Mutant Battle

POV Escanor

There was no fear left in me. No doubt. No weakness. Pure, unrestrained power coursed through my veins. I felt like the embodiment of strength itself limitless, immeasurable. The eyes of those before me confirmed it. They were filled with terror. They wanted to run, pathetic and doomed, but I would not let them.

"None of you will leave this place. You will stay here… forever." My voice was deep and menacing, stripped of any warmth or humanity. The words shaped themselves into arrogant proclamations. "Remember this name: Escanor. And it is here that you will meet your end."

I raised my hand, extending a single finger as if passing judgment. A simple gesture, yet it carried the weight of inevitability.

To feel the full extent of my power, I clenched my fist and struck my palm with a resounding impact. The very air exploded outward in a shockwave that swept across the battlefield. The earth trembled. Dust surged into the sky. The force of my motion alone shattered their paralysis.

"Open fire!" the sergeant shouted, panic creeping into his voice, though he still clung to the illusion of control. He did not know that his death was only a matter of time.

They obeyed. The deafening roar of gunfire filled the air. Bullets screamed toward me, cutting through the space between us. On instinct, I raised my hand, expecting pain but there was none.

The first bullets struck my skin, only to lose all momentum, falling uselessly to the ground. I felt nothing but faint taps, as if someone were brushing against me with trembling fingers. The gunfire continued for only a moment before their magazines ran empty, and the battlefield fell silent once more.

They stared, frozen in horror. My body bore no wounds. Their weapons were meaningless.

"Is that all you can do?" I asked, shaking my head in disappointment. "Pathetic."

"Damn you! Take this!" the sergeant shrieked, his voice breaking as he pulled out a grenade. His hand trembled, but his throw was unexpectedly precise.

I watched it arc through the air in slow motion. Its trajectory, its spin, even the glint of light reflecting off its metallic shell all of it was absurdly simple, insignificant. As it neared me, I extended my hand and caught it with ease, gripping it as if it were nothing more than a pebble.

The explosion erupted with a muffled roar, sending fire and shrapnel in every direction. The blast wave scorched the air, but to me, it was nothing more than a gentle push. As the smoke cleared, I glanced at my hand just a small scratch, a thin layer of dust. Nothing more.

"Enough games," I said, my voice now cold and merciless.

In an instant, I appeared before one of the soldiers. He hadn't even registered my movement. My hand wrapped around his head like a child's toy, lifting him off the ground with ease.

He thrashed, fists pounding weakly against my arm, desperate to escape. His terror spoke louder than his words. He screamed, begged but I did not listen. I tightened my grip. The bones beneath my fingers cracked, splintered until his skull gave way.

Blood splattered across my face and hand. I looked down at myself for a moment, then at his lifeless body. No emotion. No regret. No satisfaction. Only indifference.

[image]

Slowly turning to the remaining soldiers, I cast a glance at them one devoid of anything human.

To me, they were already nothing. Just useless figures, doomed to disappear. Their hands trembled as they frantically reloaded their weapons. A pitiful, desperate gesture their last attempt to cling to the hope that their bullets could harm me.

But I knew their hope was meaningless.

Without hesitation, I surged forward, weaving between them at an unbelievable speed. My strikes were swift and merciless. My fists tore through their bodies as if they were made of paper. One by one, they fell, their screams fading as quickly as they began.

This was not a battle. It was a slaughter.

Soon, only one remained the sergeant.

He kept pulling the trigger, but his rifle only clicked empty. His ammunition had long since run out. I approached him slowly, each step echoing like a death knell in his ears. Panic consumed him. Stumbling over a root, he crashed to the ground.

"Please, don't kill me!" he begged, crawling backward. His voice trembled, his face contorted in terror. "I was just following orders!"

I tilted my head, studying him as one would an insect under a magnifying glass.

"That doesn't concern me," I replied coldly.

I raised my hand, ready to end it.

But suddenly, a figure appeared before me. A blue-skinned man with a tail. His arrival was instant like a lightning strike, accompanied by a cloud of blue smoke.

He grabbed the sergeant by the shoulders, and before I could react, they vanished, leaving only the acrid scent of sulfur behind.

I frowned. An ally had interfered?

Then, the air filled with a strange, deep hum. Raising my head, I saw something I had never encountered before. A plane but not an ordinary one. Its sleek, black design seemed to defy the very laws of gravity as it hovered in place before slowly descending.

So, they had called for reinforcements. It didn't matter who they sent I would deal with them all.

The aircraft landed with a soft, controlled hum. A hatch opened beneath it, and a ramp extended to the ground. Figures emerged, dressed in matching uniforms with unusual patterns.

Among them were four adults. The rest were just teenagers.

They halted upon seeing the corpses strewn across the battlefield. The children's faces went pale one even clutched their mouth, struggling not to vomit. The adults, however, merely grimaced, trying to maintain composure.

