"Let's go, I'll show you around," Professor X said, walking quickly ahead, showing no signs of his long-term paralysis.
The students they passed along the way couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Professor, you're healed?"
"Professor, you can walk again?"
"This is amazing, Professor! You're standing!"
…
This major news should have quickly spread among the students, leading to a collective celebration. But as they walked, fewer and fewer people came by, until no one was left to disturb them.
Professor X suddenly stopped and looked at Vex.
"I only have one question," Professor X said solemnly. "What is your attitude toward Earth and humanity?"
Attitude, huh…
Vex had never really thought about it before and paused for a moment.
Finally, he gave his answer:
"Well, since I've made my home here, if anyone tries to destroy Earth, it's like they're trying to tear down my house. So, I probably wouldn't stand by and do nothing."
"As for humanity…"
"Our race doesn't have any weird tendencies for killing or consuming others. As long as they don't mess with me, they can do whatever they want."
"That's about it. Does that satisfy you?"
Professor X stared into Vex's eyes. Since his telepathic abilities didn't work on Vex, he had to rely on this simple method.
Vex calmly returned the gaze. This was truly what he thought—there was nothing to fear.
After several seconds, Professor X suddenly smiled and raised his hand.
"Charles Xavier. My friends call me Charles. Welcome to Earth."
Vex shook his hand.
"Vex Star. My friends call me Vex. You're the second friend I've made on Earth."
"A great honor."
From that moment on, Vex had officially established himself on Earth. Though he would still be monitored, the level of trust had greatly improved compared to before.
—This probing by Xavier was clearly at Fury's behest.
***
Fifty kilometers away, at a construction site.
What was once a barren wasteland was now the site of a major construction project by S.H.I.E.L.D., preparing to build an estate because of Vex's choice to settle there.
The land was in the early stages of being cleared.
Vex had brought Jean Grey here for testing. There was no need to worry about damaging anything—flattening the area would actually help, and if they created a large crater, it could even serve as an artificial lake.
In short, they could wreak havoc however they pleased!
At the same time, Fury had received word and aimed satellites at the site to watch the live feed.
"Don't be nervous," Vex reassured Jean. "Don't trust yourself too much—you won't be able to hurt me."
This lighthearted comment made Jean laugh, easing her nervousness.
"Thank you, I feel much better now," Jean said, her focus momentarily flickering. "Charles asked me to check if he can establish a telepathic link with you."
That…
Vex certainly wasn't keen on the idea.
But he had an alternative.
"Alpha, can you directly interface with Charles's telepathic abilities?"
[Scanning for signal...]
[High-frequency brainwaves detected. Simulating high-frequency brainwaves. Connect?]
"Yeah, go ahead."
In the next moment, just like making a phone call, Vex could communicate seamlessly with Xavier in his mind.
"Charles, I'm here."
"Hmm? This isn't your brainwave," Xavier said, puzzled. "A brainwave I've never encountered before… wait, no! This is my own brainwave?!"
"Stop guessing. My dark matter computer is simulating it. You could think of it as me calling you," Vex explained.
Xavier was utterly shocked by this explanation!
A computer capable of simulating brainwaves?
And dark matter? That alone sounded incredibly advanced!
Jean was also staring at Vex with a look of awe. This "alien" had far too many secrets.
Secrets that…
One couldn't help but want to explore.
"Alright, preparations are done," Vex clapped his hands. "Now go ahead, remove your mental barriers."
"Are you ready, Jean?" Xavier asked.
Jean took a deep breath and nodded seriously, her expression determined.
"Crack—crack—"
In the psychic realm, a sound like shattering glass echoed as orange-red, flame-like energy began to erupt from Jean's body.
The sparks that hit the ground disintegrated the soil, leaving the flat ground pitted and uneven.
A few of the small sparks even leaped toward Vex.
The moment they touched him, they reflected off him like light hitting a mirror, bouncing harmlessly onto the ground.
Vector Manipulation: Absolute Defense
As expected, this energy couldn't harm him—or rather, Jean was too inexperienced to break through his calculated limits.
While Vex remained composed, Jean was engulfed in agony, her face contorted in a pained grimace as she let out a primal scream. As her voice grew more intense, the flames surrounding her grew, until they engulfed her completely, forming a fiery bird behind her.
At the same time, Jean's expression shifted from agony to a calm, emotionless stare aimed at Vex.
Vex smiled. "Welcome to the fresh air. I wonder, what should I call you?"
"Dark Phoenix," she replied with narrowed eyes. "That's the name I've given myself. So you're the one who freed me? And you said… I can't kill you?"
"You can try," Vex invited.
"You think I won't?"
Dark Phoenix clenched her fist, and immense power from the Phoenix Force gathered, crushing toward Vex.
The ground beneath Vex vaporized instantly, as though it had never existed.
At the same time, energy detection instruments around the world spiked to their maximum limits.
Yet...
Despite such a high-energy assault, it still didn't move so much as a single hair on Vex's head.
He stood calmly, levitating in midair, looking at Dark Phoenix with a serene gaze.
A gaze that seemed to say…
Is that all?
Dark Phoenix was enraged!
She immediately intensified her output of the Phoenix Force, and the ground around them began to crumble, collapse, and disintegrate!
The fiery bird behind her fully matured, taking on the full form of a phoenix.
Within just a few breaths,
Dark Phoenix, with her own power, had carved out a 1,000-meter-deep hemisphere, and she had simultaneously destroyed countless monitoring instruments!
Even the satellite imagery was reduced to nothing but static.
Fury watched in terror!
Using raw power to disable satellites?
Xavier was equally concerned.
The Phoenix Force had completely blocked his telepathic abilities!
At that moment,
The entire area was a void.
In other words…
He had no way of knowing if Vex was alive or dead!
Minutes passed,
Nations around the world were in turmoil, but no one could locate the source of the disturbance.
Finally, the wings of the phoenix folded in, and the blazing energy began to fade.
What they saw was...
°°°°
A/N: The new jjk fic is now up, it already has 10 chapters, so go check it out iyw.
If you want to read ahead and access 20 advanced chapters, check the patreon
Link: Patreon/Moziel