The deep, reinforced corridor ended abruptly at a massive blast door, which slid open to reveal a clinical, futuristic laboratory. The room was vast, circular, and dominated by a hexagonal platform centered beneath an intricate web of sensors and energy emitters. But it was the occupant of the lab that immediately drew Zhou Yi's attention.
Standing by a control console was a mature woman, statuesque and possessed of an almost ethereal beauty. Her skin was a flawless, attractive chocolate, contrasting sharply with a shock of silver-white hair that seemed to defy gravity, framing a face of striking, high-cheekboned symmetry. She exuded an aura of calm, raw power, wrapped in a sleek, dark leather uniform that emphasized her formidable physique.
"Well, Jean, who is this?" The woman's voice was melodic, with a faint, exotic lilt, her interest immediately focused on Zhou Yi.
"Ororo, allow me to introduce the Professor's guest, Yi Zhou," Jean Grey replied, her tone slightly strained, a clear sign of the earlier psychic confrontation that still simmered between them. "He's here for a power assessment."
Ororo Munroe—Storm—circled Zhou Yi once, slowly, her eyes running over him with a calculating, almost scientific curiosity.
"A mere child, and yet he merits the Headmaster's personal attention?" Ororo questioned, her skepticism open but gentle, aimed more at Jean than Zhou Yi.
"Based on the brief display of force, his abilities are immensely powerful, Ororo. We're still confirming if he possesses the X-Gene, or if he is simply a meta-human of a different origin," Jean explained, already moving to calibrate the array of equipment.
Ororo continued her measured observation. "A powerful non-mutant human, then? A special case. A medium."
Zhou Yi noted the term. He knew the internal political struggle of the mutant community: the X-Gene made mutants a defined, evolving race, and therefore, an existential threat in the eyes of the global governments. The inherent stability of their gene pool made their population a significant, growing concern.
In contrast, meta-humans—those who gained powers through accidents, science, or, as in his case, a cosmic inheritance—were seen as rare, isolated incidents. They were a more acceptable, manageable threat.
This distinction was why Xavier, the psychic sentinel of the entire planet, was so keen on securing Zhou Yi. Not only did he want to prevent this "potential power" from falling into the hands of the Brotherhood or military organizations like Weapon X, but he wanted a powerful new asset—a friendly deterrent.
Zhou Yi returned Ororo's stare with unabashed admiration, acknowledging her stunning features—the high-bridged nose, the full, alluring lips, the captivating contrast of her skin and hair. Mutants were indeed evolutionarily superior, not just in power, but in physical aesthetics. It was a humorous, superficial thought that briefly distracted him from the grave situation.
Catching his arrogant, appreciative gaze, Ororo did not take offense. Instead, she offered a warm, genuinely charming smile, extending a hand. "Hello, Mr. Zhou. I'm Ororo Munroe, one of the instructors here at the Institute."
Zhou Yi took her soft, boneless palm, holding the contact a beat longer than necessary. "The pleasure is entirely mine, Miss Ororo. And frankly, you are one of the most stunning and compelling women I've encountered since arriving on this continent."
Ororo's smile widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Truly high praise. Even coming from a young man who is still clearly waiting for his final growth spurt."
Zhou Yi sighed inwardly. He was caught in the frustrating territory of being too old for schoolgirls but too young for the complex, experienced queens of the superhuman world. He couldn't afford to be just a "petty playboy" here. Ororo, with her history as a respected leader, was clearly adept at handling flirtation with graceful detachment.
He abandoned the tactic, recognizing its futility, and attempted to gather her contact information with a flurry of polite persistence. Their conversation was light, but Ororo was an impenetrable fortress of charm and professionalism.
Jean Grey, who had been setting up the massive testing rig, finally intervened, her voice clipped. "Enough small talk, you two. You can exchange life histories later. Yi Zhou, we're ready. Please remove your shirt and take your position."
"Of course, Miss Grey." Zhou Yi complied readily, shucking his tailored button-down shirt. He didn't waste time on modesty; his only focus was getting through this to gain the leverage he needed for Sharice.