I took a step forward, towering over them.

"You've come for nothing," I said icily. "Return what you have taken, and I will give you a chance to leave."

I had no real desire to kill them. Perhaps they had nothing to do with what happened to my family. But the one who gave the order the one who took everything from me he had to die.

One of them, a man with a rough face and animalistic eyes, stepped forward.

"Don't push your luck," he growled, extending metallic claws from his fists.

I smirked. Amusing. And what exactly did he plan to do with those?

"Logan, stand down," a calm voice interrupted.

A wheelchair rolled down the ramp, carrying an elderly man. His eyes radiated tranquility, but his voice was firm and unwavering.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Escanor. My name is Professor Xavier. I understand that you are afraid and filled with anger. But the path you have chosen is a mistake."

"A mistake?" I felt rage stir within me again. Visions of yesterday flashed before my eyes of them storming into my home, of my parents being murdered. "I don't think so. This path is the only right one. And you… you are just an obstacle."

My voice was menacing, yet he showed no fear.

"I understand your pain," Xavier continued, his tone gentle yet firm. "But this path will only bring you more suffering. I ask you to stop before it's too late."

"I'm tired of your words," I interrupted. "Either you hand over the one who gave the order, or I will take him by force."

My voice echoed across the field. This was their final chance to walk away.

"I'm sorry, but we cannot allow you to kill him," Xavier said, shaking his head, his voice filled with regret.

"Then our conversation is over," I declared, my tone dripping with raw aggression.

I took a step forward, and they immediately shifted into formation. At the front stood the man with claws and a strange, blue-furred creature. Just behind them was a boy wearing a red visor, his fingers poised near his temple. The others positioned themselves in the back, ready for combat.

The clawed man growled and lunged at me, crouching low before striking with rapid precision. His movements were fast, calculated. Closing the distance in an instant, he slashed upward with his blades, aiming for my torso.

I smirked, watching his attack with amusement. But to my surprise, his claws sliced through my skin with ease, leaving deep gashes across my chest.

He leapt back, anticipating my counterattack. Yet I merely touched the wounds with my fingers. They had already begun to heal.

"Not bad," I admitted. "But not enough."

And before he could react, I lunged forward.

My strike was so swift that he didn't have time to dodge. Bringing my fist down, I drove him into the ground. A dull impact shook the earth, creating a crater in the shape of his body. A faint tremor rippled through my knuckles.

Raising my hand, I noticed that part of his face had been destroyed, exposing a metallic skull beneath.

Heat brushed against my skin, and in the next instant, a red energy beam struck me. But it caused no discomfort whatsoever. Trying to harm me with heat vision was pure foolishness.

"Is that all you've got?" I scoffed, my gaze locking onto the boy with the visor.

A red-haired girl raised her hands, sending stones and branches flying in my direction. Her attacks were chaotic. Pathetic, even.

At that moment, the beast-like man lunged at me, his movements sharp, his strikes decent. But his physical strength felt no more threatening than a mosquito bite.

I stood still, allowing him to attack, waiting. His blows began to slow. Then, I grabbed his arm and squeezed hard. The sickening crunch of bones filled the air.

"You're too weak to stop me," I stated.

A quick punch to the stomach sent the annoying "mosquito" hurtling backward. He hit the ground with a dull thud.

But the victory was short-lived.

The once-clear sky darkened. Massive storm clouds gathered above, crackling with electricity. As soon as the sun vanished behind them, I felt my power begin to wane.

Power level: 5,000.

I still felt strong, but it was now just a shadow of what it had been.

Beams that had once been harmless now burned my shoulder, knocking me aside. Stones that had barely fazed me before now left scratches, thin rivulets of blood seeping from my skin.

Lightning flashed in the sky, striking the earth with violent force. It didn't take long to find the source.

A dark-skinned beauty hovered above, radiating an almost divine presence. Sparks of energy danced in her hands, her glowing white eyes locked onto me. She floated in the air as if she had descended from the heavens themselves. Thunder rumbled as she extended her hands, the air around her charged with raw power.

Then, with terrifying precision, she sent a bolt of lightning crashing down on me.

My muscles seized. My skin darkened from the burns. The acrid scent of scorched flesh filled the air. I collapsed, blood spilling from my mouth as I struggled to prop myself up on one knee.

Could I really be defeated so easily?

"Enough. Stop hurting him."

The voice didn't come from the outside. It echoed inside my head.

I felt them moving closer. Even the one I had slammed into the ground was now standing, completely unscathed.

"Please, calm yourself. You're only harming yourself and those around you. I promise I can help you."

Xavier's voice was gentle, yet firm.

"Would your parents have wanted you to become this?"

His words pierced through me like a spear.

