Chapter 22 to Chapter 28

In the wooden house, everyone was busy preparing dinner, but Leon was nowhere to be found.

Natasha, kneading dough alongside Wanda, couldn't help but ask, "Where's Leon?"

Wanda, playfully shaping the dough in her hands, smiled and replied, "When Leon trains, he usually comes back later than us. He often goes deep into the Ural Mountains. It's a quiet place, surrounded by nature."

"Like meditation?" Natasha mused, intrigued.

"Maybe," Wanda shrugged. "When he trains, he empties his mind and tries to blend into the natural environment, almost like he's trying to understand everything around him. It's a bit beyond me, to be honest."

As Wanda spoke, she seemed to sense something and glanced toward the door of the wooden house. Natasha, curious, followed her gaze.

In the next moment, she saw golden particles gather and form into a human shape—Leon, now standing there in a vest. The display of this ability left Natasha momentarily stunned.

"Is that the ability he mentioned, the one he got from the experiments?" Natasha asked, still processing what she had just seen.

Wanda chuckled at her reaction. "Leon can control light—and turn into it."

Natasha's mind raced. The power to manipulate light could be deceptively simple or incredibly destructive, depending on how it was used. If it was used correctly, Leon could easily become a walking nuclear bomb.

Natasha's image of Leon became a bit clearer in her mind. His strength brought her a sense of security. After all, as the backbone of their group, the stronger Leon was, the safer she felt. It also made sense why Leon, Wanda, and the others were so dismissive of Dreykov. With abilities like his, numbers and weapons seemed insignificant.

That evening, after dinner, something was different. Under Leon's guidance, Natasha began teaching the group. As one of the world's top spies, she brought a wealth of experience in assassination, languages, culture, communication, and human psychology. Her expertise in micro-expression analysis and reading emotions was at an expert level—she could easily be a professor.

Her teachings helped fill gaps in the children's knowledge and experience. Leon, with his understanding of how important knowledge is, knew this was a key part of their growth.

The belief that knowledge is power stuck with Leon, something reinforced by figures like Tony Stark. In his spare time, Leon even dabbled in martial arts, experimenting to see how he could apply it to his Glint-Glint Fruit ability. After all, what boy hasn't dreamed of being like Frieza, using a single finger to release an energy ball and destroy an entire planet?

Leon had definitely dreamed about it.

Leon had also often wondered why the children, including Wanda, never seemed to feel bored or restless living in the remote mountains. The answer was simple: they were constantly enriched with knowledge, training, and purpose.

In 2008, time moved slowly, but much had changed over the course of a year. In the United States—the cultural hub and global superpower—public opinion began to turn sharply against mutants. A series of attacks and incidents had worsened their living conditions, making survival increasingly difficult.

The situation escalated even further after Magneto, the leader of the mutant supremacy movement, disappeared without a trace. His absence only fueled public fear, causing the anti-mutant sentiment to grow more intense. Conspiracies targeting mutants were popping up everywhere, making it a hostile world for them to navigate.

In addition to the turmoil in the United States, Eastern Europe had remained relatively stable. Leon and his family, still in their dormant phase, watched events unfold from a distance, feeling sympathy for the plight of mutants but knowing there was little they could do.

However, that year brought an unexpected change that disrupted their peaceful life.

It happened one day in the Ural Mountains. A fierce blizzard hit the region, covering the entire mountain range and nearby cities in a thick blanket of snow. Inside their wooden house, the warmth of the fireplace kept the cold at bay.

Wanda, now a year older, sat on the sofa with a tablet in hand, studying new college-level material. Thanks to her enhanced physical and mental abilities, learning had become easier. Her memory and focus, sharpened through training and inspired by Natasha's spy techniques, allowed her to absorb knowledge quickly. She wasn't just learning—she was mastering it at a remarkable pace.

Perhaps due to her mastery of Water Breathing, Wanda had become as clear and calm as water itself. She had also developed a habit of patience, finding joy in what others might consider the tedious process of learning.

In the room, everyone else was also engrossed in their studies, using tablets and headphones. These children, having risen from the depths of hardship, were mentally strong and mature. They all understood that both power and knowledge were crucial for their future.

The atmosphere in the wooden house was peaceful and focused.

Leon, too, was engaged, holding two orphaned sables he had found in the mountains. While cradling them, he glanced at his laptop, sifting through the latest reports from the outside world.

Being informed doesn't mean being cut off from the world. Natasha excels at this.

She walked in from the kitchen carrying a dinner plate with oat milk that she had soaked. Over the past year, Natasha had become an integral part of the family, playing the role of an older sister.

"Thank you, Sister Natasha," Wanda said with a smile.

