Part 1: The Engineer in Action
The muffled roar of the X-Jet's engines was the soundtrack to his new missions. Inside the cabin, Kael made a final adjustment to his suit, a unique piece he had designed himself. The base was made of resistant leather and technological fabric, but draped over his shoulders was a long, heavy cloak of a deep, intense red, lined with a dull gold that seemed to absorb light. The hood, raised, cast a shadow that concealed most of his face, a living mystery directly inspired by the iconic silhouette of the Wizards from his kingdom.
From this refuge of shadow, his gaze focused on the center of the compartment. There, wrapped in an almost palpable aura of respect, was the Mago. Not a wizard of wands or staves, but the most impressive creature to ever set foot in the arena, an arcane artilleryman. His robes were of a royal blue, embroidered with golden runes that seemed to breathe energy. His muscular, firm arms were relaxed at his sides, his hands – the true tools of his power – half-open.
"… and the lesson was learned," the Mago's voice, deep and charismatic, echoed, "you don't face a barricade with brute force, but with concentrated fire. A single fireball in the right spot is worth more than a hundred misplaced sword strikes."
Kitty Pryde and Rogue were absolutely captivated, their eyes glued to the legendary being. Kael watched, satisfied. The card description was an understatement. The Mago wasn't just "great in numbers"; he was a strategy-demolisher, a mobile artillery tower whose power was launched with his hands. He was the essence of focused and devastating power.
While the legendary figure commanded attention, Kael took a silent stock of his progress. His Village, the spiritual realm that was an extension of his soul, had solidified at level 4. A monumental achievement, considering the major limitation: the inability to wage war for loot. Every resource had been patiently collected by its inhabitants, a slow process that required the patience of a strategist. In the Arena, however, his ascent had been a whirlwind. The climb to Spell Valley had been relentless, and the final reward was earning the right to summon that bringer of destruction.
The tactical flexibility of his power in the "Royale" aspect was his greatest weapon. He was not a slave to a predetermined "deck." All the cards he unlocked were at his disposal, a complete arsenal limited only by the flow of Golden Elixir. The X-Men had given him the nickname "The Engineer," but the one that echoed through the halls was "One-Man Army." Kael admitted the title was appropriate.
Some secrets, however, he kept. His studies revealed a symbiosis: the development of his Village expanded his Elixir reserve and strengthened his body. Lately, he had ventured into trying to replicate his troops' abilities. The logic was irrefutable: if they were all manifestations of the same Elixir, and he was the Source, the potential was there.
"Your first official mission with us," Cyclops's voice cut through his thoughts. The leader approached, his face serious beneath his visor. "Nervous?"
Kael turned slowly, the red cloak swirling softly. From the shadow of his hood, his voice emerged calm. "I'm more confident than anything else, Scott. And more at home than I expected."
Cyclops nodded. "Your task is straightforward: use your… resources to overwhelm the external defenses. Create chaos. While their attention is on your army, our team will penetrate the base."
Under the hood, Kael smiled. There was a undeniable psychological side-effect to his power. The same unshakable confidence that drove a Barbarian, the lethal calm of an Archer under crossfire, now echoed in his own spirit. It was a fundamental certainty.
The warning light came on. "Landing position in 30 seconds," Storm announced.
When the X-Jet landed silently, Kael's anticipation was palpable. He could feel the Elixir, a tide of power.
"Showtime," he whispered to himself.
As the assault team moved like shadows, Kael advanced. His hooded figure was a solitary and ominous silhouette. He stopped, his hands hovering at his sides, ready. A subtle gesture, and two structures materialized on the field: a Tombstone, exuding a cold mist, and a Goblin Hut, from which came not just laughter, but the sound of loud music and rowdiness, like a clandestine rave in the middle of the battlefield, with shadows of Goblins dancing behind the windows.
Skeletons armed not with bones, but with rusted swords, and Goblins spearmen with yellow, malicious eyes began to emerge, forming ranks under his mental command. The march began.
A few seconds later, his Elixir replenished, Kael summoned his first Giant. The four-meter-tall creature appeared with a low roar, instantly drawing fire from defense towers that emerged from the terrain. Bullets ricocheted off its skin like insects.
