Fenric's sharp perception had already registered the fighter jet circling above long before it descended.
When he heard the little girl cheering, he understood immediately—by 2023, the X-Men had already become legendary figures in this world. At least among mutants, their reputation was immense.
The jet landed smoothly, kicking up dust as it settled in a nearby clearing.
The cabin door opened with a hiss.
One by one, figures emerged.
First came Wolverine, Logan, clad in uniform. Then Professor X, seated in his wheelchair, with Storm at his side, gently guiding him down the ramp. Finally, Magneto stepped out last, his presence as imposing as ever.
Four mutants.
And not just any four—the strongest combination the world had to offer.
Professor X and Magneto especially… together, their power was enough to threaten all of humanity.
Fenric, knowing the plot of this world, recognized each of them instantly. He even knew how tragic Wolverine's and Professor X's final years would be.
If he had just crossed over and seen them for the first time, he might have felt the thrill of meeting idols.
But now?
Fenric was calm.
In terms of raw strength, it wasn't an exaggeration to say he could take on all four of them.
The Samsara system had already protected every participant against psychic invasion to prevent memories from being read. That alone rendered Professor X powerless against him.
Storm's strongest weapon was lightning, but Fenric wore Thor's Ring on his hand—an artifact that made him immune to thunder and lightning.
Wolverine, with his claws and regeneration, posed little threat. Fenric doubted Logan could even get close before being cut down.
The only real danger here was Magneto.
And even then, without surrounding metal, Magneto was just another man. Against Fenric's defenses, even his control over steel couldn't break through.
If it came to a real fight, killing all four wouldn't be difficult.
They weren't in the same league anymore. For Fenric, the awe he once felt toward these "idols" was long gone.
His face remained composed, unreadable.
The four X-Men, however, regarded him differently.
They had just witnessed him destroy the sentry aircraft and dismantle six sentinels in the blink of an eye. They knew exactly how fearsome those machines were. For Fenric to dispatch them so easily… it left even them shaken.
"Omagad! That's Storm!" The little girl at Fenric's side tugged at his sleeve, whispering in awe. "She's my idol!"
Storm overheard and gave the girl a gentle smile.
At that moment, Professor X's eyes widened. His gaze settled firmly on Fenric.
"Young man… you are not a mutant, are you?"
"What!?"
Wolverine's head snapped toward him, and even Magneto's expression shifted slightly.
Not a mutant?
Then how could he possibly wield such power?
"Professor, are you certain?" Storm asked, unable to hide her disbelief. It wasn't doubt in Xavier's ability, but sheer incredulity. If Fenric wasn't one of them… then what was he?
Professor X didn't answer immediately. His brows furrowed, and despite his usual restraint, he reached for his power. He needed to know.
But the moment his telepathy touched Fenric, the system's prompt chimed in Fenric's mind:
"Warning: Mental intrusion detected. The system has automatically blocked it."
Fenric chuckled softly.
"Professor Charles, isn't it a little rude to dig through someone else's thoughts without permission?"
"!!!"
Professor X's eyes widened in surprise. His ability had failed completely—he couldn't sense a single thread of Fenric's mind. It was as if the man stood behind an impenetrable wall.
"Young man," Xavier said carefully, "you know who I am?"
"Of course," Fenric replied with a faint smile. "Who hasn't heard of the famous Professor X?"
"And yet," Xavier pressed, studying him intently, "I have never heard of you."
"Hey, boy!" Wolverine growled, his tone rough and impatient. "Who the hell are you?"
Fenric inclined his head politely. "Hello, Mr. Wolverine. Who I am doesn't matter. What does matter is—you didn't descend from the sky just to greet me, did you?"
"This isn't the place to talk," Professor X said evenly. "You know who we are, so you should also know we mean no harm. If you don't mind, would you come aboard the jet? We can talk as we go."
Fenric paused, then smiled knowingly.
He understood perfectly. By this point in the timeline, Professor X was preparing his desperate plan—to send Logan back to the 1970s and prevent the creation of the Sentinels. It was dangerous, risky, and success depended on survival against relentless attacks.
Of course Xavier would want Fenric's strength on his side.
After a moment's thought, Fenric nodded. "Very well."
His agreement wasn't random. Every move he made was tied to his own greater plan.
Relief washed over Xavier's face. If Fenric had refused, convincing him would have been near impossible—and they could hardly afford to make an enemy of him.
Storm exhaled softly as well. Her eyes drifted to the little girl.
"Hey, little one, would you like to come with us?"
The girl hesitated, torn, before finally shaking her head. "My mom's still waiting for me to come home."
Storm looked disappointed but didn't press her. "Then I wish you good luck."
Fenric crouched slightly, meeting the girl's eyes. "Kid, you'd better leave here quickly. More Sentinels will be coming soon."
The girl shivered at his words but nodded firmly. "Okay."
She watched as Fenric boarded the jet with the others. The engines roared, and the aircraft lifted into the sky.
Only then did the girl hurriedly gather her things and slip away into the ruins.