Morph took a deep breath while glancing at each of them before speaking. "He was once a scientist, a geneticist obsessed with evolution, mutation, and the idea of creating the perfect being. Back in the 19th century, His theories were considered radical, even by scientific standards. He believed in controlled evolution, in guiding humanity's genetic path to perfection. But he lacked the means to conduct his experiments—until he saw Apocalypse."
Everyone in the room stiffened at the name. Even Logan, who usually had a cocky remark for everything, stayed silent.
"Apocalypse?" Jean asked, her voice tight. "As in the ancient mutant? The first mutant? The one I destroyed?"
Morph nodded. "Yeah. The guy saw potential in Apocalypse, he thought if he can combine several mutant genes, he can also become a god among men, just like Apocalypse. He experiments on mutants, blending their genes into himself, constantly evolving. He became something more—Sinister. Enhanced intellect, superhuman durability, healing, shape-shifting, and, worst of all, the ability to manipulate and extract mutant DNA. That's why he's so dangerous... He's not just some scientist anymore," he said grimly. "He's something else. Stronger. More dangerous. He doesn't just manipulate genes—he controls them. His body adapts, heals, and evolves. He sees mutants as nothing more than test subjects."
Scott folded his arms, his jaw clenching. "So, he's not just some mad scientist. He's a walking genetic nightmare."
"Bingo." Morph sighed. "I was just a normal guy once, a mutant who didn't even know he had an X-Gene. Sinister found me first. He experimented on me, unlocked my shape-shifting powers, and turned me into his puppet. He implanted a chip in my brain, blocking telepaths like Xavier from reading my mind. And if I ever betrayed him... well, let's just say, the consequences were worse than death."
"Yet you still tried," Hank said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Morph let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah. And every time I did, I paid for it in blood. More experiments, more pain. He made sure I knew that betraying him wasn't an option. But I had to try again. I need to be free."
A heavy silence filled the room. Then, Storm exhaled sharply. "We can't let him continue. We have to move now and end this."
Jean nodded in agreement. "We need to get Anissa back and put an end to Sinister's plans before he does more damage."
Logan cracked his knuckles. "'Bout damn time. I was getting bored."
Hank adjusted his glasses. "I must admit, I have several concerns, but I agree. If Sinister is experimenting on mutants and manipulating people like Morph, he needs to be stopped."
Everyone turned to Ethan, expecting his agreement. But he remained silent for a moment, then said, "I'll join you later. You guys go on ahead. I need to take care of something first."
Everyone stared at him in surprise.
"What?" Logan asked before narrowing his eyes. "You got somewhere better to be?"
"Just trust me," Ethan said firmly. "I have my reasons."
Professor Xavier studied Ethan for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. But do not delay for too long."
Ethan turned to Morph. "Give me the location."
He hesitated for a second then nodded and relayed the coordinates of Sinister's hideout.
Scott was still glaring. "What's so important that you can't come with us?"
Ethan didn't answer directly and went out.
With that, Logan, Jean, Scott, Hank, and Morph boarded the Blackbird.
Storm and Xavier decided to stay in the mansion for the safety of the students.
As they strapped in, Logan looked around at the black leather uniforms and scoffed.
"This seriously it?" he muttered, tugging at the tight material.
Scott smirked. "What'd you expect? Yellow spandex?"
Logan rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't be worse than this."
The jet roared to life, lifting off toward Sinister's location. Meanwhile, Ethan made his way to find Anna and the younger Jean.
After finding them, they asked several questions about Anissa but he didn't answer and said, "I need both of you to come with me."
Anna looked confused. "Why?"
"I'll explain on the way. Just trust me."
Jean and Anna exchanged glances but nodded, sensing the seriousness in his tone.
.....
**Sinister's Castle**
An hour later, the Blackbird landed just outside an ominous gothic castle. The sky above was dark and stormy, as if nature itself recoiled from the place. The team disembarked, and Scott immediately began organizing their approach.
"Alright, listen up. We get in, clear up this mess with Anissa, restrain Sinister, and get the hell out. Quick and clean."
"You really think it's gonna be that simple?" Logan asked, already sniffing the air for trouble.
"No," Scott admitted. "But it's the best plan we've got."
Jean suddenly winced before pressing a hand to her temple. Scott noticed immediately, "You okay?"
She forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a headache. Let's keep moving."
Morph glanced at her, something about her reaction catching his attention. But before he could say anything, they stepped into the castle's main hall.
Inside Sinister's castle, tension filled the air as Scott, Jean, Logan, and Hank cautiously advanced, their eyes locked on Anissa, who sat calmly in the middle of the vast hall. She exuded an aura of confidence, completely unfazed by their presence.