"Thanks," others chimed in as well.

After handing out the oat milk and receiving their thanks, Natasha placed the dinner plate on the wooden table and moved it toward Leon. Her gray down sweater did little to hide her figure, but a year of practice had made her demeanor more gentle and less captivating.

"How are things looking?"

"Aside from the public criticism of mutants, there haven't been many major events. The only thing causing some buzz is the US military's secret pursuit of a big green monster. The hacker groups in the US, who claim to have the truth, are our primary source of external information."

"There's never a shortage of people like that."

"True, but it's frustrating that Hydra has stayed so well hidden and even changed their plans over the past year." Leon is quite dissatisfied about it; there's no place to gather intel.

Well, at least there's no shortage of gangster drug gangs. Otherwise, how would he continue to fund such a large family?

Natasha's red lips curved into a slight smile as she sighed, "I never expected that Hydra, which I thought was gone, actually still exists."

…

Hydra, a terrifying organization from World War II, was thought to have vanished into history. Yet, to Natasha's surprise, it remained hidden in the world.

However, after practicing the breathing technique, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki—and witnessing the destruction Leon casually caused during his training—her concern about Hydra began to fade.

Natasha believed that if Leon truly dedicated his time and energy, wiping out organizations like Hydra wouldn't be much of a challenge for him.

The ability to control light was truly terrifying. Natasha couldn't help but feel a deep sense of security around Leon. She glanced at him subtly, his calm demeanor somehow reassuring, and her eyes flickered with unspoken thoughts.

Leon, seemingly oblivious to Natasha's quiet observation, remained focused on some secrets revealed by a so-called truth-owning hacker group. But suddenly, an immense spiritual energy surged through the air, so vast that time and space seemed to freeze for an instant.

The energy was hidden, swift, and almost impossible to detect—except for Leon. His heightened senses, honed by two years of practicing Observation Haki, caught it immediately.

He shot to his feet, startling the two small sables resting on him, who yelped in protest as they tumbled off. Leon, however, ignored them, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, eyes glinting with alertness.

Wanda's expression shifted too, clearly sensing the disturbance. Leon's sudden reaction caught the attention of everyone else—Natasha, Sergei, and the others removed their headphones, standing up to look at him in confusion. They had rarely seen Leon so unsettled.

Only Wanda, leaning on the sofa, had a knowing look, her eyes glowing faintly with red energy.

"Leon?" Natasha called out, testing the waters.

Leon lowered his gaze slightly, his brow furrowed in surprise and uncertainty. Something unusual had just happened, and he wasn't sure what it was yet.

"That's what it was? Just now, a huge spiritual force swept through," Leon explained briefly before noticing something off with Wanda. He walked over to her, squatting down in front of her. With everyone's concerned eyes on him, he looked directly into her eyes and softly asked, "Wanda, what did you see?"

Wanda took a deep breath, her face pale, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow. "I saw... fragments of a scene," she began.

"What scene?" Leon pressed gently.

"I saw the experiments again—what we went through before. Leon, those children... they were thrown onto the test tables, tortured in the cruelest ways. I couldn't... I couldn't stand to see it." Her voice cracked as she struggled to recall the horrifying vision, her eyes welling up with tears.

The memory struck close to home for her, Leon, and the others. It was a haunting reminder of their past, but what she saw seemed even worse.

Pietro, who had been standing by, knelt next to Wanda, taking her hand in his to comfort her. Seeing this, the rest of the group gathered around as well. Alina and the two little ones climbed onto the sofa, leaning against Wanda silently, offering their wordless support.

Natasha, watching this unfold, felt her heart ache. She had grown close to Wanda and the children over the past year—they were family now. Seeing Wanda like this pained her deeply.

Leon frowned, watching Wanda's eyes fill with more unshed tears. He then turned to the others, explaining, "The surge of spiritual energy earlier must have triggered Wanda's Chaos Magic."

He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Chaos Magic itself stems from a powerful source, with energy beyond comprehension. What Wanda saw could be a connection—something that triggered her magic and spirit, allowing her to glimpse a possible future."

Leon's statement wasn't just baseless speculation. In fact, there was only one person he could think of with such immense spiritual power—Professor X. And it would require the use of the Cerebro helmet to amplify it. Given the vision Wanda had of children being subjected to cruel experiments, the source of the image wasn't hard to deduce.

Pietro, as Wanda's twin, was less concerned about the mechanics and more focused on her well-being. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

But to his dismay, Wanda didn't respond to him. Instead, she reached out and took Leon's hand. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

Leon held her gaze, understanding the unspoken message in her eyes. "You want to help those kids, don't you?" he asked gently.

