Round after round, mutants fought with fierce determination, but none truly stood out. Emma's interest waned slightly until the final match was announced. This one, however, caught her attention.
The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers. "In this corner, we have Thrasher!" A brash young man with spikes protruding from his muscular arms stepped into the ring. His appearance was the epitome of deadly savageness, and he reveled in the crowd's adoration. "And his opponent, Ryder!"
A young boy emerged, looking utterly ordinary and frightened. There was nothing outwardly special about him, no visible mutations or powers. The crowd's reaction was immediate and disdainful. They booed and jeered, their money already on Thrasher.
Sebastian, Selene, and Mystique were quick to place their bets on Thrasher, their confidence unshaken. "That boy doesn't stand a chance," Sebastian scoffed.
Emma, however, did not join them. She leaned back, her eyes narrowing as she focused on Ryder. "Have any of you bothered to read his mind?" she asked, her tone deceptively casual.
Selene and Sebastian exchanged looks. "There's no point," Selene replied dismissively. "He's as good as dead."
Emma didn't respond immediately, her attention now fully on Ryder as the match began. Thrasher wasted no time, launching into a brutal assault. Ryder dodged and evaded, his movements desperate and uncoordinated. He took blow after blow, showing no signs of any mutant abilities. The crowd's boos grew louder, and the bets on Thrasher increased.
Mystique leaned closer to Emma, her voice a teasing whisper. "Better get your bet in before the blood spills."
Emma smiled, a small, enigmatic curve of her lips. "Not yet," she replied, her eyes never leaving Ryder. As Thrasher continued to taunt and batter his opponent, Emma's interest only deepened. She reached out with her telepathic abilities, probing Ryder's mind. There was resistance, a barrier that shouldn't be there. A smirk played on her diamond-tinted lips.
"All right, Emma, place your bet," Sebastian urged, confident in Thrasher's impending victory.
Emma's gaze remained steady as she placed her bet. "I bet it all on Ryder."
The reaction was immediate and incredulous. "Are you mad?" Selene exclaimed. "He's done for!"
Emma's smile widened slightly. "Scan his mind, if you can."
Selene and Sebastian frowned, their own telepathic probes meeting the same resistance Emma had encountered. "We can't," Sebastian admitted, frustration coloring his voice.
"Exactly," Emma said, her voice laced with satisfaction. She leaned forward, her interest now fully captivated by the match below.
Thrasher, emboldened by the crowd's support and Ryder's apparent lack of ability, grew careless. His attacks became more reckless, his taunts more vicious. Ryder, for his part, continued to evade and endure, but Emma sensed something more beneath the surface—a tension, a potential waiting to be unleashed.
Then, it happened. Thrasher lunged for what he thought would be the final blow, but Ryder moved with a sudden, fluid grace that belied his earlier clumsiness. In an instant, the air around him shimmered, and he vanished. Thrasher stumbled, his momentum carrying him into empty space. The crowd gasped, their eyes wide with shock.
Ryder reappeared behind Thrasher, his expression a mix of fear and determination. He had teleported. The realization rippled through the audience, and the boos turned to stunned silence. Thrasher, disoriented and enraged, spun around, but Ryder was gone again, reappearing several feet away.
Emma's smile deepened. "Interesting," she murmured.
The match took on a new rhythm, Thrasher's savage attacks countered by Ryder's growing confidence and mastery of his newfound ability. Each teleportation was quicker, more precise, and Thrasher's frustration mounted. He was used to overpowering his opponents, but Ryder was a different challenge altogether.
Emma's cohorts watched in amazement, their initial scorn turning to grudging respect. "How did you know?" Mystique asked, her eyes never leaving the ring.
"Instinct," Emma replied, though she knew it was more than that. Ryder's mind had intrigued her from the start, and now she was seeing the potential she had sensed.
The fight reached its climax as Thrasher, now desperate, launched a final, all-out attack. Ryder teleported just in time, reappearing behind Thrasher and delivering a decisive blow to the back of his head. Thrasher collapsed, unconscious, and the crowd erupted in a mix of cheers and shocked murmurs.
Emma rose to her feet, her eyes glittering with satisfaction. "Well, that was certainly worth the wait."
Sebastian, Selene, and Mystique exchanged looks, their earlier confidence shattered. "You've got an eye for talent," Sebastian admitted grudgingly.
"Indeed," Emma replied. She glanced down at Ryder, who stood panting and victorious in the ring. His journey was just beginning, and she intended to be a part of it.
As the crowd continued to buzz with excitement, Emma's mind was already working, plotting the next steps. Ryder was more than just a fighter; he was a potential asset, a pawn in the intricate game of power and influence that the Hellfire Club played so well.
She turned to her companions, her expression thoughtful. "I think we should have a word with our new champion."
Sebastian Shaw's voice was low but seething with controlled anger as he spoke to Emma. "You think it's wise to bring in someone we can't read, can't control? It's virtually unheard of for a mutant, especially one so young, to block telepathic entry. What if he's a plant? A spy for the X-Men?"
Emma leaned back in her chair, her gaze unwavering. "Don't be ridiculous, Sebastian. He's a child. A frightened one, at that. I've seen enough in his eyes to know he's no threat to the Club."
Shaw's expression darkened further. "And what if you're wrong? Are we supposed to gamble the safety of everything we've built on your 'intuition'?"
Emma tilted her head, a small, mocking smile playing on her lips. "Are you intimidated by him, Sebastian? Afraid of what a child might do?"
He glared at her, jaw clenched, but said nothing.
She scoffed, the sound light but cutting. "You're so predictable. Always threatened by what you can't control. He's an asset, and you'll see that in time. Until then, try not to lose your composure over one boy."
Sebastian's silence was answer enough. Emma knew she had already won this round.
As they made their way down to the ring, Emma couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation. The Hellfire Club thrived on power and manipulation, and Ryder, with his unexpected abilities, was a valuable addition to their ranks.