"Wait! I know what to do!"
Quicksilver's voice cracked with panic as he darted around the dim bunker, silver hair flashing under the dying lightbulbs. His foot tapped so fast it blurred — dude looked like an anxious hummingbird on espresso.
He glanced at the clock again, jaw tightening. The portal window was closing soon. If his squad messed up now, it wouldn't just be another failure — it'd be another massacre.
And Quicksilver? He was sick of being the guy who ran fast but couldn't save anyone.
No one dared to speak. Erica, Gambit, and the others stood frozen in the cramped safehouse, the air thick enough to choke on.
Then—
BANG. BANG.
Two sharp knocks slammed through the door. Everyone flinched.
"They're back!" the rookie alchemist blurted, face lighting up. "I'll open the door—"
"Don't!"
Quicksilver snapped up a hand, every nerve screaming. He motioned for silence, gripping the pistol at his waist. The others followed suit, tensing like wolves ready to bolt.
The knocking didn't stop. It got faster. Louder. Desperate.
"Quicksilver! Open the damn door! It's me — and Arc's with me! Mission accomplished!"
The iron door rattled like it might explode.
Quicksilver hesitated for one heartbeat too long… then cracked it open.
A man stepped inside, covered in grime but grinning wide. Beside him stood a tall woman in a black combat suit, her aura humming with dangerous energy. Power coiled around her like static — the kind of presence that made your instincts scream don't touch that.
"Welcome back to the Brotherhood," Quicksilver said, exhaling relief like it was oxygen. "Finally, the team's whole again."
He laughed — too loud, too fake — but nobody cared. Six mutants, one fast-talking leader, and enough power between them to level half of New York.
For the first time in weeks, he felt untouchable.
"All of you, listen," he said, straightening up. "We move out in batches. Follow my orders, and after we crush those X-Men brats, Magneto himself will reward us!"
Arc folded her arms, unimpressed. "Hmph. I only follow strong people. If this 'Ryuuto' you keep whining about turns out to be weak, I walk."
That did it. Ariel's temper snapped. "Excuse me? Who do you think you are, lady?"
The tension exploded. Voices rose. Gambit muttered curses. Pyro started shouting back.
Quicksilver groaned, rubbing his temple. "Enough! Just shut up and—"
BOOM!
The door exploded inward, showering the room in smoke and dust.
Everyone froze.
Two silhouettes stood framed by the ruined doorway, light blazing behind them. The first — tall, calm, eyes burning like molten gold. The second — a blonde in red and blue, mask half torn, web shooters gleaming.
My system chimed in at that exact moment, deadpan as always:
[Target: Quicksilver located. Power scan complete. Threat level — medium at best.]
I smirked. "Heh. Medium sounds generous."
"Hey!" I stepped forward, dust swirling around me. "You don't need to run anymore, boys. I'll make it quick."
Seven of them. All armed. All staring at me like I was the Reaper himself.
Ryuuto — Codename Red Mirage, freshly rebranded menace of the mutant world — cracked his knuckles.
"Quicksilver," I said, grinning like a lunatic, "you finally did something useful. You gathered everyone in one place. Saves me the trouble."
"Ryuuto! You— you freak!" Quicksilver's voice broke, half fury, half fear.
I didn't let him finish.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
My kick connected squarely with his jaw, and Quicksilver vanished into the wall, dragging half the ceiling with him. The crash rattled the floor.
"Damn! He's a monster!" Pyro yelled, stumbling back.
I heard Gwen — sorry, Spider-Woman — snort beside me. "Monster? Please. You haven't seen me angry yet."
With a flick of her wrist, webs exploded across the room, sealing every exit.
"Nowhere to run," she said coolly.
The mutants scattered, weapons glowing, powers igniting. Sparks, flames, telekinetic waves — chaos ready to blow.
Arc, the black-suited woman, stepped forward instead of attacking. Her eyes glimmered with curiosity.
"So you're Ryuuto," she said, smirking. "Not bad. You don't look like much, but that kick… I like it."
Great. Another psycho with bad taste.
My system buzzed again.
[Ding! Host's popularity among dangerous women +1]
"Not now, Shion," I muttered under my breath.
But it was already too late. The fight had begun.