Chapter 63: S.H.I.E.L.D. Plants an Undercover Agent, Gwen Angrily Tears Her Suit
After all, they had started out by relying on the black technology left behind by Howard Stark.
"The World is truly a mess; not a single day is peaceful."
Nick Fury looked at the electronic World map on the wall.
Several eye-catching red circles were lit up on it.
New York, Los Angeles, Siberia, New Mexico, Washington D.C.!!!
Looking at the screen full of alerts, Nick Fury just wanted to curse.
He had never felt S.H.I.E.L.D. was so useless before.
In the past, S.H.I.E.L.D. was the leader in global security; what war situation couldn't they influence?
No matter where something happened in the World, they could have a hand in it.
This year, however, everything had completely fallen apart.
All sorts of monsters and demons had emerged.
It was as if overnight, humanity had evolved into a new version, and the order of the old era no longer worked.
No one else in the meeting room knew what Nick Fury was calculating in his mind.
But when she heard the Director send Agent Hill to Osborn to steal the serum, Natasha felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
Agent Hill, however, remained expressionless and cold as ice.
Because this mission had been internally assigned to her a few days ago.
A nail had to be driven into the Osborn Group to keep an eye on that demon.
Originally, Natasha was the most suitable candidate.
But in the eyes of Hill and Nick, this woman was acting on emotion and was already too deep in.
"I will publicly apply for a job at Osborn as a S.H.I.E.L.D.Agent."
Agent Hill said coldly.
Play at infiltration?
Be an undercover Agent?
There was no need; the most terrifying thing about that Ice Demon was that he seemed to know everything.
The agency's think tank had analyzed it; this guy likely possessed the ability to foresee the future.
There were even rumors that his telepathic abilities were stronger than Professor X's.
Years ago, he had clashed with the Professor, and the result was that the Professor took the initiative to back off.
Although Professor X didn't say who won, the Professorwasn't wearing Cerebro at the time.
"The Ice Demon shouldn't have any ill will toward you."
Black Widow Natasha suddenly spoke up to offer a reminder.
"But you must be careful of that demon's temptation."
Temptation?
Nick didn't say a word, while Barton and Hill looked at Natasha in surprise.
"He offers women a kind of deal, similar to making a wish, as long as it's within his power."
Natasha explained.
Agent Hill's eyes flickered, but she had other calculations in mind.
If she could really get this opportunity for a deal...
Having the Ice Demon take action once at a critical moment might save S.H.I.E.L.D.'s life and turn the tide.
"Natasha, you never told me the specific details of this deal before."
Nick Fury's single eye stared at her meaningfully.
"The price is too high. Director, if you want to make a deal, you can go straight to him. Actually, Ethan isn't that scary; as long as you don't provoke him, he won't kill indiscriminately."
Natasha's feelings were complex.
At least that guy had promised her he would never join HYDRA.
With his current strength, he also disdained joining any organization.
"I'll consider it."
Nick Fury began to calculate the chips in his hand.
He had done an in-depth profile of that Ice Demon.
The conclusion was: an ordinary person who was greedy for money and lustful, yet possessed Divine Power.
That's right, his mindset was that of an ordinary person.
Often, this kind of person is the most dangerous.
Because he is like a hedgehog; once he feels threatened, he instinctively nips the danger in the bud.
"Natasha, go to Siberia, find your old comrades, and bring them back. I can give them positions in S.H.I.E.L.D."
Natasha understood immediately; the Director was using the search for people as a pretext for her to investigate Dr. Connors' whereabouts.
"No problem."
Natasha breathed a sigh of relief.
Leaving New York, this place of trouble, might be the best escape for her right now.
In passing, she could also return to her hometown and rescue her sisters from that Red Room devil's den.
"Barton, go to Brazil and persuade that hiding Bruce Banner to come back."
Hawkeye Barton's face turned green upon hearing this.
"Nick, you're giving me a suicide mission."
Nick naturally knew this job was difficult.
But Natasha couldn't be moved right now; her greatest value was acting as a brake for the Ice Demon.
"I'll go persuade Tony and Steve later. The Avengers must assemble."
Nick hesitated for a moment but gave up on recruiting the Inhumans' mute Black Bolt and the hybrid Namo in the sea.
Besides these few, there were several other candidates on his list.
For example, those superhumans in Hells Kitchen.
But as for whether to recruit that private investigator named Jessica Jones, Nick was hesitant.
Last time because of her, the USA's aircraft carrier strike group was nearly wiped out, and the Military suffered heavy losses.
