Magneto—the grand, imposing villain of the X-Men saga—is a far more nuanced character than most give him credit for.
Though labeled as the antagonist, he often displays more moral integrity and charisma than the hot-headed, rough-around-the-edges Wolverine. Despite his deep-seated resentment toward humanity, Magneto rarely resorts to indiscriminate violence. He doesn't kill out of personal spite, and especially not when it comes to fellow mutants. Even when facing off against his longtime adversaries, the X-Men, he avoids causing them harm unless absolutely necessary. His respect for Professor Charles Xavier, in particular, remains unwavering—never once does he treat him with hatred.
Magneto is brilliant, powerful, and if he were driven by self-interest, he could easily become a manufacturing tycoon and live like royalty. But instead, he chooses the harder path—fighting for his ideals and the future of his kind. He rescues and shelters young mutants persecuted by humans, and works tirelessly to elevate the status of mutants in society. In many ways, he sacrifices more than Xavier ever did, which is why loyal followers like Toad and Mystique remain devoted to him.
He is, in every sense, a noble mutant—a pure mutant. One who has transcended petty desires and dedicated himself to the greater good of his people.
Even Xavier, despite opposing Magneto's methods, never truly despises him. Their conflict is ideological, not personal. When Magneto proposed a plan to trigger mass mutation across New York without harming humans or Rogue, Xavier still refused to support it, fearing the social upheaval it might cause. Yet it was clear that some of the younger X-Men were beginning to reconsider. The only one who remained staunchly opposed was Wolverine, whose resistance stemmed not from any philosophical stance, but from personal resentment—Magneto had once attacked him and was now using Rogue as a pawn.
After hours of tense negotiation, the two sides failed to reach an agreement. Magneto, visibly frustrated, stood and left.
The seasoned adventurers watching from the sidelines finally exhaled in relief.
Jack Harper stayed behind—or rather, Magneto had never intended to take him along.
But the calm didn't last. Not long after, a chilling report sent shockwaves through the group:
Rogue had gone missing.
The moment the news broke, even the least perceptive among them understood Magneto's true plan. While he kept the X-Men and the adventurers occupied with negotiations, he had sent someone to abduct Rogue. The Xavier School was never a fortress, and with someone like Mystique—whose shapeshifting abilities made her virtually unstoppable—it was child's play to infiltrate. By the time they realized what had happened, it was already too late. The talks had dragged on for over three hours. Who knew how long Rogue had been gone?
"Damn it! No wonder he kept that helmet on during the meeting—it was all to shield his intentions!" Druid roared, his voice echoing through the room. "What now?"
He suddenly turned on Jack Harper, fury blazing in his eyes. "This is your fault! You traitor—Magneto's lackey! I'll kill you!"
Druid lunged at Jack Harper.
But Jack was no longer the powerless newcomer they'd met days ago. With a single motion, a wave of icy air burst from his body, filling half the room with a dense, white fog. His powers required physical contact to freeze objects, but the subzero chill—over minus 200 degrees—was enough to freeze the very air. Frost formed a shimmering armor across his arms, and a jagged ice spike extended from his palm, aimed directly at Druid.
Caught off guard, Druid froze in place. The sheer cold radiating from Jack was overwhelming—even for someone who could transform into a polar bear. He hesitated, unsure of Jack's true strength, and turned to the Paladin for answers. "Hey, didn't you say that machine could only create Level 1 mutants?"
The Paladin shrugged. "How should I know? Maybe he was a latent superpowered mutant all along."
Druid scowled. "So you're just going to let me make a fool of myself?" Then, glaring at Jack, he barked, "Listen, rookie. Don't think a little power makes you special. Every veteran here has clawed their way through impossible odds. You'd better apologize now—or we'll make you wish you'd never been born."
Jack gave a cold laugh and walked away without a word. Druid made a move to follow, but hesitated. He glanced at his team leader, only to hear the soft pluck of harp strings.
"Enough, Druid," said Takashi, the harp-wielding captain. "Don't stir up more trouble. We've got enough on our plate."
Druid didn't dare defy the order, but he muttered under his breath, "I hate these arrogant rookies. Always messing up the storyline. Captain, are we really going to let him keep causing problems?"
Takashi's fingers danced across the strings, his expression dark. "Messing up the story? The whole plot's already in chaos. One more twist won't make a difference. But since he's one of the culprits behind this mess, rest assured—I'll make sure he pays the price."
"You mean you're going to use that—" Druid's eyes lit up, but he stopped mid-sentence under Takashi's icy glare.
Jack Harper left the room with a sigh.
It wasn't Druid's bluster that bothered him—it was the clear sense of alienation from the veteran adventurers. Half of it was because he'd played an unfavorable role in the mission. The other half stemmed from the fact that they'd abandoned him earlier, creating a rift that now seemed impossible to bridge.
In truth, their decision to leave him behind wasn't entirely wrong. And his survival through the mutation process wasn't his fault either. But despite their experience, none of them seemed capable of putting aside personal grudges. Even if Jack wanted to reconcile, it felt hopeless. The Paladin had been friendly enough—he'd even explained some of the upcoming plot—but he wasn't the team's leader and couldn't rein in Druid's impulsiveness.
Jack wondered if he could switch to a different adventuring party. Staying with this group might be more dangerous than going solo.
But dwelling on it wouldn't help. He pushed the thought aside and turned his focus back to the mission.
The side quest "Shadow Conspiracy" had been completed, and Jack's survival points—1,500 of them—were now displayed in his Reincarnation Codex. The only mystery was the bonus reward: "Professor X's Gratitude." Curious, Jack decided to seek out the wheelchair-bound telepath himself.
After asking a few students, he found Xavier in the sealed spherical chamber where the Cerebro amplifier was located, scanning for Rogue's brainwave signature.
Just as Jack arrived, Xavier rolled out of the chamber, his expression heavy. The other X-Men were gathered nearby.
"I couldn't locate Rogue's signal," Xavier said. "It seems Magneto's helmet technology has been applied elsewhere—perhaps to vehicles or buildings. Just like I've never been able to find his base at sea."
Wolverine frowned and turned to leave without a word.
"Logan," Xavier called after him, "you won't find them on your own. And even if you do, your metal skeleton makes you vulnerable to Magneto's powers."
"So what do you suggest?" Wolverine snapped. "Wait around for your psychic powers to magically start working again?"
Xavier shook his head. "When the time comes, Magneto will come to you. Because only you—and Sabretooth—can ensure Rogue survives the process."
Wolverine didn't look convinced. "And what if he doesn't care whether she lives or dies? That'd make things a lot simpler for him."
"I've known Erik for over sixty years," Xavier replied firmly. "He sees every mutant as his child. If there's a way to avoid sacrificing one of us, he'll take it."
Wolverine's anger simmered down, at least for the moment.
Xavier then turned to Jack Harper.
"May I call you Jackie, my friend from afar?" he asked gently.
"Of course," Jack nodded. "I'm sorry about Rogue. I should've been more alert."
Xavier rolled closer and smiled. "Don't blame yourself, Jackie. This wasn't your fault. In fact, I'm grateful you brought Erik to me. Dialogue matters. Understanding each other's beliefs is the first step toward finding common ground. It's far better than blind opposition."
"Thank you," Jack said, bowing his head slightly.
Xavier waved a hand. "Now, if Erik's plan unfolds as expected, he'll make his move tomorrow night—perhaps at the World Leaders Summit, perhaps at the Statue of Liberty. Until then, we wait. But in the meantime, Jackie, I believe I can help you with something more personal."
"Personal?" Jack blinked.
"Yes. I apologize—I briefly scanned your memories earlier. Please forgive me. As an apology, I'd like to help you confront your nightmare… the one you call the Cold Black Dream."
A world of darkness.
A world of absolute cold.
Jack's dream was a void—so cold it numbed all sensation, so black it erased identity. No light, no sound, no scent, no direction, no time. Just endless, frozen oblivion.
Ever since his ten-year cryogenic imprisonment, this had been his only dream. In reality, it had haunted him for three years. But in the dream, time stretched endlessly—each night felt like months, even years.
But tonight, something changed.
Light appeared.
