Deathbird launched a fierce attack on the Kree vessel, slaughtering numerous soldiers with ease. To compound their woes, Gladiator and his fellow members of the Shiar Imperial Guard arrived on the scene, siding with Deathbird. As she hovered over Ronan, the ship's commander, ready to strike the final blow, an interruption came, bearing news from her sister.
Lilandra, Empress of the Shi'ar and Deathbird's sister, announced her betrothal to someone hailing from Earth. She described him as a powerful figure who had aided them in overcoming numerous challenges, including the dreaded Phoenix. When the man lifted his helmet, revealing the face of Charles Xavier, the scene was electric.
Xavier expressed his desire to return to Earth, eager to reunite with his students and continue his teachings with the X-Men. He professed a deep longing for them and felt he still had much to impart. Lilandra, however, voiced her opposition, fearing he might never return if he left. Nevertheless, she promised to consider his request.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Storm tended to Forge, whose injuries were ghastly. But the Adversary, determined to break her spirit, intervened, taunting her with demonic visions of the X-Men, blaming them for stripping her of her gifts. With his waning strength, Forge managed to banish the villain with a burst of magic.
The Adversary's venomous bite had corrupted Forge's body, and Storm anxiously inquired if he could heal it through magic. He recalled a passage from his mother's writings, mentioning a cactus with potent medicinal properties that might save him. Unwilling to wait alone, they embarked on a joint mission to find it.
However, Deathbird, jealous of Xavier's union with Lilandra, saw it as an opportunity to seize the throne. She coerced him into participating in the Rite of M'Dashaa, a grueling test of loyalty. Xavier accepted the challenge confidently, unaware of the formidable challenges it would entail. Deathbird made it clear that he must sever all ties with Earth and the X-Men if he wished to survive.
Xavier hesitated visibly, his mind wandering back to Magneto, a memory he refused to relinquish. However, he knew he must also demonstrate his unwavering loyalty to Lilandra. Storm engaged in a profound conversation with Forge, discussing her mutant abilities and the paradoxical hatred they often invoked, despite her heroic efforts to save lives. She pondered, believing perhaps she was better suited to her current state. Suddenly, as Forge attempted to counter her thoughts, a violent coughing fit overcame him, forcing him to take a seat. Left alone, Storm was forced to continue the journey ahead unaccompanied.
Xavier made the difficult decision to relinquish his memories of Earth, yet found himself mute when the council inquired about his allegiance to the X-Men. Deathbird seized the opportunity, mocking him and making a bid for the throne. This led to a fierce confrontation between her and Lilandra, alongside the Gladiator. To quell the conflict, the mutant expertly transported everyone to an astral plane, transforming the scene into a classroom-like setting.
Meanwhile, Storm encountered the Adversary once again. As the creature delved into her mind, she realized that the neutralizer was not the sole weapon suppressing her powers; the lies she chose to believe were another shackle. Suddenly, the winds began to swirl around her, and she summoned a bolt of lightning that tore through the mountain, obliterating the demon. Emerging victorious, Storm soared away, clad in her black X-Men suit, her abilities restored to their full glory.
Returning to Forge's abode, Storm utilized the healing properties of the cacti to nurse him back to health. She plotted their next course of action, but her plans were abruptly interrupted by a broadcast on the television, revealing the devastating news about Genosha.
Xavier, too, received word of Genosha's fate, but through a vision while instructing Deathbird and the others. This revelation left her resolute, declaring her urgent need to return to Earth.
Elsewhere, on a desolate, unfamiliar street, Bolivar Trask fled from an unseen pursuer, declaring that he had fulfilled his unknown task. He begged for death, repentant for his actions against Genosha. Mr. Sinister appeared, revealing that Trask's deeds were merely the prologue to a much grander scheme.
