"What for? Are we going to beg the Demon King to take us in?"
Erik paused his work on the model, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"Raven, if that so-called Demon King truly becomes the new ruler of mutants, he'll come looking for me. If he only wants to protect Xavier's School, there's no point in us seeking him out."
He lifted his head, his sharp gaze meeting Raven's. His eyes were calm and rational, as if he had already foreseen everything.
Raven sighed softly. She understood his logic, but the unease in her heart and the uncertainty of the future made her restless.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
A sudden burst of applause echoed through the empty warehouse, breaking the silence.
"Well said—so, here I am, Magneto."
A figure dressed in casual clothes stood at the entrance. It was Kino, his face adorned with a faint smile.
Kino didn't like to waste time. After giving Charles instructions on what to do next, he flew straight here.
Raven tensed immediately, her body as taut as a drawn bow.
"You followed me last time," she said through gritted teeth, her eyes locked on Kino.
She had changed her appearance multiple times along the way, yet she had still been tracked.
"Don't make it sound so harsh—I was escorting you. With the expensive gifts you were carrying, someone had to ensure you weren't robbed," Kino replied with a light chuckle, walking toward Erik with a relaxed demeanor as he surveyed the warehouse.
"Aren't you going to offer a chair for your guest?"
Erik's expression remained impassive as he flicked his wrist. The surrounding metal twisted and shifted, quickly forming a chair in front of Kino.
"Thanks," Kino said, his voice calm as he sat down, crossing his legs with an air of ease.
Raven watched him in disbelief. He knew full well the extent of Erik's power, yet he still dared to sit on a chair made by him.
Was it unshakable confidence in his strength, or complete disregard for Erik?
"Where are my subordinates?" Erik asked coldly.
Even if they were weaker, they shouldn't have been subdued without making a sound.
"They're sleeping soundly—I figured they'd appreciate a good night's rest," Kino answered casually.
Erik glanced at Raven, who nodded in understanding and quietly slipped out. If a fight broke out, her powers wouldn't be of much help and could even hinder Erik.
Kino didn't stop her. Instead, he picked up a book from the table, flipping through its pages with mild interest.
"How are your studies going, Magneto? This book on design—learning anything useful?" Kino asked without lifting his head.
"I'm halfway through. The structural theories are impressive—they've deepened my understanding of manipulating metal," Erik admitted, though his eyes remained fixed on Kino's every move.
"Not bad. It's impressive you can still learn new tricks at your age," Kino remarked casually.
A vein bulged on Erik's forehead as he glared at Kino. "I'm not even fifty—don't call me old!"
At that moment, Raven returned and gave Erik a nod. Her face bore a trace of shock—every one of Erik's subordinates had been knocked out without even realizing what had hit them.
Erik's tense expression eased slightly. As long as no one was killed, things were still manageable.
"So, Demon King—why are you here?" Erik asked directly.
"Just call me Kino—or King, if you prefer. I'm here to recruit you," Kino said, setting down the book and leaning back comfortably.
"Recruit me?" Erik's voice grew colder. "If you intend to lead mutants to the top, then I'll agree."
"Impossible," Kino said bluntly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Under my leadership, everyone is equal—there is no superior race."
Erik's face darkened, his eyes burning with suppressed fury.
"Equality?" he spat bitterly. "Humans have oppressed mutants for decades. Even now, our kind are strapped to laboratory tables for experimentation. You expect us to just let go of that hatred?"
Kino sighed. He agreed that humans had crossed many lines—but in the end, he was human too.
"I'll negotiate with the president to release the captured mutants," he said. "And while I understand your hatred won't fade easily, tell me—what is the root of your pain? Maybe I can fix it."
Erik's face softened, but his voice was filled with disdain.
"Fix it? Unless you can bring my wife and daughter back from the dead."
His eyes turned bloodshot, and his voice trembled as years of grief and rage surfaced.
"Bring them back? I can try," Kino said calmly.
Before Erik could process his words, Kino stood up and reached for his shoulder.
"Disrespectful brat," Erik growled, veins bulging as he flung himself backward using the metal on his body to propel him.
With a gesture, he summoned every metal object in the warehouse—steel beams, rods, and debris—all of which hurtled toward Kino like a devastating storm.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The deafening clash of metal filled the air.
Raven covered her ears in pain, her eyes wide with shock.
The steel slammed into Kino's body, but instead of piercing him, they shattered into fiery sparks that scattered in all directions.
Erik's expression changed drastically.
The shards of broken metal melted midair, reshaping themselves into complex structures—sleek, arrow-like projectiles that hovered menacingly before shooting toward Kino.
This was no longer brute force—it was precision.
In mere seconds, Kino was encased in a three-meter-tall steel cage—airtight and reinforced with intricate frameworks.
"Stay there for three days and learn some manners," Erik muttered, crossing his arms.
He had no intention of killing Kino. If he truly was the new king of mutants, that could still work in their favor.
Erik stood there, watching the cage intently, expecting Kino to admit defeat.
"You're quick at applying new knowledge," Kino's muffled voice echoed from inside the cage. "But… it's not enough to hold me."
The steel structure trembled violently as an unseen force pushed against it.
"You're wasting your energy," Erik sneered. "The frame is made of Eastern alloy—reinforced and controlled by my power. Unless you can exert thousands of tons of force—"
His words died in his throat as deep cracks began forming across the surface of the cage.
Sweat poured down his face as he focused all his strength on repairing the cracks, but the strain was evident.
Raven, seeing this, didn't hesitate—she bolted toward the exit.
Quote:"Hatred is a blade with no handle—whoever wields it bleeds the most."
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