WARNING: The following contains spoilers for X-Men #16 by Jonathan Hickman, Phil Noto, VC's Clayton Cowles & Tom Muller, on sale now
With the arrival of the lost mutant nation Arakko in the Marvel Universe, there's a lot of potential for change in both how the world sees mutants and how mutants see the world. And one detail about the coming of Arakko could shift the power structure of the world going forward, and it could be the key to either the X-Men's ultimate triumph or be the final spark setting off the powder kegs that have grown around Krakoa.
As X-Men #15 reveals, Arakko has a lot more Omega-Level Mutants than Krakoa realized, which could give them a major power boost in any coming conflicts.
"Omega-Level" is a term that refers to the most powerful form of mutations, and their abilities have become more important than ever in the Krakoan era. Armed with potentially unlimited power, classic X-Men like Storm and Iceman, powerful psychics like Jean Grey and Quentin Quire, and reality-warpers like Proteus and Mister M are all considered Omega-Level mutants.
That's why some of the revelations that come from the arrival of Arakko to Earth all the more shocking. Cypher has been doing his best to soothe any lingering conflict between the newly arrived Arakko -- which has been sent to Earth following the events of X of Swords. With his help, ideally the two halves of Okkara could reunite and bring together the ancestral home of mutants once again. But that ends up not necessarily being the case for anyone involved. Cypher is forced to tell the Quiet Council that Arakko has no interest in bonding back with Krakoa, having grown distant and war-like during its time in the demon-infested realm of Amenth. Notably, they also have a a dozen of their own Omega-Level Mutants in their population and in the ruling Great Ring, Arakko's answer to the Quiet Council, which could change the face of any future conflicts
While the presence of that many Omega-Level mutants is concerning, the Arakko issue is further complicated by the sheer number of mutants on the island, which doesn't have any formal bonds to Krakoa or any Earthly power structure. Cypher reveals that the population of Arakko roughly includes roughly 20 times as many mutants as there are on Krakoa, meaning they have an easy numbers advantage over the forces of Krakoa. Notably, the Great Ring has never included a non-Omega-Level mutant in a leadership role. That means that the mysterious figures like Idyll, Ora Serrata, Stulgid, Lodus Logos, Lactuca and Sobunar are all Omega-Level mutants, as are familiar X of Swords warriors Isca the Unbeaten, Tarn and Redroot.
Notably, there are rumored to be three hidden members of their council -- the Night Seats, which have their identities hidden from even the rest of Arakko. This all leads to the easy conclusion that the mutants of Arakko are not just war-like in times of conflict like X of Swords, but even in times of peace.
Although Isca expresses a willingness to consider a change in the face of the future and promises to bring the concept of an alliance to the Great Ring, she makes it clear the mutants of Arakko are different than the X-Men and their allies. With a host of Omega-Level Mutants at their disposal, the forces of Arakko could be far more fearsome going forward, especially if they decide to go into all-out war as opposed to following formal rules set in place by someone like Saturnyne.