That painful lesson made everyone understand one thing.
Never provoke that Ice Demon.
That guy has too many tricks up his sleeve, an endless supply of them.
Any one of them could trigger a natural disaster-level catastrophe.
Now, he is more terrifying than a real demon; he is practically a walking god on earth.
This is a bad thing, but also a good thing.
Since they couldn't beat him, they would cooperate.
Although S.H.I.E.L.D. had declined, its foundation remained, and it could afford a deposit that would tempt the Ice Demon.
...
Slap!
Gwen slapped Ethan's butt, crisp and loud.
"My dear Young Miss Gwen, what's wrong now?"
Ethan opened his eyes groggily and looked at his girlfriend, who was getting dressed, with a resentful expression.
"First, you tore my suit again! Second, we agreed I wouldn't stay the night here. Look at what time it is! I'm going to be late!"
While Gwen was sulking, she hurriedly put on her casual clothes.
As for the Ghost-Spider suit, it had already become a pile of rags.
It was all torn to shreds by this hateful guy when he got excited last night.
"I wonder who tied themselves to the bed with spider silk last night?"
Ethan smiled lewdly.
Thwip!
A clump of spider web flew at him, sealing his mouth shut.
"I'm going to Columbia University for an interview. Goodbye!"
Gwen nimbly climbed onto the rooftop and slipped back into her room along the outer wall.
Ethan pulled the spider silk off his mouth, thought for a moment, and also got up to get dressed.
He went downstairs to find a random restaurant to fill his stomach, waiting for the Osborn Group's private car to pick him up.
That Navigator had already been driven away by Gwen.
Stepping through the doors of the Osborn Group once again.
The way the surrounding employees looked at him had completely changed.
Now everyone knew that Connolly was just a "king of employees," and the real person in charge of Osborn was the young man before them.
They looked at this new boss as if they were looking at the God of Wealth.
When Stark Industries moved to New York, this boss predicted it would be a trillion-dollar group in the future.
Now that Stark Industries' market value has exceeded 300 billion, he really got a third of it right.
Breaking a trillion in the future was a certainty.
As for his own company, there was a major strategic adjustment.
Focusing primarily on the two sectors of energy and healthcare.
Chapter 64: Meeting Ancient One Before the Grave; Storm's Wrath
The arms business was cut off directly.
Although Tony's closure of the weapons department gave Osborn an opportunity, the new boss seemed to have no interest at all in building bombs.
Ethan lowered his head to scroll through the news on his phone.
That old man Magneto had fallen.
He was forcibly injected with the "Cure" and had now become an ordinary old man.
The news said he was locked up in some nursing home.
The Military was now completely defenseless against the old man.
Seeing this, Ethan couldn't help but let out a sneer.
When that so-called Cure fails in the future, these people will understand what it means to find it easy to invite a god but hard to send one away.
The X-Men side also had a pyrrhic victory; saying they were falling apart wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Beast, the Director of the Department of Mutant Affairs, had really won big this time.
Overnight, Mutants seemed to have vanished, all having been "cured."
That Jean Grey who possessed the Phoenix Force...
The reports said she was killed.
Killed?
The body was taken back by the X-Men for burial.
Rumor has it that Professor X was also blasted into dust by Jean's rampaging Mental Storm.
Storm took over the burden of being the headmistress.
But is this really the end?
"Is it all over?"
Has the era of Mutants come to a close?
No, the good show has only just begun.
A new era of Mutants has arrived.
An existence of Jean's level is very difficult to kill completely.
She was merely sealed.
The primary personality and the Dark Phoenix personality born from the Phoenix Force are fighting each other, and the body has become a cage to imprison them.
As for Professor X, that old bald man's Mental Energysurpassed divinity long ago; what does it matter if his physical body is destroyed? He can find a vessel for Rebirth at any time.
"I heard Gwen is back?"
In the office, Raven, dressed in professional attire, teased with an ambiguous look in her eyes.
"Yeah, the trip is over."
Ethan didn't try to hide anything.
He turned to look at the Spider-Woman Julia next to him: "You should take a good rest during this time and take the opportunity to fully grasp your abilities."
"Where's the time to rest? The company has a pile of messes to deal with."
Julia sighed helplessly.
"Have Sandy and Inez come to report in?"
"You mean those two mercenaries from Agent X? I threw them to the Security Department."
Raven clearly didn't think much of these two new Mutants.
"Those two have good abilities. Now that the company's scope has grown, we need people like them who can handle the dirty work."
