Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was more lively than it had ever been.
The unexpected arrival of Magneto had certainly caught Professor X and his colleagues off guard, but surprisingly, the situation developed in a way that benefited mutantkind. No fights broke out, no powers clashed in the skies above. For now, peaceful cooperation reigned.
Whether that peace would last, of course, remained to be seen.
Still, Joseph had no intention of meddling further. As far as he was concerned, things were progressing exactly as planned.
His original vision had always been to establish three academies under one roof, with Professor X, Magneto, and Dr. Bruce Banner each heading a different division. Each leader brought something unique to the table: Professor X would focus on training students in the use of their powers; Magneto would hone their resolve and moral willpower; and Dr. Banner would impart rigorous scientific and academic knowledge.
This three-pronged approach was designed to ensure that each student at Xavier's received a well-rounded education. As a result, the school would no longer be a place where entry was challenging but graduation was easy. Instead, it would become a place where everyone could enter—but only those who truly excelled could leave with a diploma.
This was the new mutant hierarchy that Joseph was determined to implement.
"The school will no longer divide students by age, but by ability and knowledge," he declared.
"Three days from now, we'll conduct a comprehensive start-of-term assessment. All students—new and old—will participate. Their performance will determine their placement within the academy."
"Elementary-level classes will focus on foundational knowledge and helping students gain preliminary control over their superpowers."
"At the middle school level, students will choose specializations. Professional courses will be mandatory, while elective courses will be available to round out their education."
"Those with non-combat abilities can pursue fields like law, physics, or medicine, depending on their personal interests and potential."
"Finally, at the university level, regular assessments will begin."
Students who passed the first major assessment would be certified as Level-One mutants. Those who succeeded in the second would reach Level Two. The third would elevate them to Level Three. And only those who passed a fourth and final evaluation would earn the title of Level-Four Mutant—and the right to graduate.
At that moment, in the greatly expanded principal's office—enlarged a dozenfold by Joseph's Untraceable Extension Spell—a group of key faculty members were gathered around an immense conference table, listening closely.
The new teaching model may have made sense to Magneto, Dr. Banner, and Tony Stark, but it was a radical departure for the older faculty who had been at Xavier's since the beginning. Phoenix and Storm exchanged glances, sharing mutual concern before Phoenix voiced the question on everyone's mind.
"How will these assessments be conducted?" she asked. "How can we fairly evaluate both superpower control and academic knowledge?"
Joseph snapped his fingers, and several thick stacks of documents materialized on the table in front of each professor.
"The emphasis will vary based on specialization," he explained. "For students in the Energy Manipulation Department, 70% of the assessment will focus on their control and development of their powers. Only 30% will cover academic subjects."
"But for students majoring in science, law, or medicine, that ratio is reversed—70% academic, 30% power-based."
The goal, he clarified, was simple: to develop elite talent with both brains and brawn.
"And that's just one side of the evaluation."
He paused to let everyone digest the information before continuing.
"The other component is a research paper. Whether it's an investigation into their own mutant abilities or academic research in their chosen field, students can submit articles to the school's academic journal. Publishing a paper will earn them bonus points."
"If a paper can creatively combine a student's powers with their academic expertise to generate meaningful insight or innovation, the score will be doubled."
Many of the faculty nodded in realization. This echoed Joseph's powerful speech during the opening ceremony, in which he had encouraged the treatment of superpowers not as curses or weapons, but as professional tools to be studied, developed, and applied constructively.
Dr. Banner smiled.
"Feels like I'm back in grad school," he joked warmly.
Beast, however, remained skeptical. He narrowed his eyes and asked:
"Joseph, what exactly do you mean by 'combining superpowers with professional knowledge'? Could you provide a concrete example?"
Beast had returned as a professor at the invitation of Professor X, and truth be told, he hadn't paid much attention to Joseph, who was still considered a 'recent graduate' in his eyes. His original plan was to test the waters and possibly move on later. But the ceremony earlier had shifted something in him. The school's future suddenly looked bright—and he found himself wanting to be a part of it.
Joseph smiled and obliged.