Wanda nodded. "Yes, we've all been trapped in that abyss of despair, but you... you were the light that saved us." Her voice faltered, and she couldn't bring herself to continue. She felt selfish for even asking, worried that pushing her feelings would disrupt the peaceful life they had built together.

Sensing her inner turmoil, Leon squeezed her hand gently. "Wanda," he said earnestly, "I've told you before—we're a family. What matters to you matters to me."

"I know, but..." Wanda bit her lip, conflicted.

"Listen, you are my family. What I want is for you to be happy. We face everything together—whether it's mountains, tsunamis, or bullets," Leon said softly. "We're always one. And if you want to save those kids, that's the right thing to do."

He spoke gently, but his words carried weight. As he motioned around the room, Wanda turned and saw Sergei, Pietro, and Alina looking at her with concerned but determined expressions.

"And besides," Leon continued, his voice growing colder, "we shouldn't fear losing our peaceful lives because of a group of villains and scum. It's them who should be afraid. We'll send them to hell in the most ruthless way possible."

To him, they were nothing more than trash. Even if the entire world stood against him, Leon wouldn't care. The value of the whole world was virtually non-existent compared to the value of people he loved. If Wanda became depressed or broken, that was a loss far worse than anything.

Sergei made a dramatic pose, grinning. "Ha, my cross sword has been itching for action these past few years."

"Exactly. Let's take them down," Pietro added.

"We can finally get out and do something!" another chimed in eagerly.

The chorus of support from everyone warmed Wanda's heart, her eyes misting up from their kindness. She felt an overwhelming sense of belonging.

"Then let's get moving. It's time to put what I taught you to use in real combat," Natasha added with a shrug, a small smile on her face.

…

Though they were preparing for departure, there was still a lot of work to do.

First, the fragmented images Wanda saw weren't detailed enough to pinpoint the exact location. Fortunately, one image showed the external structure—a lake and a dam. Using her chaos magic, Wanda transmitted the image to Natasha, who sketched it by hand and uploaded it to a database for comparison.

After a long search, they finally found the location: Alkali Lake Industrial Area in Canada.

Natasha turned her laptop toward Wanda, who examined the image carefully. After a moment, Wanda nodded. "This should be the place."

Natasha agreed. "This is a dam. Structurally, it's perfect for a hidden base—isolated from tourists and hard to detect."

At this point, Leon stood up. "I've booked flight tickets for early morning. We leave in three hours."

As he turned around, he noticed that everyone had already changed into their gear, holding black bags that were clearly filled with weapons.

Natasha, noticing the situation, sighed. "Well, getting those through airport security might be tricky. But I know someone who can help smuggle them through."

Leon nodded in agreement, then glanced at the youngest members: Alina, Polina, and Pushkin, who were only eleven years old.

"You three are staying home."

"What? But it's a family trip!" Alina protested, while Polina and Pushkin pouted in disappointment.

Leon walked over to the trio, crouched down, and spoke softly. "Even though you've practiced the breathing method, you're not strong enough yet. We may be facing mutants or trained soldiers."

He gently placed a hand on each of them, adding, "Your time to shine will come, but you need to be patient."

The little ones were definitely not weak. After three years of practicing the breathing method, each could easily defeat fully armed soldiers.

However, it still wasn't enough. They hadn't yet reached the full concentration needed to maintain their techniques in a normal state.

Their proficiency in Armament Haki and Observation Haki was impressive, but the former required substantial physical strength.

Their bodies hadn't fully matured, and despite unlocking some of their potential, they'd struggle against a barrage of bullets—let alone mutants.

The three looked into Leon's gentle eyes, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded in understanding.

"Then, you have to come back safely. We'll wait for you at home," Alina said, stretching out her little arms to hug Leon. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Not to be outdone, the other two quickly followed suit, each giving Leon a kiss.

Leon chuckled warmly and ruffled their hair. "We'll be back soon, and don't forget, you've got the computer at home. I'll send you a video message."

"Okay~~!" they chorused.

With the three little ones waving goodbye, Leon and the others disappeared into the snowy night. Including Leon and Natasha, there were thirteen people in total.

Thankfully, they had a large pickup truck that could fit everyone. The strong young men in the back didn't mind braving the wind and snow as they set off.

Meanwhile, in Canada, at the Alkali Lake Industrial Area, a dark, damp building resembling an air raid shelter held an ominous atmosphere. Inside, an old bald man in a blue suit, wearing a helmet, sat in a wheelchair, panting heavily.

Behind him stood a tall Asian woman in a black leather jacket, helping him remove the helmet. The old man looked utterly exhausted. The woman replaced the helmet with another, this one fitted with thin wires. After completing her task, she nodded to the man standing across from the old man.