Ethan explained.
Raven gave him a cross look, clearly having seen through his little schemes.
"There's some good news: an Agent from S.H.I.E.L.D. has come openly to apply for the position of Security Director. Also, Natasha's resignation letter has been submitted, and I've already approved it."
Raven spoke while observing Ethan's expression.
"Nick really is cold-blooded; I feel sorry for my little Natasha."
Ethan shrugged with an indifferent look.
"If you're not happy about it, I can reject S.H.I.E.L.D.Anyway, they're like a clay Buddha crossing a river—unable to even save themselves right now."
Raven knew very well that S.H.I.E.L.D. was currently a mess, filled with hidden landmines.
"No need. Since S.H.I.E.L.D. is so 'concerned' about our security, let that Agent in."
Ethan made the final decision.
"Her name is Maria Hill, an Advanced Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.She came with conditions."
Raven said with a smile.
"Agent Hill? A rare guest. An ice-cold beauty like her can actually propose conditions to me?"
"She wants the super soldier serum."
Raven said straightforwardly.
This stuff was a rare commodity; even for the Osborn Group, producing one dose would burn a lot of money.
"If she wants to take a shot herself, I have no objection. If she wants to take a sample and leave, then there's nothing to talk about."
Ethan lingered in the office for an hour.
He signed a bunch of documents he didn't understand.
The next second, he was driving his sports car at high speed to Westchester County in New York State.
The back mountain of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.
Ethan stood before two tombstones.
Cyclops and Jean Grey were buried here.
Jean Grey could die.
But this Phoenix Force could not be wasted.
"This Seal technique has a strong scent of magic to it."
Ethan felt the fluctuations in the air and spoke calmly.
The school not far away was cold and cheerless.
Many Mutant children had been picked up by their parents; they had probably all run off to get that damn Cureinjection.
"The wheels of human evolution roll forward, and no one can stop them."
"The birth of Mutants is an inevitability, and their roots won't be severed just because of this little setback."
Ethan murmured softly.
Suddenly, a burst of golden sparks erupted in the air, and a teleportation ring opened out of thin air.
The Sorcerer Ancient One, dressed in yellow monastic robes, stepped across the snowy mountain peaks and appeared silently by his side.
"The Phoenix Force chose us; it is a spark of hope. Unfortunately, this child's Heart-Nature was insufficient to harness this power."
The Sorcerer Ancient One looked at the tombstone and sighed softly.
"If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight."
Ethan casually dropped a literary quote.
"Then are you prepared to bear this weight?"
The Sorcerer Ancient One turned to look at him.
"Sorcerer Supreme, let's not beat around the bush between us. I can't possibly learn your Kamar-Taj magic, and I have no interest in being any Sorcerer Supreme."
Ethan refused without even thinking.
"Give me a reason."
"Haha, I'm afraid of heights and can't stand altitude sickness."
"That counts as a reason? Even if you become the Sorcerer Supreme, you can still live in a New York Villa and enjoy what you should enjoy; it won't interfere."
Ancient One's deep eyes seemed able to see through the human heart.
"You know you can't stop me, so why make this trip?"
Ethan suddenly turned to meet her gaze.
"Because I can no longer see your future. You could be the source of the World's destruction, or you could be the guardian deity of order."
The Sorcerer Ancient One sighed.
"I am who I am, a different kind of firework. Besides, that successor you chose will surely be more successful than you in the future, so why are you worrying blindly?"
Ancient One fell silent.
The one I'm worried about is you, fellow.
You are now ridiculously strong and have already seriously interfered with the timeline.
"I just want to confirm, which side does your stance truly lie on?"
"My stance? I always stand on my own side."
Ethan shrugged, speaking with perfect confidence.
"It seems I won't be able to get any answers."
"Is the answer that important? People change. Just like that successor of yours, who can say for sure if he'll be able to keep his original heart in the future?"
"If one day he falls, I beg of you, kill him."
"Fine, I'll take this job."
Ethan agreed very readily.
The Sorcerer Ancient One raised her hand, and a bronze-colored ring traced a parabola, falling toward Ethan.
"This is a sling ring; consider it your payment."
Ethan caught it and put it on happily: "Then thanks."
Ancient One casually drew a circle to open a portal and returned to her Kamar-Taj.
Regarding the future wars, the attitude of a variable like Ethan was crucial.
She didn't have much time left.
But could that Dr. Stephen Strange really handle a situation even more chaotic than the current one?
The Sorcerer Ancient One was also uncertain.
