Marvel: Sin Lord

The next morning, Inarius stood in the training yard, the rising sun casting long shadows across the Academy grounds. His new teammates were scattered around him, each preparing in their own way. Catseye stretched like an actual cat, her claws extending and retracting, while Jetstream was already zipping back and forth, warming up his propulsion systems. Tarot shuffled her deck with practiced ease, while Roulette leaned casually against a wall, fiddling with her probability dial. Empath, as always, stood apart, looking bored and superior.

Emma Frost strode onto the field, her heels clicking against the stone with an authoritative rhythm. Behind her stood a towering training droid, sleek and menacing, its metallic surface gleaming in the sunlight.

"Today's exercise is simple," Emma announced, her voice cutting through the crisp morning air. "Work together to disable the droid. Your success—or failure—will determine how well you operate as a team."

She paused, her piercing gaze scanning each of them. "And let me be clear: failure is not an option."

As the droid powered up, its eyes glowing a threatening red, Inarius instinctively stepped back, his muscles tensing. Jetstream was the first to move, launching himself into the air with a burst of speed. He circled the droid, attempting to draw its attention, but the machine's head swiveled with precision, tracking his every move.

"Someone hit it while I've got it distracted!" Jetstream shouted, his voice strained as he pushed his speed to the limit.

Catseye leaped forward, her claws flashing as she raked them across the droid's chest. Sparks flew, but the machine barely staggered. Instead, it swung a massive arm, catching her mid-air and sending her sprawling to the ground.

"Watch it!" Empath yelled from the sidelines, not bothering to engage. "If you're going to be reckless, at least make it count."

Inarius clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. "Then why don't you do something instead of standing there?"

Empath smirked, his eyes glowing faintly as he reached out with his power. The droid hesitated for a moment, its movements becoming sluggish. "There. Happy now?"

Tarot stepped forward, drawing a card from her deck. The image of the Tower glowed briefly before vanishing, and a bolt of energy shot from her hands, striking the droid and causing it to stagger.

"It's vulnerable!" she shouted. "Now!"

Inarius took a deep breath, summoning his sword. The ethereal purple blade appeared in his hand, its energy crackling with power. He hadn't used it in front of the others yet, and their reactions were immediate—Tarot's eyes widened in awe, Roulette let out a low whistle, and even Empath looked intrigued.

"Let's see what you can do," Roulette said, spinning her dial and sending a burst of bad luck toward the droid. Its arm malfunctioned, jerking uncontrollably.

Inarius didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, his movements a blur as he closed the distance. He slashed at the droid's legs, the blade cutting through metal like paper. The machine faltered, collapsing to one knee.

"Nice one, newbie!" Jetstream called out, swooping in to deliver a high-speed punch to the droid's head.

But the machine wasn't finished. It released a shockwave, sending everyone flying backward. Inarius hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

As the droid loomed over him, its arm raised for a finishing blow, Inarius felt a surge of anger and determination. He reached out with his power, sensing the faint traces of sin within the machine—echoes of the hands that had built it, the greed and ambition that had driven its creation. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

He pulled.

The droid shuddered, its movements growing erratic as purple energy flowed from it into Inarius. His injuries began to heal, and he felt a surge of strength. With a roar, he leaped to his feet and drove his sword into the droid's core.

The machine let out a deafening screech before collapsing into a heap of sparking metal.

The Hellions gathered around the smoking remains of the droid, their expressions a mix of relief and awe.

"Not bad," Jetstream admitted, clapping Inarius on the back. "Guess you're not just a pretty face."

Catseye purred in approval, while Tarot gave him a small, knowing smile. Empath, however, looked less impressed.

"Don't get cocky," Empath said. "You got lucky."

"Enough," Emma said, stepping forward. "You completed the exercise. Barely. But you'll need to work on your coordination if you want to survive real missions."

Her gaze lingered on Inarius for a moment longer than the others. "And you... we'll need to talk about your power later."

As the team dispersed, Inarius couldn't help but feel a small spark of pride. For the first time in years, he wasn't just surviving—he was part of something bigger. Whether that was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen.