He emerged in the desolate expanse of New Mexico's desert, the arid wind whipping at his cloak.

Surveying the barren landscape, Sebastian prepared to head toward the nearest town to gather information on Charles's whereabouts.

But at that moment, a car roared into view, speeding toward him from the distance.

Behind it, two Sentinel robots pursued relentlessly, their red eyes blazing as they closed the gap.

Sebastian's eyes sharpened, taking on the keen precision of a bird of prey.

He instantly spotted the occupants of the pursued off-road vehicle: a family of four—two adults and two children, a boy and a girl, seemingly of similar age.

The two Sentinel robots shifted slightly, their mouths transforming into devices resembling megaphones.

Two piercing sonic waves erupted from their mouths, blasting the ground and kicking up clouds of dust and sand.

At that moment, the teenage girl in the vehicle stood, gripping the edge of the car's frame. She raised her hand, gathering air and water molecules to form a force field composed of countless transparent spheres.

The field rose above them, shielding the family from the Sentinels' sonic attack.

Just then, the family noticed a figure in a black trench coat standing not far ahead, seemingly staring blankly at the Sentinels.

The mother shouted urgently, "Get out of the way! Don't get caught in the crossfire!"

But before they could say more, the man in the trench coat raised his hand, clutching a dark golden wand. A blinding light burst from the wand, casting Bombarda!

Two deafening explosions followed, and the two Sentinel robots, which had been relentlessly pursuing them, were torn apart as if ripped to shreds, destroyed in a fiery blast.

The off-road vehicle screeched to a halt, sliding in a circle across the desert sand before coming to a stop.

The car door opened, and the father stepped out, cautious and wary.

From a distance, he called to Sebastian, "Hello! Are you a mutant too? My daughter and son are mutants! We're heading to a nearby mutant stronghold. Would you like to come with us?"

Sebastian looked at him, a faint smile crossing his face. "Aren't you worried I might have ulterior motives?"

The man shook his head. "You took out those Sentinels to help us.

That doesn't seem like something a bad person would do. Besides, someone with bad intentions wouldn't admit it outright."

The middle-aged man wasn't acting out of pure kindness.

Inviting Sebastian was a calculated move, driven by his ability to effortlessly destroy two Sentinels.

Though it carried some risk, having Sebastian along would maximize their safety against future Sentinel attacks.

Sebastian knew the nearby mutant stronghold was likely where Charles was hiding.

Without hesitation, he climbed into the vehicle, sitting in the back with the man's son and daughter.

The off-road vehicle started again. The mother, seated in the passenger seat, hesitated before offering a warm smile.

"Hello, we're the Struckers. I'm Caitlin, and this is my husband, Baron.

In the middle next to you is my youngest son, Andy, and by the window on your right is my daughter, Lauren.

What's your name?"

"Sebastian Shaw," Sebastian replied. "You can call me Sebastian."

"Nice to meet you, Sebastian," Caitlin said. "We're very grateful for your help earlier."

"No need to thank me," Sebastian said. "And don't be nervous. I mean you no harm. In fact, I'm also looking for that mutant stronghold. Our goals align."

Sebastian could sense their wariness and tension, so he offered the brief explanation to ease their minds.

Caitlin and Reed exchanged slightly embarrassed glances but visibly relaxed, nodding. Reed focused on driving, while Caitlin picked up a map and compass, guiding their route.

Andy, seated beside Sebastian, looked at him nervously and asked in a low voice, "Sir, you tore apart those two Sentinels in one move. What's your ability?"

Turning to Andy, Sebastian said, "I'm not much older than you, so no need to call me 'sir.'

Just Sebastian is fine. As for my ability, you can think of it as magic."

"Magic… like making wishes come true?" Andy asked, eyes wide. "That's really powerful."

Sebastian blinked, then grinned. "You're not far off. It's something like that."

As their conversation continued, the atmosphere in the car gradually lightened.

The journey remained free of further Sentinel attacks, and after about two hours, the off-road vehicle reached a cave hidden in the desert.

The car drove directly inside, stopping before a solid wall.

An invisible wave spread out.

It confirmed the vehicle's occupants were safe and free of tracking devices. The wall softened, melting like mud to reveal an entrance. The off-road vehicle moved forward, entering the cave.

The car proceeded slowly, passing numerous mutants stationed nearby. Their faces were stern, their gazes sharp and wary, scrutinizing the newcomers with intense suspicion.

When the off-road vehicle reached an underground plaza filled with numerous parked cars, it finally came to a stop.

Under the wary supervision of four mutants, the five occupants—Sebastian, Baron, Caitlin, Lauren, and Andy—stepped out of the vehicle and stood in the plaza for inspection.

"When you first contacted us, you mentioned only your family of four," one of the mutants said, eyeing Sebastian. "Now there's a fifth person. Who is he?"

Reed responded quickly, his voice steady but cautious. "On our way here, we were attacked by two Sentinel robots. If it weren't for him destroying those Sentinels, we wouldn't have made it here so easily. We might have been captured by now. So we brought him along. He's a mutant too, and I thought he could join us here."

Hearing Reed's words, the mutants in the plaza turned to Sebastian with expressions of surprise. Destroying two Sentinels single-handedly was no small feat—far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary mutant. If he truly joined their stronghold, their combat strength and safety would increase significantly.

But at that moment, a male mutant nearby paled, his face twisting with alarm. He stared at Sebastian, his eyes narrowing, and suddenly shouted, "Everyone, be on guard! Prepare for combat! This guy isn't a mutant! I've scanned him—he's just a normal human! Someone who can destroy two Sentinels has to be suspicious. Don't let him fool you—he could be a spy sent by them!"

Over the past year, humans had used devices to pose as mutants, infiltrating strongholds and sabotaging them from within. The mutant's words sparked immediate tension, and the air grew thick with suspicion. A hot-tempered mutant lunged forward, launching an attack at Sebastian, energy crackling from their hands.