Chapter 95: Magneto’s Counterattack
Rogue had finally started to settle in at the Mutant Academy. While she still wasn't completely familiar with everyone, she had managed to let go of her anxieties—for now. Physical contact might've been off-limits, but in a school full of mutants from all walks of life, that didn't seem so unusual. When you're surrounded by people who live with struggles just like yours, it's easier to understand each other.
Ever since she learned that Logan could heal from almost anything, Scott shot lasers from his eyes, Professor X could read minds, Storm could control lightning and the weather, and Hank was basically a genius covered in fur—Rogue had felt like she'd stepped into a whole new world. A world that made her forget her worries, even if only temporarily.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, trouble was brewing.
"That damn Bob Bell is spewing nonsense on TV again," growled Sabretooth. "All that guy does is fan the flames, spreading fear and hate about mutants."
The Brotherhood of Mutants had been formed long ago, but thanks to constant setbacks and Magneto's frequent imprisonments, it had fallen apart and reformed multiple times. Without Magneto at the helm, the Brotherhood was nothing more than a toothless tiger—intimidating in theory, but powerless in practice. And broke, too. Rallies, safehouses, equipment—they all cost money. Mutants had the same needs as any human. They couldn't fight for their future if they couldn't even eat.
In contrast, Professor X's side had funding, resources, and the Mutant Academy—a clear advantage.
Now, the Brotherhood had regrouped with a clear goal: resist the government's Mutant Registration Act. And unsurprisingly, Magneto was once again leading the charge.
"Humans are often shameless," said Eric calmly, seated at the head of the room. "I've grown used to it."
"Is the machine ready?" he asked, turning toward Sabretooth.
"It's operational," Victor nodded. "But without proper testing, there's no way to guarantee stability."
The device in question was Magneto's newest creation—a machine that could forcibly mutate ordinary humans. If his plan worked, everyone in New York would wake up as mutants. Let the government try to register or imprison the entire population then.