Chapter 36

A year passed quietly, marking the beginning of events that would change everything.

In the heart of Siberia, during the winter solstice, the land was barren and blanketed in white. The wind and snow swept across the endless ice, burying all traces beneath a layer of pure, biting cold.

Snow whipped through the air as fierce winds howled over the vast frozen expanse. On top of a towering iceberg, several figures stood braced against the storm, their thick scarves flapping wildly in the gusts.

One of the taller figures, a woman with a delicate and beautiful face partially hidden beneath a gray velvet hat, stared intently at the ice ahead.

"What are we waiting for?" she asked.

Beside her stood a man wrapped in a heavy down jacket, his blue hair standing out in stark contrast to the snowy landscape. Strong and broad-shouldered, he held onto his hat, shielding it from the wind. Confused, he shouted over the howling storm, "What's going on?"

"We're waiting for him," the woman said, glancing at the man and his companion before pointing ahead with a smirk.

The blue-haired man exchanged a puzzled look with his companion, following her gesture. All they saw was the vast expanse of ice. Just as the man was about to say something—

The ground trembled violently, shaking the ice for kilometers around. Wind, snow, and gravel swirled as the ice cracked. Suddenly, there was a deafening explosion.

BOOM!

The ice in the direction the woman had pointed shattered, and from the depths of an icy cavern, a blinding golden torrent shot into the sky. The dazzling light surged like molten gold, painting the heavens in brilliant streaks. The sky turned into a glowing river of yellow as the golden light overwhelmed everything.

The wind and snow halted, and an oppressive, terrifying aura radiated from the explosion, engulfing the entire landscape. The once white world was now bathed in hues of gold and red. The overwhelming force crushed the man and his companion, their faces drained of color. It felt as if a godlike presence sat high above them, its oppressive power weighing down on their souls.

The sheer terror filled their hearts, and under the crushing pressure, their minds began to fade. Consciousness blurred, teetering on the edge of collapse.

They endured the mental strain and looked up. The golden sky seemed torn apart by the terrifying power that had just been unleashed.

"What… is this?" the blue-haired man, looking like a beast in human form, muttered in disbelief. Every instinct screamed at him to flee, warning him that this place was like the very abyss of death. The woman beside him, who had been trying to keep her composure, couldn't help but smile despite her own apprehension.

"Isn't the person you're waiting for right there?" she said.

BOOM!

A torrent of gold erupted from the ice cave, spewing thousands of golden particles like meteors racing toward them. The man in red quartz glasses instinctively prepared to attack, but something deep inside told him to hold back.

In the blink of an eye, the golden particles gathered in midair, forming a human figure in front of them. Standing tall at 1.85 meters, the man had a flawless, athletic physique. His sharp, hawk-like eyes glowed with a streak of red lightning, and his handsome, mature face seemed out of place for his age. He wore only a white vest that hugged his muscular frame.

The woman tossed him a red coat, which he caught effortlessly and draped over himself with elegance. Slowly, the figure descended from the sky to stand before them.

"It's great to meet you, Hank, Scott," the man said, his voice slightly magnetic. "And I'm even more excited for the surprise."

As his words echoed, the blinding golden light in the sky faded, and the heavy snow resumed its fall.

The man was Leon, and the woman was Wanda.

Cyclops, Scott Summers, and Hank McCoy still looked stunned. Scott, usually seen as the best leader by Professor Xavier, was speechless.

"I finally understand how you managed to penetrate Stryker's base so easily," Scott said.

Hank nodded in agreement. A year ago, Leon had downloaded human experiment data from Stryker's base, which had significantly improved the situation for mutants. In response, Hank had worked hard to build a plane that met Leon's requirements. However, they hadn't expected to witness such a powerful display when they delivered it.

Both of them had even begun to question whether Leon might be a mutant himself. His abilities were so far beyond what they had imagined, making his actions seem almost impossible for a human. His courage and poise were unlike anything they had ever seen, not even in someone as formidable as Magneto. While Magneto's power was undeniable, he never wielded it with such control or calm.

The good news was that Leon's terrifying strength seemed free of malice. He didn't hide his power, which made them feel, at least for now, that they weren't facing an enemy.

Leon exhaled slowly, the earlier dominant aura replaced by a calm gentleness. His tone was almost lighthearted as he said, "I'm looking forward to the work of this century's greatest inventor."