Marvel: Sign-In System – Starting with the Glint-Glint Fruit

"What?"

Hearing this, Jiaying could no longer remain seated, bolting straight to her feet.

The other Inhumans exchanged uneasy looks, but no one spoke. They simply listened.

They were not foolish. From the exchange between Jiaying and Skye, they could already piece together some of what had happened.

"I understand your pain, and I can understand some of what you did. After Whitehall dismembered you, Dad stitched your body back together—but your life force was still badly damaged, wasn't it?"

"Before you built Afterlife, what did you do? Did you truly believe we wouldn't be able to find out?"

Skye met Jiaying's gaze with a calm, unyielding look that stung Jiaying to her core.

Jiaying's expression turned exceedingly grim.

It was true. This was a secret buried deep within her heart—one known to no one except her and Calvin. Yet her own daughter had somehow uncovered it.

After Jiaying had been dismembered, Calvin stitched her body back together. Her extraordinary vitality allowed her to survive, but her life force had been severely weakened.

She was left frail and close to death. Combined with the hatred for humanity that had taken root after her torture, her desperation eventually drove her to drain the life force from an entire village.

That was how she survived.

Even then, however, it was not enough to sustain her indefinitely.

After founding Afterlife, Jiaying had relied on the elderly members of the settlement, who voluntarily gave up portions of their remaining life force over the years to preserve her youth.

Skye pulled out a journal and gently placed it on the table.

Jiaying's eyes immediately shifted toward it.

"You wrote all of this because you missed me. It's beautiful, and it's real."

"But it doesn't record the madness you buried deep inside."

"Look into my eyes."

A red glow appeared in Skye's dark pupils, standing out clearly beneath the firelight.

Jiaying, Gordon, and the other Inhumans felt an instinctive chill when they saw them.

Looking into those eyes created the unsettling sensation that every hidden thought and emotion was being laid bare.

"It's called Observation Haki. It's an extremely powerful ability—one the Emperor granted us. It allows me to perceive a person's true emotions."

Skye's calm words struck Jiaying like a thunderclap.

She could no longer maintain her composure. Her scarred face twisted, the old surgical marks pulling across her skin as the gentleness she usually displayed disappeared completely.

The sight unsettled the children and several of the other Inhumans.

Their familiar leader suddenly seemed like a stranger.

"From the joy you felt when you first saw me, to the suspicion, dissatisfaction, and anger that came later—none of it escaped my perception," Skye said. "You know about Terra, don't you? And you know about the Emperor."

"Then you should also know about the Mutant Immigration Act. Mutants have been rejected by humanity just as the Inhumans have. They've suffered persecution too."

"But now they live well in Terra. They are no longer rejected, hated, or abused. They can live there in peace."

"They have access to modern education and medical care, and they no longer have to fear being taken away."

"You've spent more than ten years fighting for the Inhumans. Now, in accordance with the Emperor's will, I am formally inviting you—and all of Afterlife—to join Terra."

"But first, you will have to face the Inquisition."

The moment Skye finished speaking, every Inhuman present stood up.

Their expressions were complicated.

Gordon immediately stepped in front of Jiaying.

Younger Inhumans like Lincoln looked more confused than anything else.

They had never heard of Terra or the Emperor. All they understood from Skye's words was that Terra seemed to be a powerful nation—and one that was unusually accepting of others.

Otherwise, it would never have created a mutant immigration act or welcomed mutants on such a massive scale.

Alongside their confusion was a growing sense of anticipation.

They were still young. Although they appreciated the peaceful life of Afterlife, they also longed to see the outside world and experience something new.

"Skye... you want to send me to the Inquisition?" Jiaying let out a bitter, manic laugh.

She had never imagined that the daughter she had not seen for twenty years would have changed this much.

Skye's composure, insight, and strength had all exceeded her expectations—and beneath all of it was a conviction so firm that Jiaying could not understand it.

Even if it meant sending her own mother before the Inquisition.

Jiaying had researched Terra, so she naturally understood the position and authority the Inquisition held within the Terra Empire.

"The Emperor once said that Terra must be harsher toward the wicked and kinder toward the good. You were innocent in the beginning—but once you committed a crime, you became accountable for it. That is an absolute law."

Skye's stance was unwavering.

