Chapter 391: [495] - Professor X Cashes in His Final Favor

When Jean called, Hawk was sitting cross-legged under the sycamore tree in the backyard, meditating.

He already knew exactly what he needed to do. The path was set: reach the edge, die, and let his Cosmo perfect itself at the threshold. Only then could he break through to the Eighth Sense, the highest realm of life.

While he sat beneath the tree, he considered where to stage his showdown with the Celestial.

Washington, D.C. seemed like the best option.

If the federal government wanted to play stupid games, they could win stupid prizes. He had no problem letting them dig their own grave—he'd even hand them the shovel.

His thoughts were interrupted when Wanda walked out of the living room, wearing her loungewear and holding a ringing phone.

Hawk opened his eyes, meeting her gaze.

"Your daughter is calling." She smiled.

"Let me guess," Hawk said, standing up and brushing himself off. "Professor X is guilt-tripping her right now."

Wanda looked mildly amused. "You don't exactly have a strong moral compass. I wonder how your daughter ended up so sweet."

Hawk shrugged.

"You tell me. You're the one who told me to try being a good person. You should be thrilled she turned out so kind."

"Honestly? I'd rather she be more like you. At least that way, she'd never get taken advantage of." Wanda shook her head.

Parents always had to think ahead. People admired saints, but nobody really wanted to be one. Wanda would rather raise a survivor than a bleeding heart. She didn't want Jean to turn into a villain, but she wanted her daughter to be tough enough to tell a manipulator to get lost and sleep soundly afterward.

"Don't worry, she'll learn." Hawk dismissed her concern. "Besides, she has us. Who would take advantage of her? If worst comes to worst, we just keep her with us forever. Problem solved."

Wanda rolled her eyes. "So she's never allowed to date?"

"If a guy wants to be my son-in-law, fine!" Hawk smiled brightly. "He just has to win a fight against me. If he can't, how can he protect my daughter?"

Hawk meant every word. He didn't mind Jean dating, but any guy who wanted to be with her had to show he could protect her. If he couldn't handle a practice fight with Hawk, he wasn't good enough.

"I hope you stick to that rule. But knowing you, the second she actually begs you, you're going to fold." Wanda shook her head, completely speechless.

"Never."

"Keep telling yourself that," Wanda smirked. She tossed him the phone.

"Anyway, she's asking for help. What's the plan?"

"We go. This is exactly what we've been waiting for, isn't it?" Hawk said.

"Alright." Wanda turned back toward the house. "Call her back. I'll pack up our things."

Since this wasn't their home universe, leaving had always been part of the plan. Over the past few weeks, Wanda had collected souvenirs and local specialties, carefully packing them away for when the time came.

Hawk dialed Jean's number. She picked up immediately.

Jean's first question was about his health, her voice rigid with worry. Hawk had to reassure her several times before she finally moved on to the real reason for her call.

"An alien artifact with my aura?"

"Yeah." Sitting across from Professor X, Jean nodded into the phone. "But it feels like a residual trace. Dad, do you know what this thing is?"

She quickly described the five-meter-tall Sentinel's appearance.

Hawk frowned, playing his part perfectly. "I have no idea. But if it has my residual energy on it, I must have come into contact with it somewhere."

"Could it be something you and Mom ran into while crossing over into this universe?" Jean guessed.

"Maybe." Hawk gave an ambiguous answer.

Then, he delivered the exact line Washington was desperately hoping to hear. Glancing at Wanda, who had already finished packing, he spoke directly into the receiver. "But I need to see it in person to be sure. Where are you right now?"

"We're currently at—"

"Never mind. Found you."

"What?"

"Your mother and I are already here."

"…"

Before Jean could process his words, the air in the room distorted. Professor X's eyes widened as scarlet energy gathered, forming a glowing portal that crackled with power. It resembled a Kamar-Taj gateway, though the light spilling from it was red.

Hawk and Wanda stepped through the portal together.

Wanda herself had never visited Kamar-Taj, but Gwen had. While Hawk meditated in the time vault, the Ancient One had invited Gwen to study in the library there. Now that Wanda had merged into Hawk's timeline, her own time loop was finished. Replicating the Sorcerer Supreme's portals with Chaos Magic was simple for her. She even understood the forbidden spells of the Darkhold.

Hawk lowered his phone. He threw a passing glance at the man in the wheelchair before his pale gaze settled on Jean.

He smiled faintly. "Where is the machine?"

Jean paused for a moment, then her eyes shone with delight.

"Dad!" She rushed over and threw her arms around him.

Until today, she had truly believed she and Professor X were family. When it mattered, though, Xavier had shown her she was still an outsider. Now, her real family had arrived.

Xavier felt the emotional whiplash radiating from Jean's mind. He wanted to say something, but as Hawk's piercing gaze locked onto him, the words died in his throat.

One thing was clear: Hawk was weak at the moment, his power unstable. Even so, the pressure he gave off was as heavy as ever. It wasn't raw energy, but the cold indifference of someone who had fought his way to the top.

Xavier quickly withdrew his telepathy, wary that Wanda might see even a stray psychic probe as a threat. Hawk might have been weakened, but Wanda's presence was overwhelming.

"Mr. Phoenix," Xavier greeted carefully.

"Dr. Xavier." Hawk patted Jean's back as she went to hug Wanda, then looked back at the Professor. He didn't waste time with pleasantries. "The object with my aura. Where is it?"

Xavier stared at him intently. "Is that machine yours, Mr. Phoenix?"

Hawk had denied it on the phone, but Xavier wasn't about to take him at his word. As the one responsible for this world, he needed to be sure.

Hawk paused, a trace of amusement in his expression.

"What if it is? What if it isn't?"

Xavier's voice sank, turning grave. "If it is yours, we will gladly return it to you—provided you guarantee you will leave our Earth immediately. If it is not, then perhaps you can provide us with some useful intelligence regarding its origins."

Hawk regarded Xavier in silence.

After a moment, Hawk gave a short laugh.

"Am I supposed to interpret that as a threat, Professor X?"

"No. Just a request for a guarantee."

"In your mind, it's a request. In mine, it's a threat." Hawk's smile faded, his expression turning cold.

"I don't take threats. But since you looked after my daughter before we arrived, I'll let this go. Once. Remember, Charles: my mercy doesn't extend to the same person twice."

Charles Xavier wasn't Mephisto. Only Mephisto had ever received Hawk's mercy more than once.

Hawk gave Xavier one last look before turning to Wanda.

"Where is the machine?"

"Here," Wanda said.

She lifted her right hand, scarlet Chaos Magic swirling at her fingertips. With a practiced motion, she opened a second portal, this one leading straight into the high-security lab where the Sentinel was kept.

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