Wolverine stared at the screen, feeling increasingly unsettled.
The person in the video looked just like him, yet there was a strange sense of unfamiliarity. Though that man was also called Logan Howlett and bore his exact appearance, the aura he exuded was somehow different, making Wolverine feel like he was looking at a stranger.
It wasn't just him who noticed. Erik glanced at him, a spark of curiosity in his eyes, and commented, "Something's off with the you in the video, Logan. I'd almost thought someone was impersonating you."
Logan was quick to confirm that the man in the video was indeed him. He asked Erik why he found it strange.
Erik didn't hold back, thoughtfully replying, "Look at yourself now—you're like a wounded wolf in the corner, ready to pounce and tear out the throat of anyone who dares harm you. Your animalistic nature is unleashed. I know exactly how you feel right now; we're both driven by revenge."
"But look at the you in that video. Even though he's also you, he's clearly been trained, taught to keep his claws and beastly side hidden. And there's something else he has that you don't. Do you know what that is?"
Logan remained silent for a long moment, finally letting out a slow breath. "He's found a purpose… unlike me, still so lost."
That wasn't entirely accurate; Wolverine did have a goal—he wanted revenge on Stryker. But as he'd seen in the previous videos of the future, even after avenging himself, he would end up losing his memories and drifting aimlessly, his days blurring together.
After watching these glimpses of his future, Wolverine wanted to change things. But the thought of those videos being broadcast to everyone, including Stryker and Silver Fox, left him feeling lost again. He wasn't sure how he would handle things when he returned to his world from this bizarre quiz game.
Perhaps, as someone with near-immortality, Wolverine had always been a wanderer, adrift without direction. The only time he ever felt at home was during his brief, secluded life with Silver Fox, but even that turned out to be nothing more than an illusion.
Logan had always felt that his abilities were more of a curse.
Deep down, he envied those who could experience the bittersweetness of life and eventually rest in peace. To achieve even a semblance of that, he had to constantly suppress his beastly instincts and temper, shackling himself to maintain control.
But this world stripped away his right to a peaceful life, forcing him to unleash his wild side. Trapped in a constant struggle between his humanity and his animalistic nature, his sense of direction only became more muddled.
Yet, the Logan in the video had a resolute look in his eyes, filled with a strong sense of purpose. There was no hint of confusion, making Wolverine wonder even more about what could have happened to his future self to bring about such a profound change.
Could he really have found a way to escape this aimless life?
In the video, Logan punched Hank McCoy, knocking him to the ground, and barged up to the second floor, shouting for the professor as he searched the place.
This unruly, almost bandit-like behavior infuriated Hank, who transformed into Beast and launched a counterattack. The two quickly began to grapple, and eventually, Wolverine was thrown off the second floor, landing with a painful thud.
At this point in time, it seemed Wolverine was still no match for Beast—or rather, he didn't intend to go all out in a fight with him.
Beast, however, didn't let it slide. Seizing the advantage, he pinned Wolverine down and landed a few punches, venting his anger.
Just then, Charles finally appeared.
Wearing a bathrobe, his hair and beard a mess, he looked like a drunken vagrant, a far cry from the charismatic figure who once stood alongside Erik during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Still, there was one noticeable improvement—Charles could walk on his own now.
Logan, upon seeing Charles, was visibly shocked. "You can walk?"
Charles, glass of liquor in hand and eyes bleary, gave the uninvited intruder a cold look and signaled to Beast to throw him out.
But Logan hadn't barged in just to be kicked out. Now that he had found Professor X, he wasn't about to leave so easily and immediately told him that he'd been sent here by someone.
Charles chuckled coldly, not bothering to hide his disdain. "I don't care who sent you. Tell them I'm not interested."
Logan, however, dropped a bombshell. "It's not just anyone who sent me—it's you. You, from fifty years in the future."
Charles froze, stunned into silence. He scoffed at first, even suspecting Logan was a CIA agent, but Wolverine quickly offered proof.
He revealed a secret Charles had buried deep inside: "I know that when you were nine, you discovered your abilities. At first, you thought you were going insane because of the constant voices in your head. It wasn't until you were twelve that you realized the voices were other people's thoughts. Need me to go on?"
Charles, visibly shaken, whispered, "I've never told anyone that."
Logan replied calmly, "You haven't told anyone now… but you will someday."
With that revelation, Charles could no longer deny the possibility that the man before him was telling the truth. This Wolverine had come on the orders of his future self, seeking his help.
Charles's face grew serious, and he asked, "Alright, you have my attention. What do you need from me?"
"We need to stop Raven. I need your help… we need your help," Logan said bluntly, not mincing words. But when he mentioned Raven's name, both Charles and Hank's expressions changed. Each of them had complicated feelings when it came to her.
Outside the video, Wolverine was dumbfounded, trying to wrap his head around the strange situation. "So… the me in the video is actually from fifty years in the future?"