Wolverine stared at the glowing portal for a moment before slowly retracting his claws. His posture relaxed slightly, and he spoke with casual indifference.
"I don't really care whether they come or not," he said. "If they've got any sense, they won't walk into your trap."
Ethan Voss smiled faintly, the expression carrying a hint of teasing amusement.
"But you walked in," he pointed out.
With a sharp metallic sound, Wolverine's claws snapped back out again.
"Clang."
Ethan immediately raised both hands and took several steps backward.
"Alright, alright," he said quickly.
They waited.
The portal continued to shimmer quietly, but nothing emerged from it. After several seconds of silence, Ethan clicked his tongue thoughtfully.
"Hey, Logan," he said, glancing toward him. "If the situation were reversed, would you really wait this long before rescuing someone? Maybe they're not coming after all."
He tilted his head slightly toward the portal.
"Should I close it?"
Logan's face darkened instantly.
"They'd better not come," he growled. "I don't need their help anyway. Go ahead and shut it down."
Before Ethan could reply, the portal suddenly rippled again.
Two figures stepped through.
Professor Charles Xavier and Cyclops.
Scott glanced around quickly the moment he arrived. When his eyes landed on Wolverine, his first reaction slipped out instinctively.
"Huh? You're fine?"
Logan's expression turned even darker.
"Usually when a teammate's in danger," he said coldly, "you go rescue him immediately instead of taking your sweet time."
Cyclops folded his arms and immediately fired back.
"No. Usually I make a plan before charging into a trap," he said sharply. "Because I actually use my brain and try not to make things worse for everyone else."
The tension between them rose instantly.
Professor Xavier lifted a hand in a calming gesture before the argument could escalate.
"Logan," he said patiently, "you need to understand something. We had no idea what was waiting on the other side of that portal. I had to explain the situation before acting."
His voice softened slightly.
"But know this: I would never abandon any of you. If there is even the slightest chance to help, I will always do everything I can."
Wolverine looked away, clearly still annoyed.
"I know, Professor," he muttered. "That's why I'm willing to stay at your school."
Throughout the entire exchange, Ethan had been standing nearby watching with an amused grin. He finally stepped forward again.
"So," he said casually, glancing behind them, "the two ladies didn't want to come along?"
"No," Charles answered firmly.
His expression had become noticeably colder.
"Mr. Ethan Voss," he continued, "we don't know where this place is, and we don't know who you really are."
Ethan shrugged, then his tone suddenly grew more serious.
"Fair enough," he said. "Then let me show you exactly what I can do for my fellow mutants."
With a single thought, Ethan activated his telekinetic power.
In the next instant, everyone—including Professor Xavier's wheelchair—was lifted off the ground.
Scott exclaimed in surprise as his boots left the stone floor. Wolverine swayed slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden sensation.
Flying had never been his favorite experience.
Floating through the air without any protection made it even worse.
"Relax," Ethan said cheerfully. "I'm a very experienced driver. Totally reliable."
He made a quick adjustment with his power.
Suddenly, everyone felt as if there was solid ground beneath their feet, even though they were still suspended in midair. The invisible support stabilized their balance, easing much of their tension.
Professor Xavier gripped the armrests of his wheelchair.
"With abilities like this," he said loudly, "how is it that I've never encountered you before?"
Ethan smiled.
"Because I've never needed to show my powers before," he replied. "And honestly, I still don't. I already told you that mutant abilities are only part of what I can do."
His voice carried a quiet confidence.
"But since you're here, I might as well demonstrate a little more."
Within moments, Ethan carried them across the sky until they arrived above the small town hidden within the Divine Kingdom.
Night had fully fallen by then.
From their high vantage point, they were far enough away that none of the residents noticed them floating overhead.
Ethan gently lowered them onto the edge of town.
"Come on," he said, gesturing forward.
Music drifted through the night air as they entered the streets. The smell of roasted meat and freshly cooked food filled the surroundings. Children ran between the buildings laughing loudly while adults gathered around fires, singing and dancing.
The entire town buzzed with warmth and life.
The tense expressions on Xavier and the others' faces gradually softened as they observed the scene. Their eyes moved across the lively streets with growing curiosity.
Some residents noticed Ethan and immediately greeted him enthusiastically.
Several people ran over carrying plates of barbecue and bottles of wine, offering them warmly. Ethan returned each greeting patiently, chatting briefly with everyone who approached.
