Chapter 86: Professor, Next Time I Will Screw Your Head Off
"Really? If my mind isn't guarded, will it be invaded by you, controlled like a puppet at your whim?" Ethan Hayes's voice was cold, his words slicing through the mental connection he shared with Professor X, creating a storm of psychic energy that lashed against Charles.
"Don't you feel any guilt, young man, for your violent deeds?" Professor X countered, maintaining his calm.
"Guilt? For what, exactly—the Vatican, or the port?" Ethan replied with a mocking smile.
"Violence doesn't solve everything," Charles lectured, hoping to reach him.
"And without it, people are just lambs waiting for slaughter. Even you, Professor, have used your powers to shape the world to your liking. Why is it violence when I do it?" Ethan's voice grew sharp, his patience thinning.
Professor X paused, realizing persuasion was futile. "I still believe Raven should return to the school for guidance and support."
Ethan's eyes turned hard. "I don't interfere in your world, and I won't have you meddling in mine. My friends, my company, the Osborn Group—you stay clear of them, Professor. If you or your powers cross the line again, I won't hesitate to twist your head off." Ethan's warning carried a deadly promise, an edge that even Charles couldn't ignore.
The connection between them shattered as Ethan forcibly drove Professor X out of Raven's mind. To ensure her protection, he summoned a powerful rune with his hands, embedding a mental safeguard into Raven's consciousness. Now, not even Charles would be able to breach her mind without her consent.
Ethan looked down at Raven, who was watching him with a mixture of admiration and gratitude. "Don't worry. If I have an issue with someone, I handle it directly. I would never violate their mind."
Raven let out a sigh of relief. "Charles always promised he'd respect my mind… but promises don't mean much in the face of power, I suppose."
"With this protection, no one will control you again—not even me," Ethan assured her, a warm smile softening his otherwise serious face.
Raven's response was a deep, grateful kiss. "This is the greatest gift you could have given me."
"It's my honor to protect you," Ethan replied, his voice full of warmth.
With his arm wrapped around her waist, he led Raven away from Osborn Group. Gwen, his Ghost Spider girlfriend, was on a family trip to England, which left him free to navigate New York without worry. Crime was never-ending, but he knew Gwen was enjoying a well-earned break with her family.
As they left, the media attention around Osborn seemed to have quieted. Since his acquisition, Ethan had almost become invisible to the public eye, his name fading from the headlines.
Meanwhile, back at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester, Professor X Charles Xavier sat in deep thought, disturbed by the threat Ethan had issued. He knew most people who encountered his mind-reading powers felt uncomfortable. But this was different—Ethan had a lethal resolve that even Charles, with his decades of experience, hadn't expected.
The man they called the Ice Demon, who wielded freezing powers capable of paralyzing the Vatican and controlling vast forces of nature, had become a growing concern. Ethan's violence against those who threatened him wasn't without justification, but his approach brought destruction on a terrifying scale.
"Raven may be with him now, but I wonder if it's for the better or worse," Charles thought to himself. She was now stripped of her Mutant abilities and perhaps better suited for a quieter role, like teaching, guiding the next generation of Mutants toward peace. But she was stubborn, and she'd refused to return to the school.
"Charles," said Storm, her white hair framing her face as she entered the room, "is everything alright?"
"Yes," Charles replied, though his voice was distant. "I just hope Raven finds peace in her new life."
Storm, noticing his preoccupation, asked, "Is there anything I can do?"
"No, but be prepared. Erik is moving again," he said, referring to Magneto, who was secretly mobilizing Mutants in Los Angeles. Charles and Magneto had long been rivals, though they shared the same goal of Mutant protection. Magneto's methods, however, were more radical, often clashing with Charles's vision of unity.
Charles knew the military was beginning to experiment with Mutant abilities, influenced by the fear instilled by Ethan's icy wrath. As world powers scrambled to harness Mutant abilities, Mutants were becoming both a weapon and a target.
Back in New York, Ethan and Raven sat by the shore at Long Island. "What's wrong, Ethan?" Raven asked, watching him as he gazed eastward.
"Just a sense… Phoenix has awoken."
Raven's expression turned somber. She knew Phoenix—she'd once been her student when she was Jean Grey. But now, Jean had become a dangerous force, no longer herself.
Raven pushed the thoughts away. "Let's go, Ethan. We're supposed to be relaxing, remember?"
He smiled. "You're right. Pack your bags, Raven. We're heading to the villa tonight. I think I'm close to a breakthrough, and the open sea is the perfect place for it."
They climbed into Ethan's sports car, his powerful mental abilities allowing him to navigate the vehicle effortlessly. As they arrived at Long Island's shores, Ethan used his water magic to conjure a massive vessel of frozen water. Raven shivered from the icy air as he helped her on board.
Ethan prepared a fire pit of frozen ice to keep them warm. With the balance between his freezing and burning abilities, he maintained a comfortable temperature for their picnic, perfectly blending the two forces he'd learned to control so masterfully.
As the night wore on, Ethan couldn't help but feel that, with Raven by his side, the future he was carving was truly becoming his own. Together, they faced a world where powers and principles collided, but for now, they were simply two people finding strength in each other.
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