Peter paced back and forth across the room, his footsteps growing increasingly restless as he finally began to piece everything together. Magneto had taken a device that could be reverse engineered to give him control over a mutant's powers, allowing him to manipulate their abilities at will. Meanwhile, Apocalypse was attempting to create his Four Horsemen, turning powerful mutants into weapons to serve his ambitions.
Emma, on the other hand, sat quietly on the couch, watching Peter as he continued pacing. She leaned back against the cushions, her eyes following his every movement. The longer she watched him, the more concerned she became.
"Peter, just stop pacing. It's not good for you," she said, trying to calm him down.
"Calm down? HOW CAN I CALM DOWN!" Peter suddenly yelled, throwing his hands into the air as he stopped in his tracks.
Emma raised an eyebrow at his outburst but remained silent, allowing him to express himself.
"You already read my mind and saw all my memories of my past life, but you didn't see shit about what the Four Horsemen were like, Emma!" he shouted, his voice filled with frustration and anger.
Peter clenched his fists, his breathing becoming heavier as the memories flooded his mind. He was enraged, not simply because of what Magneto and Apocalypse were planning, but because he knew how this story would end. He knew that someone would die trying to stop Apocalypse, someone who had fought until her very last breath to save everyone else.
And that person was Emma Frost.
Peter's expression gradually changed as he lowered his head, his anger giving way to a deep, painful sorrow. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to reminisce about the past.
He remembered the day the Four Horsemen overthrew the X-Men, crushing their resistance and bringing countless mutants to their knees. The world they had fought so hard to protect became a nightmare, with the surviving X-Men reduced to slaves under Apocalypse's rule. Hope seemed all but lost, and the few who remained free were forced to watch as their friends and allies suffered.
Yet, even when everything appeared hopeless, Emma Frost refused to surrender.
She stood on the final line of defense, facing Apocalypse and Magneto alongside the last remaining mutants. Exhausted and battered, she pushed herself beyond her limits, refusing to let the sacrifices of her fallen comrades be in vain. She knew she could not win through sheer strength alone, but she was determined to give everyone else a chance to live.
With the fate of the enslaved X-Men resting on her shoulders, Emma gathered every last ounce of strength she had left. She made her final decision, one that would cost her everything. In a desperate final act, she unleashed all her power and blew herself up, taking Apocalypse and Magneto down with her.
Her sacrifice brought their reign of terror to an end and freed the enslaved X-Men.
Peter remembered it all too clearly. Even now, the memory of Emma's final moments left a painful ache deep within him. To him, she had been more than just another member of the X-Men. She had been a mentor, someone who had taught him how to socialise with others, how to carry himself with confidence, and how to believe in himself even when the world gave him every reason to doubt.
Emma had helped him overcome his insecurities and become a more confident person. She had pushed him to open up, to stop hiding behind his awkwardness, and to understand that being himself was nothing to be ashamed of.
Losing her had left a wound in his heart that time could never truly heal. Nevertheless, Peter had continued moving forward, holding on to the lessons she had taught him. He continued to socialise, to carry himself with confidence, and to maintain his self-esteem, even when things became difficult.
Because deep down, he knew that was what Emma would have wanted for him. She would have been proud to see how far he had come.
Peter slowly opened his eyes again, returning to the present. He shook his head, as though trying to dispel the painful memories lingering in his mind, before letting out a long, unsteady breath. His shoulders gradually relaxed, and he unclenched his fists.
He looked at Emma, who was still sitting on the couch, watching him with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Sorry," Peter said quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I shouldn't have acted like that. It's just..."
He trailed off, unable to find the right words to explain himself. After a moment, he shook his head again and forced himself to calm down, taking a few slow breaths until his emotions were finally under control.
Peter then began planning how to take down Apocalypse and put an end to his schemes. However, before he could do anything, there was one person he needed to save first. Jean Grey.
In his previous life, Jean had been the first and strongest among the X-Men, possessing extraordinary telepathic abilities that made her an invaluable asset. Peter remembered how Magneto had used her powers to control the X-Men, turning them against one another and forcing them to obey his commands. If Peter wanted to prevent history from repeating itself, he needed to get to Jean before Magneto could use her.
Fortunately, Peter had already prepared for this possibility. Thanks to his Spidey Tracker, they had managed to pinpoint the location of the enemy's hideout. The information gave them a chance to strike before Magneto and Apocalypse could carry out their plans.
