However, a threat did not mean fear. With an unknown Fire burning in his heart, Zhou Yi pushed off the ground and rushed directly towards the woman in red. Compared to the guy named Pietro, he was the true supersonic.
Crashing through the air, breaking the sound barrier, the instantaneous impact was almost as terrifying as a large-scale explosion.
However, what was clearly a distance of less than ten meters almost became an insurmountable chasm. Zhou Yi charged at high speed; he could feel the flow of air, the release of kinetic energy, all the signs of supersonic movement were fully present, but he could never touch the woman's body opposite him.
A distance always separated them; ten meters seemed to have become ten light-years, turning into a distance that could never be reached.
Stopping his movements, Zhou Yi scanned everything around him. The Chaos of red mist permeated their surroundings, making everything seem somewhat unreal.
"What did you do?" He stared directly into the woman's captivating scarlet eyes, his icy expression almost as sharp as a blade.
"I just did some insignificant little things." The woman in scarlet smiled, red mist swirling around her, making her appear almost illusory.
"Dawn Knight, I may not be your opponent. But you also can't defeat me. So, why don't we sit down and talk?"
"I have nothing to talk about with enemies." Looking at Magneto standing behind the woman, Zhou Yi clenched his fists. The last time Magneto forced him to the brink of death had already sealed their status as enemies. If Pietro hadn't accelerated time to rescue Magneto, the Mutants might have already lost one of their most important leaders.
"You will want to talk with us, no. It should be said that you will cooperate with us, Dawn Knight. Because this concerns the people most important to you, for example, these two ladies, and your sister!"
Magneto broke free from Pietro's support and spoke. He didn't want anyone to see him in such a weak state. That look didn't suit him.
"Are you threatening me?" Golden Fire once again ignited on Zhou Yi's fist. He didn't like people threatening him, especially using the things he cared about most.
"This is not a threat; this is merely stating a fact. Things are about to reach their most critical moment. Once our enemy's plan comes true, all the people I just mentioned will die, and they will only be an insignificant part of those who die. This is a Great Crisis for Mutants; we need your help, Dawn Knight."
Magneto stepped forward, directly facing Zhou Yi. When facing the Mutant Crisis, he would choose to abandon everything to win over everyone who could help them, even at the cost of his own dignity.
"Consider it my plea to you, Dawn Knight. Help us! If you agree, I can offer my life."
The Mutants were already moved by Magneto's condition. To request others to save one's own race at the cost of one's life was something they simply couldn't do. And this was precisely Magneto's charm; he was a person who could truly give everything for his race.
So, no matter how extreme his methods, countless Mutants would be willing to follow him. Because to Mutants, he was the revolutionary and Guardian of this ethnic group. It was he who, with blood and sacrifice, led them in pursuit of everything they dreamed of.
Zhou Yi stood silently in place. And everyone's gaze around them was focused on him. Whether it was Ororo and Jean, or Magneto and the siblings with strange abilities beside him. They were all watching him; at this moment, his decision concerned the survival of Mutants, and precisely because of this, they had to be so nervous.
"Tell me, how do you need me to help you?" After a long silence, Zhou Yi finally unclenched his fists. He didn't care about Magneto's conditions, but he had to care about the survival of Mutants. Because among the Mutant race, there was the existence he cared about most.
Magneto finally let out a long breath. For a moment, he even felt a little unsteady. This made him feel the ruthlessness and terror of time. But he still braced himself and explained.
"Wanda, Pietro, and I found something strange at Xavier's Mansion. Those people didn't seem to be targeting Charles's students, but rather a machine. A machine I created—the Cerebro."
"No one is more familiar with its function than I am. For almost all powerful individuals in the World, it can only serve to amplify their abilities to a certain extent, but there is one exception, and that is my old friend, Charles Xavier."
"Charles?" Zhou Yi murmured the name. All the scattered clues were gradually forming a complete train of thought in his mind. He felt he was getting closer and closer to the truth, just missing the most crucial link.
"No one understands my old friend better than I do. His power is beyond everyone's imagination. However, due to his own cowardly ideas, he Sealed the great power of his talent. And Cerebro is what I made for him, a key to unlocking his infinite power."
