"DAMN YOU, STRYKER!"
Wolverine's roar tore through the air—a guttural, primal sound soaked in agony. "I'LL KILL THAT BASTARD! I SWEAR I'LL RIP HIM APART!"
He stalked the room like a caged predator, claws slicing through the air with deadly precision, each swing promising blood. Every breath was a growl, every step a warning—he was on the edge of losing all control.
Rogue, Iceman, and the others watched with growing apprehension.
From their perspective, Jason had seemingly unleashed something untamed and dangerous.
"Logan, calm down!"
Jason's voice cut through Wolverine's rage. "When Kayla was dying, she didn't want you to become a killing machine! Don't dishonour the woman who loved you so deeply!"
These words triggered a cascade of long-forgotten memories to flash through Wolverine's mind. In an instant, all the violent energy drained from his body.
He slowly retracted his claws and slumped to the floor, utterly defeated.
Jason sighed heavily, motioning for the onlookers to disperse before closing the door.
At this moment, only time could offer Logan any comfort.
He sent the young mutants back to their quarters. "Stryker will be attacking soon. If you don't rest now, you won't have the strength to escape when the time comes."
Rogue hovered uncertainly before stepping closer to Jason, her voice low and anxious. "Is Logan gonna be okay? You shouldn't've told him everything like that… not all at once."
Jason waved dismissively. "Don't worry, Logan won't stay down for long. If all else fails, we'll wait for Jean to return and have her give Logan a psychic tune-up. The invincible Wolverine will be back at full strength in no time."
Rogue rolled her eyes at his flippancy.
If Jean really tried that, Cyclops would never forgive her!
Late that night, while the mansion's other occupants slept, Wolverine remained alone with his grief. Jason, meanwhile, sat in the common room, mindlessly watching late-night television.
His phone vibrated. Opening it, he found a photo—an aerial view of Magneto's secret prison. The triangular facility was situated on a small island, isolated and heavily guarded.
By his estimation, Professor Xavier would have been captured by now. Stryker had almost certainly ambushed him at the prison.
Jason had deliberately withheld any information about upcoming events and had no intention of altering the course of events. His objectives extended beyond merely acquiring adamantium or securing the allegiance of a few X-Men.
In the Marvel universe, mutants possessed extraordinary abilities. One could even argue that if all mutants united, they might prove invincible against any coalition of other heroes.
In the current timeline, two figures stood out as particularly problematic: Magneto and Professor Xavier—both immensely powerful in their own ways.
Magneto's abilities needed no elaboration.
As for Xavier, his Cerebro amplifier could potentially be weaponized to eradicate all of humanity!
Conveniently, these two individuals represented the dual poles of mutant leadership—one advocating peace, the other embracing violence.
Magneto couldn't be allowed to remain at large, nor could Cerebro continue to exist as a potential threat.
Regarding the Professor himself, Jason remained immune to telepathic intrusion, so he had options. If Xavier could be controlled, fine. If not, Jason wouldn't hesitate to send him to reunite with his "old friends."
As these calculations ran through his mind, a faint rustling sound from outside caught his attention.
Stryker has arrived.
Let the show begin...
Wolverine, brooding in his room, instinctively sensed a shift in the atmosphere—danger approaching.
Glancing out the window, he caught sight of shadowy figures moving across the grounds.
Seconds later, a high-pitched scream shattered the night's silence, jolting everyone awake.
Wolverine burst from his room, immediately encountering Jason in the hallway.
"Be careful," Jason warned, his expression grave. "Hostiles are breaching the perimeter. Go protect the children!"
Chaos erupted throughout the mansion. Wolverine gathered all the students who hadn't been captured and led them toward the entrance of the secret passage.
He didn't know who was attacking or whether he could defeat them, but the secret tunnel offered strategic advantages—a position from which they could either retreat or counterattack as needed.
Meanwhile, Jason moved unhurriedly toward the invading forces. Upon encountering the first wave of attackers, he raised his hand, summoning a blinding flash of lightning.