The team was prepared to reason with her, to make her see that Sinister was manipulating her, but something about the coldness in her gaze made it clear—she wasn't interested in talking.
Scott took a step forward, "Anissa, whatever Sinister told you, it's a lie. He's using you. We're here to bring you back."
Anissa remained silent and her expression is unreadable. Logan, growing impatient, let out a grunt. "Kid, we ain't got time for this. Either you come with us, or we take you back."
"Anissa," Hank said cautiously. "You don't have to do this. Sinister is using you. Whatever he's told you, whatever he's done—"
She didn't respond. She simply stood as her cold gaze locked onto them. Then, without a word, she moved.
Faster than any of them could react, she struck Logan first, delivering a punch so powerful it sent him crashing through the castle wall and out into the open.
"Son of a—!" Logan cursed as he struggled to get up.
Scott immediately fired an optic blast at her, but Anissa dodged it effortlessly, closing the distance and knocking him aside with brutal efficiency.
Jean tried to use her telekinesis, but before she could, Anissa grabbed her wrist and slammed her into the ground.
Scott groaned before trying to push himself up, but Anissa placed a foot on his chest, pinning him down, "You're outmatched," she said flatly.
Before Scott could react, Anissa lifted him and delivered a devastating kick to his gut. The force of the impact lifted him off the ground and sent him crashing into the far wall. He slumped down, coughing violently as he tried to catch his breath before loosing consciousness.
Jean gasped and reached out with her telekinesis, trying to restrain Anissa, but the moment she did, a sudden, blinding pain shot through her skull. She let out a strangled cry and collapsed to her knees, clutching her head in agony before falling unconscious beside Scott.
Logan and Hank wasted no time. Logan's claws extended with a metallic SNIKT as he lunged at Anissa, his instincts screaming at him to end this quickly. But Anissa was ready.
Just as he closed in, she sidestepped at the last second, grabbed his extended arm, and twisted. The sickening sound of tearing flesh filled the hall as she drove her knee deep into his stomach. Logan's eyes widened in shock as blood spewed from his mouth. The force of the impact sent him flying through the castle doors and out into the courtyard, leaving a deep crater in the stone ground where he landed.
Hank roared in fury and leaped at Anissa, using his enhanced strength to bring his full weight down on her. But she was faster. With almost no effort, she caught him mid-air by the throat.
Hank's eyes widened as he struggled against her iron grip, his powerful arms trying to pry her hand away, but it was useless. Her strength was overwhelming.
"You should have stayed out of this," she muttered coldly before slamming her fist into his face with a brutal punch. Blood splattered as Hank's head snapped back, his nose broken, and his body crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
Anissa stood over them, her expression void of remorse. The battle had lasted only a few seconds, and yet she had completely dismantled the X-Men's best fighters.
Morph hesitated. "Anissa, listen. You don't have to do this. They can help—" Suddenly, his body froze. He couldn't move.
From the shadows of the grand staircase, Sinister emerged, his red eyes glowing with amusement.
"Good work, Anissa," he praised. "Now, let's wait for Ethan, shall we? I believe he's the one you truly want to destroy."
Anissa's hands clenched into fists at the mention of Ethan's name, but she said nothing.
Sinister turned to Morph and sneered. "As for you, I do hope you'll try a little harder next time before betraying me. I'd hate for you to get bored. Now, take them to the lab. I have much work to do."
Morph trembled. The last time he had tried to break free of Sinister's control, the punishment had been excruciating. Now, he realized it had all been for nothing.
Lowering his head in defeat, he muttered, "Yes, Master."
He moved to drag Scott and Jean away when suddenly—a blur shot into the room.
In an instant, Anissa was gone, yanked through the roof at incredible speed.
Sinister's eyes widened in surprise. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"Ah…" he murmured. "He's here. This should be entertaining."
He turned back to Morph, unconcerned. "Take them to the lab. We'll deal with him soon enough."
Morph swallowed hard, realizing things had just taken a dramatic turn. As he obeyed Sinister's command, he couldn't help but wonder—what would Ethan do next?
....
As Ethan took Anissa by the throat, he propelled them both out of the castle, ascending into the darkened sky. Thunder rumbled as lightning crackled in the clouds above. They hovered in the air, facing each other.
Ethan's expression was serious as he spoke, "Anissa, listen to me. I don't know what Sinister told you, but this is your last chance. Come with me, and I'll explain everything. I'll tell you the truth."
Anissa with her eyes filled with hatred, scoffed. "Enough with the talk." Without hesitation, she launched a powerful punch toward him.
