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*****
A terrifying river of meteors, like a world-ending dragon, roared silently through the vacuum of space. It lunged toward its enemy with relentless resolve, only to be met by a golden bolt of light that pierced through the dragon's center.
Wherever the two forces touched, matter disintegrated into fine powder.
As the golden light forced its way deeper into the swarm, it seemed to expend its energy; its brilliance flickered and dimmed until it vanished entirely.
Seeing this, Onslaught Olivia smiled. He reached out and clenched his fist, exerting absolute control over the massive field of meteors. In a matter of seconds, he forced the debris to coalesce, forming a solid, spherical moon of stone several kilometers in diameter.
Watching from a distance, Clark and the others felt a sense of numbness. This level of power... it felt as if it had transcended the rules of their reality.
To Mike, however, it seemed perfectly logical. The Potara earrings didn't simply add the power levels of the two individuals; they multiplied them, often resulting in a being dozens of times more powerful than the originals. Judging by Onslaught's current performance, the guy probably hadn't even tapped into his true potential yet.
Those earrings were definitely worth the price, Mike mused.
As that thought crossed his mind, the battlefield shifted once more.
Dozens of golden beams of light suddenly erupted from within the massive stone sphere. As the light intensified, jagged cracks spider-webbed across the surface of the meteor-moon until the entire structure shattered.
"SKREEE!"
Amidst a sharp, furious phoenix cry, the Phoenix Force exploded outward like a hyper-compressed storm. As the blast reduced the stone fragments to ash, the energy coalesced into a single, concentrated beam that slammed into the wormhole above Onslaught's head.
In an instant, the portal—which had been relentlessly vomiting meteors—was snuffed out.
Onslaught blinked, then let out a delighted laugh. "Impressive! As expected of my... uh, my other half's woman! Truly powerful!"
Before his voice had even faded, the Dark Phoenix—her body wreathed in golden energy as if bathing in a sun—appeared directly in front of him. She lunged, her hand thrusting toward him with crushing intent.
Onslaught didn't flinch. He raised a hand, his finger tapping the air between them. Suddenly, a series of black, runic patterns rippled through the space separating them.
The Dark Phoenix's eyes flashed, and a telekinetic shield flared to protect her.
In the next heartbeat, the space between them buckled and shattered, revealing a kaleidoscopic, shimmering tunnel. The raw destructive force caused by the spatial collapse sent the Dark Phoenix tumbling backward into the distance.
As the fractured space began to slowly knit itself back together, Onslaught's brow furrowed. He stared at the tear in reality, looking toward the world on the other side.
"Is that... the Phoenix Force of another world?"
He murmured under his breath. He could feel it—the Phoenix Force of another universe sensing the breach and racing toward the fracture, drawn by the presence of the Dark Phoenix.
Two Phoenix Forces merging?
Onslaught wasn't particularly afraid of the power, but it would undoubtedly be a massive headache to deal with.
"Better wrap this up now," he whispered. He looked toward the Dark Phoenix, who was watching him warily. "My apologies. Though I've enjoyed our time together, it's time to say goodbye."
As the fire in the Dark Phoenix's eyes flared up again, Onslaught's gaze intensified. His telepathic power surged forth, quietly invading the Dark Phoenix's mind.
In the next second, the flames in her eyes died out. She stood frozen in the void, silent and still. But deep within her psyche—in a place invisible to the others—a desperate struggle was taking place.
The persona currently in control was the Dark Phoenix—the shadow personality filled with the desire for destruction.
With Charles's help over the years, Jean had nearly succeeded in erasing this dark side. However, the parasitic arrival of the Phoenix Force today—and specifically its raw fury—had allowed the dark personality to seize the upper hand and take control of Jean's body.
Now, Onslaught's mission was to wipe that shadow out for good.
Watching the two figures standing motionless in space, Hope asked curiously, "What is he doing?"
"Psychic power," Clark guessed, looking toward his father for confirmation. "Is he using Charles's abilities to control Jean? What's the end goal?"
Mike smiled faintly. "What's he doing? He's erasing Jean's dark personality once and for all."
"Completely erasing it!?" Clark exclaimed. No one knew better than they did how stubborn and dangerous Jean's dark side was.
"Don't doubt whether he can do it," Mike said. "Instead, you should guess how long it will take him."
Clark let out a breath of relief. It seemed his father had absolute confidence in this fusion of Charles and Erik.
---
Inside the mental landscape, Onslaught had already used his power to awaken Jean's primary consciousness. As the true Jean fought the dark personality for control over the Phoenix Force, Onslaught acted as the ultimate weight in the scales, helping her seize the reins.
Under the triple-threat of Jean's true self, the Phoenix Force itself, and Onslaught's intervention, the dark personality was systematically dismantled and annihilated.
Onslaught withdrew his power, and the restrained Jean slowly opened her eyes.
There was no burning phoenix fire in her pupils, no cruelty, and no madness. There was only relief and joy.
Onslaught smiled. "It looks like your problem is solved."
Jean nodded, a brilliant smile lighting up her face. But as she looked at the man standing before her, her face suddenly flushed deep red. She whispered awkwardly, "Um... since Charles and Erik fused into you... what happens with me and Charles?"
The thought was agonizing. She couldn't give up Charles, but now Charles was... this person.
"Big sister, what on earth are you thinking? I've only been 'born' for a few minutes. Are you seriously trying to make a move on me?" Onslaught rolled his eyes, his mouth twitching. "He is him, and I am me!"
Jean's expression shifted from embarrassment to indignation. 'Big sister'? 'Make a move'? Suddenly, she felt a brief urge to destroy the world anyway.
"Then Charles..."
"Once the fusion time runs out, that bald guy will be back," Onslaught said with a dismissive wave of his hand before flying back toward Mike and the others.
Jean breathed a sigh of relief. She was about to follow him when her eyes suddenly flared with flickering flames. She turned back toward the spatial rifts that had been created during her battle with Onslaught.
Those rifts were scars on the fabric of reality—temporary bridges between universes. Through these channels, Jean could feel the Phoenix Forces of other realities. Because of the inherent connection between all fragments of the Phoenix, she could sense the emotions of other hosts.
Hunger. Madness.
She felt a desperate craving for the fragments to reunite, a lust for power so intense it bordered on insanity. Most disturbingly, she sensed other Phoenix hosts currently slaughtering one another.
They're... fighting each other for the fragments?
Jean's heart hammered in her chest. And then, her expression went pale.
She had been noticed. By the other hosts.
(End of Chapter)