"Truly a life of toil."
Ethan fiddled with the sling ring and muttered.
Although this bald sorceress usually tricked those Dimensional Demons quite a bit, she really did give her all when it came to guarding Earth.
Perhaps it was precisely because there was such a group of people silently bearing the brunt of the danger that he could live so comfortably.
Earth must be defended, of course; his assets and girls were all here.
He would have to fight hard even without Ancient One's nagging.
"The sealed Jean, they actually buried her like a dead person."
With Jean's constitution, could those few claws of Wolverine's actually stab her to death? What a joke.
Just then, the airflow behind him suddenly surged violently.
A black pearl with silver hair and a hot figure, wearing a black tight suit, came riding the wind and landed slowly.
"Who are you? What are you doing sneaking around the school?"
Storm's expression was solemn, with electric arcs flickering around her.
She had just sensed a terrifying energy fluctuation in the headmaster's office.
She rushed out to look, but the fluctuation was gone.
She only saw a handsome Chinese youth in a blue bespoke suit, standing before the graves and talking to himself.
"So, that old do-gooder Charles really kicked the bucket?"
Ethan turned around, revealing a harmless smile.
His tone made it sound as if the Professor's death was something worth celebrating.
*Crackle!*
Storm's eyes instantly turned white—completely white—and thunderous light exploded in her hands.
Chapter 65: Stealing the Coffin and Body to Awaken the Phoenix
"Don't be nervous, I mean no harm. I just happened to be passing through New York and was a bit curious about the Mutants' ending, so I came to pay my respects. It's quite heart-wrenching."
Facing Storm's thunderous warning, Ethan didn't even blink.
"Heart-wrenching? What do you know about being heart-wrenching?"
"Mutants could have been the beacon of human evolution, leading humanity toward the stars and oceans, standing firm even against cosmic enemies. And the result? The path of evolution was cut short by humanity's own ridiculous fear. If that's not heart-wrenching, what is?"
Ethan shook his head with a look of regret.
He didn't have any prejudice against Mutants; in fact, he was even a bit envious.
In his view, Mutants were like anti-virus software created by the Earth for self-preservation.
Unfortunately, those in power only felt that this anti-virus software was trying to reinstall the System.
To protect their own administrator privileges, they could only treat the anti-virus software as a virus and kill it.
"The Professor said that as long as we can return to being ordinary, even if we become normal people, it would be a good thing for everyone."
Storm dissipated the lightning in her hands.
She didn't know who this man was, but she could at least tell he was quite sympathetic toward Mutants.
"Professor X? Heh, he's just an old stubborn fool. What does he know? He only thinks about using love to generate power, guiding people's hearts toward kindness. But he forgot one thing: being a Mutant isn't a disease, it's the future! It's the life-saving straw evolved from the depths of all human genes sensing a death threat!"
Ethan criticized without holding back.
"Shut up! I won't allow you to insult the Professor!"
Storm instantly bristled with anger.
"I respect the Professor's character too. But good intentions don't always lead to good results. If all Earthlings were Omega-level Mutants, Thanos wouldn't dare come to Earth even if you gave him ten times the courage."
"Hmph, arrogant and ignorant! Please leave immediately!"
Storm could not tolerate others criticizing the Professor, especially when his body was barely cold.
"Fine, fine, I talk too much. But do you really think this is over? That so-called cure is a joke, merely suppressing the x-gene temporarily. While Mutants have no combat power right now, if you don't fight for your rights, you'll just be waiting to be someone's dog in the future."
No, actually, it had already begun.
The power of the Mind Dominator was even more domineering than Ethan had imagined.
The Telepathy techniques he 'borrowed' from Professor Xallowed him to be like a god, flipping through others' mental diaries at will.
He just didn't like this feeling very much.
It was too noisy and too bitter.
When invading a mind, it wasn't just watching a play; one had to feel the same emotions.
Everyone's heart hid a pile of messy affairs and sadness.
Just like the Storm in front of him, her inner depths were filled with suppressed pain and confusion.
Boom!
A thick bolt of lightning struck down without warning, heading straight for the crown of Ethan's head.
However, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, Ethan simply moved half a step to the side. The lightning grazed the edge of his clothes and struck the ground, blasting a black crater into the lawn.
"I've always been lenient toward beautiful women, even a short-tempered black pearl like you."
Instead of getting angry, Ethan looked at her with a beaming smile.
At the same time, Jean's grave behind him suddenly burst open. The coffin, as if supported by a giant invisible hand, flew directly out of the soil.
