"Fuck! You bastard, I'm going to kill you!"
Logan roared, his chest pierced by the heavy steel dagger. Despite the grievous wound, his body was brimming with raw, primal energy.
He spun around, ready to tear Ernst apart with his bare hands.
"Don't be angry," Ernst said nonchalantly, stepping closer instead of retreating.
"You have regeneration anyway. This injury is trivial."
Before Logan could react, Ernst reached out and smoothly pulled the dagger from his sternum.
Blood spilled for a fraction of a second before the flesh began to knit itself back together.
The chest wound healed swiftly, leaving behind only torn flannel and smooth skin.
Charles, standing near the entrance, watched in absolute bewilderment, blinking as if he were trying to dispel an illusion.
Undeterred by his initial failure, Erik extended his hands.
The bar trembled. Stools, bottles, and loose iron fixtures levitated into the air before hurtling toward Ernst and Logan like a storm of shrapnel.
Ernst stood his ground. He simply raised a hand, absorbing the kinetic energy of the projectiles.
The metal objects collided harmlessly against his invisible barrier, dropping to the floor like dead weight.
Meanwhile, Logan didn't have a barrier. He took the brunt of the secondary shrapnel, enduring deep gashes.
A rogue steel rebar even impaled his shoulder. He merely grunted, gripped the steel bar, and ripped it out of his own flesh. The wound sealed instantly.
The lack of danger didn't make the pain any less irritating. Frustrated and seeing red, Logan roared.
SNIKT.
Three bone claws erupted from the knuckles of each hand. He locked eyes with Erik and charged.
As Erik's concerned friend, Charles couldn't stand idly by. He pressed two fingers to his temple.
His telepathic abilities surged forward, delving forcefully into Logan's enraged mind.
Instantly, Charles uncovered the embarrassing truth: Ernst and Logan were complete strangers.
Their clash was fueled by Ernst using the man as a human shield.
"Erik, wait! They aren't, "
Crack.
Ernst snapped his fingers. It wasn't just a physical sound; it was a psychic shockwave.
The mental intrusion shattered instantly.
Charles gasped, stumbling backward as he lost his telepathic grip on Logan.
Freed from the mental hold, Logan resumed his charge, his dull eyes snapping back to feral focus.
Erik, reacting with veteran combat instincts, ripped a heavy iron radiator from the wall and slammed it down as a makeshift shield, temporarily halting the feral mutant's advance.
The fierce battle between the four had naturally terrified the bar's patrons. Screams resonated, glass shattered, and utter chaos ensued as everyone trampled each other to flee for their lives.
Erik's eyes burned with hatred; he wanted to tear Ernst apart.
But Charles, wisely sensing the escalating situation and the sirens wailing in the distance, grabbed his friend's arm.
Realizing the potential repercussions of their actions, particularly the panic they could cause among the ordinary people, they opted for a strategic retreat, slipping out the back door into the night.
Ernst had no intention of escalating the situation either.
He grabbed Logan by the collar of his torn shirt, maneuvered them into the shadows of the chaotic room, and activated his phantom magic.
Pop.
, ----
"Wow... hurk!"
Long-distance teleportation proved incredibly uncomfortable, especially for someone who had never experienced it.
The sensation felt akin to being violently tossed inside a cement mixer during a hurricane.
As they materialized, Logan immediately dropped to his hands and knees. The cheap whiskey from the bar, combined with the vertigo, made a swift exit onto the grass.
"You bastard," Logan grumbled amidst his dry heaving, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"I... I won't let this go..."
"Sorry, I was in a hurry," Ernst said, brushing off his coat.
A thin layer of silver rippled across his face as the nanobots retracted, revealing his true features.
"Our destination is here. Now, let's go see your students."
"Destination?" Logan, bewildered and thoroughly embarrassed, finally looked up to survey his surroundings.
They were standing in a lush, prehistoric forest. The air was incredibly fresh, thick with the scent of flourishing water plants and exotic flora.
Just moments ago, he was in a smog-filled American city.
"Is this your ability? Instant teleportation?" Logan asked, his bone claws slowly retracting.
