Although, in theory, it should have been easy for Ethan—who could control vectors—to stabilize a few mental forces from clashing, the reality was much more difficult.
It had taken him over an hour, carefully adjusting his control with extreme precision. After all, this was the brain he was dealing with, and one wrong move could have catastrophic results.
If he used too much force, there was a real fear that Professor X's head might, well… explode.
And if that happened, Cyclops would undoubtedly fire an optic beam at him without hesitation.
And let's not forget the rest of the "patient's family" waiting outside—who would definitely arm themselves in a heartbeat if things went south.
When Ethan finally let go, he exhaled deeply, relieved to be finished.
"Professor!" Cyclops rushed forward the moment Ethan stepped back.
Professor X's eyelids fluttered before he slowly opened his eyes.
"Professor, you're awake!" Cyclops' voice broke with emotion, and before he could stop himself, tears slipped down his face.
"I am much better now," Professor X reassured him, offering a comforting grip on his shoulder.
The raw emotions in Cyclops touched him, but at the same time, a pang of disappointment settled in his heart.
Cyclops was meant to be his successor, yet he was too easily swayed by emotion.
A great leader needed to be steady and resilient, and it was clear Scott still had a long way to go.
Then, Professor X turned his gaze to Ethan. "You've done well."
Even though he had appeared comatose, Professor X had still been aware. His mental power was so vast that even while trapped in his own mind, he had perceived what was happening around him.
In truth, Ethan suspected that if Professor X ever lost his body entirely, his consciousness might still endure.
Due to the conflicting forces in his brain, he had been unable to move, but he had witnessed everything.
He was slightly disheartened by how lost Cyclops, Storm, and Jean had been without him, but Ethan's unexpected capability impressed him.
Seeing the professor's calculating expression, Ethan grinned sheepishly. "So… does this mean I qualify for a scholarship?"
Professor X chuckled, though a sigh lingered beneath his amusement. "I'll consider revising the academy's policies to include a scholarship increase."
Despite his composed expression, the professor was internally bewildered.
Here was a child with immense potential, yet he seemed almost fixated on monetary gain.
Was he simply someone with a casual demeanor, or had he struggled financially in the past? The thought softened Xavier's gaze. A poor child, perhaps…
"Professor, it's a relief that you're okay." Storm entered the room, her face lighting up with relief. Logan followed closely behind her, nodding in acknowledgment.
"Where's Jean?" Cyclops suddenly asked, frowning. It didn't make sense—she should've been here the moment Professor X woke up.
"I don't know. I didn't see her just now," Storm responded, concern creeping into her voice.
Professor X blinked, his eyes glazing over briefly as he extended his mind outward. "She's in the Cerebro chamber."
Cyclops paled. "What is she doing there?" His face twisted with realization, and he bolted upright. "Oh no… this is bad!"
Before anyone could react, Professor X let out a strained groan, gripping his head in pain.
"Professor, you shouldn't be using your powers so soon!" Ethan warned, stepping forward as he sensed the mental instability stirring within Xavier once more.
Cyclops, however, was already halfway out the door. "I have to stop her! If she tries to use Cerebro in this state, it could destroy her!" Logan immediately followed him, his usual gruffness replaced with silent urgency.
Ethan exhaled, shaking his head. "It's too late."
His gaze darkened as he felt a powerful surge of mental energy ripple through the school grounds, stretching outward like an unseen wave.
Professor X, regaining his composure, reached out a hand. "Help me up."
Storm was already moving, rolling his wheelchair forward. "Professor, let me—"
When they arrived at the Cerebro chamber, Jean was already collapsed on the floor, writhing in pain.
Cyclops and Logan stood on either side of her, both looking alarmed but uncertain how to help.
"Jean!" Professor X wheeled forward with urgency.
As he reached out to her, Jean's eyes flickered open, glowing with an ominous red light.
Professor X's breath hitched in his throat.
At the same moment, Ethan felt it—a deep, unfathomable power surging inside her.
It flared briefly, sharp and undeniable, before vanishing just as quickly, as if it had never been there at all.
Jean groaned, clutching her head. "Professor... you're awake. Thank God."
Professor X barely managed to hide his apprehension. His voice was gentle, but his eyes held a flicker of unease. "Jean, what have you done?"
She took a deep, shuddering breath. "I found their location."
Magneto had taken Rogue to Liberty Island, and he had already begun to set his plan in motion.
"Professor, are you listening?" Jean called out again, noticing that Xavier seemed momentarily lost in thought.
Professor X blinked, then refocused, offering Jean a reassuring nod before shifting his gaze to the others in the room. "Yes, I understand. It's time for us to move."
Ten minutes later, the team gathered around a high-tech holographic table in the main hall. The device projected a detailed 3D display of Liberty Island and the surrounding areas, rapidly assembling a tactical overview.
As the leader of the X-Men, Cyclops adjusted the controls and addressed the group. "Let's go over what we know. Magneto has created a device that uses his powers to generate an energy field capable of turning ordinary humans into mutants. His plan is to use this machine on Liberty Island as a direct response to Senator Kelly and his supporters of the Mutant Registration Act."
"Why Liberty Island?" Logan asked, crossing his arms.
"Because it's directly across from Manhattan," Jean answered, enlarging the holographic image to display the city skyline. "If you've been following the news, the world summit is being held there. Magneto's true target is the world leaders attending the event."
She swept her hand over the projection, showing an expanding energy wave. "But it won't just affect Manhattan. If we don't stop him, all of New York could be caught in the blast. The consequences would be catastrophic."
"I don't see how that's necessarily a bad thing," Ethan interjected, drawing immediate attention from the team.
"We're mutants. If there's a machine that could turn everyone in the world into mutants, wouldn't that be a win for us?" he said bluntly.
Professor X placed a hand on Ethan's arm, his expression patient yet firm. "I understand your reasoning, but the machine has critical flaws.
He paused, looking around the table. "The problem is, this device is unstable. Anyone exposed to it may be transformed, but soon after, they'll die from the strain. Magneto knows this, which is why he plans to transfer his power to Rogue—forcing her to absorb his abilities so she can activate the machine in his place. He's willing to sacrifice her to achieve his goal.
It doesn't create lasting mutants—it kills them. If Magneto activates it, he won't be giving people abilities. He'll be condemning them to death."
Ethan exhaled, rubbing his temple,
'Right. That's the part I forgot. It's been years since I last saw this all play out. But I remember how it ends—there's a big fight on Liberty Island. So I guess I should get ready to join in.' Ethan mused,
"Kid, I think it's past your bedtime," Logan muttered, reaching out to grab Ethan's shoulder.
But just before making contact, he hesitated—clearly remembering their previous encounter. With a grumble, he withdrew his hand.
"Ethan, you're still a student," Cyclops reminded him. "This is a job for the X-Men. We'll handle it."
Ethan looked around at them and sighed. "No offense, but… the professor is in no condition to fight. And Magneto? Are you sure you guys can take him?"
Silence settled over the team. Magneto wasn't just any adversary—he was one of the most powerful mutants alive, a veteran of countless battles, and the only one who could match Xavier in ability.
His Brotherhood wasn't weak, either. They weren't going to go down without a fight.
Logan exhaled sharply, breaking the tension. "Does this kid always talk this much?"
Storm shrugged with an amused smirk. "Only occasionally."