Psychokinesis was just that smooth.
"Put down Jean's coffin!!!"
Storm went completely berserk.
She violently swung both hands toward the sky.
Instantly, the sky was covered with dark clouds, lightning snakes danced wildly, and countless bolts of thunder smashed toward Ethan like rain.
Just then, a crystal-clear ice wall rose out of thin air, firmly blocking the sky full of thunder outside.
"A good thing like the Phoenix Force would be a waste buried in the ground."
Ethan said nonchalantly.
Then, his whole body slowly rose into the air with his hands behind his back, and the coffin obediently floated behind him.
"Goodbye to you!"
He turned into a streak of light and soared into the sky, disappearing deep into the clouds in the blink of an eye.
Below, the enraged Storm bombarded wildly, turning the sky upside down.
Unfortunately, she couldn't even see Ethan's taillights.
On the lawn outside the Long Island Villa Estate.
Ethan didn't move Jean's body inside the house; instead, he dropped the coffin directly onto the grass.
He pried open the lid and looked at Jean Grey lying peacefully inside.
"Phoenix Nirvana, I hope this works."
Ethan took a deep breath.
"Great Flame Ring: Flame Emperor!"
A massive fireball, like a miniature Sun, instantly formed above his head.
Next, he began to frantically compress the mass of flames.
Until it became the size of a fist and its color turned into an eerie deep purple.
Then, without hesitation, he slammed the purple fire hard onto the wound on Jean's chest.
Terrifying high heat erupted instantly. That expensive coffin didn't even last a second before being vaporized.
The lawn within a hundred meters was instantly burned to ashes, and the ground was baked into red, cracked Earth.
This was his favorite lawn; Ethan's mouth twitched in heartache.
But strangely, the flames capable of melting gold and iron didn't harm Jean's body in the slightest.
Instead, as if they had a life of their own, they frantically tunneled into her body.
The next second, raging golden flames emerged from Jean's body, wrapping her entirely within them as she slowly floated in mid-air.
"Ah!!!"
A shrill scream suddenly exploded in Ethan's mind.
His consciousness was instantly pulled into a mysterious Mental Space.
There, a massive fire Phoenix was wantonly releasing world-destroying heat.
That was the Phoenix Force, an existence that could burn him to ashes in an instant.
"Is this the power of the Fourth-Order Genetic Lock?"
The Third-Order can manipulate atoms, like Dr. Manhattan.
What about the Fourth-Order?
Energy involving rules?
In this Marvel Universe, those who truly stand at the top have never relied on strong physical bodies.
It's the rules.
Just like those Infinity Stones; to put it bluntly, they are the manifestation of the six fundamental rules of the Universe.
Within that vast white light, besides that terrifying Phoenix...
Ethan also saw a woman.
Her figure was enchanting, with stunning curves.
At this moment, she was hugging her knees, curled up in a corner, looking up with a confused face, just meeting Ethan's gaze.
In those heterochromatic eyes, the original clarity was now covered by a thick layer of confusion.
The Phoenix phantom within her body let out a shrill cry, attempting to spread its wings and soar into the sky again.
However, countless invisible mental shackles coiled tightly like venomous snakes, and the grand magic Seal array in the Void Realm emitted a faint light, completely suppressing her.
"Who... are... you?"
Jean Grey struggled to spit out a few words, her speaking speed incredibly slow.
From this sluggish tone, one could clearly feel her strangeness and fear toward everything around her.
"Jean, do you want to leave this hellhole?"
The corners of Ethan's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile as warm as a spring breeze.
"Really... can I?"
Jean Grey tilted her head, her eyes filled with uncertain doubt. This appearance even made Ethan daze for a moment.
Chapter 66: Breaking the Mental Cage with Phoenix
He tentatively released a wisp of psychic power, attempting to touch Jean Grey's inner World.
"Buzz!"
A domineering force instantly and ruthlessly repelled his probe.
As expected of the World's only Level 5 Mutant, this foundation is truly terrifying.
Even without the empowerment of the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey's own Mutant talent alone is enough to look down upon the entire World.
"Of course, no problem."
Ethan reached out his right hand without hesitation, palm facing up.
He could feel that this woman's heart seemed to be locked behind a thick layer of solid ice.
Is it the closure of a self-protection mechanism?
Or was the impact of that death so violent that it caused brain damage, thereby scrambling her memories?
