Chapter 64 : Agreement!!

On the journey to Annandale-on-Hudson, Storm occupied the driver's seat while Wolverine took the co-pilot seat, leaving Carl and the professor in the back.

The town lay a mere two hours' drive from the school.

Certainly, the recent outbreak instigated by Jean had inflicted some damage to the underground base, rendering the fighter planes inoperable, thus necessitating the use of a car.

As Carl observed the passing scenery, he narrowed his eyes, contemplating the relative strengths of the opposing sides.

His thoughts lingered on Magneto and the newly awakened Phoenix.

He anticipated their encounter with Magneto and his cohorts, fully aware of the risks involved.

Indeed, given his current prowess, Carl felt less intimidated by Magneto than he once might have been, unlike Wolverine who had previously fallen to Magneto's might.

With his enhanced speed, strength, and reflexes, Carl believed he could outmaneuver Magneto and, if necessary, incapacitate him with a well-placed strike.

However, Carl couldn't shake off the ominous feeling that Professor X might not survive the encounter with Jean this time.

Though in the movie, Professor X had managed to transfer his consciousness before his demise at the hands of Jean Grey, resurrecting through his vegetative twin brother, this was reality, not cinema.

Uncertainty loomed over whether the professor could successfully accomplish the transfer of consciousness this time.

Carl realized that it was imperative to rescue him; without Professor X's guidance, his school might not thrive as it should.

Moreover, he pondered whether his second Awakening, triggered by the X Gene, would be enough to confront the formidable Jean.

Before the impending battle, Carl contemplated the scenario where he would unleash his full potential.

For Jean was no longer the feeble individual who had emerged by the lake; now, with the emergence of another personality, the Phoenix force surged within her, augmenting her already formidable psychokinetic abilities.

And if Jean were to escape, Carl knew he wouldn't stand a chance of catching up with her in his current state.

If Superman were at his peak, he wouldn't concern himself with acquiring some Phoenix Force relics. Unfortunately, he had only been evolving for a little over half a month.

Carl could only sigh inwardly.

Despite not fully subscribing to the professor's ideology, Carl still held deep respect for this elder who had dedicated his life to fostering harmony between humanity and mutants.

That's when more power will be unveiled.

At least people are in the rivers and lakes and can't help themselves.

At that moment, the professor across from him turned his head slightly, gazing at Carl and spoke gently, "Carl, I sense you have something to tell me?"

"...Yes, a few words."

Carl paused briefly, then nodded, saying, "Professor, Miss Jean's powers have spiraled out of control, and she has fled. It's likely related to you."

Upon hearing this, Storm, who was piloting the craft, shifted her gaze, displaying a hint of skepticism.

The professor paused, then affirmed, "Your intuition serves you well.

"When I first encountered Jean in her youth, I sensed a destructive power within her, driven by primal instincts. And back then, she couldn't manage that power.

"If left unchecked, her consciousness would be overwhelmed by it, turning her into a puppet of destruction.

"So, I intervened, constructing a mental barrier to shield and suppress the influence of that power."

"But I hadn't anticipated that this power would spawn a secondary personality within her, one consumed by desires and negative emotions, posing a significant threat."

The professor's revelation startled Storm, while Wolverine remained composed, evidently familiar with the situation. Carl, who had long been aware of these details, feigned astonishment, playing along with the group dynamics.

In order to maintain collaboration, he affected a touch of 'shock' on his face, speaking earnestly, "Professor, while Miss Jean's alternate personality has surfaced, it hasn't yet lost control. I believe you shouldn't take any risks.

"Others might fare alright at this juncture, but your presence could easily provoke her, and perhaps even...".

Just as Carl was about to utter, "Maybe you will die," the professor suddenly opened his mouth, cutting him off, and spoke slowly, "Because I must go."

"Must go," Carl paused.

Professor X gazed at the retreating skyscrapers outside the car and spoke gently, "In this world, not only Mutants possess extraordinary power, but there are also formidable beings."

"Formidable beings, are you referring to the Ancient One? Or someone else?" 

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Carl's expression remained unchanged, but he appeared puzzled.

The professor continued, "Once, I reached out to those powerhouses concealed within the human race and established an agreement regarding the handling of Mutants."

"It's called the Peak Protocol."

"So unless we are incapable of handling a situation, or unless Mutants provoke them, they cannot interfere in Mutant affairs."

"Similarly, I cannot intervene in events unrelated to Mutants."

Storm, who was driving the car, looked astonished and bewildered, "Peak Protocol, Professor? How is it that we are unaware of this? Are those formidable beings truly powerful?"

Wolverine, beside her, was also perplexed by the mention of the Peak Protocol.

