Hode felt as if time had frozen at this moment; the terrifying pressure carried by the energy sphere made every nerve in his body scream. But his calm mind, honed from his time with Susan, raced. He suddenly remembered the night he spent with Storm in the Sahara Desert—the wild winds dancing with sand under the moonlight, where she taught him how to manipulate every molecule in the airflow.
"Tony! Use the anti-gravity device to create a cyclone!" Hode shouted suddenly, while his hands moved rapidly in the air, summoning an invisible wind wall. "Carol, inject Cosmic Energy into the center of the cyclone!"
Tony's War Armor ejected a stream of blue-white particles, forming a rotating force field in front of the energy sphere. Carol understood and hovered in mid-air; as she pushed her palms forward, the star emblem on her chest shone blindingly. The moment the two forces intersected, Hodeswung his arm violently: "Storm Strangler!"
The hurricane, carrying Cosmic Energy, formed a spiral, piercing the surface of the energy sphere like a drill. The black figure let out a deafening roar, and ghostly green flames flickered wildly within the cyclone, but everyone could clearly see spiderweb-like cracks appearing on the surface of the energy sphere.
"Steve!" Hode roared. "Now, use the shield to reflect its core light!"
Captain America leaped up and wedged his Vibraniumshield obliquely into the edge of the cyclone. The moment the light erupting from inside the energy sphere struck the shield, the entire space was dyed incandescent. Hode felt a burning pain in his left eye—it was the energy vision he had gained from kissing Captain Marvel. At this moment, he could clearly see the chaotic fluctuation frequency inside the energy sphere.
"Diana! Use the Lasso of Truth to bind its right claw!" Hodeturned suddenly to Wonder Woman. "Bruce, calculate the parabola of the energy sphere's explosion!"
Diana's lasso traced a golden arc, precisely wrapping around the limb of the black figure as it was gathering its second wave of attacks. Bruce quickly projected a 3D model onto his tactical visor: "It will explode five hundred meters above our heads in thirty seconds!"
Hode took a deep breath, and the killer instinct cultivated during his training with Black Widow Natasha in the Red Room took over his consciousness. He suddenly vanished from where he stood, and when he reappeared, he was already standing on the shoulder of the black figure—this was the short-range teleportation ability he had acquired while dating the teleporter Jessica Jones.
"Do you remember the fireworks we watched from the top of Tokyo Tower?" Hode whispered to the core of the black figure, pressing his right hand against its burning forehead. The Chaos Magic he had obtained while kissing Scarlet Witch Wanda under London Bridge began to boil, and he saw countless threads of possibility unfold before his eyes.
"Now!" Hode suddenly leaped into the air, and the Chaos Magic transformed into countless blades, piercing into the energy sphere. "Tony! Use all your energy to push it!"
Iron Man's War Armor lit up with a dangerous red glow, and he slammed into the energy sphere like a human cannonball. Under the dual Impact, the already fragile energy structure finally collapsed, but the direction of the explosion was directed upward above everyone's heads—that was the parabolic trajectory Steve had altered with his shield.
A violent light explosion illuminated the sky, and the shockwave tore the clouds within a ten-mile radius into shreds. When the smoke cleared, the black figure had vanished, leaving only a smoking giant crater on the ground.
"Did we succeed?" Tony's voice carried static, and his War Armor was sparking in several places.
Carol's energy field flickered: "But its core fragments..."
Her words were interrupted by a suddenly sounding alarm. Bruce stared at the detector on his wrist, his expression changing drastically: "No! Those fragments are recombining, and..."
The ground suddenly shook violently, and nine black pillars of light shot into the sky from different directions, interweaving in the air to form a massive hexagram array. Hode felt his heart gripped by an invisible hand—this was the cosmic-level energy fluctuation he had felt while walking with Phoenix Jean Grey at the X-Mansion.
"It is not a single organism..." Hode's voice tightened. "It is summoning..."
Before he could finish, all the pillars of light erupted with blinding radiance simultaneously. In the glare, Hode saw countless black figures emerging from the void, each emitting a pressure even greater than before. Even more terrifying was that he saw familiar gems embedded in the chests of these clones—they were the exact Infinity Stonesfragments they had lost in various battles.
"This time we've really messed up..." Tony's War Armoremitted its final alarm.
Hode clenched his fists, and the interstellar navigation ability he had acquired while kissing Nebula automatically activated, projecting complex star maps onto his retinas. When his gaze fell on a certain flashing red dot, he suddenly wore an expression of realization—that was the mysterious dimension he and Captain Marvel had seen the last time they passed through a wormhole, known as the World Forge.
"So that's it..." Hode whispered to himself, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward. "It doesn't want destruction..."
The black clones suddenly roared in unison, and countless ghostly green rays cut through the sky. Hode spread his arms, and the diverse abilities he had gained from his time with all the female superheroes boiled within him. Just as the rays were about to strike them, a pair of wings made of energy suddenly unfolded behind him—that was the ultimate power shared with Jean Grey in a telepathic state.
"Hold onto me!" Hode shouted to his stunned companions. The airflow stirred by the Phoenix wings lifted everyone up towards the clouds. Below, countless black clones were slowly merging into a massive figure that blotted out the sky, its eyes like two rotating black holes, swallowing all the light on the entire battlefield.
Hode led everyone through the clouds, the wild wind whistling in his ears, but it could not drown out the eerie humming sound emitted by the black figure merging below. He felt the energy of the Phoenix wings consuming rapidly—this was the price of a deep link with Jean Grey, but he couldn't care about that right now.
