The next day
Xavier School for the Gifted
The X-Men and the others looked at Renzo and his group with reluctance. Farewells were always painful—especially between comrades who had fought side by side. The bond forged in battle was far deeper than ordinary friendship.
Renzo held the Space Stone in his hand. Behind him stood Azazel, Pietro, and Salvador.
Yes—Salvador would be leaving with Pietro for the Avengers' world. After everyone had rested the previous night, Pietro had gone straight to Renzo's room and insisted on taking Salvador with him.
In just one month, the two had grown deeply attached. Salvador had been drawn to Pietro—someone close to her age, yet more mature, powerful, and unexpectedly humorous.
As they spent more time together, she gathered the courage to face her feelings and confessed. Naturally, they became a couple.
"You're saying… our two universes will have a stable connection? So we might meet again in the future?"
Charles asked, surprised. Just moments ago, he had been immersed in the sadness of parting—but hearing this lifted his spirits immediately.
"How does it work?" Hank leaned in eagerly, his blue, fur-covered form practically pressed against Renzo. His eyes burned with curiosity as they fixated on the Space Stone.
Renzo quickly stepped aside, while Raven pulled Hank back awkwardly, trying to restore some dignity.
"Yes. We'll have the chance to meet again," Renzo said calmly. "And we may need your help in the future—to fight powerful enemies."
He meant it. He planned to bring allies from other worlds into the Avengers' universe to face Thanos.
Every additional ally meant a greater chance of victory. He could not allow that madman to succeed.
In truth, he had considered bringing all the X-Men with him—to have them stand alongside the Avengers and protect the world.
But…
When Renzo looked at the school behind them, at the smiling children running freely, he let the idea go.
Maybe… just maybe… they could change that tragic future.
"Time to go."
Renzo didn't waste words. There would be other chances to meet. He opened the portal.
Pietro and the others stepped through first. Renzo turned back for one last look, smiling.
"See you—"
Boom!
Before he could finish, a rocket trailing flames slammed into the center of the group. The explosion tore through the area, scattering everyone like leaves in a storm.
"Enemy attack!"
Logan roared. He had been closest to the blast, but his healing factor allowed him to recover quickly, suffering the least damage.
"Charles!"
Eric caught Charles mid-fall. His eyes widened as he saw his friend's legs—burned black, the smell of charred flesh thick in the air.
"Bastard!" Rage surged through Eric. His power erupted as he seized control of the fighter jet above, dragging it down and slamming it into the ground. The explosion that followed did nothing to quell his fury.
He saw the culprit.
"Shaw!"
Sebastian Shaw, wearing a jetpack, shot straight toward the still-open portal.
During the war with Apocalypse, Shaw had lost an arm to Eric—but he had survived. Since then, he had been hiding in the woods near the school, watching and waiting.
The helmet he wore shielded him from telepathy, keeping him hidden from Charles.
"I can reach another world through that portal!" Shaw's gaze locked onto Renzo with burning hatred. If not for him, Shaw believed he would have ruled the world—never overshadowed by Apocalypse or Eric.
He raised a rifle and fired at Renzo. The bullets struck his body with metallic clinks—but did nothing.
Renzo rose into the air and fired a precise energy blast, destroying Shaw's jetpack. Shaw crashed into the ground, leaving a crater.
"Bastard!" Hank charged forward, lifting Shaw and slamming him down hard.
Shaw, bloodied and battered, struggled to rise as Hank's claws tore into him again and again.
"If I can't live… none of you will either!" Shaw laughed madly. Red energy ignited around his body—he was about to unleash everything he had stored.
Renzo immediately pushed Hank away, grabbed Shaw by the collar, and pinned him beneath him—ready to absorb the explosion himself.
But he had underestimated Shaw's resolve.
Long before this moment, Shaw had detonated a military weapons depot, absorbing its energy into his body—preparing for this exact outcome.
If he couldn't escape, then everyone would die with him.
Boom!
Renzo instantly summoned the Soul Stone, forming a protective barrier around Shaw.
"Ghh—!" Renzo strained, trying to contain the overwhelming energy. The barrier swelled under the pressure, cracks forming as flames pressed against it like a boiling lid ready to burst.
Boom!
The explosion roared within the shield. Shaw pressed his face against the barrier, his expression twisted with hatred and fury. His skin split under the energy, like parched earth cracking apart—dark and grotesque.
Renzo had seen that expression too many times. Villains always tried to look defiant in the end—as if they were the victims.
Any sympathy he once had was long gone.
He compressed the barrier into a sphere and hurled it high into the sky.
A brilliant explosion bloomed above—like fireworks. Shaw's body and blood were completely vaporized, leaving nothing behind.
"Charles…" Renzo turned, his expression tense.
Charles lay gravely injured. His trousers were gone, his legs severely burned, flesh exposed and bleeding.
"Get him to a hospital!" Renzo lifted Charles and took off at once, flying toward the nearest facility. The others followed closely behind.
The spatial vortex remained open.
From the wreckage of the jet, a blonde girl slowly crawled out. She glanced at the glowing blue portal—then silently stepped inside.
…
Renzo left this world the following day. Charles's injuries were no longer life-threatening—but he might never walk again.
"Charles, I'll find a way to heal you," Renzo said quietly, sitting beside the hospital bed, gripping his hand tightly.
"The Infinity Stones… it's time to act."
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