The man, dressed in a military uniform, looked pleased. He stared at the old man, who struggled to meet his gaze.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"William..." the old man gasped, his voice weak.

"Oh? Awake now?" William responded, eyeing him like a predator eyeing its prey. "You truly have an incredible power, Professor X."

Professor X tried to focus, pointing weakly at his head. "This device... It's a suppressor, developed to keep me from entering your mind."

William smirked, not impressed. "Not a bad idea. Your ability to create illusions and control others, even for a short time, is certainly dangerous. But that brainwave amplifier you put on... it let your psychic power spread across the globe in an instant. Unfortunately, it only gave you a brief moment of clarity."

Professor X's eyes flicked toward the young man standing next to William. "What have you done to him? He's your son."

William's expression hardened. Professor X already understood much more than William had intended.

"No, Charles, my son is dead!" William shouted, his voice thick with anger. But a moment later, his expression shifted to a cold, twisted smile. "He'll make sure you lose yourself completely. The brainwave amplifier is indeed useful. Once you're fully under its control, you'll return to your school and use your powers to locate every mutant on the planet."

William paused, savoring the cruel irony of his plan. "And then... you'll kill them with your own hands."

With that, he turned away, motioning for the woman to follow him.

"William!" Professor X called out, his voice filled with desperation. But all he got in return was William's cold, indifferent gaze as he left.

"Oh my God... what should I do?" Professor X whispered, staring at the young man in front of him. Despair flashed in his eyes as he realized the gravity of his situation.

Yet, in the recesses of his memory, he saw a glimmer of hope—a vision of a special girl, strong and kind, who might make a difference.

Meanwhile, in Canada, Leon and Natasha had arrived. Their first stop was a black-market dealer, where they bought two smuggled pickup trucks and collected the weapons Natasha had secured through her special channels.

After a quick breakfast, they gathered Sergei and the others, heading toward Lake Alkali.

Snow had fallen heavily across the area, turning the landscape into a winter wonderland, with everything blanketed in silver.

…

The two pickup trucks moved slowly along the snow-covered highway. The heavy snowfall made the journey slow and difficult. Leon, who was driving the lead truck, frowned.

"Isn't this inconvenient with just a car?" he muttered.

"Definitely inconvenient," Natasha quipped from the back seat. "A private jet would be better for country-hopping, but I doubt that's in your budget."

Leon chuckled, thinking about his wallet. Private jets were definitely out of his league for now. But that didn't stop him from dreaming.

He thought about the Quinjet used by S.H.I.E.L.D. or Professor X's Blackbird. Both were versatile, global aircraft with radar shielding and optical invisibility, meaning no need for flight clearance. Or better yet, the Ancient One's portal—now that would be a handy mode of travel.

Leon even considered the possibility of a sign-in system granting him teleportation powers. But given the randomness, there was no telling when that would happen. In the meantime, he'd make do with what he had and focus on what he could control.

As they drove, Natasha was busy in the backseat, setting up the communication system. A jack-of-all-trades, Natasha's technical expertise proved valuable as she ensured everyone's headsets were connected.

After about an hour, they were nearing their destination: Lake Alkali.

The road was now blanketed in heavy snow, with only the tire tracks from their trucks visible. The surrounding mountains and forests were also draped in snow, making it clear how remote and isolated the area was. Despite the challenging conditions, the landscape was breathtaking.

Below the road, a vast river flowed into the lake, with an ancient dam at the far end. It was clear from its dilapidated state that the dam had been abandoned for years.

Suddenly, a series of loud bangs echoed through the snowy silence.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The car doors opened and closed in quick succession as Leon and the others stepped out and walked to the edge of the road, peering over the cliff. For some, like Pietro, this was their first mission, and their faces showed clear excitement. After all the intense training they'd undergone, this was their chance to prove themselves—not just for survival, but to demonstrate their worth.

Leon stood apart, wearing a black windbreaker that flapped in the snowy wind like a dark flame. The cold didn't seem to affect him, nor did it bother anyone else in the group.

Natasha, assessing the scene, pointed towards the base of the dam. "From the structure, the entrance should be just below the dam, likely through the spillway," she said, gesturing to the closed metal flood discharge channel.

Leon nodded and closed his eyes briefly.

Weng!!

His senses sharpened as he activated his heightened awareness—combining his natural abilities with the powerful perception he'd honed through practice. The entire area around the dam appeared in his mind in stark black and white. His perception zoomed in and out, gathering detailed information from below the dam.

He heard it all: faint cries, angry voices, hurried footsteps—a torrent of information flooding his mind.

