Chapter 27: Mutant Team Training
While Li Yue was experimenting with his ability, Charles and Erik were out ambushing the White Queen, who went to seduce a Soviet military officer, just like in the movie.
Erik destroyed the White Queen's diamond petrification, allowing Charles to read the White Queen's memory and discover Sebastian Shaw's plan. Sebastian planned to make the Soviet Union deploy missiles in Cuba, provoking the United States and the Soviet Union into war. Such a war would inevitably result in a global nuclear war, rendering humans extinct and leaving the Earth in the hands of the mutants.
This revelation deeply shook Charles. He had always envisioned a future where humans could live peacefully with mutants.
Erik, on the other hand, didn't care about the plan. He only wanted to find Sebastian Shaw and avenge his dead mother.
Charles and Erik turned the White Queen to the CIA. They would later discover that their base was attacked, and there were countless casualties. Worried about Mystique's safety, Charles hurried back to the base.
...
The CIA personnel in the base were busy cleaning up the aftermath of the attack. Mystique and the group of mutants were left without anything to do. Unlike in the movies, they were not overwhelmed with fear. Li Yue's interference prevented Angel's defection to the enemy as well as Darwin's death.
They thanked Li Yue for saving them last night. They felt at ease knowing that they have Li Yue by their side.
"Raven, are you ok? Were you hurt?" Charles rushed to Mystique's side as soon as he stepped down from the car, making sure she was unharmed.
"We are fine. Nobody's injured; Li Yue saved us in time," Mystique briefly explained what happened last night.
"I'll get someone to send you home!" Charles said, looking at the other mutants.
"We don't want to go back. We want to fight with you. Moreover, we have no home. Our friends and family looked at us like monsters!" The black driver Darwin protested.
"I don't want to go back to prison again," Alex added.
"I don't want to return and become a prostitute again!" Angel joined in.
...
Charles remained silent while Erik's eyes gleamed. Nobody knew what they were thinking.
"I also don't want to stay like this. All I can do was tremble in the corner, relying on others to survive," Mystique said, glancing at the silent Li Yue.
"We can train them!" Erik finally said. He was facing the mutant group, but he was obviously speaking to Charles.
"Erik, come here; we need to talk." Charles brought Erik a little bit away.
"Erik, they are still children!"
"They used to be. After what they experienced last night, they can't remain children anymore. Also, consider that Sebastian Shaw has a team of mutants as well. Only other mutants could oppose him," Erik argued.
Charles pondered Erik's words for a moment while looking at the group's relatively young faces. He ultimately agreed.
"We'll need special training, everyone!"
"But we can't stay here anymore. It won't be safe even if it's repaired. We have no place to go!" Beast suddenly interrupted.
"No, we have a place," Charles said mysteriously after thinking for a bit.
...
"Is this your house?" The long-haired young man blurted out.
All the members of the team were shocked when they looked at the building that resembled a European castle.
"No. It's ours now," Charles replied.
"Honestly, Charles. I don't know how you could survive, living in such hardship," Erik was obviously jealous.
Li Yue was also a little shocked. The professor was indeed a rich man. He would eventually build the X-Men Academy by himself, after all.
"Let's go in and take a look," Mystique acted like a hostess and led them into the mansion.
...
The professor's ancient castle was unsurprisingly luxurious, with magnificent decorations. Unlike Tony's villa in the Marvel universe, this place was full of nostalgic and retro style. Tony's villa, on the other hand, was futuristic and had a science fiction genre.
Although the style was different, the degree of arrogant narcissism was not different.
...
The group proceeded to the special training after touring the mansion.
Charles first took Alex to a bunker designed to resist nuclear blasts.
"Alex, your power is strong, but your lack of control is your weakness. So the first thing you need to train is your control and accuracy."
...
Banshee, Charles, and the female agent stood together in the mansion's yard. Banshee smashed a glass window a few meters away using an ultrasonic wave.
"That's awesome! Your ability is very strong—you can emit a sound wave in the frequency matching the glass resonance frequency, shattering the glass."
...
Charles analyzed everyone's ability and suggested how to improve their use and control.
However, Charles was stumped when Li Yue's turn came. Charles had no idea how to advise Li Yue; Li Yue already had superb control over his teleportation ability. There wasn't any particular need to continue training.
On the other hand, despite Li Yue's immense mental strength, he had no idea how to utilize it. Charles had a different kind of headache on this conundrum—Charles could only tell Li Yue that "true focus lies between calm and anger," just like what Charles said to Erik in the movie.
If Li Yue could utilize even half of his mental strength correctly, he could easily teleport an island away. This was what Charles said to Li Yue.
"Professor Charles, can you help me find some exceptionally hard metal?" Li Yue asked right as Charles was about to leave.
"Why would you need strong metal? You don't have to answer that. I'll get someone to buy it; it should take just a couple of days."
Charles was a little surprised at Li Yue's request, but he agreed without asking too many questions. He then left to continue instructing the others.
Charles had no way of knowing that Li Yue's request for metal was due to his other ability: the ability to evolve. Li Yue found that he could turn his body to rock or steel to resist damage. Li Yue thought that he would be invincible if he could transform himself into Vibranium or Adamantium. He might not be able to find top-quality materials right away, but he should be able to find something stronger than ordinary metal.
...
People were gathering outside. Out of curiosity, Li Yue also left his quarter and checked what they were doing.
Apparently, the glider for Banshee was ready for testing. They were gathered to witness Banshee's first flight.
Banshee already had his glider on and was sitting on the third-floor window. Charles and Beast were standing beside him.
"Just shout as loud as you can. You should be able to fly that way," Beast said.
"You really think I could fly?" Banshee seemed to doubt Beast!
"Alright, get ready. Believe in yourself. You can do it," Charles encouraged.
"Get ready, three, two, one!"
"Ah..."
Bang!
Banshee didn't even have time to shout before he slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Seeing this, Li Yue almost burst out laughing.
The people that watched also couldn't hold their laughter.