Stryker was not arresting people at random. His true target was Professor Charles Xavier.
He had every reason to suspect that the sudden loss of control over the world's nuclear weapons was connected to the most powerful telepath on Earth.
Agent Moira took the opportunity to reveal some information about Apocalypse, while Mystique demanded that Stryker release the captives. After all, they were now facing a common enemy.
But Stryker was a deeply suspicious man—and more importantly, he had harbored hostility toward mutants from the very beginning. How could he possibly believe anything they said?
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
---
The scene then shifted to a barren desert outside Cairo, Egypt.
Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen stood there—and so did the captured Professor X.
Charles Xavier slowly regained consciousness. Instinctively, he tried to activate his telepathic powers, only to be stopped immediately by Apocalypse.
Apocalypse studied him with clear admiration.
"I can grant others shields against psychic attacks. That is one of the abilities I have acquired over thousands of years. But seeing into people's minds and controlling their thoughts—that is your unique gift."
Outside the light screen, Erik Lehnsherr shrugged.
"My deduction was correct. Apocalypse and Charles both possess psychic abilities, but their specialties are completely different. Apocalypse can't even read minds—yet within the psychic domain, the mental world itself, he completely overwhelms Charles."
Tony Stark joked, "Erik, I just realized there's one upside to following Apocalypse—you don't need to wear that ridiculous helmet anymore. Honestly, you look pretty stupid in it."
Erik shot him a cold glare and chose not to respond.
---
In the future footage, Charles Xavier clearly understood how dire his situation was. Deprived of his telepathy, he was now nothing more than a man confined to a wheelchair.
Still, he seized the opportunity to try persuading Magneto to turn back.
"Erik, are you really going to take part in endless slaughter and destruction?"
Magneto replied calmly, "Isn't this the version of me you're familiar with?"
"No," Charles insisted. "You've just forgotten. I've always said this—you are kind at heart. You're simply trapped in anger and grief right now—"
Erik cut him off coldly.
"Whatever you think you saw in my heart, that version of me died… along with my family."
Apocalypse spoke in a deep, commanding voice.
"Charles, I want you to send a message to everyone on Earth. Tell them the world will be destroyed—because I, En Sabah Nur, will bring about their great calamity!"
He crouched in front of Charles, his tone threatening.
"Now. Deliver my message."
Charles glanced at Magneto before replying,
"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. There are too many people. I would need the Cerebro amplifier."
He was stalling—while also making a demand.
But Apocalypse simply shook his head and said casually,
"Charles, you don't need machines to amplify your power. You have me. That is enough."
---
The camera then cut back to Mystique's side. They were still locked inside their holding cells.
Bored out of his mind, Quicksilver leaned closer to Mystique and quietly asked,
"You know Magneto? What kind of person is he? Is he really a bad guy?"
"No," Raven shook her head—then added, "I mean… he wasn't before. Why are you asking so much?"
Quicksilver took a deep breath and lowered his voice.
"Well… he's my dad."
Mystique snapped her head around, staring at him in shock.
"What?"
Outside the light screen, Tony Stark burst out laughing.
"See that, Erik? You should really think about your kid and do more good deeds—otherwise, one day even your own child won't dare admit you're his father."
Erik's mouth twitched violently.
He hadn't even had a child yet—and he was already being treated like an absentee father.
It was… a very strange feeling.
---
In the future footage, Quicksilver explained honestly,
"He and my mom were… you know. Yeah. I'm sure he left before I was born. Actually, I saw him once ten years ago—but I didn't know he was my father then. By the time I found out, it was already too late. I saw him on the news and went looking for him… but I was still too late. I'm so fast—but I always arrive one step behind."
Raven said softly, "Then I hope this time… you won't be."
Outside the light screen, Natasha Romanoff gave Erik a look of pure disdain and shook her head.
"As expected. You're just like Tony—another shameless playboy."
Tony raised his hands defensively.
"Hey, I always use protection! Things like secret kids don't happen to me!"
Erik was speechless, his head full of black lines.
He had a thousand things he wanted to say—but with video evidence right in front of him, what could he say?
Bruce Banner spoke gravely,
"Erik, that kind of behavior is extremely irresponsible. A child growing up without a father, in a single-parent household—that kind of absence can leave lifelong scars."
Tony shook his head.
"Come on. If Quicksilver had grown up with him, it would've been even more dangerous."
---
Back in the future footage, as Quicksilver and Raven were talking, a deep, resonant voice suddenly echoed in their minds:
"Listen to me—people of Earth…"
Not just them.
Cyclops. Beast. Jean Grey. Stryker.
At that very moment, every person on Earth heard the same voice in their minds.
Anyone familiar with Professor X immediately thought of Charles Xavier—but the tone was completely unlike his usual gentle presence.
"You have all lost your way… but now, I have returned. The day of awakening has come. Your buildings, your towers, your temples—will all fall! A new era will rise, and you are powerless to stop what comes next…"
Outside Cairo, Apocalypse stood with arms outstretched, as if facing countless kneeling worshippers.
As for Charles Xavier—he had been reduced to a merciless human repeater.
Apocalypse spoke a sentence, and Charles repeated it word for word.
Yet Professor X was still Professor X.
Even in such desperate circumstances, he refused to surrender.
While Apocalypse indulged in his global broadcast, Charles seized a fleeting opening and secretly sent a private telepathic message:
"Jean—if you can hear me, focus.
Cairo.
Find us, Jean.
Cairo.
Find us."
...
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