"It's here," Leon said, opening his eyes. "There are a lot of people inside."

Natasha nodded, her face grim.

"Let's begin," Leon continued, his voice calm but resolute. "I don't want a single one of those devils walking out of there alive. Anyone who inflicts torture and pain on others knows exactly where they belong."

The group responded in unison, their voices chilling:

"We'll give them hell!"

"Then open the door to hell."

Bang!!

As Leon's command echoed, Sergei, Wanda, Pietro, and the children sprang into action. They burst forward like missiles, cutting through the air with lightning speed and power, heading straight for the dam. Each one moved with the force of an armor-piercing bullet.

Leon glanced at Natasha, who gave a casual shrug. "Give me a moment," she said before leaping down gracefully, like a swift ocelot.

Leon's form shimmered and vanished into a burst of bright particles.

Boom!!

An explosive sound echoed as the massive metal gate of the dam's spillway shattered under an overwhelming force. Wanda's fury unleashed her full chaos magic, tearing through the metal seal in an instant and flinging it aside. The enormous slab crashed into the ground nearby, shaking the earth.

The noise reverberated through the base, alerting everyone inside.

Machine guns mounted in the spillway blazed, their bullets pouring down like a torrential storm, blanketing the channel. Before anyone else could react, Sumarokov—another powerhouse—took the lead, charging through the barrage with strength that rivaled Sergei's.

Sumarokov was only wearing a vest, his muscular arms and broad chest fully visible as he sped ahead. His lips parted slightly, drawing in deep breaths that fueled his powerful body. In a swift motion, he pulled out the twin golden swords strapped to his back, connected by a chain. The swords were a striking sight—red handles, green-edged blades, with red and gold accents. The body of each sword was black, adorned with golden patterns.

His heightened senses came alive, his Observation Haki expanding, stretching his awareness to its limits.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The swords moved with fluid precision in his hands, deflecting the incoming hail of bullets as if he were painting the air with strokes of ink. Sparks erupted from the metal as the bullets ricocheted off the blades, lighting up the dark passage like fireworks.

In a flash, Sergei and the others disappeared down the corridor. As they passed the machine gun nests, Sumarokov's sword sliced through the air in a graceful arc, cutting through the guns effortlessly.

They reached the end of the passage, where eight large cave-like entrances awaited them. Without hesitation, Wanda shouted, "Disperse!"

In response, everyone split up, vanishing into the dark caves like shadows.

From the initial destruction of the dam's spillway to reaching the end of the channel, less than three seconds had passed. It was so fast that the soldiers and guards inside the base hadn't even begun to react.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Alarms blared, chaos erupting throughout the base.

The frantic sirens urged the garrison into action. Soldiers scrambled for their weapons, but it was too late. Before they could even react, figures moved towards them at ridiculous speed.

Their vision blurred, barely catching a glimpse of their attackers' faces before everything went black and their consciousness faded completely.

…

In the main control room of the base, William Stryker was furious.

"You don't even know who's attacking the base? Where are our guards?"

"Sir, the attackers might be mutants. Their speed and strength are beyond anything human. Our people are being slaughtered," a subordinate, seated at the monitor, stammered, his voice trembling with fear. He pointed shakily at the screen, which showed the carnage unfolding outside.

Even though he was a battle-hardened soldier, he had never witnessed anything like this. From the initial raid to the attack on the base, the efficiency was terrifying. It had taken less than three minutes for the intruders to tear through hundreds of soldiers. The firearms were utterly useless.

"Damn it," William growled, veins bulging on his forehead as he stared at the screen. The attackers were using nothing but cold weapons, yet their reflexes and speed were far from normal.

"Move!" William barked, turning to leave for Professor X. His steps faltered as he froze in shock.

Two figures stood in front of him—one tall man in a black windbreaker, the other a woman in a black, tight-fitting combat suit. Before William could react, the woman at his side, sensing danger, extended long, sharp steel claws from her hands. With the agility of a leopard, she lunged at the man.

But in the blink of an eye, a foot glowing with golden light slammed into her head.

Boom!

The force of the kick sent her crashing into the wall, her upper body embedded in the concrete. Her legs twitched uncontrollably as cracks spread across the wall, causing chunks of stone to crumble and fall.

The shockwave from the impact ruffled the hair of everyone present. William stood frozen in place, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as his body trembled with fear.

"Natasha..."

The one who had entered was none other than Leon. After swiftly dealing with the woman, he called out softly. Natasha nodded, acknowledging him. With long strides, she walked past William, who stood frozen in fear, not daring to move. As she entered the control room, she effortlessly snapped the necks of a few soldiers before sitting down at the computer to take control.

