Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5758 - 4781: X Royal Family

The destination they arrived at was indeed expansive and open, with speech resonating loudly due to heavy echoes. Beneath them lay no greenery, only sparse moss clinging to the corners. Even without Stark's confirmation, Shiller could sense the proximity of the underground hot springs, as a wave of humid heat washed over them shortly after their descent.

They had been informed of two passages below, one distinctly hotter than the other. The trio proceeded towards the warmer opening, which was also rather broad, engaging in conversation as they journeyed onward.

"Most mutants are rather hasty," Stark lamented, "They declared their intention to construct hot springs and immediately commenced work, unwilling to delay even by a single day. Charles made no effort to restrain them."

"Perhaps Charles was also amenable to the idea," Shiller suggested. "Had he not lent his agreement and backing, the mutants would hardly have been so keen to proceed."

"My assessment is that he is looking to cultivate tourism," Steve offered his perspective. "Specifically, tourism originating from the Central Universe directed towards this locale. This area presents itself as a naturally gifted nurturing ground. It is time to bring those young ones here."

Indeed, Stark harbored similar thoughts. However, to draw them in, an element of allure was necessary. The pre-existing forest alone was insufficient, hence his dedication to initiating these constructions. His primary concern was the mutants' potential lack of experience and their eagerness, which might inadvertently lead to unfavorable outcomes.

"Do you all share this viewpoint?"

"Is it not so?"

Shiller voiced his dissent, shaking his head. "The mutants of the Central Universe have finally attained a measure of dignity, earning respect across the cosmos and wielding considerable clout even on Earth. They are met with smiles wherever they go. The emerging generation of mutants has been shielded from hardship. How could Charles possibly permit these children to face such adversity anew?"

"That holds water," Stark concurred. "If placed in the same situation, I certainly would not. Discrimination is not a sharp blade; it is a bottle of slow-acting poison that gradually erodes one's spirit, inducing feelings of rejection and isolation from the world. Such prolonged damage can, at times, be more agonizing than acute confrontations. I would not wish any child to endure such suffering."

"Then why the haste?" Steve inquired with a hint of confusion. "I had assumed they were no longer capable of managing the children."

"From your vantage point, that assumption is understandable," Stark replied. "After all, parents who are not mutants often struggle with the challenges of raising mutant offspring. Furthermore, Little Thomas is an exceptionally powerful mutant. To suggest, however, that the Scarlet Witch is incapable of handling her child is an exaggeration; otherwise, why would she opt for a daughter after bearing twin sons?"

"That also seems reasonable," Steve acknowledged. "Yet, Little Thomas is actually quite well-behaved; he has never employed his mutant abilities in my or his mother's presence. His initial outburst does not count."

As their conversation flowed and their steps progressed, the ambient heat intensified, and the humidity grew so heavy that their eyes began to water. Shiller was compelled to assume his fog form. Stark glanced at Steve, inquiring, "Can you still endure this?"

"You underestimate my resilience," Steve responded. "You must recall that a navigator charts the course for starships. This implies that if established routes prove unviable, one must devise new paths. What manner of brutal cosmic conditions have I not encountered? This is but a trifle."

Venturing further, the surroundings transitioned into a swirling white mist. The true nature of the subterranean hot springs was finally unveiled. Rather than a typical hot spring, it more closely resembled an area of intensely high-temperature steam. From their perspective, only vapor was visible; the source of the heat likely lay deeper below.

The temperature at this depth was no longer hospitable to ordinary individuals. The entirety of the cavern felt akin to a colossal steaming cauldron; any unprotected human remaining here for an extended period risked being cooked. The steam was so dense it felt as though one were drowning.

Stark stooped to examine the phenomenon more closely. His mecha was engineered to function even in proximity to the sun, rendering this environment inconsequential. He then declared, "This appears to be a geothermal vent; the hot springs are situated far deeper than our initial estimations. This discovery further suggests that the underlying volcano is of a greater magnitude than we had previously conceived."

"I can perceive that," Shiller stated, maintaining his gaseous form. "Given the intricate nature of this subterranean cave system, volcanic activity here must be rather frequent. Shall we descend and investigate further?"

"Since we have come this far," Shiller declared, "Steve, position yourself within my fog; I shall convey you downwards."

Steve complied, stepping into the mist, and Shiller enveloped him within the swirling gray vapor. Stark descended first, and shortly thereafter, his voice echoed from below. "The depth here is considerable, at least a hundred meters. There is no solid ground beneath. I have established a temporary platform; proceed towards the red illumination."

The thick vapor intensified, making it feel as if they were within a gaseous planet, enveloped by high-temperature gases, thankfully devoid of destructive storms and compressions. Descending further, they traveled for more than seventy meters before finally spotting indications of the red light.

Shiller gently placed Steve onto the platform, but the steam was so dense that visibility was nonexistent. Stark, faced with this obstruction, projected a three-dimensional terrain map and indicated a point below. "The actual hot spring lies down there, approximately one hundred and fifty meters from the surface. The temperature is extremely high; direct immersion is certainly not possible," he explained.

"For mutants, drawing water is not a difficult feat; it merely requires some clever design," Shiller mused for a moment before inquiring, "What about the others? Have they arrived yet?"

"As I mentioned, they are taking a longer route. I estimate it will take several more turns for them to reach this point," Stark replied, gesturing in a particular direction. "There's an opening over there; they might enter from that location. Would you be able to meet them?"

