Receiving the Red Phoenix's powerful attack, Mister Sinister immediately sensed the strength and magnitude of the power within the other being and made rapid calculations.
If the Phoenix Force were calculated as a total of one hundred percent, Jean Grey possessed roughly forty percent, Mister Sinister possessed thirty-five percent, and the Red Phoenix possessed approximately twenty-five percent—the least of the three. After considering this distribution for a moment, Mister Sinister formulated a strategic plan. If he could first obtain the Phoenix Force within the Red Phoenix, he would undoubtedly be able to suppress and overwhelm the White Phoenix of Jean Grey completely. This would ultimately grant him complete and total control of the entire Phoenix Force and its power. With this calculation and strategic goal firmly in his mind, Mister Sinister decided not to delay any longer and immediately attacked the Red Phoenix with fierce determination.
But at that precise moment, a flash of fire shot out brilliantly from the huge abandoned oil tank that had exploded so violently. It was Jean Grey, the White Phoenix, rising from the destruction.
At that same moment, Charles, Tony, Eric, and the others arrived quickly. Utilizing the portal-opening function integrated into Tony's advanced armor suit, they arrived rapidly and prepared themselves for immediate battle and intervention.
Mister Sinister's expression darkened noticeably and his face twisted with visible frustration at the arrival of Charles and the others.
A normal person would have already devised a comprehensive plan to deal with these escalating complications and challenges. However, even without its own independent will, the Phoenix Force's immense energy and destructive power still affected and corrupted Mister Sinister's sanity and rational thinking. Furthermore, upon seeing Charles and the others, he immediately remembered how they had destroyed his technological empire and all his previous plans. Without hesitation or doubt, he prepared to attack them with fierce aggression.
However, at that very moment, a striking column of black smoke rose dramatically from the direction of the collapsed Essex Building. The column extended upward and reached toward the sky with incredible height. In mid-air, it transformed into a gigantic crow composed entirely of vast black smoke. This was Sebastian's fourth Animagus form—the Death Form, a manifestation of his power over mortality itself.
Sebastian had previously suffered considerable damage from the severe impact and force of the Phoenix Force, but it was not a major or debilitating problem for him. But at this particular moment, perhaps by coincidence or perhaps due to the shock of the explosive attack or the influence of the Phoenix Force itself, Sebastian's absorption of the Chaos and Dark Magic powers suddenly accelerated dramatically and entered its final crucial stage.
Because of this critical development, Sebastian chose not to leave the ruins of the Essex Building immediately, allowing the collapsing structure to bury him temporarily. He remained there, underground, completely absorbing and merging the Chaos Power and the Dark Magic Power with his own essence. Only after completing this fundamental transformation did he leave the ruins of Essex Tower and soar into the sky with newfound power.
At this moment, Sebastian could clearly sense profound changes within himself. He could not only draw immense Chaos power from the Chaos Dimension itself with unprecedented ease, but also harness the power of Dark Magic with remarkable facility and control. The Dark Magic Power had completely merged and unified with Sebastian's own magical authority and essence. He could now constantly sense the magical essence feedback flowing from countless dimensions and parallel universes simultaneously. He gained a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the true power embodied by beings like the Vishanti Trinity themselves.
Taking a deep and measured breath, Sebastian returned to human form from his death-defying Animagus form. He was shrouded in pitch-black smoke and hovered majestically in mid-air, gathering his thoughts and assessing the situation before him.
The Phoenix Force was divided into three separate and distinct portions, and Sebastian was firmly determined to obtain one of them for his purposes.
The White Phoenix belonged to Jean Grey, and Sebastian did not want to take that particular portion of the Phoenix Power from her, even if it was the most powerful and most potent of the three. He understood that taking her portion would be wrong and would undermine everything they had fought for.
Sebastian's nature and personal experience gave him wisdom in this regard. He understood that the strongest force was not necessarily the most suitable for his purposes. When crafting a magical wand, he knew that a suitable wand was entirely sufficient for his needs. Overwhelming power could actually prove counterproductive and unbalanced.
As for the Dark Phoenix, while its power was certainly useful for crafting a powerful magical weapon or wand, it was not particularly suitable for his specific purposes and designs. The raw destruction it represented did not align with what he truly needed.
