Chapter 52: A night to remember
Under the soothing light of the full moon stood tall a temple of unmatched beauty. Unlike the smaller shrines scattered across the city, this one was a masterpiece of Japanese craftsmanship, built on a scale so grand it rivaled the tallest buildings around it.
Its curved rooftops, lined with black tiles, shimmered under the warm glow of lanterns, their golden edges gently reflecting the light.
Enormous wooden pillars, etched with dragons and phoenixes, lined the entrance—each one showcasing the mastery of the craftsmen who carved them.
A wide stone staircase rose toward towering wooden gates, with bronze lanterns on either side casting a soft, flickering glow across the steps.
Inside, the temple was a world of elegance and wealth. The walls, made of fine cypress wood, carried a light, soothing scent.
Sliding screens embroidered with gold and silk divided the space, casting shifting shadows as people moved beyond them. Above, the ceiling shimmered with polished wood and mother-of-pearl inlays, reflecting the glow of hanging bronze lanterns.
Beneath it all, smooth tatami mats stretched across the floor, their surface so polished they seemed to glow.
Dozens of women, all strikingly beautiful, moved quickly yet gracefully through the space. Their silk kimono, embroidered with cherry blossoms, cranes, and flowing rivers, rustled softly as they walked.
Though disciplined, their eyes sparkled with excitement,for the master of this place had finally returned!!
They carried trays of the finest food—delicate sushi rolls, steaming bowls of miso, plates of the highest class wagyu beef, and sweet mochi dusted with pure gold.
Others held porcelain flasks of aged sake, pouring with practiced care. The scent of incense filled the air, a mix of sandalwood and jasmine, adding to the temple's sacred atmosphere.
At the end of the great hall stood a towering set of doors.
Majestic. Imposing.
Carved into them was a massive green dragon, crowned with antler-like horns and crimson eyes full of ageless wisdom.
Its coiled body danced through the clouds, staring down as if to judge all who approached.
It looked like the entrance to a royal chamber. But that couldn't be further from the truth.
Behind those grand doors was nothing more than a hot spring.
From the other side, Noah's voice echoed through the changing room as he paced around.
"Man, all that digging on the moon ruined my clothes. Good thing this place has a hot spring!"
A pause.
"Oh, by the way, is your drone waterproof? It is? Nice!"
With a soft poof, a cloud of smoke filled the room.
Just like that, Noah shed his disguise, returning to his original form.
"Ahhh, nothing beats the original," he sighed, unstrapping his shoulder guards and tossing them onto a nearby table.
CRACK!
The table instantly split in half, sending the heavy armor crashing to the floor—where it promptly broke through that as well.
One by one, Noah removed each piece of his clothing, and with every discarded item, another part of the poor room met its demise.
Finally—woosh!
The sound of a towel wrapping around his waist echoed through the now half-destroyed changing area. Striking a pose, he stepped forward and slid open the door leading to the open-air hot spring.
In one smooth motion he jumped high in the air before landing into the hot water below like a cannonball.
Long before any of this, the silver drone had been silently recording, capturing every detail of the place in the highest definition.
But the moment Noah stepped out of the smoke in his original form, the drone went into overdrive. Every movement, every breath—it documented everything with relentless precision.
Then its lens shifted to the discarded gear on the floor. Hovering closer, it zoomed in, analyzing every inch.
Small mechanical arms unfolded from within it, delicate claws and tiny laser tools extending, ready to extract a sample for research.
Just as its tools came within an inch of the shoulder guard
whoosh!
The drone was pulled back, yanked through the air by an invisible force. It spun uncontrollably for a moment before stopping just above the open bath, held in place by Noah's telekinesis before getting dipped into the water.
"Stop snooping around my things, Im almost done with my story" he muttered as he put a small folded towel on top of his spiky wild hair.
The drone slowly rose to the water's surface, its lens refocusing—just in time to catch Noah tilting his head back, chugging down a thirty thousand dollar bottle of alcohol.
"So, turns out I'm kind of a genius" he mused, wiping his mouth.
"it only took me, what, fifty? A hundred tries? And just like that, I mastered the rejuvenation technique."
"But you see I still had a problem"
He leaned back, arms draped along the edge of the bath, completely at ease.
"Back In the dead place where I came from,I could train my body all I wanted, but the skills that actually affected others? Yeah, I was kinda behind on those."
"So I made up for lost time And worked on those abilities until… well, until there wasn't a single test subject left and I had to barry them all on the moon."
"After that, I stashed away my newly acquired warship and moved on to the next phase of my plan."
He took a deep breath through his nose and half the smoke that surrounded the hot spring vanished into his lungs
"I Healed the Emperor, scored this place, and all the perks that come with it. Hell, they even started calling me a deity for some reasons." He swirled the bottle in his hand.
"Well, they not entirely wrong though."
His gaze sharpened.
"So, short-term goal? Achieved. Next step? Find out who sent those Alchemax idiots after me." "
"You know what they say—return kindness with kindness and malice tenfold."
His fingers tapped against the rim of the bottle.
"I searched the warship for any clues. And then searched whatever left of their HQ, but I couldn't find a damn thing!!"
"Whoever tipped them off They were a damn ghost. Cleaned up after themselves perfectly and left no trail."
He exhaled, and to the drone's dismay, the smoke twisted into the shape of Earth.
Every continent, every country, all perfectly formed and animated.
"Which makes sense, considering they're a high-IQ genius scientist and an expert in electronics." His lips curled. "Sounds like it should narrow down my search on this earth, right?"
"You'd be surprised how many people fit that description."
"So for some time. I give up."
He let the silence sit for a moment before continuing.
" Then while I was doing my cleaning that I pushed back because I was lazy you appeared"
He lifted a finger, pointing lazily at it.
"And when I sensed the energy beyond the portal you made. That's when it clicked."
His grew brighter
"I finally knew who ratted me out. But one thing didn't add up—why? What reason could he have for going to such lengths?"
He swirled the liquid in his bottle again, watching it for a beat.
"And then it clicked again." His eyes flicked back to the drone.
"You were testing me. Weren't you?" He let the question hang before adding,
"But why?"
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"How about you tell me, O great king of Latveria?"
As his voice carried through the air, the drone suddenly powered down.
Out of nowhere a low hum filled the space, and not far from where Noah sat, a portal of deep blue light cracked open.
From it stepped a tall figure, clad in full armor, a flowing green cape draped over his shoulders.
Noah continued with a deep voice filled with fighting spirit as a large blood thirsty grin appeared on his face while letting out large amount of his ki out as he began floating out of the hotspring.
"Victor von Doom."
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Sigh.
"He didn't visit today either..."
Helen let out a breath as she slipped into her nightgown, standing before the dressing mirror.
The past few days had been nothing short of chaotic and overwhelming If she can say so.
Not long ago, she had been trapped in what could only be described as hell on earth, forced to commit unspeakable acts against innocent people.
Day after day, the weight of her actions crushed her, piece by piece, until she could barely recognize herself.
Then he appeared.
Like a knight in shining armor, he had stormed into that wretched place and pulled her and her family and so many other families out of it.
Afterward, his words had soothed mental wounds she thought would never heal, his warm presence had lifted the suffocating burden from her soul.
And as he led her away from that nightmare the exhaustion finally overtook her, and she fell into the deepest slumber she had known in years.
When she opened her eyes again, she was no longer in a prison cell, no longer surrounded by cold steel and unrelenting despair. Instead, three familiar faces hovered over her—faces she hadn't seen in what felt like an eternity.
Her mother. Her father and her little sister.
Tears welled up before she could even process what was happening and In an instant, she was on her feet, throwing herself into their arms, holding them as tightly as she could.
They cried together, their voices trembling with relief and gratitude, thanking whatever higher power had allowed them to reunite safe and sound.
And they weren't alone.
All around them, scattered across the open courtyard of an enormous mansion, others were doing the same—families clutching one another, sobbing, their pain melting away like snow under the warmth of long-awaited reunion.
The air was filled with the sound of tears, but for the first time in years, they were tears of joy.
After some time, once the waves of emotion had finally settled and the last of the sobs faded into quiet sniffles, the gathered families began to regain their composure.
The sheer weight of relief had left many of them exhausted, their bodies worn down from years of fear and hopelessness.
That was when figures began to approach them—men and women wearing matching uniforms, their presence exuding both strength and kindness.
The X-Men.
They moved gently among the freed captives, offering soft reassurances, warm smiles, and steady hands to those who still trembled.
One by one, they guided the survivors toward the mansion, leading them inside where warm baths, food, and soft beds awaited them.
Helen watched as her mother and father were led away, her little sister gripping their hands tightly, hesitant to let go of her.
But just as she was about to step forward and join them, a deep, metallic voice called out from behind her.
"Doctor Helen."
A chill ran down her spine.
Turning, she found herself staring up at a towering figure clad entirely in metal. His presence was imposing and his gaze steady and unreadable.
She will later recognized him as Colossus, a member and one of the pillars of the X-Men.
"Would you mind coming with me?" he asked, his tone firm yet devoid of hostility. "The dean of this place wishes to speak with you."
A flicker of unease passed through her, and when she glanced back at her family, she saw the anxiety mirrored in their eyes.
Her little sister, still clutching their mother's sleeve, looked at her with quiet worry.
Sensing their fear, Colossus softened his gaze and spoke again, this time with reassurance.
"There is no reason to be afraid," he said, his voice carrying an unexpected gentleness. "We only wish to understand what happened and learn more about you."
His words were enough to ease some of the tension in the air.
Slowly, Helen exhaled, then turned back to her family with a small smile.
"I'll be fine," she told them. "Go ahead and rest. I'll find you later."
Though still hesitant, her parents nodded, and her sister reluctantly let go of their mother's sleeve. With one last glance over her shoulder, Helen turned and followed the metal giant toward into the mansion.
Dr. Helen followed the towering metal man through the halls of the mansion, her footsteps light against the polished floors.
The grand corridors were lined with portraits, the faces of past and present X-Men watching her as she passed.
