrowed. "Where is Mystique?"
"Away, sir. She hasn't checked in."
"And the Brotherhood?"
"They're currently not in the compound. Dispersed, likely following her leads."
Magneto waved his hand, a silent dismissal. The informant bowed again and vanished into the shadows.
For a long moment, Magneto sat still.
"Hmm… Sabertooth hasn't returned with news from Germany just yet…" His voice was a breath of thought. Then a surprisingly playful spark lit behind his eyes. "Well then… let's make haste—before Charles wins the race to this new possibility."
With that, he rose, cape flaring behind him, and floated away from the throne, metal trailing after him like a flock of birds obeying their sovereign.
A surge of mental pressure pulsed through Cerebro's core. Professor Xavier sat rigid in his chair, face furrowed in concentration.
"…Children… afraid… running…" he muttered aloud, then amplified his thoughts, broadcasting to his students telepathically:
"X-Men—there's a group of mutants in Havelstadt. They are being hunted, harassed… civilians and police both are turning on them. Government forces are on the move, and armed radicals are already on the ground with weapons. Go to them. Now."
The team responded instantly. Logan, Scott, Ororo, Beast, and Jean stood without hesitation.
"You heard the professor—move it!" Logan barked, already storming down the hallway.
In the mansion's corridors, the younger mutants continued their usual routines—some unaware of the urgency, others used to sudden mobilizations.
Rogue darted off to find Kurt and Bobby. She found them mid-conversation.
"Come on, y'all, hanger now!"
Bobby smirked, falling into step beside her. "I'm surprised you got ready so quick, Rogue. Usually, there's a certain devilishly handsome white-haired guest in your room, and the giggles just wouldn't stop."
Kurt burst out laughing, teleporting ahead with a teasing wink.
Jean, overhearing them, suddenly froze. Her mind betrayed her, conjuring that cocky smile his smile. Gojo's smirk. That maddeningly perfect face.
'And I have a boyfriend. I have a boyfriend. I have a boyfriend.' She chanted internally as she marched toward the hangar.
But the memory of his voice, the way he toys with them even when he wins… 'Fuck!' she cursed inwardly as she tried to shake it off.
Inside the hangar, she slipped into the changing room and quickly donned her Marvel Girl uniform. It hugged her form displaying her curves, reinforced for battle yet betraying none of the nerves she felt beneath.
She joined the others, nodding to Jubilee and kitty, and caught a surge of desire from someone behind her.
'Get it together. Now's not the time.'
She took a breath. Just as Professor Xavier taught.
A hand touched her shoulder—Scott. She almost lashed out with a blast of telekinesis that would have reduced him to pulp due to her shock.
"Jean? You alright?"
She nodded quickly. "Yeah. Just… nervous. We're rescuing a whole group this time."
Scott smiled reassuringly. "We just need to be careful. We'll get them out."
He moved away, taking his seat. Storm, Beast, and Logan boarded next, and the Blackbird took off.
The hour-long journey was steeped in silence. No updates from the Professor. The unease in the air was thick and tasted of dread.
They landed in a clearing just outside the city. Storm turned to Jean. "Scout."
Jean nodded and connected her mind with Storm's before casting her consciousness out.
She immediately recoiled.
Then she vomited, collapsing to her knees, eyes wide with sheer horror. The others stepped back, startled.
Storm, linked to her, retched too.
In Jean's visionwhat she had seen—was a nightmare.
The group of mutants… slaughtered and killed. Children, no older than eleven, carved up with swords and left like broken dolls butchered for all to see. Fanatics cheered with bloodied weapons, surrounding the remains like a sick celebration.
Two adults likely the parents were dragged forward as soldiers pointed guns at a crying six-year-old girl.
Jean screamed, forcing her powers forward to stop them
And felt nothing.
The minds she reached for… ceased to exist.
Rogue gasped. "My God…"
"Jesus Christ," Scott whispered, then almost bolted out.
"Kurt!" Logan roared. "Get us there NOW!"
As they prepared to teleport, Bobby let out a stunned, "Oh shit…"
Jean turned toward him, then toward the television mounted to a nearby building.
There, on the screen, floating above the carnage in Havelstadt, a crimson figure descended.
Helmet gleaming like a crown. Cape flowing like imperial silk.
Magneto.
Metal fragmentsguns, rods, even cars slowly rose towards him like moth to a flame as if greeting a god.
He spoke, voice amplified by power and fury.
"I have tolerated this… for the last time.
You have butchered children. Maimed the innocent.You hide behind purity, behind flags and lawbut your actions reveal the truth.
You are cowards, murderers, and monsters."
The humans below trembled, realizing too late what stood before them.
"You seek purity? Let me show you the purity that comes from hate."
A pause.
"Die."
Everything metallic started floating in the air for a few seconds before crashed downward with terminal velocity and ripping flesh, crushing bones, splattering gore across the cobblestones.
Blood. Screams. Silence.
Magneto turned. The news crew recording the carnage tried to retreat but his fist closed.
A scream, a burst, then silence again.
New York, candy store
The screen above the counter flickered. In the shop stood Gojo, watching with an unreadable and emotionless face.
He saw the pile of mutant corpses. The mutilated children. The broken parents.
And then, Magneto's wrath.
A part of him a deep, primal part actually agreed. No hesitation. Eye for an eye. Carnage for carnage.
But another part saw the world through different eyes.
The world would not see the injustice that led to this. No, they'd see only the response. They would use this as fuel. As proof. As permission.
"You see?" they'd say. "This is why we hate them. This is why they must be contained. Registered. Caged."
Politicians would rally. News pundits would salivate. Military contracts would triple. The anti-mutant crowd would roar with righteous fury, blind to their own sins.
Gojo closed his eyes.
"The world will not change because you force it to bend. It changes when it's forced to break."
'Justice without power is powerless. Power without restraint is tyranny. But what if the world has shown that mercy is just another word for delay?'
"Perhaps peace… true peace… requires monsters on both sides to fall before it can exist." Gojo whispered.
He opened his eyes, shining beneath his shades.
"If this world thinks mutants are the only ones who will bleed... then they need a reality check."