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Meanwhile,
though Charles erased the memories of those who'd seen Norin and Jean, he didn't erase the memory of Norin flying.
Norin was fast, crossing half of New York in moments.
But some still witnessed the flight.
—
"Sir, an unrecorded superhuman incident occurred in New York. Surveillance shows an unknown metahuman flying from Fifth Avenue to the suburbs at Mach 3."
"Analysis suggests their destination was Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters."
"One mutant has been identified: Jean Grey, an X-Men member codenamed Phoenix."
At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Trident Tower,
Nick Fury listened to the report, studying the documents with a thoughtful expression.
"And the other?"
"We've made progress. Someone caught them on video. The other is Asian. His name is Norin. But there's a gap in his records. He arrived in the U.S. two months ago but vanished two weeks ago. No one knows where he was."
"However, X-Men records show Storm and Cyclops were on a mission in New Mexico two weeks ago. We suspect Norin was captured by some group until the X-Men rescued him."
Agent Hill detailed Norin's intel.
Though Norin was an illegal resident in this world, Hydra's Ophelia had covered his tracks.
Hydra had access to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s data and knew their processes well.
This meant the forged records were flawless, tailored to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s needs.
Hydra was professional in this regard.
Everything Nick Fury sought had been prepared by Hydra, leaving no room for suspicion.
—
"What else? His abilities? Hobbies? Codename? Anything?"
Nick Fury pressed. The information was too ordinary.
Hill shook her head. "Nothing yet. We only confirmed he can fly at Mach 3."
"Didn't Charles register him with the U.N.?"
"No."
"Keep monitoring. Find everything on him."
Nick Fury wouldn't let a powerful mutant slip through his grasp.
When mutants applied for U.N.-sanctioned missions, he'd voted in favor, as had his mentor, Pierce.
This made their movements and abilities public, allowing S.H.I.E.L.D. to plan accordingly.
And all they asked for were trivial privileges.
What harm was there in granting them? The intel was worth it.
—
Nick Fury picked up another file. "Why did Charles set up X-Corp? Are they short on funds? Have mutants gone into business?"
His instincts told him Charles had big plans.
After all, Charles' parents had left him billions.
Over the years, his wealth had grown to an estimated $3.5 billion. In this era, Tony Stark's net worth was just over $100 billion.
$3.5 billion was more than enough to sustain Xavier School indefinitely.
—
"Is Charles up to something? But what?"
Nick Fury was puzzled.
He'd also learned that Hank, head of the Mutant Affairs Department, had been holed up in the school's lab since returning two days ago, working on some secret project.
"Is Xavier School planning something? It's time to warn them. This is our world."
Nick Fury's stance on mutants wasn't extreme, but he wouldn't advocate for them either.
No matter how noble Charles and his team seemed, or how well they cooperated, they possessed powers that could disrupt society and threaten U.S. rule.
For that reason alone, he wouldn't side with mutants.
He remained vigilant against their potential threat.
—
Meanwhile,
Norin was unaware he'd caught S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention—or that Nick Fury had misinterpreted the mutants' plans.
He was busy explaining to a panicked Charles.
"It's the truth. A kiss let me copy Jean's powers, including the mysterious force in her mind."
"And it has no side effects. I can use it freely."
"I call it the Phoenix Force."
"Are you sure it's not affecting you? Manipulating your mind, amplifying your desires?"
Charles looked skeptical.
He alone knew the terrifying power hidden in Jean's psyche.
—
"When Jean was young, I sensed the mutation in her subconscious. It was beyond anything I'd seen, too much for a child to control. So I created a mental barrier to separate her from the Phoenix."
"But I didn't expect the Phoenix to merge with her subconscious, forming a new personality—one driven by desire and rage."
"Now you've copied that power, unrestrained... Are you really okay?"
Charles couldn't fathom the chaos an unbound Phoenix could unleash.
—
"I'm sure. I've never felt better. As for my desires, they're the same."
Norin knew his condition. He could now wield the Phoenix fragment's full power.
But how powerful was it?
Norin felt he could obliterate all of New York with a thought.
At the very least, he could level a city.
The true upper limit was unknown.
But to achieve this, he needed to enter a special form—The Phoenix Form.
In this state, he could unleash the Phoenix fragment's full power while retaining his Kryptonian physique, Kitty's phasing, and Ophelia's vibration sense, molting, and toxin immunity.
He was a true all-rounder, a hexagonal warrior.
At full strength, even Dark Phoenix Jean wouldn't stand a chance. His defenses could overpower her.
His only weakness was rapid healing.
And Norin already had an idea for fixing that.
---
Charles's head was spinning.
Norin could perfectly control the Phoenix Force without side effects.
This made Norin one of only two Level 5 mutants—and the only one who could fully wield his powers.
Wait! Could Norin's existence change the mutants' fate?
A Level 5 mutant. Stronger than Charles and Erik combined.
In this world, he was among the most powerful beings.
But...
Norin's condition made Charles question himself again. Had he made another mistake?
If he hadn't blocked Jean's power but guided her to understand and master it, perhaps she wouldn't have lost control. Instead, she might've become a ticking time bomb, a global catastrophe.
---
Charles asked about Jean's condition, his voice bitter. He already knew the answer.
Norin confirmed it.
"Professor, you made a mistake. If you hadn't imprisoned the Phoenix, even if Jean couldn't fully control it, a dark consciousness wouldn't have formed."
"I suspect if that darkness erupts, her rage will consume you first."
Charles felt sick.
He'd always believed he'd protected mutants, even if he hadn't ended discrimination.
But now, he saw his mistakes piling up. Was he unfit to lead? Why were all his decisions wrong?
Charles doubted his leadership, especially after learning Jean hadn't appeared in Days of the Future Past. She'd likely died long before.
With her potential, even if she died, it shouldn't have been so soon.
Could Sentinels kill a Level 5 mutant?
He didn't believe it.
Logically, even multiple mutants below Level 5 couldn't kill a Level 5 mutant—unless she chose to die.
So, had Jean chosen to die?
It was the only explanation.
---
Charles's emotions were a tangled mess.
Looking at Norin, he felt the urge to retire right away.
Norin was better suited to lead the school.
And only Norin could handle Jean.
---
"Wait, something's wrong." Norin frowned. Rogue was in trouble.
Meanwhile,
on a secluded bench at the school,
Anna, Kitty, and Clarice chatted about Norin.
Around the corner,
Norin approached.
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10 powerstones=1 extra chapter
20 powerstones=3 extra chapters
30 powerstones=4 extra chapters
40 powerstones=5 extra chapters