Marvel's New Magneto

While Professor Charles Xavier sat watching the live broadcast on TV, in a distant, aging building, someone else was also focused on the same program.

This was Hank's workshop. Due to his work, Hank often interacted with strangers. Not wanting to disturb the quiet of the Academy or cause unnecessary trouble, he bought a plot of land in a relatively cheap area years ago, using all his savings to build a small building. Though the building was modest, as time passed, its original look gradually faded, becoming almost forgotten. Eventually, a few sturdy vines began to grow around Hank's home, stubbornly climbing up the steep exterior walls with determination. Over the years, they succeeded in completely covering the structure. Now, their slender forms weaved across the surface, transforming the dull, gray walls into a work of living art. In the right season, the vines turned the wall into a beautiful, changing tapestry of silk-like colors—spring brought soft green, summer deep green, and autumn and winter a muted red, sometimes tinged with yellow during a dry spell.

These vines were Hank's treasures, and he often stood outside, proudly gazing at them, much like a father admiring the children he had carefully nurtured. They made him feel proud.

Now, the vines mischievously stretched their young tendrils into the upper windows, eager to join their "father" in watching the latest news broadcast with guests.

This lounge was Hank's private space, where he was joined by his old friend's promising students. Normally, at this hour, they would be sipping tea, chatting about work or the weather, but today was different. The program on the TV stunned them, and they were too shocked to even sit. They gathered in a half-circle in front of the screen, intently watching the broadcast.

When the news ended, the screen switched back to the live studio. A local celebrity host began commenting on the events that had just aired. Cyclops, Scott Summers, impatiently listened to the host's endless chatter before turning his frustration towards Erik.

"This is the person the professor has faith in?" Scott scoffed. "We took him in, let him teach at the school, and on his first day, he was late. Aurora had to cover for him, and then, while we weren't around, he causes this kind of mess. He takes a bunch of clueless kids out to fight a giant snake and appears on TV. Does he think he's some Broadway actor? I knew this guy was unreliable from the start."

Scott's words were heavy with disdain, but no one was surprised. It was well-known that he and Erik never got along.

However, Scott's words weren't just casual remarks. He was looking directly at Hank, with whom he had recently become somewhat estranged. Hank, who had always been gentle and warm, was now defending Erik, someone Scott felt had caused a rift between them. Hank, despite having once disliked Erik's younger self, now seemed to view him in a different light. No one knew what Erik had done to change Hank's mind, but it had been enough to earn him the older man's trust.

Hank didn't respond to Scott's words. His patience, built up over years of experience, allowed him to smile and nod in acknowledgment without saying anything. He simply kept watching the TV, unbothered.

Scott noticed his words were being ignored, but he wasn't ready to give up. He continued, "I think we should warn the professor. We can't let this guy keep causing trouble. We've just faced an attack from humans. The danger isn't over, it's only going to get worse. We need to train our students, turn them into a force to protect themselves, not let them show off in front of normal people."

His tone was clear and forceful, and he hoped to get a positive response.

But Hank still didn't answer. He was absorbed in the broadcast.

Scott, frustrated, watched as his words were ignored. His girlfriend and colleagues around him also remained silent. They all exchanged looks of helplessness before sitting down, crossing their arms, and silently protesting.

The broadcast then replayed footage of the students at the riverbank, fighting the giant snake. The footage was slowed down to give the audience a better view.

Scott didn't know what the viewers thought. All he knew was that the more he watched, the more irritated he became. Erik's electromagnetic pulse wasn't surprising, considering his mysterious nature, but the students? They were a mess—ineffective, chaotic, and distracted, forgetting everything they had learned in training. All of this was Erik's fault. The destruction he caused that day was enough to undo years of the X-Men's efforts. Scott couldn't understand why the others believed in Erik more than in him.

Though no one outright mentioned "he is the future," Scott sensed the shift. Since Erik arrived at the Academy, his time alone with the professor had dwindled. The professor now often took Erik aside for long conversations. Even Hank, who had once disapproved of Erik's younger self, now seemed to support him. Jean, too, had grown distant from Scott, her relationship with Erik growing stronger. And Logan? Even he seemed more interested in Erik than Scott. Everything had changed ever since Erik arrived.

"All of this is because of him," Scott thought. "If Erik gets captured by humans, I won't be too upset."

Scott's thoughts weren't entirely driven by personal emotions. He was also thinking about the greater good for mutants. The strongest among them needed to be gathered and trained to unite and strengthen their forces. Only then could they stand a chance against human persecution. He shared this view with Erik, despite their differences. Both of them had suffered at the hands of humans, but Erik's approach was different, and it made Scott feel betrayed.

Scott watched the excited, distorted faces of the crowd, their arms raised in joy, and couldn't help but scoff. "Humans see them as circus performers, but they're so happy about it. They're so naive," he thought.

What were the professor and the others thinking? It was hard to understand how someone as wise as Xavier could bet everything on such a fleeting stranger. It was like those foolish old men who believed in magic for eternal life. What a tragedy.

If the professor had been watching this broadcast, his expression would have been laughable.

At the riverbank, the battle with the giant snake had finally ended. The defeated snake, though once majestic, was now nothing but a pathetic creature, battered by heat and cold, its strength drained by the human violence and the interference from the humans around it. It was a miracle it had held on this long.

If the snake could speak, it would have issued a final, bitter cry about how humans had ruthlessly tormented it. Unfortunately, no one could understand its serpent language. Instead, it died in silence, its last breath lost in the cacophony of the crowd.

The young students' excitement hadn't faded yet. They eagerly struck the snake's corpse a few more times before Aurora stopped them. The students were beaming with joy, their faces flushed like ordinary boys returning from a victorious game. The reporters snapped dozens of close-up shots, and the students didn't shy away from the attention. Among them, the outgoing John and Alison were already chatting with the reporters.

Erik had been a target for reporters, but he smiled and avoided them. He didn't intend to make a big spectacle of entering human society just yet. The snake battle was to be seen as a small, unexpected event. The real surprises were still to come. If the mutants continued to make a splash, they would eventually be exposed to humans in a way that would make them seem like out-of-place rocks exposed by a receding tide.

"You'll see. There will be more surprises ahead, and mutants will become humanity's saviors. In the face of danger, they'll save innocent humans from the claws of terror. Our genes separate us, and only under great pressure can we unite. Without a crisis, how can we have heroes? Without pressure, how can mutants truly integrate with humans?"

Erik's eyes glinted dangerously. He snapped out of his thoughts and reminded Aurora to gather the students. They had enjoyed enough freedom for today. Now, it was time to leave. Overexposure to the media was never a good thing, and too much public attention wouldn't ensure long-term popularity. The students had a lot to learn, especially in public relations.

Erik contributed himself to the media circus, but soon slipped away behind a row of trees. Using a potion from the other world, he disappeared from the reporters' sight.

"Welcome back, Erik," the professor greeted warmly as Erik returned to the Academy. He sat in his wheelchair, a soft smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. "No casualties. Well done."

"Yes, the insurance company might have a headache, but at least no one was hurt," Erik replied, patting the professor's hand gently before pushing the wheelchair.

"Before dinner starts, tell me about the blood orchid. How does it have such amazing properties?"

As they walked away, their voices grew softer, blending with the quiet evening air.

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