"Didi!"
Ryuuto and Gwen, racing between the skyscrapers like streaks of shadow and red, came to an abrupt halt.
"Ryuuto… sorry, that was my dad calling," Gwen said, flustered.
"No problem. Take the call. I'll keep watch," Ryuuto replied, a faint smirk crossing his face before his eyes sharpened, scanning for sudden threats. Instinct kicked in—he was ready for anything.
Gwen quickly answered. "Hey, Dad, what's up?"
On the other end, the voice of the New York Police Department Chief—Gwen's father—was tense, almost frantic. "Gwen, where are you right now?!"
"Uh… I'm outside. Why?"
"Don't dawdle—hide! There's no time for explanations! Just find a safe place, and stay there until I call again!"
Gwen's eyes widened. Chaos must've erupted at the station. She glanced at Ryuuto, whose confident, determined gaze gave her courage. "Otherwise, I'll come to you!"
"Why are you so stubborn?" her father huffed. "Fine… listen carefully. Professor Connors developed a lizard gene potion, seized the weather station, and plans to use artificial rainfall to transform New Yorkers into lizards. The police are stretched thin; it's too dangerous out there. You must stay safe!"
"Understood! Don't worry, Dad!" Gwen hung up, anxiety etching her features. She turned to Ryuuto. "This… this is terrifying. Connors could really turn everyone into lizards. We have to stop him."
"Don't worry. His plan won't succeed. Let's move!" Ryuuto's eyes gleamed with anticipation. In a flash, he and Gwen streaked toward the weather station like twin meteors.
At the observatory, Connors' boots crashed through the launch center doors. The place had been abandoned in fear, but he strode in confidently, a box under his arm. Fingers flew over the keypad, opening the launch compartment.
He lifted the suitcase with a manic grin, revealing vials of yellow-green lizard gene serum, glowing faintly. "Hehe… perfection! Soon, this will be a paradise for lizardkind, and humans will be nothing but history!"
Clenching his claws with excitement, Connors began pouring the potions into the launch chamber. His artificial rainfall scheme was moments from success—he would soon control all of New York.
"Boom!"
Sudden crashes echoed through the room. Several mutant lizardmen collapsed, bloodied and unable to rise.
Two figures charged in—Steel and Scott, eyes locked on Connors.
"Don't move! X-Men here. Surrender now!"
Connors chuckled. "X-Men? Ha! I thought Ryuuto would show. You can't stop me!" Tail lashing, he ignored their presence and continued pouring serum into the device.
But then, ten monstrous figures descended from above, red eyes blazing. They lunged at Scott like missiles.
"Behind you! Watch your back!" Steel barked, feeling the chill of imminent danger.
"Damn… an ambush!" Scott barely dodged a leaping lizardman, pressing the device's emergency button at lightning speed. A beam shot out, vaporizing the attacker instantly.
Steel's body hardened like iron, sparks flying as claws scraped his skin. He didn't flinch. Swinging both fists, he hurled enemies into the air, then gripped two charging lizardmen by their heads. With a brutal twist, both were silenced mid-struggle.
"Scott! Connors has the suitcase! Stop him, and take care of the other mutants or this city is doomed!" Steel shouted amidst the fight, urgency sharpening his every move.
"Got it!" Scott pressed the button again, laser beams cutting through the air as the battle raged. The X-Men had arrived, but the fight to prevent artificial rainfall—and a city-wide transformation—was only beginning.