Liam nodded in satisfaction, the faintest hint of approval flashing across his eyes as he took in the stunned expressions around him. Without another word, he lifted his hand and snapped his fingers again.
A sharp, echoing crack rang out, like glass shattering in an empty void.
In the very next moment, everything changed.
The ruined city vanished. The dark sky disappeared. The shattered ground reformed.
Everyone found themselves standing exactly where they had been before—inside the bar, surrounded by intact walls, unbroken furniture, and the same dim lighting as if nothing had ever happened.
For a brief second, no one spoke.
Then shock erupted across every face in the room.
Even Magneto's calm demeanor faltered slightly as his brows drew together, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings as if trying to confirm reality itself.
"…An illusion?" The White Queen was the first to recover, her voice carrying a mix of disbelief and realization as she spoke her guess aloud.
The Red Devil, Magneto, and the others quickly followed her line of thought, their expressions shifting as understanding began to dawn.
"It is… and it isn't," Liam replied with a faint smile, his tone relaxed as if what he had just done was trivial.
He let the silence linger for a moment before continuing, his voice steady. "What you experienced was an illusion, yes. But it wasn't fabricated out of nothing. I recreated it using my abilities, down to the smallest detail."
His eyes swept across the room, meeting the gaze of each mutant in turn.
"In other words, if I actually decided to act…" he added calmly, "everything you just saw would become reality."
The implication hit harder than any display of force.
The White Queen and the Red Devil both stiffened slightly, their earlier skepticism completely gone. Even those who had doubted him moments ago now felt a chill crawl up their spines.
The destruction of New York hadn't been a bluff.
It had been a demonstration.
"Are you… a Level Five mutant?" The White Queen's voice carried an unmistakable tremor, her disbelief no longer hidden.
As soon as the words left her mouth, every pair of eyes in the room locked onto Liam, anticipation and unease mixing in the air as they waited for his answer.
Liam's smile deepened just a fraction. "If I weren't," he said lightly, "what right would I have to call myself a god?"
The effect was immediate.
The already heated gazes of the mutants grew even more intense, reverence and fear blending into something almost worshipful.
With a casual wave of his hand, Liam silenced the rising murmurs again, the room falling quiet as if compelled by an unseen force. Then he folded his arms and turned his attention to Magneto.
"You brought me here," he said, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity. "Surely it wasn't just to hand me the title of leader."
Magneto let out a soft breath, his expression shifting into something almost reflective. Watching Liam command the room so effortlessly stirred something within him—something equal parts admiration and resignation.
Everything he had worked for, everything he had built over years of struggle, had been achieved by this young man in mere moments.
Charles had been right.
Liam was a natural leader.
The one who could truly guide mutants into the future.
"I heard your laboratory has been lacking personnel," Magneto said finally, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "So I took the liberty of bringing in two scientists."
Liam raised an eyebrow slightly, giving him a sidelong look. "And where exactly did you 'find' them?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion. "Don't tell me you just kidnapped them."
Magneto waved his hand dismissively, clearly unconcerned. "It doesn't matter. They're just ordinary humans."
Liam studied him for a moment before shrugging lightly. "Fine," he said. "Let's take a look."
Whether they stayed or not didn't concern him. If they were useful, they would remain. If not, they could be discarded just as easily.
As for their willingness?
That wasn't something he needed to consider.
Magneto gave a small nod, gesturing for the others to follow. Mystique stepped forward to lead the way, her movements smooth and confident as she guided them out of the bar and toward the lower levels.
Deep beneath the building, in a dimly lit cell, a middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes.
Confusion flickered across his face as he pushed himself up from the cold floor, his gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar surroundings. "Where… am I?" he muttered, his voice tense.
As he stood, he noticed another figure in the room—an older man, around his fifties, who was currently pounding on the door and shouting for help.
Hearing movement behind him, the older man stopped and turned around, his expression quickly shifting as he approached with a cautious but friendly demeanor.
"Looks like you're awake," he said, offering a faint smile. "We were both brought here without warning. Might as well get acquainted, don't you think?"
He straightened slightly as he introduced himself. "Houghton Radcliffe. Scientist."
The middle-aged man frowned faintly, still on guard. "Samuel Stern," he replied shortly, clearly unwilling to elaborate further.
Radcliffe studied him for a moment before his eyes lit up with recognition. "You're a scientist too, aren't you?" he said, more as a statement than a question.
Stern didn't respond, but the brief flicker in his expression was enough to confirm it.
"Kidnapping two scientists at once…" Radcliffe continued thoughtfully. "Whoever took us must be after our research or knowledge."
Stern crossed his arms, his tone turning more serious. "Plenty of people want what I've been working on," he said. "My lab had heavy security, and they still managed to grab me. That tells me these people aren't ordinary."
Radcliffe frowned slightly, then suddenly his eyes widened as something clicked in his mind.
"Samuel Stern?" he repeated, his voice rising in surprise. "You're that Dr. Stern? The one who created the Abomination for the military?"
Stern let out a short, humorless laugh. "Didn't realize I was that famous," he said dryly, though irritation quickly crept into his voice. "If it weren't for General Ross pushing me, none of that would've happened. Forcing me to inject Hulk's blood into that subject… it nearly got me killed."
His expression darkened, anger still lingering from the memory.
"Easy," Radcliffe said, raising a hand in a calming gesture. "I understand your frustration. But honestly, if I had access to Hulk's blood, I wouldn't hesitate to use it either."
Stern shot him a look but didn't argue further, instead turning his attention back to the door. "I'm getting out of here," he muttered, stepping forward.
"You won't be able to," Radcliffe said, shaking his head. "That's not an electronic lock, and even if it were, it wouldn't open from the inside."
Stern ignored him completely.
He stepped up to the iron door, took a breath, and then slammed his shoulder into it.
A heavy thud echoed through the room, the impact loud enough to make the walls vibrate. The metal door dented slightly under the force.
Radcliffe's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're… a scientist?" he asked, his voice filled with incredulity.
Stern didn't answer, instead striking the door again and again. With each impact, the metal warped further until, with one final blow, it gave way completely, collapsing outward.
"Since when do scientists have to be weak?" Stern said casually, glancing back over his shoulder.
Radcliffe opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly at a loss for words. "That's… not just 'a little strength,'" he muttered under his breath.
"I'm leaving," Stern said, stepping over the broken door.
But the moment he crossed the threshold, he froze.
Three figures stood waiting outside.
Liam's gaze flicked briefly to the ruined door before settling on Stern, a hint of surprise crossing his face. "This is the scientist you brought?" he said, glancing toward Mystique. "Doesn't look like one."
"Maybe he's just… stronger than usual," Mystique replied, though even she sounded uncertain.
Liam waved it off, unconcerned. His attention shifted between the two men inside the room before he nodded toward Mystique. "Go on," he said. "Introduce them."
"No problem," she replied, stepping forward. She gestured toward Stern first. "This is Dr. Samuel Stern. You've probably heard of him. The Abomination that rampaged through New York not long ago… he was responsible for that."
"Oh?" Liam's interest sharpened slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "Now that's what I call talent."
He gave a small nod, clearly recognizing the name. Stern's connection to Bruce Banner—and everything that came with it—made him far more valuable than he appeared at first glance.
....
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