So, Sebastian deliberately targeted the weakest of the three Phoenix Forces present—the Red Phoenix that was possessed by Jean Grey's clone! While this Red Phoenix held the ancient will of the Phoenix Force and possessed uncontrollable and savage nature, Sebastian did not intend to take all of it at once. Instead, he would carefully fragment the Red Phoenix's Phoenix Force into its various component parts and separate elements. Then he would refine its will bit by bit and piece by piece until it eventually succumbed or was completely destroyed and neutralized.
With a whoosh of displaced air, Sebastian Apparated suddenly, vanishing from his original position and reappearing immediately beside Charles and the others with perfect precision.
"Help Jean deal with Essex and Mister Sinister," Sebastian commanded with clear authority. "I will deal with the Red Phoenix clone and handle that situation myself."
Sebastian had previously been able to handle a full Phoenix entity entirely on his own, so Charles and the others harbored no concerns whatsoever about his capability. They nodded in agreement immediately.
Seeing their acceptance and agreement, Sebastian did not hesitate further. He transformed into a column of black smoke and charged toward the Red Phoenix with tremendous speed and determination.
Seeing Sebastian's approach with clear hostile intent, the Red Phoenix immediately let out a bestial roar that echoed across the landscape. It adopted an instinctive beast-like fighting stance, unleashing a torrential onslaught of illusory flames in all directions. The Phoenix's ancient will naturally recognized Sebastian as a threat and as familiar opposition. As the saying goes, enemies often respect and envy each other in their rivalry. The Red Phoenix immediately abandoned the Dark Phoenix of Mister Sinister, and the White Phoenix of Jean Grey, and lunged toward the black smoke that Sebastian had transformed into with singular focus.
Upon contact between the Red Phoenix and Sebastian's transformed state, the smoke instantly transformed into a twisting vortex of tremendous power and energy. This vortex carried both Sebastian and the Red Phoenix away together, vanishing completely from the spot and from the sight of those watching.
Meanwhile, far beyond Earth, on the dark and desolate far side of the Moon, a column of black smoke suddenly erupted upward with tremendous force. It transformed into a twisting and swirling vortex of immense proportions and power.
At that same moment, a figure brimming with flames burst forth from it with violent energy, landing with tremendous impact on a large crater on the far side of the lunar surface. The Red Phoenix felt a wave of intense discomfort and a suffocating sensation wash over it, but it quickly recovered and adapted to the harsh environment. The Phoenix's power gushed forth fully from the Red Phoenix's form, transforming it into a humanoid shape composed entirely of flame and energy. It stood tall and imposing on the surface of the Moon itself.
Emerging from the vortex of black smoke with controlled grace, Sebastian cast no incantations or spoken spells. Yet the power within him unleashed its might naturally, ensuring his survival in this harsh and airless environment. The power of Death itself protected him from the vacuum and radiation of space.
With a gentle squeeze of his right hand, a magic wand materialized suddenly into existence.
Glancing at the Red Phoenix before him with calculating assessment, Sebastian wasted no time whatsoever in initiating combat. Furthermore, he understood that voices were impossible to transmit effectively in this airless environment surrounding them. The opponent he faced was unlikely to understand human speech or language. Talking and negotiation were pointless and counterproductive. Direct action and magical combat were the best and most practical strategy to employ.
Rumble! The lunar ground shook beneath them with tremors of power, and a massive mass of lunar soil and rock rose from the surface with Sebastian's will. The earth and stone transformed into gigantic hands that reached out toward the Red Phoenix with menacing intent.
The Red Phoenix, observing the hands approaching it, unleashed its phoenix-infused telekinesis without hesitation or delay. It instantly destroyed the massive stone hands with raw power. The Red Phoenix then directed the shattered earth and rock, sending it flying back toward Sebastian with great force and velocity.
With a practiced flick of his wand, the earth and rock instantly transformed into fluttering butterflies of countless colors and varieties, dispersing harmlessly in all directions across the lunar landscape.
Then, Sebastian pointed the magic wand in his hand at the Red Phoenix continuously with purpose and focus. Black chains shot out from the void itself and quickly bound the Red Phoenix, making it completely unable to move at all for a significant moment. At the same time, Sebastian did not hesitate or pause in his assault. He pointed the magic wand in his hand again with absolute determination, and a black energy infused with green light shot out from the wand's tip. This energy was filled with the profound meaning of death itself and carried Sebastian's ultimate magical intention.
"Avada Kedavra!"
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