"Hode, where are we going?" Carol's voice carried static over the comms, her long golden hair dancing wildly in the airflow.
"The World Forge." Hode answered through gritted teeth. His energy vision in his left eye allowed him to see a massive, constantly twisting red vortex on the horizon, the entrance to the mysterious dimension they had glimpsed during their last wormhole traversal. "It wants to use the Infinity Stones fragments to open a passage and let something even more terrifying in."
Tony's War Armor suddenly let out a piercing alarm: "High-concentration dark matter reaction detected! That thing is absorbing our Cosmic Energy!"
"Steve, Diana, you are responsible for clearing the clones along the way!" Hode shouted, while simultaneously mobilizing the technological perception he had gained while spending time in the Wakanda laboratory with Black Panther T'Challa's sister, Shuri, to quickly analyze the energy structure of the World Forge. "Tony, Bruce, I need you to hack into its core system—if that counts as a system."
Captain America and Wonder Woman exchanged a look and charged downward simultaneously. Steve's shield traced a silver arc; every Impact caused a black clone to explode into ghostly green sparks. Diana's Lasso of Truthwas like golden lightning; after wrapping around a clone, the Sword of Athena would pierce into its core without hesitation.
"This feels like dismantling a bomb that could explode at any moment," Tony muttered, his War Armor's mechanical arm extending to try and capture the Infinity Stonesfragments floating in the air.
Bruce crouched on a floating meteorite, his fingers tapping rapidly on a virtual keyboard: "Hode, its defense mechanism is strange; it's like a living creature constantly evolving."
Hode's heart stirred, and he suddenly remembered his experience exploring the Quantum Realm with Ant-Man Scott's daughter, Cassie. He closed his eyes and concentrated, attempting to shrink his body to a quantum level—this was a special ability he had acquired while kissing Cassie. Instantly, he felt as if he had fallen into a labyrinth composed of countless glowing threads, each representing the energy flow of the World Forge.
"Found it!" Hode opened his eyes, the light of the Phoenixwings blazing. He led everyone and charged violently toward the entrance of the World Forge. "Its core is a quantum computer, using the Infinity Stones fragments to perform superluminal calculations!"
Just as they were about to rush into the vortex, a beam of ghostly green energy suddenly struck from the side. Hodereacted extremely quickly, instantly teleporting into the path of the energy beam, crossing his hands in front of his chest—this was the super-speed reflex ability he had acquired while racing in the time tunnel with Flash Barry's daughter, Nora. The moment the energy beam hit him, it was deflected back, striking a black clone hiding in the clouds.
"Thanks for your 'gift'." Hode sneered at the afterglow of the explosion, then plunged into the entrance of the WorldForge.
What met his eyes was a scene so gorgeous it was blinding: countless Universes floated in the void like bubbles, each containing different energy and life forms. And in the center, on a massive throne made of Infinity Stones fragments, sat a figure—it was an existence Hodehad never seen before. Its body was made of pure darkness, and its eyes were two constantly rotating Universes.
"Welcome, Hode Stark." The dark existence made a deep sound, its voice echoing directly in Hode's mind. "You came faster than I imagined."
"Who are you?" Hode asked vigilantly, while signaling everyone to spread out and form a perimeter.
"I am the Observer, and also the Destroyer..." The dark existence slowly stood up, and the Infinity Stonesfragments on the throne began to flicker. "I have been searching for a vessel capable of bearing my power, and you, Hode, your connections with numerous superheroes make you the perfect choice."
Hode's heart tightened; he suddenly understood everything—this dark existence wanted to use him, utilizing the abilities he had gained from his intimacy with different female superheroes, to open a passage to all Universes, thereby realizing its plan of destruction.
"In your dreams!" Hode roared, his Phoenix wings flapping violently, kicking up an energy Storm. "I won't let you succeed!"
The dark existence chuckled and extended a hand; the Infinity Stones fragments instantly converged into a massive energy beam, shooting toward Hode. Hode felt as if his body was being torn apart, but he gritted his teeth and mobilized all the abilities he had acquired from his time with female superheroes, attempting to resist this destructive force.
Just as the energy beam was about to strike him, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in front of him—it was Jean Grey! Her eyes flashed with the Phoenix Force, and she pushed her hands forward, forming a red Energy Shield.
"Hode, let's do this together!" Jean Grey's voice was firm and gentle.
Hode looked at her, and a warm current surged in his heart. He nodded, fighting side by side with Jean Grey; the Phoenix Force and Chaos Magic intertwined, forming a power more potent than ever before.
The dark existence let out a deafening roar, its body beginning to swell as if it wanted to consume the entire World Forge. Just then, a violent tremor suddenly came from the entrance of the World Forge—it was Steve, Diana, Tony, and Bruce, and they had fought their way in with members of the Avengers and the Justice League!
An unprecedented battle was about to unfold in the void of the World Forge...
Hode felt the Phoenix Force within him echoing with Jean Grey's Chaos Magic, and that majestic power greatly boosted his confidence. He looked at Jean Grey beside him, his eyes filled with determination and gratitude: "Jean, with you here, we will definitely win!" Jean Grey smiled slightly, a smile like the warm sun of spring, making Hode's heart warm.
The dark existence's roar became increasingly deafening, its body swelling like a massive black hole, and the surrounding airflow was being crazily consumed by it. Members of the Avengers and the Justice League quickly gathered around, surrounding the dark existence.
"Everyone be careful, this guy is not easy to deal with!" Hode warned loudly, while vigilantly staring at the dark existence, trying to find its weak point.
"Hmph, and you ants think you can stop me?" The dark existence said contemptuously, its voice like a cold, chilling wind that made people shudder.
