Pietro wanted to argue further, but Wanda silenced him with a subtle shake of her head.
Seeing his sister's signal, Pietro reluctantly conceded, "This fight is unfair. You have multiple powers while I have only one."
"Fairness to enemies is a luxury you can't afford," Richard replied evenly. "Wanda, your turn."
Though Pietro had reached eighteen years of age, Richard found him remarkably childlike. Wanda, despite being the younger sibling, displayed considerably more maturity.
Wanda turned to face Richard, nodding once before activating her abilities. Crimson energy materialized around her hands, swirling with untamed potential.
The power of chaos.
Richard's expression grew serious as he observed the chaotic energy enveloping Wanda's hands. Though he had witnessed her powers through Sebastian Shaw's memories, this marked his first direct observation of chaos magic.
I wonder if absorbing chaos energy feels different from other powers? The thought surfaced unbidden in his mind.
Under Wanda's control, the surrounding desert sand rose as if possessed of consciousness, streaming toward Richard from all directions.
Rather than teleporting away, Richard employed the magnetic manipulation ability he had acquired the previous night.
Magnetic force field!
Before the airborne sand could make contact, Richard generated an ultra-high intensity magnetic field, creating a barrier that repelled the approaching particles.
Though he had only acquired magnetic control hours earlier, his proficiency remained uncompromised. Over the past three months, he had accumulated extensive experience in adapting to new powers. Unless a ability was exceptionally rare, he could wield it effectively from the moment of acquisition.
Wanda's expression registered surprise when she observed Richard blocking the minuscule sand particles with his defensive field. Undeterred, she intensified her control over the desert floor.
Under her enhanced direction, what had begun as scattered projectiles evolved into a full sandstorm that completely enveloped Richard's magnetic barrier.
Despite this tactical adjustment, the sand cyclone Wanda had conjured still failed to penetrate the magnetic field or reach Richard himself.
Recognizing her change in approach, Richard refrained from immediate counterattack, curious to see what Wanda might attempt next.
Dozens of kilometers above, a Gulfstream G550 business jet cruised toward Las Vegas.
Within the cabin, Magneto and Mystique sat opposite one another, engaged in a chess match punctuated by casual conversation.
Just as Magneto prepared to execute a checkmate, he suddenly paused, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"What is it?" Mystique inquired, noticing his abrupt change in demeanor.
Magneto offered no immediate response. Rising from his seat, he crossed to the opposite window and gazed down at the desert landscape below.
Though he detected nothing unusual through visual observation, his extrasensory perception registered the presence of an extraordinarily powerful magnetic field.
More disconcerting was the field's familiar resonance—it felt remarkably similar to the magnetic signatures he himself generated when exercising his powers.
A hypothesis formed rapidly in his mind: Could this be my clone?
Though he lacked definitive confirmation regarding the magnetic field's source, Magneto wasted no time on speculation.
"Someone in the desert is using powers identical to mine," he informed Mystique.
"A Department of Mutant Affairs clone?" she asked immediately.
"Uncertain. It could be one of the Hellfire Club's creations—they maintain a facility in Las Vegas."
His decision came swiftly. "Continue to Las Vegas. I'll investigate personally."
Donning his iconic telepathy-blocking helmet, Magneto proceeded directly to the cockpit. After brief instructions to the mutant pilot, he positioned himself before the cabin door.
Observing his intentions, Mystique promptly secured herself in the nearest seat, fastening her safety harness without hesitation.
Magnetic field manipulation.
Magneto first generated a protective field around himself, then applied his powers to unlock the cabin door—a mechanism designed to remain sealed during flight.
As the door retracted, the pressure differential between cabin and atmosphere created an explosive decompression, violently pulling at everything within the compartment.
Despite standing directly before the opening, Magneto remained perfectly stationary, as though the tremendous suction exerted no influence whatsoever upon him.
The magnetic barrier encapsulated him completely, isolating him from external forces. The cabin's decompression posed no more threat to him than would a gravity-manipulating mutant attempt to drag him forth against his will.
Under Mystique's watchful gaze, Magneto glided calmly through the doorway.
Once clear of the aircraft, he again employed his magnetic powers to reseal the cabin door.
Having secured the aircraft, he accelerated toward the source of the magnetic disturbance.
Back in the desert expanse, Wanda continued her assault, directing the sand cyclone against Richard's defenses.
Though impressive in scale—over two meters in diameter and towering more than a hundred meters skyward—the sand formation proved entirely ineffectual against Richard's magnetic barrier. It failed to penetrate his defenses or even disturb a single strand of his silver hair.
Recognizing the futility of her current approach, Wanda immediately adjusted her strategy.
With a casual gesture of her right hand, the raging sand cyclone that had persisted for nearly a minute dissipated instantly, as though it had never existed.
She then extended her hand directly toward Richard, summoning a different manifestation of her abilities.
Chaos power!
Within moments, chaotic energy radiating crimson light encompassed Richard's magnetic field completely.
Observing Wanda's tactical shift and her attempt to overcome his defenses with chaos magic, Richard acted decisively, activating his energy absorption capability.
Had Wanda possessed the full extent of her comic counterpart's abilities, even Richard's Alpha-level energy absorption might have proven insufficient against her chaos manipulation. Before he could absorb her power, the comic version of Wanda could simply nullify his abilities entirely.
Fortunately for Richard, the Wanda before him had yet to develop such formidable control. Beyond being significantly less powerful than her comic counterpart, she remained unaware of the true nature of her chaos magic.