From Terra's investigation, she knew how many innocent lives Jiaying had drained in order to survive—an entire village, including many children.

That crime could not simply be erased by saying Jiaying had once been a victim herself.

If Skye had never known, that would have been one thing. But now that she did, she would make sure Jiaying faced judgment before the Inquisition.

The principles of fairness, order, and accountability had already become deeply rooted in her.

And this was not simply a matter of putting justice above family—it was also a way to prevent a much greater problem before it began.

The Terra Empire would inevitably unify the entire Earth in the future.

When that happened, the Inquisition would begin a sweeping internal investigation and purge, examining crimes of every scale, from the most severe to the seemingly minor.

Jiaying was already burdened by serious crimes. If she were given more time to carry out the insane plan she had in mind, that burden would only become heavier.

And the judgment she eventually faced would become far more severe.

Under ordinary human law, the harshest punishments were usually execution or life imprisonment—but for many truly evil people, even those were not enough of a deterrent.

Terra was different.

Its laws were designed so that punishment would not end with physical suffering—the soul itself would not escape judgment.

The Inquisition was already considering plans for after Limbo was conquered. A dedicated region would be established there to imprison the souls of unforgivable criminals, where they would endure hellfire for ten years, a thousand years, ten thousand years, or even longer without any fixed upper limit.

If Jiaying entered the Inquisition now, there was still room for leniency. As her daughter, Skye's own achievements might even offset a small portion of Jiaying's sentence.

But if Jiaying committed far greater crimes in the future, the consequences would be completely different.

Skye's emotions were tempered by rational judgment.

Jiaying, however, knew none of this. All she saw was the cold determination in her daughter's eyes—the apparent willingness to condemn her without hesitation.

Her laughter grew increasingly unhinged.

"Good. Very good. So this is what my daughter has become. Humanity has brainwashed you, and now you're nothing more than that so-called Emperor's obedient servant—you would even have your own mother tortured?"

"Everything I have done was to create a path for our people to survive."

"No one will be allowed to destroy that."

"Seize her," Jiaying finally ordered in a cold voice.

Lincoln and several of the younger Inhumans exchanged uncertain looks and hesitated.

Gordon did not.

He was completely loyal to Jiaying. Whatever order she gave, whatever ideals she followed, he would carry them out.

He knew he was probably no match for Skye, but he still prepared to charge at her without fear.

The moment that thought formed, however, Skye turned her gaze toward him.

An overwhelming force of Conqueror's Haki erupted from her like a volcanic explosion.

Boom!

A red shockwave burst outward. Beneath the night sky, thunder cracked as red-and-black lightning twisted violently through the air.

Gordon's body froze instantly.

Skye's crushing will slammed into him, turning his thoughts into chaos. He stood there blankly, trembling from head to toe.

His courage was shattered—only fear and helplessness remained.

The other Inhumans were not struck with the same overwhelming intensity. Under Skye's precise control, only a faint pressure from her Conqueror's Haki touched them.

Even so, every one of them ended up much like Gordon—

completely unable to move.

A strong wind swept through the clearing, sending the bonfire into a frenzy as the hem of Skye's coat whipped violently around her.

She looked toward Jiaying.

"Big sister..."

A little girl clung to Skye's leg with both hands, timidly looking up at her with fear written across her face.

Neither she nor the other children understood what was happening.

All they knew was that the beautiful older girl and Aunt Jiaying had started arguing.

The little girl only wanted Skye to stop fighting with her. Skye's Conqueror's Haki had not affected her or any of the other children at all.

Skye lowered her gaze toward the children around her.

Her expression softened. Ignoring Jiaying's grim face, she crouched down and wrapped her arms around the little girl named Ashley.

She glanced at the other frightened children nearby, then spoke gently.

"Would you like to see the outside world, or would you rather stay here?"

"Outside, you wouldn't have to worry about being rejected. You could have lots of friends, go to school, live in proper homes, watch television, play games, visit amusement parks, and eat all kinds of good food."

"But if you want to stay here for now, that's fine too."

Ashley listened intently, a look of yearning flashing across her face before she spoke up shyly after a moment's thought. "We'll go wherever the adults go."

"Alright. We're not fighting, just talking, so don't be afraid," Skye said softly, patting Ashley's head and comforting the other children before standing back up.

