Chapter 534: IMUC Chapter 530 The Mutants of the World
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Three days later.
Since the battle a few days ago near the coastal waters, the Hellfire Club members have vanished, hiding in some remote corner of the world.
Charles and his team could find no way to counter them and were forced to wait patiently at the CIA research base. During this time, Erik finally agreed to stay and join their team of Mutants to combat the Hellfire Club, provided that the operational control was given to the Mutants rather than the U.S. military.
There was a temporary consensus that Mutants should deal with Mutants.
Meanwhile, within the research base, Hank, a fellow Mutant and researcher, had finally crafted a special device for Charles that could significantly influence the situation involving Mutants.
The Cerebro.
This device could greatly enhance Charles's telepathic abilities, both in range and intensity, allowing him to locate Mutants hidden among ordinary people through his expanded consciousness.
The machine, though referred to as a device, was essentially a circular Fortress that could accommodate up to ten people. The inner and outer walls of the Fortress were covered with antennas and electrode plates, and at its center was a platform with a special helmet.
This device required a powerful telepath to operate effectively; otherwise, it was just an empty shell without the ability to perform its intended function.
At this moment, Charles and his team gathered around the Cerebro.
"In theory," Hank, a tall, lean, and refined young man with glasses, explained, "your telepathy will send out signals through the transmitter, and Mutants will respond with unique feedback. Their geographic coordinates will be marked on the built-in screen."
Hank carefully placed the helmet, connected with numerous wires, on Charles's head while explaining the details.
Erik watched the machine's inner workings with a thoughtful expression. Upon seeing Charles with the helmet on, he couldn't resist making a comment, "You really look like a cute little lab rat."
"Don't mock me," Charles retorted.
"I was once a lab rat too, so I know how it feels," Erik said.
Raven looked at Charles with a hint of worry, anxious about what might happen.
"Charles, are you ready?" Hank asked, observing Charles with the helmet on. "I suggest you shave your head; it'll be safer."
"Just start it, and don't touch my hair!" Charles shot him a look feeling annoyed. Being young and already bald didn't fit with his image of a nightclub professor.
"Alright, I'm starting. Three, two, one!"
Hank returned to the control panel, and after counting down, pressed the activation button. The connected wires lit up sequentially, and the helmet at the end suddenly glowed brightly.
"Aaahhhhh!"
Charles cried out as his consciousness, previously confined to his physical body, extended outward through the transmitter, and he felt as if he was elevated to a divine perspective.
He suddenly 'saw' the human masses, both near and far. Among the billions of people, ordinary individuals appeared as unlit gray figures, while Mutants were highlighted in vibrant colors, like stars scattered across the Earth.
"We're actually not alone."
Charles couldn't help but smile, feeling tears well up in his eyes. He had always believed that Mutants were very rare, outliers among humans. But now, it was clear that the number of Mutants was far greater than he had imagined. Most had chosen to hide and blend in with ordinary people after discovering their differences.
As Charles observed the continuously emerging Mutants in his consciousness, the Cerebro's screen replicated and printed the coordinates of the Mutants' locations.
"Hmm?"
Charles suddenly furrowed his brow as his telepathy extended to an unknown distance. He suddenly saw, among ordinary people and Mutants, the most dazzling and brilliant figure.
If Mutants were like the brilliant, eye-catching stars, then this mysterious person appeared like the radiant sun.
"Who is it?"
Just a glimpse caused a sharp pain in his brain. Charles gritted his teeth, struggling to endure the discomfort. Using the power of the Cerebro, he tried to push his telepathy further to see the figure that resembled the sun.
Zzzz...
Electricity flowed through the wires into the helmet, making the machine work at full strength, and white smoke began to rise.
Hank looked at the screen, which showed various excessive values and warnings, and turned to Charles with concern. He shouted, "Charles, what are you doing? The machine is running under high load!"
"Turn it off now!" Raven said in a panic.
Erik raised his left hand, ready to disconnect all the cables.
"Don't turn it off! Let me see it again!"
Charles stopped them, enduring the uncomfortable sensation of his brain almost exploding, while his telepathy continued to probe forward.
Finally, he gradually saw, amidst the blinding light, the silhouette of a muscular male figure.
"That sense of familiarity, is it..."
Charles widened his eyes in astonishment. As if sensing his presence, the figure slowly turned around, and his eyes seemed to shoot out beams of light, instantly piercing through all illusions and directly gazing at Charles.
...
Moira was walking across the base's lawn toward the Cerebro to check on Charles and the others' progress when she heard a loud bang. The round machine fortress, began to emit thick smoke like a burnt egg.
"Something's wrong?"
Moira's expression changed, and she quickened her pace. Arriving at the Fortress's entrance, she saw Erik and Raven supporting Charles, who was coughing heavily as they clumsily emerged from the machine.
Hank, who was the last to come out, had his glasses askew and his hair slightly singed. He carried a pile of printed positioning documents and sighed in relief, "Fortunately, the information files are intact."
"Charles, what did you do?" Erik asked in surprise.
Charles didn't answer. He kept repeating, "It's him, it's him... Only him."
"No wonder. Is this the gap between us that has always existed? Truly remarkable." He forced a bitter smile, then his knees gave way, and he collapsed onto the grass in a daze.
In New York, USA, an underground fighting arena.
The arena was reserved, and only three people were present.
Azazel and Logan, wearing fighting gloves, were sparring with their bare, muscular torsos. Both had the keen senses of beasts and were highly skilled in close combat. Without using their mutated abilities, they fought to a standstill in a short time.
Caesar stood by the side, still watching from behind.
"Kid, want to give it a try?" After a punch knocked Azazel back, Logan arrogantly beckoned Caesar with his fist.
"I'll pass," Caesar replied, shrugging, and continued watching the match.
(The End of This Chapter)