Jean Grey and Wanda stepped into the heart of Magneto's hideout, their eyes immediately locking onto the source of danger—the mutation machine, already active.
Before Jean could even think, instinct took over. She ran.
The surge of energy meant for Rogue crackled in the air, but before it could reach its target, Jean threw herself into its path. Her mind strained against the overwhelming force as she intercepted the machine's power, holding it back with sheer will. The room pulsed with raw energy, her body trembling under the strain.
Jeans eyes burned with raw energy, her body trembling under the sheer force.
Storm, nearby, kept attackers at bay, while Wanda and Natasha fought their way toward the heart of the machine.
They needed to end this.
"Jean, can you keep holding it back?" Storm called, lightning crackling at her fingertips as she sent a bolt arcing toward Toad, knocking him into a wall.
Jean gritted her teeth. "I—don't know! It's—too much!"
Cyclops, covering her flank, fired precision optic blasts to keep the Brotherhood at bay.
Meanwhile, Gwen and Natasha moved as a perfect duo, their symbiote suits shifting seamlessly as they dodged incoming attacks.
Talia worked alongside Storm, her stun batons crackling as she fought off incoming Brotherhood fighters.
Talia, dodging a wild punch before electrocuting her opponent into unconsciousness, smirked at the sight.
Wolverine, locked in combat with Sabretooth after finally getting his family reunion, called out, "Jean, whatever you're doing—do it faster!"
Jean ignored him, her entire body vibrating with the raw power flowing through her.
Wanda watched from across the battlefield, her red eyes narrowing. Jean's changing.
She had felt it before, the strange surge within her—something buried deep inside, waiting to be unleashed but suppressed by psychic suppression.
But now? It was close.
Very close. To being released but not before Wanda has some fun.
At the core of the battlefield, Wanda faced Magneto once more.
"You could have had a place in my new world," Magneto said, metal debris floating ominously around him. "Instead, you choose to stand with them?"
Wanda smirked, blocking his telekinetic hold with a flick of her wrist. "Oh, Erik. You never understood, did you?"
Magneto narrowed his eyes. "Enlighten me."
"I don't stand with anyone. I lead as a Queen should and destiny demands."
With a blast of red chaos energy, Wanda sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, throwing Magneto back.
He caught himself midair, redirecting metal shards toward her, but Wanda dodged effortlessly, deflecting them back at him.
"You think you understand power?" Wanda continued, her voice smooth. "You cling to your old wars, Erik. But me? I'm building something new."
Magneto gritted his teeth, trying to force his magnetic hold against her, but Wanda's chaos magic was stronger.
And for the first time, Magneto looked uncertain of victory.
Inside the machine's chamber, Mystique—still disguised as Crystal Frost—moved unseen, her heart pounding.
Rogue was supposed to be a tool for Magneto.
But Mystique had already decided—Rogue wasn't going to die here.
As Jean fought to control the energy, Mystique saw her opening.
She rushed to the machine's controls, pressing a hidden override sequence she had memorized long before today.
The restraints on Rogue snapped open.
Rogue gasped, her body free-falling from the machine's hold—but before she could hit the ground, Jean caught her telekinetically.
Mystique stepped back into the shadows, her job done.
Let Magneto believe she was still loyal.
But today? She had saved her. Tomorrow would see them together again Mystique already had a plan in mind nothing would take what is rightfully hers.
Jean gritted her teeth, redirecting the energy still flooding from the machine.
Her mind burned with raw power—more than she had ever handled before.
And then—
For a brief moment, her eyes flashed with something different.
Something ancient.
Something dormant.
A fiery glow flickered behind her irises—just for a second—before she pushed outward, releasing all the energy in one explosive burst.
The machine shattered, sending a shockwave across the battlefield.
Magneto staggered, his control failing.
Jean collapsed, panting heavily, the last remnants of energy flickering around her fingertips.
And Wanda? Wanda watched closely.
What are you becoming, Jean Grey?
With the machine destroyed, the Brotherhood began to retreat.
Magneto, still injured, glared at Wanda one last time. "This isn't over."
Wanda smirked, stepping forward. "It never is."
With a final blast, she sent him flying backward.
As the X-Men regrouped, Mystique—still disguised as Crystal Frost—watched from a distance.
No one had seen her free Rogue.
No one knew what she had done.
And that was exactly how she wanted it.
As the X-Men boarded their jet, Rogue sat beside Jean, still shaken.
Jean, however, was different.
Something inside her had shifted.
Wanda noticed.
And she wouldn't forget it.
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