However, charging into an enemy stronghold without a proper strategy would be foolish. They needed someone who could infiltrate the place without immediately raising suspicion.
And Peter already knew the perfect candidate.
"Wait, why the fuck do you want me to do now?" Deadpool asked, pointing at himself in disbelief.
"You made a deal with them, so you're going to infiltrate the place where Jean is being kept," Peter replied calmly. "Or you can say goodbye to your dick forever."
Peter casually opened a portal beside him, revealing a container holding Deadpool's most precious possession.
Deadpool stared at it for a moment before slowly turning back toward Peter.
"Alright, fine! I'm doing this just to get my beep~ back."
Peter simply nodded, satisfied that the matter had been settled.
With the plan established, the remaining members began preparing for the assault. Everyone suited up, checking their equipment and making sure they were ready for whatever awaited them on the other side. Peter did the same, carefully inspecting his suit and testing the functions integrated into his mask.
"System check," he said.
His AI assistant responded through his mask, displaying the necessary information across his heads-up display. Peter examined the readings, checking his web shooters, tracking systems, and other equipment to ensure everything was functioning correctly.
Once he was satisfied, Peter raised his hand and began opening a portal.
The swirling gateway revealed their destination: Saudi Arabia.
According to the intelligence gathered by his tracker, Magneto was scheduled to meet a mysterious individual there. Whoever this person was, their involvement could prove significant, but Peter wasn't about to let curiosity distract him from the main objective.
Instead, he intended to use the meeting to their advantage.
With Magneto occupied, his forces would have fewer opportunities to interfere with their infiltration. It was the perfect distraction, giving Deadpool a chance to slip into the hideout, locate Jean Grey, and help bring her back safely.
Once Jean was free, they would have a much better chance of stopping Apocalypse before his plans could come to fruition. Her telepathic abilities were exceptionally powerful, potentially surpassing even Professor Xavier's in terms of mental control, making her the key to preventing Magneto from manipulating the X-Men again.
For Peter, this wasn't merely about defeating their enemies. It was about changing the future before the same tragedy could happen all over again.
Once they made it through the portal, the team began their operation.
Logan extended his adamantium claws, the metallic snikt echoing through the surrounding area. He rolled his shoulders, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to charge straight into the enemy's stronghold.
However, before he could take a single step, Storm raised her hand to stop him.
"Stick to the plan for once, Logan," she demanded sternly.
Logan let out an irritated grunt, retracting his claws slightly as he stepped aside. He clearly wasn't happy about having to hold back, but he reluctantly followed her instructions.
Meanwhile, Peter approached Deadpool and removed his restraints.
"Alright, you know our deal. You get us what we want, and you get your thing back," Peter reminded him.
"Yeah, yeah. Like I've got shit to take care of," Deadpool replied dismissively.
Without another word, he marched straight toward the entrance of the underground facility, leaving the others to watch him disappear inside.
For a moment, everyone remained silent, waiting for him to do his job.
"Oh yeah, that's the stuff. I'm gonna, hrrruuunnnn."
PLOP!
The entire group fell silent.
It was, quite possibly, the worst timing imaginable.
"Is he literally taking a shit at a time like this?" Logan asked, his face twitching as he struggled to contain his growing irritation.
His claws slowly extended again.
Storm glanced at him, then toward the entrance where Deadpool had disappeared. Even she seemed to be questioning whether their decision to use him had been a mistake.
Peter pinched the bridge of his nose.
He had expected Deadpool to do something stupid. He just hadn't expected him to do it before the mission had even properly started.
"Alright, time to go do some work," Deadpool announced cheerfully after finishing his business.
Apparently satisfied with himself, he continued deeper into the underground facility as though nothing had happened.
"Hmhmhmhm... Where art thou, Jeanny?" he muttered, strolling through the corridors while looking into every cell he passed.
Inside were dozens of captured mutants, some of whom were members of the X-Men themselves.
"Jesus Christ. Cyclops, Gambit, Iceman..." Deadpool muttered, glancing from one cell to another. "This place is practically a reunion party, except nobody brought snacks, and everybody's having a terrible time."
Back at their position, Emma watched everything through Peter's spider-bot, which was transmitting a live feed from Deadpool's perspective.
She stared at the screen, watching him continue his ridiculous search.
"Does he know you planted a tracker on him?" Storm asked, glancing at Peter.