Ethan caught her fist mid-air before gripping it tightly. "You know I'm stronger than you."
But Anissa smirked. With her free hand, she swiftly placed a small, glowing device onto Ethan's wrist. The moment it activated, a surge of energy coursed through his body. Ethan felt something shift, an unnatural force trying to suppressing his mutant abilities.
Before he could react, Anissa struck him with her other fist. The impact sent him hurtling through the sky. In an instant, she was upon him, grabbing him by the throat and squeezing tightly.
"What's wrong?" she taunted with her grin widening. "Can't use your powers? This little device blocks mutant abilities. Sinister told me it would turn you into nothing but a weak, ordinary human. And now, I'm going to kill you."
Her grin darkened. "Then, I'll kill your friends. And as for your little girlfriend—" she licked her lips, "I'll play with her until she begs me to kill her."
Ethan's expression remained cold and unwavering. Slowly, he placed his hands over hers, the ones that were crushing his throat. To her shock, his grip tightened, prying her fingers apart with ease.
Her eyes widened in confusion and growing fear. "Why… why can you still use your powers? That device suppresses the powers of your race!"
Ethan met her gaze, "Because I'm not a mutant, Anissa. I'm human." He leaned in slightly, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. "But one day, I will stand at the pinnacle of all races."
"Lies!" she screamed, thrashing in his grip. "No human can be this strong!"
Before she could say more, Ethan's grip tightened. The air around them crackled as blue lightning coursed across his body, illuminating the stormy sky. His presence became suffocating, a force beyond comprehension.
Dark clouds swirled violently, spiraling into a massive storm. The sky wept with rage as thunder roared in unison with his growing fury.
Anissa gasped in pain as Ethan, without hesitation, ripped both of her arms from her body. Blood sprayed into the air as she let out an agonized scream.
Ethan's voice was devoid of emotion as he spoke. "Your mistake wasn't joining hands with Sinister." His eyes flickered with lightning. "Your mistake was thinking you could harm Anna."
As she writhed in pain, her body trembling, Ethan raised his hand. Flames ignited in his palm, their glow reflecting in his cold, unwavering eyes. Without a shred of hesitation, he placed his burning hand upon her, and fire consumed her body. The flames roared hungrily, devouring her flesh as her screams faded into nothingness.
Her severed arms drifted below, but Ethan's gaze followed them. With a mere gesture, wind carried them into his outstretched palm. He pointed his free hand toward them, and a powerful blaze shot forth, incinerating them into ashes.
Below, the entire castle trembled. A monstrous tornado, laced with crackling lightning, surrounded the structure, tearing it apart piece by piece.
-----------
Inside the Blackbird
Logan groaned as he sat up. His wounds had already healed, thanks to his regeneration. He looked around and saw Anna and Jean already in the Blackbird and Hank who is injured is there.
"How the hell did we get here so fast?" Logan grumbled. "And how are we here, we should be inside the castle?"
Anna who is watching the storm outside with worry, spoke softly. "Ethan flew us here." Her fingers clenched. "I have to say, he's been... different this entire time."
Jean nodded. "He moved you two from the castle with his tornados."
The three of them looked outside, their eyes widening as they took in the massive storm that had engulfed Sinister's castle. The sheer destructive force was unlike anything they had ever seen.
--------
Inside the raging storm, Sinister stood tall, unaffected by the destruction around him. His crimson eyes gleamed as he gazed up at Ethan, who floated in the eye of the storm.
A sinister grin spread across his lips. "Fascinating. You're more powerful than I anticipated, Ethan Carter." His gaze flickered to the device still attached to Ethan's wrist. "Tell me… why didn't the mutant suppression device work on you?"
Ethan, hovering above, merely looked down at him. His voice was cold, devoid of any amusement. "A dying man has no use for knowledge."
Sinister let out a chuckle, then suddenly lunged forward. His fist, enhanced with tremendous strength, collided with Ethan's chest. Telekinetic energy followed, slamming into him in an attempt to crush his body. Sinister's form flickered, shifting into shadows before reforming on Ethan's other side, firing beams of dark energy at point-blank range.
Ethan remained unmoved. He hovered in place, completely unfazed by the attacks. The energy beams dissipated against his skin as if they were mere gusts of wind. Sinister narrowed his eyes, confusion flashing in them for the first time.
Then, before he could react, Ethan moved. In a blink, he appeared before Sinister, gripping his throat with an iron grip. The storm intensified, lightning dancing around them in fury.
Ethan's glowing white eyes bore into Sinister's soul. His voice was quiet, but the weight of his words was absolute, "This ends now."
...
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