"Take Professor X's Cerebro, for example," he said. "It amplifies his psychic abilities through technological means. Or Magneto's helmet, which protects him from psychic intrusion."
Then, with a flourish, he snapped his fingers again.
A long broom appeared on the table.
Confused glances circled the room.
With a tap of his finger, a single page on the table folded itself into a tiny humanoid paper doll. In a flash of light, the doll expanded and transformed into an exact replica of Wolverine.
"WTF, Joseph!" Logan barked. "That's not funny!"
But he could only watch as his double vaulted onto the broom and took off with a loud whoosh.
Everyone watched, stunned, as "Wolverine" flew in loops around the magically extended conference room, zipping through the air like a witch from an old fairy tale. At one point, the broom dipped low and zipped past Logan's hair, making him flinch instinctively.
This, Joseph said simply, was the integration of powers and professionalism.
Though the broom clearly contained magical enhancements—possibly a personal indulgence from one of Joseph's more eccentric moods—it proved a key concept: with creativity, even a simple power could be elevated through technology or knowledge.
"They may not have magic," Joseph said, "but they can learn science."
"Cerebro wasn't built with mutant powers. It was built with knowledge."
Professor X and Magneto exchanged another long look, this time filled with admiration. Even with all their years of experience, they were impressed by Joseph's foresight.
Tony Stark, always the futurist, nodded as well.
"No wonder Joseph keeps emphasizing science and technology," he said. "This... this is how mutants will change the world."
The rest of the faculty silently agreed.
Mutants had always been powerful—but disorganized. For the first time, under Joseph's leadership, there was structure. A plan. A future.
Even Princess Shuri from Wakanda couldn't stay silent any longer.
"Joseph," she said, her eyes gleaming, "is that broom for sale? Wakanda is very interested—especially if you accept payment in Vibranium."
At the mere mention of Vibranium, the room went dead silent.
Everyone stared at Joseph, half in awe and half in envy.
Joseph simply smiled. "Let your brother talk to Miss Ororo about that," he replied.
There was no way he was going to admit the broom had been a pet project created during an especially boring night. If he really wanted to craft flight gear, it certainly wouldn't involve a janitor's tool.
Professor X chuckled, flipping through the documentation in front of him.
"Joseph," he said thoughtfully, "are you sure requiring students to reach Level Four before graduating isn't too ambitious? Even our own staff would only qualify as Level Five at best."
"Exactly," he added. "According to this, only you and Magneto reach Level Six. That means the students are under immense pressure."
Joseph shook his head.
"This isn't just for the academy," he explained. "This is for every mutant in the world."
"We want all mutants to come here and participate in our assessments. Those who pass will receive certification badges—from Level One to Level Four... even Level Five."
"With that badge, they'll be eligible to work in mutant organizations and companies. And no matter what happens, they can always seek aid from the newly formed Mutant Affairs Bureau."
A hush fell over the room.
Even the non-mutant professors immediately understood what this meant.
"Identity verification," someone murmured.
Of course. Joseph wasn't just creating an academy—he was building a social structure. A formal system. A government for mutants in all but name.
Open admissions...
Standardized certifications...
A public Bureau for mutant rights...
It had all been calculated. Carefully. Strategically.
"In the name of the academy... we do official things," Professor X muttered, stunned by the brilliance of it all.
He and Magneto looked at one another again and, this time, both quietly acknowledged it.
They were old.
Joseph had surpassed them in vision.
They might as well settle into their roles as co-principals and support him from here on.
Phoenix finally broke the silence.
"Even if we get all the mutants interested," she said, "won't S.H.I.E.L.D. interfere? Our location is known. If too many gather, they won't sit by quietly."
Joseph grinned playfully and tilted his head.
"Mr. Gray, did you forget my real identity?"
Phoenix blinked.
Wasn't he just the honorary head of the academy?
Wait...
He was also the Chairman of the Second World!
It hadn't been long, but with everything that had happened lately, Phoenix had almost forgotten. The chaos, the new systems, the power shifts—everything had distracted her from that one vital truth.
Now, as the reality of it returned to her, another thought arose.
The Oasis Project was about to launch.
And when it did… the entire world would change forever.
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