Peter shook his head.
"If I didn't, who knows what Wade's stupidity would lead to?"
"Fair point," Storm admitted.
They continued monitoring Deadpool's progress, waiting for him to locate Jean Grey. It took some time, with Deadpool occasionally stopping to inspect the imprisoned mutants and mutter inappropriate comments to himself.
Eventually, he reached a cell that was different from the others.
Inside, Jean Grey was strapped to a chair, her body secured by restraints as though she were a prisoner awaiting execution. Several mechanical devices surrounded her, their metallic arms connected to a machine that hovered near her body.
Suddenly, an invisible force struck her.
Jean's body jerked violently against the restraints as another pulse of energy slammed into her, causing her to gasp in pain.
Logan's expression darkened as he watched the footage.
"What the hell is that thing?" he asked, his voice low and threatening.
Peter's eyes narrowed behind his mask. He studied the machine carefully, his mind already working through the possibilities.
"Okay, fun times are over," Peter said firmly. "We know where she is now. Let's get in, get her out, and regroup back at the school."
Emma, Storm, Logan, and Pietro exchanged glances. Although they were confused by the sudden change in Peter's approach, none of them argued. They knew they couldn't afford to waste any more time while Jean was being tortured.
Peter stepped forward and raised his hand. Golden magical energy gathered around his fingers as he began forming a portal. The air shimmered before a circular gateway opened directly into Jean's cell.
Without hesitation, Peter led the team through.
They emerged inside the chamber, immediately moving toward Jean. Logan kept watch while Pietro checked the surrounding area, ready to react at the slightest sign of danger. Emma and Storm hurried toward the restraints, working together to free Jean from the machine.
"Alright, we got her. Let's..." Emma began.
Before she could finish speaking, a blinding flash of lightning erupted from Storm.
CRACK!
The bolt struck Emma squarely, sending her flying across the room. Her body slammed through the wall with tremendous force, leaving a gaping hole in the structure as debris scattered across the floor.
"EMMA!" Logan roared.
He spun around, his eyes widening in disbelief as he saw Storm standing where Emma had been only moments earlier.
"Storm... what are you doing?" he demanded, his voice filled with confusion.
Storm didn't answer.
Instead, she raised her hand, and another bolt of lightning burst from her fingertips.
Logan barely had time to brace himself before the attack struck him, sending electricity surging through his body. He staggered backward, his muscles locking up as he collapsed to one knee.
Pietro attempted to move, but Storm's lightning spread across the floor, catching him before he could escape. He fell beside Logan, his body momentarily paralyzed by the electrical discharge.
Peter stood frozen for a fraction of a second, staring at the woman who had just attacked her own teammates.
Storm slowly turned toward him.
Their eyes met.
Peter immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong.
"Ah, shit..." he muttered.
A strange smile crept across Storm's face, one that didn't belong to her.
"Hmmm... a peculiar one, aren't you?" a male voice emerged from her mouth.
Peter's eyes widened.
That voice.
It was Magneto.
"Wait, how?" Peter demanded, struggling to make sense of the situation. "Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting?"
Magneto chuckled through Storm, clearly amused by Peter's confusion.
"Do tell me, did you not expect someone capable of shapeshifting to be involved?"
Peter's expression changed as the pieces finally fell into place.
It had all been a setup.
The Magneto they had been tracking, the one supposedly attending a meeting in Saudi Arabia, wasn't the real Magneto at all.
It was Mystique.
The real Magneto had been waiting for them here, using Storm as his weapon to ambush the entire team the moment they entered Jean's cell.
But how was Magneto controlling Storm?
Peter's gaze shifted toward the machinery surrounding Jean. His mind raced as he considered the possibilities, and then the horrifying answer struck him.
Magneto had succeeded in taking control of Professor Xavier.
Using Xavier's telepathic abilities, he had found a way to manipulate Storm's mind. The key to this scheme was the new and improved Universal Inhibitor Collar, a device designed to suppress mutant powers that Magneto had somehow enhanced to serve his own twisted purpose.
With Xavier under his control, Magneto now possessed the means to turn the X-Men's greatest strength against themselves.
Mystique arrived just in time, having finished her deal with a certain investor. She approached the possessed Storm and gave a slight nod, already knowing who was controlling her.
"Boss..." she greeted.
"Dammit!" Peter muttered under his breath.
Realising the situation was getting out of hand, Peter decided to call upon his symbiote partner.
