The room fell silent when the homeroom teacher repeated himself.
"Once identified as a Mutant," he warned, "they'll most likely be sent to containment. I may not like Mutants, but I don't want to see any of my students dragged off to some facility."
No one moved. No one spoke.
When the silence stretched too long, the teacher gave up with a sigh. Ten minutes later, three security officers entered the classroom, red armbands flashing under the fluorescent lights. One of them held a small handheld scanner — a Mutant detector.
Gwen's stomach twisted. What if he really is one…?
She turned in her seat and whispered, "If you're a Mutant… run."
Ryuuto blinked at her, face blank. "Do I look like a Mutant to you?"
Caught off guard, Gwen flushed, turned back around, and stayed quiet.
When it was finally his turn to be scanned, she held her breath — but the device beeped green. Safe. Human. Normal.
Her confusion deepened. Then… who killed those five people?
Once the last student was tested, the teacher finally relaxed.
"Alright, everyone can go home for the day. The campus will stay closed until the investigation's done."
The moment class was dismissed, Gwen caught up with Ryuuto outside.
"You're sure it wasn't you?" she pressed.
He smiled lazily. "If I were a Mutant, do you think I'd show up for roll call? I passed the test, didn't I? Besides, I couldn't have beaten those guys. I just carried you out after you fainted. Whoever killed them must've been some Mutant with a crush on you—followed you, saw you in danger, and, well… stepped in."
"Don't say creepy things like that."
"What? You hate Mutants now?"
"I didn't before." Gwen hesitated, gaze lowering. "Now I don't know. I kind of pity them, but I'm scared too. I wish Mutants and humans could just… get along. My dad says that's impossible — that one day, there'll be a third world war. Mutants versus everyone else."
Ryuuto raised an eyebrow. "Your dad's a realist."
"By the way," she said suddenly, "have you seen that video of the guy who has your name?"
"No. Should I have?"
"It's horrifying," Gwen said. "He summons a giant snake to eat cops in one clip. Then in another, he slaughters a thousand people with some enormous blade. The third video is him claiming the whole thing was faked by the Defense Ministry. Either way, killing's killing. If he really wanted peace between Mutants and humans, he'd tell Mutants to stop attacking people."
Ryuuto's smile thinned. "You're… not wrong."
There was a pause as they reached the street.
"Where do you live?" Gwen asked.
"A bit far from here."
"I go this way. You?"
"Opposite direction."
"Alright, then. I'll see you later." Gwen brightened suddenly. "Hey — are you free tomorrow?"
"Probably."
"Perfect! Come with me to the biology exhibition! Dr. Connors is showcasing genetic synth experiments — it's part of my major. But if you're busy, I can go alone."
Ryuuto chuckled. "Why me?"
"We're friends, aren't we?"
He nodded. "Guess we are."
"Then it's a date! Nine a.m., school gate!"
"Don't you have class?"
"Morning's free!"
"Fine. Nine it is."
They parted ways, walking into the dusk in opposite directions.
Dr. Connors… why does that name sound familiar?
Then it hit him.
Lizardman. Right. That Dr. Connors.
If his memory was right, tomorrow Peter Parker would attend that same event, get bitten by a genetically modified spider, and become Spider-Man.
But that hadn't happened here — not yet.
Ryuuto's eyes narrowed. So Spider-Man hasn't been born in this world.
A grin tugged at his lips. "Then maybe… I'll make sure he never is."
By day, Ryuuto attended classes at Oxford. By night, he returned to the Mutant Academy — not because he missed Susan's company, but because he didn't trust how unstable things were. If a powerful Mutant attacked again, he wanted to be ready.
In this world crawling with Mutants and gods, danger wasn't an "if." It was a "when."
Meanwhile, far away in Asgard, thunder roared.
Thor was furious. The memory of Ryuuto — that mortal who had broken his arm — haunted every waking moment. And worse, that same mortal had somehow bound Hela in a soul pact.
Why hadn't Father punished him? Why hadn't Odin crushed the insolence of that "Red Mirage"?
Drunk and bitter, Thor slumped over his table until the door creaked open.
Footsteps.
He lifted his head groggily. "...Loki?"
He stumbled forward and hugged the figure — only to freeze as he realized something was… off. Those were definitely pecs.
"Wha—what the—!?"
A cool, imperious voice snapped, "What are you doing?!"
It wasn't Loki. It was the Queen Mother.
Thor instantly released her, stumbling backward, face crimson. "Mother—! I… I drank too much…"
...
Read up to 100 chapters ahead and access exclusive novels by joining my Patreon!
patreon.com/Zyxxar