Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5747 - 4770: X Royal Family: Rebirth (10)

Shiller navigated the corridor with haste. After ensuring everything was ready in the preparation area, he quickly entered the operating room. Even before he could see Charles on the operating table, he sensed the rapidly intensifying brainwave fluctuations.

"What in the world?" Shiller approached to examine Charles, then glanced at Strange, who was fully prepared beside him, and inquired, "What's wrong with him?"

"That's precisely what I'm trying to ascertain," Strange responded, his hands never ceasing their work. He slightly turned his gaze to the nearby heart monitor. "The anomaly in Professor X's brainwaves is manifesting through his heart rate, which is exhibiting extreme instability." The attending medical staff appeared visibly concerned, yet Strange, with his unparalleled expertise and resolute demeanor, pressed on with the surgery.

"Stabilize him by any means necessary," Strange commanded during the procedure. His voice, devoid of emotion, was as monotonous as the electronic beeps of the medical instruments, mimicking an unfeeling automaton. He accepted the scalpel from his assistant and, without looking up, stated, "You have a maximum of three minutes."

"Let me take a look," Shiller remarked, wasting no words. He moved to the opposite side of the operating table, carefully avoiding Strange's movements. Bending down, he gently lifted Professor X's eyelids, appearing to be sensing something profound.

"In his current condition, he cannot willingly permit entry into his mental domain, so I must employ some force. Gray mist!"

A swirl of gray mist emerged from Shiller's hand, but Strange immediately interjected, "Keep that away; it's obstructing my view!"

The mist hadn't fully manifested before it seeped into Professor X's body, progressing towards his brain. This direct, physical method of psychic intrusion proved effective swiftly. In the subsequent moment, Shiller found himself immersed within Professor X's Spirit Domain.

Yet, to his surprise, it was far from tranquil. Within the void of the pitch-black cosmos, a tempest raged. It wasn't solely Professor X's brainwaves but Magneto's as well.

Shiller instantly grasped the situation. However, mere understanding was insufficient; a solution was imperative. Following the chaotic fluctuations of magnetic fields and brainwaves, he propelled himself toward the epicenter of the disturbance. Nevertheless, the closer he approached the core, the more ferocious the storm became, reaching a point where even he struggled to withstand its full impact.

The immediate priority was to pacify one of them rapidly. Unsure of the outcome, Shiller projected his voice into the swirling expanse, "Magneto, if you persist, Charles Xavier will undoubtedly perish."

Indeed, these intertwined forces were the result of Professor X and Magneto locked in conflict. Professor X had drawn Magneto into his mental domain, but for reasons unknown, a battle ensued, leaving Professor X vulnerable to this unexpected internal assault, causing the peculiar brainwave anomaly during the critical operation.

After his utterance, Shiller paused, observing. Moments later, the violent energy subsided, and Professor X's true brainwave signature gradually surfaced. Shiller then heard his voice, tinged with weariness.

"I apologize, Erik. My intention was never to sacrifice myself for Scott; that was purely accidental. You must allow me to depart from this place, or others will grow concerned."

Magneto remained utterly unresponsive. Shiller felt compelled to add, "Whatever transpired between the two of you, please cease this conflict immediately. Professor X's condition is exceedingly perilous, and this surgery allows for no margin of error."

"You may not be aware, but the surgeon attending Professor X is Stephen Strange from the Central Universe, the renowned Doctor Strange. He experienced no prior car accident, and his surgical success rate is virtually flawless. He is a trusted friend, invited here personally. His efforts cannot falter at this crucial juncture."

"I fully comprehend," Professor X replied. "There appears to be a misunderstanding between Erik and myself, but it should not concern you. Everything is resolved now; you should depart."

"No, I am taking him with me," Shiller stated with unwavering resolve. "Regardless of any existing disagreements, now is certainly not the time for explanations or arguments. I must separate you two; Magneto must come with me."

"The current predicament is that I am unable to contain him," Professor X sighed. "Most carbon-based life forms struggle to adapt to an existence solely as a spirit body; over time, their spiritual forms invariably develop complications. Magneto's loss of control is partially attributed to this. I am the sole entity capable of managing him at present."

"That is not the case," Shiller countered. "Now, you will connect to my spirit domain and dispatch him to the High Tower; I will assume control over him."

Professor X voiced his uncertainty, while Shiller granted him access to his spirit domain. Professor X connected instantly, and although he didn't probe too deeply, he recognized this was no ordinary physician. Shiller’s esteemed reputation on Battleworld, he now understood, must have been well-deserved.

Previously, he had considered this possibility because Shiller had acted quite normally, much like someone genuinely trying to help them solve their issues, though perhaps with a hint of enjoyment in observing the ensuing chaos. At most, his methods were aggressive, and his demeanor somewhat unpleasant, but Professor X had encountered far too many peculiar individuals in his life to find Shiller particularly noteworthy.

However, as a seasoned expert in psychology, upon establishing a connection with Shiller’s spirit domain, Professor X immediately grasped that the claims of him being just an ordinary doctor without superpowers were entirely false. This individual was fundamentally abnormal from the outset.

"You cannot assure me that you won't harm him," Professor X expressed his lingering hesitation. "While there are misunderstandings between us, he harbors no intention of causing me harm. I understand you might not actively seek to do so, but some of the necessary safety measures to subdue him could prove exceedingly severe."

"You have no alternative," Shiller stated, meeting his gaze directly. "If you were truly to perish, he would only be burdened with greater guilt. Is that not so?"