She turned to Jiaying and the rest of the Inhumans, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"The world has changed. I won't force any of you to join Terra."

"You can continue living here, and you won't have to worry about anyone coming to harm you."

"Or you can join Terra. Terra will give you work and a stable life."

"There is both good and evil in this world—the Emperor protects those who are good."

"So everyone else gets a choice, but your own mother doesn't?" Jiaying was still struggling to resist.

Skye stood directly in front of her and gently shook her head.

"I'm not going to tell you this is for your own good. I know you wouldn't listen anyway. You cannot escape Terra's judgment unless you die right now."

"As your daughter, I will force you to face the Inquisition. As a citizen of Terra, I will also demand that you answer for the innocent people you once harmed."

"You do not have a choice."

Standing before Jiaying, Skye took her hand and placed it against her own cheek.

Jiaying froze for a moment—then overwhelming joy surged through her.

Her ability allowed her to forcibly drain life force. An ordinary person would not last even a second once she used it.

Without hesitation, Jiaying activated her power.

But to her shock, it did absolutely nothing.

Instead of draining Skye's life force, all she felt was a faint vibration traveling across the surface of Skye's skin—one that sent pain through Jiaying's entire body.

Refusing to believe her ability had simply failed, Jiaying stopped and tried again.

The result was exactly the same.

She could not drain even the slightest trace of Skye's life force.

Jiaying stared at her in horror.

There was no disappointment in Skye's eyes—

only calmness.

Skye already understood that years of hatred and suffering had twisted Jiaying's thinking and values into something obsessive and unstable. Under this kind of pressure, it was hardly surprising that Jiaying would try something like this.

"Surprised?"

"Your ability is impressive among the Inhumans, but your perspective is far too limited."

"Even if I lowered my defenses and let you drain me, your body would rupture almost instantly."

Skye was not underestimating Jiaying's ability. Jiaying had once drained the life force of an entire village and used it to accelerate her own recovery.

But Skye's vitality was no longer anything like that of an ordinary human.

Put simply, she might look human on the outside, but biologically she had become something entirely different.

Calling her a being comparable to something from myth would not be an exaggeration.

Her body contained an enormous amount of life energy—far more than Jiaying's fragile body could possibly withstand.

There would only be one outcome.

Jiaying's body would explode, while Skye would feel little more than mild discomfort.

Jiaying went numb.

Or perhaps she had simply fallen into despair.

Every hope she had clung to had been shattered. The only thing left in her eyes was bitterness—bitterness toward her daughter, toward Skye's refusal to understand her, and toward the cruelty she believed her daughter was showing her.

But from the moment Skye arrived in Afterlife, the outcome had already been decided.

...

Skye did not bring all of Afterlife back to Terra. Instead, she notified Terra's logistics division and had them assume responsibility for the settlement.

Afterlife might have been isolated deep within the Himalayas, but that did not make it inaccessible.

Terra had already developed transport aircraft equipped with anti-gravity engines, and a prototype combining the Quinjet with the X-Men's Blackbird had already entered mass production.

Those aircraft could operate even in extreme weather.

The difficult terrain of the Himalayas was hardly a serious obstacle.

Skye placed Afterlife under Terra's protection, but she did not ignore the wishes of its residents or forcibly relocate them.

Instead, she gave them a choice.

Those who were attached to Afterlife or simply preferred the life they had built there could remain. Terra would deliver supplies, establish a permanent navigation point, and leave behind reliable communication systems.

The older residents could continue living quietly in Afterlife while also gaining access to some modern technology.

Signal towers and communications networks would be built so they could watch television and enjoy other forms of entertainment.

Terra also agreed to search worldwide for persecuted Inhumans, bring them to Afterlife first, and then allow them to choose where they wanted to live.

The younger Inhumans took the children with them to Terra. At certain times, they could apply to return to Afterlife and visit the older residents they had lived with for years.

It was essentially like leaving home for work or study.

Terra's transportation network made the arrangement easy enough. Skye even submitted a special request to install a permanent magical teleportation array in Afterlife.

With it, people could cross thousands of miles almost instantly—

far faster and more convenient than conventional travel.

As for Jiaying, Skye personally brought her back to Terra's capital.

There, she saw Calvin again.

And she also came face-to-face with Whitehall—

the man whose cruelty had started the tragedy that destroyed her life.

...