A stray shot came towards Kael. With a fluid movement, he sidestepped, the bullet whistling through the air where his face had been. His agility, enhanced by the Elixir, was more than sufficient.
"Time to move in!" Cyclops shouted.
Kael nodded, joining the group. As they advanced, he summoned a Battle Ram, which accelerated towards the main gate. With a deafening impact, the gate was reduced to splinters.
Crossing through the rubble, Kael decided the time had come. With a single thought, he released his permanent army from the Village.
The defenders witnessed, paralyzed, the emergence of a complete army from nowhere: multiple Giants marching, Barbarians brandishing swords, Archers in formation, Goblins and Wall Breakers running, and war Balloons hovering.
The battle was a quick and brutal epilogue. Kael's army swept through the base with frightening efficiency, neutralizing guards and deactivating security systems without any effort from the X-Men. Within minutes, the captured mutants were freed and being guided out of their cells.
It was then, with the mission accomplished and the whole group heading back to the X-Jet, that Rogue approached Kael, who was walking in silence.
"Why aren't you unsummoning them?" she asked, nodding towards the troops still maintaining a defensive position around the evacuated area.
Kael, who seemed focused on something far away, simply offered a faint smile.
"Just a precaution," he replied, his voice low, while his eyes, hidden by the hood's shadow, scanned the empty perimeter. "Just a precaution."
Part 2: The Master of Magnetism's Arrival
The biting wind at high altitude did not trouble Erik Lehnsherr. Standing on the metal platform he himself conducted through the skies, his white cloak fluttered like a banner. His eyes, wise and tired beneath his helmet, were fixed on the military complex below. It was not hatred that drove him, but a solemn duty, a burden he carried for all of his kind.
He knew Charles's children would be here. The professor always had his methods for finding those who suffered, and Erik respected that. But today's mission was twofold: to rescue his mutant brethren from the heinous experiments of humanity and, primarily, to assess the new rare gem Charles had managed to find.
"The Engineer." The codename was curious, but what truly echoed in the corridors of the underworld was another: "One-Man Army." Charles had been clever, hiding the exact nature of the boy's power. But the Brotherhood had ears everywhere, even within the walls of the Xavier Mansion itself. Through reports whispered by Mystique, he had learned. The young man, Kael, harbored a complete dimensional realm within his soul, a fortified village where he trained an army of powerful troops he could summon at will.
A power like that... was an absolute game-changer in the struggle for mutant survival. Erik would not allow such force to be wasted or destroyed by Charles's dangerous, pacifist dreams. Humanity would never accept their race, and he was tired of seeing young mutants die for a naive cause.
When the Brotherhood arrived at the location, however, they found not an ongoing battle, but its aftermath.
The base had been cleaned out. In a matter of minutes, according to his sensors. Towers destroyed, gates reduced to dust, guards neutralized with brutal efficiency. An impeccable job.
He descended, his platform landing smoothly on the ground. His presence was felt before he was even seen. The tension in the air changed, and the X-Men turned to him, their bodies stiffening. All but one.
The new mutant, Kael, remained serene, shrouded in his red cloak. And behind him, surrounding him, was the army. The sight was... impressive. Bare-chested Barbarians with gigantic swords, Archers with sharp eyes, heavy-armored creatures, and winged beasts hovering. The name "One-Man Army" was not an exaggeration. It was an accurate description.
Erik heard the distinctive sound of bows being drawn. He saw weapons being cocked. He saw small spheres of fire glowing in the hands of some magi among the troops. An organized, disciplined power. Lethal.
Cyclops stepped forward, his face a mask of determination. "Magneto. The agreement stands. Anyone who wants to go with you, can."
Erik scanned the group of rescued mutants with his gaze. None moved. None looked at him. The presence of that army, the tangible protection it offered, had undoubtedly influenced their decision. They felt safe with the "Engineer."
For a brief moment, Erik considered demonstrating his power. Showing them the true strength of magnetism. But then, a shiver ran down his spine. Years of war, of incessant struggle, had given him a sharp instinct. Those troops were not common. There was an energy to them, a solidity that went beyond mere projection. A battle there would not be easy, nor quick. And his fascination with the young man's power spoke louder.
His eyes fixed on Kael. "You, young man. The Architect of armies." His voice was calm, but laden with authority. "Do you not see that Charles's ideals are foolish dreams? History has shown us, time and time again, that humans will never accept us. They only understand force."
