Juggernaut roared as he lunged for Ororo, her lithe form dancing on a current of wind high above the battlefield. Just as his hulking frame left the ground, an invisible force slammed him down midair. Jean's telekinesis, straining and shimmering like taut strings under tension.
Her eyes glowed bright. "BOBBY!"
A trail of frost screamed through the air as Iceman shot a concentrated blast of subzero ice at Cain, coating the ground and Juggernaut's arms just as Kurt teleported with Rogue beside him close enough to touch. Rogue's hand reached out without hesitation, fingers brushing against Juggernaut's arm and then everything surged.
She felt and unimaginable power.
Like being hit by a tidal wave of raw adrenaline, her body lit up with a flood of energy so intoxicating, she laughed. Not just any laugh no it was sharp, wild, almost feral. For the first time, her body didn't feel like it was burning under borrowed power. It felt… right.
The sound of ice cracking violently and Jean's strained shout dragged her back. Juggernaut was breaking free fast and his other hand was already coming down, fast enough to kill.
Before Kurt could react, a sharp THWUM of a repulsor beam knocked Juggernaut's arm off-course. Kurt teleported them both just in time as the ground exploded where they'd been.
"You good?" Tony asked as the two blinked into existence a few meters away.
Rogue didn't respond immediately. Kurt was already gone, bamfing toward where the body of beast was about to be pulverized. Rogue clutched her chest, catching her breath as her eyes flared with renewed intensity.
"I'm feelin' better than good," she said with a dangerous grin.
"Great," Tony muttered, "That's the smile serial killers make before a second round."
"J.A.R.V.I.S., her vitals?"
"Elevated heart rate. Blood pressure spiked. Pupils dilated. Adrenal output through the roof. The power drain from Juggernaut's touch has significantly altered her bio-scan."
"In short," Tony said with a smirk, "she's juiced like an overclocked soda can on legs."
Rogue cracked her knuckles. "Time to rip that damn helmet off and kick some ass."
She crouched slightly, then boom, the ground behind her shattered as she launched forward like a missile. Juggernaut barely had time to react before Rogue was on him. His eyes widened.
"RRRAAAHHH!"
He swung but it was too late.
Kurt appeared at her side, grabbed her shoulder, and bamfed them behind Cain. Rogue struck hard her fist connecting with the back of his helmet where the clasp sat. Metal screamed. One of the clasps snapped free as Cain flew forward like a wrecking ball into the remains of the mansion.
Tony gave a low whistle. "That's definitely gonna void the warranty."
Rogue stared at her hands, astonished. Her veins pulsed with raw power. 'Is this what it feels like to be unstoppable?' A fleeting thought crossed her mind 'I wish it stayed like this forever.'
But then
BOOM!
Juggernaut leaped back with terrifying force and kicked her mid-charge. She barely had time to cross her arms before the impact sent her flying, the world spinning around her. She hit the ground hard, but as she looked at her arms, no broken bones. Just a deep ache.
The air grew colder as Bobby was already back in the fray, freezing Cain's legs. Cyclops ran a zigzag, peppering optic blasts at Cain's helmet. The behemoth growled, breaking free.
"Pathetic insects!" Juggernaut snarled.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., full power convergence," Tony ordered.
"Charging Uni-Beam."
From above, a colossal bolt of lightning struck down as Storm raised her arms to the heavens. Iron Man fired. Jean pushed. Scott screamed with his blasts.
The entire battlefield exploded in sound and light. The shockwave blasted them backward, the air sucked from Rogue's lungs. For several moments, all she saw was blinding white.
Then she heard a snarl and a crack. As someone was launched through trees like a cannonball.
"LOGAN!" Kitty's voice rang out.
Rogue's vision cleared and Cain stood tall. His armor was slightly dented but not destroyed. No scorch marks and No burns.
Jean's blasts kept hitting. Storm summoned another heavy thunder and Scott's optics flared against the armor.
But it all did nothing to him. He advanced like a tank.
Bobby tried to freeze his legs again but the ice shattered like glass.
Then with a shout.
She lunged and let out a guttural war cry. Her fist crashed into his exposed jaw with a bone-jarring impact. He grunted, stumbled back a few steps.
She swung again but Juggernaut turned, his massive foot slammed into her side and sent her flying again. She hit something warm and furry. Beast caught her, struggling with the force.
"You alright?"
"No time," she coughed and leapt again.
Cain had his back turned, taking attacks from Jean and Storm. She was almost on him when he suddenly turned and the darkness and pain.
His fists came down.
"Oh, shit—"
BOOOOOM!!
The ground caved in. A crater formed where she landed. Dust exploded outward.
"ROGUE!!" Ororo screamed.
"ROGUE!" Kitty echoed.
The dust cleared. Her body laid at the center, flattened and motionless. Pain exploded through her every nerve as she tried to move. Her breath came in rasps. The power she'd stolen… it was draining. Fading fast.
Before she could even think she heard another loud bang.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
Another impact. Cain slammed his fists down again, deepening the crater. But this time, something stopped him.
Frozen mid-strike Juggernaut's fists hovered inches from her.
A figure stood between them.
White Hair slicked and spiky at the same time. One hand holding Rogue gently by the waist.
Eyes locked with Cain's.
"Yo," Gojo said, voice calm but laced with a fury that could melt steel.
Tony's voice crackled in from the speaker in his armor.
"Took your damn time, pretty boy."
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