455

Forseti suddenly released his grip, and the Sulfuron warhammer shot forward, creating a blast of hot air through the atmosphere.

Sensing the intense heat, Eric realized he couldn't touch this warhammer, its temperature far too high.

Quickly, he raised his hand, manipulating magnetic forces to deflect the flying Sulfuron warhammer. Finally, he halted the warhammer perilously half a meter in front of him.

Seeing the fiery Sulfuron warhammer before him, Eric's forehead beaded with sweat. He instinctively took a few steps back and simultaneously swung his arm, attempting to hurl the warhammer back at Forseti.

At that moment, Forseti was airborne, and the warhammer erupted in flames, forming a swirling mass of blazing fire that broke free from the magnetic field's grasp.

"What!" Eric was startled as the hammer burst into flames.

The flames nearly touched his skin, instantly igniting the anti-G suit he wore.

Gritting his teeth, Eric wielded magnetic force to tear several steel plates from the submarine. The splashing seawater extinguished the flames on his clothes while the plates quickly stacked to form a barrier against the Sulfuron flames.

Forseti raised his hand and pressed forward. The Sulfuron flames surged, their temperature rising further, fiercely scorching the steel plates.

Soon, the Sulfuron flames surpassed the sun's surface temperature, reducing several submarine steel plates to molten iron.

The flames, now free of the iron steam, roared and swiftly encircled Eric several times, forming a cage of fire around him.

Forseti stepped closer. "Do you still seek to provoke a war between mutants and humans, Eric?"

As Forseti spoke, the Sulfuron flames tightened around Eric, causing burns to appear on his skin, the red marks slowly spreading.

The recent battle and the spreading burns left Eric gasping for breath, his chest heaving. Despite this, he made no cries nor uttered any words.

Seeing this, Charles couldn't help but interject anxiously, "Eric, cease this stubbornness; it will only bring harm upon yourself and others! We still have time, more options."

Eric glanced at his friend, a complicated expression crossing his face. After a moment, he trembled slightly, his voice strained. "We're different..."

Puzzled, Charles looked at Eric, the helmet taken from Sebastian blocking his telepathic probing.

Eric continued, his voice wavering. "Despite our connection, understanding my emotions, we're fundamentally different... You have more choices, but my path has been set since the day I entered that concentration camp. There's no turning back for me."

Charles gestured to Hank, Mystique, and the others behind him. "Why not? Haven't we made progress? We can find more allies, do better."

Eric shook his head, remaining silent.

Forseti intervened. "What's your decision?"

Eric clenched his fists, then gritted his teeth and spoke resolutely. "After killing Sebastian , this is my only purpose. I won't yield, even if it means you must kill me!"

"Understood," Forseti nodded.

With that, the Sulfuron flames surrounding Eric surged, and a thin blade of flames shot out, piercing Eric's chest instantly.

The flames coalesced, reforming into the shape of the Sulfuron Hammer in Forseti's hands, while Eric collapsed to the ground.

"Eric!" Charles and Mystique hurried over, helping Eric to his feet.

"I'm sorry, Charles... cough..." Eric leaned heavily on them, blood seeping from the wound in his chest.

Realizing the wound was near his heart, Charles felt a surge of anger and sorrow. His eyes red with emotion, he stood up, grabbed Forseti's collar, and demanded, "Why did you kill him? Why?"

"Charles, it wasn't him; it was my decision... Perhaps this was my fate..." Eric's voice weakened, his dim eyes fixed on Sebastian lifeless body nearby.

Reflecting on past memories flooding his mind, Eric felt weary but relieved; it was finally over.

"Eric..." Mystique embraced him tightly, tears streaming down her face. Her agitation caused her blue disguise to falter, revealing her true form.

Charles released Forseti's collar and knelt beside Eric, who lay dying.

Soon, all three were overcome with tears. Charles gritted his teeth, tears streaming down his face; Mystique wept openly, and Eric's weakened state silenced him.

Even Hank, Kraken, and the others were deeply moved, wiping tears from their eyes.

Not just them, even Torrent and El Salvador, remnants of the Black Emperor, were moved, feeling a profound sense of empathy in the silence.

Amid this emotional tableau, Forseti, the initiator, watched quietly from beginning to end, hands in his pockets.

After a time, he opened the Eye of Reckoning, observing Eric's fading light. Stepping forward once more, he placed a hand gently on Eric's chest. A faint golden light began to shimmer at his fingertips.

Lay on Hands!

Suddenly, brilliant holy light burst forth, enveloping Eric entirely, transforming him into a figure of golden radiance.

"This..." Charles noticed, eyes widening in disbelief.

When the golden light subsided, Eric's chest wound had vanished, and his burns were healed.

Eric opened his eyes with a start, confusion evident. "I... shouldn't I be dead?"

"That was a warning," Forseti withdrew his hand, speaking slowly. "But only this once. If you persist in your path, the next encounter with death won't spare you."

Forseti felt compassion for Magneto and was reluctant to kill unless necessary.

Having said his piece, he spread his wings of holy light, ascended as a golden streak, and vanished beyond the horizon, leaving no trace...

"Resurrected" Eric, Charles and Mystique were stunned, but Eric himself fell into deep contemplation.

After a while, he stood up silently.

"Eric?" Charles also rose. "Enough of this; he gave you a warning."

"I know," Eric nodded.

Charles smiled faintly. "You finally understand, you—"

"No," Eric shook his head again, cutting him off. "Nor will I turn back."

"Then... what will you do?"

Eric exhaled deeply, speaking slowly. "Perhaps... I'll become a steelworker."

---