"Enough talk, take this!" Steve roared, his shield flying out like a silver cannonball, whistling toward the dark existence. The dark existence waved its hand dismissively, and the shield was bounced back by a powerful force. Steve quickly dodged to the side, the shield flying past his shoulder.
"Steve, don't be reckless!" Hode shouted. He knew the strength of the dark existence and that they couldn't attack rashly.
Just then, Diana's Lasso of Truth shot toward the dark existence like golden lightning. The dark existence wanted to dodge, but the Lasso of Truth seemed to have a spirit of its own, tightly binding its arm. Diana seized the opportunity to rush forward, raising her Sword of Athenahigh and stabbing toward the dark existence's chest.
"Clang!" The Sword of Athena struck the dark existence, but only sparked a few points, unable to harm it in the slightest. The dark existence sneered and flicked its arm, shaking off the Lasso of Truth. Diana was pushed back a few steps by the recoil, her face turning somewhat pale.
"It seems that ordinary attacks are ineffective against it," Hode said, frowning, his brain racing as he thought of a countermeasure.
"Let me try!" Tony's voice came from within his War Armor, which suddenly unfolded to reveal various weapons inside.
Countless laser beams shot toward the Dark Existence like raindrops.
The Dark Existence spread its hands, and a black Energy Shield appeared before it, blocking all the laser beams.
"It's no use, its defense is too strong," Tony said helplessly.
"Hode, do you remember the ability you gained when you were with Captain Marvel Carol?" Jean Grey suddenly asked.
Hode's heart stirred; he remembered that when he was with Carol, he had gained the ability to manipulate Cosmic Energy.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, attempting to channel this power.
In an instant, he felt the surrounding space begin to distort as a powerful surge of Cosmic Energy welled up within him.
"Everyone, buy me some time!" Hode shouted, then began to condense the Cosmic Energy.
Hearing this, the members of the Avengers and the Justice League rushed toward the Dark Existence, using their respective attacks to divert its attention.
The Dark Existence was enraged by their attacks; it let out a roar, and a powerful Impact burst forth from around its body.
Everyone was sent reeling by the Impact, but they resisted tenaciously.
Feeling that the Cosmic Energy had condensed to its limit, Hode suddenly opened his eyes and pushed his hands forward, sending a massive beam of Cosmic Energyshooting toward the Dark Existence.
The Dark Existence sensed the danger and tried to dodge, but it was too late.
The Cosmic Energy beam struck its body, producing a deafening explosion.
The Dark Existence was knocked back a few steps by the force of the explosion, and cracks appeared on its body, but they quickly restored to their original state.
"Is that all you've got?" the Dark Existence mocked.
Hode's heart sank; he knew this wasn't the way to go.
Just then, he suddenly felt a familiar power coming from behind—it was Carol!
She streaked across the sky like a meteor, rushing toward the Dark Existence.
"Hode, let's do this together!" Carol shouted, her hands radiating a dazzling light.
Hode nodded and fought side-by-side with Carol.
They fused the Cosmic Energy and the Phoenix Forcetogether, forming an even more powerful force.
This force, like a giant dragon, roared toward the Dark Existence.
Sensing the power of this force, a trace of fear finally appeared in the eyes of the Dark Existence.
But it was too late; the dragon-like energy instantly swallowed it, and the entire World Furnace trembled because of it.
However, just as everyone thought victory was in sight, the Dark Existence suddenly let out a bizarre laugh, and its body began to decompose into countless black light spots, scattering in all directions...
Chapter 725: Too Naive
Hode widened his eyes, watching the ghostly scattering black light spots, and a strong sense of unease surged in his heart.
"Not good, it's not dead!" Hode shouted, his voice tinged with anxiety.
Jean Grey furrowed her brows, Chaos Magic swirling at her fingertips, "It must be plotting some even more terrible conspiracy."
Those black light spots, as if possessing life, rapidly shot toward the members of the Avengers and the Justice League.
Steve reacted extremely quickly; he suddenly raised his shield, blocking it in front of himself and his teammates.
"Everyone, be careful, these light spots are trouble!"
A black light spot struck the shield, making a "sizzling" sound, and a trace of corrosion actually appeared on the surface of the shield.
Steve was startled, "This corrosiveness is so strong!"
Tony shouted from inside his War Armor, "My scan shows that these light spots carry an unknown energy that can destroy the molecular structure of matter!"
Diana swung her Sword of Athena, attempting to cut down the approaching black light spots, but the light spots were too agile and always managed to cleverly avoid her attacks.
"This isn't working, we have to find its core!" Diana said.
Hode closed his eyes and concentrated, attempting to use the perception ability gained while spending time with Wonder Woman Diana to search for the core location of the Dark Existence.
A scene suddenly flashed through his mind: deep in a void, a faint yet evil light was flickering.
"Found it, over there!" Hode suddenly opened his eyes and pointed in a direction.
"Let's go!" everyone shouted in unison, rushing toward the direction Hode pointed.
However, the Dark Existence seemed to have anticipated this; it created walls of black energy, blocking the path in front of everyone.
These energy walls were incredibly hard; Steve's shield hit them, only sparking a few times, but failing to break through.
"Let me handle this!" Carol said, condensing Cosmic Energy in her hands and shooting it toward the energy wall.
But the energy wall only wobbled slightly before returning to its original state.
"Looks like we need to change tactics," Hode muttered to himself.
He suddenly remembered the stealth and assassination skills he had gained while with Black Widow Natasha.
He said to the others, "Everyone cover me, I'll go around from the side."
