Chapter 28

At the same time, aboard the X-jet flying to New York.

Professor X looked at Magneto with a grave expression and said:

"I've just read the director's memories. Humans are more powerful than we imagined, and Earth is not as safe as we thought. Perhaps we should put aside some of our differences for now."

The moment Magneto destroyed the brainwave jammer, he not only immobilized all SHIELD agents but also took the opportunity to read the memories of Director Nick Fury, learning about the existence of the Skrulls and the Kree.

Before, he was confident that he could protect the school's students with the X-Men and gradually change humanity's prejudices against mutants, fostering peaceful coexistence.

But after today's battle and accessing Nick Fury's memories, he realized how difficult that would be.

If it weren't for Hawking's sudden burst of power, they would all have been captured by SHIELD by now.

He was thankful that he had gone to Sokovia and recruited Hawking to the school for mutants.

So, at this moment, he shared what he knew with Magneto, hoping Magneto would return, at least temporarily, to face the current situation together, just like in the first battle.

"Charles, I can work with you, but understand this: if the opportunity arises, I will still annihilate humanity to create a world only for mutants. If the entire world were mutants, I think those so-called aliens wouldn't be a big deal."

Magneto looked at Professor X, his expression still proud.

He always believed that mutants were the next step in human evolution, a higher form of life, even divine. Humans might not be able to handle aliens, but mutants wouldn't fear them.

The prerequisite is to first eliminate the despicable humans who like to fight amongst themselves.

"When that time comes, I will stop you, at least until then, we are both fighting for the benefit of mutants."

Professor X smiled in response.

He didn't expect Magneto to cooperate fully, but reaching a preliminary agreement was enough.

'Professor X and Magneto teaming up looks like we can develop well for a few years.'

Seeing Professor X and Magneto's hands clasped together, Hawking nodded internally.

The combination of Magneto and Professor X was truly greater than the sum of their parts, a real powerhouse alliance.

Professor X's strength was dealing with all living and thinking beings, while his weakness lay in cold machines and high-tech weapons.

Magneto, on the other hand, was the exact opposite; high-tech weapons rarely escaped the presence of metal, which Magneto could easily dominate.

"Hawking, I've decided to stop calling you 'Little Monkey.' How about 'Ape Demon'? Or 'King Kong' isn't bad either!"

At that moment, Wolverine lit a cigar, laughing as he clapped Hawking on the shoulder.

Having visited the place where he was experimented on and tortured Stryker, he had recovered most of his memories and resolved his internal conflicts.

So, he decided to make Xavier's School his new home and truly join the X-Men, perhaps occasionally moonlighting as a teacher to teach combat and history.

"Let's go with 'Ape Demon,' or 'Ape God.' 'King Kong' sounds too tacky!"

At this point, Hawking, relaxed internally, no longer cared about the nickname, and even started joking around with Wolverine.

Sitting behind the two, Lady Deathstrike watched Wolverine talking with Hawking, her expression complex.

Her real name was Yuko Yamashiro, a martial artist from Osaka and a mutant with self-healing abilities.

Years ago, Stryker approached her, claiming her father, who had disappeared for years, had been killed by Wolverine, showing her a video of Wolverine killing her father.

To seek revenge against Wolverine, she joined a new X-Weapon enhancement program.

After the enhancement, she didn't embark on a revenge mission against Wolverine as she had hoped but was controlled by Stryker using Mastermind's brain fluid to become a killing machine.

During the years of control, she learned the true reason behind her father's death.

Her father, a scientist, had been forcibly brought from Osaka by Stryker to help complete the X-Weapon Project, and the video of Wolverine killing him was an accidental killing during Wolverine's escape from the facility.

Thus, the real murderer of her father was Stryker.

"Hey, beautiful, if you have nowhere to go, you're welcome at Xavier's School. I think the professor would be happy to have you!"

At that moment, Wolverine noticed Lady Deathstrike's gaze and smiled as he extended the invitation.

He felt remorse for accidentally killing Lady Deathstrike's father and was grateful that after regaining her senses, she was willing to help them fight against the SHIELD attack.

"Not bad, the school could really use some teachers."

At that time, Hawking also nodded in agreement.

For him, the stronger the school for mutants, the better, as it meant he and his siblings, Wanda and Pietro, would be safer.

Forty minutes later, as the Harry Potter template loading time ended, Hawking looked at the disappearing Firebolt and invisibility cloak, and thought to himself before closing his eyes:

"If there's a Firebolt and invisibility cloak, maybe I can have a Flying Nimbus next time I load a template. I'll shout for it and see."

As Hawking succumbed to the template's side effects and fell unconscious, Professor X also looked over.

"Little Hawking, are you really a mutant?"

He couldn't read Hawking's mind or sense the unique mutant brainwaves, so he couldn't be sure if Hawking was a mutant.

Based on Hawking's demonstrated abilities and the tail growing on his buttocks, he likely was a mutant.

But after tonight's battle, he wasn't so sure anymore.

Hawking had displayed too many abilities—strong body and energy, giant ape transformation, summoning weapons and clothing with special powers, and more.

This exceeded his understanding of mutants; at least until now, he had never seen any mutant with so many abilities.

"Never mind, whether you are or not, you are a student of our school and a future X-Man."

In the end, Professor X reconciled himself.

At this point, whether Hawking was a mutant or not wasn't so important.

Hawking was studying at the school for mutants and fighting to protect them; he was part of this big family.

Moreover, even if Hawking wasn't a mutant, his brother Pietro definitely was.

That was enough.

"Charles, sometimes I really envy you. Your school has so many talents, it's a pity many are wasted."

Standing next to Professor X, Magneto also watched Hawking.

Compared to the mediocre mutants in his own Brotherhood, Charles's school was filled with talented mutants.

"Erik, it's a school, not all students like to fight, they should have their own choices for the future."

Professor X explained with a smile.

Magneto shook his head after hearing this:

"They won't learn to fight, how can they protect themselves in the dangerous human society?"

"Let's not talk about this now, we still have over two hours until we reach the school. How about a game?"

Professor X took out a chess set from a drawer on the jet.

Seeing this, Magneto took off his helmet and, for once, showed a rare smile:

"I'll let you win!"

"No, you won't."

Professor X also smiled.

At that moment, it was as if they had returned to the past.

(End of Chapter)