Jean Grey nodded slightly after hearing him out, her expression thoughtful as she considered his words. "Right now, they're only being taught how to control their abilities. They haven't been introduced to any real combat training yet, so they're still far from ready for actual fights."
Liam reached out and gently placed a hand on each of their heads, his tone calm but firm as he spoke. "You've both heard it yourself—real battles aren't simple. Just controlling your power isn't enough. Experienced fighters will pick you apart the moment they spot a weakness, so you need time to grow. Focus on learning first. Revenge can wait."
Wanda hesitated for a moment, her expression wavering as conflicting emotions passed through her eyes. Eventually, she let out a quiet breath and nodded, temporarily pushing aside her desire for vengeance. "Okay… I trust you, Liam."
Quicksilver, on the other hand, still looked unconvinced, his jaw tightening slightly as he glanced away. Even so, he didn't argue further, holding back his urge to act for now, though the fire in his eyes clearly hadn't gone out.
After spending some time with the siblings, Liam prepared to leave, only to receive a message from Mystique informing him that Magneto wanted to meet him. He paused for a brief moment to think it over, but in the end, he didn't refuse the invitation.
By the time evening arrived, he was already heading toward the agreed location.
In Queens, New York, a narrow alley hid a bar with the number "503" hanging crookedly above its door. From the outside, it looked quiet and almost abandoned, but stepping inside revealed a completely different scene. The place was packed, filled with dozens of people of all shapes and appearances, laughter and cheers echoing through the dimly lit room.
At that moment, the bar door swung open, and three figures walked in together. An old man wearing a helmet and cloak stepped forward with an air of authority, followed by a blue-skinned woman and a scruffy-looking man with his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
"Magneto's back!"
The already lively atmosphere instantly surged into something even louder and more chaotic as the crowd recognized him. The entire bar was filled with members of the Mutant Brotherhood, and their excitement at his return was obvious.
Magneto's gaze swept calmly across the room, his presence alone commanding attention. Then he raised one hand slightly, pressing it downward in a simple gesture.
Almost immediately, the entire bar fell silent.
A flash of red suddenly appeared beside him, resolving into a figure with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Magneto. What brings you here tonight? Something big going down?" the man asked casually.
It was the Red Devil, one of the few people present who dared to joke so freely with Magneto.
Not long after, another familiar figure approached, catching Liam's attention instantly.
The White Queen.
Their last encounter had been at the Statue of Liberty, where their clash had ended with her being completely overwhelmed. Seeing her now, along with the five identical girls—the Stepford Cuckoos—Liam couldn't help the faint smile that curved at the corner of his lips.
The White Queen clearly noticed it and shot him a sharp glare in response, her expression tightening with irritation.
Soon after, more familiar faces gathered around—Sabretooth, Blob, Toad, even Juggernaut and Multiple Man appeared among the crowd. The sheer number of powerful mutants present caught Liam slightly off guard.
Given the Brotherhood's current strength, they should have easily surpassed the X-Men, yet during their previous operation, only a portion of them had been deployed. It made him wonder what Magneto had been holding back.
"Brothers," Magneto began, his voice steady but carrying effortlessly across the room, "for years, we've fought against ordinary humans, proving the superiority of mutants. We are stronger. We are the future. This world should belong to us."
He raised his hand again, his tone growing heavier with conviction. "Mutantkind will rise. Mutants… hail!"
The response was immediate and explosive.
"Mutants hail!"
The atmosphere turned almost fanatical, like a congregation responding to a preacher, and Liam couldn't help but find it a little surprising. Magneto's influence over these people had clearly reached a level bordering on devotion.
Magneto lowered his hand once more, and silence returned just as quickly as the noise had erupted.
"But this isn't just a dream anymore," he continued, his gaze shifting slightly as he gestured toward Liam. "The one who can make it reality has arrived."
With that, he pushed Liam forward into the center of attention.
"He will become the leader of all mutants and guide us toward a glorious future."
The declaration sent a wave of excitement through much of the crowd, but not everyone shared the same enthusiasm. The White Queen and the Red Devil remained unmoved, their expressions carrying a clear hint of skepticism.
Unlike the others, they weren't blindly loyal followers. Their reasons for joining the Brotherhood were their own, and their allegiance was far from absolute.
Liam himself was a bit surprised by Magneto's move. He hadn't expected to be thrust into the spotlight like this, let alone be named as the future leader of the Brotherhood. Still, even if he didn't particularly care about the title, backing down now would only make him look weak.
He cleared his throat lightly, stepping forward with an easy smile. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Liam Hayes… though you can also call me God."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the room at his words, some amused, others openly doubtful.
"As Magneto said," Liam continued, his tone casual but confident, "I'll be leading mutants from here on out. And together, we're going to take control of this world."
The reaction was immediate. Conversations broke out across the bar as many of the mutants exchanged skeptical looks. Most of them simply couldn't accept that someone so young—and seemingly out of nowhere—could replace Magneto.
These weren't harmless people. The majority had joined the Brotherhood after losing control of their powers or lashing out in ways that left them with no place in normal society. They respected strength above all else, and Magneto had earned that respect through undeniable power.
But Liam?
To them, he was just an unknown.
A cold snort broke through the murmurs as the White Queen crossed her arms, her gaze sharp with disdain. "You? The leader of the Brotherhood? That's a joke."
The Red Devil glanced at her in surprise, lowering his voice slightly. "You know him?"
"Know him?" she replied, her lips curling slightly. "I know him very well."
Liam chuckled softly, answering for her with an amused expression. "More than just acquaintances. Want to try your luck with me again?"
"Don't push your luck," the White Queen shot back, though there was a hint of hesitation beneath her defiance. The memory of their last encounter clearly hadn't faded.
Liam's smile widened slightly as he turned his attention back to the rest of the room. "Seems like not everyone here is convinced."
He glanced sideways at Magneto, who simply shrugged, leaving the matter entirely in his hands.
"Fair enough," Liam said, rolling his shoulders slightly. "Then let me show you."
He snapped his fingers.
In the next instant, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently, the entire building shaking as if caught in a massive earthquake. Cracks split open across the floor, spreading outward at an alarming speed.
The walls fractured. The ceiling groaned.
Then everything collapsed.
The bar—and everything around it—was swallowed by chaos as the earth itself seemed to tear apart. The sky darkened in an instant, thick storm clouds gathering overhead as lightning streaked across the heavens.
It looked like the end of the world.
The destruction didn't stop there. Within moments, the devastation spread outward, consuming everything in its path. Buildings crumbled. Streets split open. The entire city of New York was reduced to ruins in the blink of an eye.
When the shaking finally stopped, the members of the Brotherhood found themselves sprawled across the wreckage, struggling to climb out from beneath debris. One by one, they rose to their feet, their expressions blank as they took in the sight around them.
There was nothing left.
The entire city had been wiped out.
They turned their gazes toward the sky, where Liam hovered calmly above them, his figure framed against the dark clouds. His expression was composed, almost indifferent, as if what he had just done required no effort at all.
"Anyone still dissatisfied?" he asked, his voice carrying easily across the ruined landscape.
No one dared to answer.
The shock was too overwhelming. The reality before them was undeniable. This wasn't power they could challenge—this was something far beyond anything they had ever seen.
One by one, they dropped to their knees.
"God… God…"
The chant spread quickly, voices filled with awe and fear.
Even Mystique, the Red Devil, and the White Queen found themselves kneeling without realizing it, their bodies reacting instinctively to the sheer weight of what they had witnessed.
After all, in a single moment, he had destroyed all of New York.
Just how powerful was he?
....
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