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Clark grabbed the iron cage and tried to tear it open, but he found that even with all his strength, the ordinary metal wouldn't budge.
My own strength can't even move this normal metal!
Behind him, Charles saw Clark's struggle and looked up, realizing that while Magneto was fending off Cyclops and Storm's attacks, his eyes were still focused on Clark.
"It's the magnetic field, Clark. Magneto has used it to strengthen the cage. Although you are powerful, it's not enough to break through a magnetic field controlled by him," Charles's voice echoed in Clark's mind, explaining why the simple steel bars were so unyielding.
"So, all we have to do is make it so Magneto can't control this metal, right?" In an instant, Clark found a solution. Magneto could use the magnetic field to reinforce the metal, making it unbreakable, but the magnetic field couldn't change its melting point.
Clark stepped back, his eyes glowing red. He would use his heat vision to melt the cage. Once the metal was liquid, it would no longer be something Magneto could control with magnetic fields.
"Everyone, be careful!" A brilliant red light shot from Clark's eyes. He precisely aimed his heat vision at the steel bars, avoiding the students inside. However, such careful control meant the metal didn't melt instantly, giving the enemy time to react.
Magneto immediately understood Clark's plan. The students were his trump card in this standoff, and he couldn't let Clark free them. He prepared to use other metal to attack Clark, but Cyclops and Storm were already one step ahead. They launched their attacks in a furious volley, forcing Magneto to focus on them and prevent him from disrupting Clark's actions.
The game was afoot. Magneto's control over the magnetic field was immense, but he had to devote his attention to resisting Cyclops's laser and Storm's lightning. He wasn't invincible.
"That little brat, always messing up our fun!"
Meanwhile, Sabretooth, who was still locked in combat with Logan, became enraged at the sight of Clark. It wasn't just about the students; it was the humiliation of being nearly killed by the boy. In a fit of anger, he shrugged off Logan's claws, which had just pierced his heart, and sent him flying. Just as his name implied, he dropped to all fours and pounced on Clark like a wild animal.
"Clark, watch out!" Logan yelled, unable to stop him. In his mind, Sabretooth was still a significant threat.
But was Sabretooth a threat to Clark? Not anymore. While Clark wasn't truly invulnerable, he was no longer a match for a brute like Sabretooth, who was not known for his strength. However, if Clark were to be interrupted now, everything would fall apart. Cyclops and Storm couldn't hold off Magneto forever, and if they were defeated, Magneto would have all the leverage.
Clark didn't move, appearing ready to take the attack head-on. In reality, it was because he trusted his allies, specifically Charles, who was the only one who hadn't taken action. Just as Sabretooth's claws were about to strike, his movements suddenly stopped. At the same time, Toad, who was fighting Beast, also froze. Charles had used his telepathy to take control of both of them.
Charles had waited to act because Magneto had been watching him closely. If Charles had used his powers, Magneto, protected by his mind-proof helmet, would have attacked him without hesitation. Now, with Cyclops and Storm distracting him, Charles had a small window.
As soon as Sabretooth and Toad were controlled, Beast and Logan joined Clark. With the metal cage heated and Magneto's magnetic control weakened, they quickly tore it open, and the students escaped.
But just as they were about to free Jean Grey from the metal sheet she was wrapped in, she suddenly lifted into the air and flew to Magneto's side.
Everyone looked up to see that Magneto had somehow already subdued Cyclops and Storm. He had removed Cyclops's glasses and bound him and Storm face-to-face with a steel bar. If Cyclops opened his eyes, his laser would hit Storm, and if Storm summoned lightning, she would electrocute Cyclops. Adding Jean to the mix, everyone realized their loss.
"Charles, I'm truly surprised by your decisiveness this time," Magneto said slowly. Charles hadn't tried to reason with him; he had gone straight to action, and it had caught Magneto off guard. But that was all it was: a fleeting surprise.
Even though the students were free, as long as he held these three, he had all the power in this negotiation.
"Magneto, let them go. Your actions are too extreme," Charles said, using Sabretooth's mouth as a puppet.
"At this point, what's the use of arguing about right and wrong? This is a simple transaction. You want their lives? It's easy. Hand over Riven, Sabretooth, and Toad. Otherwise, these three will surely die."
He began to tighten the metal binding them. The sound of their bones cracking filled the air. Their joints were dislocating, and if the pressure continued, their bones would be crushed.
"Erik!" Sabretooth suddenly shook his head, as if he'd broken free of the control. Charles, using his body, screamed Magneto's name, then his eyes closed, resigning himself.
After a long silence, Charles opened his eyes, filled with helplessness. Magneto knew him too well. Unlike Magneto, Charles couldn't threaten lives so directly, even if he had Sabretooth and Toad. From the moment Cyclops and Storm were captured, the outcome was sealed.
"I promise you, release Cyclops and the others as soon as possible..."