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*****
Mexico, Alkali Genetic Modification Institute.
In Dr. Rice's laboratory, only Rice himself sat silently, waiting.
He knew exactly what Mike intended to do. He even understood that once Mike succeeded, he would lose all value and would most likely be eliminated. Yet strangely, he felt no fear—on the contrary, he believed such an outcome was only natural.
Suddenly, a swirling portal of light appeared before him. When he saw Mike pushing Charles through, Rice bowed respectfully.
Charles, who had been staring in awe at the portal, clenched his fists when he saw Rice. After exhaling slowly, his expression calmed.
Mike had already explained everything about Rice beforehand, so Charles had steeled himself mentally for this encounter.
"You may leave," Mike said to Rice, waving away the portal behind him.
Rice nodded quickly and hurried out.
Charles turned to the nutrient tank, his hand gently brushing the glass wall as his eyes filled with hope and emotion.
This was his rebirth. A chance to once again serve mutantkind.
"Let's begin."
He looked back at Mike, his once-cloudy eyes now glowing with a piercing brilliance.
Mike nodded, wheeling Charles closer to the clone. "Do you need my help?"
Charles hesitated, then said softly, "Kill me."
Mike extended his hand toward him.
Charles suddenly yelped, "You'd really do it so easily?!"
"You're the one who asked me to," Mike replied, staring speechlessly at the old man.
Charles chuckled slyly. "No need—I'll do it myself."
At once, his psychic power surged. The lab trembled violently, and every person in the research facility collapsed into paralysis.
Mike frowned, resisting the overwhelming psychic force pressing against him.
Seconds later, the powerful psychic wave suddenly vanished. But Mike sensed something and turned his gaze toward the clone floating in the nutrient tank.
Meanwhile, Charles slumped in his wheelchair, head tilting lifelessly to the side. His breathing had ceased.
Mike stood in silence, a strange heaviness in his chest. It felt as though the older generation was burying itself for the young.
After several minutes with no sign of Charles awakening, Mike rubbed his forehead.
He had forgotten to ask how long it would take for Charles to adapt to his new body.
Clearly, the process required time.
At that moment, Dr. Rice re-entered the room. He glanced at Charles's lifeless form, then respectfully said, "Sir, there is something I must inform you of."
"Oh?" Mike asked with a frown. "What is it?"
"Alkali headquarters has dispatched forces to hunt Wolverine and the children."
Mike's eyes narrowed. "Headquarters?"
He knew what that meant.
Weapon Z.
For too long, Logan and the children had eluded capture. Even Weapon X and Weapon Y operatives had failed repeatedly. Headquarters had grown impatient—serious enough to unleash Weapon Z.
"When did they deploy? Do you have intel on Weapon Z?" Mike asked with a grim expression.
"An hour ago," Rice replied respectfully, then shook his head.
An hour ago… right before Mike had visited Logan's hotel?
Mike frowned deeply. If Y19 had possessed spatial powers, then could Weapon Z also wield similar abilities?
If so, there was no time to lose—he had to return immediately.
But Charles also required supervision. He could not afford to let anything go wrong here.
After a moment's thought, Mike summoned a glowing card.
Name: Shadow Clone Jutsu
The card dissolved into sparks of light, and with a flash, another Mike materialized inside the laboratory.
Rice's eyes widened in shock at the sight.
After leaving Rice with a few instructions, Mike opened a portal. Leaving his clone behind to guard the lab, he stepped through.
This time, he reappeared in Gwen's room.
Seeing him return so quickly, Gwen tilted her head curiously. "Dad, you finished already?"
"Not yet. It still needs time."
"Then why are you back?" Gwen asked suspiciously. A thought struck her, and her eyes widened. "Wait… is an enemy coming?"
"Clever girl."
Mike chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Go call everyone. I'll send you away first."
"Okay."
Gwen nodded briskly and dashed off.
Once she left, Laura turned to Mike and asked, "Gwen said that when things are finished, you're all leaving. Is that true?"
"Yes," Mike said with a smile. "Gwen has to go back to school."
"I think you're lying."
Laura's eyes were serious, her face unhappy.
"Where are you really going? At least give me an address. When we settle down, I'll come find you."
Mike scratched his cheek, sighing at her stubbornness. "Fine. I'll tell you the truth."
Laura's eyes lit up.
"We're from another world."
"Another… world?" she repeated, confused.
"Yes. A world similar to this one, but different."
Laura didn't fully understand, but she grasped one thing.
"When you leave… we won't see each other again, will we?"
She bit her lip, sadness flashing in her eyes.
"No, we'll meet again. There will be a chance."
"You're not lying?"
"Of course not."
Laura finally smiled.
As long as there was a chance, that was enough.
Just then, the door creaked open. Logan stepped in, followed by the children one by one.
After everyone entered, Logan lowered his voice. "Gwen said an enemy is coming?"
"Yes."
Mike nodded, greeting the children warmly. A few rushed over, happily surrounding him.
With a wave of his hand, Mike conjured snacks, distributing them among the kids. "I'm sending you away. Someone is after you."
The children's leader, Rictor, clenched his fists. "No. We want to fight too!"
They had fled all the way to Canada, yet the enemy still hadn't let them go.
His eyes burned with anger. "We've been trained. We can fight!"
"Not now."
Mike spoke calmly, smiling at them. "This battlefield belongs to us. Yours lies in the future."
At that moment, the space in their room suddenly shattered.
Logan roared, pulling two children back in retreat.
A second later, a towering figure with gray skin emerged before them.
(End of Chapter)