Firstly, the news that I'm an actual mutant surprised me quite a bit. It turns out I'm going to find some hidden superpowers within the next couple of years? Interesting. Well, given that I didn't find any physical differences, that means they're either hidden inside, like an extra acid ventricle, a dermal inactive layer of energy vampire, the ability of cells to change into other states, or they're something that doesn't distinguish my body from others at all. Like the ability to control fire, open portals, control the weather, etc.
None of this is too bad, well, except for Helma's abilities, which although super powerful, I'd definitely have time to mess around with not being able to touch others.
Now on to more interesting news, namely my regeneration and see what alerts I missed.
You have exceeded the norms of the human body, because of which the skill "regeneration" is opened to you.
One of your stats has exceeded two hundred to level 30. You are rewarded with 20 S.O., which you can also invest in stamina and become the most capable punching bag in town.
Name: Ryan Pierce
Level: 28
Experience: 16425/16500
Parameters:
Strength: 89
Dexterity: 81
Endurance: 216
Intelligence: 65
Intuition: 57
Free Points: 20
Specialities: "major", "lab mouse", "hitman", "under-alpha".Skills: "martial arts - 52 level", "shooting - 48 level", "polyglot - 5 level", "psychology - 14 level", "strategist - 29 level", "stealth - 26 level", "player's mind - MAX", "intimidation - 24 level.", "animal style - 13 level", "drug resistance - 7 level", "hackerman - 17 level", "engineer - 6 level", "alpha will - 3 level", "regeneration - 14 level".
Superpowers: "time acceleration", "lycanthropy".
That's quite a boost to my regeneration. I guess I didn't put all that money into stamina back then for nothing. But where did this new trait and skill come from? When did I have time to use some of the alpha's will? And how can I be an alpha if I don't even have a pack? Once again, the system is throwing me questions that I'll have to find answers to while racking my brains. By the way, if I swing with Wolverine, I can pump the style of the animal without turning? He's been training his combat skills for over a hundred years, and given his animal-like habits due to mutation, I don't have any doubts about using the animal part in battle. I'll have to ask him to spar after he recovers.
Walking around the school, I saw a bunch of my peers and those who, logically, should have left this place by now. Their age left only three options to ponder. They're either round twos and still trying to figure out why they need to know the multiplication table when they can just throw fireballs or something. The second option is that they are just used to this place and consider it their home, and the professor will never say no to such people. Well, the last option is those who are simply afraid. They don't know what to do next and are completely unprepared for the atrocities that await them in the world. This type of person makes up 30-40% of all students. To be honest, looking at their lifestyle here, I can even understand how they have become unfit for life outside the institute.
Almost one in two are freely using their abilities, and that, faintly speaking, is not a good thing. To confirm my fears, I checked the schedule hanging in the lobby and found no lesson on how to hide your mutation. I did find a class where they train abilities and discuss their strengths and weaknesses, but given that it's often impossible to tell how strong a mutation is by eye, I don't fully understand the benefits of these classes. After all, mutations vary quite a bit, and no matter how much a teacher or professor tries to impart their expertise, a few academics and a couple of weeks of perhaps slightly painful tests would give a person, if not a full spectrum understanding of their abilities, then at least a realisation of which way to evolve.
And that's why I don't understand the professor, because he's very rich, and there are heaps of scientists who need money. And considering what kind of world this is, hiring them would probably prevent a villain or two from appearing. Especially if you're paying them, with their permission, what's to stop them from putting a couple of nondisclosure tabs on them? But no, our professor is too right. How can you force people or fix their goals in life. I certainly realise that the world has drawn the luckiest possible ticket, because if it were like Magneto, for example, all people would be second class and every parent would be waiting and hoping that their baby would be born with at least a sixth finger. And for all dissenters the choice would be between brainwashing and the gas chamber.
As I continued pacing the corridors of Xavier's mansion, I pondered the lack of lessons in hiding one's power or external mutation. The same Snake in the comics had a cheater holographic clock that he used to change his skin colour and hide his tail along with his ears. To be honest, it's pretty botched how he handled that gift. I realise that he's been complex about his appearance for a long, long, long time, but to have a technology that any spy would dream of, and the same Chameleon could lose his job because of it, and not even think about its possibilities - it's just stupid.
