amaotonovel Chapter 4683 The Demise of the X Royal Family (4)
Chapter 4683 The Demise of the X Royal Family (4)
Chapter 4683 The X Royal Family: Demise (Part 4)
Krakya is a beautiful, secluded island. Most of the island is enveloped in lush, ancient vegetation, with crystal-clear streams flowing into rivers that meander into sapphire-blue bays. White sand beaches are bathed in the warm orange glow of twilight, and meadows shimmer with golden light. Every scene speaks of the beauty of this idyllic paradise.
This is a true mutant island. Because Clarkia itself is alive. It is an ancient, intelligent totem that only accepts mutants. After Magneto's Genosha was destroyed, this living island became the last utopia for mutants.
“This place is completely different from what I imagined.” Stark looked at the crystal dome covered with countless emerald green vines and exclaimed, “It seems I misjudged you. This really is a great tourist destination.”
Twilight streamed down from the crystal dome, casting winding, mysterious pale green patterns on the ground, rippling softly like water, making the place look like a mysterious underwater palace. It was clearly meticulously designed; the mutants seemed determined to make this a beautiful home.
Schiller paused and looked out the door to a lush, green landscape. Some beautiful, glowing plants swayed in the layers of verdant valley. The fragrance of trees and flowers mingled with the damp mist from the fountain, and along with it came a tall figure.
When Magneto walked in, Stark almost didn't recognize him. He wasn't dressed in all black; instead, he was wearing silver armor, the complete opposite. His cloak shimmered like a golden ribbon in the twilight, and beneath the mask's shadow lay a face younger than he had imagined.
"Hello, guests from the central universe. On behalf of the X-Royal Family, I welcome you." Magneto stepped forward and shook hands with both of them.
As Stark sized up Magneto, Magneto was also subtly observing them. Finally, his gaze settled on Stark, and he said, "It's quite surprising, sir, that you're not wearing any armor."
“Are you going to play a steel can joke on me?” Stark chuckled. “Mr. Can Opener?”
Magneto was even more surprised. He scrutinized Stark again and said, "I have to admit, you're unlike any Iron Man I've ever met. How so? You're more... relaxed?"
“They were too tense,” Stark said. “But I was also exceptionally relaxed. I think you understand, compared to that dreadful little devil at home, saving the world felt like a relaxing vacation.”
Magneto chuckled and said, "Your daughter?"
"Yes, before coming here, she had just dismantled one of my large gravity docks and magnetic induction devices. To prevent herself from hanging on me, she asked me to assemble these things with her. As you can see, I am here."
“I’m afraid she’s the real can opener.” Magneto’s smile deepened. “Enough talk here. We’ve prepared a welcome feast. Please follow me.”
They stepped out of the Crystal Palace into a small, open plaza. They then realized that they had placed the teleporter on a hillside, and their mode of transportation wasn't a spaceship or elevator, but a very rustic stone platform with natural patterns like vines, resembling a small floating island.
Stark stepped on it and examined it with some curiosity. He knelt down on one knee and gently touched the patterns with his hand. After a while, he seemed to sense something: "It's amazing, it's like it's alive."
Magneto paused for a moment, then said, "You're the first outsider to discover this."
Standing on the platform overlooking the buildings below the island, Stark said, "It's an amazing miracle. You have a living island, living in harmony with it, which is much better than the relationship between humans and nature."
Magneto suddenly had a thought. A fleeting inspiration flashed through his mind, but he couldn't quite grasp it. Schiller, however, looked at him and asked, "Where's the professor?"
“He… is busy.” Magneto was clearly a little uncomfortable.
"Not even a moment to say hello?" Schiller asked, somewhat puzzled. "I'm sorry, but Professor X from our universe has something to tell him. If it's convenient, could he connect to our brainwaves?"
Magneto was still surprised. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "You don't mind... I mean, you and Professor X from your universe are on good terms?"
“We are friends,” Schiller said. “In fact, Tony, Charles, and I are all members of the Glorious Alliance, and we are very close.”
"The Glorious Alliance? What kind of organization is that?"
“It’s an organization built on the spiritual realm, designed to help humans and mutants thrive in the universe,” Schiller said rather vaguely. He added, “You’ve probably heard about the central universe, haven’t you?”
Magneto nodded and said, "I've heard that the mutants in the central universe have not only established a nation, but have also ventured into space. Did the Glorious Alliance play a significant role in this?"
"It is the best result achieved through the collective efforts of all forces, including ordinary people, mutants, superheroes, S.H.I.E.L.D., and others."
“Truly astonishing,” Magneto exclaimed. “I simply cannot fathom how so many forces could be united; it’s practically impossible. Do you have any message for Charles?”
"Professor X from our universe wanted to remind him not to blindly replicate the path of any other universe. You should find a way to forge your own path. At this stage, independence is more important than development."
Magneto frowned slightly. Schiller continued, "That's our shared view as well."
