New World
"Magneto and Wolverine ventured into a Mutant concentration camp for a rescue mission. They had just returned to save Storm when the accident occurred," Esme explained in response to Max's inquiry.
Su Fei, who had just finished speaking, chimed in, "With the latest news confirming the professor's death, should we reach out to them?"
Max shook his head thoughtfully. "Let's monitor their movements for now."
Truth be told, the news of the professor's demise caught Max off guard. Unlike before, he lacked allies who could facilitate a soul resurrection. If he were to perish now, it would be permanent.
The loss of a prominent Mutant figure felt surreal, especially considering the professor's enduring presence in the movies. Yet, divergent paths in this world's narrative could yield vastly different outcomes.
Kitty and Rogue wore somber expressions, reflecting the heavy hearts of the others.
Raising his voice, Max redirected their focus. "In times of war, sacrifices are inevitable. Let's set aside our grief for now and discuss our next steps. I believe I can open the crossing gate."
His declaration prompted everyone to pay keen attention.
"Viper and the sage have integrated with the silver samurai armor, so one of them will accompany me. The situation in the new world remains unknown. If luck favors us, I'll swiftly attend to matters there and bring you all along."
Once everyone understood, Max continued, "The chosen companion will be one of the three cuckoo sisters. Their collective consciousness, combined with the brainwave machines, may facilitate communication between the two worlds."
"I'll accompany you," one of the cuckoo sisters volunteered.
"Who are you?" Max inquired.
"Esme."
"Esme, you're with me," Max confirmed. "After we depart, you'll have two tasks. Firstly, continue amassing wealth; it'll serve as our foundation in the new world. Secondly, find a new safe haven. Without me here, you'll lack the means to conceal yourselves in alternate spaces, making your situation potentially more precarious."
"That concludes the plan for now. Any questions?" Max scanned the group, but silence prevailed.
"Okay, the gateway will open within the next three days," Max announced.
"I, uh, have a question," Yukio interjected suddenly, sensing a collective curiosity in the room. "If we establish stability in the new world, will we abandon this one?"
Yukio's question echoed the thoughts of everyone present. Transitioning to a new world wasn't like moving to a new city. Even though this world had become overrun by Sentinel, and they harbored hopes for peace in the new realm, it didn't mean they were ready to bid farewell to their home.
"We will not," Max replied firmly. "I've stated before, this world is our foundation."
Relief washed over Yukio and the others as they nodded in understanding.
Once it seemed there were no further inquiries, Max called an end to the meeting.
Following the meeting, Max sought out Sage to commit the brainwave machine and crisis room production method to memory. He then exchanged a few words with Viper and Lorna before departing.
Three days later arrived—the appointed time for the opening of the gateway.
In the schoolyard, tension hung thick in the air. Esme had infused the silver samurai armor with items like gold and diamonds, while Max carried nothing but his triangular thorns.
All eyes turned to Max, apprehension evident in their gazes. With a reassuring smile, Max took a deep breath, bracing himself for what lay ahead.
Suddenly, a door materialized in the empty space before them.
Small doors began appearing on the surface of this larger door, multiplying until it seemed to quiver and contort, finally collapsing altogether.
As the door disintegrated, it didn't vanish entirely. Instead, it emitted a brilliant white light. This luminous glow twisted and expanded, forming a white hole that steadily grew in size.
Suddenly, a door materialized around the white hole, its frame stark against the backdrop. Oddly, there was no actual door, no glimpse into what lay beyond. The white hole spun within the frame with a steady, almost hypnotic rhythm, its scope remaining unchanged yet remarkably stable.
Following the construction of the white hole, Max proceeded to create the black hole in the same meticulous manner.
And then, the wormhole manifested.
The gateway of traversal opened.
In that instant, Max felt an overwhelming drain on his physical strength, a sensation of faintness threatening to overcome him. His body lurched forward uncontrollably, on the verge of collapse.
Just as he teetered towards the ground, Esme, clad in shimmering silver samurai armor, swooped in, catching him just in time. Without hesitation, she propelled them both towards the gate of crossing.
In a blur, they vanished through the door.
As they entered, the once sturdy gateway seemed to crumble, a resounding crash marking its collapse as a violent explosion erupted.
The shockwave rippled outward, prompting everyone to hastily seek cover and brace themselves.
After what felt like an eternity, they cautiously glanced up as the tremors subsided.
The space settled into calm, the gateway of crossing nowhere to be seen.
"Was it... successful?" someone ventured softly, uncertainty lacing their words.
"I can't sense Esme anymore," Su Fei murmured, a hint of worry creeping into her tone.
Unable to feel her? No... Something must have gone wrong.
"These are two separate worlds; even our most intricate plans might not suffice. But I believe they've made it. For now, we need to choose a new safe house. Su Fei, Phoebe, continue monitoring with the brainwave machine. We'll hear from them soon, either directly or through an enhanced ability once I've built it," Lorna declared solemnly.
The outcome remained uncertain—success or failure hung in the balance.
All they could do was wait.
...
Agony!
Max groaned as intense pain surged through him, each cell in his body screaming in protest. It was as if he were being torn apart from within, the pain all-consuming.
It took an eternity for Max to even begin to acclimate to the torment, his eyes fluttering open with great effort.
Yet even that simple action seemed to drain him of what little energy remained.
The scene before him was blurred, fragmented as if viewed through a mosaic, but gradually it sharpened into focus. It appeared to be a room of sorts, though the details eluded him for the moment. Max didn't rush, allowing his eyes time to adjust as clarity slowly returned.
....
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