Magneto's voice was calm and cold. "Abomination, do you really think you can beat me if you transform? Don't forget—the scepter's metal. I'll pull it from your hands."
He tried, right then and there. Magnetic force snarled through the air toward the scepter—but Abomination's grip was a mountain. The scepter trembled. For the first time, a flicker of fear passed over Abomination's face.
Hissing, Abomination made a choice: smash the church door and bolt. "You gonna chase?" someone asked.
"No." Magneto's expression didn't change. "Abomination's strength rivals the Hulk. We don't fight that with head-on brawls. He can leap hundreds—thousands—of meters. Even Quicksilver can't reliably catch him in a straight sprint."
Mystique—still lounging—raised an eyebrow. "Then what, go to the school?"
Magneto's eyes were flat. "I'm going to the Mutant school."
"Helping them?" Mystique sounded amused.
"Not helping," Magneto said. "Preventing a catastrophe. If Abomination levels the school, SHIELD's missiles and the scepter in his hand will make a slaughterhouse out of everyone. If X-Men are annihilated, Abomination will have the legitimacy—and the power—to crush the Brotherhood next. That can't happen."
Mystique's smile went sharp. "If both sides fall, we sweep in. Easy."
Magneto's fingers left no room for joke. "Both Abomination and X-Men must be neutralized, or our plan stalls forever."
They moved fast. Half an hour later Magneto and Mystique arrived at Axville Mutant School, where Ryuuto was already striding toward them—because of course he was. Ryuuto (竜翔) walked like someone who'd been told the world was about to burn and decided to be the match.
Magneto stopped him flat. "I came because Abomination contacted me. He plans a raid at noon tomorrow and wants me to help. I won't join him—our goals differ—but you need to know the threat level. Abomination controls SHIELD. That air carrier carries lethal missiles."
Ryuuto didn't bother pretending this was news. He'd been awake enough to know the basics; what made his jaw tighten was another word Magneto dropped: "Tesseract."
The name landed like a grenade. Ryuuto's brain lit up—too many memories of odd artifacts and worse consequences. The Tesseract wasn't just another macguffin. It tore open space. If Abomination used it to open a portal over the school? Surprise strike. Missile barrage through a doorway. Instant apocalypse.
Magneto watched the change in Ryuuto's face and nodded. "So you know. He plans to strike at noon. You need to prepare."
After the older man and Mystique left, Ryuuto didn't stand frozen. He moved faster than a rumor. He found Professor Charles in his office and cut right to it.
"Professor—tell everyone to gather in the lobby. We're evacuating the school for now."
Charles frowned up at him. "What's happened? You said you'd never leave—"
"I forgot one thing." Ryuuto let the weight of the word drop between them. "Tesseract. It's with SHIELD. That means Abomination could open a spatial gate here—drop high-heat missiles straight into our classrooms. I'm not abandoning the school forever. I'm buying time so no one dies." He set his jaw. "If Abomination uses that gateway—this place is gone."
Charles's eyes went hard and telepathic messages started rippling outward—the call to gather. Ryuuto felt the familiar thrum of responsibility in his chest, equal parts annoyance and an odd, fierce pride. He was supposed to be the underdog, remember? Trash-to-legend. If the world wanted a legend, fine—he'd get legend-y.
He shoved his hands into his jacket and let his mouth do the rest. "We stop him. We take back the scepter. And we make sure whatever's on that carrier can't be turned into a weapon. Noon tomorrow. Get ready."
[Ding! Mission Update: Enemy threat expanded — Abomination controls SHIELD. High-heat ordnance present. Priority: secure Tesseract / neutralize Abomination.]
Ryuuto's smirk was small and tired. "If Abomination thinks he's the only monster here, he hasn't met me yet."
He was already drafting plans in his head—fast-attack team, infiltration routes, a backup to deal with a space gate. Red Mirage or not, he was going to be a problem the villains never forgot.
....
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