Moonlight spilled over the sea. When the wind stirred the water, the moon's reflection shattered into pieces like broken jade floating on the surface, disturbing the once-serene night.
The Caspartina, a grand and luxurious cruise ship, gently rocked atop the dark waves, its silhouette barely noticeable under the night sky.
A figure silently emerged from the sea, eyes filled with hatred, stealthily climbing aboard the ship. He drew a sharp dagger and headed toward his target for revenge.
On the deck lounge area, three people were seated on a sofa.
On the right sat a young man in a gray suit. His name was Riptide, a mutant with the ability to create whirlwinds, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
On the left sat a blonde woman in a white dress and boots. She was Emma Frost, codenamed the White Queen, also a mutant, gifted with telepathy and the ability to transform her body into diamond.
Between them was a middle-aged man in a white suit: Sebastian Shaw, codenamed the Black King. He led the Hellfire Club and possessed the power to absorb all forms of energy, convert them into strength, and release it at will.
"Hello, Doctor–"
The unexpected greeting made all three of them rise at once. Recognizing the voice, Shaw reached out to stop Riptide from attacking.
"Erik," Shaw said with a smile, calling him by name.
Erik Lehnsherr, the future Magneto, capable of manipulating magnetic fields, and also Marvel's number one scene-stealer.
"He's here to kill you," the White Queen warned, her telepathy reading Erik's thoughts.
Magneto's lifelong nemesis, telepathic powers.
Ding!
Battle detected. Reward acquired: Diamond Form (White Queen)
Ding!
Battle detected. Reward acquired: Reward dropped: 5 points
High above the Caspartina, the invisible Fenris willed a change in his body. Instantly, he transformed into a dazzling figure made entirely of diamond-shaped crystalline facets.
"Too bad it's not telepathy, but diamond form isn't bad either."
Although slightly weaker than Professor X's, Emma Frost's telepathy is among the best in the Marvel universe.
Her secondary power, Diamond Form, grants near-invulnerability, immense resistance to force, no need for rest, water, or food, and complete immunity to psychic attacks from other telepaths.
Very useful, especially for avoiding memory probes or mind control when facing other psychics.
It was sheer coincidence that Fenris appeared here upon crossing worlds. He had planned to use super hearing to determine the timeline and then locate Professor X, but instead overheard the conversation below.
Shaw, Frost, Riptide, and Magneto hiding in the sea...
This was straight out of X-Men: First Class, Magneto attempting to assassinate Shaw, only to fail and later be intercepted by Professor X, eventually leading to the formation of the mutant team in cooperation with the CIA.
With the White Queen here, Professor X was bound to appear soon. No need to go looking, telepathy would land right in his lap.
On the ship, Emma Frost used her telepathy to force Erik to relive the childhood trauma inflicted by Shaw. Erik clutched his head in pain, then hurled his dagger straight at Shaw.
Clang!
Emma, now in diamond form, caught the blade midair and tossed it into the sea. She then struck Erik with a palm, sending him flying off the deck.
With a loud splash, Erik crashed into the water.
To send someone like Erik flying with a single blow, it was clear the White Queen's strength was far beyond ordinary.
Pop pop pop! Pop pop pop!
Flare rounds shot out from the distance, lighting up the night as U.S. Coast Guard ships suddenly appeared and began broadcasting over loudspeakers.
"This is the United States Coast Guard. Do not attempt to flee. Remain where you are."
Searchlights lit the waves as several speedboats approached the Caspartina.
Ding!
Battle detected. Reward acquired: Telepathy (White Queen)
Ding!
Battle detected. Reward acquired: Telepathy (Professor X)
Onboard, the White Queen scanned the incoming boats with her telepathy and sensed another powerful mind, Professor Charles Xavier, also a telepath.
"They have a telepath," she warned Shaw, focusing on blocking his mental intrusion.
On the Coast Guard vessel, Charles Xavier, still with full mobility and a full head of hair, pressed his fingers to his temple and said in shock, "I can't sense Shaw. I can't find him. Something is blocking me. This has never happened before. There's someone on that ship, just like me."
The clash of telepathy was a battle in itself.
Two evenly matched telepaths meeting over the same sea? Both Charles and Emma were stunned.
What neither of them knew was that there weren't just two telepaths on those waters.
There were three.
Fenris, having just acquired and combined both of their abilities, was now the newest, and potentially strongest, telepath in the area.
And he was ready to give them a surprise. Consider it a little farewell gift.