In an instant, the chaotic energy Wanda had projected against his magnetic barrier was completely assimilated by Richard.
As he absorbed the chaos power, Richard discovered it possessed a distinct quality unlike any energy he had previously consumed. To describe it metaphorically, chaos energy offered a more refined "taste" compared to conventional energies.
When Wanda observed the chaotic force surrounding the magnetic field vanish, she immediately recognized something had gone wrong.
Before she could cast another chaos spell, Richard seized control of the metal necklace adorning her throat. His initial instinct had been to manipulate the metal buckle on her belt to suspend her.
But to avoid being misunderstood by Wanda, Richard abandoned his initial plan and targeted her metal necklace instead.
Under his control, the necklace rose upward, tapping against Wanda's chin with precisely calibrated force—firm enough to demand attention without causing pain. The unexpected contact drew her gaze downward involuntarily.
When she lifted her eyes to Richard again, she found herself staring directly at the Masamune's gleaming tip, suspended mere millimeters from the bridge of her nose.
"You're more creative than Pietro," Richard observed. "Your approach shows ingenuity."
Eyeing the blade's proximity to her face, Wanda lowered her hands, ceasing her chaos magic. "But I still lost," she acknowledged.
"Defeat is natural," Richard assured her, returning the Masamune to his system inventory. "You lack combat experience. That will develop with time."
"I understand," Wanda nodded.
"Let's return to the hotel," Richard suggested.
As he prepared to teleport the twins back, he sensed the presence of an unusual magnetic field.
Without hesitation, he activated his enhanced vision, looking skyward toward the source of the disturbance.
Why is he here?
Richard's expression registered genuine surprise as he identified Magneto rapidly approaching through the air.
What brought him to Las Vegas? Is he planning to attack the Department of Mutant Affairs branch here personally?
Though uncertain of Magneto's motives, Richard suspected the master of magnetism had detected the magnetic field he'd generated during his training session with Wanda.
"What's wrong?" Wanda asked, noticing Richard's attention fixed on the distant sky instead of initiating their teleportation.
"Magneto is here," Richard replied calmly, indicating the approaching figure.
Magneto?
Following Richard's gesture, Wanda and Pietro gazed upward.
From their current distance, they could discern only a speck slightly larger than an insect, insufficient to make out any distinguishing features.
Despite the limited visual confirmation, neither twin questioned Richard's identification.
Magneto's velocity was considerable. As the distance closed, even Wanda and Pietro, lacking enhanced vision, gradually discerned his distinctive silhouette.
Soon, Magneto—enveloped in his magnetic field and soaring through the air—arrived before them.
After assessing Richard and the twins with a thorough glance, Magneto descended, landing directly opposite Richard.
"Did you generate that magnetic force field?" Magneto inquired immediately.
Though unfamiliar with Wanda and Pietro, upon seeing Richard, Magneto had instinctively attributed the magnetic disturbance to him.
Richard's possession of multiple powers was widely known. While no one but Richard himself knew the full extent of his abilities, Magneto's suspicion was natural.
"I did," Richard confirmed without hesitation.
"When did you acquire magnetic manipulation?" Magneto asked, brow furrowing.
"I'm not obligated to explain that to you," Richard replied.
While he regarded Magneto favorably, this didn't extend to divulging the mechanics of his power acquisition. The existence of both his system and his "plunder" ability would remain his secrets alone.
"Fair enough if you prefer not to disclose it. My question stemmed purely from curiosity," Magneto conceded.
"By the way, who are these two?" he continued, turning his attention to Wanda and Pietro.
Though certain he had never encountered them before, something about the twins triggered a sense of familiarity he couldn't immediately place.
Though Magneto maintained his composure, his reaction provided Richard with exactly the opening he'd anticipated.
"These are the Maximoff siblings I rescued from the Hellfire Club's research facility last night."
The Maximoff siblings?
Magneto's brow creased slightly at Richard's response. The surname resonated with him, though he couldn't immediately place it.
Maximoff wasn't a common name, and Richard had deliberately emphasized it.
Maximoff?
Her surname was Maximoff as well, wasn't it?
The image of a woman materialized in Magneto's memory.
Though Magneto remained silent, his thoughtful expression told Richard his test had yielded results.
Without delay, Richard pressed forward: "Pietro and Wanda are twins. They turned eighteen this year."
Eighteen years old?
Magneto's expression transformed abruptly as he stared at Wanda and Pietro with newfound intensity.
"Your mother was Irina Maximoff?" he asked, his voice carefully controlled.
"You knew our mother?" Pietro responded, regarding Magneto with confusion.
I knew far more than just your mother! She and I were intimately involved!
Though Pietro's tone remained measured, his answer struck Magneto with the force of revelation.
The surname matches. The timing aligns. And Wanda's resemblance to Irina is unmistakable.
They are my children!
Even Magneto—accustomed to extraordinary circumstances—couldn't conceal his astonishment at this discovery.
Witnessing the infamous Magneto's stunned expression, Wanda and Pietro instinctively retreated behind Richard, regarding him warily.
Unlike the twins, who interpreted Magneto's reaction as potentially threatening, Richard understood perfectly the source of his shock.
In Magneto's position, Richard suspected his own reaction might have been even more pronounced.
As Magneto prepared to speak, Richard intervened.
"If you have matters to discuss, let's continue this conversation at the hotel," he suggested diplomatically.
"Agreed," Magneto replied immediately, noting how the twins had positioned themselves protectively behind Richard.
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