"I thought you were here to help us."
"Yes, but it's just help, not interference or manipulation. This is ultimately your universe, and this island is your home. That's why we didn't send too many people; otherwise, it wouldn't be aid, but rather an invasion."
Magneto paused, saying, "Some people don't seem to think that way."
"I heard that the people from the main universe have arrived. Where are they?"
“They’re at the main base.” Magneto sighed. His words alone conveyed a great deal of dissatisfaction. Even without witnessing it firsthand, Schiller could roughly imagine what it would be like when the people from the main universe arrived.
"I do not consider mutants in other universes to be insignificant just because mutants in our universe have developed better than everyone else. In fact, every effort you have made for racial independence and development deserves respect. All the progress you have made has great value."
Magneto pursed his lips: "Given the current situation, it remains to be seen whether this can be considered progress."
“You’ve built so well here,” Stark said. “How can it not be considered progress?”
"Really? Even after you've seen the alien base of the mutants from your universe, you still think Clarkia is great?"
“Much better, I’m serious,” Stark said. “Our mutant base in the Andromeda Galaxy was actually stolen from someone else. Although the subsequent construction was pretty good, I don’t really like the aliens’ aesthetic sense. They always emphasize practicality, so I can’t say much about it.”
Magneto laughed from the bottom of his heart, and his tone became more relaxed: "I'm glad you think that way. When we first arrived in Clarkia, it was Charles who thought we should plan and design properly, instead of making a mess of this place in the name of practicality. I'm glad someone appreciates his plans."
They descended from the stone platform and continued along the mountain path, entering a tunnel via a stone path beside a stream. Emerging from the tunnel, countless cave-like houses embedded in the mountainside came into view. With their small, arched roofs and stained-glass windows, they blended seamlessly with the tall trees and exotic shrubs, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
“This is beautiful,” Stark exclaimed. He took out his phone and started taking pictures, saying, “I really need to go back and talk to Charles and the others. It’s been over ten years, and Sky Island, the capital of the Andromeda Galaxy, still looks the same. They should renovate it.”
Schiller slowed his pace and stopped in front of an extremely tall tree. He looked at Magneto and asked, "What's wrong with Charles?"
Magneto looked at him without speaking, so Schiller continued, "I know the professor fairly well. We've come all this way, he couldn't have come without saying a word to us. Where is he?"
“He is indeed in Clarkia,” Magneto said, “but right now he’s with Moira in the anti-gravity lab at the bottom of the island, conducting drug research.”
“I’ve never heard of Charles having a background in pharmaceutical research.” Schiller wasn’t going to accept this explanation. “Besides, conducting research doesn’t mean he can’t communicate with us. Has he lost his ability?”
"How could you think that?" Magneto asked, slightly shocked. "Who in this world could take away his powers?"
“A lot,” Schiller said. “Sentinel robots are effective against all mutants. You should know better than me how that team that destroyed the Mother Model was wiped out. Even Phoenix didn’t escape unscathed.”
“How could you possibly think we’d use Sentinels against Charles? That’s outrageous!” Magneto said.
"So it seems someone doesn't want him to use his powers. Is that you, Magneto?"
Magneto opened his mouth, paused, and said, "I did advise him not to use his telepathic communication ability for the time being, as it might offend visitors from other universes."
"why?"
"What?" Magneto was momentarily confused about what Schiller was asking. He said, "No one likes having their mental world spied on by others."
“Alright,” Schiller said, as if reluctantly accepting, then continued, “Then why doesn’t he show up?”
“He needs protection.” Magneto sighed. “His decision to support the multiverse has almost destroyed all our hard work over the years. The annihilation of the raiding party is an almost unacceptable loss. I fear someone might…”
He shook his head, as if to say, "That's all I have to say." Schiller lowered his eyes and said, "It seems the situation is indeed very serious. But I need to see him no matter what. Can you help me, Magneto?"
Magneto was about to say something when Schiller interrupted him, saying, "No matter what reasons he uses to convince you to let him bear the consequences of all this failure, you understand that it's unfair to him. Because it's not entirely his fault. How strong must a person's heart be to remain steadfast in this situation, believing he hasn't been abandoned? Eric, have you ever given him that kind of confidence?"
Magneto's fingertips trembled slightly: "He has always been the one who gives me confidence. Even with this plan, he approached me and told me that he had a way to create a utopia for mutants again. Even after Genosha was completely destroyed, he still had a way to make people believe that mutants still have independence and freedom."
"His voice cannot be silenced. Even if you worry that some dissenting mutants might harm him, at least people should hear his voice again. There are probably more people who want him to speak again than you think."
Magneto hesitated again. He said, "You've convinced me that you and Charles can indeed be good friends. You seem like the kind of person who can understand him. I can arrange a meeting between you, but we don't have much time; the UN General Assembly is the night after tomorrow."