To everyone's surprise, including the X-Men, Kael laughed. A low, relaxed sound.
"I agree," said the young man, his voice clear, echoing in the clearing. "It really is a foolish dream."
Cyclops's eyes widened behind his visor. Rogue looked shocked.
But then, Kael continued, his voice soft yet firm. "But it's not a sin to dream of a better world, Master Lehnsherr. Has the age of dreams ended? Who can decree that? A man's dreams have no end." He paused, his eyes hidden by the hood's shadow seeming to pierce the Brotherhood's leader. "Let him try. As long as he hasn't given up completely, we cannot judge him. Hope is a resource that is not so easily exhausted."
The words echoed in Erik's mind. They were not confrontational, but... understanding. There was a wisdom there that contradicted the bearer's youth. He became thoughtful, his worldview shaken by a perspective he hadn't expected.
It was then that Kael turned, as if sensing something in the air. "Unfortunately," he said, "the time for philosophical conversations will have to be another time. We have company."
A sudden roar shook the ground. From the sky, a massive metallic form plummeted down, landing with an impact that made the earth tremble. As the dust settled, the threatening form of a Sentinel, the mutant-hunting robot, rose, its red sensors scanning the area.
Immediately, Magneto and the Brotherhood members positioned themselves. It was a threat common to all mutants. They would fight alongside the X-Men, for now.
But before anyone could move, Kael walked calmly forward, placing himself between the two groups and the killing machine.
"Wait," his order was quiet, but impossible to ignore.
He extended his hand, and before him, the air seemed to bend. A tall, imposing structure materialized from nothing, rising at least five meters at its base. It was a tower of dark stone with intricate patterns. At its base, an opening revealed a hellish inferno of flames, whose heat Erik could feel even from a distance. At the top, a single red gem pulsed with threatening energy.
"My Inferno Tower," Kael stated simply, his voice cutting through the tension.
Before the Sentinel could even begin its attack, a ray of concentrated, scorching energy shot from the gem at the top of the tower, instantly connecting with the robot's torso.
At first, nothing seemed to happen. The Sentinel still moved, raising an arm. But then, Erik noticed. The temperature around them began to rise drastically. He saw the metal of the robot's armor begin to glow with an incandescent red. Then, it began to melt. Droplets of liquid metal dripped from the torso, the arms, the expressionless face of the machine. The temperature continued to rise, making the air opaque with heat.
In mere seconds, all that remained of the Sentinel was a steaming puddle of molten metal and components on the ground.
The silence that followed was absolute. The killer robot, a threat that would require the coordinated effort of a team of powerful mutants, had been defeated. Not with a bang, but with a silent, absolute heat. By a single mutant.
Kael turned, and the Inferno Tower dematerialized as quickly as it had appeared. He didn't seem tired, just... satisfied.
"Until next time, Magneto," he said, with a casual nod. Then, he turned and walked towards the X-Jet. The other X-Men, still stunned, followed him. As he walked, his troops began to disappear one by one in a puff of pink smoke, until the field was empty.
Erik watched the ship take off and disappear over the horizon.
Mystique materialized beside him, her blue form contrasting with the destroyed scenery. "Well... that was a surprise."
"Indeed," agreed Erik, his voice a thoughtful whisper. He knew the mutants had gained a formidable force. A power that could change the game. Now, the real challenge would be to make Charles understand that the age of passivity needed to end. The "Engineer" was living proof that they no longer needed to hide.
---
Meanwhile, back at the Xavier Mansion, Professor Xavier was receiving the rescued mutants, his mind occupied with the necessary treatments. Kael walked straight to his room, eager to rest and check if the upgrade to one of his Elixir Collectors had been completed.
In the hallway, he met Ororo.
"How was the mission?" she asked, her smile lighting up the surroundings.
"Everything went perfectly," he replied, returning the smile.
She moved a little closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And you... do you have plans for tonight?"
Kael leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "For you, my schedule is always open."
Ororo laughed, a clear, joyful sound. "How about dinner, then? In a very cozy place."
"Where?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My room," she replied, her voice low and inviting.