"Ugh..."

The woman, embedded in the wall from Leon's earlier kick, let out a faint groan as her body trembled, trying to move. Leon glanced at her, his expression indifferent. "Her healing ability is enviable," he remarked casually.

He then turned his icy gaze back to William, who stood paralyzed with fear. The cold intensity in Leon's eyes made William feel as though he were staring into the eyes of a predator, ready to tear him apart at any moment. His throat was dry, and he could sense the danger of the man standing before him.

Summoning whatever courage he had left, William tried to speak. "I know who you are, but I am a colonel in the U.S. military, and this is my base. What you've done here—"

"Shut up, trash!" Leon cut him off, his voice as cold as a winter storm. "Tell me, how many lives have you destroyed in your experiments?"

William's blood ran cold. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but before he could, Leon's voice cut through the air once more.

"Never mind. I already know. People like you are destined for only one place—hell."

William could only watch helplessly as Leon stretched out his finger, pointing it directly at him.

Weng!!

A strange sound echoed as a bright, cross-shaped light bloomed from Leon's fingertip. Despite its small size, it contained an overwhelming, terrifying energy.

"No! No! You can't kill me!" William screamed in desperation, his body trembling as he staggered backward. But it was too late. A brilliant golden beam shot out, and a burning pain pierced his heart. His entire body was instantly consumed by flames.

Within the inferno, he could barely make out Leon, who coldly turned away without a second glance. William wailed in agony, reaching out in a futile attempt to grab Leon's back. But the fire overwhelmed him, and he collapsed to his knees, his voice finally silenced.

The flames raged on until his body was reduced to ash.

Meanwhile, Natasha didn't even spare a look at the fallen William. She was focused on infiltrating the data center. The more she uncovered, the angrier she became. The screens displayed horrific images and data from cruel, inhumane experiments—each one costing lives. It was as if she could hear the screams echoing in her ears.

This place was nothing less than a massive slaughterhouse, systematically killing one innocent life after another.

Natasha glanced back at the charred corpse behind her. If he were still alive, she would have used her most brutal methods to punish this devil.

"You're lucky, you worthless trash," she muttered coldly.

In the detention area of the base, a group of imprisoned mutant children trembled in fear, yet hope stirred in their hearts as they listened to the commotion outside.

"Is the professor here to save us?" one asked.

"It must be. Maybe Teacher Ororo and the others are here too," another child whispered.

"Everyone, stay calm and don't cause any trouble for the teachers," a third encouraged, trying to keep everyone's spirits up.

Meanwhile, just outside the prison, Wanda, Pietro, and Sergei had found the place. But standing at the door was a man unlike the soldiers outside. His combat uniform was unfamiliar, and he wore red quartz glasses that hid his cold, expressionless face.

He looked strong.

"Ha, I'll take care of this," Pietro began, but before he could finish, Wanda raised her hand. A surge of red, chaotic energy exploded from her, slamming the man into a nearby machine with a heavy crash. Sparks flew as his body twitched among the wreckage of the broken machinery.

Pietro blinked, a little stunned. "Well... okay, that works."

Both Pietro and Sergei stood frozen, staring at Wanda's serious expression. They couldn't help but feel a shiver run down their spines.

They were scared.

Wanda, unfazed by their reactions, waved her hand again. The chaotic energy ripped through the metal wall, creating an opening. Without a word, she stepped through it with determined strides, leaving them to follow.

…

Wanda stepped into the slightly grimy holding room.

Metal barriers lay scattered across the floor, and through the bars, she saw a group of frightened, timid children huddled together.

Some were dressed in pajamas, others in ragged clothing.

Their fearful expressions and wide eyes reminded Wanda, Pietro, and Sergei of their own past. Just three years ago, they had been in a similar state—trapped in despair, numbness, and anxiety, never knowing if death would come at any moment.

Wanda's heart ached with pity and regret, almost overwhelming her.

Ignoring the filth, she leaned against the partition and looked down at the small, upturned faces. Gently, she spoke, "Hey, little ones, how are you?"

A little girl, drawn by Wanda's soft tone and kind face, gathered the courage to ask, "Are you here to save us, sister?"

Wanda smiled warmly. "Yes, I'm here to save you. Can you all hide in the corner for me?"

The children, obedient and trusting, held hands and shuffled back together, huddling in the corner, clinging to each other. The sight was heartwarming, almost too adorable for Wanda to bear.

Smiling, she stood up and summoned her chaotic magic, tearing the metal partition apart with ease. She tossed it aside and reassured the children, telling them not to be afraid. As red energy gently lifted the children to safety, their eyes filled with awe and excitement.

