"Alex."

"We finally meet again."

Mister Sinister looked down at Alex with the smug satisfaction of a victor. Normally, a man of his stature wouldn't indulge in such petty gloating—but Alex was no ordinary foe.

This was an opponent who had matched him at every turn, second only to Apocalypse himself.

Defeating someone like that?

Even Sinister couldn't resist savoring the moment.

The air around them was thick with tension, crackling with the aftermath of the battle that had just unfolded. Dust still lingered in the air, catching the faint glow of Sinister's eyes as he crouched down slightly to meet Alex's gaze.

"You—you coward!"

"Using underhanded tricks like this?"

"Fight me like a man!"

Alex snarled, his voice dripping with feigned fury as he glared up at Sinister. His fists clenched against the ground, jaw tight, eyes blazing.

The immortal mutant merely smirked, not even bothering to dignify the outburst with a response.

How naïve.

Did this boy really think battles were won through honor?

This wasn't a game. There were no rules here.

When it came to enemies, any means necessary was the only rule.

The silence between them was broken by a metallic snap—

CLICK.

Sinister fastened a high-tech collar around Alex's neck.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The indicator lights flashed—confirming activation.

Alex's mutant abilities were now completely suppressed. A faint hum filled the air, evidence of the dampening field's full power.

Only then did Sinister allow himself a small sigh of relief.

Mission accomplished.

And then—

BOOM!

Debris exploded as the Juggernaut burst from the wreckage, his roar shaking the air.

"Who the hell are you?!"

"I'll kill you ALL!"

Enraged, the Juggernaut charged—his unstoppable rampage aimed straight at Sinister.

But Sinister didn't even flinch. His cape fluttered around him like a living shadow as he raised a hand—

With a mere thought, his telepathy lashed out—

THUD.

The Juggernaut collapsed mid-stride, his crimson armor dissolving as his body shrank back to normal.

Cain Marko lay unconscious, his momentum sending him tumbling across the ground like a ragdoll.

Sinister lifted a single foot—

STOMP.

Effortlessly halting Cain's rolling form.

Just like that, the Juggernaut was neutralized.

[Special energy source detected!]

[Analyzing energy signature…]

[Energy value: 2000 Origin Points. Status: Extractable.]

Alex had been inwardly celebrating Sinister's unwitting assist, but this system alert sent a jolt of excitement through him.

A special energy source?

His eyes flicked to Cain's body—where the system's scanning overlay highlighted a crimson gem embedded in his chest.

The Crimson Gem of Cyttorak.

Of course.

The Juggernaut wasn't a mutant. His power came from this artifact.

And now, it was worth 2000 Origin Points.

Enough to complete his transformation into the perfect Homelander.

Sinister, you beautiful bastard.

You've outdone yourself.

GRIP.

Sinister's hand clamped onto Alex's shoulder. The fingers dug in like a predator claiming its prey.

"Now… you belong to me."

Alex barely had time to cringe at the terrible line before—

WHOOSH!

Sinister launched into the sky, carrying Alex with him.

"ALEX!"

"NO!"

Banshee and Darwin's shouts faded into the distance as the two figures vanished into the clouds.

---

High above the earth.

The wind howled as Sinister flew, his grip unyielding. Clouds whipped past them in a blur, the stars peeking out through the thinning layers.

"What do you plan to do with me?"

Alex's voice was eerily calm.

"If you're hoping for mercy, don't."

Sinister's tone was icy.

"You're too dangerous to keep alive. Once I've extracted what I need, you die."

Normally, Sinister preferred to recruit powerful mutants. Mold them. Break them if needed.

But Alex?

He was an exception.

A threat too great to ignore.

"Makes sense. I'd do the same."

Alex nodded approvingly.

"Fortunately for me, you're not in my position."

"Aren't I?"

SHUNK.

Sinister's body jerked violently—

Then plummeted like a stone.

CRASH!

He hit the ground with bone-shattering force, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Because standing over him—

Was Alex, holding Sinister's still-beating heart in his hand.

Blood dripped from his fingers like a crimson waterfall.

"H-How…?"

Sinister choked, his enhanced biology the only thing keeping him alive.

"Your collar… it suppressed your powers…!"

"Did it?"

Alex smirked.

And in that moment, Sinister understood.

The collar had only blocked mutant abilities.

But Alex's true strength?

That had never come from the X-gene.

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