The Summit

While waiting outside the search room, Jean suddenly heard Charles's anguished scream. She immediately opened the door and found Charles slumped in his wheelchair.

"Professor! What happened to you?"

In a panic, Jean rushed to the wheelchair and, seeing that Charles was unresponsive, quickly wheeled him to the medical bay.

After a thorough examination, she discovered that Charles's body was perfectly fine.

This indicated that the issue was psychological.

However, when it came to matters of the mind, Jean was at a loss. With humanity's current level of technology, there were no medicines to heal psychological wounds—just as there were none for treating comatose patients.

"Professor, what on earth did you encounter to be injured so severely?"

Among mutants, there was a rough classification of power levels:

- Level 1: Epsilon

- Level 2: Delta

- Level 3: Gamma

- Level 4: Beta

- Level 5: Alpha

And then the highest level, Omega, which represented unlimited potential.

Charles was classified as an Alpha-level powerhouse.

For someone as powerful as Charles to be injured this badly, Jean couldn't imagine what he had faced.

"And where are Scott and Ororo?"

..............

In New York, in the underground base of the Umbrella Corporation.

Adam withdrew his psychic powers and turned to look at the three individuals in the laboratory: Sabretooth, Wolverine, and Rogue.

At this point, Sabretooth's arm and leg had already regrown.

To research the Blacklight Virus, both regenerative and absorptive X-genes were required, and the three before him fit the criteria perfectly.

"Is anyone there? Where is this? Why did you capture me?"

Rogue was gradually waking up from the effects of the anesthesia. Looking at the surroundings, fear filled her heart.

The walls around her were white, and she saw Logan and the man who had attacked her lying on either side, both bound by heavy iron shackles.

But she soon realized that she wasn't restrained.

This puzzled her.

"Buzzz"

At that moment, the door opened, and a group of people in white hazmat suits entered.

"Who are you?"

They ignored Rogue and began drawing blood from Wolverine and Sabretooth.

Just then, Logan suddenly opened his eyes, tensing his entire body, trying to grab someone to use as a hostage.

However, after a series of metallic clangs, he found that no matter how hard he tried, the shackles on his limbs wouldn't budge.

The researchers merely glanced at Wolverine before calmly continuing to draw his blood.

Not only did they take blood samples, but they also clipped some of his hair and collected various tissue samples.

Meanwhile, two men approached Rogue.

"Hold out your hand."

Seeing these people fully covered and noticing the guards at the door armed with guns, Rogue obediently extended her hand.

After they had drawn her blood, clipped some of her hair and nails, they moved on. Compared to Wolverine and Sabretooth, who were tightly bound, Rogue was treated somewhat better.

The reason was simple: Rogue posed no threat.

After completing their tasks, the group began to leave in an orderly fashion.

Logan turned to Sabretooth.

"Stop pretending to be asleep. I know you're awake."

Sabretooth opened his eyes in response.

"Roar…"

But he only growled twice and said nothing more.

In fact, he had regained consciousness much earlier, even before Logan. But after testing the strength of the shackles, he had given up.

"We're in a tough spot; we need to work together."

"Roar…"

"Can't you talk?"

"Roar…"

Realizing that Sabretooth really couldn't speak, Logan was speechless. The only one who still had some fighting ability couldn't even communicate.

Rogue approached Logan, trying to undo his shackles. But after several attempts, she had no choice but to give up.

A while later, the door to the lab opened again. This time, a beautiful woman with long black hair entered.

"Hello, my name is Felia."

Felia looked at the three of them, her eyes filled with curiosity and intrigue.

Could the key to the Blacklight Virus that her boss was so obsessed with really lie within these individuals?

"Where are we? Why did you capture us?"

Rogue was the one who asked, while Logan remained on guard, watching Felia.

In response, Felia merely adjusted her glasses.

"This is the Umbrella research base. The reason we captured you is, of course, to study your X-genes. But don't worry, our research won't endanger your lives—provided you cooperate."

"And if you do, we might even help you solve some of your problems. For example, helping you gain control over your powers. And for you two, we might help recover your lost memories."

............

Five nights later~

In the suburbs of Westchester, New York, at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Jean stood beside Professor Charles, who remained in a coma, her mind in turmoil. She had tried everything she could, but nothing had succeeded in waking him.

Could it be that Professor Charles would remain in a vegetative state, unconscious forever?

"Professor, what should I do?"

"Senator Kelly, what are your thoughts on tonight's United Nations summit?"

The sound from the television caught Jean's attention. She turned to see Senator Kelly, looking solemn on the screen.

"Tonight, I will ensure the passage of the Mutant Registration Act! So that what happened to my aide, Garrick, will never happen again! I will make sure a collar is placed around the neck of every mutant, so they will no longer dare to trample on the law and human life with impunity!"

"It's been reported that Garrick was killed by a mutant. Is that true?"

"Yes, I have all the videos and evidence. A mutant known as Mystique murdered my aide to impersonate him and assassinate me. Fortunately, someone saw through her ruse, thwarting her plan. But Mr. Garrick has left us forever…"

At this point, Senator Kelly's eyes reddened, and he appeared genuinely grief-stricken.

"I'm very sorry to have brought up your pain, Senator Kelly. Now, let's take a look at the situation at the Global Summit."

As the screen changed, it showed the leaders of various nations entering the summit, along with distant fireworks.

Seeing this, Jean felt even more sorrowful.

If the Mutant Registration Act passed, mutants around the world would be exposed to the general public.

Life would become incredibly difficult for those mutants living among ordinary people.

They would face unprecedented discrimination, hatred, and even bullying and abuse.

Not all mutants were as powerful as Jean and her companions. Many mutants' abilities were only at Level 1, just slightly stronger than ordinary humans.

How could they survive against the overwhelming numbers of ordinary people?

"Oh my god, what is that white light coming from the Statue of Liberty?"

A voice from the television exclaimed.

On the screen, a white light was slowly expanding from the Statue of Liberty.

__________________________

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