Chapter 89 – The Rift Between Charles, Erik, and Alex
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"No, Alex, they are our enemies—they have to be!"
"Didn't today teach you anything? Two opposing sides, at each other's throats, suddenly teamed up the moment they saw what we could do. Isn't that enough to prove it? Once the world truly sees our power, what do you think they'll do?"
"Erik, they were just scared! People make stupid decisions in the heat of the moment—it doesn't mean they'll be like that forever!"
Charles, Erik, and Alex each voiced their views.
In that moment, the differences in their beliefs were laid bare.
Charles was too idealistic—clinging to a naive hope for a better world.
Erik leaned toward extremism—always expecting the worst from others.
And Alex… was the balance between the two.
"Keep chasing your fairy tale, Charles."
Erik didn't bother arguing anymore. He turned to the group of mutants present and declared, "Charles' circle isn't for me. I'm building my own."
"One that will truly protect and unite our mutant brothers and sisters! Who's with me?"
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
They exchanged uneasy glances. No one had expected things to escalate to this point.
The big family they had built at Xavier's school… was falling apart.
Especially Charles. He couldn't hide the twitch at the corner of his mouth—a physical reaction to the pain he felt deep inside.
From the moment he had rescued Erik, they had fought side by side, supported each other, and grown together. The bond between them ran deep.
Even though Charles had been devastated by Erik's decision to launch those missiles, actually hearing Erik cut ties hit him like a punch to the gut.
Yet Charles said nothing to stop him.
They both knew it—their beliefs were too different. Neither would ever convince the other.
Charles had been able to ignore that reality before. But not now.
After everything that had happened today… he couldn't pretend anymore.
As much as it hurt, Charles had to face the truth: he and Erik were destined to part ways.
"I'm sorry, Charles. But I'm leaving too."
It was Alex who spoke up next.
The main reason he had stayed at Xavier's school was to complete missions and grow stronger.
Now that the early-stage boss, Shaw, had been eliminated, the Vietnam War loomed ahead. Mutants would be forced onto the battlefield. Charles would enter a long period of decline.
Until the Wolverine from the future arrived.
Under these circumstances, staying at Xavier's school clearly wasn't the right choice anymore.
Alex had already grown powerful enough to stand his ground in this world. He couldn't stay confined within the small circle of the X-Men forever.
It was time to move on.
Charles' expression twitched again. Erik was leaving… and now Alex too?
The three of them—once close comrades who had fought side by side—were now splitting apart?
Of course it hurt.
But just as Charles understood Erik, he understood Alex too.
Once Alex made a decision, he never went back on it.
And…
Alex had helped Erik kill so many people. Charles didn't even know how to face him anymore.
So, once again, Charles stayed silent.
"Alex… you're leaving too?"
Sean called out, his voice uncertain.
With Erik and Alex both gone, the family they had built would completely fall apart.
"Charles, Erik, everyone… I'll always treasure the time I spent here with all of you. It was a beautiful chapter of my life—I won't forget it."
"But no feast lasts forever. I have to go. That doesn't mean I'm cutting ties with anyone here."
"If I get the chance, I'll come back to visit."
Alex smiled at everyone. "And of course, if anyone wants to leave with me, you're welcome to join."
Now things got really complicated.
The remaining mutants realized they had three choices: follow Erik, follow Alex, or stay with Charles.
The mood grew tense.
Everyone looked at each other, weighing their options.
The first to move were Winged man and Braids.
They had once been Shaw's right-hand men, and Erik's style—and beliefs—closely resembled Shaw's. Everything he said just now confirmed that.
As for strength?
The fact that Shaw was dead said it all. Erik was someone worth following.
Without hesitation, the two walked over to Erik's side.
No one from Charles' group stopped them. Their grudges had ended the moment Shaw died.
Besides, with the X-Men facing a full-blown split, who had the energy to worry about old enemies?
Everyone was too busy deciding where they stood.
"I'll go with you, Alex."
The voice came clearly and firmly. It was Hank.
A rare smile tugged at Alex's lips.
Hank was usually the quiet one, always buried in his research—a true science nerd.
But Alex had always valued Hank highly. In fact, he believed Hank was every bit as brilliant as Tony Stark.
Blackbird jets, Cerebro amplifiers—those aside, Hank's work in biotech alone put him far ahead of Iron Man.
"I'm sorry, Charles," Hank added with a hint of guilt.
"No need to apologize, Hank," Charles said quietly, shaking his head.
"Raven, you don't need to hide anymore!"
At that moment, Erik turned to Raven and stretched out a hand to her.
It was an invitation.
A flicker of conflict flashed across Raven's face. But in the end, she turned to Charles.
"I'm sorry," she said.
Charles's heart ached.
Raven wasn't like the others. She was family—someone who had grown up with him since childhood.
And now, even she was leaving him.
"I knew you would leave," Charles said softly, his expression complicated. "That's what you truly want, isn't it?"
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