"What happened? Why did you suddenly call me back? Did I really bring someone over? Didn't you say everything was fine before?"
As soon as she returned to the helicarrier, Tohka saw not only Nick Fury but also Tony there, both staring seriously at a screen.
"You probably don't know yet. Right after the explosion you caused, several blocks below were affected—everyone there has been mentally controlled. We also detected a terrifying psychic force enveloping the area. I originally thought it was Professor Charles, but it seems completely different. This mental energy is distinctly unlike his powers. The agents I sent over seem to have already been taken over."
As soon as he saw Tohka, Fury began explaining the situation. He also transmitted the street surveillance footage to Tohka so she could see what was going on.
"What is this...?"
Watching the footage Fury sent over, Tohka furrowed her brow. On screen, the people on the street looked like zombies, wandering aimlessly. She even saw several people still in pajamas.
But these people weren't aimless—they were all moving toward a central point, which appeared to be the epicenter of the psychic disturbance.
"This person's mental power is extremely strong—controlling so many people at once. It's even stronger than Professor X. The range may be smaller, but it's still shocking. This might be another mutant with psychic abilities no weaker than the Professor. We can't let Charles and his people get to them first."
Fury's expression was grim, clearly having already classified this person as a mutant.
"Well..."
Ignoring Nick Fury, Tohka stared hard at the screen.
She had already guessed who this person was. What puzzled her was that this person's true power should be far beyond this. Controlling a few blocks? Controlling just a few blocks? She wouldn't be surprised if they managed to control all of New York.
"But even so, how do you plan to get there? The equipment that worked on Charles doesn't help here, and you can't even get close. Unless you use your long-range armor to deliver a precision strike, there's no way in. But if you do that, it would basically be a massacre. For now, it looks like these people are controlled but haven't caused a riot."
Tony quickly poured cold water on the conversation, pointing out the practical issue—they couldn't even approach the area. Even Tony himself wasn't confident he could resist the mental power.
"So honestly, calling Professor Charles would be the best solution."
"That's probably not going to work." Fury sighed.
"Even if I wanted to call him in, I can't anymore. After the last big battle, the X-Men disappeared completely. Clearly, they're laying low and cut off contact with me."
Fury felt helpless. If he couldn't resolve this, he would have no choice but to call on Professor X—after all, the man was the most powerful psychic in existence. But ever since the Apocalypse incident, both Charles and his school had vanished from the public eye, clearly to escape scrutiny. Now even Fury couldn't reach him.
"That's a problem... So, what, we just sit here and watch? The politicians won't be that patient. You know how much they value their reputations."
Tony rubbed his chin, frustrated. He could develop custom equipment—but that would take time, and clearly they didn't have any.
"Wait, let me go. I'll see if I can convince her to stop."
Just then, Tohka stepped forward. While others might be unsure, she knew exactly who this was. Luckily, it wasn't Kurumi. That would've been a nightmare. This girl, at least, was still reasonable.
"Wait, you can't go. If you get controlled, it'll be a disaster. She might control you to attack us! You could literally sink all of Manhattan into the ocean—that would be catastrophic."
Before Tohka could finish, everyone in the room voiced their opposition. The risk of her being controlled was too high.
"It's fine. Leave it to me. That person is like me—she can't control me."
Tohka was confident. In the original story, she'd only been controlled because her spirit powers were sealed. As long as she remained complete, she couldn't be manipulated. Besides, this version's power seemed weaker than in the original story.
"No way. Even a slight chance is too much. I've already sent my agents in. Let's wait for their intel first."
Fury still refused. Unless things were truly hopeless, he wouldn't let Tohka go. Her combat and destruction potential was just too great.
"You mean those people I met on the plane earlier? If they're the ones, they won't be of any use."
Tohka recalled her brief meeting with them. They might be useful on the outskirts, but once they drew attention, they'd be easily controlled.
"Uh..."
Just as Fury was about to respond, he received new intel. His face turned dark immediately.
"Tsk tsk, looks like they failed. You guys just stay here—leave it to me."
Without waiting for any more of Fury's objections, she flew out.
"Let her go. She looks confident—let's just watch for now." Tony shrugged at Fury.
He knew that in situations like this, Tohka wouldn't act recklessly.
"I understand. I've already ordered the crew to open the gates for her." Though reluctant, Nick Fury had no other option now but to watch her depart.
Tohka, flying out from the helicarrier, didn't hesitate. She flew straight toward the center of the incident.