Of course, the professor's plans aren't bad, but they aren't very effective. Compared to Eric, though, he's a straight-up saint.
I was torn from continuing these thoughts by my sixth sense, which was screaming about surveillance. I turned around and saw a man in a tank top and black trousers, his whole being exuding suspicion. It was, of course, everyone's favourite Logan, or more commonly known as Wolverine.
«What, did I do something wrong? - I looked at him and showed him that I didn't understand why he was exuding so much suspicion with a bit of aggression in my direction.
«No, it's just that I've encountered someone before who had the same scent as you. And all encounters with him have ended in blood," he mumbled, coming towards me and extending his claws.
Hmm, that's interesting. He seems to be talking about Sabretooth.
«Oh, so you're the one Hank was talking about! - I look at him with genuine surprise.
«Talked about what? - He frowned even more, though it seemed like a lot more.
«About someone who has much more amazing regeneration. - Pointing to the wounds between his fingers, traces of which were no less than a second after the claws disappeared. - By the way, you chose a rather original way to die," I grinned, looking at him.
«What are you talking about?!
Come on, he managed to frown too!
«I'm talking about your claws. After all, as I gather from the colour and shine, they're adamantium, aren't they? - I ask, pointing to his hands.
«И?
«Well, it has a rather interesting property of accumulating radiation from the environment, and given your regeneration, I can assume you're quite old. So I assumed that you were tired of life and decided to interrupt your regeneration by poisoning yourself with radiation from your claws. I'll tell you, though, that method is pretty ineffective, as the rest of your body will easily overpower the poisoning - the range of exposure is too small. If you were to cover all of yourself, then yes, you'd have to fall off soon. But that would only be possible when you started working with this metal. That would be funny, by the way, considering that the only weapon on our side besides the shield would then be the only one capable of damaging him, though considering some of the vibranium used in its creation, perhaps he would be able to withstand....
Unwilling to tolerate my extremely informative speech about metals and Cap's shield, he interrupted me with a question more important to him at that moment:
«How long would I have lasted then?
To begin with, I plastered more scepticism on my face:
«Are you kidding? Wait, you actually coated your skeleton with adamantium?! - Now more shock. - How did you even take that, it must have hurt like hell! Even with regeneration, you should be a vegetable.
«So how long am I gonna last?! - he repeats his question with obvious irritation.
«Well, it all depends on your regeneration, but I wouldn't give you more than 50-70 years from the time you're covered, after which you'll die in terrible agony. I'd suggest you find a way to get that stuff out of your skeleton. There are volcanoes, glaciers, or at the very least, space. I suggest a glacier, so you can wake up 100 years in the future.
«That's impossible. It's too strong after cooling down," he said sadly.
«Well, I might even be able to help you, but not now. In about five years at least.
I don't like seeing Logan sad. He's one of my favourite Marvel characters.
He gives me a sceptical look with a hint of disbelief. So the fact that I know more about adamantium than most scientists is acceptable to him, but the fact that I know a way to save his life is unlikely?
«Where is this mistrust coming from? It's not like I'm asking you for payment. I'm just saying I'll try to help in the future.
«That's what's so alarming. No one in this world offers help for nothing," he says, looking at his hands.
«Not even the professor. - I raise an eyebrow in a chuckle.
«He's different. - Oh, that famous 'you don't understand, it's different'.
«Well, if you say so, I think I'll continue my walk," I say, turning away and continuing my thoughts on ways to save Logan.
Logically, the fastest way is Wakanda. They could probably get adamantium out of him easily, but as long as T'Challa's daddy is on the throne, it's not going to be easy to get the whites to help. Even if you just say you know they exist, they'll send a squad of techno-negroes over your head and either capture you for memory cleansing or just finish you off.
The second option is the same vibranium, which will have to be stolen by one "good man" in the future. It could be bought or stolen from him, whichever is more convenient, and with it, I think Tony will make it pretty easy to make a machine to siphon this expensive nasty stuff out of Wolverine.
No third option yet, but anything is possible in this crazy world. That's why I think more options will be found in five years.
***
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