The screen flickered to life, then went black again before stabilizing—Fury was online.
"I expected you to report to me first when you got back," Fury said, his one eye narrowing as he took in the sight of Professor X sitting beside Ethan.
His expression twisted slightly, betraying a mix of irritation and resignation.
"Isn't this normal?" Professor X replied with a calm smile, his hands folded neatly in front of him.
"After all, one of the involved parties is my student."
Fury exhaled through his nose, clearly not pleased but also unwilling to argue the point.
"Fine, do whatever you want," he said with a wave of his hand.
"I'll let you take the lead on this one."
Then, turning his full attention to Ethan, his tone became sharper. "
I just want the full report. What the hell happened out there?"
There was no hesitation in discussing the matter in front of Professor X
—Fury knew that with Ethan's ties to the X-Men, there was no way to keep him out of this loop.
Besides, sharing information with them could be beneficial.
"Alright," Ethan said, straightening up. "Here's what went down."
He began recounting the events, leaving out only one crucial detail—the bleak future that the Ancient One had warned him about.
That knowledge was something he chose to carry alone, at least for now.
There was no point in burdening these two powerhouses with a doomsday prophecy when they already had their hands full with extraterrestrial threats and supernatural incursions.
Survival of civilization as a whole was what mattered most.
Fury listened in silence, absorbing every word.
By the time Ethan finished, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. let out a long, tired sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"So now, in addition to Asgard getting involved, we have Hell's forces entering the fray. And not just any demon
—we're talking about Mephisto himself. This world keeps getting weirder by the day."
"At least Asgard has shown us some degree of goodwill," Professor X pointed out, though the way his fingers tightened around the armrest of his chair suggested he wasn't entirely at ease either.
"And while the presence of Hell is troubling, it does confirm one thing—we are not alone in protecting this planet. There are forces beyond our understanding that fight on our behalf."
Ethan scoffed slightly. "Goodwill? It's less about kindness and more about control. Asgard doesn't see us as equals
—they see us as their vassals. And let's not forget, in the course of human history, they've acted like it."
"Vassals," Fury echoed, his voice laced with bitterness.
"For thousands of years, humanity has fought, innovated, and advanced. We're finally reaching for the stars, stepping into the interstellar stage, and now we find out we're nothing more than subordinates to some space gods? That's not exactly easy to accept."
Maybe Loki and other Asgardians saw humans as weak, easily dominated creatures.
But the truth was far different.
Humanity had rebellion etched into its very DNA.
From Adam and Eve defying divine law to every revolution that toppled kings and gods, humanity never stayed in submission for long.
The moment something tried to press them down, they found a way to break free—and climb even higher in the process.
"Let's set that aside for now," Ethan said, steering the conversation away from philosophy.
"Asgard and Hell have always had an impact on Earth. The only difference now is that the veil has been lifted.
Besides, based on what we know, they've got their own problems to deal with. No point in stressing about things we can't control."
Fury nodded, his focus shifting. "What's the status on Ghost Rider's interrogation?"
"It's going well," Fury admitted.
"So far, he's been cooperative. Coulson's putting together a full report on everything he's shared about Hell's hierarchy and operations. We'll have that information soon."
Ethan leaned forward. "You've got what you wanted. So, are you going to let him go now?"
"What exactly are you planning?" Fury asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He knew all too well that Ghost Rider's sudden cooperation had something to do with Ethan.
"I gave him my word," Ethan answered honestly.
"I promised to take him to Kamar-Taj and help him break free from Mephisto's control."
Fury exhaled through his nose, giving a slow nod. "I see. In that case, you can take him."
Ethan blinked, a bit taken aback. "You're being unusually straightforward about this."
Under normal circumstances, Fury would've slammed his hand on the table and barked something like,
'Everyone who enters S.H.I.E.L.D. stays in S.H.I.E.L.D. You think you can just walk out? Over my dead body!'
Instead, Fury leaned back, folding his arms.
"Because, honestly? I'm more interested in Kamar-Taj than in Ghost Rider. Asgard, Hell—both wield incredible magical power.
And while we do have our own sorcerers, they prefer to hide in the shadows instead of engaging with the real world." He rapped his knuckles against the table, frustration evident in his expression.
"You, on the other hand, have already walked through Kamar-Taj's doors. That makes you the perfect bridge between them and us. I need someone on the inside." His voice carried an undeniable weight, the voice of a man who'd spent his entire life preparing for threats beyond Earth's understanding.
"I have to agree with Director Fury on this," Professor X added, nodding thoughtfully.
Despite their occasional disagreements, Charles Xavier was a pragmatic man.
Compared to the looming threat of extraterrestrial forces, internal conflicts among Earth's defenders seemed trivial.
Humanity was already at a disadvantage in the vastness of the cosmos; the last thing they needed was division.
It had been long predicted that once humanity truly made contact with alien civilizations, everything—society, politics, ideology—would shift.
Problems that once seemed insurmountable would fade into the background, while new existential threats would emerge.
"Glad to see we're on the same page, Professor," Fury said, exchanging a knowing glance with Xavier.
They didn't need to say it outright.
They both understood that Earth had to stand united or risk being swept aside.
"I'll send you the mission parameters soon," Fury continued.
And with that, the screen flickered off.
The moment Fury's presence was gone, Professor X turned to Ethan, a curious glint in his eye.
"You've changed," he noted.
"I can feel it. If I'm not mistaken, you've undergone a second awakening. A true Omega-level mutant now." He smiled.
"I always knew you had the potential."
Ethan lifted a hand, summoning a swirling, silver-blue sphere of energy in his palm. "If mastering a new ability counts as a second awakening, then I suppose I have."
The orb pulsed, warping the air around it. "But honestly, I think 'advancement' is the better word. It's more like refining what I already had, rather than experiencing some kind of profound transformation."
Xavier's expression grew serious. "Does your advancement have anything to do with magic?"
He recalled their previous conversation, where Ethan had hinted at the connection between mutant abilities and sorcery.
Ethan nodded. "It's all connected. During my time in the west, I encountered more magic than ever before."
Xavier laced his fingers together, considering this. "Let me offer my perspective. Both mutant abilities and magic fall under the category of supernatural forces. However, there's a fundamental difference in how they are utilized. Mutants wield power instinctively—
we simply have it, without needing to understand the mechanics behind it. It's like solving a math problem by skipping the calculations and just knowing the answer.
A sorcerer, on the other hand, learns how to reach that answer step by step. It takes effort, study, and discipline, but in the end, they gain a deeper understanding of the forces they wield."
Ethan listened intently, intrigued by the analogy.
"By studying magic," Xavier continued, "you're essentially forcing yourself to slow down and understand the underlying principles of power. This could, in theory, help you refine your mutant abilities beyond what most mutants ever achieve.
But there are risks. Magic and mutant powers may both be supernatural, but they don't function in exactly the same way. Still, the potential benefits outweigh the dangers."
Ethan smirked. "So, you think I should keep walking this path?"
Xavier's eyes twinkled with encouragement. "I think you've already made up your mind. This trip to Kamar-Taj
—follow it through. If you need support, the academy will be there for you."
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Word count: 1411
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