After a week of patrolling New York City, the Vanguard was starting to make a name for themselves. Citizens waved and cheered, their voices filled with excitement. Still, a few watched with disdain, eyes narrowed with mistrust—they knew the rumors. Some of the Vanguard were mutants.
"Hey, Spidey! You finally getting the hang of those web shooters?" Adrian shouted as he hovered mid-air, relaxed, his arms folded.
Peter grinned from behind his mask. "Check this out!"
With a series of gymnastic flips, Peter launched himself through the air, webbing to a lamppost at the last second and flinging himself back up with a graceful arc.
"That's actually impressive," Bobby said, leaping through space using short-range warps, his trajectory propelled by momentum and using the grappling hook to hang on to the buildings.
"Yeah, yeah," Cassie said while summoning a shadowy tendril to swing forward. "Just don't die before you finish those new boots you're making. I'm tired of bruising my knees every time I land."
Peter scoffed, mock offended. "So you don't care if I die, just that I leave my tech behind? What a caring friend."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Suddenly, a heavy silence blanketed the area.
A figure floated above them—regal, cold, and powerful. He wore a deep crimson and purple suit with a helmet like a crown.
Adrian's breath caught in his throat. "Oh no."
Magneto had arrived.
Floating beside him stood a series of ominous figures: a white-haired speedster (Quicksilver), a pale, brooding woman in red (Wanda), a frog-like mutant crouched and watching (Toad), a blue-skinned shapeshifter with glowing yellow eyes (Mystique), and several others emerging like wraiths.
"Adrian," Magneto said coolly, voice rich with command. "You've done well. I've come to extend an offer. Join us. The Brotherhood welcomes strength."
Adrian stood tall, boots planted on the rooftop. "Sorry, Mister Magneto. We're trying to stay independent. We want to help everyone, not pick sides. We're mediators—not soldiers so I am sorry but we must reject"
Magneto's eyes narrowed. "Did I imply this was a request?"
Adrian instantly activated Warp Gate, coating his face in swirling purple-black smoke, giving him the ghostly mask of Kurogiri.
He quickly take off his armour and any metal equipment he have.
"Smart. You know what I'm capable of," Magneto said. "Impressive."
Adrian ditched his armor, wearing just a t-shirt and cargo pants, the quantum regulator Peter built now removed. He needed full access to Warp Gate, even if it meant risking instability. High Spec kicked into overdrive. Magneto was top priority. Wanda and Quicksilver followed.
"I'm done waiting," Magneto said. Metallic objects around the street lifted into the air. Cars, street signs, scaffolding. Screams erupted as people ran.
Adrian snapped into action. "Bobby! Cassie! Deal with the speedster! He's a problem."
"Got it!"
"Peter, get the X-Men. Now! You're the fastest communicator we've got!"
"But—"
"No time!" Adrian charged OFA to 15% and shoved Peter into the distance.
Just then, a steel beam flew toward Adrian.
"Shit!" He phased through it using Permeation and reappeared beside a rooftop antenna.
Meanwhile, Bobby and Cassie faced Quicksilver.
"Y'all move like molasses," Pietro smirked, blurring into motion.
Bobby barely see him in time before getting punched in the face. He stumbled, bruised forming already.
"Damn it, he's too fast!" Cassie fired a spread of shadow needles, but Quicksilver wove through them effortlessly.
"I can't slash him if I can't touch him! This is worse than fighting Adrian when he phases!"
Bobby's eyes sparked with realization. "Cassie, use that scatter move you developed for training with Adrian!"
Cassie blinked—then smirked. "Oh, you mean the storm. Got it."
Dozens of small weapons—daggers, needles, kunai—manifested from Cassie's shadows and launched in all directions.
Quicksilver chuckled in his slowed perception. "Nice try."
He dodged easily, catching a few in midair and flinging them back. One dagger zipped toward Bobby.
In real time, Bobby saw it. He froze. "Is this how I die? Killed by Cassie's own weapon?"
His mind flashed—his family, his sister, Adrian, Cassie, Peter.
"No. Like hell I'm dying like this."
His eyes glowed golden. A small black portal opened in front of him, swallowing the blade.
Before Pietro could process it, Bobby appeared in front of him and slammed a glowing fist into his gut. Pietro gasped.
Bobby then spun and roundhouse kicked him toward Cassie.
"NOW!"
Cassie's shadows melted into fluid and wrapped around Pietro, binding him in a cocoon of darkness.
"Got him!" they shouted.
But then the air turned red.
Wanda floated forward, hands glowing with chaos magic. "You think it's over?"
Cassie and Bobby turned to face her, eyes narrowing.
Meanwhile, Adrian was locked in a dance of survival.
Magneto hurled sharp, jagged metal at him. Adrian warped between spots, phasing at the last second to avoid impalement.
"You're incredible, Adrian," Magneto said. "Why refuse power? We could protect our own. No more hiding. No more fear."
"Because I've seen what that kind of power does to people," Adrian growled. He activated Hardening and pushed OFA to 20%. His muscles screamed. Sparks danced off him.
"Bring it."
Magneto twisted his hands, constructing a jagged spear of broken scaffolding and hurled it.
Adrian deflected it mid-air with a powered elbow strike, then leapt forward, Float-enhanced, closing the distance.
He landed a punch—Magneto reeled, gritting his teeth.
"You little—"
Metal wrapped around Adrian's legs, pulling him back.
"That all you've got?" Adrian roared, warping out of the trap and drop-kicking Magneto from above.
They clashed—quarks and power colliding in a whirlwind of steel and smoke.
Back below, Peter had returned—leading Storm, Cyclops, and Iceman through the streets.
"They're up top! Adrian needs help!"
Storm's eyes glowed. "We're on it."
Lightning split the sky as the X-Men ascended.
Wanda turned. "Oh great. The boy brought friends."
Cassie summoned a massive buster sword. Bobby conjured a distortion wave, distorting Wanda's attacks.
The battle raged across rooftops. Lights flickered. Glass shattered. The Vanguard and the Brotherhood clashed with brutal precision.
Finally, Cyclops let out a roaring optic blast that scattered the Brotherhood. Storm whipped winds to push them back.
Magneto scowled. "Enough. This isn't over."
He raised a hand. The Brotherhood regrouped, and in a blur, they vanished—leaving only destruction behind.
Adrian stood, breath heaving, body bruised and scorched.
Peter reached him first. "You okay?"
Adrian grinned weakly. "Still in one piece. Barely."
Cassie and Bobby regrouped.
Cassie nudged him. "You owe me a pizza."
Bobby added, "And a new helmet. This one got dented."
Adrian chuckled through the pain.
Above them, Storm floated, arms crossed. "You handled yourselves well. But this war's just beginning."
Adrian looked to the skies.
"Let them come. The Vanguard will be ready."