"Do you truly want to become stronger?" Jue asked, his sharp eyes catching the eagerness buried beneath Eugene's calm exterior.
Eugene lowered his head, hiding his eyes behind the curtain of golden hair.
Jue walked toward him, sat cross-legged in front of them, and spoke gently, "Let's not rush. Start by telling me about yourself."
Surprised by Jue's tone — so unlike the distant or judgmental teachers he had known — Eugene nodded and sat down as well.
"My name is Eugene Rodriguez, a second-level mutant. My ability is to create light sources," he said, manifesting a soft orb of golden light in his right palm.
Jue chuckled. "You know that's not what I'm asking."
Eugene's smile faded. His fingers tightened around the orb of light. Then he exhaled and continued, eyes still fixed on the ground.
"My father's a businessman. I have two half-brothers, and a younger sister. When I was seven, my X-gene awakened… and I got this." He gestured toward the light in his hand, bitterly. "My father couldn't accept it. He's a traditionalist. I was different — 'wrong' in his eyes. He sent me here to hide me. Everyone in my family shut me out… except my mother. She stayed behind to take care of me, and paid the price."
His voice broke. He folded in on himself, shoulders trembling. "I just wanted to prove I'm not worthless… to show them all…"
Jue didn't interrupt. He waited for Eugene's breath to steady, then calmly said:
"I'll teach you how to become stronger. But you must follow one rule: you are never to initiate a fight without my permission — or until you've truly found a reason that justifies it. Break this rule, and I'll make you regret it so deeply that you'll wish you hadn't been born."
Eugene looked up. Jue was still smiling, but there was an overwhelming weight behind his words. Cold sweat ran down Eugene's spine, and he nodded — rapidly, frantically — as if his life depended on it.
Watching him, Jue's expression softened. "He's got the fire. He just needs the forge."
Jue turned his gaze to the boy sitting nearby, who was doing his best to remain composed. But the shifting in Gavin's eyes betrayed him.
"Your turn. Tell me why."
Gavin's voice was steady, but his jaw clenched with every word. "My parents were both mutants. On my sixth birthday, soldiers broke into our home. They tried to arrest us… My parents were gunned down protecting me—"
"That's enough," Jue cut in gently, yet firmly. "I've heard enough of that kind of story. Show me your ability."
Gavin nodded. "Second-level mutant. My power is enhanced speed." Without warning, he shot forward, his body a blur, reappearing in front of Jue moments later, panting.
"Interesting…" Jue said, studying the boy. "Yours is pure speed — raw kinetic ability in the classical physics sense. You've got potential, but unlocking it will hurt. A lot. I hope you're ready for that."
"You're… willing to teach me?" Gavin asked, his voice unsure. "Aren't you afraid that once I get stronger I might—?"
Jue's eyes gleamed. "A real teacher doesn't fear strength. Their job is to shape the mind that wields it. Revenge? That's your burden. So long as you're ready to pay the consequences, do as you must."
Then, his expression darkened slightly. "But remember — if your vengeance drags your friends or this school into it, even if you succeed, you'll regret it more than you can imagine. That kind of victory is hollow."
Gavin said nothing — but the tension in his face told Jue the message had landed.
"You've been training all morning. Go eat. After that, meet me at the playground. We'll begin your real training."
The boys nodded. Hunger had caught up with them. As they gathered their things and turned to leave, Eugene hesitated.
"Teacher… aren't you coming to eat with us?"
Jue smiled faintly. "I don't need to eat anymore. My body doesn't rely on food for energy — and the energy food provides here is far too weak for me."
Eugene didn't quite understand, but he nodded anyway and followed Gavin out.
****
Jue remained seated, cross-legged in the grass, unmoving.
He tilted his head upward, eyes tracing the morning clouds, lost in quiet reflection.
"Good kids. Strong hearts. Good intentions. Maybe this world isn't as dull as I thought."
His voice faded as he felt the surge deep within — not from this world, but from within himself.
"That coward named Lin Jue… died a thousand years ago in Soul Society. I won't live in weakness again. Not here. Not ever."
A pulse of Reiryoku stirred in his soul — a familiar, ancient power.
"Soon… we'll meet again. But next time, you'll have no power to stop me."
This world — Earth, the Marvel Universe — had no idea how different its fate would become.
The man who once terrified Gotei 13, who haunted the edges of Hueco Mundo, would rise again — and this time, in a new battlefield of mutants, Avengers, and gods.
****
From the villa's window, Tochigi Hisako spotted a lone figure on the playground. "Chris, come look — is that the man who just arrived in our dorm?"
Chris and Olo ran to the window.
"Didn't he say he was going to New York?" Chris asked. "Why's he still here?"
"I'll get us breakfast," said Olo. "Hisako, take Chris over and check it out."
Hisako nodded, leading Chris toward the playground. The school was nearly silent — most of the students were still curled up in bed, enjoying the Christmas break.
Chris walked quietly behind her, taking in the school grounds — this strange, new place that would become home. The sunlight brushed against her silver facial markings, making them glow softly like water in motion.
At the center of the field, Jue sat alone.
Chris felt it before she saw it — the comforting aura radiating from him, warm and grounding.
She smiled without knowing why, the silver patterns on her face glowing even brighter.
> "Jue!" she called, her voice full of light. "Didn't you say you were going to New York? What are you still doing here?"