Once they were free, Wanda crouched down in front of them, scanning their pale, anxious faces. Seeing their excitement and relief brought her comfort.

Just then, Natasha's voice crackled in her ear. "Wanda, I see you."

Wanda glanced up at a camera in the corner of the room and nodded. "Are there any other children in custody?"

After a brief pause, Natasha replied, "No, that's all the ones who were left."

Wanda remained silent for a moment, understanding the painful truth. The children who should have been here—alive—were already dead. Beside her, Pietro and Sergei said nothing, but the anger in their eyes was unmistakable.

Grinding her teeth, Wanda spat out, "These damn monsters."

Natasha's voice came through again, calm but bitter. "Exactly. Most of this trash has already gone to hell."

Wanda noticed the anxious, questioning eyes of the children. She took a deep breath, calming herself, and focused on the little girl in front of her. "I'll get you all out of here, okay?"

The little girl nodded obediently. "Okay!"

Wanda smiled, gently lifting the girl into her arms and taking a little boy's hand with her other. The rest of the children followed, smiling, as they walked toward the door. Sergei and Pietro stood guard on either side, keeping a protective watch.

As they walked, the group of boys glanced up at Sergei and Pietro with eyes full of excitement and admiration. These were the heroes who had saved them.

Sergei, especially, caught their attention—his strong, 1.8-meter frame and the cross-shaped sword in his hand stirred the hearts of the boys. To them, he was the embodiment of cool.

Sergei noticed the children's gazes and flashed a warm, infectious smile that made everyone feel at ease. The nervous children began to relax, their fears melting away.

As they moved through the base, Natasha coordinated everyone's actions via the headphones from the main control room. Before long, they had cleared the entire facility.

Everyone regrouped.

In the open space, under Natasha's direction, the surrounding corpses were discreetly moved into an unseen corner to prevent the children from witnessing them and experiencing unnecessary psychological trauma.

Leon observed Wanda standing nearby, well-behaved and attentive. The children beside her were curious but remained silent, nodding politely. He glanced over at Gennady, Sumarokov, and the others, who were carrying large metal containers filled with liquid Adamantium, which would later solidify into metal.

As one of the hardest metals in the world, Adamantium was valuable but not suitable for making weapons or similar items.

At that moment, Natasha emerged from a hidden area and approached Leon, holding up two USB drives.

"Everything—the good and the bad—is here," she said, gesturing with the drives. "I've also deleted the data from their systems."

"Very good," Leon replied with satisfaction.

Everything had gone perfectly. He had even casually killed Stryker's son—a poor soul better off freed from his suffering. As for Professor X, he had simply knocked him out; he didn't want to test whether his Conqueror's Haki could withstand that level of psychic power.

Overall, their mission was quite fruitful, and they had looted everything worth taking.

"Brother Leon, what should we do with these two?" Sumarokov and Sergei asked as they threw two people onto the ground—a man wearing glasses, unconscious, and a woman who had barely survived Leon's powerful kick.

Though the woman had healed thanks to her self-regeneration abilities, she glared at the group with fierce eyes, yet made no move to attack.

Leon ignored the unconscious man and approached the woman, his gaze sharp and commanding, like an eagle's.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"M-my name is Yuriko Oyama... I don't remember much else," the woman replied, her cold arrogance now gone. Her eyes, once filled with anger, softened as she spoke in a low voice.

"She's one of Stryker's successful experiments," Natasha explained after checking the base's database. "She's been under drug control for a long time, which could explain her memory loss."

Leon nodded, but said nothing at first, lost in thought as he considered how to deal with Yuriko. Sensing that Leon was weighing his decision, Yuriko quickly spoke up.

"I want to follow you."

Her words took Leon and the others by surprise. He raised an eyebrow, studying her closely. Yuriko met his gaze with resolve.

"I've forgotten my past, and I don't want to die. I want to follow you... I can be your slave," she said firmly.

If it had been anyone else, Yuriko would have fled without hesitation. But Leon was different. She sensed his overwhelming power, and, knowing she couldn't escape, her choice was clear: she would surrender to him willingly.

…

Leon studied the woman before him, who seemed more like a beast than a human. He could see the truth in her heart—she had been isolated from the world for too long, and her altered genes meant she was no longer fully human, destined to live as a beast.

A beast, when freed from its restraints, eventually goes mad.

She needed something to keep her tethered, and Leon was the one holding that tether. He nodded. "Alright, from now on, you'll follow me."

With that, Leon now had a female version of Wolverine at his side—and she didn't look half bad, either.

"What about this guy?" Pietro asked, nudging the unconscious man at his feet.

