When an explosive event shatters the lives of the X-Men and takes away their mentor, the beaten heroes walk away from it all. Wolverine, the most legendary of all X-Men, reunites them to prevent the world's destruction.

Situations are starting to intensify both in the future and in the present. Professor X has been captured by the Sentinels and taken to Master Mold, due to Marrow's betrayal. He is shocked to see a rebuilt and higher-tech Cerebro, and is forced to operate the duplicate, locating the last of the world's remaining mutants.

Meanwhile in the present, Wolverine is dealing with the abduction of Jean and the news that Senator Kelly has decided to launch the Sentinels at Genosha. He is certain that Emma is behind Jean's disappearance and, despite her denials, he locks her up while he and the rest of the team focus their efforts on stopping Kelly's Sentinels from reaching Genosha, where Magneto is sure to retaliate. What Wolverine does not realise is that it is not Kelly launching the Sentinels, but Mystique using his form. The real Kelly is captured by Quicksilver, and taken to Genosha under Magneto's orders.

Scott stays behind and releases Emma, hoping she can locate Jean yet again. Once free, she takes off without him to the Inner Circle's mansion. There, in her White Queen form, she explains to the still-amnesic Jean what the Phoenix force within her truly is. She tells her how the Phoenix needs to be released before it matures and is uncontrollable, or the world will suffer. This has been the Inner Circle's purpose for centuries, to look for the next telepath with the Phoenix force and set it free.

Meanwhile, the X-Men arrive at Trask's factory, but they are too late... Show less