After the man with the braid said his piece, Winged man could no longer argue.
Erik's power was magnetic manipulation — the ability to control metal. That kind of power was practically a nightmare for regular humans!
Just think about it: which of their weapons isn't made of metal?
That alone made Erik nearly unstoppable.
Was there any place in the world he couldn't go?
Even the Cuban fleet, armed to the teeth, had been dismantled by him. What chance did a place like the CIA stand?
Winged man finally relaxed, all his hesitation fading. Straightening his back, he followed Erik with righteous confidence into the CIA headquarters.
But before they could take more than a few steps, they were greeted by groans and muffled cries of pain.
The sounds immediately drew their attention.
They turned toward the source—and all of them froze, eyes widening in shock.
The entire place was in shambles.
Dozens of CIA special agents lay sprawled across the floor, twisted up and clutching their wounds.
A rough count put the number at fifty or sixty. Maybe more.
And it wasn't just the grunts.
Even the director, Hansen, was among them!
"What the hell happened here?"
"Someone actually beat us to it?"
Winged man and Braids were completely blindsided.
Someone else had dared to attack the CIA headquarters?
Erik's expression also grew serious. He had intended to make a dramatic entrance and shake the place up—but clearly, someone had already done just that.
Who else had the power to pull this off?
A young Eastern face immediately surfaced in Erik's mind.
There was only one person he could think of—one mutant with the strength to do this: Alex.
But Alex didn't share his ideology. Erik couldn't be sure… was it really him?
The group stepped over the fallen agents cautiously, picking their way deeper into the building.
Eventually, they reached another hallway—
At the end of the corridor stood a group of people.
One of them—a blue-skinned woman—looked toward Erik with a mixture of surprise and joy.
Both Winged man and Braids locked eyes on Alex, their expressions turning from shock to understanding.
They'd never forgotten that powerful young man from the beaches of Cuba.
He was every bit as dangerous as Erik.
They just hadn't expected his methods to be so… similar.
Behind Alex stood Emma Frost, the White Queen, and another blue-skinned woman.
It was clear now: the very mission Erik had come to carry out had already been completed—by Alex.
"Alex?" Erik blinked in surprise.
Then, a rare smile tugged at his lips. "Looks like we both had the same idea. Can you still say we're so different?"
There was genuine warmth in his voice.
"Erik! Long time no see. Well… not that long."
Alex grinned as he greeted Erik.
Winged man and Braids waved toward the White Queen and the others from the Hellfire Club.
A strange reunion was unfolding.
"Let's talk outside. This isn't the right place."
Alex looked around and proposed calmly.
Everyone agreed—this was no place for conversation.
Together, they left behind the wrecked CIA headquarters.
39th Street, New York City.
An empty, desolate road.
Two cars were parked casually along the curb.
The group had gathered around the vehicles—some standing, some sitting, others leaning. Small clusters formed as people talked.
Alex, Erik, and Raven stood together, catching up.
Emma and the Hellfire Club mutants gathered off to one side.
As for Copy Cat, she was lounging atop the hood of one car, looking like none of this had anything to do with her.
"Alex, you saw what they've done—their tactics, always twisting the truth."
"Our mutant brothers and sisters are suffering. I won't sit by and watch!"
Erik's voice was firm, his eyes burning with conviction.
"I wasn't sure before, but now I am. You won't either.
So join me, Alex! You and I—we can protect our people together!"
He extended the offer once more, from the bottom of his heart.
"I don't doubt your resolve to protect mutants, Erik. But I can't agree with your methods."
"You invaded the CIA. How are you any different from me?" Erik spread his hands and chuckled.
"I broke in because I needed Emma's help. That's all.
But I never saw the CIA as my enemy."
"And I definitely don't see all of humanity as the enemy."
Alex's voice was firm.
There was a fundamental difference between them—and he made it clear.
"One day, you'll understand."
Erik was silent for a long moment, then finally replied solemnly.
Alex shrugged. "We'll see."
The truth was, Erik and Charles were both stubborn.
And in a way, so was Alex.
They all believed they were right. None of them could convince the others otherwise.
Words were wasted here.
"If humans aren't your enemy… then who is?"
Emma stepped forward, looking Alex in the eyes.
"That's a false premise, Emma. If someone threatens mutants, I won't hesitate to fight back.
But here's the thing—why must mutants have an enemy in the first place?"
Alex looked at her seriously.
"You saw what happened in Cuba. They feared our power. They attacked us!"
"Yes, and we fought back. We defeated them."
"But what comes after that? I get what you're saying, Alex, but we can't always wait until we're attacked.
Humans and mutants—we're fundamentally incompatible. You have to accept that!"
"And that's exactly why we need you, Erik."
Alex smiled meaningfully.
"And exactly why I can't stand with you."
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