"Why did I end up here?"
Ethan rubbed his temples. He really hadn't expected to arrive in this world… or rather, he had wanted to visit this world, but not during this particular timeline.
The third Wolverine movie was essentially the final chapter in the X-Men timeline.
In this film, most mutants were already dead, only a handful remained, barely surviving. The so-called next-generation mutants were nothing more than lab-created experiments, bred by corporate elites for their own purposes.
The man Ethan had seen earlier was one of the last surviving mutants, the most well-known of them all: James Howlett, or Logan Howlett, better known as Wolverine.
At this point in the story, Logan's once-unbreakable healing factor was failing, and he was suffering from severe poisoning. His physical condition had deteriorated to the point where he seemed ready to drop dead at any moment—a stark contrast to the unstoppable Wolverine of the past.
And then there was Charles Xavier—Professor X, the most powerful telepathic mind among mutants. Due to his aging body and deteriorating brain function, he often fell into a state of confusion. His immense psychic abilities would sometimes spiral out of control, causing devastating destruction.
Along with them was Caliban, a mutant with the ability to track others of his kind. These three were practically the last remnants of the old mutant generation.
And in this film… all three of them died.
Ethan had never been a fan of overly tragic movies. In his previous life, he preferred action-packed, high-energy films—classic popcorn entertainment. Because of that, he had only watched Logan once.
But now, with his enhanced mental abilities, he could recall every scene he had ever seen in perfect detail… and that realization struck him hard.
"I'm already here. Even though there's nothing particularly good about this world, I can't just leave like this."
His supply of space-time energy was limited, he could only remain here for about a month. Even if he left now, there wouldn't be enough energy left to travel to another world.
So rather than waste it, he might as well do something worthwhile.
"In the past, I could only watch. But now that I have the chance, why not do something that makes me feel better?"
At the end of the day, the most important thing in life was happiness.
If he didn't like how the story played out, and if he had the power to change it, then why not make some adjustments for his own satisfaction?
"If that's the case, then there's no need to hesitate."
Ethan stepped forward and walked toward the public restroom.
At this point in the story, Logan had just finished dealing with a group of gangsters trying to steal his car's tires. Though he had taken them down, he had been injured in the process since they were armed. Now, he was inside, tending to his wounds, removing bullets, wiping away blood, and changing into fresh clothes.
Ethan reached out to push the door open, only to find it jammed. That wasn't a problem. With a minor spell—not even strong enough to qualify as Mage Hand—he easily bypassed the obstruction.
As he stepped inside, he saw Wolverine standing at the sink, cleaning the blood off his body. Logan turned at the sound of Ethan's approach, surprised that someone had just walked in.
"Hello, Logan."
Logan had been wondering how Ethan had gotten in. He was already debating whether to leave when this unknown young man casually called out his name.
Instantly, Logan's guard shot up. Though he didn't extend his claws immediately, his posture shifted subtly—relaxed yet ready to strike at a moment's notice. His every movement radiated caution.
"Who the hell are you?"
"You don't know me." Ethan gestured for him to stay calm. "But I think you might need my help."
"I don't need anyone's help."
The Wolverine of the past had always been a lone wolf, reluctant to trust others. Even Charles Xavier hadn't earned his trust immediately, it had taken years of companionship to build that bond.
And after everything Logan had been through, his distrust of people had only deepened. The fact that he wasn't attacking Ethan on the spot was probably due to age mellowing out his once-fiery temper.
"You don't exactly look convincing."
Ethan knew what kind of person Wolverine was. He hadn't expected to walk in and suddenly be treated like an old friend. In fact, out of everyone still alive, the only person who might be easy to talk to was Charles Xavier—but only if he caught the professor in a moment of lucidity.
Logan glanced at the wounds on his body. With his healing factor weakening, his injuries no longer closed as quickly as before. The fresh wounds had only just stopped bleeding, and he had no idea when they would fully heal, perhaps they never would. By the time he died, these wounds might still remain.
Seeing that Ethan kept a safe distance and showed no signs of hostility, Logan turned his attention back to changing clothes. Of course, he never took his eyes off Ethan. If the stranger made any sudden moves, Logan was ready to react instantly.
