48: Chapter 48 Magneto

"How is that possible? How did he know? Is it because of that photo?"

"No, he didn't add a location tag, and an old fossil like Magneto probably doesn't even use social media."

Just as she was thinking this, the man appeared.

He descended slowly from the air, and the girls looked up at him.

He wore his iconic helmet and purple cape, a black combat suit paired with a red chest plate, and purple bracers on his arms.

"You."

His voice was soft, yet deafening. The eyes beneath the shadow of his helmet were locked onto Jean.

"You, Mutant, are powerful and perfect."

"Who are you?!" Jean shouted, shielding her friends.

"I am Magneto, a Mutant like you." His cape fluttered in the wind. "I have come to offer you a proposal."

"Oh? What kind of proposal? Do you want to learn about fashion? Capes are a product of the last century, buddy!"

Jean retorted.

Peter raised an eyebrow in admiration from the rooftop. To be able to roast a villain so smoothly on her first night out—he was so proud of her.

"I offer you salvation, Jean Grey," Magneto said slowly.

Jean gasped. "H-how do you know my name?"

"I have my ways," Magneto nodded. "Join me, and I will show you a World like you've never seen before. There, you won't have to hide who you are, nor will you have to hide what Mutant you are."

"Join me, Jean. You will never have to hide again. Show the World how amazing you are."

Jean paused, and Peter could see she was thinking.

Just as she was about to speak, Mary Jane suddenly shouted, "She's not going anywhere! She's staying here!"

Magneto turned to Mary Jane.

"This does not concern you, human."

The tone he used when saying "human" was full of insults.

"She is our friend! So it does concern us!" Felicia stepped forward, shielding Jean's side.

"No second-rate scum is taking her away from us!" Liz Allan shouted.

"Enough!"

Magneto roared, lifting Liz Allan's car into the air with a wave of his hand, then smashing it hard onto the ground with a loud bang.

The car was completely totaled.

He glared at Liz Allan, and the girl shrank back in fear.

"Think about it, Jean," Magneto hissed. "They are your friends now, but when you surpass them in every way, what will they do?"

Jean gasped, while the girls looked confused.

"We Mutants are stronger, smarter. We are the next step in human evolution. Why limit yourself? Why hold back just to make others feel comfortable?"

"To these humans, you are a god. Come, let me show you."

He extended his hand.

Jean looked terrified. She looked at her friends and swallowed hard.

"I-if I go with you, will you spare them?"

Magneto nodded. "I swear it on my life and honor."

Jean nodded and took a step forward.

"Don't go, Jean," Felicia hissed. "He's lying to you."

"I-I have to protect you," Jean said. "You are my only friends."

Just then, Peter decided to intervene.

He wanted to see what Jean would choose, and she hadn't disappointed him.

Peter quickly pulled out two liquid nitrogen capsules and threw them at Magneto.

Magneto turned to look at the two flying metal capsules, raised his hand to freeze them in mid-air, and then crushed them directly. Freezing liquid sprayed out, instantly turning into a cloud of ice mist.

Using the ice mist as cover, Peter swung over and, to Magneto's astonishment, kicked him hard in the sternum with both feet.

He used the momentum to backflip and landed steadily in front of the girls.

"Spider-Man?!" Jean looked at him in surprise, and everyone's faces were full of joy.

"Hey, Marvel girls! Didn't I tell you not to look for trouble?"

Peter chuckled and turned to look at Magneto.

"Cape guy! Which dusty old villain set did you run out of? This outfit and dialogue are just hopelessly cliché."

"That's exactly what I said!" Liz Allan grinned.

Magneto clutched his chest and growled, "Spider, this doesn't concern you."

"Oh, it absolutely does."

Peter lowered his center of gravity, his fingers reaching for the web grenade magazine.

"You just threatened the lives of civilians, Magneto, so it does concern me."

"Unless you think you can stop me."

Magneto raised his hand, summoning various pieces of metal from the street. Street signs, streetlights, mailboxes, and even concrete blocks with steel rebar.

"Get lost."

"Not a chance."

Peter turned to Felicia and whispered, "Take them away, hide."

Felicia nodded. "Okay."

"I can help!" Jean shouted.

"You need to stay with your friends and protect them. I can't hold him off for long."

Peter swallowed hard; he wasn't joking.

"Don't argue, Marvel girls!"

Jean looked disappointed, but she nodded anyway.

Peter turned to Magneto.

"Ready?"

"Don't push me, Spider," Magneto roared. "This is your final warning."