A faint glimmer pierced the darkness, slowly expanding into a crescent shape. It grew brighter, revealing its source.
It was… Professor Xavier's bald head.
Jack almost laughed. The oppressive nightmare lost its grip the moment Xavier's comically serene visage emerged.
"Jackie, can you see me now?" Xavier's voice echoed through the void. "This is a projection of my will, built within your mind. This dreamscape is a construct of your subconscious—formed by fear, repression, and despair during your long frozen sleep. Worse still, you've spent so long alone in this nightmare that your mind has begun to merge with it. To escape pain, you've surrendered your identity. You've felt it, haven't you? Time stretching longer and longer. If you don't reclaim control, one day you'll be lost in this dream forever."
…What should I do…
Jack thought the words, but couldn't speak them. Just as Xavier had said—he had become one with the darkness. He was in the dream, but he had no self.
"Jackie, trust me. Open your mind. Let me help you."
Jack tried to relax, as if falling asleep within a dream—a paradox, but somehow, it worked. Xavier's silver-tier psychic power enveloped him, and Jack slipped into a trance.
Time passed—maybe quickly, maybe slowly. Jack couldn't tell. But when he came to, he realized something astonishing:
He had a body again.
"This… is incredible," he murmured, staring at his hands.
Xavier reappeared beside him. "This is just the first step. You've formed a mental projection of yourself. From here, you must learn to shape this dream world—to create, to control. When you can manipulate time itself within the dream, you'll be free."
Xavier then taught Jack how to train within the dream, gradually mastering its rules. The process was slow and complex, but to Jack, it was a revelation. At last, he had a way to fight back—no more wasting nights replaying chess strategies or math puzzles just to pass the time.
When he awoke, the Reincarnation Codex had updated.
Name: Jack Harper Status: Newcomer Battle Rating: None Attributes:
Strength: 23/200Agility: 25/200Intelligence: 97/200Vitality: 84/200
Bloodline: Level 1 Mutant (Iron-tier, lower rank) — Origin: X-Men I radiation mutation. Daily cold energy: 100 points.
Abilities:
Frost Touch (Iron-tier, mid rank): Lowers temperature of touched objects to -50°C. Energy cost: 50 points per use.Mindlake Projection (Unranked): Focus to create a mental avatar, allowing partial control over dreams.
Equipment: None
Whether it was due to mastering the dream or Xavier's intervention, Jack's intelligence stat had increased by 20 points. As for the unranked "Mindlake Projection" skill, its full potential remained unknown. But it was clear—this was the mysterious "Professor X's Gratitude."
With his nightmare finally resolved, Jack Harper realized it was already morning.
The night before, the veteran adventurers had mobilized to search for Magneto—but came back empty-handed. Wolverine had also gone off on his own and hadn't returned. The rest of the X-Men were busy maintaining order at the school and waiting for updates.
For now, Jack had nothing to do. But he knew this was just the calm before the storm.
He spent the entire morning and afternoon poring over the Xavier School's training materials on mutant powers, determined to refine his abilities as much as possible.
By evening, Wolverine called in.
Magneto had invited him to meet at the Statue of Liberty.
The X-Men mobilized immediately, but Xavier stayed behind.
"Erik told me his plan in detail," Xavier said grimly. "He knew I'd try to stop him. That's why he's arranged things so I can't leave the school. If we fail to stop him, I'll need to use Cerebro to calm the panic of millions of New Yorkers. I can only hope you succeed. This plan… it's too dangerous. So go, my children. Do your best."
The Statue of Liberty—designed by two French masters—stood 93 meters tall, with a steel skeleton and copper skin weighing 225 tons. It was gifted to the United States in 1884 and placed atop Fort Wood, once a military battery and now a national monument and lighthouse.
At the base of the statue was a plaque inscribed with lines from Emma Lazarus's sonnet "The New Colossus":
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Magneto's choice of location wasn't just strategic—it was symbolic. His revolutionary romanticism was in full bloom. He wanted to borrow the statue's meaning to add grandeur to his lifelong mission of mutant liberation. From a practical standpoint, placing the machine in the city center would've yielded better coverage. But for Magneto, symbolism mattered more.