That single statement served to completely sway Professor X. Shiller pressed onward, inquiring, "Where is he currently?"

"He is right here; this tempest is him," Professor X replied.

"Very well, entrust it to me." Shiller nodded. He transmuted into a wisp of gray mist, utilizing it to convey his mental waves, gradually constricting the turbulent storm. Ultimately, he drew it into his own mental world, securing it within the confines of the High Tower.

The High Tower certainly possesses a degree of suppressive capability, yet its efficacy primarily stems from its ability to diminish other personality facets. As Professor X had indicated, the process was indeed rather intense, but in the end, the rampaging magnetic storm was brought under control.

"Done." Shiller refocused, glancing at Strange. "You should proceed with the surgery. I need to ascertain from Magneto what transpired."

Strange offered no verbal response, merely conveying his understanding with a look. After Shiller departed, he retreated to his chambers for a brief period of rest before preparing to confront Magneto for an explanation of the events.

"You are awake?" Shiller inquired of Magneto in the High Tower's reception area. "Why did you suddenly lose control?"

Magneto pressed his lips together, remaining silent as if still processing the recent events. Shiller patiently waited; after a moment, Magneto finally spoke, "Charles has devised a plan."

"And what is his objective?"

"He recognizes his inability to prevent Scott from participating in the Shi’ar Empire's coup. However, he is adamant that Scott should not succumb to the lure of power within that vortex. You comprehend, such an outcome is highly probable. That realm represents the apex of power for the Three Great Empires, where immense wealth and status can be blinding."

"He doubts Scott's capacity to uphold his principles?"

"Were it solely him, perhaps he could. But recall, there is also his younger brother, for whom he feels profound guilt. Charles knows Scott intimately. To atone, he is prepared to undertake any measure. This situation could very easily draw him further and further in, until he is entirely lost."

"So, his strategy involves..."

"He intends for an individual within the Shi’ar Empire to orchestrate an attack, with him as the target. Naturally, the objective is not to estrange the brothers, but rather to provide Scott with a justifiable pretext for retribution. Although this approach derives his motivation from vengeance, the fundamental impetus remains love and protection. Once his quest for revenge is fulfilled, his desires will considerably diminish, allowing him to maintain clarity."

"This predicament is indeed challenging to navigate, and his proposed solution appears to be the most viable one. So, where does the issue lie?"

"The issue is that I fundamentally disagree," Magneto stated firmly. "I have been privy to his every thought, fully aware of his entire scheme. I strongly object to him engineering a situation through self-inflicted harm, yet he refuses to heed my counsel."

"At that juncture, he was already under scrutiny. You are aware that he previously resided within the Shi’ar Empire, and he was the target of numerous individuals. Following the news of the Fire God's usurpation, coupled with Charles's appearance, this will undoubtedly arouse suspicion in others."

"Indeed. Thus, this attack was also..."

"Following the catastrophic incident where the Phoenix lost control and annihilated entire star systems, the Shi’ar Empire has implemented a comprehensive defense strategy specifically against mutants. This is precisely why Charles is reluctant for Scott to become too deeply entangled. We suspect the Shi’ar Empire may have also stockpiled primary Sentinel robots. The facts bear out our suspicions; the laser that wounded Charles originated from a Sentinel robot weapon."

Shiller's brow furrowed slightly. "This situation grows increasingly complex. In your estimation, who do you believe supplied them with the Sentinel robots?"

"It is difficult to ascertain," Magneto stated, tilting his head. "Numerous individuals on Earth possess ties to the Shi’ar Empire, including The Avengers. The Illuminati, in fact, can communicate directly with the Shi’ar’s personal guard. Should they have a history of collaboration, the Shi’ar Empire would undoubtedly entertain similar propositions. The immense harm inflicted by mutants upon them compels them to pursue any available means."

"You intervened alongside Charles to prevent it."

"I concede that my anger surged, leading to a loss of control. Such an outburst was irreversible, and I failed to manage my mental state effectively, nearly endangering Charles."

"Were those individuals not dispatched by him?"

"No, they originated from a radical anti-mutant faction within the Shi’ar Empire. They previously attempted to assassinate Charles but were unsuccessful. Upon learning of this development, they would undoubtedly react like hyenas sensing a blood trail."

"However, they were incapable of killing him. If, as you claim, primary Sentinels were present, could the Professor have possibly survived such a scenario?"

"Their objective was indeed his demise, but a far greater priority was their desire to capture him alive. The primary design of Charles’s fourth-generation brainwave amplifier serves not to enhance brainwaves but to house mutant consciousness. Do you comprehend the implications of this?"

Shiller grasped the gravity: "They intend to seize mutant consciousness. Yet, without the genetic material, how would they possibly resurrect the mutants?"

"That particular detail remains unknown to me. However, their objective was unequivocally to capture Charles alive. Providentially, Scott arrived swiftly; he facilitated Charles’s return, and your group subsequently performed the surgery. The Shi’ar Empire’s scheme is now thwarted."

"I harbor a degree of doubt," Shiller responded. "They will soon ascertain Scott’s standing as the Professor’s most cherished student. The moment they target him, the Professor will inevitably emerge. The crucial factor at this juncture is the Fire God’s stance. As long as he safeguards his brother, the predicament should remain manageable. However, should he refuse or falter in his protection, your collective group may find yourselves compelled to undertake another expedition to the Shi’ar Empire."