Esme

Professor X, White Queen, and Jean, all possess exceptional psychic abilities, surpassing even Magneto's ability to shield against mental intrusion. It emphasizes the complexity and subtlety of psychic powers, as demonstrated by the necessity for Professor X's iconic helmet to protect against mental attacks. Max, having delved into the study of the soul's door, found himself confronted by someone with psychic abilities in an unexpected encounter.

"I can only use my abilities when I'm close," she explained, almost as if anticipating Max's thoughts.

Nonchalantly, Max inquired about her name. "Esme," she replied.

Esme? The name sounded familiar, yet Max couldn't immediately recall who she was. While the two conversed quietly, Max discreetly observed the backpack-wearing man, making him believe he might have been exposed. The man, propelled by a sudden force, soared into the air like a sonic boom, leaving the surrounding onlookers astonished.

Was he a traitor?

Mid-air, the man hesitated, seemingly recognizing a direction, and swiftly veered left, attempting to escape. Max, sneering, conjured the soul's door and stepped through it, disappearing.

Esme, frozen for a moment, contemplated the situation.

Shortly after, a door materialized in front of the airborne backpack-wearer.

A door?

How could there be a door suspended in the air?

The backpack-wearing man, shocked, instinctively halted in mid-air. Max leaped out of the door, swiftly seizing the man's neck with one hand and piercing his heart with his sai in the other.

The pain contorted the man's face, and his body convulsed.

Blood dripped from the air.

The backpack-wearing man collapsed to the ground with a resounding thud, lifeless and bloodied.

Max vanished into thin air. Moments later, a door materialized in front of the fallen man's body, and Max stepped out.

The door vanished.

Turning his head to glance at the lifeless backpack man, Max retraced his steps.

"Blink, Laura, take these people to the underground base," Max ordered.

The two nodded. "Come with us."

Given Blink's current exhausted state, they refrained from opening a portal for now, preserving it for potential emergencies. They led the survivors away. However, Max halted Esme, who intended to join them.

"You stay."

"Me?" Esme appeared confused but complied.

"You better leave as well. Those people won't spare you just because you're an ordinary person," Max advised the elderly man from the church.

"And you?" the man inquired.

"I have to properly treat our guests," Max replied with a smile.

The church's elder hesitated before uttering, "Then be careful."

He turned and hurried into the church, emerging shortly after with a bag.

Max guided Esme into the church, where he found a chair to sit. While Esme chose to stand in front of Max.

"Why did you ask me to stay alone? Is there something I should do?" Esme inquired.

"It's rare to encounter a Telepath who's a bit curious. Haven't you read my mind?" Max asked casually.

Esme shook her head. "I generally don't do that without others' permission. I overheard about the SSS attacking. Everyone huddled together. It seemed suspicious, so I read everyone's thoughts and discovered the betrayal."

"Any useful information?" Max questioned.

Esme replied, "Not much. I just know he and others were sent out as undercover agents a long time ago to gather intelligence."

Max nodded. The list he obtained from Campbell concerning the Hound planner likely didn't include the backpack man. Flight Ability, while noteworthy, wasn't particularly unique, especially when not utilized in another spatial dimension. This indicated the list was incomplete, and some Hounds had been released prematurely.

"I've heard about you," Esme volunteered. "You're like a hero, right? I heard you've saved numerous Mutants, and even the SSS can't touch you. I also heard there's a price for your services. If I wanted you to save someone, how much would I need to pay as a reward?"

"Is a friend of yours captured?" Max inquired.

"No, it's my family!" Esme declared solemnly. "They are very important to me. I have to find a way to save them anyway. If you are willing to help, I can pay any price."

"At any price?" Max smiled. "Let's discuss that later."

The name sounds familiar, but who could this girl Esme be?

With the echoes from outside in mind, Max rose from his seat and walked to the door, spotting several approaching cars.

Several agents emerged from the vehicles, pointing their guns in their direction. Notably, they observed the twin-headed Hound blinking at them.

Two individuals.

These Mutants had a double-ring-like machine on their arms, connecting their limbs in an unusual manner.

Approaching the church, they surveyed the area and raised their hands towards the building.

The church door exploded, crashing to the ground, leaving Max and Esme exposed before them.

"It's not good, it's the Dimensional Mercenary."

"The Dimensional Mercenary is here, request instructions!"

The agents panicked upon seeing Max and hastily sought guidance.

"Can you read them?" Max asked Esme.

"Too far," Esme shook his head.

Around ten meters away seemed far to Esme. Apparently, her mental Ability wasn't particularly strong.

"They seem to be... retreating?"

Esme expressed confusion. The agents abruptly turned around, jumped into their cars, and sped away.

Retreating?

Why did they run? However, the twin-headed Hounds were left behind. Were they concerned that a fight might impact them, or did they willingly abandon the creatures and leave them behind?

If it's the latter.

So...

Esme glanced at Max, contemplating whether he was too intimidating. Just his appearance made them retreat without a fight, even willingly abandoning the twin-headed Hound they had created.

The twin-headed Hound.

One of these mutants could slightly manipulate gravity, while the other could control intermittent inertial bursts. They seemed ordered, not retreating, but instead neatly raising their hands to attack Max and Esme.

.....

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