Farewell, Sebastian Shaw

"I just entered the gatekeeper’s mind." Having only just regained his composure, Charles spoke anxiously. "The reactor energy readings show that Shaw is absorbing all the energy from the Nuclear Submarine!"

After a brief pause, Charles turned to Alex with an extremely solemn expression. "He wants to turn himself into a Nuclear Bomb!"

Just as Alex was about to speak, the Beautiful Liaison Officer beside him suddenly pulled a dial from her person and said frantically, "We’re out of time. The Geiger Counter is about to go off the scale!"

"Okay, beautiful!" Charles paused at her words, then turned to Alex. Seeing that Alex apparently had no intention of taking command, Charles grimaced but decisively took charge anyway. "Next, we’ll use the walkie-talkie to notify both fleets to withdraw immediately."

Alex thought highly of Charles and intended to use this opportunity to give him some practice, so he had no plans to interfere with the command. Of course, he absolutely would not let Sebastian Shaw go.

"I’m going in."

At Alex’s words, the worried Charles immediately smiled. He nodded and promptly ordered, "Hank, Alex, cover him!"

"Alex, once you’re inside, follow my instructions…" After giving orders to Hank and Alex, Charles turned back to Alex. He stopped halfway through his sentence, his face flushing red with embarrassment. He had suddenly remembered that Alex did not need his help. Alex was equally proficient in telepathy.

Alex merely chuckled and pointed at the Brotherhood of Mutants members who had already run out of the submarine. "Leave these guys to you. I’ll handle the ones inside!" As soon as he finished speaking, Alex vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already at the breach in the submarine.

"While you’re at it, pray we’re not too late."

After leaving those words behind, Alex immediately slipped into the submarine and disappeared from everyone’s sight.

"What should we do?" Darwin was having trouble adapting to the pace of events and turned toward Charles. Darwin’s ability had major shortcomings in combat, and he had not trained for long. His fighting skills were not particularly outstanding either, putting him at a serious disadvantage in a situation like this.

Charles had clearly thought it through already. Pointing at the Beautiful Liaison Officer, he raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Protect her. Hold this position and keep anyone else from getting in."

Darwin understood his own ability and did not resent the task for being too simple. He nodded readily. "Don’t worry, I’ll protect her!" As he spoke, Darwin had already moved to the Beautiful Liaison Officer’s side, seemingly ready to shield her at any moment.

While Charles and Darwin were talking, Alex could no longer hold back and launched the first attack. A crimson beam the size of a washbasin shot from his chest and instantly struck Riptide, who was stirring up a storm beside the submarine. Caught completely off guard, Riptide flew backward and slammed into the submarine. The other mutants around him flew into a rage and charged over.

Although they had lost Red Devil, who had been killed by Alex in an earlier battle, the Brotherhood of Mutants did not lack mutants capable of teleportation.

The moment Alex finished firing the crimson beam, someone teleported behind him and raised a hand to stab at his back. Hank, who stood beside Alex, had been prepared and blocked the attack. The battle that followed was much like the scene in the movie—thrilling, but not especially intense.

Having entered the submarine, Alex briefly checked on the battle outside. Once he confirmed that Charles and the others were not at an obvious disadvantage, he focused entirely on finding Sebastian Shaw.

"We believe Shaw is trying to detonate some kind of bomb." Alex had only taken a few steps when he suddenly heard the Beautiful Liaison Officer’s voice. Charles had relayed it through telepathy.

Even knowing that Alex possessed telepathy, Charles could not help worrying. As he passed along the Beautiful Liaison Officer’s words, he also guided Alex. "The center of the submarine—I can’t sense anything there. I’m guessing Shaw is there!"

Alex could not help curling his lip. Though he knew Charles meant well, he was still somewhat displeased. He replied flatly, "Charles, go help the others. I can handle things here!"

"All right!" Charles gave an awkward smile. He glanced at Darwin and the Beautiful Liaison Officer, then shifted his gaze to the mutants locked in battle and began using his ability to assist his comrades.

After warning Charles, Alex quickened his pace. In the blink of an eye, he reached the center of the submarine. He casually shut down the Nuclear Reaction Controller, then continued inward and soon arrived at a lavishly decorated lounge.

After looking around, Alex turned his gaze to the wall directly opposite the hatch. If his guess was correct, behind that wall was the place where Sebastian Shaw was absorbing nuclear energy—the room that looked like a mirror chamber.

"Sebastian Shaw, I’m here!" Alex took a deep breath and suddenly shouted. Under his deliberate control, his booming voice was even more concentrated than Sea Siren Sean’s sonic waves, shooting straight at the opposite wall like a drilling charge.

At that moment, the wall suddenly opened, revealing the mysterious Blue Mirror Room within, along with Sebastian Shaw wearing a helmet.

"Alex, what a surprise!" Sebastian Shaw’s voice was strange and exceptionally low. "It’s good to see you again!"

The corner of Alex’s mouth lifted into an indifferent smile. As he walked toward the Blue Mirror Room, he mocked softly, "Are you sure you want to see me?"

"May I ask you a few questions?" Sebastian Shaw gave a light laugh and shrugged carelessly, his expression utterly calm.

The instant Alex entered the room, the wall behind him closed again. Charles had been keeping part of his attention on the situation inside the submarine, and the moment the wall shut, he lost all awareness of what was happening within.

"I hope nothing happens." Charles sighed softly, his face full of worry.

Darwin, however, grinned unconcernedly and said easily, "Relax. He’s Alex!"

Inside the submarine’s Blue Mirror Room, Alex fell silent for a moment, then nodded to indicate that Sebastian Shaw could ask. Even if Sebastian Shaw had absorbed the energy of the entire submarine, Alex still had absolute confidence that he could kill him, so he did not mind wasting a little time.

Seeing how unhurried Alex was, Sebastian Shaw’s expression finally changed. With a trace of resentment and dissatisfaction, he said, "Why are you on their side?"

"Why fight for a race that is about to perish?" The more Sebastian Shaw spoke, the more agitated he became. Without waiting for Alex to answer, he asked again, his expression somewhat twisted. "Once humanity realizes its time is running out, they’ll wipe us out completely."

Alex sneered coldly and punched Sebastian Shaw in the face. "I’ve waited a long time for this punch!"