Chapter 63: The Mastermind Appears! Magneto's Fear?

"I know very well that you're not Jean," Robert said calmly.

"You're merely one of her inner personalities."

"What are you talking about!"

A trace of resentment flickered in Black Phoenix's eyes. Despite this, she still attempted to feign weakness, waiting patiently for Robert to step closer.

As soon as he did, she suddenly leaped up. Her eyes turned pitch black in an instant.

"Go to hell!"

The surrounding space visibly distorted.

Even the scene that Magneto and the others observed through the protective shield started to twist. It was as if Jean had transformed into a raging storm, with the very air around her spiraling out of control.

But Robert understood the truth.

This wasn't a mere elemental storm.

It was mental power—so immense and potent that it interfered with physical matter.

This type of ability affected all sentient beings. Souls were vulnerable. Wills could be shattered.

Some might even become vegetables under its influence.

It was a terrifyingly powerful assault.

One moment of carelessness could trap even the mightiest opponent.

Indeed, countless elite warriors had fallen to telepathic power in history.

Unfortunately, Black Phoenix had made a grave miscalculation.

She underestimated one crucial fact:

Robert could use telepathy too.

And not just ordinary telepathy.

His mental power, inherited from the god Nabuu, was far beyond anything Black Phoenix currently possessed.

"Stop," Robert commanded, his voice flat but authoritative.

"Don't resist meaninglessly."

Suddenly, the wildly twisting space began to smooth out—like wrinkled fabric being flattened. Reality slowly began to return to normal.

Black Phoenix's limbs stiffened.

Her entire body froze in place, immobilized as if she were a marionette bound by invisible strings.

"What… what did you do to me?" she whispered, her voice quivering. A flicker of fear danced in her darkened eyes.

"Nothing much," Robert replied coolly.

"Just putting you back in the cage where you belong."

"No! You can't do this! You're not qualified!"

Her voice rose in fury and desperation. Her expression contorted with panic.

"You don't get to decide that," Robert said firmly.

"In this world, strength decides everything."

His eyes gleamed with an ethereal, almost tangible glow. The shimmering light twisted and pulsed.

Jean's body jerked violently.

Then, she collapsed—unconscious—hitting the ground with a soft thud.

Magneto watched Robert in complete disbelief.

It was like witnessing a ghost.

This kid had sealed the Black Phoenix?

Was this some kind of joke?

Back in the day, Professor X—recognized as Earth's most powerful telepath—had almost died trying to suppress a young Jean Grey when the Phoenix first awakened. Even now, years later, the very mention of Black Phoenix sent shivers down the spines of the most powerful mutants.

Her mental power had evolved so much that it crossed beyond the spiritual, altering physical reality itself!

And yet, this young man, Robert, had subdued her in an instant?

Magneto couldn't wrap his head around it.

The world suddenly felt surreal and absurd.

Meanwhile, Robert showed no concern for what Magneto thought.

He casually tossed Jean's limp body toward Wolverine. Then, without hesitation, he turned and spoke to seemingly empty space.

"You've been watching long enough," he said.

"Isn't it time you came out?"

"What?" Magneto's body tensed. He scanned the surroundings nervously.

"There's someone else here?"

A cold chill ran down his spine. His instincts screamed.

His hair stood on end.

Robert had already sensed the presence when he first arrived. His perception, enhanced by Heimdall's Nine Realms Pupil, allowed him to detect even the faintest fluctuations across the galaxy.

And yet, despite sweeping the area with his enhanced vision, he had only managed to catch a vague, obscured silhouette.

He was certain—this presence was the true mastermind behind everything.

The real architect of the Sentinel project.

That alone raised multiple questions.

The first-generation Sentinel robots had originally been developed by Trask Industries, led by an unhinged scientist named Trask.

However, Robert knew for a fact that the Sentinel program had suffered years of delays. Creating even a functional prototype took decades.

So how had a second-generation Sentinel already been deployed now?

What's more—according to his intelligence—both Professor X and Magneto had destroyed Trask Industries over a decade ago.

How had this project survived? How had it continued in the shadows?

It didn't make sense.

Even more disturbing was that the current enemy not only completed Sentinel II but also inherited Stryker's mind-control capabilities. He could manipulate people. Worse, he now possessed the ability to use mutant powers himself.

Who the hell was behind this?

Robert's gaze sharpened. He peered into a particular point in space, a rift barely visible to most.

"If you won't show yourself," he said softly, "then I'll have to drag you out myself."

He took a step forward.

Suddenly—

Pa!

Pa!

Pa!

The sound of slow, deliberate clapping echoed from the shadows.

"Well done. Truly remarkable."

A deep, gravelly voice with magnetic resonance responded.

"I never expected Charles to find such a prodigy… You're truly impressive. I'm overjoyed to see another mutant genius rise."

A small figure—barely one meter tall—stepped out from the shadows.

Behind him stood three individuals, each radiating an unmistakable mutant aura.

Robert narrowed his eyes but didn't speak yet.

Magneto, still slumped on the ground, saw the figure and his face turned ashen.

His expression morphed into one of sheer horror.

"This… This is impossible!" he gasped.

"You… all of you… you're supposed to be dead!"

His voice cracked with disbelief.

The figure simply smiled.

To be continued…

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