“If you think I’m suitable, Professor, then of course I won’t refuse.
It would be an honor.” Joining the X-Men would inevitably mean taking on some responsibilities.
For example, rescuing mutants or ordinary people in danger, or helping resolve various crises.
But overall, becoming an X-Man wasn’t a bad thing.
“Then from this moment onward, you’re officially a new member of the X-Men.” “I’ll submit your information, and once that’s processed, you’ll be granted the privileges that come with being an X-Man.” Professor X spoke with a pleased expression.
Submit my information?
Roy frowned slightly.
Wasn’t joining the X-Men something Professor X could decide on his own?
Submit his information to whom?
Seeing the confusion on Roy’s face, Professor X smiled.
“Although the X-Men aren’t an official organization, we do occasionally cooperate with government authorities.” “In return, the X-Men are granted certain privileges.” “For example, the right to operate around the world without ordinary restrictions.” There’s something like that?
Professor X’s explanation greatly exceeded Roy’s expectations.
This really is different from the movies.
Roy didn’t know whether the “authorities” Professor X referred to meant the U.S.
government specifically or something broader.
But one thing he was certain of was that the X-Men in the movies had never had this kind of official cooperation, much less special privileges.
“Besides being able to operate freely around the world, what other privileges do the X-Men have?” Roy immediately asked.
“That’s a little complicated.
It isn’t something I can explain properly in just a few words.” “How about this?
After tomorrow’s practical combat class, I’ll have Scott explain everything to you.
If you have any questions, you can ask him then.” Professor X replied unhurriedly.
Although Roy would have to wait until tomorrow afternoon, he didn’t continue pressing the issue and simply nodded.
“All right.
You should go get some rest.” “Okay, Professor.” With that, Roy stood up and left the headmaster’s office.
… The following afternoon.
While the other students attended training class on the lawn behind the main building, Roy and Lorna headed to the underground training room beneath the mansion.
They weren’t alone.
Iceman, Colossus, and Shadowcat had also been selected to participate.
Roy wasn’t entirely sure what considerations Cyclops and the others had used when choosing those three.
But the moment he saw Iceman and the others joining the practical combat class, a scene immediately surfaced in his mind—the one where Wolverine and Storm led Iceman and the others through a battle against robots in the underground training room.
This time, Rogue and Wolverine were absent.
Instead, there were Roy, Lorna, and Cyclops.
Once everyone had arrived, Cyclops briefly introduced the training room and explained what they would be doing.
Then he had Storm activate the facility.
Under Lorna and the others’ watchful eyes, the previously empty training room rapidly transformed.
Before long, what appeared to be a holographic city street materialized around them.
Strictly speaking, the deserted street in front of them really was a holographic projection.
However, unlike an ordinary virtual hologram, the projection inside this training room felt unusually real.
Or rather, it was almost indistinguishable from reality.
That was because it wasn’t merely a holographic projection.
Professor X’s psychic power had been incorporated into it as well.
Roy had no idea what kind of technology was involved, but there was one thing he was certain of.
Everything projected here felt exactly like the real thing.
Put simply, if you smashed through a wall, it felt no different from breaking a real wall.
Likewise, if one of the simulated enemies hit you, you would feel as though you had genuinely been injured.
Once the simulation ended, any injuries would disappear.
But the pain experienced while being “injured” was almost identical to the real thing.
From a scientific perspective, none of this made much sense.
But when mutant abilities were involved, it was perfectly reasonable.
Once the simulation finished forming, Cyclops continued, “Your training today is simple.
Defend this block.” “As for what kind of enemies will attack, you’ll find out soon enough.” After saying that, Cyclops’s figure began to blur, as though someone were erasing him with an eraser.
The moment Cyclops disappeared, Lorna and the others all turned toward Roy.
It was their first time here, and none of them had any idea what was going to happen next.
“Mr.
Scott already explained it clearly.
Our job is to defend this block.” “As for the enemies, they’re different every time.
I don’t know what we’ll be facing either.” “One more thing—a friendly warning.
You’d better treat everything here as real.” “The attacks are real.
The enemies are real.
Even these buildings around us are real.” Roy looked at Lorna and the others and spoke unhurriedly.
Cyclops had already told them something similar.
Even so, they still looked somewhat unconvinced.
“Stop wasting time and get ready to fight.” With that, Roy ignored them and immediately entered a combat-ready state.
He didn’t transform into his hybrid form, but his expression became completely focused.
Seeing how serious he suddenly looked, Lorna and the others finally became more alert and prepared themselves for battle.
Lorna brought out the six metal spheres she always carried and made them float around her.
Colossus transformed into his steel form.
Iceman and Shadowcat didn’t appear to do anything, but they were both ready to activate their abilities at any moment.
They didn’t have to wait long.
A fully armed military unit appeared before them.
… Three minutes later.
Lorna and the others sat on the ground with expressions of disbelief, unable to accept what they had just experienced.
At the same time, the projected street began to disappear.
The training room gradually returned to its original appearance.
Roy had warned them.
But clearly, they hadn’t taken his warning seriously enough.
Without any suspense, they had lasted only three minutes against the fully armed force.
Lorna had been “killed” by an explosion.
Iceman had been “shot dead” by gunfire.
Colossus had been buried beneath a collapsing building.
The only relatively lucky one had been Shadowcat, Kitty.
After activating her ability, every attack simply passed through her body.
As for Roy, he hadn’t suffered much damage at all.
He had been rampaging through the enemy’s main force, cutting them down one after another.
Even so, Cyclops still terminated the exercise and marked the entire team as having failed.
No one had actually died.
And once the simulation ended, the injuries suffered by Lorna, Iceman, and the others vanished.
But the sensation of “dying” had still left an unforgettable impression on them.
Barring anything unexpected, they were probably going to have nightmares tonight.
“You underestimated the enemy far too much!” “If those hadn’t been simulated enemies but real ones, the three of you would already be dead!” Cyclops pointed at Lorna, Iceman, and Colossus, his expression stern.