Darkness settled over me again. That familiar, suffocating weakness. I felt powerless once more unable to protect myself, unable to protect the ones I loved.

"Is this what you want to be, Escanor?" I asked myself.

The answer came instantly, a furious whisper:

"I will never be weak again."

Heat flared in my hand, growing into fire. It swelled into a sphere, expanding, intensifying. The ground beneath me cracked and melted, smoke rising from the scorched earth. The sheer heat forced my enemies to step back.

"Stop. This won't lead you anywhere," Xavier's voice pleaded.

"Nowhere?" I echoed, rising to my feet. "No. With this, I erase my enemies."

Fire burned in my eyes, a reflection of the fury raging inside me. A ball of flame, the size of a football, formed at my fingertips.

The storm clouds above loomed heavy, pressing down on me with their oppressive darkness.

But what if I sent the fire straight into them?

As if driven by instinct, I hurled the sphere upward. It soared into the sky, leaving a trail of fire and heat in its wake. The moment it collided with the foreign element above, a deafening explosion erupted. A brilliant red flash illuminated the entire battlefield, blinding everyone for a brief moment. The shockwave scattered the storm clouds, washing over us with scorching wind.

With the sky clear once more, I noticed the sun had nearly reached its peak. Its light poured into me, reigniting the power I had craved.

Now, no one could stop me.

My enemies immediately sensed the change. Fear flickered in their eyes. My growing strength pressed down on them like an unshakable mountain.

Power level: 20,000.

"Storm, bring the clouds back! Beast, hold him down!" The clawed one barked orders, his voice tense. "Kitty, Rogue, flank him! Cyclops, Jean keep firing!"

But I would no longer allow myself to be humiliated.

Taking down the beast was effortless. My strikes landed with such force that each one shattered his bones, draining any will to fight from him. His roar turned into agonized whimpers.

Then, I felt claws tear into my stomach, ripping it apart, staining the earth with my blood.

Pain only fueled my rage.

I grabbed Wolverine by the throat, squeezing tight before bringing my other fist down upon his head. Even if his skull was metal, such force would crush everything inside. I felt his eyes burst from their sockets, leaving gaping voids. Brain matter oozed out, mixing with blood.

His body went limp in my grasp. I cast him aside like a broken toy.

Tossing his lifeless form away, I uprooted the nearest tree. Its roots tore free with a mighty crack, dirt flying everywhere. I hurled the massive trunk at the shooters, aiming to crush them in one blow.

But before impact, the log abruptly slowed, as if caught by an unseen force. Then, it reversed course, hurtling back toward me.

In an instant, I sliced it in half with my palm. Splinters exploded in all directions, some attempting to pierce my skin.

Wasting no time, I lunged at Cyclops. He fired desperately, his beams scorching the air around me, but it was useless. My strike, meant to tear him apart, slowed and then froze just inches from his face.

Cyclops recoiled, his eyes wide with terror, his breath ragged. I pressed forward with all my might, but something invisible restrained me.

Then I saw her the one the clawed one had called Jean.

She stood nearby, one hand pressed to her temple, the other outstretched toward me. Her entire body trembled from the effort, her expression tight with focus.

"She's binding me... like chains?" I muttered, feeling the unseen force restraining me. "Hmph. I'll break them."

My muscles tensed to their limit. Every fiber of my being burned, resisting the force holding me back. Slowly, my hand inched forward, despite her struggle.

Blood trickled from Jean's nose.

"I… I can't hold him anymore… I'm sorry, Scott," she whispered, voice shaking, before her body gave out.

"AAAAAAARRRGHH!" I roared, shattering her hold.

Everything happened in an instant.

Jean collapsed. My fist, finally freed, slammed into Cyclops' face. But instead of obliterating him, my strike phased right through harmless. The shockwave from my attack cratered the ground behind him.

I quickly understood why.

The girl Kitty emerged from my body like a ghost, clutching Cyclops' arm. Her ability… she could phase through objects, and now she had made him intangible.

I unleashed a rapid barrage of blows, but every attack passed through them as if they weren't even there.

"So she can make others intangible too," I murmured, considering how to counter it.

Then, I felt it something light brushing against my back. A touch, almost gentle.

Instantly, weakness flooded through me.

I turned, furious, to see who had dared to approach me.

A hand, wrapped around my back, was draining me siphoning my strength away.

The sun's energy bled from my body, and I felt myself shrink. My power slipped through my grasp, leaving me vulnerable.

Power level: 12,000.

"Yes! Keep going, Rogue!" Kitty shouted.

I felt my own energy gathering behind me, like a reflection of myself.

She dared to steal my power?

The might of the sun was immeasurable, and as if sensing my weakness, the celestial giant poured even more energy into me.

"Stealing my strength? Let's see how much of it you can handle," I whispered with a smirk.

My body ignited in flames, and the fire leapt from my skin onto her hand, consuming her entire form.

