Rage

Stryker leaned in so close to Jason that their shoulders nearly touched, his voice a low murmur near Jason's ear. "Son, keep him restrained," he instructed, his tone firm yet hushed, carrying the weight of a hidden urgency.

A sudden glint sparked in Jason's eyes, a subtle ripple of energy spreading outward from his mind, directed with focused intent toward Alex, who stood a few feet away.

In Alex's fantasy world, he and Raven were entangled in an intimate moment, their surroundings a blur of romantic enchantment. However, a strange buzzing noise disrupted the tranquility, jolting Alex back to the present.

Raven, noticing Alex's distraction, expressed her concern with a gentle touch, smoothing the worry lines on his forehead. "Is everything alright?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for reassurance.

"It's nothing, just a momentary distraction," Alex dismissed the interruption casually, eager to resume their playful exchange of flirtation and banter.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Stryker turned to Yuriko, standing poised beside him, and issued a succinct command. "It's your turn," he directed, his eyes glinting with a calculated intensity.

With a sinister smirk playing on her lips, Yuriko nodded, her fingertips undergoing a startling transformation. Each nail elongated into sharp, gleaming Adamantium claws, a stark contrast against her otherwise unassuming appearance.

In a swift and fluid motion, she lunged toward Alex, her aim unwavering as she targeted his heart with lethal precision.

To her astonishment, the Adamantium claws barely made a dent in Alex's attire, thwarted by an invisible barrier that prevented them from penetrating any further.

Shocked but undeterred, Yuriko marveled at the resilience of Alex's seemingly impenetrable body, a testament to powers beyond her initial assessment.

"Stryker, what's happening?" Fury's impatience was palpable as he demanded answers, his eyes narrowing in frustration at the unexpected turn of events.

"His defenses are stronger than anticipated. We can't break through," Yuriko reported urgently, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and intrigue.

"Is there no way to breach it?" Stryker pondered silently, his mind racing through strategies and contingencies.

Observing the unfolding chaos, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury furrowed his brow as he reviewed a dossier in his hand, scanning through detailed accounts of Sebastian's extraordinary abilities. Among the documents was a grim photograph depicting a lifeless body, accompanied by speculative notes that hinted at formidable powers.

"Proceed cautiously, apply gradual pressure," Fury instructed, his voice a calm yet authoritative presence amidst the escalating tension.

Yuriko nodded, her adamantium nails slowly pressing into Alex's chest.

And indeed, with just a bit of pressure, they pierced through.

Suddenly, five small wounds appeared on Alex's chest.

Within the illusion.

Feeling an inexplicable pain in his heart, Alex hastily pushed Raven away.

It dawned on him: Stryker's son, Jason, was a master of illusions. No wonder he'd sensed something was off; none of this was real.

The buzzing in his ears earlier must have been the mental intrusion breaking through his defenses.

As for the heartache, it was the kind that made one wish for self-obliteration.

Understanding that he was trapped in an illusion, Alex needed a way out, akin to waking up from a dream. Sweet dreams wouldn't rouse him, and with a master of illusion soothing his emotions, how could he break free without stimulation?

"My dear, what's troubling you?" Raven asked Alex, bewildered by his demeanor.

"Strong stimulus..." Alex didn't bother to check on Raven, knowing it was all part of the illusion.

Jason's ability was formidable indeed. Alex had been ensnared without even realizing it.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his reverie. Jean and Storm stood at the door, their faces flushed, their clothes discarded, their perfect forms tantalizingly exposed. 

Flustered, Alex couldn't help but be momentarily captivated as Jean and Storm approached, their delicate touch and smooth skin sending shivers down his spine.

But Alex wasn't one to succumb easily. Now aware of the illusion, he shook off the distraction.

Outside, Stryker, hearing his son's report, urged Yuriko to hasten her efforts. Alex had sensed the deception and was growing resistant.

Yuriko's hesitation was palpable, her movements slowing as she struggled to break through Alex's resilient defenses. Her Adamantium blade inched closer to his heart, each millimeter a testament to the fierce battle of wills.

Inside the illusion, Alex felt a sharp pang in his chest, a real physical sensation despite his enhanced durability reminiscent of Wolverine's adamantium-laced skeleton. The pain, though bearable, served as a stark reminder of the danger lurking within the fabricated reality.

"I have to break free," Alex's thoughts raced with urgency, his concern not just for himself but for the others ensnared in the illusion. Raven, Anya, Anna, Kitty, Jean, Storm—each name weighed heavily on his mind. What if they couldn't distinguish reality from the illusion? What if they made a fatal mistake?

The fear of inadvertently causing harm to those he cared about fueled Alex's determination to escape at any cost. With a surge of inner strength, he pushed Jean and Storm away, their forms dissolving into wisps of illusion as they stumbled and fell, their expressions a mix of confusion and hurt.

"Do you resent us so deeply?" Jean's voice echoed with a tinge of sorrow, her eyes betraying a hurt that cut through Alex's resolve.

Anger flared within him, fueled by frustration and desperation. "Get out of my head!" Alex's shout reverberated with a raw intensity, his words a defiant challenge to the illusion that sought to manipulate him.

(End of this chapter)

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