Everyone nodded and began using their respective attacks to divert the attention of the Dark Existence.
Hode took this opportunity to quietly sneak around to the side of the energy wall.
He discovered a faint energy fluctuation at the edge of the energy wall; his heart stirred as he remembered the Chaos Magic manipulation skills he had gained while with Scarlet Witch Wanda.
He carefully stretched out his hands, attempting to use a faint amount of Chaos Magic to interfere with that trace of energy fluctuation.
Gradually, a small gap appeared in the energy wall.
Hode was delighted, "Now is the time!" He rushed toward the gap.
After passing through the energy wall, Hode discovered a massive black vortex ahead, with the core of the Dark Existence at its center.
But the vortex was surrounded by a powerful suction, as if wanting to swallow everything into it.
"Hode!" Jean Grey's voice came from behind; she and the others had also broken through the energy wall and caught up.
"Let's go together!" Hode shouted.
Everyone worked together and rushed toward the black vortex.
But just as they were about to approach the core, the Dark Existence suddenly emerged from the vortex, its body becoming even larger and exuding a terrifying aura.
"Do you think you can defeat me like this? Too naive!" the Dark Existence roared, waving its hands as countless black Energy Rays shot toward the crowd.
Everyone scrambled to dodge, but the Energy Rays were too dense; Tony's War Armor was hit, emitting a piercing alarm sound.
"My War Armor is severely damaged, the power system is about to fail!" Tony shouted.
Diana's Lasso of Truth entangled a few Energy Rays, but her arms were also numbed by the shock.
"This power is too strong!" Diana said, gritting her teeth.
Hode watched as everyone fell into a predicament, and a sense of determination surged in his heart.
He remembered the bits and pieces of the "705u.com-53 Reading Club" he had spent with all the female superheroes; those beautiful memories transformed into a powerful force surging within him.
He felt his connection with the Phoenix Force become tighter, as if about to break through some boundary.
"I won't let you get hurt!" Hode roared, and raging Phoenixflames ignited around his body, the color of the flames becoming even more vivid and dazzling.
He rushed toward the Dark Existence, preparing to launch the final decisive battle with it...
Just then, the black vortex suddenly began to rotate violently, and an even more powerful suction pulled everyone toward the center of the vortex, their figures teetering on the edge...
Chapter 726: Containing Endless Power of Destruction
Hode felt as if his body was being pulled by countless invisible hands, the Phoenix flames flickering in the gale, almost about to be extinguished.
He gritted his teeth, trying hard to stabilize his stance, his gaze locked onto the Dark Existence, a spirit of unyielding fighting will surging in his heart.
"Everyone, hold onto me!" Diana shouted, whipping out her Lasso of Truth and wrapping it around the waists of several people nearby.
Her arm muscles tightened as she attempted to resist the powerful suction with her own strength, but the effect was minimal; the Lasso of Truth was pulled taut, emitting a "creaking" sound.
Jean Grey's Chaos Magic formed a shield around her, but the suction of the black vortex was too strong; ripples constantly appeared on the surface of the shield, as if it would shatter at any moment.
"This won't work, we must find a way to break this vortex!" Jean Grey shouted, her forehead covered in sweat.
Tony was frantically typing on his keyboard inside his War Armor, "I am trying to start the backup power, but the interference is too great, it needs some time!" His voice carried a hint of anxiety and helplessness.
Hode felt a sharp pain in his heart as he watched everyone struggling so hard.
Suddenly, he remembered that when he was with Captain Marvel Carol, she had taken him to experience high-speed flight using Cosmic Energy; that precise control over power might come in handy.
He concentrated, trying hard to recall that feeling, attempting to combine the Phoenix Force within him with the movement mode of the Cosmic Energy.
Just then, the Dark Existence let out a harsh laugh, "Slowly be swallowed, and become a part of my power!" Its voice was like a cold wind that made one shudder.
Hode ignored the mockery of the Dark Existence; he closed his eyes and devoted himself entirely to the fusion of power.
Gradually, he felt the Phoenix Force resonate with a wondrous cosmic rhythm, and the color of the flames around his body became deeper, as if containing the mysteries of the entire Universe.
"I found it!" Hode suddenly opened his eyes, a resolute light flashing in them.
He waved his hands, and a giant Flame Sword appeared in his hands, with raging flames burning on the blade, also carrying a trace of mysterious Cosmic Energy fluctuation.
"Everyone, hold on a little longer, I will break this vortex!" Hode shouted, pushing off forcefully with both feet and rushing toward the black vortex.
The Flame Sword cut through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound; wherever it passed, black energy was ignited one after another, turning into a sea of fire.
The Dark Existence sensed Hode's intention; it waved its hands again, and countless black energy tentacles stretched out from the vortex, winding toward Hode.
Hode dodged flexibly, waving the Flame Sword left and right, cutting off the approaching energy tentacles one by one.
"Now!" Hode seized the opportunity, leaped high, and thrust the Flame Sword fiercely toward the center of the black vortex.
The Flame Sword collided with the vortex, producing an earth-shattering loud noise, and the entire space trembled because of it.
A dazzling light erupted from the collision point, the black vortex began to sway violently, and the suction also weakened a lot.
Everyone took the opportunity to stabilize their figures and closed in toward Hode's direction.
"Well done, Hode!" Steve raised his shield and shouted loudly, his eyes full of admiration.
However, the Dark Existence did not give up just yet.
It let out a roar, and its body became even larger, as if wanting to shroud the entire World within it.
An evil aura emanated from its body, making people feel incomparably stifled.
