Marvel's New Magneto

Mary's control over her abilities was still immature, making advanced techniques risky. But Erik had to support her. He would rather take the risk himself than let Mary be burdened with regret, which could hinder her growth in the future.

Erik extended his hand. Mary hesitated. She wasn't sure if this was the right decision—after all, Erik wasn't Wolverine with his insane healing ability. If her technique failed, she might drain him completely before even saving the pregnant woman.

Seeing her hesitation, Erik gave her a reassuring smile. Time was running out.

Mary glanced at the doctor, who had just thrown aside the defibrillator in frustration. The pregnant woman had convulsed after the shock but now lay motionless. Gritting her teeth, Mary grasped Erik's fingers, placing her other hand on the unconscious woman.

Once again, Erik was plunging into the abyss. The sensation he had first experienced in the tavern when he met Mary returned—back then, it had been due to carelessness. This time, he was doing it willingly. Regardless of the reason, he had to endure the same overwhelming emptiness once more.

Unlike before, he was somewhat prepared. This time, the energy drain felt slower and more controlled. Under their combined efforts, life force quietly flowed from Erik to Mary, then from Mary to the dying woman, restoring balance between the strong and the weak.

At first, Erik only felt exhaustion, like the deep fatigue after a long day's work. Then came the hunger, spreading through his entire body. Soon, even his heartbeat became labored. Cold sweat broke out on his palms and back. A strange numbness crawled over his skin, his limbs growing sluggish as if he had suffered a stroke. A deafening buzz filled his ears, and his vision darkened.

It was unbearable. And yet, Erik knew Mary was suffering just as much. She had to carefully control her ability, ensuring she didn't accidentally drain both her teacher and the nearly lifeless woman. Sweat poured down her face. Erik wanted to offer reassurance, but even his tongue refused to move.

Then, the woman's eyelids fluttered. She was absorbing Erik's life force. The doctor, who had lost hope, suddenly shouted something to Mary. The nearby medical team rushed in to assist.

But Erik was already nearing his limit, and Mary still wasn't finished. Several times, she almost let go, but Erik held on, forcing himself to stay conscious. Was he doing this for Mary? He wasn't even sure himself.

Just as he was about to collapse, another hand joined theirs. Then another. And another.

His students.

One by one, they reached out, grasping the girl they had once feared. Their combined efforts—though individually weak—were enough to tip the scales. Finally, the pregnant woman's breathing steadied, and color returned to her face.

The doctors were stunned, trying to understand the miracle before them. Journalists captured everything on camera. They didn't know exactly what Mary had done, but they could guess—she had used her mutant ability to transfer her own life force into the dying woman, pulling her back from death's grasp.

Even the most cynical reporters, those who always assumed the worst, cheered at the sight.

After giving his statement, Erik dismissed the reporters and led his students back to their vehicle. Traffic had cleared, and the car moved smoothly onto the road once more.

"Sorry, sir. We didn't do well today," one student finally spoke up. Erik, regaining some energy, glanced at them. As his gaze swept over the group, they all lowered their heads, apologizing one after another.

They were right—there had been mistakes. Despite their training, today's mission had exposed weaknesses. Their teamwork was still rough, their execution far from perfect. But Erik wasn't here to scold them.

"You did great," he said. "It might not have been elegant, but remember—sometimes, simplicity is best. You followed the plan and achieved the goal. I'm proud of you."

"But people still died. Right in front of us. We couldn't save them."

The brutal reality of the day weighed on the young mutants. They struggled to accept that, despite their efforts, some lives had been lost.

"That wasn't your fault. The killing had already started before we arrived. But because of you, others were saved. You are heroes."

One by one, he patted their shoulders, offering encouragement. Slowly, their expressions brightened.

They were still just teenagers—barely older than elementary school kids. Their minds wouldn't dwell on sadness for long. Soon, they were back to normal.

Seizing the moment, Erik reinforced his message.

"Today, I'm not just proud because we successfully completed a mission. I'm proud because I have students like you. You are strong, capable, and, more importantly, you embody the best of humanity. I'm honored to be your teacher."

His words lit up their faces.

That day, under Erik's leadership, they not only met a legendary figure but also saved an entire school, rescuing innocent lives from ruthless attackers. The impact of this event would ripple far beyond their expectations.

---

After escorting the students back to the academy, Erik stepped outside alone.

"Sorry, Erik. No one could have predicted things would turn out this way."

A figure waited for him in the darkness.

"It doesn't matter," Erik replied. "This actually worked out better than we planned. Crime. Redemption. The tension. The media will tell the exact story we want them to. Our original script wasn't nearly this dramatic." He chuckled. "Sure, it got a little bloody, and the kids were shaken, but we saved a whole school, didn't we?"

The figure smiled, golden eyes glinting mischievously. She agreed—this unexpected turn of events wasn't bad at all.

"And what about this?" She gestured to a cage beside her.

Inside, a snarling gray beast thrashed against the iron bars, baring its bloodied fangs at Erik.

"It doesn't seem very friendly," Erik observed.

As if understanding his words, the creature let out a guttural snarl, slamming against the cage in a frenzy.

A second later, an iron bar transformed into a spear, piercing straight through its skull.

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