"I want to see the professor."
Logan remained silent, so Ethan took the initiative to explain his intentions. It was unrealistic to expect Logan to trust him outright, this guy was as stubborn as they came. The best approach was to use Professor X as a bridge, gradually easing the tension between them. Given enough time, Logan would realize that Ethan meant no harm.
"There's no professor here."
"You know exactly who I'm talking about, Logan." Ethan wasn't so easily brushed off. "I also know that you've been keeping him at the border. Even if you don't take me to him, I can find him myself. I came to you first to show my intentions—to prove I mean no harm."
Ethan spread his hands, even pulling back his coat slightly to show he wasn't carrying any weapons.
Logan seemed to hesitate for a moment, but just as Ethan had expected, his assessment of Logan's personality proved to be completely accurate, this man was as stubborn as ever.
"I told you, there's no professor."
Tossing his ruined clothes into the trash, Logan, now dressed, limped toward the door, clearly intending to leave.
Ethan wasn't about to let him go so easily. Just as Logan reached out to push past him, a wall of white light appeared in front of Ethan, blocking Logan's outstretched hand and sealing off the door behind him, making it impossible for Logan to maneuver around.
"What the hell—?"
Logan was caught off guard by the sudden barrier. Before he could make sense of what had just happened, the white wall vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The mysterious young man was still standing there, smiling faintly, as if nothing had ever happened.
But Logan knew what he had felt. He looked at his own hand, then back at Ethan with narrowed eyes.
"Are you… a mutant?"
Ethan, who had briefly summoned and dismissed the Book of Inheritance, kept his calm smile. "I need to see the professor. Once we meet, you'll get the answers you're looking for."
Logan studied him carefully. Just as he was about to reject him again, Ethan spoke first, saying something that left him with no choice but to acknowledge the truth.
"You're in no condition to shake me off. Why not just accept that I mean no harm?"
"I don't trust anyone," Logan said bluntly. "Not even mutants."
"Well, that's a problem."
Ethan sighed. This negotiation was a complete failure. Wolverine's infamous stubbornness was proving to be as troublesome as ever.
Since words weren't working, he decided to take a different approach.
"Then let's look forward to our next meeting, Wolverine."
Without another word, Ethan turned and left, not bothering to argue further. He already knew Logan wouldn't take him to see Professor X willingly. If that was the case, he just had to find another way.
Like… tracking him.
He didn't need to tail Logan like a spy. The moment Logan had touched his barrier, Ethan had placed a mana mark on him.
It wasn't the most advanced technique, just a rough marker that didn't last long. The energy fluctuations weren't concealed, meaning it was easy to detect. Even ordinary people could sense that something was off if they were perceptive enough.
But right now, none of that mattered. Logan's body was in such bad shape that he couldn't even read the labels on his medicine bottles. His physical condition had deteriorated so much that his senses had dulled considerably. There was no way he would notice the magic mark.
So after wandering around for a while, ensuring that no one was following him, Logan finally returned to his hideout—only to find the mysterious young man standing at the gate, smiling and waving at him.
"I told you I could find the professor on my own," Ethan said. "I just wanted to express my goodwill first."
Logan hadn't believed Ethan before. After all, if he could find them on his own, why would he ask Logan to lead the way? But now, the reality in front of him forced him to reconsider.
"What exactly do you want?"
"To talk about your future."
Logan scoffed. "Future? What future do we have?"
Unlocking the gate, he didn't invite Ethan in. Instead, he simply drove his car inside and parked in the empty lot.
After stepping out of the car, he saw that Ethan was casually walking in, glancing around as if inspecting the place.
Logan had no interest in entertaining this unexpected guest, but at the same time, he couldn't afford to take his eyes off him.
"You're still alive," Ethan said, pointing at him. "That means you do have a future. But if you want that future to last, you need to deal with your problem first."
"I know my condition," Logan replied flatly.
He had long accepted his fate. His life had lasted far too long already. This was simply the natural end to his story.
But the mysterious young man standing before him… seemed to have a different answer.
(To be continued.)
***
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