Issue #4

(Honestly, the fight was supposed to end the last chapter. But since I was late for the time I was supposed to release the chapter, I sent it out as is. Cause of that, I'm just gonna do a double or triple release this morning. Not sure which and most likely won't come back to edit this.)

Joseph and Jack clashed once again, unleashing a wave of energy that blew Storm and Magneto back when they tried to get closer to the battle.

'How does it take 4 Sorcerer Supremes 5 minutes to cast a single spell? In anime, the characters need, at most, one minute. Why are they taking more than 5?!?!'

Just as he was thinking about this, a portal opened up beneath Jack and the 4 magic users that had been sent away returned.

They were standing in a circle with a large green orb floating in the middle of them while they were quiet chanting with their eyes closed.

Seeing that they had arrived, Jack made his move. He closed in on Joseph while surrounding his hand with concentrated black energy as he cut through Joseph's shoulder.

The clone let out a shout of pain and shot Jack away. Landing inside of the crater he had just created, Jack was silently smiling to himself.

In his hands was a small, black ice bottle. Although it was hard to tell the color of what was inside, it was easy to see that there was a thick liquid within it.

'And that is how I get a clone while not killing the original even after they seal him.'

While Jack was smiling to himself, the sorcerers opened their eyes to reveal bright light coming out of each of them.

"Seal!"

The green orb broke into 8 arrows that fired toward Joseph. The clone saw the arrows approaching and put up a barrier but the arrows just passed through it as the barrier was not there and pierced Joseph's body.

Seven of the arrows lodged themselves into the clone's chakra points. Each of these was meant to seal a different part of Joseph's abilities. The last arrow stabbed into Joseph's eye and sealed all of the clone's senses.

Having his entire body seal, Joseph was unable to even scream in rage at his defeat.

'I am the ultimate mutant. I was supposed to kill them all? How can they seal me just like this?'

No matter how many silent complaints he had, no one cared about Joseph. Of all the damage, destruction, and death that he had caused that day, the man should have considered himself lucky that a few heroes with looser morals didn't take the opportunity to kill him off.

With the dust settling, the Avengers, X-Men, Brotherhood, and loose heroes all began to get together.

The results of the battle were better than some had expected. Some could say that it was the best case. If Joseph had unleashed all his power at once, he could have nuked them all and only left a handful of survivors in not only the facility but all of east coast

The 187 agents and 9 heroes that died still weighed down on the others though. No matter how many of them survived, they still mourned the dead.

After everyone got basic medical attention, each of the groups began to leave. They all needed to either rest or help out with other crimes going on in the city.

'A hero's job is never done,' Jack thought to himself as he watched the X-Men board the X-Jet.

Just as Jack was about to enter the jet, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Natasha who was beaming along with Captain America who had a serious expression on his face.

"I understand that today is not a good day, but we will need to talk in the future," Steve said to Jack before walking away without getting a response. Natasha waved at Jack before walking away.

'Damn. Looks like I need to avoid him in the future,' Jack thought to himself while shaking his head

Since he was already off the team, Jack didn't see the need to explain himself anymore. He was no longer a member of the Avengers and Captain America's subordinate. As for the friendship they had...

'You chose Tony over me. You are the one that severed our relationship.'

Jack boarded the jet and took a seat. As soon as he sat down, the seats next to him, in front of him, and behind him were all filled up in moments. Jack saw the eager eyes of Laura and several other younger mutants.

"You're that strong!?"

"I thought you could just control ice!"

"Can you beat Magneto?"

"And you know magic too? You're amazing!"

"I heard you and Ms. Frost are a thing."

Jack's fan club was growing even larger. After seeing how he fought head to head with the person that none of the other heroes could touch, it was impossible for younger mutants not to admire him.

Laura was especially looking at him with stars in her eyes and feeling grateful that she had asked him to teach her first. If she waited, she would have to compete will all these other teens to get private sessions with Jack.

The X-Men looked at this scene occurring in the back of the Jet with a smile. Even after such a battle, the kids were still able to smile like they were.

{Jack. We have a small favor to ask of you.} Jean said through a telepathic message

Jack listened to the favor and nodded his head, easily agreeing. It would take nothing more than a thought and everyone on the plane deserved it.

Jack changed the scent he was giving off to myrrh and frankincense while Storm circulated wind within the jet. Soon, the noisy plane got quieter and quieter until it was silent with the occasional sound of a deep breath from those sleeping on board.

And that was how it remained until the X-Men and their students returned to the institute.