"Do you think you can defeat me like this? Too ridiculous!" the Dark Existence roared, bringing its hands together, and a giant black Energy Ball appeared in its hands.
The surface of the Energy Ball flickered with eerie light, as if containing endless power of destruction.
Hode looked at that giant Energy Ball, without the slightest fear in his heart.
He remembered when he was with Scarlet Witch Wanda, the two had once fought against a powerful enemy together; that tacit cooperation and the power of mutual trust made him firmly believe that they would surely be able to defeat the darkness before them.
"Everyone, attack together, don't give it a chance!" Hodeshouted, taking the lead as he rushed toward the Dark Existence.
Everyone responded in unison, unleashing their strongest attacks as they struck toward the Dark Existence and the Energy Ball in its hands...
Just then, the black Energy Ball suddenly emitted a burst of intense light, the entire space was instantly engulfed by darkness, and the figures of everyone disappeared into a blinding light...
Chapter 767: The Weakness of the Dark Existence
In that blinding light, Hode felt as if his consciousness had been swept into a chaotic vortex, surrounded by endless darkness and noisy energy fluctuations.
But the belief in his heart to protect everyone was like a beacon, allowing him to struggle to remain clear-headed.
"I cannot fall; everyone is still waiting for me!" Hode roared in his heart, and by relying on this obsession, he gradually stabilized his spirit.
Suddenly, the surrounding environment began to change; he found himself in a strange space, with colorful lights flickering all around, as if it were a gathering place for various energies.
And not far away, he saw the figure of Jean Grey.
Jean? Why are you here?" Hode shouted in surprise, walking quickly towards her.
Jean Grey turned around, her face wearing a hint of solemnity. "Hode, this is an illusory space created by the Dark Entity; it wants to defeat us completely here. However, this also gives us a chance; we can find its weakness here."
Hode nodded, pondering Jean's words in his heart.
Just then, he suddenly remembered the sharp observation skills and techniques for analyzing enemies that Black Widow Natasha had taught him when they were together.
He closed his eyes, focused his mind, and felt the flow of energy around him.
"I've detected it. The energy distribution here is uneven. There is one place where the energy fluctuation is very strange; it might just be the location of the Dark Entity's weakness." Hode opened his eyes and said excitedly.
Jean Grey smiled slightly. "As expected of you. Let's hurry over and take a look."
The two walked towards the place with the energy anomaly, encountering various monsters formed from Dark Energy along the way.
These monsters came in various forms; some were like giant spiders, while others resembled ferocious demons. They bared their fangs and brandished their claws as they lunged at Hode and Jean Grey.
"Let me handle this!" Hode shouted loudly. He remembered the image of Captain Marvel Carol, her forward-charging and fearless fighting stance when they were together.
He gathered the Phoenix Force in his hands, transforming it into streaks of Energy Ray that shot towards the monsters.
Wherever the Energy Ray passed, the monsters were ignited one after another, emitting painful roars.
Jean Grey was not idle either. She cast Chaos Magic, manipulating the surrounding energy to form invisible blades, slicing the approaching monsters to pieces.
"Hode, our coordination is becoming more and more in sync." Jean Grey said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Hode felt a warmth in his heart. The time spent with Jean Grey made him feel her tenderness and strength, which made him even more determined to protect her.
"Yeah, together we will definitely be able to defeat the Dark Entity."
Finally, they arrived at the place with the energy anomaly.
They saw a huge black core floating there, surrounded by a thick layer of Energy Shield.
"This is it, but this Energy Shield is very powerful. We have to find a way to break it." Hode said with a frown.
Just then, they heard the shouts of the others coming from outside.
"It's everyone; they are also fighting the Dark Entity outside!" Jean Grey said.
Hode's heart stirred. He remembered the shouts full of power and justice from Wonder Woman Diana when they were together.
He took a deep breath and shouted loudly, "Everyone, hold on a little longer! We've found the Dark Entity's weakness!"
As if hearing Hode's shout, the attacks outside became even more intense.
Hode and Jean Grey also focused their minds and began trying to break that layer of Energy Shield.
Hode gathered the Phoenix Force in his hands and slammed it hard against the Energy Shield, while Jean Grey assisted from the side using Chaos Magic.
Cracks began to appear on the Energy Shield, but just as they were about to succeed, the Dark Entity seemed to have sensed their intention, and the illusory space began to shake violently.
Countless black Energy Ray shots came from all directions, attacking Hode and Jean Grey.
They had no choice but to dodge the attacks while continuing to attack the Energy Shield.
"Hode, watch out!" Jean Grey suddenly shouted as an Energy Ray shot towards Hode.
Hode reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side and avoiding the attack.
But just then, a huge hand of darkness stretched out from the ground and grabbed Jean Grey's ankle.
"Jean!" Hode was anxious; he rushed over regardless of the danger, using the Phoenix flames in his hands to incinerate the hand of darkness.
At this moment, the cracks in the Energy Shield were getting larger, but the attacks from the Dark Entity were also becoming more intense.
Just as they were about to be unable to hold on, the Energy Shield finally shattered with a "boom".
Hode and Jean Grey looked at each other and simultaneously rushed towards the black core.
However, just as their hands were about to touch the core, the entire illusory space suddenly twisted violently, and a strong light flashed by.
The light dissipated, and Hode and Jean Grey found themselves in a void. Everything around them had disappeared, leaving only endless darkness and silence.
"Where is this?" Jean Grey's voice trembled slightly. She gripped Hode's arm tightly, as if it were her only reliance.
Hode took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
"Don't be afraid, Jean. No matter where we are, I will protect you." He comforted her softly, while quickly thinking of a countermeasure in his mind.
