From the White Queen's actions, it was obvious her intel was outdated — she had no idea that Leo had such a powerful ally by his side.
Only Tony Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D. knew about No. 18's true strength. To the rest of the world, she was just another woman following him around.
No. 18 rarely fought, and when she did, she made sure no witnesses lived to tell the tale.
So, when Emma Frost and Riptide appeared, both Wanda Maximoff and Jean Grey were uncertain.
"Lali… can you handle them?" Wanda asked nervously.
"Hehe, of course," No. 18 replied calmly, her expression unchanging as she stared down Emma.
Make a move? Against them? Please.
Emma, on the other hand, hardened her resolve. Since persuasion failed, she'd just take Jean by force!
A fledgling mutant like Jean, who hadn't even fully awakened, should be easy prey.
Buzz!
Without hesitation, Emma activated her telepathy.
A faint psychic wave spread outward, enveloping Jean Grey before anyone could react. Emma's mental energy pierced directly into Jean's consciousness, ready to hypnotize her.
But the moment she entered Jean's mind… she froze.
An overwhelming, divine presence erupted within that mental space — a colossal, burning bird of fire, brighter than the sun itself.
The Phoenix.
Even a single glance felt like being burned alive in pure, endless flame.
"Ahhh!!"
Emma screamed as her telepathic energy disintegrated instantly, her mind seared by the Phoenix's fiery wrath.
Her body trembled violently, eyes wide with terror.
"You… you…" she stammered, pointing helplessly at Jean, too horrified to form words.
That thing — that divine being — was beyond comprehension. Even Professor X, Magneto, or Sebastian Shaw wouldn't survive a second under that gaze.
Jean, however, was in agony. Her unstable mind burned with energy. She clutched her head, groaning in pain as her power surged uncontrollably.
"Jean! What's wrong?! Are you in pain?" Wanda called out, holding her trembling friend tightly.
"She's probably triggered an early awakening," No. 18 muttered.
Then she turned her icy glare toward Emma — a look that could kill.
Meanwhile, Riptide stepped forward menacingly.
"Should we take her now? They're just two ordinary women. They can't stop us."
Those words sealed his fate.
"You're courting death."
With a cold snort, No. 18 vanished.
Time froze. The world stood still.
In that split second, even Wanda, Emma, and Riptide were motionless — only Jean remained free, her Phoenix Force too powerful to be affected by mere physics.
No. 18 calmly approached Riptide, lifted her leg, and kicked with brutal precision.
Crack.
The sound of something shattering echoed through the still air.
Then, with her bare hands, she twisted his arms — two sharp cracks followed. Both were broken clean.
Next came his legs — crushed beyond repair.
Time remained frozen. Riptide didn't even have the mercy of screaming yet.
Satisfied, No. 18 turned toward Emma with a wicked grin.
"Oh, the White Queen, huh? Always flaunting your body in public… Let's help you embrace that image."
Rip! Rip!
With two swift motions, she tore Emma's clothes apart, leaving her nearly bare.
"Hehe, done."
"What a fool — attacking without knowing your enemy's strength?" she sneered.
Then, smirking, she stepped back and released her Super Speed.
Time resumed.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Riptide's scream shattered the air before he collapsed, fainting instantly, blood pooling beneath him. He wouldn't last long.
Emma's reaction came next — another scream, shriller and angrier.
Her skin instantly turned to diamond as she transformed to cover herself, her face burning red from humiliation and rage.
She glared furiously at No. 18.
"What are you looking at?" No. 18 mocked. "If you're not happy, bite me!"
"Didn't you love walking around half-naked? There — I just helped you live your truth! No need to thank me, just call me Thunderclap!"
Emma nearly fainted from embarrassment and fury.
"You—you monster! Can't you fight fair and square? What kind of hero are you?!"
"Hero?" No. 18 snorted. "Sorry, heroes die early. I'm just a woman who doesn't like getting bossed around."
Years of following Leo had sharpened her tongue to perfection. Emma, raised as a refined lady, had no chance in a verbal fight.
The crowd, meanwhile, had completely lost their minds.
A diamond-skinned woman and a mutant battle right in downtown New York?!
Click! Click!
Dozens of phones snapped photos furiously.
"Ahhh! Get out of here!" Emma roared, realizing she was being photographed from every angle. The humiliation was unbearable.
Just then—
"Hehe, impressive. Very impressive."
A deep, commanding voice echoed from above.
Everyone looked up.
A man in a metal helmet descended slowly from the sky, his cloak fluttering with magnetic energy.
Magneto.
He landed with effortless grace, radiating quiet power.
And beside him, a familiar blur of silver lightning appeared — Quicksilver.
"Pietro?!" Wanda gasped, eyes widening.
No wonder her brother had vanished — he'd joined the Brotherhood.
"Wanda? What are you doing here?" Pietro asked, equally surprised.
Before either could respond, another faintly mocking voice drifted across the air.
"Oh, everyone's here? What a coincidence."
The tension thickened instantly.
...
Author's Note:
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