Once he revealed his plan and location, every faction converged on the statue.
The first to arrive was the Eight-Winged Lyre adventuring party, who had been lurking nearby. Knowing they couldn't take Magneto head-on, they chose to lie in wait for the X-Men.
Wolverine had received the news first, but his motorcycle couldn't match the speed of the X-Men's stealth jet. Ironically, he arrived later than the others.
Thus, the first wave to reach the statue's base included Cyclops, Storm, Dr. Jean Grey, the rookie adventurer Jack Harper—and one unexpected guest: Bobby Drake, aka Iceman.
Bobby, Rogue's boyfriend, had insisted on coming.
Though in the X-Men III film he would later flirt with Kitty Pryde, at this point he was still deeply devoted to Rogue. And unlike the movie, where he was unaware of her kidnapping, this time he had witnessed Mystique snatch her away right in front of him. Fueled by a desperate urge to save her, he had secretly stowed away on the jet. By the time they discovered him mid-flight, it was too late to turn back.
"Listen, Bobby," Storm snapped as they disembarked. "You stay outside. No going in. It's dangerous in there, and you haven't mastered your powers yet. And you, Jackie—your mutation only awakened three days ago. You're not ready. Stay put."
"I can't just stand by and do nothing!" Bobby shouted. "Rogue's in danger—I have to help! And I'm not some ordinary student. I've trained hard. Plus, Jackie and I—"
"Enough!" Storm cut him off. "We're facing Magneto—a Level 4 mutant at his peak. You haven't even fully unlocked Level 3. Don't go in there to die."
Bobby tried to argue, but Jack placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't be reckless," Jack said quietly. "We won't sit idle. We'll help Rogue—in our own way."
While the two made their own plans, the X-Men charged through the front entrance—and ran straight into a brutal fight.
Truth be told, the X-Men's combat prowess was… underwhelming.
Jean Grey's Phoenix powers were sealed. Storm and Cyclops, despite their flashy abilities, had glaring weaknesses. Their attacks were powerful, but their defenses were paper-thin—one good hit and they were down.
Their opponents—Toad and Mystique—weren't just mutants. They were elite fighters. Masters of hand-to-hand combat, their powers complemented their techniques perfectly. The X-Men, who relied mostly on raw ability, were no match. Within seconds, they were being thoroughly beaten. If the villains had been willing to kill, the X-Men would've been wiped out in half a minute.
Then Wolverine arrived.
Though not as polished in martial arts, his adamantium claws and healing factor made him a tank. He held off Mystique, while Storm, Cyclops, and Jean Grey teamed up to push back Toad.
(And here we see why Wolverine is the protagonist—he's the only real tank in X-Men I.)
But unlike the brain-dead villains of the movie, this version of Toad and Mystique were sharp and strategic. There would be no easy wins.
Above the chaos, a new battle erupted.
The veteran adventurers had bypassed the lower skirmish entirely, heading straight for Magneto atop the statue. They weren't trying to kill him—just destroy the radiation device embedded in the torch. That alone would count as mission success.
But even that was proving difficult.
Captain Takashi, clad in a Silver Saint's armor and wielding basic Cosmo energy, was powerful—but not powerful enough. In the hierarchy of the Infinite Space system, strength was measured in tiers:
Iron-tier warriors could crush a sports car.Bronze-tier could demolish a house.Silver-tier could level a skyscraper.Gold-tier could raze a city.
Takashi's armor gave him bursts of power, but lacked sustained defense and endurance. Even the twelve Gold Saints from Saint Seiya wouldn't all qualify as true Gold-tier in this system. Most Silver Saints, like Takashi, were closer to upper Bronze-tier in raw stats. If he had the abilities of Orpheus—the Lyra Saint who awakened the Eighth Sense—he might've stood a chance against Magneto. But as things stood, he was outmatched.
Among the other adventurers, only the swordsman known as Old Blade posed a real threat. But close-combat fighters were at a disadvantage against manipulators like Magneto. The battlefield—narrow pathways and metal surfaces—only made things worse.
Seeing their leader gain the upper hand, Toad let out a triumphant cackle.
