Professor X was somewhat dazed.
How many years had it been since he became paralyzed?
Professor X thought back.
It seemed to have been more than sixty years.
He still remembered that it had happened in 1962.
Back then, he and Magneto had still been friends, and the two of them had worked together for the CIA.
They had joined forces to stop the Cuban Missile Crisis.
It was also during that year that his spine had been injured, leaving his lower body paralyzed and preventing him from ever standing again.
He had once believed that he would never have another chance to stand.
But now, he could actually feel his legs again.
Without anyone helping him, he rose directly from his wheelchair.
His legs felt incredibly strong.
Even the wise Professor X felt tears welling in his eyes.
"Professor, you're standing!"
Even Jean, who was behind him, could not help crying out in surprise.
How miraculous!
His paralysis had been cured in an instant?
What kind of power was this?
Jean looked at Karl in astonishment.
"Forgive me. I lost my composure."
Professor X took a deep breath and sat back down.
"Understandable."
"Consider this a gift to celebrate the successful beginning of our cooperation."
"Charles, you need to understand that not everyone is as greedy as certain governments. Not everyone wants to persecute mutants."
"We came here in good faith."
Karl spoke sincerely.
As someone capable of easily reading people's minds, Professor X could judge whether someone was sincere even without using his powers.
And from what he could see, Karl's attitude truly was genuine.
"Now I'm beginning to believe that you might actually be my friend in your universe," Professor X said.
"However, I hope the two of you will keep the recovery of my body a secret."
"After all, not everyone in this world wants to be friends with mutants."
Professor X spoke calmly.
"Of course."
Karl smiled.
Internally, however, he could not stop muttering.
This seemingly upright old man clearly had no intention of revealing that he had recovered.
Judging by his attitude, he was obviously waiting for a chance to catch someone off guard.
But it made sense.
He was the leader of the mutants and possessed the ability to read minds.
If he were not clever, he would have been manipulated to death long ago.
"Please follow me."
"We never allow our friends to suffer a loss."
"Come. I'll take you underground."
Professor X spoke.
Jean pushed his wheelchair and turned away.
Karl and Strange quickly followed.
Under the curious gazes of a group of children, they walked through the Mutant School for some time before entering a silvery-white passageway.
Karl had no idea what kind of metal the passageway was made from, but it felt extraordinarily durable.
He even suspected that the metal was not a product of Earth.
Karl considered the matter silently.
Magneto had probably created it using his mutant gift.
Magneto's powerful ability allowed him to control electromagnetism, one of the fundamental forces of the universe.
He could manipulate metal throughout the world.
Magneto was undoubtedly one of the most powerful mutants. Once he truly mastered his abilities, his power would become almost unimaginable.
While Karl was thinking, they arrived before a circular metal door.
"Who exactly are you looking for?" Professor X asked, turning around.
"A dark sorcerer who has mastered the power of the soul."
"He is a traitor to Kamar-Taj who cultivates his power using the souls of sorcerers. We must kill him."
"Strange, show Charles Mordo's soul signature."
Karl spoke.
Strange nodded.
An invisible aura coiled around his fingers.
Charles carefully sensed it before nodding.
"Charles, you need to be especially careful."
"Mordo has mastered the Law of the Soul. He may have disguised himself."
"His current soul signature could be completely different."
"That may make the search considerably more difficult."
"No matter."
Charles nodded.
He approached the door.
After passing an iris scan, Charles entered alone.
Karl could see that the interior resembled an enormous sphere, its walls covered with metal panels.
This enormous device was Cerebro.
It could amplify Professor X's abilities and spread his terrifying telepathic field across the entire Earth.
"My apologies to both of you."
"Once Cerebro is activated, it has an enormous effect on the surrounding area."
"You cannot go inside."
Jean explained carefully, afraid that Karl and Strange might take offense.
"I understand."
Karl smiled.
Professor X's telepathic abilities were already immensely powerful.
Once amplified by Cerebro, they would become even more terrifying.
Inside the machine, the psychic fluctuations would probably become almost tangible.
Even among mutants, only another master of psychic power, Mastermind, had ever entered.
Karl had no desire to go inside and suffer for no reason.
They did not wait long.
Karl soon sensed an incomparably powerful psychic force spreading outward from within.
If Professor X's original power was at the Single-Universe level, Cerebro had instantly raised his Mental Force—or rather, his telepathic field—to a level infinitely close to the Multiverse.
Even Karl felt a trace of alarm.
[Ding!]
[Detected: The host is currently within a telepathic field. The random talent domain has generated a massive critical strike.]
[You have comprehended the Mind Origin.]
The familiar sensation surged through Karl.
He felt his mind instantly become clear and transparent.
The mind and Mental Force were entirely different powers.
Although they appeared similar and shared the same root, they were actually distinct.
Personality and will were both contained within the mind.
Mental Force, meanwhile, was purely the power of the soul.
The mind was a branch of the Soul Origin.
Now that Karl had mastered the power of the mind, both of his Origins could become even stronger.
As expected, coming to the Main Universe had been the right decision.
He had only just arrived, yet he had already gained something like this.
After all, this world had no shortage of mutants.
The person standing right in front of him was an obvious example.
Jean possessed the Phoenix Force, one of the most powerful and fundamental forces in existence.
Karl glanced at Jean without revealing anything.
He wondered when he might get a chance to see her use her powers.
Clank!
While he was thinking, the metal door opened.
Charles emerged from inside, controlling his wheelchair.
His face was filled with exhaustion.
The process had clearly consumed an enormous amount of his strength.
"I found the person you're looking for."
"He is in Africa, in a small country near the Sahara Desert."
"I'll give you the exact location."
Charles spoke weakly.
Karl and Strange exchanged a glance.
"Charles, thank you for your help."
Karl spoke gratefully.
(End of Chapter)
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