Snap! Snap! Snap!
Xu Mo clapped his hands slowly, his eyes—dark as an abyss—fixed on Magneto. A slight curve formed at the corner of his mouth as he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of mockery.
"Well said. Mutants are indeed powerful, too powerful, but Magneto... it seems you've misunderstood something about your abilities."
He glanced at the visibly distressed Lorna Dane, offering her a reassuring nod. "Stand back, Lorna," he said gently. The air between Xu Mo and Magneto crackled with tension, the futility of reasoning with Magneto now clear. If even his old friend Charles Xavier couldn't change his mind, what chance did Xu Mo have?
Magneto's expression remained unreadable, but his silence spoke volumes.
Xu Mo continued, his voice now tinged with amusement. "When did you get the idea that I'm relying on Saitama as a crutch? Is it because I'm just a pragmatic comic artist?"
He rolled his neck, a series of creaks accompanying the movement, and let out a sneer.
Magneto's face betrayed nothing, yet the subtle tightening of his jaw revealed his growing irritation.
The world, especially those like S.H.I.E.L.D., viewed Xu Mo as less of a threat compared to the likes of Saitama, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, or Genos. Even Kaneki Ken, for all his formidable strength, was considered manageable with the right strategy. But Magneto had less information about these beings. He only knew that the Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Kaneki Ken were enigmas, and that Genos, covered in metal, would be vulnerable to his powers.
Magneto regarded Saitama with respect but not fear. In his mind, Saitama's inability to fly made him less of a threat. And Magneto had numerous strategies to neutralize a non-flying opponent. That confidence had brought him to Xu Mo's doorstep, believing him to be a soft target compared to the others.
Surveying the sparsely populated surroundings, Magneto noted the absence of Saitama. There were only Xu Mo and Lorna Dane. It was the perfect opportunity.
"The Juggernaut, take Lorna back," Magneto commanded.
Sabretooth, too embarrassed to meet Magneto's gaze, stood silently as the Juggernaut, a massive figure of raw muscle, grinned and began striding forward. His steps shook the ground beneath him as he suddenly accelerated, charging at Xu Mo with the force of a small mountain, intent on crushing him.
"Though I don't really want to fight, this is about Lorna. It wouldn't be right to involve others," Xu Mo mused aloud. "Besides, it's always a mistake to underestimate your opponent."
With a flick of his wrist, he coldly intoned, "Spring of Ice."
At his words, the ground beneath the Juggernaut's feet split open, revealing a large, intricate blue pattern. From the cracks, countless icicles and spikes shot up like geysers, slamming into the Juggernaut.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The ice struck the Juggernaut with such force that he staggered, caught off guard. He raised his arms defensively, shielding his head as more spikes erupted around him.
Magneto's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Could Xu Mo be a mutant? He hadn't heard of him having the power of ice manipulation. The realization unsettled him.
"Damn it!!" The Juggernaut roared, slamming his foot down with a force that sent cracks spider-webbing through the ground. The sheer power shattered the icicles surrounding him.
"Super Frozen Frostbolt," Xu Mo commanded, waving his hand forward.
A barrage of ice arrows materialized and shot toward the Juggernaut, their impact forcing him back several paces. Yet, despite the fierce assault, the Juggernaut remained largely unharmed. Instead, his fury grew, and he charged at Xu Mo once more, his eyes burning with rage.
"This guy's skin is really thick," Xu Mo muttered to himself. "It seems ice modeling magic isn't enough to break through such brute force. I'll need to use something stronger."
As the Juggernaut barreled toward him, Xu Mo remained calm. Bringing his hands together, he pushed forward, the air around him suddenly growing frigid.
"Ice Shape: Silver World."
With a sharp, crystalline sound, ice radiated from Xu Mo's hands, spreading forward in a massive wave. In an instant, the land before him transformed into a thick, frozen expanse—a sea of ice stretching as far as the eye could see.
The intense cold blanketed the area, and even the temperature at Villa No. 2, not far away, began to plummet. Inside the villa, Saitama, deeply engrossed in his game, suddenly shivered.
"Why is it so cold?" he wondered aloud.
Genos, observing the distant ice ocean, said calmly, "It's the master in conflict. He specifically asked us not to interfere."
Saitama, who had been on the verge of stepping outside, slumped back into his seat, picking up his game console once again with a sigh.
Meanwhile, Magneto hovered in the air, controlling the magnetic field around him. The contemptuous expression he had worn earlier was gone, replaced by one of solemnity. Below him, the landscape had been transformed into an icy wasteland, and the Juggernaut, caught in the wave of cold, had been frozen solid—an ice sculpture standing in the middle of the frozen expanse.
Magneto realized he had underestimated this man.
"What a beautiful sight," Xu Mo said softly, gliding over the ice like a skater until he was standing next to the Juggernaut. "Though the season is wrong, it's nice to see snow and ice sometimes."
He examined the Juggernaut closely, confirming that he was still alive. With a wave of his right hand, Xu Mo formed an ice prison around the Juggernaut, encasing him further. The center of the prison solidified, and another layer of ice climbed up the Juggernaut's body, sealing him tightly.
Satisfied with his work, Xu Mo lightly stepped off the ground, breaking away from Magneto's astonished gaze. He rose into the air, standing on the same level as Magneto, though it was unclear how he managed to do so without any visible means of support.
"Ready to continue? I have more tricks up my sleeve," Xu Mo said, his voice calm. "But honestly, I'd rather not fight you. After all, you're Lorna's father. We're going to be family."
"Shut up!" Magneto roared, his voice filled with righteous fury. "Lorna is my daughter, and I'll have nothing to do with you!"
The air around them buzzed with magnetic energy as Magneto's anger manifested. Sharp metal shards materialized behind him, glowing with a dark, menacing light.
With a single motion, Magneto sent the metal spikes hurtling through the air toward Xu Mo, the speed of their flight creating a shrill, whistling sound.
"It's a good move, but your aim is off," Xu Mo remarked, feeling the rush of air as the spikes closed in.
In a split second, he caught one of the spikes in his hand. The metal buzzed with Magneto's power, vibrating as it tried to break free, but Xu Mo's grip was firm. Cold energy seeped from his hand, freezing the spike instantly. It cracked under the pressure, shattering into pieces that fell harmlessly to the ground.
Xu Mo's gaze locked onto Magneto's, his expression a mixture of resignation and indifference. With a sudden burst of speed, he stepped forward, the air around him shattering with the force of a sonic boom.
"Magneto, you've made this far too simple."