Chapter 123: Magneto Arrives
Lynn's routine remained unchanged.
During the day, he treated ordinary patients.
At night, he descended into the basement to continue refining his mastery of Kamar-Taj's dimensional techniques.
Four days of uninterrupted practice produced remarkable progress.
Portal construction had become completely reliable.
Success rate: one hundred percent.
He could now lock onto destinations with extraordinary precision, opening gateways to specific rooms, hallways, or even precise locations within a building.
His progress with the Mirror Dimension was equally impressive.
Although he had not yet reached the effortless proficiency displayed by masters of Kamar-Taj, he could already deploy a stable Mirror Dimension within approximately three seconds.
More than sufficient for battlefield isolation.
A useful tool.
Especially for someone whose preferred combat methods tended to cause extensive property damage.
At precisely two o'clock that afternoon, Lynn escorted his final patient of the morning—a retired woman seeking treatment for a chronic stomach ulcer—to the door.
He reached for the clinic sign.
Ready to flip it from OPEN to LUNCH BREAK.
Then the All-Seeing Eye detected an anomaly.
Lynn stopped.
Every ferrous object along the street had begun vibrating.
Streetlights trembled.
Parked cars shuddered.
Underground water pipes emitted low metallic groans.
Even loose screws hidden inside nearby buildings rattled faintly.
An electromagnetic field.
And not a natural one.
Lynn's gaze pierced through the clinic walls.
The source approached rapidly from the west.
Field intensity far exceeded normal geomagnetic levels.
More importantly, the fluctuations exhibited deliberate modulation.
Control.
Precision.
Intent.
Someone was generating it.
Three seconds later, he saw who.
A figure floated above the far end of the street.
Approximately twenty meters above the ground.
Moving forward slowly.
Effortlessly.
A crimson helmet.
A flowing purple cape.
An aura of distorted electromagnetic energy surrounding his body.
There was no mistaking him.
Magneto.
Also known as Erik Lehnsherr.
One of the most powerful mutants on Earth.
Behind him walked several others.
Seven.
Possibly eight.
Mutants.
Members of the Brotherhood.
Each carried distinct energy signatures.
The All-Seeing Eye automatically began analysis.
Lynn immediately noticed something unusual.
Magneto's power was declining.
The regions of the brain associated with X-Gene expression showed obvious degeneration.
Magnetic-field output measured approximately sixty percent of historical peak estimates.
Age.
Time.
Biology.
Even Magneto was not immune.
The most feared master of magnetism on Earth was slowly weakening.
Lynn's attention shifted toward the group following him.
Two mutants carried a makeshift stretcher.
A young woman lay upon it.
The All-Seeing Eye penetrated the blanket instantly.
Diagnostic results appeared.
[Automatic Diagnosis Initiated...]
Patient: Lorna Dane
Codename: Polaris
Injury Assessment:
Severe X-Gene instability detected.
Magnetic-field manipulation occurring unpredictably.
Power activations generate uncontrolled electromagnetic feedback, causing progressive organ damage.
Neurotoxin contamination detected.
Substance identified: Purifier MK-II.
Toxin has entered the central nervous system and is actively disrupting neural pathways associated with X-Gene expression.
Hereditary X-Gene instability.
Genetic structure highly similar to Magneto's.
Several critical stabilizing sequences absent.
Safe expression threshold significantly lower than Magneto's.
Overall Fatality Probability: 78%
Estimated Survival Time Without Treatment: 36 Hours
Lorna Dane.
Polaris.
And, in comic continuity, one of Magneto's daughters.
Lynn studied the information.
The X-Gene.
The foundation of mutant abilities.
Among all mutant powers, Magneto's mastery of magnetism ranked among the most dangerous.
Electromagnetism was not merely metal manipulation.
It was one of the four fundamental forces governing reality.
Electricity.
Magnetism.
Radiation.
Light.
Chemical bonding.
Entire branches of physics existed because of electromagnetic interactions.
If Magneto's degeneration could be reversed—
The system immediately provided an estimate.
[Potential Treatment Target Identified]
[Successful Treatment May Yield SS-Rank Talent Acquisition]
SS-Rank.
Magnetic-field manipulation.
An exceptionally valuable reward.
Lynn tapped the clinic doorframe thoughtfully.
Good.
Very good.
Magneto finally arrived.
He stopped approximately ten meters from the clinic entrance.
Then slowly descended.
His boots touched the pavement without producing a sound.
The surrounding magnetic field effortlessly negated his weight.
The iconic crimson helmet gleamed beneath the afternoon sunlight.
The All-Seeing Eye immediately identified numerous modifications.
Electromagnetic shielding systems.
Psi-disruption layers.
Defensive countermeasures specifically designed to resist telepathic intrusion.
A familiar precaution.
Magneto had spent decades fighting telepaths such as Professor X.
His gaze locked onto Lynn.
Gray eyes.
Ancient eyes.
Eyes carrying memories of war.
Persecution.
Survival.
Hatred.
Determination.
Everything that had shaped Magneto into the man he had become.
Then he raised one hand.
The clinic doors screamed.
Metal warped instantly.
Hinges snapped.
Bolts tore free.
The entire reinforced entrance twisted inward like paper crushed by an invisible giant.
Three seconds later, nothing remained.
Only mangled metal hung from the doorway.
The destruction was precise.
Controlled.
And completely unnecessary.
Magneto stepped inside.
Two Brotherhood members followed with Polaris' stretcher.
The remaining mutants spread out through the lobby.
A textbook containment formation.
Lynn remained behind the reception desk.
A steaming cup of tea rested before him.
His gaze shifted briefly toward the ruined entrance.
Then back toward Magneto.
The mutant leader stopped two meters away.
He was shorter than Lynn expected.
Approximately one meter seventy-five.
Yet his presence filled the room.
Invisible electromagnetic pressure saturated the clinic.
Metal objects vibrated continuously.
Scalpels.
Cabinets.
Examination equipment.
Even chair frames.
Everything responded to Magneto's will.
"You're the doctor."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
Confident.
Not a question.
A declaration.
Lynn offered no immediate answer.
Instead, he calmly picked up his tea.
Took a sip.
Set the cup back down.
Then his expression changed slightly.
Because every metallic instrument in the clinic had begun floating.
Scalpels.
Forceps.
Bone saws.
Syringe needles.
Hundreds of surgical tools rose into the air simultaneously.
The instruments rotated.
Adjusted position.
Then aligned.
Every sharp edge pointed toward Lynn.
Every possible angle was covered.
Head.
Neck.
Heart.
Abdomen.
A perfect killing pattern.
A crossfire constructed from surgical steel.
The Brotherhood watched silently.
Magneto remained motionless.
And the entire clinic suddenly felt much smaller.
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