But then, a gust of icy wind swept through the chamber.
Toad leapt aside just in time as the wind exploded into a wall of ice, cutting off the battlefield.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
More gusts followed, forming barriers that split the room into frozen partitions. Everyone turned toward the source.
Jack Harper and Bobby Drake stood at a side entrance, arms outstretched. The cold air was pouring from their palms.
"You guys go help the others upstairs," Jack shouted to the X-Men. "We'll handle things down here."
Frost swirled around Jack's hands, forming a dense chill. Bobby waved his arm, channeling the cold into twin blasts of icy wind aimed at Toad.
Earlier, Jack had studied mutant power control at the school and naturally teamed up with Bobby, another ice-type mutant. Together, they'd developed a combo technique.
Bobby was a natural Level 3 mutant, able to freely generate and manipulate ice within a fifty-meter radius. But he was still young, and his powers hadn't fully matured. His ice maxed out at around -50°C—effective against normal foes, but not enough to suppress other Level 3 mutants.
Jack, on the other hand, was a Level 1 mutant whose freezing ability required physical contact. But his mutation had evolved, allowing him to generate ultra-low temperatures—down to -200°C. Their strategy was simple: Jack produced the cold, Bobby shaped and directed it. The synergy was devastating—more effective than most standalone Level 3 abilities.
But Toad wasn't just any mutant. His frog-like physiology gave him agility rivaling Spider-Man, dynamic vision, and a tongue that defied physics. He could snatch Storm mid-air with a flick of his tongue—no neck movement required. Jack suspected he might have hidden powers like telekinesis or anti-gravity. Even with their combined efforts, Jack and Bobby couldn't take him down. They settled for containment—layer after layer of ice walls to trap him.
With the battlefield sealed off, the three X-Men rushed upstairs.
Ironically, their ranged powers made them better suited to fighting Magneto. Storm summoned thunderclouds, lightning crackling down from the sky. Cyclops didn't fire immediately, but his hand hovered near his visor—forcing Magneto to stay alert.
With the pressure mounting, the adventurers found their opening.
Old Blade dashed up the statue's arm, slicing through the torch's outer shell with two swift strikes. Inside, the silver-white radiation machine was revealed.
Rogue was locked inside, just as the storyline predicted. Sabretooth stood beside her.
As Old Blade charged, Sabretooth stepped forward without hesitation. Their clash was brutal—Old Blade's dragonfang blade sliced into Sabretooth's shoulder, while Sabretooth's claws tore across Old Blade's face, shredding his nose, mouth, and one eye. The impact sent Old Blade flying off the statue.
"Old Blade!" Takashi shouted, reaching for his harp.
But before he could act, a tongue lashed around his neck, yanking him off balance.
Toad had smashed through the glass and climbed the outer wall, ambushing from behind.
By the time Jack and Bobby arrived, the situation had deteriorated.
With Old Blade and Takashi down, Magneto had full control. He ripped steel beams from the statue and bound the three X-Men. Toad and Sabretooth teamed up to toss Druid and the Paladin off the platform. The elven archer, seeing no hope, fled.
Magneto glanced at the two ice mutants and casually restrained them with metal bindings. Knowing Jack's freezing power could shatter steel, he cleverly tied him together with Storm—making Jack hesitate to use his ability.
Pressed against Storm's soft, curvaceous body, Jack couldn't help but feel conflicted. For a moment, he wondered if he should thank Magneto for the unexpected blessing.
With the battlefield secured, Magneto turned his attention to Wolverine.
Using his powers, he peeled back the statue's copper skin like a blooming lotus, revealing the torch platform. Wolverine, still fighting Mystique, was yanked upward by Magneto's magnetic force.
Smiling, Magneto posed the final question: "So, Wolverine. Will you fight me and watch Rogue die? Or cooperate and save her life?"
Wolverine hesitated. Despite his temper, he wasn't stupid. After a long pause, he chose to comply.
"Good," Magneto said. "The future of mutantkind will remember your sacrifice."
He led Wolverine to the platform. The machine had been modified—now spacious enough for several people. Sabretooth stood on Rogue's right, leaving the left spot for Wolverine.
