[The First Mutant Mayhem] – The Ghost of Auschwitz – Memories of Blood and Fury

* KA-BOOM *

In that heart-stopping moment, Val's clenched fist connected with Shaw's startled face. He saw Shaw's eyes grow wide as saucers as the impact of his blow sent him sprawling. It was a sight to behold - Shaw, seemingly untouchable, catapulted through the air by Val's force, before he fell to the ground and landed with a resounding crash on the far-off flight deck.

For a fleeting moment, silence reigned. Then, amid the lingering echo of the thud, Shaw stirred. He pushed himself off the cold deck, wincing as he tentatively touched his now-bruised chin. With a groan, he staggered upright, locking eyes with Val. "Just who the hell do you think you are?", he spat out, "You're way out of line stepping into affairs that aren't yours."

Val assumed a fighting stance and retorted, "Regrettably, we wouldn't be having this conversation, had I killed you when you slept soundly in Auschwitz."

Shaw's breath hitched in his chest at Val's words, a flicker of recognition flashing in his eyes. A forgotten memory from his past, tucked away in the depths of his mind, had been rudely awakened. It transported him back to his days in Auschwitz, serving as a scientist under the Nazi regime.

One day, upon waking from a restless sleep, he had noticed two tiny puncture marks on his hand. At the time, their presence had filled him with an unsettling sense of unease. He had launched an investigation, needing to quell his growing apprehension. Soon enough, it was revealed that an intruder had breached the camp's fortified walls and had been sighted leaving Shaw's office.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place. Shaw drew a sharp breath as realization dawned. It was the same intruder, the same invader who had marked him while he was sleeping soundly. Shaw remembered the subsequent days when he had to exert twice as much effort to build up his reserves of kinetic energy. A grim understanding set in - the intruder had drawn his blood.

The memory filled Shaw with an old fury, like hot coals stirred back to life. He had felt robbed and violated, a gross invasion of his personal space. Frustration had consumed him then, and he had taken it out on the helpless individuals under his command, their lives spent under his wrath in the ensuing hours. A cruel price, paid for an intrusion they knew nothing about.

Jarred from his bitter reminiscence, Shaw returned to the present. He gritted his teeth and stared at Val with intense hatred. "It was you!", he shouted, "You were the one who violated me!"

Val, taken aback by the sudden accusation, raised his hand defensively. His face contorted in revulsion as he attempted to clear the air, "Hold on! Let's get one thing straight," he said, "I only took a bit of your blood. Nothing more, nothing less."

Undeterred by Val's rebuttal, Shaw's clenched fists began to pulsate with an eerie red glow and he said, "Well, it doesn't make a difference now, does it? Because by the time this is over, you won't be alive."

Shaw burst forward toward Val. Meanwhile, Val also did the same. As he sprinted towards Shaw, a bold thought coursed through his mind, 'It's time I learnt how powerful the Black King truly is!'

The moment they were within arm's length, both men threw powerful punches, their fists locked on a collision course. And then, it happened - their fists met mid-air with an explosive force.

The impact was cataclysmic. A mighty shockwave erupted from the point of collision, sending ripples through the surrounding air.

* BOOOM *

Meanwhile,

Erik dragged his battered body to an upright position, wiping away the droplets of blood that had smeared his lips. His eyes fell upon Shaw's helmet lying nearby. With a slow, unsteady gait, he trudged towards it.

Just as he stooped to retrieve the helmet, Charles' voice echoed within the confines of his mind, <Stop, Erik!>

Erik chose to disregard the plea. His fingers closed around the helmet, gripping it firmly as he straightened up. He offered a silent reply, <I'm sorry, Charles.>

Yet Charles persisted, his telepathic plea taking on a desperate note, <Erik, please. Be the better man.>

But Erik simply replied, <You don't trust me, Charles.>

Charles was quick to respond, his voice carrying an echo of hurt, <No, Erik! It's not about trust. It's about the path you're choosing. There would be no way back.>

But Erik chose not to heed Charles' words. As he fitted the helmet onto his head, the last fragments of Charles' voice echoed in his mind, <Don't do this, Erik! Please! Erik! Eri...> The connection was severed abruptly, leaving behind a silence that was deafening.

Now shielded by the helmet, Erik allowed himself a moment to collect his thoughts. He drew a deep breath, filling his lungs with the cold air, and then slowly released it. His eyes slipped shut for a moment, a moment of calm before the storm.

When they fluttered open again, his gaze held a new determination, a new resolve. Erik murmured to himself, "From this day forward, Erik Lehnsherr is no more," he declared, "For I rise as Magneto."

As the new persona of Magneto took hold, he turned his gaze to the spectacle of Val and Shaw, locked in a fierce battl and he soared towards them.

As he moved, a trail of various metal pieces, levitating from their resting places followed behind him.

Meanwhile,

Charles watched as Magneto, previously his friend Erik, soared towards the embattled duo of Val and Shaw. A heavy sigh escaped him, his heart heavy with regret and frustration. Under his breath, he whispered, his voice barely more than a murmur, "Why, Erik? Why? Why couldn't you just listen to me?"

His thoughts spun around in a whirl of disappointment, his sigh deepening as he continued, "Why does everything have to become more complicated than it already is?"

Suddenly, he sensed the rapid approach of three familiar presences - Angel, Banshee, and Havok. As they closed in, Charles pivoted to face them. The sight that met his eyes confirmed his senses: they were sprinting towards him.

Once they reached his side, Angel asked, "Professor Charles, are you okay?"

Charles offered her a nod of reassurance. "I'm fine, Miss Salvadore," he said. His gaze shifted between the trio as he asked, "Has something occurred? Something that calls for my attention?"

At this, Angel cast a significant look at Havok. The man seemed to wrestle with his words, clearing his throat before he could speak. "Nothing major, Professor Charles," he began, hesitating a moment before continuing, "But..." His gaze wandered off to where Val and Shaw were engaged in their intense duel. Pointing towards Val, he posed his question, "Do you know him? He claimed to have known you since your childhood."

Charles followed Havok's line of sight to Val before turning back to them. He sighed and replied, "Yes, I know him." He paused and asked, "But, where is Mystique?"