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[Frog] Chapter 157: City-Destroying Level Mutant – Magneto
🕑 Added 2024-11-12 16:21:25 +0000 UTC“Are you adjusting to life here?”
In a military apartment, Rogers was flipping through magazines and books in his hands. On the table before him, a thick stack of books had been piled up, most of them detailing world history and the history of the United States. Many of the contents made Rogers furrow his brows.
On the other side of the table, Nick Fury sat upright, observing the man who was once hailed as the spirit of the United States. Even as the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury felt his presence slightly overshadowed by this man. Rogers exuded an unspoken sense of righteousness, even without doing anything, simply sitting there.
Perhaps that was why he was chosen for the experiment back in the day.
Rogers glanced at Nick Fury, slightly surprised that a man of such unique background could hold a high position in the United States. At least in his era, such a thing was unimaginable.
Rogers had learned from Fury that S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded by Carter, Howard, and the general who had chosen him back then. The organization had been established together after World War II. Time had passed, decades flew by. Howards had died in a car accident, and the general had passed away of old age. His old flame, Carter, was now in a hospital bed.
Reflecting on how much had changed, Rogers spoke up, “I’m not fully accustomed yet.”
“At least, I haven’t accepted it all.”
Many things in the present world were beyond Rogers’ understanding. Although he was trying hard to catch up, the seventy-year gap was filled with more than he could ever learn.
“But one thing hasn’t changed,” Rogers said, flipping through the book in his hand.
Fury asked, “What is it?”
“This country is still the same. While its economy and technology have grown considerably,” Rogers said, opening a random page filled with post-war images, “it still loves war.”
Fury did not argue as he looked at the content on the page. It was true.
“So, you have no plans to return to the military?” Fury asked. Rogers replied, “The reason I accepted Howard’s experiment back then was not for war, but to end senseless wars.”
“Now that the war is over, I don’t want to become someone who initiates unnecessary conflicts or an accomplice to them.”
Rogers’ eyes burned as he looked at Fury. “So, did the military send you here to persuade me?”
“Of course not. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s relationship with them isn’t exactly amicable.”
“I’m just here to see where you stand, and to discuss a new plan with you.”
“A plan?”
Fury nodded, then took a file from his briefcase and gently pushed it towards Rogers.
“A superhero team. I’m calling it the ‘Avengers Initiative.’”
“I hope you’ll lead this team.”
Rogers frowned slightly, took the file from Fury, glanced at it, and then set it down.
“Let me first process the changes in this world.”
Fury was about to explain the current threats facing the world when his phone rang.
Not many people had Nick Fury’s private number, so whoever called had to be reporting something urgent.
Fury pulled out his phone. Rogers looked curiously at the small device in Fury’s hand and asked, “Is that a phone?”
“Yes, if you want one, I’ll have someone send one over for you next time.”
Fury stood up and answered the call. “Hill, have you found any leads on Ivan Vanko?”
On the other end, Hill’s voice sounded anxious. “No, sir.”
“But there’s a more serious situation happening right now.”
Fury raised his only eyebrow and listened as Hill continued her report: “Magneto has invaded Alan Ford’s residence on 13th Street.”
“Currently, living there is Anna Granger, an outstanding psychologist and a close friend of Alan.”
“Magneto targeting that egotistical man isn’t surprising, is it?”
“What’s so important about this situation that you needed to report it to me?”
Fury still held a grudge over Alan’s previous refusal to join S.H.I.E.L.D., which had embarrassed him. Since Alan didn’t want to be part of S.H.I.E.L.D., he wouldn’t receive its protection either.
“Sir, if it were just that, I wouldn’t be reporting it…”
Hill’s tone grew serious. “The biggest problem now is…”
“Emperor is also there…”
“What did you say?”
...
Whoosh!
Under Magneto's control, a black screw shot through the air like a dark streak, heading straight for Anna’s forehead. Both Magneto and Mystique, as well as Anna herself, believed this was certain death.
Anna had never imagined she would die like this. She always thought that if anything were to claim her life, it would be the strange illness she carried. But to her surprise, it was a mutant in the end...
In her final moments, the image that flashed through Anna’s mind was Alan.
"Kid, you better treat our Gwen well, or I won’t let you go even as a ghost."
Anna slowly closed her eyes. Yet, in the next moment, she felt no pain. Instead, she heard a clear, sharp sound by her ear.
Ding~
Anna opened her eyes and saw a golden figure standing at an angle in front of her. The black screw, more powerful than a bullet, was now pinched between his fingers, unable to move an inch further.
"Emperor…"
Anna stared in disbelief at the golden figure before her. Wasn't this the same Emperor who had saved the entire police station earlier? Why was he here… and why did he save her?
Magneto's brow furrowed as he stared at the Emperor, suspicion flickering in his eyes. He hadn’t even noticed when this armored figure had appeared. And for him to so effortlessly stop a screw launched with magnetic force...