At sixteen, Zhou Yi's body was already nearing peak human condition, a consequence of his cosmic inheritance. His physique was taut and corded, a perfect blend of lean muscle and explosive potential that would be exceptional for a man five years his senior. He was structurally perfect, but it was his back that commanded absolute attention.
Centered squarely between his shoulder blades was a symbol of breathtaking artistry and impossible realism: a blazing Three-Legged Golden Crow (Sanzuwu).
Its eyes glowed with an internal, golden fire; its enormous wings, etched in fiery red and gold, swept dramatically toward his shoulder blades, swirling with phantom currents of solar winds and flames.
Its three sharp talons were fixed on a boundless, curling sun disc that seemed to hover above his waist. The entire motif was surrounded by swirling wreaths of divine fire and an aura of impossible majesty. It wasn't a tattoo; it was a scar of divine energy, deeply and permanently etched into his very cells.
Jean Grey and Ororo, seasoned veterans of the mutant world, were momentarily speechless, captivated by the sheer, primal power radiating from the mark. It wasn't just beautiful; it felt sacred.
"By the goddess…" Ororo murmured, stepping closer, her hand reaching out involuntarily. "What is this? I feel a torrent of incredible elemental power coming from it."
"This is the Three-Legged Golden Crow, the mythological symbol of the Sun in ancient Chinese tradition," Zhou Yi explained over his shoulder, shrugging slightly. "And that's all I can tell you. My mother always said it was a birthmark. She tried every cosmetic and medical procedure short of flaying me to get rid of it, but it's permanent."
"Are you suggesting your strength is innate?" Ororo's fingers lightly traced the blazing lines near his spine, the touch sending a jolt of localized, pleasant warmth through him. "A gift bestowed by forces beyond genetics?"
"I can only attest to my complete ignorance," Zhou Yi replied, maintaining a steady posture despite the electric sensation. "If I had the answers, I would not have consented to stand here on your examination platform."
"You will get your answers, big boy. And so will we," Ororo whispered close to his ear, her touch lingering just a moment longer.
Zhou Yi felt a genuine shiver. Her curiosity was predatory, and her elemental powers likely gave her a unique read on the solar fire woven into his being.
Before he could react further, Jean Grey, sensing the charged exchange, interjected sharply. "That's enough, Ororo. I need to begin the test, and I have classes to cover this afternoon. Can you run my introductory telepathy and bio-physics seminars for me?"
Ororo withdrew her hand, giving Zhou Yi one last, knowing look. "As long as you return the favor for my African history module, I have no objection. See you later, big boy. Don't break Jean's toys." With a final, graceful sway of her leather-clad form, Ororo swept out of the lab.
"Stand precisely on the hexagonal target platform, Yi Zhou," Jean instructed, her tone having returned to clinical professionalism, though a residual tension lingered in her eyes.
"We're starting with a physical assessment designed for physically augmented mutants. This device generates a controlled, stable gravitational field, and the surrounding array of sensors measures everything from light refraction to muscle density under duress."
She handed him a small, tight-fitting earpiece. "The primary metrics we'll collect are strength density, maximum endurance, neural response speed, and overall structural resistance. I'll be increasing the gravity incrementally. Do not use your force field defenses. Rely only on your most basic physical protection. Inform me immediately if you feel pain or distress."
Zhou Yi nodded, stepped onto the platform, and gave a crisp thumbs-up. "Ready. Let's see what this body can handle."
Jean Grey activated the device, her voice cold and professional over the internal microphone.
"Assessment beginning. Current gravitational coefficient: 1.2 times Earth normal. Duration: 60 seconds. Initiating baseline scans."
The air in the chamber didn't change, but Zhou Yi instantly felt the increase—a negligible, minor resistance. The weight of his clothing, his limbs, his own head, was subtly amplified. The sensors tracked his vitals, and Jean's voice confirmed the obvious: "Vitals normal. No systemic stress. Increasing to 1.5x."
At five times gravity, the difference was significant. The pressure was heavy, like being constantly shoved downward by a powerful hand. Every muscle fiber and bone cell was carrying five times its original mass. For a normal human, this would result in crushed vertebrae and immediate collapse.
Yet, Zhou Yi felt an exhilarating surge of strength. He performed a few warm-up squats and stretches, the immense weight acting as perfect resistance training. He felt the internal, chaotic solar fire in his chest stabilize and burn brighter under the pressure. The ambient radiation of the secure lab, combined with the gravitational stress, was acting as a high-octane fuel.