Magneto placed Rogue's hands on the machine's handles, then pressed his palms to her cheeks. Pain twisted his face as his powers drained into her. He held on for ten seconds, transferring over 90% of his strength, before collapsing into Mystique's arms.
Wolverine prepared to strike—but Sabretooth raised his claws to Rogue's throat. The message was clear: one wrong move, and she dies.
Reluctantly, Wolverine backed down.
The machine whirred to life, encasing all three in a glowing ring. The same pure white light that had once transformed Jack Harper now erupted again—this time, far more intense. Like a tidal wave, it surged outward.
Its first target: the World Leaders Summit on the nearby shore, where over 200 heads of state had gathered.
If the light reached them, Magneto's plan would succeed—and Jack Harper's mission would fail.
Magneto gazed into the distance, eyes gleaming with triumph.
Then, a blade sliced through the air.
Blood sprayed.
The old warrior's head flew skyward.
Old Blade had reappeared behind Magneto, dragonfang in hand.
"Too bad you didn't know I can use the Orc Blademaster's Wind Walk," he said coldly.
Magneto was dead.
He died believing he had won.
He died before the stories of X-Men II and X-Men III could unfold.
Everyone froze—villains and heroes alike.
Even the X-Men were stunned. Magneto may have been their enemy, but he was also a symbol. His existence gave the X-Men a purpose—to oppose him, to prove mutants could coexist with humans. Without him, they were just anomalies in a fearful world.
But now, Magneto was gone.
Mystique screamed, diving toward Magneto's severed head. Toad lunged at Old Blade.
But another figure ascended the statue—Captain Takashi, clad in silver armor. He didn't assist Old Blade. Instead, he turned to the spinning radiation machine and unleashed his harp strings like razor wires, wrapping them around the device in an attempt to halt its rotation.
The machine's immense torque snapped the strings again and again, but Takashi kept reattaching them. Finally, the massive metal ring began to slow.
Meanwhile, Old Blade was now facing both Mystique and Toad—two Level 3 mutants. Mystique's shapeshifting allowed her to turn her skin into weapons harder than steel. She could mimic Wolverine's claws and slice through thick iron cables. Toad, on the other hand, was a martial arts master with frog-like agility. His legs packed explosive power, and his kicks could shatter bones with ease.
But Old Blade wasn't trying to win—just survive. He used three defensive forms from his "Seven Emotions Blade Style":
Heartbreak SeveranceCity of SorrowStillness of the Soul
Together, they kept the two mutants at bay.
Toad, realizing brute force wouldn't work, suddenly broke away and charged at Takashi. Even with Magneto dead, they could still complete his plan.
"Come on, then!" Takashi growled. "Let's see what you've got. Fist!"
He unleashed two sonic punches, driving Toad back.
Toad barely dodged—his dynamic vision the only thing allowing him to track Takashi's blinding speed. He retreated to the statue's shoulder, just outside the range of Takashi's attacks.
He prepared to strike again—but then heard harp strings echoing behind him.
Takashi was playing a different tune now. Not an attack—but something else.
Toad turned, confused.
Then came the sound of crackling ice.
A figure lunged at him.
Toad reacted instantly, throwing a punch toward the attacker's chest.
But the blow missed.
The figure had dodged—moving faster than Toad could track.
Toad's eyes widened.
It was Jack Harper.
But something was wrong.
His eyes were vacant, his movements stiff yet unnaturally fast. Blue light shimmered around him, and frost spread across the statue's surface.
Takashi's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Jack was under his control.
He had activated a forbidden technique—Puppet String Sonata, a melody from the underworld's Lyra Saint. It allowed the user to hijack a target's mind, turning them into a living weapon. It also unlocked their latent potential, transforming even a rookie into a deadly combatant.
The technique came with risks—but Takashi didn't care. He loved using it on troublesome newcomers. Killing them directly would trigger penalties. But if they died fighting enemies, the blame shifted. And if they succeeded, Takashi claimed the lion's share of the rewards.
His team had agreed: as long as a rookie behaved, Takashi wouldn't use the Sonata. But if they disrupted the storyline and endangered the mission, they became expendable.