"That's Scott. He's not a bad guy," one of the little boys whispered timidly.

"Ah, I see," Pietro responded, his tone a bit sharp. "So, the teachers and professors were all captured? Looks like this military colonel was pretty tough."

Pietro didn't know Scott personally, but he had heard of the famous mutant Professor X. Even so, the colonel couldn't have anticipated that such a powerful group would launch a sudden raid on the base. He was captured before he even had a chance to react—a defeat that, in Pietro's eyes, was simply bad luck.

At that moment, Natasha spoke up. "They'll be here in about an hour at most. We need to leave."

She was referring to the X-Men from the Mutant Academy. With their students, teachers, and professors taken captive, there was no way the X-Men would sit idly by. Natasha had sent a signal to the academy, but it had been intercepted immediately. The base's network had been breached, meaning the X-Men were likely on their way.

Given the speed of their Blackbird fighter, they would arrive soon.

Leon turned to the group of children and spoke softly, "Your teachers are coming fast. Just wait here for a little while, okay?"

"Okay!" the children responded in unison, nodding their heads obediently.

Leon smiled gently. He wasn't ready to face the X-Men directly yet. The outcome of this situation still needed time to unfold, and according to his plans, there would be much to gain in the future.

"Well then, goodbye, little ones," Leon said, standing up and nodding to the others as he turned to leave. But just as he took a step, a little girl suddenly ran over with her tiny legs and clung to Wanda's leg.

"Sister, I want to go with you," she said.

The girl's bold move surprised everyone. Leon stopped and looked at the small, Asian girl.

"Are you not a student at the Mutant Academy?" he asked.

"I'm not. I was captured and brought here," the girl whispered, gathering her courage.

"What's your name?" Leon asked.

"My name is Clarice Ferguson."

"You seem to be Asian."

"I don't know. I've been called this name since I was little."

Leon knelt down next to Wanda, looking directly into the little girl's eyes. "Are you sure you want to come with us?" he asked seriously.

Clarice nodded her head, her small face full of determination, as if she were making the most important decision of her life. Leon smiled at her earnestness.

"Then follow us," Leon said, gently patting the little girl's head before standing up and turning to leave. Wanda took the girl's hand, walking closely behind him.

The group of children left behind watched with longing eyes as their saviors slowly disappeared into the flood channel.

An hour later...

In the distant sky near the dam, a black fighter jet descended through the snowy clouds, landing on a flat expanse that obscured the view.

The plane door opened, and as the metal stairs extended to the ground, a group of people in various combat uniforms stepped out. Leading them was a tall, muscular man with a beard.

He glanced back at a few younger people in the group and spoke in a low, firm voice, "You all stay on the plane."

"But we can help with the mission!" one young man protested, his voice filled with frustration. The others beside him, both men and women, shared his sentiment.

The bearded man pointed a finger at him, his tone stern. "Listen bub, this isn't a game—this is war. You're not experienced enough to be part of this fight."

"Teacher..." the young man muttered, still dissatisfied. He turned to a woman with burgundy hair, hoping for her support. Her beautiful face remained serious as she said, "John, Logan's right. You're not X-Men yet. You're not ready to fight. Stay here and wait for us."

"Okay..." John, the young man, was clearly dissatisfied, but he had no choice but to accept it.

An old man carrying a brown helmet and with a cape over his armor said coldly, "This so-called protection is ridiculous and self-righteous. They have the potential for extraordinary abilities, but coddling them like this will only limit their growth."

"We've discussed this, Magneto. They still need to learn," the woman retorted, unwilling to back down.

Magneto gave a cold smile but didn't argue further.

"Alright, this isn't the time for bickering," said a dark-skinned woman with short white hair. "Regardless of the motive behind the coordinate signal, we need to work together."

Turning to the blue-skinned woman beside him, Magneto said, "Raven, it's your turn."

Raven, also known as Mystique, smiled sweetly. Her blue skin shifted, and a new form emerged—she had transformed into an exact replica of Wolverine, right down to the rugged face.

She was ready to infiltrate the dam base alone when suddenly, an old voice echoed in everyone's minds: "Jean, Erik, Logan, come in."

Ten minutes later...

Inside the base, the X-Men and Magneto stood staring in confusion at a group of little children and a man with red quartz glasses, who looked just as baffled as they were.

Magneto, Eric, glanced at Professor X, who wore a gentle smile.

"So, what exactly happened, Charles?" Eric asked politely, though clearly perplexed.

Where was the promised battle? He had been preparing to use his old friends in a carefully staged plan, but now it seemed like it had all been for nothing.

"I believe there's never a shortage of justice in this world, Eric," the professor replied softly, his eyes gleaming.