At this moment, the entire American internet was buzzing with discussion.
Earlier that day, countless people across the country had suddenly suffered splitting headaches.
The phenomenon had affected millions simultaneously.
Many people believed it had been some kind of mass neurological event.
What they didn't know was that the source had been Professor Charles Xavier.
While under Jason Stryker's psychic control, Charles had briefly used Cerebro to scan the planet.
If that psychic broadcast had lasted longer, the results would have been catastrophic.
Both mutants and ordinary humans could have suffered mass cerebral hemorrhage and brain death.
Fortunately, the event had stopped almost as suddenly as it began.
Karl had removed the Cerebro interface from Charles's head before the psychic wave fully stabilized.
Meanwhile, a mysterious user on the internet posted an image of a star chart.
The constellation Sagittarius was highlighted.
The comment section exploded.
Many immediately thought of the mysterious figure who had recently become famous worldwide.
The Golden Saint.
Karl Augustine.
Considering the mysterious headaches everyone had experienced earlier that day, many netizens began forming their own theories.
Someone must have attempted something catastrophic.
And once again—
The Gold Saint had intervened.
Saving humanity without anyone even realizing it.
Karl himself had no idea about the chaos unfolding on the internet.
He had already returned to his manor.
Inside the house, he released Wanda, Pietro, and Raven from the Shadow World.
May, Gwen, and Helen Zhao immediately looked toward them.
They had all experienced the same sudden headache earlier.
"There was a mutant attempting to wipe out all ordinary humans."
Karl spoke calmly.
"But I stopped him."
"It's over now."
He gently held May's hand.
"I'll create something that can protect you from psychic attacks."
"So something like this won't happen again."
Then, in front of Wanda and the others, Karl casually pulled May, Raven, Gwen, and Helen Zhao into his arms.
Wanda's expression immediately darkened.
She glared at Karl.
Then stormed upstairs without a word.
Pietro blinked in confusion.
He scratched his head.
He had absolutely no idea what had just happened.
He hadn't done anything to anger his sister.
Just then—
Karl's phone rang.
"Tony."
Karl answered the call while sitting on the sofa, with four beauties leaning against him.
"Karl!"
Tony's voice came through immediately.
"What the hell happened today?!"
"My head almost split open!"
"You have no idea how bad that felt!"
Karl chuckled slightly.
He gently brushed Gwen's hair aside before replying.
"William Stryker captured Professor Xavier."
"He wanted to use Cerebro to force Xavier to kill every mutant on Earth."
"But Magneto killed Stryker."
"And then Magneto decided to use Xavier to wipe out humanity instead."
"I froze him before he could finish the job."
"Charles should be taking him back to the academy now."
Tony fell silent for a moment.
Then he exploded.
"What?!"
"Kill all mutants first and then all humans?!"
"Jesus Christ!"
"If you hadn't stopped that today, Magneto could have used Charles to wipe out the entire human race!"
Tony took a deep breath.
"We need protection against psychic powers."
"Immediately."
"What do you think?"
Karl nodded slightly.
"Of course."
"I took Magneto's helmet."
"It blocks Xavier's telepathy completely."
"You can study it tomorrow."
"Maybe you can reproduce the alloy."
Tony exhaled loudly.
"Good."
"I'll come over tomorrow."
"Until then, I'm keeping an eye on Xavier."
"I hate the idea that someone could turn me into a puppet anytime they want."
"That feeling is horrible."
The call ended.
Karl casually tossed his phone aside.
Gwen was sitting on his lap in her school uniform.
Helen Zhao sat on his other side in a black lace dress.
May and Raven leaned against him comfortably.
None of them showed any jealousy.
Instead, they looked at him with quiet affection.
Karl had long since conquered their hearts.
Now they trusted him completely.
He smiled slightly.
For a moment he truly felt like a king surrounded by his queens.
Just as Karl was about to enjoy the moment—
His expression suddenly changed.
He sensed something.
A violent, chaotic energy signature.
Rapidly approaching the manor.
Karl immediately released Gwen and Helen Zhao.
WHOOSH
The Sagittarius Gold Cloth descended from the sky.
It instantly assembled onto Karl's body.
A pillar of golden energy erupted into the sky.
Visible for miles.
Government satellites immediately locked onto the energy spike.
Detection systems across the United States began sounding alarms.
Every monitoring station turned its attention toward New York.
Tony saw the energy column from afar.
At first he felt uneasy.
But then he remembered Karl's strength.
And relaxed slightly.
Then—
A figure appeared in the sky.
A woman surrounded by crimson energy flames.
Karl narrowed his eyes.
Jean Grey.
But the aura around her was completely different.
Violent.
Chaotic.
Ancient.
This was no longer simply Jean Grey.
Dark Phoenix.
Jean looked at Karl with an eerie smile.
Her eyes glowed with terrifying crimson light.
"Hehe."
"So you're the one."
"The person that caught my attention."
"Fight me."
"Let me see how strong you really are."
"If you're too weak…"
"You'll die."
Karl stared at her calmly.
So the presence he had sensed earlier…
Had indeed been the Phoenix Force.
He spoke only two words.
"A cosmic war."
The white cloak of the Gold Cloth disappeared.
Golden wings unfolded behind him.
The Ruyi Jingu Bang appeared in his hand.
Karl had no intention of holding back.
Across the planet, every monitoring instrument began screaming warnings.
Energy readings spiked to terrifying levels.
Every major government immediately turned their satellites toward New York.
Meanwhile—
At Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Charles and the X-Men also sensed the sudden surge of power.
Storm quickly checked the satellite feed.
Her eyes widened.
"It's Jean!"
"But… something's wrong."
Her voice trembled.
Jean was floating in the sky above New York.
Wrapped in burning crimson energy.
Her eyes radiated a terrifying, almost cosmic malice.
"Professor…"
Storm turned to Charles anxiously.
"Is that really Jean?"
"What happened to her?"
"Why hasn't she returned to the academy?"
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