Erik felt very strange at the moment. He initially thought he was the main protagonist of the video, but to his surprise, he was only one of the leads. In some aspects, Charles even had more screen time than him.
Of course, from the final outcome, it was clear that Charles had the more tragic fate. He helped Erik seek revenge, but in the process, lost his friendship, family, love, and was even forced to experience death.
Logan, after seeing Charles wipe Moira's memory in the video, was deeply moved. He said in a low voice, "He chose the hardest path. Charles... he's not weak. His courage is far beyond what you can imagine!"
Erik glanced at him but did not retort, because Logan was right. Charles came across as the more peaceful side of the mutants, especially when contrasted with the hardline hawk that was Magneto. At first glance, Charles seemed a bit soft, but when you really think about it, the path he chose was anything but easy.
Ever since his powers awakened, Charles had been able to sense the thoughts of everyone around him. He knew the hidden evil and darkness lurking in people's hearts. Universal morals and laws forced everyone to wear masks just to fit into the materialistic society. On the surface, everyone appeared normal, polite, and well-mannered.
But if you peeked into their minds, you'd see the wickedness beneath those masks. Even ordinary people, under pressure or stress, could give birth to dark and twisted thoughts in their hearts. Although most of these thoughts never turned into actions or were never expressed, they were crystal clear under Charles's telepathy.
A classmate who smiled and wanted to befriend you might secretly be thinking, "This bastard deserves to die. I wish I could kill him." A teacher who appeared serious and focused on teaching might actually be plotting how to seduce a beautiful student. A well-dressed politician might be scheming, full of fraud and conspiracy.
At times, Charles's telepathy and mind-reading were not blessings but curses, forcing the filth of human nature to be laid bare before his eyes. It showed him that the light and justice in the world were like flawless lotus flowers floating on the surface of a pond, but underneath, in the murky depths, there was only filth and decay.
Erik couldn't help but wonder: if he had Charles's telepathy, what kind of person would he become?
Would he end up crazier than Sebastian Shaw?
Or perhaps Charles's real pain wasn't physical torture like what Erik had endured, but rather the pollution of the mind and spirit.
But Charles grew up and matured in this filthy and corrupt "mud," yet still became the optimistic and hopeful person seen in the video—someone who held boundless hope for the future, even becoming something of a "saint." Erik had to admit, such an untainted quality despite his surroundings was truly admirable. Erik himself knew he could never achieve that.
When it came to their ideologies about the future of mutants, Erik chose a path of radical resistance. It wasn't an easy road either. It was true that mutants possessed extraordinary powers, but modern society was still dominated by humans. At least with the power and influence Erik had in the video, he wasn't yet strong enough to completely reshape the world's order.
Charles's path was even more difficult. It was like dancing on eggshells. If he got too close to the government, the mutants who trusted him would end up as lab rats, like Wolverine and Sabretooth, both chained like rabid dogs.
But if he distanced himself too far from the government, how would he be any different from the radical hawk that was Magneto?
To realize his dream and ideals, Charles had to maintain a delicate balance. This required immense wisdom as well as extraordinary courage. If he were truly a weak coward, why would he shoulder the enormous responsibility of leading the mutant race?
Why not, like Wolverine, wander aimlessly or hide away in some forsaken corner of the world and wait for death?
It wasn't just Erik and Logan. Other onlookers, like Spider-Man, Wanda, Captain America, and Batman, were also impressed by Charles's choices. They all felt that
Charles was a kindred spirit. Meanwhile, the video on the light screen continued.
After returning to the CIA, Agent Moira was interrogated by her superiors. By this point, she had already forgotten the thrilling events she had experienced, and could only occasionally recall fragments of her time with Charles, including that final kiss. The CIA officials immediately began to complain: "Can a woman in love still be a competent agent?"
At that moment, Erik and his newly formed Brotherhood of Mutants launched their first operation. Unlike Professor X, who had decided to lay low, Magneto had a completely different style. He directly stormed the CIA's prison and rescued the imprisoned White Queen.
Thus, both leaders of the mutants—Professor X and Magneto—began their respective journeys, and the future video finally came to an end.
Peter scratched his head, having been engrossed in the video for so long. He couldn't help but reflect, "Man, the professor's challenges are way more complicated than mine. All I have to do is find the bad guy, beat him up, and problem solved... But racial discrimination isn't something that can be fixed by defeating just one villain."
Wanda curled her lips, "Tell me about it. Even characters like Captain America and Superman, as righteous as they are, still face doubt and exclusion. The Avengers are only a small group and are still seen as unstable by the authorities. Not to mention an entire race like the mutants. To be honest, I despise war. So I hope their world can be like what Professor X envisions: mutants integrating into human society, and the barriers between them being removed. But logic tells me that's nearly impossible. If mutants want the rights and status they deserve, they must rise up and fight back. Magneto's path might be the correct one."
Peter shook his head, "It's not that bad. Mr Eric is way too extreme. He killed Shaw, but in doing so, became the next Shaw. The professor's pleas fell on deaf ears. He betrayed him!"
From the beginning, Peter admired the gentle, wise Charles Xavier. After witnessing his actions, Peter's admiration grew into reverence. He believed Professor X was a true hero, someone he should strive to emulate. In comparison, he had no fondness for Erik and couldn't agree with his supremacist theories.