Just then, a low laughter came from the darkness, cold and evil, as if it came from the depths of hell.
"705u.com-53 Reading Club, do you think you can defeat me just by breaking the Energy Shield? Too naive!"
"Dark Entity, don't get cocky. We will definitely find a way to defeat you!" Hode shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the void.
The Dark Entity laughed again. "Just you? However, considering how persistent you are, I'll give you a chance. As long as you can hold out in this void until dawn, I will let you leave."
After saying this, the Dark Entity said nothing more, and the surroundings fell into dead silence again.
But Hode knew that this was just the calm before the storm; the Dark Entity would certainly not let them off so easily.
"Hode, what do we do now?" Jean Grey asked, her eyes full of worry.
Hode squeezed her hand. "Don't panic, Jean. Let's first see if there is anything around that we can use."
As he spoke, he began to carefully observe his surroundings. Although it was pitch black, he managed to detect some faint energy fluctuations thanks to his keen perception.
"Jean, I feel an energy reaction over there. Let's go over and take a look." Hode pulled Jean Grey and walked towards the direction of the energy fluctuation.
They didn't walk far before they saw a glowing energy sphere.
"This might be able to help us." Hode said, reaching out to touch the energy sphere.
The moment his hand touched the energy sphere, a powerful force surged into his body. Suddenly, images flashed in his mind—the sweet times he spent with Black Widow Natasha. Natasha's sharpness, wit, and bravery seemed to have merged into his body.
"This is... Natasha's ability?" Hode was shocked. He felt his perception become sharper, and everything around him became clearer.
"Hode, what's wrong with you?" Jean Grey asked worriedly.
Hode came back to his senses and said with a smile, "Jean, it seems I've gained a new ability, thanks to this energy sphere."
Before Jean Grey could speak, a group of dark monsters suddenly surged out from the darkness, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws as they lunged at the two.
"Jean, watch out!" Hode shouted. He quickly unleashed the ability he had gained from Natasha, keenly sensing the monsters' attack trajectories, while gathering the Phoenix Force in his hands and blasting it towards the monsters.
Jean Grey was not to be outdone either. She cast Chaos Magic, manipulating the surrounding energy to form barriers, blocking the monsters outside.
"Hode, we work so well together!" Jean Grey said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Hode felt a warmth in his heart. Fighting side by side with Jean Grey made him feel an unprecedented power.
"Yeah, Jean, together we will definitely be able to defeat these monsters."
Under their joint attack, the monsters were wiped out one after another.
But before they could catch their breath, the Dark Entity launched another attack.
A huge black beam of energy shot out from the darkness, so fast that it caught them off guard.
"Jean, dodge!" Hode shouted, pushing Jean Grey away while he himself was hit by the energy beam and sent flying.
"Hode!" Jean Grey screamed in terror and quickly ran towards Hode.
Hode lay on the ground, feeling as if all his bones were about to fall apart, but he still endured the pain and stood up.
"I'm fine, Jean, don't worry." He said, his eyes flashing with a determined light.
Just then, Hode suddenly felt another force surging within him. Images flashed in his mind again—the passionate times he spent with Captain Marvel Carol. Carol's powerful strength and fearless courage seemed to have merged into his body.
"This is... Carol's power?" Hode was delighted. He felt his strength constantly increasing.
"Jean, step back, let me handle it!" Hode said, gathering the powerful Phoenix Force in his hands, while integrating Carol's power, and launched the most violent attack towards the Dark Entity.
A dazzling light flashed, lighting up the entire void. The Dark Entity let out a scream, and its figure gradually dissipated.
However, just when Hode thought they had won, an even larger dark rift suddenly appeared before them, and a terrifying aura came from the rift.
Hode and Jean Grey looked at each other, both able to see deep vigilance in each other's eyes.
The terrifying aura permeating from that dark rift was like a tangible pressure, making it hard for one to breathe.
"What on earth is this..." Jean Grey muttered to herself, her hands clenching involuntarily, with Chaos Magic flickering faintly at her fingertips.
Hode took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in his heart, and comforted her softly, "Jean, don't panic. No matter what it is, we will face it together."
Although he said that, he knew clearly in his heart that what was emerging from this dark rift must be a more terrifying enemy than before.
Suddenly, a huge black arm lunged out from the rift, grabbing at the two with an overwhelming force.
The arm was covered in strange runes, and wherever it passed, the space was torn into cracks.
"Jean, watch out!" Hode shouted, pulling Jean Grey behind him. At the same time, he quickly formed seals with his hands, and the Phoenix Force surged out like a raging tide, transforming into a huge wall of fire, blocking the front of the black arm.
The black arm collided with the wall of fire, emitting a deafening roar. Energy overflowed, and the surrounding void trembled.
Hode felt his strength depleting rapidly in the confrontation with the black arm, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Hode, I'll help you!" Jean Grey cried out. She moved her hands rapidly, and the Chaos Magic transformed into invisible chains, wrapping around the black arm, attempting to restrict its movement.
The black arm seemed to sense the threat and lashed out, shattering the Chaos Magic chains, while a powerful Dark Power surged back along the chains towards Jean Grey.
"Jean!" Hode was anxious. He disregarded his own depletion of power and increased the output of the Phoenix Force again. The wall of fire became hotter and brighter, barely resisting the counterattack of the Dark Power.
Just then, Hode suddenly felt images flash in his mind—the heartwarming moments he spent with Wonder Woman Diana.
Diana's resilience, kindness, and her god-given power were like warm sunlight, illuminating Hode's heart.
