At Ellis Island, located in the Manhattan District, inside the Statue of Liberty, Erik stood on a conversion device, his eyes filled with determination as he looked at the distant United Nations Summit.
This conversion device was designed specifically for his powers and could only be activated by his energy.
However, with Sabretooth missing after his mission to capture Rogue, and Rogue herself nowhere to be found, Erik had no choice but to use himself as the power source to fuel the device.
Taking a final, lingering glance at Toad, Porcupine, Blob, and the other Brotherhood members nearby, he placed his hands on the device.
A low hum began to fill the air as his energy was drained, causing the conversion device to spin faster and faster. A white light started to expand slowly from the center.
He could feel his strength waning; after all, at over seventy years old, his body was reaching its limits. But for the future of mutants, Erik gritted his teeth and persevered.
If he could turn the world leaders into mutants, they would surely protect their own interests and reject the Mutant Registration Act. They might even start favoring mutants.
The machine continued to spin rapidly, draining Erik to his limit, leaving him so weak that he collapsed. But even as his body failed him, his hands clung tightly to the device, determined to give every last bit of his energy.
For the future of mutants, he was willing to sacrifice everything!
Just as the white light was about to reach the summit, a missile suddenly appeared.
With a deafening explosion, the missile hit, engulfing the entire conversion device and Erik within it.
"No!"
"Magneto!"
"Leader!"
Nearby, Toad, Porcupine, Blob, and the other Brotherhood members cried out in anguish. Toad, ignoring the flames licking at the scene, leaped towards the explosion.
The others, whether from fear of the fire or a lack of ability to jump to such heights, could only anxiously watch from below.
But they didn't have long to mourn Erik. A helicopter was approaching, carrying a large shipping container underneath it. As it neared, the helicopter released the container before flying away without hesitation.
The container crashed down with a loud bang, landing not far from the group.
"What does this mean?"
"What's inside?"
"Is this some kind of warning?"
While the group pondered the mysterious container, a loud bang came from within it. Something terrifying was inside, and it was punching its way out.
With a tearing sound, the steel of the container was ripped open, and a massive figure emerged.
The creature stood about two and a half meters tall, seemingly devoid of skin, with nothing but red muscle exposed. It had four arms—two large and muscular, the other two smaller and more slender.
Horrifyingly, there were enormous eyes on its shoulders and thighs. Its chest was adorned with a mouth-like structure, ringed with vicious bone spurs.
Meanwhile, on a ship not far from the Statue of Liberty, Luna stood, dressed in a sleek black suit, smiling as she watched the events unfold on her tablet. Beside her was an older white man with white hair, dressed in a military uniform.
"General Ross, this is our G-Virus product. Are you interested?" Luna inquired with a calm smile.
General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross, a U.S. Air Force general and the project leader of the Super Soldier Program, observed the creature on the screen with an impassive expression.
"It's ugly, I'll give you that. It seems intimidating enough, but I'm more interested in its combat capabilities. If it can't fight, then even with Senator Kelly's introduction, you won't get any favors from me."
Having witnessed the Hulk's immense power firsthand, which could crush a mountain, Ross found himself unimpressed by the G-Virus product before him.
Recent intelligence had also provided a lead on Dr. Bruce Banner's whereabouts; if not for Senator Kelly's recommendation, Ross wouldn't have even bothered to come.
Luna's smile didn't waver. "Please, General Ross, watch closely. I'll initiate the attack now."
She made a few quick adjustments on her tablet.
Back at the base of the Statue of Liberty, the G-Virus monster suddenly seemed to unlock its aggression, immediately charging at the nearest mutant.
With a terrifying roar, it slashed through the chest of a mutant. But just as quickly, the mutant turned into a cloud of dust and reappeared several meters away, his body reforming.
"That scared me to death," the mutant muttered, patting his chest in relief.
But as he looked around, he realized that not everyone was as lucky as he was.
Screams of terror filled the air. Mutants cried out for help, some trying to flee, others desperately trying to fight back.
Not every mutant had an ability like his that allowed him to turn into dust and avoid physical harm. The ground was soon littered with bodies, blood, and severed limbs.
In a matter of moments, only Toad, Porcupine, and Blob were left standing.
The dust-form mutant wanted to rush over to help, but he suddenly felt a claw tear through his chest.
He looked down in shock, realizing the monster had somehow appeared behind him. He never had the chance to use his ability again before his life slipped away.
The G-Virus monster roared in triumph, having shredded the mutant in its claws, and turned its attention to the three remaining Brotherhood members.
Porcupine took a few cautious steps back but quickly regained his confidence and stepped forward.
He was a Gamma-level mutant, his body capable of growing sharp spikes and boasting strength and speed far beyond that of an ordinary human. This creature might look terrifying, but he was confident he could defeat it.
"Let's take it down together!" he shouted.
Blob nodded resolutely, stepping forward with determination.
"Alright, let's show the world the resolve of the Brotherhood!"
Before they could strategize further, the monster lunged at them.
Blob used his immense strength to block the monster's charge, but it was clear his body was thinning as he struggled to hold his ground.
Blob's ability allowed him to store excess energy as fat, which he could then burn as needed. However, the G-Virus monster's power was overwhelming.
Porcupine quickly grew spikes from his hands, each about thirty centimeters long, and lunged at the creature.
His spikes punctured the monster's flesh but only managed to pierce the skin. The creature's thick muscles stopped them from going any deeper.
In response, the G-Virus monster used its smaller lower arms to stab into Blob's body, while its upper arms swatted Porcupine away like a ragdoll.
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