He gave Jean another casual thumbs-up. "Feeling great. Push it further."
Jean Grey's initial professional detachment was dissolving into astonishment. "Monitoring cardio-pulmonary function… Target is showing no sign of distress. Increasing to 6x. Beginning sustained stress testing."
The experiment continued, ascending rapidly.
7x, 8x. At eight times normal gravity, the pressure was immense. Zhou Yi could feel his internal organs being compressed, yet his focus and physical ability remained intact. His internal structure, already far beyond human, was resisting the crushing force easily, thanks to the constant, subtle support of his intrinsic solar energy.
Finally, Jean's voice became ragged with disbelief. "Assessment at 9x. This is the current operating limit of the chamber for sustained resistance testing. Zhou Yi, your vitals are still within the range of a moderately exerted human. Are you capable of moderate physical activity? Can you attempt a sustained run?"
Zhou Yi, feeling the power surge from the extreme pressure, broke into a steady, powerful jog on the spot. He pushed his pace, entering a high-speed sprint that he maintained for over ten minutes—a near-impossible feat under 900% gravity. For him, the environment was perfect; a brutal crucible that was rapidly tempering his physical body.
When he finally stopped, effortlessly, he was breathing only slightly harder than a marathon runner at the finish line.
Jean Grey quickly ran the final diagnostic programs, her face frozen in a mask of professional shock. She didn't wait to reset the chamber, cutting the gravity instantly. The sudden release of pressure was overwhelming, and Zhou Yi felt a momentary, vertigo-inducing lightness before his body recalibrated.
"The physical data is… unprecedented," Jean stated, her voice trembling slightly as she read the console.
"We can only estimate your pure physical limits due to the equipment's ceiling. But based on the stress curve at 9x gravity, your baseline pure physical strength—the ability to generate force without activating your obvious powers—is estimated to be between 22 tonnes (50,000 pounds) and 27 tonnes (60,000 pounds). This is not including explosive bursts, only sustained muscle power."
She tapped a key, bringing up the structural integrity metrics. "Your resistance to pressure is a minimum of 22,000 kilograms per square centimeter. That means your biological structure can withstand being struck by large-caliber sniper rounds without piercing the skin, assuming you use controlled muscle tension to absorb the impact. Only specialized anti-mutant weaponry could reliably harm you."
Her eyes darted to the speed metrics, her disbelief deepening. "Your sustained top movement speed, factoring in environment restrictions and the brief run data, is calculated to be around Mach 3. Without environmental restrictions, your burst speed is estimated at Mach 4 or higher—traveling faster than sound purely through muscular effort."
She paused, taking a breath to steady herself. "Finally, your neural response speed. This is an estimate of your sensory and motor nerve reaction time, measured at a staggering 0.7 milliseconds—the fastest recorded biological response in any natural organism we have ever studied. For context, the average human reaction time is around 250 milliseconds."
Zhou Yi absorbed the numbers, pleased but unsurprised. "So, when I say looking at a static painting for too long feels uncomfortably slow, I'm being accurate."
Jean Grey just shook her head, running a hand through her vibrant red hair. "Yi Zhou, most of our mutant students suffer unimaginable pain because they cannot control a fractional increase in sensory input. You are operating at the highest natural threshold for a human-like organism and experiencing only minor discomfort. Frankly, if I were to apply a non-scientific title to you, I would say you are a child blessed by God."
She looked at his back, at the impossible solar image of the Golden Crow. "Your strength alone places you firmly in the Alpha-level of mutant classification, and that is before we even begin to test your telekinetic or gravitational abilities. Your body is a magnificent vessel. You are truly unique."
Zhou Yi chuckled, the sound echoing lightly in the highly classified chamber. His internal conviction was absolute: I am not merely blessed by a god. I am a man on his way to becoming one.
"Thank you for the magnificent compliment, Miss Grey. Now that we've established my mundane strength, perhaps we can move on to the interesting part." He smiled, his eyes burning with a silent, golden anticipation. "I'm eager to see what your sensitive equipment says about the power of a star."