"One of them. Come with me," Ernst instructed, leading the way down a hidden path.
Logan, relatively unfazed by the bizarre turn of events, followed. His curiosity had peaked.
'Were there really more mutants like him here?'
As they approached the clearing, a massive, ten-meter-high iron gate loomed before them, set into a reinforced concrete wall.
Upon visually verifying Ernst's identity, the automated guards and turrets immediately stood down, granting them access without a single question regarding the gruff man trailing behind.
Entering the base, Logan was astounded. The level of technology far surpassed anything he had seen in the outside world.
It looked like a military installation from the next century.
As they explored deeper, the sterile metal gave way to a sprawling, manor-style building.
"This," Ernst said softly, "is the school."
Walking through a paved path, they reached a wide, open playground bathed in sunlight.
Thirty or forty children were scattered across the lawn, playing freely.
Logan, with his sharp, hunter's eyes, quickly discerned the subtle differences among them:
A boy moving with extraordinary, ape-like flexibility, executing a slam dunk from ten meters away.
A boy with slightly oversized feet, walking vertically up the side of a brick wall using an unseen suction force.
A little girl manipulating a sphere of water, transforming it into intricate, floating shapes, flowers, trees, lions, and tigers.
Children with cheetah-like claws, hands that morphed into bird wings, and a toddler playfully turning the solid ground into soft mud.
The sheer variety of abilities was astounding. For the first time in a century, Logan didn't feel like a freak.
Ernst took a deep breath, deciding it was time to lay his cards on the table.
"Logan, what you see here is not exactly the Earth you know. This place is called Skull Island. The creatures out in that jungle, some of which should be extinct, are a result of various experiments and historical anomalies. The laws of nature are different here, allowing for the survival and evolution of species that disappeared on your Earth."
He gestured toward the playground.
"As for the children, they are mutants, like you and me. But their experiences with death and trauma are different. Many of them faced horrific situations due to their powers manifesting early. They were rejected, hunted, or attacked by society. That's why we brought them here: to provide a haven where they can learn, grow, and harness their powers in peace."
Logan raised an eyebrow, absorbing the sheer scale of the operation.
"So, it's a sanctuary for mutants?"
"Exactly," Ernst confirmed.
"It's a refuge where they can live without fear of persecution. We aim to create a community where they can develop their abilities, receive an education, and be prepared for the inevitable challenges that will arise. It's a place where they belong."
Logan grunted, a low sound of approval in his chest. He understood the desperate need for such a sanctuary better than anyone.
"Alright, I get it. But what about you? What's your ultimate goal in all of this?"
Ernst looked at Logan, his expression hardening into absolute seriousness.
"My goal is to ensure the survival and prosperity of the mutant race. I've seen the potential threats that we will face in the near future, and I want to make sure they are prepared. I also have personal reasons for doing this, reasons that involve the fate of this world itself. By creating a community like this, mutants won't just survive the coming storm; they will thrive in the face of adversity."
Logan took a moment to process the weight of Ernst's words.
"So, what's my role in all of this? Why did you specifically seek me out, use me as a human shield, and drag me to another dimension?"
"Because you're a survivor, Logan," Ernst said plainly.
"You've faced countless challenges and conflicts, and you've always come out on top. Your experiences and your abilities make you the ideal mentor for these young mutants. You can teach them not just how to survive physically, but how to navigate the complexities of a hostile world. Your resilience, your combat skills, and your unique perspective are invaluable assets. I want you to be their teacher, their guide, and their protector."
Logan crossed his thick, muscular arms, considering Ernst's words. He looked back at the children playing on the grass.
After a long moment, he gave a curt nod.
"Alright, bub. I'll do it. But I want one thing in return."
Ernst arched an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"I want the truth," Logan demanded, his voice gravelly and firm.
"The full truth. About this place, about you, and about whatever mysterious plans you've got brewing. No more half-truths or omissions. If I'm going to be a part of this, I need to know exactly what I'm signing up to fight."
Ernst hesitated for a fraction of a second, calculating the risks, before nodding slowly.
"Fair enough, Logan. You have my word. Come inside. I'll tell you everything you want to know."
-------------
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