chapter 164 part 1
Chapter 164: The Great Battle of the Mutants!
"That new teaching assistant is so cool!"
"He's really handsome, too! I think he's way better than Teacher Logan, who's always trying to act all serious with his claws out!"
Shadowcat and Rogue, two of the top mainstays of the X-Men who had arrived later, were fervently discussing their opinions of Stephen Fang during a break from class.
On the side, the honest and simple Colossus mumbled, "I actually think they're both pretty cool."
Rogue was a little unconvinced. "Renkio, what do you think?"
Renkio blushed. "I… I think… the new teaching assistant is a bit cooler."
In the Professor's office, Professor X, sitting in his wheelchair, looked at the utter mess in the front courtyard, at a loss for words.
"Jean, about this new teaching assistant… I don't think he's qualified for the position just yet."
Jean Grey was also a bit conflicted, but she still said, "I believe Mr. Stephen Fang is very good at controlling his abilities, Professor. Can you imagine a person with superpowers working in the dirty back kitchen of a restaurant for fourteen years, enduring condescension, and yet never getting a criminal record his entire life?"
"Is that so?" Professor X's opinion of Stephen Fang suddenly changed dramatically. "If that's the case, then this Mr. Fang is truly admirable in his character. He's never once used his abilities to earn a single cent?"
Jean Grey nodded. "This is all from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s shared files; it's not just his side of the story. To be honest, when I saw this information, I really thought it was fake. But every restaurant he worked at can be clearly traced, and he never resorted to any violent behavior, even when his black boss withheld and delayed his wages."
"Just a short while ago, he exposed his unusual abilities for the first time because of a robbery at a supermarket." Jean Grey recalled the surveillance footage. "After his heroic deed, he even left money at the supermarket for the bread he bought."
Professor X praised, "Such noble character! He is more noble than any of us! How rare!"
Jean Grey nodded. "That's why I think he's especially suited for the role of a teaching assistant. Even just as a role model, he should come to the X-Academy often to teach."
Professor X, in his wheelchair, nodded. "I understand."
As the two spoke, on the basketball court not far away, the mutants led by Pyro and Iceman had just finished picking teams.
The court was already surrounded by students who had come to watch. Everyone was cheering excitedly, rooting for the teams they supported.
Pyro looked at the motley crew on Iceman's team and scoffed, "We could give you a ten-point head start!"
Iceman had a very calm temperament and paid him no mind. The two sides began the basketball game.
The team with Pyro, Gambit, and Colossus came out with overwhelming momentum.
Pyro, Saint John Alexander, was shirtless, revealing a chiseled chest. The lines of his muscles glistened under the sun, and his shocking golden hair flew wildly with his movements.
Gambit stood not far from his side, his fingers nimble, making it extremely easy for him to control the ball.
The tall and imposing Colossus strode over with heavy, steady steps. His body was forged from steel, gleaming with a cold, hard metallic luster. Trying to grab a rebound from him was like smashing your head against a wall.
In contrast, the other team, consisting of Iceman, Shadowcat, and Havok, looked a bit weak in their lineup.
Iceman, Robert Drake, had a personality that always made him seem a step behind others.
Shadowcat, Kitty Pryde, stood beside Iceman. She was petite and had no talent for basketball, clearly dragged along as a mascot to make up the numbers.
Havok, Alex Summers, was at the back of the team, his brow furrowed and his eyes filled with tension.
The sharp whistle signaling the start of the game rang out, instantly igniting the battle on the court.
Pyro was the first to strike. His legs exploded with power as he charged toward the basket!
At the same time, one hand lit a lighter while the other controlled the flame!
A wall of fire formed in front of him, blocking Iceman's line of sight.
Iceman was caught off guard by this sudden attack. He could only watch helplessly as Pyro leaped high into the air. The basketball in his hands, trailing a fiery afterimage, slammed into the hoop with a "clang," completing a domineering dunk.
The crowd instantly erupted. Cheers and shouts came one after another, like a surging tide.
After landing, Pyro didn't forget to wave his arms triumphantly at the surrounding spectators, the very picture of arrogance.
Before Iceman's team could recover, Colossus launched a new round of attacks.
Like a heavy tank, he brutally charged toward Iceman's defensive line.
Seeing this, Iceman quickly raised his hand, and a thick layer of ice instantly condensed at his fingertips. He tried to create a patch of ice on the ground to slow Colossus down.
However, Colossus's strength was too great. The ice beneath his feet shattered instantly, turning into countless flying shards.
Amidst the chaos, Havok tried to find the right moment to shoot and score. He took a deep breath, focused his mind, and the basketball in his hands was ready to fly.
But just as he was about to release the ball, Colossus's massive body appeared in front of him. Havok had no time to dodge and was hit squarely by Colossus.
Havok was sent flying backward, falling heavily to the ground. The basketball slipped from his grasp, bounced a few times, and rolled to the edge of the court.
Pyro wasn't about to let this perfect opportunity slip away. With sharp eyes and quick hands, he lunged forward with a single step, picked up the ball, and did the same thing again, rushing toward the basket.
The members of Iceman's team tried their best to block him, but Pyro was too fast, and the threat of his flames was too great. They couldn't get close to him at all.
Pyro leaped high again. The basketball traced a perfect arc through the air and once more fell precisely into the hoop. Another dunk.
In just three short minutes, Iceman's team was down by two points, both from humiliating dunks. Iceman's face turned red.
Pyro picked up the ball and started dribbling. "What's wrong? Why aren't you fighting back? Didn't we agree last week to settle on the basketball court whether fire or ice is stronger? Why are you giving up already?" Pyro gave a thumbs-down. "Lame!"
In white and black societies, the more arrogant and wild your personality, the more popular you are. As soon as he said this, whistles and seductive glances from the female mutants immediately came from the sidelines.
Iceman looked at the mocking and jeering faces of his classmates on the sidelines, a sour feeling welling up in his heart. His cheeks couldn't help but flush crimson. He clutched the hem of his shirt and stammered, "I… I don't have enough players on my team."
Shadowcat also hurried over. She hung her head, a hint of shame on her face, and mumbled in a small voice, "I don't even know how to play basketball, I'm just here to fill a spot! This can't count!" Her eyes were filled with helplessness and self-blame, her hands twisting together anxiously.
A slightly mocking smile played on Pyro's lips. He shrugged nonchalantly and replied with utter indifference, "That's not my problem. Who told you that you couldn't find capable teammates?"
He crossed his arms, his triumphant posture announcing his victory to the whole world.
Iceman's face was a mask of helplessness. He was naturally introverted, a real closed book, and rarely interacted with others. For him, managing to scrape together these three people to start the game had already been an immense effort.
Just then, Stephen Fang walked over from off the court with Wolverine, neither too fast nor too slow.
Pyro's eyes darted around as if he'd found new entertainment. Without a word, he fiercely threw the basketball in his hands at Stephen Fang!
*Swish!* The basketball, carrying a powerful gust of wind, flew straight toward Stephen Fang.