Chapter 81

Two chaps cause the previous one is too short.

...

Scott, the future leader of the X-Men, couldn't forget that moment—a teenage girl knocked him out, even though he had been under the influence of drugs. It was a humiliation, to say the least. Thankfully, Scott wasn't the type to hold a grudge, otherwise, he'd have to carry that memory forever.

After some reflection, Hank turned to the professor. "Do you know where this battle took place?"

"Near Houston, most likely," Professor Charles replied.

Hank nodded and moved to the desk, opening the professor's laptop. After a few minutes of searching, his eyes brightened. "Found it."

He stepped aside to show the others what was on the screen. The X-Men gathered around to see images of the aftermath displayed on the computer: aerial shots from drones. The highway near Houston appeared utterly devastated—a 10,000-meter stretch had been torn apart by an immense force. The road was fractured, surrounded by craters of varying sizes, with deep cracks spreading for miles.

Everyone was stunned.

"I accessed the Houston Police Department's network," Hank explained, "and retrieved the data and images sent to them from the investigation site. The federal government's already involved, and they've formed a joint task force with nearby cities."

Ororo's eyes widened in disbelief. "It looks like a battlefield hit by missile strikes. The level of destruction is terrifying."

"Agreed," Cyclops said, still processing the images. "The power needed for that level of damage is unreal."

Seeing devastation from different angles the X-Men realized that the intensity of the battle was far beyond anything they had expected.

Hank then asked a very interesting question. "Professor, do you think it was a coincidence that Mr. Leon was fighting this evil force from another dimension? Or was it intentional?"

This question left everyone deep in thought.

Coincidence and intentionality are intriguing ideas. If it was just a coincidence, it's simple enough. But if it was intentional, it suggests Leon might have a way to predict or track down these evil forces. That would mean he's actively seeking out such threats, which could provide more insight into his character—clearly someone aligned with the side of defending against evil.

Considering Leon's history, like the raid on Trek Test Base, this possibility shouldn't be dismissed lightly.

The professor paused, thinking aloud. "It could be a coincidence, or it might have been a deliberate action on Leon's part."

"Either way," he continued, "the evil presence has vanished, and Leon seems to be the one who came out on top this time."

Logan, growing impatient, cut in. "Why are we sitting around guessing? Why not just call him and ask? We've got his contact info, don't we?"

His straightforward suggestion caught everyone off guard for a moment. Then Professor Charles smiled, a bit sheepishly. Logan had a point. They might not know Leon well, but they had communicated before. Asking him directly wouldn't hurt their relationship.

With a nod from Charles, Hank pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and dialed Leon's number.

Beep... Beep...

After a moment, the call connected, and Hank put it on speaker. Leon's distinct, youthful voice came through, clear and composed.

"Good morning, Professor, Hank, and Jean."

A simple greeting, but it left everyone in the room stunned. How did Leon know who was there without being told? For a moment, they might have wondered if he had planted bugs or cameras at the school, but they quickly dismissed the idea. That was impossible.

Still, it added another layer of mystery to Leon.

Professor Charles, unfazed, responded with a warm smile, "Good morning, Mr. Leon. Sorry to disturb you."

"Not at all. I just got up," Leon replied with a light chuckle. After a brief pause, his tone shifted slightly. "Professor, I assume you're calling about last night? You sensed it, didn't you?"

Although phrased as a question, Leon's tone made it clear he already knew the answer.

The professor and the others exchanged looks. Leon's response confirmed their suspicions—it was him involved in the events last night.

At this point, the professor decided not to beat around the bush any longer. He spoke directly.

"Yes, there was a lot of commotion last night," Charles began.

Leon responded calmly, "There was no avoiding it. This time, the opponent was different."

"Oh?" Charles' face grew serious. "Can you tell me, Mr. Leon? I'm curious as well."

There was a brief silence, though it felt far longer to the X-Men, filled with tension and anticipation about this mysterious enemy. Finally, Leon broke the silence and said one word:

"Mephisto."

The name sent a shockwave through the room, leaving everyone but Logan visibly stunned. Eyes widened, and Hank couldn't contain his surprise.

"W-What? Mephisto?" Hank blurted out. "As in the Mephisto?"

"Yes, Mr. Hank," Leon replied with a slight chuckle in his tone, though no one paid attention to his amusement.

All focus was on the name that had just been uttered—Mephisto, the demon lord of Hell. The weight of Charles' earlier words suddenly bore down on the team. This was not just some powerful opponent; Mephisto was from another dimension entirely, a being of cosmic, malevolent power.

Magneto, once considered their most dangerous foe, seemed like nothing in comparison. The very concept of Hell and all its dark associations rushed into their minds. If Mephisto was truly involved, what did this mean? Did he intend to claim Earth for himself, to open the gates of Hell and turn the world into his own infernal playground?

Hank rubbed his head, his face a mix of disbelief and anxiety. "This has to be a dream, right?" he muttered, a bitter smile on his face.