[Cursed Technique Reversal: Red Lv.2 (1/300): Generates a repulsive force centered on "Red." Its minimum power is twice that of "Blue," and its maximum output is positive infinity, approximating a miniature supernova.]
A flood of information rushed into Aurelius Viremont's mind, and his experience with using Red expanded rapidly.
Aurelius Viremont activated the technique once more. A black-red singularity formed above his index finger; its size had grown from that of a grain of rice to the size of a billiard ball, and the repulsive force it radiated had increased several times over.
Looking at the singularity on his fingertip, Aurelius Viremont couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the Hulk and Abomination. Of all the battles he had experienced, they provided the best tactical "feedback." That solid sense of durability was something he still found hard to forget.
"Wait... I overheard the conversation between Coulson and Nick Fury earlier. A strange crater appeared in New Mexico, with a hammer in the center that no one can lift. Doesn't that mean the God of Hammers has been exiled by Odin and has already arrived on Earth?"
Aurelius Viremont's lips curled into a subtle arc. "The God of Thunder, once he regains his power, should be quite durable. And the Destroyer armor controlled by Loki is even tougher. They'll make excellent target practice."
A new source of fun had arrived!
Aurelius Viremont located Spider-Woman again; she was no longer at the previous scene but perched on top of a skyscraper. Although he wouldn't have been in any real danger without her help, Aurelius Viremont was genuinely grateful to her. If not for her intervention, the fact that he was immune to the mutant suppression device would have been exposed, which would have surely cost him a lot of future entertainment.
"Thanks for the help. Next time we meet, I'll have a gift for you to show my appreciation."
Gwen's curiosity was piqued. She wondered what kind of gift the powerful White Demon would give. Then, she saw the charismatic "Demon" give a mysterious smile.
"Keep your expectations high. I'm sure you'll love it."
Before Gwen could say anything else, the White Demon took a step and vanished from her sight without a trace. It was only after he was gone that she realized she had forgotten to ask him why he was growing stronger so quickly.
"Well, I'll just wait until next time. I really am looking forward to it!" Gwen hummed a tune as she leapt off the building, swinging away on a web line.
Aurelius Viremont didn't rush to New Mexico immediately. Instead, he stopped at a high-end restaurant to sample the food. At Lv.3, he couldn't yet replace food with pure energy, though he suspected he might be able to at Lv.4. However, even if he could sustain his vital functions with energy, he wouldn't give up eating—it was one of life's great pleasures.
With his current appetite, a full meal at a high-end restaurant cost tens of thousands of dollars, but to him, this was a drop in the bucket. As his strength grew, acquiring wealth became increasingly trivial.
Leaving the restaurant, Aurelius Viremont was prepared to head to New Mexico to find the Thunder God when he suddenly noticed several familiar figures ahead. Compared to the movies, their appearances differed slightly, but their distinct traits and the fact that they were together made them unmistakable.
Standing before him, blocking his path, were the X-Men. There was the kind-looking old man in a wheelchair, Professor X, who possessed immense telepathic power. Behind him, pushing the chair, was Cyclops wearing his specialized ruby-quartz glasses. Beside them stood the red-haired Jean Grey and the white-haired Storm.
"X-Men? What do you want with me?" Aurelius Viremont asked curiously. Aside from having a common enemy in Stryker, he had no prior dealings with them.
Professor X looked at the white-haired youth, his expression growing grave. In his psychic perception, the young man was a void—as if he didn't exist at all. He couldn't perceive a hint of the boy's consciousness. It was like an ant standing on an elephant, unable to see the animal because it was simply the endless ground beneath its feet.
The moment he saw the White Demon, Charles Xavier realized that the youth before him was an existence even more terrifying than Jean. Even with Jean, he could sense her mental presence; against the White Demon, his powers were completely useless.
Hearing Aurelius Viremont's question, Professor X maintained a kind demeanor and spoke slowly:
"Child, I want to invite you to join the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. The children there are just like you—mutants. If you join us, you will never be lonely again. Moreover, your current situation is very dangerous. The government and military have plans targeting you. No matter how strong your abilities are, you cannot stand against them alone. Join us, and the X-Men will negotiate with the authorities to try and have your bounty rescinded."
Cyclops and the others looked at Aurelius Viremont with confidence. They were certain that, unless the White Demon was a fool, he would agree.
First, they were all mutants; they knew the feeling of being loathed by society and the crushing loneliness of being cast out by the world. Mutants craved their own kind.
Second, he was a wanted man. Though he was strong, facing the full might of the military and government—along with a variety of other mutants—would surely be his downfall. He had nearly been killed by Stryker's capture team before; surely he understood this.
Once they brought him to the school, the Professor could educate him and change his violent nature. The X-Men would gain a powerful new ally.
However, the White Demon's response shattered their self-righteous fantasies.
"Sorry, but I don't feel lonely. And I have zero interest in joining your school."
Cyclops looked at him in disbelief. Having been called a monster by his classmates after his powers awakened, he couldn't understand this mindset. "If you aren't with other mutants, won't people call you a monster? Won't they hate you? And what about the military? You can't possibly face an endless assault of mutants with unknown abilities on your own!"
He then saw the corners of the White Demon's mouth curl upward. The grin grew wider and wider until it became utterly uninhibited.
"Hahaha... If they insult me, I kill them. If they hunt me, I kill them. If they condemn me, I still kill them. I believe that as the death toll rises, they will eventually recognize their mistakes, change their minds, and reach a final conclusion—that the White Demon is a perfectly upright, kind, and law-abiding citizen."