"This is... Diana's power?" Hode's heart stirred. He felt a brand-new power surging within him.
He closed his eyes, focused his mind, and guided this power to merge with the Phoenix Force.
In an instant, the color of the wall of fire changed from the original red to a brilliant gold, emitting a sacred and powerful aura.
Under the burning of this golden wall of fire, the black arm let out a hissing sound, and the runes also began to fade gradually.
"It's working!" Hode felt a surge of joy. He seized the opportunity to increase the intensity of his attack, and the wall of golden Fire rolled toward the black arms like a surging tide.
The black arms seemed to sense the danger and tried to retract into the Dark Rift, but it was too late. The wall of golden Fire tightly enveloped them, continuously devouring their Dark Power.
"No!" An angry roar came from the darkness, and immediately afterward, more black arms stretched out from the rift, attacking Hode and Jean Grey.
"Jean, let's attack together!" Hode shouted. He took Jean Grey's hand, and the two fought side by side. Jean Greyunleashed Chaos Magic, manipulating the surrounding energy to form sharp wind blades that slashed toward the black arms; Hode controlled the golden Phoenix Force, turning it into golden arrows that shot toward the black arms.
Under their combined attack, the black arms were repelled one after another, but the terrifying aura emanating from the Dark Rift grew stronger and stronger.
"Hode, this isn't working. We must find a way to close this Dark Rift," Jean Grey said anxiously.
Hode nodded. While fending off the attacks of the black arms, he quickly thought of a countermeasure. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind; he remembered the reality-warping ability Scarlet Witch Wanda had when they were together.
"Jean, I've thought of a way, but I need you to buy me some time," Hode said.
Jean Grey nodded firmly. "Don't worry, I will give it my all." As she spoke, she unleashed Chaos Magic, forming a massive Energy Shield around the two of them, temporarily blocking the attacks of the black arms.
Hode closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to channel the power within him related to Wanda. Just then, a powerful suction force suddenly erupted from the Dark Rift, pulling the Energy Shield until it was on the verge of collapse...
Chapter 770 This Is Power Beyond Our Imagination
Hode gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. The Energy Shield formed by Chaos Magic trembled wildly around him and Jean Grey, and the dull thuds of the black arms striking the shield felt like heavy hammers striking his heart. He could feel this suction force trying to tear the shield apart and drag them into the endless abyss of darkness.
"Jean, hold on!" Hode let out a low roar, images of his time with Scarlet Witch Wanda constantly surfacing in his mind. Those sweet moments, her gentle gaze, her soft words—all turned into a mysterious power surging within him. He tried hard to focus, attempting to grasp this power and guide it to fuse with the Phoenix Force to find a way to close the Dark Rift.
Jean Grey's hands trembled slightly from overusing Chaos Magic, but her eyes remained firm, without the slightest hint of retreat. Looking at Hode, who had his eyes tightly closed and brows furrowed, a sense of trust and reliance welled up in her heart. "Hode, I believe in you," she said silently, while increasing the output of her Chaos Magic to make the Energy Shield even stronger.
Just when Hode felt his strength was about to run out and was on the verge of giving up, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind. He remembered Wanda once saying that reality is composed of countless possibilities, and as long as one's belief is strong enough, reality can be changed.
"Changing reality..." Hode muttered to himself. He opened his eyes, and they flashed with a wild yet firm light. "Jean, I'm going to try to use this power to change the reality structure around the rift. You keep helping me block the attacks!"
Jean Grey nodded slightly without speaking, responding only with her actions. She took a deep breath, and her Chaos Magic surged out like a volcanic eruption. The Energy Shield burst with dazzling light, blocking all the attacks from the black arms.
Hode took a deep breath and focused all his energy, channeling the mysterious power within him—a fusion of the Phoenix Force, Diana's power, and the Scarlet Witch's abilities—toward the Dark Rift. He felt as if he were in an endless void, surrounded by twisted reality and shattered space-time. He could see the Dark Rift like a giant wound, continuously devouring everything around it.
"Close for me!" Hode roared, his hands quickly forming seals. The mysterious power transformed into golden threads that wrapped around the Dark Rift. Wherever the golden threads passed, the twisted reality began to slowly return to normal, and the shattered space-time gradually healed.
However, the entity within the Dark Rift seemed to sense Hode's intent. It let out an angry roar, and more black arms stretched out from the rift, while a powerful Dark Powersurged out like a rushing tide, sweeping toward Hode.
"Hode, watch out!" Jean Grey exclaimed. She wanted to distract herself to save Hode, but the attacks of the black arms were too fierce, making it impossible for her to get away.
Hode felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. The Dark Power carried endless malice and an aura of destruction, as if it wanted to annihilate him completely. But he did not retreat; his eyes held only firmness and determination. He mobilized all the power within him to form a golden barrier in front of him, attempting to block the attack of the Dark Power.
"Boom!" The Dark Power collided with the golden barrier, emitting a deafening roar. Energy overflowed, and the surrounding void space was shaken, causing cracks to appear. Hode felt as if his body were being sliced by countless sharp blades, the pain unbearable, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted.
Just when he felt he could no longer hold on, a familiar figure suddenly appeared beside him. It was Wonder Woman Diana, holding the Lasso of Truth and S.H.I.E.L.D., her eyes firm and gentle.
"Hode, I'm here to help you," Diana said softly. She swung the Lasso of Truth, and a beam of golden light shot toward the Dark Power. At the same time, she raised S.H.I.E.L.D.to block in front of Hode, bearing a portion of the attack for him.