The power of that screw was comparable to an armor-piercing bullet. Was this person another powerful mutant? Was he someone arranged by Charles?
Alan, in his transformed state as Emperor, had never appeared in front of the public. So far, only a few powerful intelligence agencies and individuals like George knew of his existence. Most others were completely unaware that there was an Emperor in New York City.
This was especially true for the Brotherhood of Mutants, who lived in the shadows and had limited means of gathering information.
"Who are you? When did you get here?" Despite the storm of emotions within him, Magneto maintained a calm tone.
Mystique, standing closest, hesitated for a moment before reaching behind her. She drew a handgun and pressed it against Anna's head. “Stop acting mysterious! You’re dead tonight, no one can save you.”
She didn’t believe that at such close range, this armored figure could stop her.
Just as Mystique was about to pull the trigger, her body was suddenly flung backward. She crashed into the wall behind her, creating a deep dent. Before she could get up, a mouthful of blood spurted from her lips.
“Me?” Alan twirled Mystique’s gun in his hand, a smirk in his tone. “I’m just a passing Emperor.”
“I can’t stand watching two mutants bullying a woman.”
Magneto sneered. “Emperor?”
“Are you trying to be a superhero like Charles and his people? That comes at a price!”
He had never heard of such a name before. But based on what he had observed, Magneto was confident he had nothing to fear from this newcomer. From his assessment, the Emperor's suit was clearly made of metal.
Any metal was but a toy at Magneto’s mercy. No matter how strong the opponent was, the more metal they carried, the more vulnerabilities they had in front of him. Especially someone clad entirely in metal.
“Oh? A price?” Alan chuckled coldly. “I’m curious—what price are you talking about?”
He had never provoked the Brotherhood of Mutants, but now they had come to harm the people around him.
If Magneto had come at him openly, Alan wouldn’t have been this furious. But he hadn’t expected Magneto to stoop to such despicable means. Since that was the case, there was no reason for Alan to hold back anymore.
With a flick of his finger, a black streak shot out, the same screw Magneto had intended to kill Anna with now flying straight back at him. Magneto was just about to sneer at Alan’s method of attack when his expression suddenly changed.
"W-what... is this?!"
Magneto's body moved backward as he pushed his hands forward with all his strength. In his palms, a golden glow surrounded the black screw as it relentlessly pressed toward him. He unleashed his powers at full strength, desperately trying to repel the screw launched by Alan. Magneto’s expression grew increasingly grim.
It should be known that his power governed one of the four fundamental forces of nature: magnetism. When the screw first flew towards him, Magneto intended to control it and send it back.
To his astonishment, he found he couldn't control the screw Alan had thrown at all. Had he not reacted quickly and blocked it, it would have been him with a pierced forehead.
Watching Magneto struggle, Alan turned to Anna behind him. "Go hide in the room for now."
"Just so this lunatic doesn’t accidentally hurt you."
"Y-yes... okay..." Anna was stunned for a moment but quickly reacted and ran back into the room.
Mystique, who was slumped on the floor, looked at the suppressed Magneto with disbelief in her eyes. As mutants, they knew best just how powerful Magneto was.
In the absence of Omega-level, world-ending mutants, Alpha-level mutants were the strongest among them. If Omegas could end worlds, then properly harnessed Alpha-level mutants could destroy cities.
Magneto was one such individual who knew how to wield his power to its full potential. If pushed, he could devastate the entire city of New York. This was why the Brotherhood of Mutants had managed to escape unscathed despite previous upheavals.
The upper echelons of the U.S. government were well aware of what would happen if Magneto were cornered.
Thus, while they schemed and plotted against mutants, they never dared push too far. Both sides held a delicate balance.
But now, this mutant who could raze a city was being thoroughly suppressed. Mystique had never imagined seeing Magneto look so desperate in a face-to-face battle.
"You’ve forced my hand!"
A cruel gleam flashed in Magneto’s eyes as a stronger and more terrifying magnetic force suddenly erupted from him. Under this immense power, the screw in his palm was flung aside.
Alan tilted his head slightly as the screw whizzed past his cheek and embedded itself in the wall behind him.
Magneto's gaze on Alan now brimmed with murderous intent.
"I’ll tear that armor off you bit by bit to see who you really are."
He raised a hand, and the powerful magnetic force spread, causing all the metal objects in the room to tremble. The vibrations grew stronger.
The door frame…
The steel bars inside the walls…
And then the entire building…
From the outside, the apartment complex where Alan stood began to shake as if an earthquake had struck. A loud, resonant hum filled the air, waking the other residents in the building. The once-dark Thirteenth Street was now abuzz, with people opening their windows to see what was happening.
Mystique, who was nearest, and Anna, hiding inside the room, both felt dizzy all of a sudden, as if something within them was trying to burst out.
"Emperor, you’ll regret wearing that armor!"
Magneto extended both hands toward Alan in a tearing motion.
---
