"Alex!"
"No!"
Charles's face twisted in pain as he let out a broken cry.
In that moment, everything became clear—Alex had killed Shaw!
All this time, Charles had known Erik's lifelong goal was to kill Shaw, so he'd kept his attention focused solely on Erik.
But in the end, it wasn't Erik who pulled the trigger. It was Alex, the one he had always believed would make a different choice.
Charles felt deeply pained, disappointed—furious, even.
He had placed so much hope in Alex.
Because Alex, unlike Erik, didn't seem so radical, so extreme.
But now…
Alex had done something just as extreme.
"Charles, what's wrong?"
Moira noticed his distress and stepped forward to ask.
Raven and Hank also turned toward him with concern.
"Shaw is dead. Alex killed him," Charles said weakly. "I never expected it would be him."
"Charles, what's wrong with that?" Raven couldn't help but challenge him. "Shaw deserved to die, didn't he?"
A monster like Shaw—his death was nothing short of justice!
"How could you say that, Raven?"
Charles felt as if his heart had been struck with a hammer. He couldn't believe the person who had grown up with him, who was closest to him, would turn against him at a moment like this.
"You misplaced your compassion this time, Charles," Raven said firmly, sticking to her stance.
"Moira? Hank?"
Charles turned to the other two. But both Moira and Hank remained silent.
Clearly, they didn't quite agree with Charles's no-kill philosophy either.
"At the very least, Shaw should've been handed over to the CIA," Moira finally offered, her voice uncertain.
Truth be told, deep down, Moira believed Shaw deserved to die a thousand times over. Charles's idealism was almost laughable.
But as a CIA agent, she also couldn't condone executing a high-value target when capture was still an option.
Then again, Alex wasn't CIA. He never had been.
---
[Task Complete. Congratulations, Host, you've received 2,000 Origin Points!]
[Detected unspent Origin Points. Would you like to use them now to strengthen yourself?]
As Charles reeled from Alex's betrayal, inside the submarine, Alex was elated.
The system notification had just come through.
Two thousand Origin Points—delivered.
As for upgrades? Not yet. This wasn't the right time.
"You killed Shaw."
Erik's voice pulled Alex from his thoughts.
Erik, now free, stood over Shaw's corpse, a whirlwind of emotions flashing across his face.
The man he had spent his life trying to kill… was finally dead.
But it wasn't by his hand.
There was some regret—but also, gratitude.
Alex had done what he couldn't.
Especially with Charles constantly holding him back.
"Yes. I killed him," Alex nodded. "It's over now."
"No," Erik said with a sharp glint in his eye. "It's only just beginning."
His voice was low, resolute, as he looked at Alex seriously.
"Charles's circle doesn't suit us. I'm going to form my own. Join me, brother."
"No, Erik. Charles's path isn't for me, but neither is yours."
Alex shook his head. "I don't agree with either of your ideologies. Have you forgotten?"
"…That's a shame."
Erik sighed, genuine disappointment in his voice. "You and I together—we could create a new era."
"But not one I want to live in." Alex shrugged.
Erik knew full well—Alex might be young, but he wasn't naïve. He was mature, strong-willed, and not easily swayed.
Neither he nor Charles could change his mind.
So Erik didn't press the issue.
"Still, Alex… Can I have that?" Erik pointed to the helmet in Alex's hand.
"Sure."
Alex handed it over without hesitation.
They said nothing more, stepping out of the submarine together and onto the beach.
By then, the battle outside had already ended.
The remaining members of Shaw's team had been defeated and captured by the X-Men.
"Erik!"
"Alex!"
As the two appeared, the gathered mutants on the beach all turned toward them.
"Alex, let them go. The fight's over."
But instead of following Erik's command, the others looked toward Charles for instruction.
Despite Charles, Erik, and Alex being seen as a kind of leadership trio, it was Charles the majority trusted the most.
After all, Xavier's estate was his.
He was the one who trained them, nurtured them, changed them.
Even if Erik was more forceful, Charles's influence among the mutants was just as strong.
And Alex? That was a different story.
To them, Alex was more like an idol—someone they admired and aspired to emulate.
When Erik noticed the others hesitating, he didn't mind. He raised his voice, addressing the crowd with passion:
"Shaw is dead. But our enemy still remains. Our true enemy… is out there!"
He pointed to the fleet hovering just offshore.
"I can sense their weapons moving beneath the waves. Their cannons are aiming at us right now."
"They are the real enemy!"
"The Americans! The Soviets! All of humanity!"
"They're united by fear of the unknown. The Neanderthals are afraid, my mutant brothers and sisters!"
Erik's rousing speech washed over the crowd like a tidal wave, filled with fervor and conviction.
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