"Hello! Father-in-law!"
Xu Mo's voice rang out confidently as he stepped forward to greet Magneto, also known as Erik Lehnsherr. Xu Mo was all smiles, eager to make a good impression on Lorna Dane's father. After all, respecting one's elders is a fundamental rule.
But to Magneto, Xu Mo's cheerful greeting hit like a thunderbolt. The powerful mutant's expression froze as an unfamiliar, unsettling feeling crept into his chest—a sensation not unlike a heart attack.
The two men behind Magneto were equally baffled. Magneto hadn't explained much to them about this visit, so they had no clue what Xu Mo was talking about.
The large, hairy man, Sabretooth, immediately bristled. His fierce eyes locked onto Xu Mo, and he growled, "What did you just say, kid? Father-in-law? What nonsense! Let me teach you a lesson!"
With that, Sabretooth strode forward, raising his sharp claws to strike at Xu Mo. Magneto narrowed his eyes, watching the confrontation in silence.
"You must be Sabretooth, Wolverine's brother," Xu Mo said calmly, just as Sabretooth's claws neared him.
The mention of Wolverine only fueled Sabretooth's rage. He despised Logan, and now his claws moved with blinding speed as he snarled, "Die, kid!"
But Xu Mo stood still, seemingly frozen with fear. Sabretooth smirked, already savoring the victory.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of metal striking metal filled the air. Sabretooth's victorious grin faded as he realized his claws hadn't pierced flesh but had instead collided with something impossibly hard.
The impact sent a sharp pain shooting through Sabretooth's hand. He stared in disbelief as cracks spread across his claws, spider-webbing out before the entire set shattered. The broken pieces fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Where are my claws?!
Sabretooth's eyes widened in shock, his mouth working soundlessly as he tried to process what had just happened.
Xu Mo cleared his throat and, with a casual air, picked up the broken claw. "Sorry about that. Here you go." He handed the shattered piece back to Sabretooth.
The big mutant recoiled in terror, dropping the claw as if it were cursed. He stumbled backward, eyes wide with fear. "Who… who are you?"
It was the first time Sabretooth had encountered someone who could withstand his claws without a scratch. Even Wolverine's adamantium claws weren't this resilient. But this man's skin—this man—was beyond anything Sabretooth had ever faced.
"Who am I?" Xu Mo responded, his voice stern. "I'm Magneto's son-in-law, and you're in the presence of your leader's future family. So unless you want to answer to him, I suggest you back off."
Sabretooth, unsure of what to do, turned to Magneto for guidance. He looked like a chastised cat, uncertain and frightened. The sight was almost comical, and Lorna had to stifle a giggle.
Magneto, however, was furious. He had never seen such a spineless display from one of his Brotherhood members. He sneered in disgust, "Pathetic."
With a flick of his wrist, Magneto manipulated the metal belt Sabretooth wore, yanking the large mutant back into line. Sabretooth staggered, struggling to regain his composure.
Xu Mo clapped his hands together, clearly pleased with himself. "I have to say, father-in-law, your reputation as the leader of mutants precedes you. Assassinating a president, no less—talk about making an impression!"
Juggernaut, Magneto's other companion, merely touched his nose and took a step forward, waiting for Magneto's next move.
"Xu Mo," Magneto's voice was strained, his anger barely contained. "I am not your father-in-law, and don't think for a second that your antics will win me over."
His forehead was lined with the tension of holding back his true feelings. Despite his fury, Magneto was trying to keep his composure for Lorna's sake.
He addressed Xu Mo solemnly, "I've come to take my daughter back. I appreciate that you've looked after her, but it's time for her to return to her true family. You may seek the Brotherhood's help in the future, as a token of my gratitude."
Turning to Lorna, Magneto's tone softened slightly, "Child, come home."
He extended his hand to her, his eyes filled with the hope that she would accept.
Lorna hesitated, her heart torn. Seeing her father again after so long brought mixed emotions, but the thought of leaving Xu Mo was unbearable. How could she just walk away from the life she had built with him?
If she left, someone else might take her place, and she couldn't let that happen.
Finally, Lorna shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'm not going back. I'm happy here. If you want to see me, you can always visit."
As soon as she finished speaking, she stared down at the ground, feeling a pang of guilt.
Xu Mo spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness, but his expression showed he agreed with her decision.
"Lorna Lehnsherr, remember who you are," Magneto's voice grew cold and commanding. "You are my daughter, the daughter of Magneto. I will not allow you to waste your potential as a mere comic artist's assistant. This job is beneath you."
He continued, his words heavy with authority, "Come back with me to the mutant family. This is your destiny as a mutant."
The weight of his command made the air feel thick, and Lorna found herself shrinking under his gaze.
Xu Mo's expression darkened as Magneto spoke. His earlier light-heartedness disappeared, replaced by a cold intensity. "Destiny? You talk about destiny and family, but where were you when Lorna needed you? You only came for her now because she has the same powers as you."
He took a step closer, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "You abandoned her without a second thought, and now you want her back because you see her as an asset, not as your daughter. Erik Lehnsherr, you might be Magneto, but don't pretend this is about family. This is about your agenda, your ideals. To you, Lorna is just a tool."
Each word struck like a blow, and Magneto's face hardened as the truth of Xu Mo's accusations hit home. The powerful mutant knew he was right. Magneto's cold, calculating nature had led him to make decisions based on utility, not emotion.
But Magneto was not one to back down. His eyes flashed with cold light, and the magnetic field around them began to shift, distorting the air. His power radiated outward, warping the world around him.
A car driving on the nearby highway suddenly lifted into the air, pulled by Magneto's invisible force. The passengers screamed for help as the vehicle was dismantled piece by piece, the metal fragments floating behind Magneto like a deadly cloud.
With a sweep of his arms, Magneto spread his hands wide, his voice filled with contempt. "You think you can challenge me? You have no idea what the power of a mutant truly is!"
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