Kael felt a warmth that had nothing to do with his Inferno Tower. "I can't wait for tonight," he said, his voice a bit deeper.
She smiled, turned, and walked away, her hypnotic sway leaving Kael standing in the hallway, watching her go. He smiled to himself. Yes, he definitely had something to look forward to. He entered his room, closed the door, and for a moment, set aside the battles and strategies, thinking only of the dinner that lay ahead.
Epilogue: The S.H.I.E.L.D. Assessment
The S.H.I.E.L.D. Situation Room was bathed in a dim blue light, broken only by the glow of surveillance footage projected over the central table. Nick Fury, unmoving, watched the images with his single eye fixed. To his right, Maria Hill maintained her rigid posture. To his left, Natasha Romanoff leaned casually against the table, but her eyes missed no detail.
Phil Coulson, in his impeccable suit, controlled the projection.
"...and this is all we managed to recover from the base's security cameras before the system was completely compromised," he explained, as scenes of chaos unfolded in the air. "The individual in question is named Kael. No known surname. He joined the X-Men approximately five months ago. Apparently, he suffered amnesia when his powers manifested."
A new video sequence showed Kael, shrouded in his red cloak, commanding troops.
"We classify him as an Omega-level mutant," Coulson continued, clicking on a file. "Our best hypotheses, based on field reports and... unconventional sources... indicate he has access to a spiritual or parallel dimension where he maintains a fortified village and produces an army of creatures with fantasy characteristics."
The image highlighted a group of Barbarians advancing against a barricade.
"His most basic troop, which he classifies as 'Barbarians,' already displays capabilities at the absolute peak of human potential."
Fury, who had remained silent until then, raised his hand, interrupting the report. His voice was a mix of disbelief and contained anger.
"Hold on, Coulson. Wait a goddamn minute." He pointed to the frozen image of a Barbarian throwing a guard weighing over 100 kilos against a wall. "Are you telling me that every one of these... savages with bare chests, armed with a sword, is a fucking Super-Soldier?"
Coulson adjusted his tie knot, visibly uncomfortable. "Based on their demonstration of strength, speed, and endurance, yes, sir. That is the assessment."
He quickly moved on, showing a compilation of other troops. Archers and a Musketeer hitting moving targets with 100% accuracy. The skin of a Giant being struck by .50 caliber bullets that couldn't even scratch it.
"We also noted the ability to generate troops from structures," Coulson said, switching the video. The recording showed a Goblin Hut from which, amid a racket reminiscent of a chaotic rave, Spear Goblins continuously emerged, hurling their projectiles. From a Tombstone, Skeletons armed with swords emerged.
The sequence moved to a red-haired warrior in armor, spinning a double axe and throwing soldiers in all directions. Then, the image focused on a smaller, agile figure in black metallic armor.
"This one here appears to be a child," Hill commented, with a furrow of concern on her brow.
"It appears so," Coulson agreed. "Until you see what it does." The video showed the small creature, a Mini P.E.K.K.A., charging against a heavy machine gun tower. Its single, precise blow split the metal structure as if it were warm butter, with a power that was anything but childish.
Finally, the scene that drew the most attention: Kael, in the heat of combat, tilting his head with an almost lazy movement as a bullet whistled past where his face had been an instant before.
"And, defying all the typical logic of a 'summoner'," Coulson concluded, "the subject himself displays enhanced physical abilities. He can react to and dodge gunfire."
He turned off the projection.
"Summary: Kael. Omega-level Mutant. Aliases 'The Engineer' and 'One-Man Army'. Possesses superhuman physical constitution and the ability to summon an indeterminate army of real, enhanced troops, whose individual capabilities range from peak human to... well, a biological battle tank."
A heavy silence hung in the room.
Fury stared fixedly at the space where the images had been, his fingers drumming slowly on the table.
It was Natasha who broke the silence, her voice a silken thread laden with implication. "A mutant of that caliber... It's going to change the entire world's balance of power." A malicious, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips. She turned to the director, poking the bear with a short stick. "What do you think, Nick? What kind of welcome gift is S.H.I.E.L.D. going to prepare for this new player?"
Fury didn't look at her. His single eye remained fixed ahead, but his hand clenched into a fist on the table. When he finally spoke, his voice was a low growl laden with deep fury.
"Motherfucker."