Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman Chapter 696: The X-Men Show Their Strength

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The young Iceman, having been singled out, answered uncertainly,

"...I think I can.

"I've just never used my powers on this kind of scale before."

He hesitated before adding,

"And reinforcing the tunnel with ice takes time.

"The ice won't disappear immediately—it'll stay solid for quite a while at normal temperatures—but Cyclops' optic blasts generate enough heat to melt it."

Cyclops immediately stepped forward.

"Kid, you don't need to freeze the entire tunnel all at once."

He pointed toward the rubble ahead.

"I'll clear the way in front.

"You reinforce the tunnel behind me."

"We'll move forward inch by inch."

"That way, my optic blasts won't have enough time to melt your ice."

"And I won't accidentally blast too far ahead and injure anyone near the survivors."

---

Once the veteran X-Men began contributing ideas, it was clear they believed this approach had real potential.

The discussion quickly shifted from brainstorming to developing an actual rescue plan.

Every concern raised by the fire officials was answered one by one by the mutants.

Naturally, the proposed solutions relied on mutant abilities.

Ordinary people simply couldn't achieve the same results—even with specialized equipment—or at least not with anywhere near the same speed and efficiency.

Under Cyclops' leadership, the brief discussion rapidly produced a workable plan.

It was ready to be put into action almost immediately.

Using Jean Grey's telepathy, they also confirmed that the first group of rescue targets still showed signs of life.

Professor Xavier could have performed the same task.

In fact, he could have done it even better.

But he was getting older.

More importantly, he wanted to give the younger generation opportunities to grow.

Unless they made truly serious mistakes, he preferred to observe quietly from the sidelines.

The real challenge today wasn't locating survivors.

It was reaching them.

Even if Xavier instantly identified every living person beneath the rubble...

They still had to be rescued one by one.

---

Using the 3D reconstruction generated by Stark Industries' tactical platform, the X-Men and fire officials selected the safest route toward the first trapped group.

Since this would be the very first attempt to rescue people from deep beneath the rubble, Henry, Tony Stark, and quite a few police and fire officials all followed the team to observe.

Officially, they were there to evaluate the effectiveness of the X-Men's rescue method before planning future operations.

Unofficially...

Some simply wanted to watch.

Others wanted to make sure the mutants didn't accidentally make things worse.

---

At the chosen location, Cyclops took the lead.

He activated the controls on his visor.

A crimson optic blast erupted forward.

The piled concrete instantly melted away, carving out a tunnel just large enough for a person to pass through.

Step by step, Cyclops descended into the ruins.

Close behind him, Bobby Drake—Iceman—followed.

Every section Cyclops cleared was immediately coated in thick layers of solid ice, reinforcing the tunnel walls.

Working in perfect coordination, the two advanced far faster than anyone had expected.

No conventional rescue team equipped with ordinary tools could possibly match their speed.

---

While everyone else admired the usefulness of mutant powers, Tony Stark's attention remained fixed on the tunnel itself.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"There isn't enough moisture in the air to create that much ice."

He sounded as though he were speaking mostly to himself.

"So his power isn't simply lowering the temperature and freezing water vapor."

Henry chose not to answer.

Explaining the abilities of an Omega-level mutant wasn't exactly simple.

Besides...

He had another problem.

He could practically feel a pair of eyes boring into his back.

Jean Grey's killing intent hadn't faded even slightly.

---

Ironically, the most nervous people present weren't the officials.

They were the younger X-Men.

It wasn't because they feared the tunnel collapsing.

They had complete confidence in their teammates' abilities.

What they feared was failing.

Failing to rescue anyone.

Failing in front of police officers and firefighters.

Losing face.

---

The temporary tunnel was completed even faster than anyone had anticipated.

If Cyclops had unleashed his full power, he could have blasted directly to the survivors' location in moments.

Instead, he deliberately restrained himself so Bobby would have time to reinforce each section.

As Bobby became increasingly comfortable with the process, his speed steadily improved.

The pace of the excavation accelerated accordingly.

Finally...

Roughly twenty minutes later...

The first survivor emerged from the tunnel, following close behind Iceman.

Cyclops remained below.

Inside the underground survival space, he directed the trapped civilians toward the tunnel while personally staying behind until everyone else had escaped.

---

When all eleven survivors finally emerged into daylight...

The entire rescue site erupted in cheers.

Just as it had throughout the previous days, every successful rescue brought applause echoing across the disaster zone.

The sound spread from one group to another.

Everyone shared in the excitement.

The operation had confirmed two crucial facts.

The X-Men's method worked.

And there really were survivors still trapped beneath the rubble.

Those two pieces of good news immediately revitalized everyone's spirits.

---

Even so, no one intended to dump the entire rescue effort onto the X-Men.

Everyone understood that no matter how powerful these heroes were...

There simply weren't enough of them.

The mutants themselves understood that as well.

Colossus, for example, possessed an unusually strong sense of responsibility.

The moment he saw Cyclops and Iceman prove the concept, he immediately joined the ordinary rescue workers.

Using nothing but tools and brute strength, he began clearing concrete elsewhere.

Other mutants used their abilities wherever they could contribute.

Those whose powers weren't particularly useful for tunneling either helped at the medical station...

Or carried debris...

Or assisted in any other way they could.

---

Cyclops, meanwhile, had long since grown accustomed to applause and gratitude.

Instead of basking in the praise, he quietly left the attention to Bobby, who was experiencing such recognition for the first time.

Then he walked straight toward Henry.

"I thought you'd rescue people much sooner."

Cyclops looked him directly in the eye.

"You can do the same things I can."

"But instead, you've been standing here watching the entire time."

"Enjoying the best seat in the house?"

---

Since he wasn't the target, Tony Stark discreetly stepped aside.

Watching someone else get grilled was far more entertaining.

Unexpectedly...

Henry didn't respond with sarcasm.

Instead, he calmly explained,

"I don't have anyone who can stabilize a tunnel for me."

"And my eyes are injured."

"So all I can do right now..."

"...is what I'm already doing."

---

Cyclops blinked.

He clearly hadn't expected such an almost conciliatory response.

Tony, on the other hand, twitched visibly.

Wait...

Did he just casually imply that he could normally do everything Cyclops can?

His eyes shoot lasers too?

Cyclops seemed ready to continue the conversation.

Then something changed.

Perhaps Professor Xavier had spoken to him telepathically.

Whatever the reason, Cyclops simply turned around and left.

There were far too many survivors still trapped underground.

Now that the rescue method had been proven effective, he and Bobby had no time to waste.

Watching the mutants depart, Tony looked at Henry with an increasingly strange expression.

Normally...

Three sentences from Henry were enough to make someone furious.

Five sentences could practically send them into cardiac arrest.

Yet today...

He'd been unusually restrained.

Tony finally asked,

"...Have you gone so long without sleep that your brain stopped working?"

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