"It was my theory." Beast Hank couldn't help but say. He always opposed Magneto; it had been like this for a long time.
"Yes, Hank, this is your theory, and it is also a clear proof of your Genius mind. But look at what you have become now; this is the price you pay for wanting to escape the Mutant destiny. Being a Mutant is a right given to you by God; it is not something that can be easily discarded."
Sneering at Beast Hank, in Magneto's eyes, this compatriot was almost as laughable as a Joker.
Hank let out a low growl, Magneto's mockery making his blue fur bristle. He looked like a giant blue Beast demonstrating. But Magneto wasn't worried about his actions at all. Hank was a smart person, and the greatest weakness of smart people was that they were always suppressed by rationality in all their impulses.
Watching Hank almost trembling, retracting his claws and fangs, Magneto wore a disdainful smile and continued his topic.
"My old friend's infinite power was only displayed once in front of me, and that time was simply unforgettable. All beings with independent Souls in the entire World appeared before him, like puppets on strings waiting for him to control. He was practically like a God, the Dominator of all life. If he wished, he could even change the direction of the World in an instant, controlling everyone's thoughts."
At this point, Magneto couldn't help but wave his arms. In his vision, what a terrifying and mighty power this was. Achieving his dream of a Mutant World was merely a thought away for Professor Charles. However, his expression quickly turned gloomy, a kind of grievance of betrayal appearing on his face.
"But Charles actually told me that this was a power that should not belong to the World. That no one's Soul should be manipulated, that their thoughts should have their own freedom. A powerful individual who stood above the entire World actually held such a boring philosophy, and he even Sealed and exiled his own abilities to the deepest part of his mind. This is simply an unforgivable mistake."
Looking at the conflicted and pained expression on Magneto's face, Hank's face, however, revealed a look of grim satisfaction.
"This is the difference between you and Professor. You will always use such violent, coercive methods to make others accept your ideas, but Professor won't. He will only make others truly agree with his views, to identify with him from the bottom of their hearts. You will never compare to Professor, Erik. You are just a madman and a thug controlled by power."
"Perhaps, Darling Hank. But know that we may now be facing your esteemed Professor, my old friend." Magneto Erik's aged face showed sorrow and helplessness. He murmured, "I wonder if you will regret it, my old friend. My opinions were once used against your own kind; this is simply a joke of fate."
Hearing this, Zhou Yi finally sorted out all his thoughts. And when he pieced all these clues together, he had to admit how terrifying and profound General Stryker's revenge plan was.
Kidnapping Professor Charles, using Cerebro to unlock his Sealed psychic powers. Then, controlling him to manipulate the minds of everyone in this World. By then, whether Mutants or humans, to him, they would all become pawns to be manipulated at will.
And this was only viewing General Stryker as an ambitious individual. However, he was not an ambitious individual. He was a more insane and extreme Avenger. For revenge, he could do even more terrifying things, such as annihilating the minds of all Mutants, completely erasing them from the World.
"Impossible, Professor Charles would not agree to do this. And no one can force him to do this." Zhou Yi shook his head. He was unwilling to believe his own deduction. And, he came up with a reason. An unbreakable reason.
Since Professor Charles, almost like a Saint, could resolutely give up his power, how could he be forced to do something that would destroy his people? He was the most powerful psychic in the World. And one of the strongest people in inner World that Zhou Yi knew.
As long as he didn't want to, no one could force him. His mental strength was enough to render any opponent helpless against him.
"I also know how firm Charles's will is, and I also know that no one can force him to do such a thing. But what I'm worried about isn't someone forcing him. It's him accomplishing our enemy's goal without him even knowing it. This is entirely possible, because they hold a trump card."
Magneto spread his hands, telling the Dawn Knight his final, and most terrifying, conjecture.
Zhou Yi instantly felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He knew that since Magneto dared to say this, there must be a basis for it. But he still asked, unwilling to give up.
"Who has this ability to make Charles do such a thing?"
"Jason Stryker. William Stryker's son. A guy who can create illusions and deceive minds." Beast Hank answered the final question. "We call him, Master of Illusions."