The future of the new X-Men timeline, compared to the old one, is undeniably more tragic—perhaps even more suffocating and despair-inducing.
For Erik, Charles, and Logan, if they had to choose a future, they'd rather go back to the old timeline than endure this grim, hopeless new reality.
"Charles, you're really a piece of work," Erik said, arms crossed and voice grim. "The enemy is right on our heels, and you're wasting precious time dragging Logan around."
Charles, slowly coming to terms with his own pathetic future, shook his head and muttered with self-deprecating irony, "Honestly, you can't expect too much from an old man with Alzheimer's."
Logan waved them both into silence, signaling them to keep watching the video.
On the screen, as the trio continued their escape, the mastermind behind the Alkali Institute—Zander Rice—finally made an appearance. Unimpressed by Donald Pierce's repeated failures, he decided to lead the mission himself to capture Laura, even deploying a secret weapon.
Meanwhile, Logan had a minor mishap—an out-of-control self-driving truck led them to a local farmer's home. After lending a quick hand with some chores, the hospitable farmer invited them over for dinner.
Logan was quick to decline—they were fugitives after all, with no time to spare. But Charles accepted the offer for him. And so, for the first time in what felt like forever, the three of them shared a quiet, peaceful dinner.
The warmth and calm of the evening made them all let their guard down. Laura, sensing a rare moment of family, even smiled—shy and genuine—a smile that tugged at the heart.
But for the viewers watching from the outside, it was all too clear: beneath this fleeting calm, danger was closing in.
Charles wasn't being reckless—he only wanted Logan to feel a sense of home again.
It wasn't hard to guess: Charles had likely confused this Logan with the younger version from their first meeting—a wild, wandering man with no roots, lost and angry at the world.
And so, he tried to use this moment to "rehabilitate" Logan.
But the harsh truth was: Logan once had a home. It was Charles who gave it to him. And now, that home was gone.
Watching all this unfold, Erik couldn't help but sneer. "Charles, you really are cruel to Logan. You gave him the life he wanted… and then you took it all away."
That's where true tragedy lies. The most painful thing isn't never having—it's once having, and losing it all.
Charles rested his chin on his hand, half his face hidden, eyes brimming red. His voice was low, hoarse. "Yeah... in this future, Logan has suffered far more than he should have."
Logan, ever the realist, just shrugged. "It's nothing. I'm used to pain by now."
Every time he unleashed his claws, he felt his flesh rip open. That pain became second nature long ago.
It's no wonder that in the old timeline, they chose Logan for the time-travel mission. Only he could endure the agony of having his consciousness ripped through time.
Back in the video, after making sure Charles was settled, Logan went outside to help the farmer with chores as a thank-you.
Inside the room, Laura curled up quietly at the foot of the bed. She clearly didn't feel safe—tightly curled, she pulled out a photograph from her pocket. It showed other mutant children and some nurses from the lab—probably the only thing worth remembering from that hellish place.
Some time passed. The door creaked open. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside. His eyes went straight to the girl on the floor.
Charles stirred awake and looked at him, his voice raspy. "Let her sleep a little longer, will you? You know, Logan, this is the best sleep I've had in a long time... But I don't deserve it, do I?"
The warm yellow light fell across Charles's wrinkled, exhausted face. His expression, once calm, twisted in pain.
Maybe it was the rare rest that brought back the memories—memories of terrible things he'd tried to forget. He spoke through clenched teeth.
"I remember what happened in Westchester… This isn't the first time I've hurt people, is it? And even now, you still try to protect me. We've both just been running from the truth. But now… I understand why, Logan."
And just as Charles was baring his soul, the tall figure stepped up to the bed. He raised a fist—and with a sharp shing, razor-sharp claws burst forth, stabbing straight into Charles's chest.
The camera finally revealed the attacker's face.
It was Logan. Or rather, someone who looked exactly like him—but younger, stronger.
"Ah!!"
Laura was already awake. But she'd been tricked by this fake "Logan" until now. Her eyes went wide with shock, and then rage. She let out a fierce roar and lunged at him.
Her claws pierced straight through the man's neck.
But this man—this younger version of Logan—had the same healing ability. He didn't even flinch. Without much effort, he grabbed the furious girl and slammed her to the ground.
The noise of the fight drew the attention of the farmer's wife and son. Brave as they were, they were no match for a monster that couldn't die.
The tragedy unfolded in a blur of screams and blood.
First the boy. Then the wife. And finally the farmer himself—all three were cut down by the cold, merciless claws of a killer. Their bodies lay lifeless in a pool of blood.
Even though the viewers outside the screen had steeled themselves for this moment, the real thing still hit like a punch to the gut.
Erik spoke coldly. "Charles, it was you who got these innocent people killed."
Logan's face darkened. His voice was low and heavy. "No. This was on me. Everyone who shows me kindness ends up dead. It's a curse."
He still remembered the first time he escaped the lab, a kind farmer took him in—and died later in a plane explosion meant for him.
Logan always believed he was born under an ill-fated star. And in this moment, no one could argue otherwise.
Charles's eyes were bloodshot. He clenched his fists and coughed twice, murmuring in anguish, "Is that it...? Just like that...? It's so damn unfair."
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