Eventually, they reached a large office, and as the doors opened, she stepped inside.
Seated behind a wooden desk was a bald man in a wheelchair—Professor Charles Xavier. Around him stood several figures she recognized from her old work data and news reports.
Storm, with her striking white hair, watched with calm intensity.
Cyclops stood near the professor, arms crossed, his blue eye gleamed under the soft lighting.
They were also others lingered in the background, each studying her carefully.
"Dr. Helen" Xavier greeted, his voice warm yet carrying an undeniable weight. "Please, have a seat."
"That's weird.. I just realized that I never told any of them my name. So how did they know?"
The thought flickered in her mind, but exhaustion quickly dulled her curiosity.
She was too drained to dwell on it. Right now, all she wanted was for this to be over so she could return to her family.
She hesitated for a moment before settling into the chair across from him. The questioning began immediately.
They wanted everything—details about the facility, its purpose, the prisoners, the experiments. But most of all, they wanted to know about Noah. Who was he? What had he done? Where had he gone?
She answered as best she could, carefully choosing her words. There were moments of hesitation, moments where she debated how much to reveal about the man who had saved her.
When she finally finished, a heavy silence fell over the room. The X-Men sat motionless, their expressions dark while their eyes burning with something utterly unmistakable.
It was rage!!
The air grew thick and suffocating as Powers started flickering round the room.
Escaping in subtle, uncontrolled bursts—ice creeping along the floor.
Faint embers glowing at fingertips.
The soft hum of psychic energy pressing against her skull.
They weren't just angry. They were furious.
"Enough!!"
Xavier's voice rang out, snapping everyone out of their anger, and at that moment, she felt herself able to breathe freely again.
Out of nowhere, she felt compelled to look downward toward the professor. She raised her head, and as their eyes met, Helen felt an unnatural calm sweep through her.
It was as if someone was rewiring her brain to feel that way.
"I'm terribly sorry for my friends behavior just now miss Helen I assure you that we seek no harm toward you and the rest of your escape friends its just that--"
She doesn't know what happened but professor xavier stopped talking and at the same time she felt that untral feeling that took over her vanish.
Next she saw the professor face change rapidly as if she was looking at powerpoint.
First it was surprise then anger then shock then horror.
Drip Drip.
His nose started leaking blood and his whole face began showing signs of been under pressure.
The professor reached to a tissue brought it to his nose stopping the blood from coming out.
"My apologies misses Helen I seem to be under the weather at the time. We should finish our talk another time." He said that while his face
"Ororo , could you please guide our guest to her quarters if you don't mind. I'm sure would like to rest after all she went through today"
Storm gave a silent nod and moved to Helen's side, her touch light yet firm as she guided her toward the door.
Before stepping out, Helen glanced back just to see the others had already gathered tightly around Professor Xavier trying to figure out what had just happened to him.
Helen sat down and began combing through her long dark hair as she kept looking the dressing mirror.
Since their arrival, no one in the mansion bothered Helen or her family.
She was free to roam the grounds as she pleased, and most of her time was spent with her little sister and parents.
After everything they'd endured, being together again—safe, smiling—felt like a blessing. Every day, their joy grew brighter, their laughter more natural.
But even in the middle of all this peace, her thoughts kept drifting… to him.
His tall, powerful frame. That wild, untamed hair.
The broadness of his back—how it radiated warmth, like nothing could touch her as long as he was near.
His bright moon like eyes thats looks like a window to realm of endless dreams.
Whenever she thought of him, her heart beat faster… then skipped… then pounded louder.
Helen blinked, catching sight of her reflection.
A soft blush had bloomed across her cheeks without her known. Her gaze then dropped to her body.
Was she not attractive enough? Is that why he hadn't come?
Helen had come to realize one thing after spending all this time around the X-Men.
And that is every woman in this mansion was a world-class beauty.
So the chances of him coming here just to visit her is close to none.
The thought left her hollow on the Inside, so she set down her comb and turned toward the bed, where at least one small reminder of him still lay there.
But then out of nowhere....
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone at the door. At this hour?
The X-Men should be patrolling. Her family, asleep. Who could it be?
Dozens of faces flashed through her mind, but only one refused to fade.
No… It couldn't be…
Her heartbeat quickened as she stepped closer to the door
Knock. Knock.
This time, more urgent and impatient.
She opened the door.
Noah stood there.
"Hey… I just came to grab my shirt. The one I lent you a few days ag—"
He stopped. His eyes drifted from her face down to the nightgown hugging tightly into her figure.
She didn't know what came over her—but she grabbed his arm with both hands and pulled him inside.
Maybe it was the shock. Or maybe it the slight brain lag that came from seeing a women half naked for the first time In ten thousands years but Noah didn't resist, he just followed her inside.
They both went into the room and the door closed slowly after them, and what followed next was....
A night to remember.
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[Hello guys, I hope all of you doing well nowadays. I have nothing to say here I just wanted to wish you all a good day and I hope everything goes well for you In the upcoming days. A/N]
[You guys take care then, bye bye. ✧ദ്ദി( ˶^ᗜ^˶ ) A/N]