Chapter 186 — The Ultimatum
The big screen in Xavier's study flickered with static before Magneto's face came into sharp focus. Stern, cold, like he was carved out of iron. His voice rolled across the room, deep and commanding.
"Leaders of the world. Hear me now. Your nations have failed humanity. Endless wars, endless greed. I offer you a new path. Surrender all political command to me… or I will show you the wrath of Earth itself. Obey, or be destroyed."
Silence held in the room for a moment after the transmission. Logan leaned back in his chair, cigar smoldering between his teeth.
"Well," he muttered, smoke curling out with every word, "looks like ol' buckethead's really shootin' for world president this time."
Kitty sat stiffly at the edge of her seat, eyes wide. "He… he can't mean that, right? He's bluffing. He has to be bluffing."
Colossus crossed his arms, face pale in the glow of the television. "No, Katya. Magneto never bluffs. If he says he will destroy the world, he believes he can."
Nightcrawler hung upside down from a chandelier, tail curling with nervous energy. "Ja, and the worst part? He is probably right."
Storm's eyes never left the screen. "It is not power that terrifies me. It is his conviction. Magneto believes he is salvation. That makes him unstoppable."
Xavier's fingers steepled under his chin. He said nothing yet. His eyes burned with thoughts, calculations, regrets.
The television screen cut to live footage. A fleet of missiles streaked toward an island in the Bermuda Triangle, their trails ripping the sky.
Logan growled. "Guess one of the nations didn't feel like bowin' their heads."
On the screen, Magneto appeared above the ocean, arms spread wide. The missiles froze midair, their engines sputtering uselessly. Then, with a flick of his wrist, they disassembled, bolts and casings raining harmlessly into the sea.
Storm whispered under her breath. "Goddess…"
The ship that had launched them lurched suddenly. Magneto's voice thundered, carried through broadcast speakers.
"It seems you must learn the hard way."
The battleship crumpled like paper, metal shrieking as it sank beneath the waves. Magneto's shadow hung over it, a god above drowning men.
Kitty's hands flew to her mouth. "He—he just killed them—"
The world feed shifted again. A holographic projection of a bustling city flared up. Magneto raised his hand, and lava poured through its streets in the image, fire rolling down avenues like rivers.
"This is but a taste," Magneto said. "Obey me, or this will be your capital. Your homes. Your children's futures."
The screen went black. Silence again.
Logan's claws itched against his knuckles. He wanted to tear the smug face right out of the wires.
Colossus clenched his fists, knuckles white. "We cannot let this continue."
Nightcrawler dropped lightly from the chandelier, tail flicking. "I vote we find a new vacation spot, because the Bermuda Triangle has just lost all charm."
Even Storm's composure cracked. "The man toys with nations as though they are insects. We cannot allow such arrogance to stand."
Finally, Xavier spoke. His voice was calm, but iron hard beneath it.
"X-Men," he said. "Prepare yourselves. We move against Magneto."
Logan smirked, biting down his cigar. "About damn time, Chuck."
Kitty gulped, but nodded, determination creeping through her fear. "Okay. Okay. Let's… let's do this."
The old mansion groaned as the team rose to their feet, determination settling over them like battle armor. The Blackbird's engines roared to life somewhere below.
They didn't know what waited for them on that island. But the world had just been threatened, and the X-Men had an answer.