Whew…

Taking in a long breath, Alex slowly closed his eyes, allowing his consciousness to sink into the dazzling ocean of power that was the six Infinity Stones. Their rhythm pulsed through his veins like six separate heartbeats, each resonating with a different frequency of existence—time, space, reality, power, soul, and mind—yet somehow harmonizing as if they had always belonged together.

In that instant, his mind seemed to detach from his body, drifting past the limits of flesh, past time itself, past the very framework of reality.

Flash!

A radiant burst of light erupted from the Infinity Gauntlet on his hand. It illuminated the lab like a newborn star, shadows fleeing to the corners before the brilliance dimmed again, leaving only the faint hum of incomprehensible power.

When the light faded, Alex staggered slightly, and small beads of sweat slid down his temples. But despite the exhaustion etched into his face, his lips curved upward.

"Done," he murmured, voice rough but triumphant.

Raven's sharp eyes caught the glint in his gaze. She stepped forward, unable to restrain her curiosity. "Alex… you used the Stones just now? What exactly did you do?"

"I severed the connection between mutants and the Celestials," Alex replied, the corners of his mouth lifting with quiet satisfaction. "Completely and irreversibly. I altered the very foundation of our existence. From this moment on, mutants are not the experiments of cosmic giants. We are simply children of Earth, born from natural genetic mutation, free of any Celestial design."

Gasps filled the room.

"This…" Erik's voice was hoarse, his usual composure cracking. His piercing eyes widened as though he were staring into an abyss. "The Infinity Stones can… truly rewrite our origin?"

The others exchanged stunned glances. Hank's jaw hung slack, Charles's brows arched in disbelief, and even Raven, who had long grown accustomed to Alex's miracles, was struck speechless.

But Alex only spread his hands, shrugging lightly. "When the Stones are united, they transcend all laws. Time, space, cause, effect… even the concept of what is 'real' becomes malleable. To erase a false history and replace it with truth? Compared to wiping out half of all life with a snap, this is a minor adjustment."

Raven's eyes glittered as the weight of his words settled in. She clenched her fists, her voice breaking with emotion. "That's… incredible. That means the Celestials no longer have any claim on us. They can't use us as livestock for their experiments anymore!"

Relief washed over the room like a tide. Shoulders straightened, breaths eased, and for the first time in years, the shadow looming over their kind seemed to lift.

Yet just as the sparks of hope flared, Alex's calm voice cut through like a bucket of ice water.

"Don't celebrate yet. We still face another threat."

The joyous glow froze on every face. It was as though the sound of grinding brakes had jolted them all mid-flight.

"Troubles always come one after another," Erik muttered dryly, folding his arms with a bitter smile. "At this point, I'd be more surprised if they didn't."

"What now, Alex?" Raven asked, her voice firm despite the heaviness in the air.

"Let's return to the main hall," Alex said, sliding the gauntlet from his arm. His tone carried the weight of inevitability. "Everyone needs to hear this."

–––

Soon, the grand hall was filled. Leaders, warriors, and scholars of mutantkind gathered, the atmosphere tense and restless. Even Captain Marvel appeared, her holographic projection flickering into existence as she tuned in from light-years away. Her presence alone was proof enough of the matter's gravity.

If Alex was summoning her, then the situation was no trivial crisis.

Alex stood at the center, his gaze sweeping the assembly. When he finally spoke, his words dropped like meteors.

"The Earth may be destroyed within decades—ten years, twenty, maybe fifty at most."

A stunned silence descended, followed by an uproar.

"Destroyed?!"

"Alex, what are you saying?"

"Is this some kind of exaggeration?"

But Alex did not flinch. His voice remained steady. "I've told you about the Celestials before. What I didn't reveal is that one slumbers beneath our very feet. A Celestial is gestating in Earth's core. When it awakens, this planet will not survive."

The hall fell silent again, heavier than before.

The X-Men exchanged stricken looks. Even the most battle-hardened mutants—veterans who had stared down Sentinels, Magneto's Brotherhood, and world-ending machines—found themselves pale, their courage faltering before this revelation.

Vincent, his many arms folding in frustration, groaned aloud. "Why is it always us? Since the day we appeared on the world stage, it's been one disaster after another. And just when we think we've made it through, another calamity lands in our laps. What's next, the sun exploding?"

No one laughed.

They all knew he had spoken their hearts.

Without Alex, mutants would have been wiped out long ago. Without him, Earth itself might already be ashes. And yet, no matter how many times he had carried them through, fate seemed intent on pushing them toward another cliff.

"This is different," Charles said quietly, looking at Alex with grave eyes. "The others were storms. This… is an extinction. Alex, what is your plan?"

The hall's attention turned to him. Dozens of eyes, filled with fear yet searching for hope, locked onto Alex.

He inhaled deeply before answering. "There is one possibility. The Eternals—beings placed here as guardians—may choose to defy their orders and destroy the Celestial when it emerges. If that comes to pass, Earth will survive."

"And if they fail?" Raven asked, her voice low.

"Then we prepare for the worst. We search for another world—a new home for our people and, if necessary, for all humanity."

A murmur rippled through the hall.

It was a humiliating thought, leaving their birthplace. But when weighed against annihilation, pride was meaningless.

Hank rubbed his temples and sighed heavily. "So, interstellar immigration. A plan both desperate and practical. Perhaps the only plan."

Carol Danvers nodded from her projection, her jaw set in determination. "Then I'll do my part. I'll scour the stars, find planets capable of sustaining life. I've seen what's out there. Somewhere, there must be a world fit for Earth's children."

Her words steadied the room, and a flicker of resolve replaced despair.

Alex's gaze softened slightly. "There may already be a better choice than Xandar or any random colony world. Earth is one of the Nine Realms. Asgard is bound to us more deeply than any alien planet. If I can help Asgard survive Ragnarok, then when Earth faces its end, Asgard will surely welcome us. It will be our sanctuary."

The hall grew still, each leader digesting his words.

A future away from Earth. A future tied to gods and realms beyond mortal reach. It was terrifying. It was humbling. But for the first time, it felt like hope.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For 60 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:

Patreon - Twilight_scribe1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~