They knew that aside from Mutants, there were individuals with extraordinary abilities in the world, but these individuals were scarce and usually confined to specific regions.

They had never imagined that there were peak powerhouses, so potent that Professor X had to negotiate with them.

Although Professor X spent his days confined to a wheelchair, seemingly lacking physical prowess, and seemingly defenseless against telekinetics, considering him weak was a grave misconception.

How powerful was Professor X? Powerful enough that Magneto had to wear a helmet shielding against mental attacks when confronting him.

Powerful enough that if he so desired, he could eliminate Mutants worldwide using brainwave amplifiers, or manipulate the consciousness of all humanity.

Thus, compared to Magneto, those formidable individuals feared Professor X more.

Likewise, Professor X harbored a fear of these powerful beings, apprehensive that they might rise against him, leaving Mutants, already at a disadvantage, with no hope of triumph.

For a moment, Carl pondered many things.

No wonder whenever Magneto caused chaos, it went largely unchallenged, whereas every time the X-Men intervened...

At the same time, this also explains why there were no X-Men involved in the Hulk vs. Abomination, Iron Man, and Spider-Man event.

Both sides held each other back and refrained from interfering.

Hence, even when aliens invaded from behind and the Avengers took over the battle later, no mutants intervened.

However, this situation also concealed the looming crisis of mutant genocide.

Over the years, some mutants must have caused trouble right under the noses of the powerful.

Due to a non-interference agreement, they refrained from taking action.

So when the first generation of Sentinels emerged, these entities observed from the sidelines, witnessing mutants engaging in battles with authorities.

Initially, the Sentinels were perceived as manageable in terms of quantity and strength by Professor X and Magneto.

The other powerhouses were indifferent, believing everything remained under their control.

But unexpectedly, these Sentinels evolved rapidly, and with Thanos's arrival, Earth's high-end strategies were swiftly nullified.

Subsequently, the Sentinels, unrestrained, continued evolving, growing stronger with each passing year, ultimately not only decimating mutants but also exterminating humans worldwide.

This was a feat even Thanos hadn't accomplished.

In this moment, myriad thoughts raced through Carl's mind, weaving through the peaks of speculation and linking some of the doubts lingering in his heart.

Certainly, these were all conjectures, not necessarily accurate.

Roar!

Carl exhaled deeply, momentarily at a loss for words.

Despite the dangers involved, Professor X had to intervene this time due to the agreement; it was an internal matter concerning mutants.

If he can't handle it, Jean's runaway event will eventually lead to widespread destruction, and experts like the Ancient One will definitely intervene, potentially nullifying the agreement.

Wrong!

Suddenly, Carl thought of something and gazed at the professor with a horrified expression.

Because he suddenly realized that the professor not only knew that this would be very dangerous, but had even planned to allow Jean to kill him, letting her release the pent-up resentment she had harbored for many years.

The purpose was to help Jean control the power within her.

Only through his demise would the imprisoned animosity of Jean's dark persona over the years dissipate, potentially allowing Jean's primary personality to regain control.

Ultimately, to master the formidable Phoenix Force.

As for why the professor took such a risk, it was because mutants were at a disadvantage and needed a strategic powerhouse to deter the world.

Just imagine, if a mutant capable of mastering the Phoenix Force were to emerge, who on Earth could oppose her? Even if Thanos were to come, he would kneel.

Indeed, even if Thanos possessed all six gems, he wouldn't necessarily triumph even if she can only control a fraction of the Phoenix Force's power.

Contemplating this, Carl couldn't help but look at Professor X in astonishment.

At that moment, Professor X was also somewhat perplexed, unsure of why Carl was staring at him with such a shocked expression.

"Carl, what's on your mind?"

Carl forced a smile and shook his head. "Nothing."

Recalling some details from the X-Men's third battle, Carl became increasingly certain of his suspicions.

For instance, in the movie, when the professor and Magneto emerged from the White House, Professor X insisted that no one enter except for him and Magneto.

Why issue such an order?

Out of fear that Wolverine and others would prevent Jean from killing him.

Because the professor knew that Magneto had been coveting the power of the Phoenix and would stop at nothing to harness it.

In other words, the moment Professor X learned that Jean wasn't dead and her outburst nearly killed Scott, he devised a plan to use his own demise to awaken her primary persona.

Because he was certain he wouldn't truly 'die.'

No wonder he kept his twin brother in a vegetative state; it was essentially his alternate body.

No wonder the mission released by the system this time was to defeat Juggernaut, not to save Professor X.

Clearly, in the system's assessment, it knew that Professor X wouldn't truly perish, hence Carl didn't need to take action.

Contemplating this, Carl felt a headache coming on because it would reveal too much information, blurring the lines between what was real and what was fabricated.