Most of the assault team fell instantly. This devastating display drew Stryker's attention.
Listening to panicked reports through his communications headset, Stryker surveyed his surroundings and focused on the captured students—his newly acquired leverage.
Back inside the mansion, Wolverine was ushering people into the secret passage when he spotted Jason approaching.
"What's wrong? Even you couldn't stop them?" he asked, surprised by Jason's retreat.
Jason shook his head. "It's not that I couldn't stop them—it's that the enemy is utterly despicable."
Wolverine soon understood Jason's meaning. The soldiers had taken children as hostages.
Now, Jason and Wolverine faced a dozen armed soldiers, each using terrified students as human shields.
A middle-aged man with gray hair and a slightly portly build approached them. He wore glasses and bore a smug smile. He addressed Jason first.
"The famous Mr. Jason! I never expected to find you here. I watched your interview just this morning!"
Jason's expression remained impassive. "And I never expected American soldiers to attack a school full of children."
"Haha, this is no ordinary school!"
Stryker's smile widened. "Mr. Jason, have you truly decided to align yourself with these mutants?"
"I'm not aligning with mutants," Jason replied evenly. "I'm standing with my conscience."
Stryker laughed and clapped his hands appreciatively.
"It seems you really are the virtuous priest portrayed on television. Unfortunately, that leaves me with no alternative."
He shifted his attention to Wolverine, his eyes reflecting surprise tinged with nostalgia. "Logan, it's been too long! Look at me—I've grown old, while you remain in your prime!"
From the moment Stryker had appeared, Wolverine had been lost in a flood of returning memories.
Hearing his name spoken by that familiar voice, he snapped back to reality. "Stryker!" he growled through clenched teeth.
SNIKT!
His adamantium claws extended with a distinctive sound as he prepared to lunge—only to be halted by a rapidly forming wall of ice that materialized between him and his target.
Behind them, Rogue and Iceman shouted urgently, "Go! Now!"
Despite the barrier, Wolverine hesitated, reluctant to leave the man responsible for his suffering.
Jason grabbed his arm. "Come on! You'll have your chance to settle with him later!"
Grinding his teeth in frustration, Wolverine turned and headed toward the secret passage.
As Jason followed, he discreetly retrieved a small disc emitting a soft blue light from his pocket and slipped it into a crack in the wall.
This device represented Anton and his son's latest achievement in weapons development. While not comparable to a nuclear weapon, it possessed more than enough power to demolish the entire structure.
At the exit of the secret passage, a cluster of frightened students huddled together.
They were disheveled, some quietly sobbing.
"Where will we go now?" a young girl asked, her voice trembling.
Wolverine opened his mouth to answer but found himself without a response.
Jason stepped forward. "We'll go to New Jersey. I have a facility there large enough to accommodate everyone."
Once they had moved a safe distance away, Jason surreptitiously pressed the detonator.
Moments later, a tremor rippled through the ground, followed by a thunderous explosion.
Everyone turned to see an enormous fireball rising into the night sky. Their expressions transformed to horror.
"What the hell?!" Iceman yelled, his eyes wide with shock. "They attacked us—and now they've blown up the school? That's insane! How are we even supposed to go back after this?"
A subtle smile played across Jason's lips. What? You think you'll live at my place and then just move back? I'd lose out completely!
Hmph, let's play this development game, my little pawns!
Elsewhere, Stryker and several captured mutant children had barely exited the building when the shockwave hurled them to the ground.
He struggled to his feet, blood streaming down his face.
Staring at the collapsing building behind him, he spat a curse. "Goddamn it!"
These mutants are truly inhumane! They'd even destroy their own sanctuary! I have to say, there's scarcely a normal individual among this entire species!
But even this won't deter me!
He grabbed the commander of another squad, who looked equally dazed. "What I need is underground. This explosion can't have destroyed it. Dig down—and dig hard!"
"Yes, sir!"
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