Another half hour slipped by in tense silence, the kind that pressed down on everyone in the room like a weight. No one spoke, and no one dared to move too much, as if even the slightest disturbance might shatter the fragile balance holding everything together. Then, at last, Professor X's eyelids twitched, a subtle movement that instantly drew every pair of eyes in the room toward him.
The shift didn't go unnoticed for even a second, and the air seemed to tighten as everyone leaned in, holding their breath. Slowly, under the watchful gaze of his students and allies, Professor X opened his eyes. The moment he fully awakened, relief spread through the room like a wave breaking against the shore.
"Professor, you're finally awake!" Jean exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion as she rushed forward and grabbed his hand. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling freely down her cheeks as the tension she'd been holding in finally broke.
"Everyone… I'm feeling much better now," Professor X said, his voice steady but soft as he looked around at them. There was a calm reassurance in his expression, a quiet strength that immediately soothed the unease lingering in the room.
When his gaze landed on Liam Hayes, something deeper flickered in his eyes. It wasn't just relief or gratitude—it was admiration, unmistakable and sincere. "Weiss," he said warmly, using the name he'd grown accustomed to, "you did an excellent job."
Even though he had fallen into a coma, Professor X hadn't been completely unaware of what was happening. Most of his mental power had spiraled out of control, surging chaotically beyond his command, but a small fragment had remained intact. With that fragment, he had managed to observe glimpses of the outside world, faint impressions of the events unfolding around him.
Under normal circumstances, that sliver of control might have been enough to slowly rebuild his mental stability, piece by painstaking piece. However, it would have taken an unbearable amount of time, leaving him vulnerable and unable to act when he was needed most. Liam's intervention had changed everything, accelerating that recovery in a way Professor X hadn't thought possible.
More than that, it forced him to confront a realization he could no longer ignore. The young man standing before him was no longer simply a promising student—his power had already reached a level comparable to his own. That truth settled heavily in his mind, bringing with it both awe and a quiet sense of inevitability.
He had once identified Liam as a high-level mutant, someone destined for greatness, but even that assessment now felt understated. The sheer variety of abilities Liam possessed was staggering, and each one seemed to be honed to an exceptional degree. What shocked him most wasn't just the strength—it was the speed of that growth.
Only a month ago, Liam had been nothing more than an ordinary young man. Now, he had surpassed even the most seasoned mutants in ways that defied logic. The pace of that evolution was almost absurd, something that challenged everything Professor X thought he understood about mutation and power.
And yet, what impressed him even more wasn't raw strength. It was the composure Liam had shown under pressure, the way he had handled danger with both courage and intelligence. Professor X had observed everything Liam had done after leaving the academy, watching quietly through that remaining fragment of mental awareness.
What he saw wasn't just power—it was leadership. The kind that couldn't be taught, only revealed when circumstances demanded it.
The thought stirred something deep within him, and he couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh. Perhaps it was time to consider stepping back, to acknowledge that the future might be better entrusted to the next generation.
"Heh, I just did what I could," Liam replied casually, a relaxed smile tugging at his lips. There was no trace of arrogance in his tone, no hint of self-importance—just an easy confidence that came from knowing his own limits and capabilities.
Hearing that, the warmth in Professor X's gaze deepened. The boy truly had the right temperament—steady, grounded, and unshaken by his own strength.
"Professor, what should we do now?" Cyclops asked, unable to hide the urgency in his voice. His posture was tense, and his expression revealed the strain he had been under while trying to hold everything together.
Professor X turned his attention to him, studying him carefully for a moment. Cyclops had always been dependable, fulfilling his duties as the leader of the X-Men with diligence and discipline. However, what he had seen during his brief period of helplessness left him with a faint sense of disappointment.
In the professor's absence, Cyclops had shown hesitation. His decisions had been slow, his confidence wavering under pressure. For someone in his position, that kind of indecision could prove dangerous.
Still, Professor X chose not to voice his criticism. This wasn't the time for reprimands.
"Take me to the Cerebro chamber," he said instead, attempting to sit up. His body responded sluggishly, and Jean quickly moved to support him, her concern evident as she steadied his movements.
Liam shook his head almost immediately. "Professor, your mental power has only just stabilized. You can't afford to use it again right now," he said, his tone firm but respectful.
Professor X frowned slightly, already aware of the risk. Forcing himself to use Cerebro in his current state could easily trigger another collapse, potentially causing lasting damage to his mind.
"I'll handle it," Liam offered without hesitation.
"You?" Storm's brows furrowed, and she shook her head decisively. "No, that's too dangerous. Cerebro isn't something you can just use without experience."
Jean nodded in agreement, her earlier relief giving way to concern. "Weiss doesn't have any training with it. Jumping into something like that could be extremely risky."
Despite the chorus of objections, Professor X raised a hand, silencing them. "No. Let him do it," he said calmly, his voice carrying a quiet authority that left no room for argument. "His mental strength is already on par with mine. He can handle Cerebro."
"What?" The reaction was immediate, disbelief flashing across their faces.
The idea that Liam's telepathic ability could rival Professor X's sounded almost absurd. It clashed with everything they thought they knew about him.
Professor X turned his gaze back to Liam, his expression thoughtful. "You have telepathy as well, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do," Liam admitted without hesitation, giving a small shrug. There was no point hiding it anymore. At his current level, very few people posed a genuine threat to him, and revealing another ability wouldn't change that.
Cyclops, Storm, and Jean all stared at him, their shock deepening. Up until now, they had already known about several of his abilities—spatial movement, freezing effects, reflection—but this added another layer entirely.
Telepathy wasn't just another power. It was one of the most complex and dangerous abilities a mutant could possess, and mastering it to the level of Professor X was something almost unheard of.
The realization left them momentarily speechless.
"Weiss… just how many abilities do you have?" Storm asked, her voice tinged with disbelief as she tried to process what she was seeing.
Before Liam could respond, Professor X cut in smoothly, redirecting the conversation. "That's enough. You should head to the Cerebro chamber immediately," he said, effectively ending the line of questioning. If Liam chose not to reveal everything, there was no need to push further.
Storm hesitated for a brief moment, but ultimately nodded. "Alright," she said, though the curiosity in her eyes hadn't completely faded.
"Professor, you should rest. We'll take care of bringing Rogue back," Liam added with a reassuring smile before turning to leave alongside Storm.
Cyclops and Jean remained behind, staying close to Professor X as they helped him settle back.
As the door closed behind the others, the room grew quiet once more. Professor X watched them go, his expression thoughtful, and after a moment, he let out a soft sigh.
"That boy… he really is something special," he murmured. "Perhaps… he's the one who should take my place."
Cyclops and Jean exchanged a glance, both of them caught off guard by the weight of his words. They hadn't expected him to place such faith in Liam, let alone consider him as a successor.
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