Jack hadn't meant to cause trouble—but he had. And Takashi had no qualms about turning him into a sacrificial pawn.
Now, Jack and Toad clashed atop the statue's shoulder—a blur of blue and green.
Jack had no martial arts training. Under normal circumstances, he'd be no match for Toad. But in puppet mode, his "battle instinct" was forcibly activated—a primal state that erased fear and hesitation, enhancing reflexes and maximizing physical output. Combined with his immunity to pain, he became a killing machine.
Still, that alone wouldn't be enough.
But Jack wasn't just a puppet—he was a mutant. His body radiated extreme cold. Toad couldn't risk touching him. If they'd been fighting at range, Toad might've had a chance. But now, trapped in close quarters atop the statue, he was at a disadvantage.
Takashi frowned.
"No time to waste. Rookie, give us your final gift. Cosmo Override!"
The harp strings rang out in a furious crescendo.
Jack screamed.
His body surged with power—his ice energy detonating like a supernova. Blue light flared, blindingly bright. His strength, speed, and reaction time skyrocketed.
He locked onto Toad's movement pattern.
Raised his leg.
Intercepted.
Then—punched.
"BOOM!"
The air split.
A white shockwave burst outward—the kind only supersonic jets leave behind.
Toad felt the cold hit him like a wall.
Before he could react, his body froze.
The loyal, battle-hardened mutant shattered into a spray of ice crystals.
Jack collapsed, unconscious, onto the frost-covered platform.
At that moment, his Reincarnation Codex flipped open.
Battle Record: Newcomer Jack Harper, in cooperation with veteran adventurers, successfully defeated Level 3 mutant boss Toad (Bronze-tier, mid rank). Reward: 1,500 survival points. Battle Rating: +1.
Takashi's codex also flashed.
But he didn't check it yet.
The radiation machine gave a final groan—and stopped.
The tidal wave of white light vanished just before it could reach the summit venue.
Inside the machine, Rogue and Wolverine lay unconscious—but alive. Sabretooth, who had joined the process later, retained some strength.
It didn't matter.
Takashi was waiting.
He struck with his harp strings, slicing Sabretooth into ribbons. No healing factor could save him.
Mystique, realizing the battle was lost, fled with Magneto's head.
The mission was over.
Takashi exhaled deeply.
Then he checked his codex.
Battle Record: Bronze-tier adventurer Takashi, assisted rookie in defeating Level 3 mutant boss Toad (Bronze-tier, mid rank). Reward: 100 survival points. Battle Rating: None. Bonus: Random enemy ability card drawn.
Reward: Bronze-tier adventurer Takashi received: "Toad Mutation Bloodline 1/1" (Bronze-tier, mid rank)
In cooperative battles, rewards were split based on contribution. Jack had provided the freezing power and the final blow. But the codex only recognized his basic stats and low-tier abilities. Takashi's manipulation and orchestration earned him the higher-tier reward.
He turned—and saw his teammates returning, soaked from head to toe.
They had hidden underwater to avoid the radiation, leaving only Takashi and Old Blade to fight.
Sayuri, the elven archer, approached first.
"Captain… did we win?"
Takashi turned to face her, his silver armor glinting in the fading light.
"We did," he said quietly.
The battle was over. Magneto was dead. The machine was destroyed. Rogue and Wolverine had survived. The world leaders remained untouched.
But the cost was high.
Old Blade lay wounded, one eye lost. Jack Harper was unconscious, his body pushed beyond its limits. Sabretooth was dead. Mystique had fled with Magneto's remains. And the adventuring party had been fractured—some teammates had abandoned the fight, others had barely survived.
Takashi looked down at Jack, still sprawled across the ice-covered platform.
He had been a wildcard—unpredictable, inexperienced, and disruptive. But in the end, he had delivered.
Not by choice.
Not by training.
But by being used.
Takashi didn't feel guilt. In his mind, the mission came first. Sacrifices were necessary. And Jack, whether he liked it or not, had proven his worth.
The harp captain turned away, his codex still glowing with the reward.
The storm had passed.
But the story was far from over.