"He he has too much energy! I… I can't hold it!" her voice trembled with fear. "Such power…!"

"I'll cut off his supply," Storm declared.

The clouds I had scattered now closed in again, blocking out the sun. The stream of light weakened, and with it, my strength began to fade.

Now, with the storm back in place, I could no longer resist the draining force. My body trembled, my muscles weakened. I tried to fight back, but it was useless.

"Hmph… it seems my arrogance has once again played a cruel joke on me," I thought, feeling weakness consume my being. "If I had finished them off sooner, things would have been different."

A sudden flash of blue mist caught my attention.

Beside the professor who had been watching the battle with unnerving calm a boy with indigo skin appeared from thin air. A sergeant materialized on the ground next to him.

"One last chance," I exhaled, gathering the last remnants of my strength.

Clearing my mind, I cast aside all emotion.

My fist surged with energy, and my speed reached such heights that the world around me seemed frozen in time.

In this suspended moment, I stood before my target.

Grabbing the unconscious sergeant by the throat, I lifted him a meter off the ground before slamming his body down with all my might. A deep, echoing thud resonated as the earth cracked beneath him.

Time resumed its flow.

I stood over my fallen opponent.

The professor, raising a single brow, watched the aftermath of my actions with a heavy gaze.

"Enough fighting for today. Sleep," he murmured, pressing two fingers to his temple.

His voice echoed within my mind:

"Sleep… sleep… sleep…"

My eyes shut on their own. My legs gave out. And I collapsed to the ground. The world around me dissolved, fading into the realm of dreams.

End Pov

**********

The Professor lowered his head wearily, as if the weight of the events had finally crushed him. The entire X-Men team looked exhausted. Cyclops carried the unconscious Jean in his arms, his face grim and his steps heavy. Beast, barely able to move due to his injuries, leaned on Wolverine's shoulder who had already recovered thanks to his regeneration. Kitty, Storm, and Nightcrawler were in better shape, though fatigue was still evident on their faces.

Rogue, on the other hand, emitted a strange, faint glow the lingering traces of energy she had absorbed from Escanor.

"He's really thirteen? Feels way too strong for a kid," Wolverine muttered, examining the remains of his badly damaged suit.

"I didn't expect a newly awakened mutant to be capable of this either," the Professor replied quietly, more to himself than to the others.

"And what are we going to do with him?" Ororo's voice was calm yet firm. "He killed those people…"

The Professor closed his eyes for a brief moment, sinking into deep thought.

Escanor, despite his monstrous strength, was still just a child. His mistakes could be attributed to his age and inexperience, but letting what happened go unpunished was unthinkable. Charles knew all too well where the path of vengeance led.

Erik Lensherr had been not just a friend, but a living reminder of how noble intentions could turn into catastrophe. Their shared dream of a brighter future for mutants had once gone up in flames Erik's magnetism, his hatred, and his pain had only widened the rift between mutants and humanity. People began to fear mutants, and that fear birthed weapons. Only a miracle and perhaps a stroke of luck had prevented war.

But Charles knew: there might not be another "miracle" next time.

Escanor was too powerful. Too dangerous.

He could not be left unchecked.

Charles would try to guide him, but if the boy crossed the line, difficult decisions would have to be made.

There was too much at stake.

Even though Escanor had no mental defenses, the Professor's attempt to enter his mind was met with unexpected resistance. A monstrous force struck back an impenetrable wall, ancient and unyielding, barring even the slightest influence over the boy's consciousness. Only after Storm and Rogue combined their efforts to weaken him was Charles able to put Escanor to sleep.

"As long as he remains a threat, he must be contained. We'll place him in confinement," Charles stated firmly, glancing over the team.

Gathering themselves, the X-Men made their way back to the X-Jet. Ordinary people couldn't learn about what had happened this was always S.H.I.E.L.D.'s responsibility. The Professor had already contacted them in advance to cover up the incident.

Once everyone was aboard, the jet began its takeoff, smoothly ascending into the sky.

But the battlefield was not left empty.

From the shadows lurking among the trees, an unknown figure emerged.

His appearance bore a striking resemblance to those who had just been defeated, but his uniform stood out with its precision and detail. A balaclava concealed his face, and black lenses covered his eyes. He wore a black leather jacket that fit snugly over his figure, along with khaki-colored pants.

[image]

A measured voice broke the silence:

"Target secured. Battle footage successfully recorded."

A cold command came through his earpiece:

"Excellent work, Agent Zero. Return to base."

"Understood."

With the effortless precision of a shadow, Agent Zero disappeared just as he had arrived silent and swift, leaving no trace behind.

Author's Note

Since Escanor is a newly awakened mutant, his powers are still unstable. The temporary suppression of his strength by blocking the sun only slightly reduced his abilities. This effect will never happen again.