"Venom, come out!"
The black symbiote emerged from beneath his suit, spreading across his body as the two merged into one. His physique grew larger and more muscular, with sharp claws and white eyes forming across his mask.
"Let's go, brother..." Venom said, extending his long tongue with a sinister grin.
Magneto, still controlling Storm, tilted his head slightly as he observed the transformation.
"Fascinating. Get me a sample," he ordered, directing his attention toward Mystique. "I want the smallest sample of that symbiote."
"Like hell!" Peter and Venom exclaimed together.
Without wasting another second, the two launched themselves at their opponents. Mystique shifted her appearance while Storm unleashed a powerful barrage of lightning. Peter and Venom responded in kind, their movements perfectly synchronised as they exchanged blows with the two women.
The battle quickly escalated, with each side delivering devastating attacks. It was like watching one bulldozer crash into another, neither willing to back down.
Their clash eventually carried them beyond the tower, sending all three fighters crashing through the air as the battle continued high above the city.
Peter fired his webs, swinging himself toward Storm.
"Gotcha!"
He extended his hand, gathering magical energy around his fingers. His objective was to sever Magneto's connection to Storm before he could regain control of her completely.
However, Mystique suddenly appeared behind him, preparing to launch another attack.
Before she could reach him, a black tendril burst from Peter's back and wrapped around her body, catching her midair.
"Hurry up, Peter! We're gonna get splat, man!" Venom shouted.
"I'm working on it, dammit!" Peter snapped back, focusing his attention on the magical spell.
The two continued arguing even in the middle of their life-threatening situation, but Peter eventually managed to complete the spell.
A burst of magical energy spread across Storm's body, disrupting the connection that had been controlling her.
The moment the connection was severed, Storm's eyes returned to normal. She blinked several times, finally regaining control of herself.
Realising they were all falling from an enormous height, she immediately extended both hands and summoned powerful gusts of wind. The surrounding air currents caught everyone, slowing their descent before gently guiding them toward a safe landing.
"Let go of me! Do you know who I am?!" Mystique barked, struggling against Venom's tendrils.
"This bitch!" Storm exclaimed, preparing to strike her.
"Stop!" Peter intervened, raising his hand. "Look at her neck!"
Storm paused and followed the direction Peter was pointing toward.
Sure enough, around Mystique's neck was a Universal Inhibitor Collar. However, this version was different from the ordinary models. It had been modified with an additional obedience chip, allowing Magneto to control its wearer and manipulate their actions.
"So that's why Logan was acting aggressively back then..." Storm muttered, finally understanding what had happened.
Peter approached Mystique and examined the device more closely before destroying the collar with a concentrated burst of energy. The moment it broke apart, its control mechanism shut down, freeing Mystique completely.
Venom released his tendrils just in time, allowing Mystique to collapse onto the ground.
After some time had passed, Mystique finally regained consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes, finding herself inside a truck surrounded by the remaining members of the team.
Deadpool was sitting nearby, looking perfectly comfortable.
"I'm okay, by the way," he casually announced.
Mystique ignored him for a moment, looking down at her hands. She stared at them in disbelief, trying to process what had happened.
"What have I done..." she muttered, her voice trembling with guilt.
Storm stepped forward, her expression softening as she approached her former adversary.
"Look, it's not your fault, Mystique. It was Magneto. He controlled and manipulated you against your will."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"But we need your help. You have to tell us where Magneto really is."
Mystique lowered her head, trying to recall what had happened before she was freed. She closed her eyes, searching through the fragmented memories of her time under Magneto's control.
After a moment, she finally spoke.
"The building back there was just a facility for studying Jean. They wanted to understand her powers thoroughly and figure out how to use them to enhance and control other mutants."
Peter listened carefully, his arms crossed as he considered the implications.
"But the truth is, they were discussing something about the Four Horsemen or whatever. I didn't get all the details, but I do know they're in Chicago."
"Why Chicago?" Logan asked, narrowing his eyes.
Mystique turned toward him.
"Because Chicago is where the highest number of mutants are going to be discovered."
Everyone turned their attention toward Peter, who was sitting nearby in his Spider-Man suit. His appearance had returned to normal after the symbiote retracted beneath his suit, keeping Venom concealed from the others.
Peter remained silent for a moment, processing what Mystique had just revealed.
The pieces were finally coming together.
---
Chapter 36 — End.