With Diana's addition, Hode felt the pressure lighten significantly. He seized the opportunity to increase his power output, and the golden threads continuously wrapped around the Dark Rift, speeding up its closing process by a few notches.
However, just then, an even more terrifying aura emanated from the Dark Rift. A massive black beam shot out from the rift, and wherever it passed, everything was annihilated into nothingness.
"Oh no!" Diana's expression changed drastically. "This is power beyond our imagination!"
Hode looked at that black beam, and a sense of despair surged in his heart. But he knew he could not give up at this moment. He was just about to mobilize his power again when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his mind—705u.com-53 Reading Club—and his vision went black, nearly causing him to faint.
At this critical moment, a red figure flashed by—it was Scarlet Witch Wanda. She moved her hands rapidly and chanted, and the surrounding reality began to twist. When the black beam approached them, it suddenly changed direction and shot into the void space to the side.
"Hode, are you okay?" Wanda asked anxiously. She flew to Hode's side and gently supported him.
Hode smiled weakly. "I'm fine, Wanda, thank you."
But before they had time to celebrate, the roar coming from the Dark Rift became even more deafening, as if the entire Universe were trembling...
Chapter 771 Must Not Let Down Carol's Sacrifice
Hode forced himself to stand steady, his gaze fixed tightly on the increasingly frantic Dark Rift, feeling a sense of dread in his heart. This power was several times stronger than he had imagined; even with the help of Diana and Wanda, the situation remained precarious.
"Hode, this isn't working. We need to think of a new strategy." Diana held S.H.I.E.L.D., her expression grave, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She could feel the power emanating from the Dark Rift, carrying an ancient and evil aura that sent chills even through a battle-hardened warrior like her.
Hode took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He looked at Jean Grey, Diana, and Wanda beside him, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. These female superheroes each possessed immense power, and at this moment, they were all willing to fight side by side with him. This trust and camaraderie filled him with fighting spirit.
"Wanda, can your previous reality-warping ability create an isolation zone around here to temporarily seal off the leakage of power from that Dark Rift?" Hode asked urgently, his mind quickly thinking of countermeasures.
Wanda frowned slightly and, after thinking for a moment, said, "I can try, but I'm not sure how long I can hold it. This power is too strong."
"It's okay, any time we can buy is worth it," Hode said firmly. "Jean, you and I will try to use Chaos Magic and the Phoenix Force to dismantle the structure of the Dark Rift from the inside. Diana, you are responsible for protecting Wanda and preventing the black arms from interfering with her spellcasting."
Everyone nodded and moved into action. Wanda quickly formed seals with her hands and chanted, and the surrounding reality began to ripple like water. Beams of red light shot from her hands, weaving together into a massive red light shield that enveloped the Dark Rift.
"Now, Jean!" Hode shouted, and he and Jean Greylaunched their attacks simultaneously. Chaos Magic and the Phoenix Force intertwined, forming a powerful torrent of energy that rushed toward the Dark Rift.
The black arms seemed to sense their intent and all crashed against the light shield, emitting deafening sounds. Diana swung the Lasso of Truth, and beams of golden light bound the black arms like ropes, while she held S.H.I.E.L.D. and blocked in front of Wanda, defending her against potential attacks.
"Hold on, Wanda!" Diana shouted, her eyes filled with determination.
Wanda gritted her teeth, veins bulging on her forehead. She could feel the power within the Dark Rift frantically pounding against the light shield, as if wanting to tear it apart completely. But she did not give up, continuously increasing her power output and striving to maintain the stability of the light shield.
Hode and Jean Grey's attacks finally had an effect, and the structure of the Dark Rift began to show a hint of loosening. But just then, a powerful mental shockwave suddenly erupted from the rift, sweeping toward them.
"705u.com-53 Reading Club" "Ah!" Hode and Jean Greyboth let out a scream, their minds feeling as if they had been pierced by countless needles, the pain unbearable. This mental shockwave was too powerful, causing them to lose their combat effectiveness almost instantly.
"Hode! Jean!" Diana exclaimed. She wanted to distract herself to save them, but the attacks of the black arms were becoming increasingly fierce, making it impossible for her to get away.
Just when everyone was in a desperate situation, a blue light suddenly flashed by. It was Captain Marvel Carol; she streaked across the sky like a meteor and crashed headfirst into the Dark Rift.
"Carol, what are you doing!" Hode's eyes widened, his heart filled with worry.
Carol's voice came from the Dark Rift: "I'll draw its attention; you take the opportunity to attack!"
Hode's heart trembled. He knew Carol was taking a risk, but her words rekindled his hope. He endured the intense mental pain and looked at Jean Grey. "Jean, we must not let down Carol's sacrifice. Let's try one more time!"
Jean Grey nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. The two launched their attacks again, Chaos Magic and the Phoenix Force surging toward the Dark Rift like two giant dragons.
Under Carol's interference, the entity within the Dark Rift was somewhat distracted, and its impact on the light shield weakened slightly. Wanda seized the opportunity to increase her power output, and the light shield became even more solid.
Chapter 412
However, just when they thought victory was in sight, a more terrifying aura suddenly emanated from the dark rift.
A massive black vortex formed within the rift, as if it intended to swallow the entire Universe.
"Th-this... what is this?" Diana's expression changed drastically. She could feel the endless power contained within that black vortex; if it were to erupt, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Hode looked at that black vortex, a sense of despair surging in his heart.
But he knew he could not give up at this moment. Just as he was about to launch another attack, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his mind, everything went black before his eyes, and he lost consciousness.
At the very last moment before he passed out, he seemed to see a white figure flash by; it was the White QueenEmma Frost...