Shiller glanced down at the entrance Stark indicated, which was quite close to the hot spring. He promptly shook his head, stating, "It's best not to go. The Gray mist dislikes excessively hot environments."

"Ah, a limitation of the symbiont," Stark acknowledged. "Then how does it function in proximity to the Sun?"

"It endeavors to avoid the Sun's vicinity as much as possible. To put it in human terms, being near the Sun is akin to them being close to ghosts."

This unusual comparison brought amusement to the two individuals present. Nevertheless, Stark eventually flew off to retrieve the others. The sight of him appearing suddenly, a blue figure hurtling through dense steam, caused the Main Universe Captain America to nearly deploy his shield, as if encountering a phantom.

"It's me, it's me!" Stark called out.

"Good heavens," the Main Universe Captain America responded with a sigh of exasperation. "What are you doing here? Didn't you say you were ill?"

"Steam therapy aids in recovery," Stark offered, fabricating an excuse. "You took a detour; there's actually a direct passage just tens of meters above ground."

"Is that so?" inquired Spider-Man. "I had assumed this circuitous route would complicate the water channeling; it would indeed be convenient if a more direct path existed."

Shortly after Spider-Man finished speaking, another Spider-Man arrived. "That's right! I was just contemplating the plan. Traversing this path is proving rather challenging, and I was indeed wondering if an alternative route was available."

Stark harbored some curiosity about their keen interest in the mutant hot spring, yet he refrained from probing further. He speculated it might be part of some local universe initiative. Since it didn't appear to be detrimental, he decided not to inquire more deeply.

Before long, various mutants began to arrive, primarily those capable of enduring high temperatures. Others, unable to withstand the heat, were shielded by Polaris. All were captivated by the magnificent surroundings and promptly commenced discussions on construction strategies.

Some proposed establishing the facility right there, suggesting the creation of a direct channel to let off some of the hot air, followed by the addition of water. With Iceman's temperature regulation, it could potentially serve as a bathing area.

However, the majority favored channeling the water upwards. Setting aside the environmental conditions of the current location, the sheer distance from the ground made even a direct elevator impractical due to travel time. Furthermore, many mutant abilities had limitations, preventing direct descent, which presented significant inconvenience.

Nevertheless, determining the destination for water channeling posed another challenge. Others observed numerous narrow and small caves along the pathway, necessitating extensive modifications. Stark, however, quickly suggested the sinkhole he had encountered during his journey as a suitable option.

He reasoned that the sinkhole's depth, spanning dozens of meters, was actually an advantage. Rooms could be excavated into the sinkhole walls. Since returning to the Royal Court after bathing would be excessively time-consuming, on-site accommodation would be essential. Should one feel hungry during a hot spring soak, restaurants would be required. Following a relaxing bath, a desire for a drink might arise, thus necessitating the establishment of a bar. The sinkhole cliff presented itself as the closest viable location to the hot spring.

This proposal garnered widespread approval, with many envisioning the idyllic scenario of bathing in the hot springs. However, these considerations were secondary; the immediate priority was devising a method to convey the water upwards.

Channeling the water incrementally using individual mutant abilities was deemed unfeasible. It was decided that establishing a comprehensive water system for stable operation would be the most effective approach. The local Spider-Man volunteered for the task, offering to enlist Iron Man's expertise for the design, promising efficiency and reliability.

The mutants remained neutral on the matter but had to concede Iron Man's exceptional capabilities. They acknowledged that his involvement would undoubtedly result in a perfect design.

Comprehensive measurements were taken, yielding the necessary data swiftly. The local Spider-Man worked through the night, and the local Iron Man dedicated his efforts to the design overnight as well, completing nearly the entire project within a single night.

This wasn't precisely a complex task, certainly no challenge for the brilliant mind of Iron Man. The sole intricacy lay in ensuring its operation remained completely stable, utterly unaffected by any mutant abilities. Fortunately, the mutants themselves were confined to the island. Iron Man confidently affirmed that his creation was so robust, even a wildly inebriated Magneto couldn't possibly cause a malfunction.

The mutants examined the blueprints, finding them sound and economical. With jubilant spirits, they commenced construction. Under Magneto's meticulous guidance, the efficiency remained surprisingly high despite the limited workforce. Any needed materials were either procured in small batches by the Hellfire Group or acquired by the mutants themselves. Astutely, Iron Man, considering the island's resource scarcity, had designed the system to utilize minimal components, all of which were standard parts readily available anywhere. Consequently, in a mere two to three days, the luxurious hot spring bath was erected.

While the cliffside dwellings were not entirely finished, they offered sufficient accommodation for the present. The bath at the sinkhole's base was a masterpiece, embodying Clarkia's signature natural aesthetic. It resembled a sprawling natural greenhouse more than a mere bathing area, even boasting an indoor pool enclosed by a crystal dome, in addition to the outdoor facility.

Upon its completion, the mutants marked the occasion with a modest celebration before eagerly preparing to host a grand hot spring banquet. Invitations extended not only to all mutant factions but also to the Avengers from both the Central and Prime Universes. Crucially, the local universe's Avengers were also invited, a gesture signifying amity.

Furthermore, they extended invitations to their allies within human society, including Wakanda's Black Panther, SWORD's Weather Witch, and even the human scientists who had yet to depart the island. In essence, every acquaintance of the mutants was summoned, ensuring an unforgettable gala on Clarkia Island.