It took quite some time before they finally reached the central square.
Most of the town's population had gathered there. People played games, musicians performed improvised songs, and small groups laughed loudly around the bonfire.
The entire square felt like a rolling wave of joyful energy.
Ethan didn't interrupt the celebration. Instead, he quietly guided the group into a nearby tavern and led them upstairs to a balcony overlooking the square.
The tavern owner, already slightly drunk, staggered over carrying a small barrel of beer.
Moments later, the tavern owner's wife hurried out of the kitchen with several plates of food.
"Ethan!" she said urgently. "Come down to the square! Everyone's waiting for you!"
Ethan waved both hands quickly in refusal.
"No way, Caroline," he said firmly. "If I go down there, those guys will definitely try to get me drunk again."
He pointed toward the square.
"You remember what happened last time. I got drunk and started flying everyone around the sky for half the night. Poor Mayor Sachs nearly had a heart attack."
Caroline snorted dismissively.
"That's his problem," she said. "Mayor Sachs is a coward."
The tavern owner, Eric, suddenly leaned forward with bright eyes.
"That night changed my life!" he declared passionately. "I finally understood what flying really means. I felt like a bird."
He thumped his chest dramatically.
"That's freedom!"
Eric quickly grabbed a bottle from behind the counter and placed it in front of Ethan.
"Mr. Voss," he said solemnly, "this is the finest wine I've ever owned. I've been saving it my entire life. Take me flying one more time."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"You've been saving a bottle your entire life?"
Eric nodded proudly.
"It's the best wine in the world."
Ethan looked him up and down.
"Eric," he said slowly, "you're barely in your thirties. Your 'entire life' still has a long way to go."
Eric blinked.
"That doesn't change the fact that it's a great bottle of wine."
Ethan shook his head firmly.
"No deal," he said. "If you want to fly, go find Green and learn properly."
Eric sighed in disappointment.
"Well," he muttered, shrugging his shoulders, "if you change your mind someday, you know where to find me."
He returned to the square with Caroline, leaving the balcony quiet again.
Ethan turned back toward his guests.
Professor Xavier was staring at him with a thoughtful expression.
Cyclops and Wolverine remained silent, their faces difficult to read.
"Logan," Ethan said calmly, "did you see Rogue?"
"I saw her," Wolverine replied. "She's having fun."
"Yes," Ethan said, emphasizing the word gently. "She's very happy here."
Professor Xavier finally spoke.
"Mr. Voss," he said carefully, "did you build this town specifically for these people?"
Ethan laughed softly.
After Charles and Scott entered the Divine Kingdom, Ethan had quickly absorbed their powers. Telepathy and optic energy beams—both upgraded to their ultimate versions—had already become part of his growing arsenal.
A moment earlier, he had quietly used telepathy to observe Charles's actions.
The professor had discreetly examined the memories of more than a dozen residents.
The intention was obvious.
Charles wanted to understand what this place was—and who Ethan Voss really was.
What he discovered, however, was deeply confusing.
The residents came from many different parts of the world. Ethan had gathered them here to live, work, and build a peaceful community together.
And the population was still growing.
The town continued expanding.
Why?
What could Ethan possibly gain from these ordinary people?
Charles couldn't find an answer.
Ethan slowly stood up from his chair.
He stretched his arms outward as if embracing the entire town below them. His voice carried calm certainty.
"This," he said, "is what I can offer mutants."
His gaze moved across the glowing lights of the celebration.
"A town. A city. Maybe someday even an entire nation."
"There is no discrimination here. No oppression. No harm."
He turned back toward them.
"No one outside the world can find this place. It will be a true paradise for mutants."
Cyclops quietly muttered under his breath.
"I swear I'm starting to see a halo over this guy's head."
Professor Xavier ignored the comment and focused on Ethan instead.
"So what is your goal?" he asked seriously. "What do you want from them, Mr. Ethan Voss?"
Ethan chuckled lightly.
"Professor," he said, "what could they possibly give me?"
He gestured casually toward himself.
"I'm richer than them. Stronger than them. Honestly, I'm even more handsome than them."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"It's not that I have no desires," he admitted. "But the things I want… they simply cannot provide."
His expression grew more thoughtful.
"I ask nothing from them. I only follow a belief in my heart."
He met Charles's gaze directly.
"Just like you."
Then he asked quietly.
"Professor… why do you take in so many mutants?"