Mutants were indeed an extremely powerful race.
However, precisely because they were born powerful and possessed extraordinary gifts, their mastery over their abilities was generally inadequate.
It could even be said that, without their natural gifts, they had nothing.
Superman was a perfect example.
In terms of raw combat power alone, he was the strongest member of the Justice League.
However, if Superman lost his natural abilities, Batman could pin him to the ground and beat him senseless.
Superman's fighting technique was not even as refined as that of an experienced street fighter.
Perhaps this was the disadvantage of possessing overwhelming natural talent.
When talent alone could solve every problem, why would anyone bother training their abilities?
Very few mutants relied on hard work to increase their strength.
Even Professor X and Magneto had always depended on their natural gifts without ever considering how to improve them systematically.
Their astonishment upon meeting a powerful individual like Karl—someone with a solid foundation and ruthless, effective methods—was easy to imagine.
Professor X nearly suffered a complete crisis of confidence.
It was like a grade-schooler believing himself to be brilliant, only to see the research produced by a world-class scientist.
The shock and incomprehension were overwhelming.
Professor X almost completely withdrew into himself.
The gap was simply too vast.
The next day, they sat together and talked.
"Karl, are all the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj this formidable?" Professor X could not resist asking.
"That depends on how you define formidable."
"In terms of raw power alone, you mutants are uniquely blessed."
"Most sorcerers probably possess less raw power than mutants."
"To be honest, most of us are quite envious of you."
Karl spoke sincerely.
Mutants were practically born with an innate cheat code.
Professor X, however, did not agree with him.
"You only see our gifts. You don't see the suffering they bring us."
"Many children are unable to control their powers."
"They cannot be considered an absolute blessing."
Professor X spoke sorrowfully.
"They're simply too young to master their gifts."
"When their souls aren't strong enough to support the power they possess, problems are inevitable."
"Giving a child too much power only ends with the child getting hurt."
Karl shook his head.
Most mutant abilities manifested during adolescence.
Abilities such as those possessed by Professor X and Magneto were relatively manageable. Nothing unusual could be seen from their outward appearances, so their lives were not immediately disrupted.
However, mutants such as Mystique, Beast, and Nightcrawler underwent visible physical mutations because of their abilities.
For young people, that was hardly a good thing.
Karl could fully understand their difficulties.
However, most of those difficulties existed because they were too young. Their souls were not yet strong enough to support the immense power they possessed.
"Are you saying that, with enough training, they could control their powers?"
"Could they even return to normal?"
Professor X's gaze sharpened as he asked.
"Of course."
"It's entirely possible."
"Aren't you capable of controlling your own power?"
"The greatest fear among mutants is losing control of their abilities, but that can absolutely be prevented."
"Systematic training can completely prevent that problem."
"Your teaching methods are too primitive. You don't have a proper system at all."
Karl shook his head.
The Marvel Universe contained numerous training institutions.
There were mutant schools, S.H.I.E.L.D. academies, Avengers Academy, and many others.
However, Kamar-Taj was the only institution capable of training sorcerers systematically and in large numbers.
The teaching methods used by the other organizations could only be described as crude.
Professor X's mutant school was an even more obvious example.
Most of the lessons taught there covered ordinary academic subjects.
When it came to controlling mutant abilities, the teachers merely passed down their personal experiences.
That method could never reliably produce outstanding students.
The most fundamental aspects of a human being were the soul and will.
As long as someone possessed a sufficiently powerful soul and will, they could naturally control all kinds of different powers.
This was especially true for mutants.
Professor X looked somewhat embarrassed when he heard Karl's assessment.
However, judging from what he had witnessed, Karl was clearly correct.
Compared with Karl's command of power, Professor X's own abilities were nothing remarkable.
With that thought, Professor X looked Karl up and down.
Karl spoke about the subject with complete confidence and logic.
What would happen if they invited him to teach at the school?
Wouldn't their mutant school benefit enormously?
Had Karl been the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj in this universe, Professor X naturally would never have entertained such an idea.
Strange already had countless responsibilities of his own.
Karl was still visiting the school, but Strange had already left to handle other matters.
Karl, however, was a Sorcerer Supreme from another universe.
There was nothing preventing him from teaching the mutants as well.
"Ahem."
"Karl, is there a particular reason you came to the Main Universe?"
Professor X cautiously tested the waters.
"My primary purpose is to travel."
"As the center of this world, the Main Universe naturally contains many powerful individuals."
"I came here to meet and observe them."
"Only by encountering more powerful people can I experience more of what this world has to offer."
Karl smiled as he answered.
"I see."
"In that case, would you be interested in teaching here?"
"There are also many powerful mutants on Earth."
"I could introduce you to them."
Professor X made his offer.
Karl smiled.
"I'm sorry, Charles, but I won't remain at your mutant school permanently."
"However, while I'm staying here for the next few days, I can teach your students a few things."
"At the very least, I can help them gain some control over their powers so they won't accidentally harm other people."
Karl spoke calmly.
Professor X was overjoyed.
That alone was more than enough.
Even learning a small amount from Karl could benefit those children for the rest of their lives.
"Thank you very much."
"I don't know how we could possibly repay you."
"How about this? I can contact several of the most powerful mutants we know."
"You can meet them and experience their abilities for yourself."
Professor X spoke excitedly.
"Thank you. I would appreciate that."
Karl readily accepted.
Teaching them a few minor techniques in exchange for meeting several powerful mutants offered him nothing but benefits.
"Charles, I happen to have some free time over the next few days."
"I can help teach your students."
Karl considered the matter briefly before speaking.
"Of course."
"I'll make the arrangements immediately."
Professor X happily accepted.
The school's curriculum was not particularly rigid in the first place.
Several members of the X-Men served as teachers in addition to their other responsibilities.
Even Wolverine taught history.
It would therefore be extremely easy to arrange for Karl to teach these subjects.
The more Charles thought about it, the more impatient he became to begin.
He felt that even the X-Men should attend Karl's lessons.
Their control over their abilities was simply far too crude.
(End of Chapter)
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