Ethan couldn't determine the answer for the time
Chapter 67: Ice Demon Leads Phoenix to Awakening
As her anger rose, the Phoenix Force within her body also roared madly, trying to break free from its cage.
"You have Professor X's psychic cage inside you, as well as the magic Seal from Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One. If the Phoenix Force goes out of control again, its rage will burn this Planet to ashes. Do you understand this?"
Ethan's deep and magnetic voice drilled into Jean Grey's eardrums, word by word.
"I know... I know it all..."
Jean Grey's voice lowered, almost a sob, as she buried her head deep.
She was desperately suppressing the tumultuous emotions within her heart.
"The Phoenix Force chose you, yet it didn't instantly blow you apart; instead, it let you become its vessel. This is fate, not a coincidence. It is precisely because you possess powerful psychic strength that you were able to let your Soul achieve perfect Fusion with it. From now on, the Phoenix Force is you, and you are Phoenix. Stop resisting the power that has always belonged to you."
Ethan's voice seemed to carry a certain magic, piercing through her defenses layer by layer.
"You are strong; I can feel it. Even if the Phoenix Forceloses control, it might not necessarily kill you. You hide a despairing power within you that makes even the Phoenixfeel fear."
Jean Grey lifted her tear-stained face, looking pitiful.
This appearance was enough to make any man's heart soften.
But the vigilance in Ethan's heart never wavered in the slightest.
"Do you know what I do?"
Ethan changed to a comfortable position, crossed his legs, and looked at the entity before him that made countless Mutants tremble with fear.
If Apocalypse is a walking God among men,
Then Jean Grey, bearing the Phoenix Force, is a Terminator that even gods would feel despair before.
Even just a fragment of the Phoenix Force has power far exceeding the Infinity Stones.
"Who are you?"
Jean Grey asked curiously.
Her emotions finally slowly calmed down.
Since the past could not be undone, the lost and confused woman was in urgent need of guidance.
The Chinese man before her, who was excessively young yet powerful enough to make her wary, seemed capable of pointing her toward a path.
"I am Ethan, just graduated this year. By the way, I've done a few earth-shattering things, such as freezing the underworld emperor Kingpin into an ice sculpture, sealing the so-called Holy Land, the Vatican, and casually wiping out a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group."
"That's right, just as you thought, I am that famous — Ice Demon."
Ethan's tone was flat, as if he were talking about what he had for breakfast.
Strangely, these words did not make Jean Grey feel repulsed; instead, they made her lower her guard, finding a sense of belonging with someone of her own kind.
"Why did you freeze the Vatican?"
The first question Jean Grey asked was actually about God.
In countless desperate nights, she had also prayed to God, but unfortunately, she never received a response.
"Those charlatans wanted to kill me, so to protect myself, I had to mercifully send them to meet God, although they probably won't thank me for it."
Ethan grinned, a smile that revealed a trace of chill.
"It's that simple?"
"Yes, it's that simple."
"But... killing is ultimately not good."
"One must first live for oneself; living for others is too tiring, and I don't have such noble sentiments."
Ethan shrugged, looking indifferent.
"You don't owe Professor X anything, because you once saved his life from Apocalypse. You also don't owe Cyclopsanything; killing him did not come from your true heart, it was an accident caused by losing control."
Mentioning these two names, Jean Grey's eyes dimmed again.
"Really?"
She was a bit flustered.
"More real than true gold."
Ethan stood up.
He reached out his hand to her again.
A trace of confusion flashed in Jean Grey's eyes, but in the abyss of despair, this hand seemed to be her only lifeline.
In that long imprisonment in the Void Realm, only the Phoenix that wanted to devour her kept her company.
That kind of loneliness could drive anyone crazy.
And now, this man not only gave her light but also told her she didn't need to feel guilty.
Deep down, she actually loathed Professor X's theories.
Suppressing her nature to be a good child—that wasn't her; that was just a hypocritical mask.
Her true nature was closer to the Phoenix, yearning for freedom, longing to soar.
Thus, Jean Grey subconsciously grasped the man's hand.
"Let's go, I'll take you to clear your head."
Ethan smiled brightly.
Jean Grey didn't know what he wanted to do, but as a top-tier telepath, she didn't sense any malice.
She had heard many rumors about the Ice Demon, and the X-Men had even discussed whether to crusade against him in the past.
But at this moment, she actually felt a trace of admiration for this man's "evil deeds" before her.
That wasn't evil; that was the courage to dare to be the enemy of the World.
This was exactly what she lacked the most.
The two did not take a car.
Ethan held Jean Grey's hand and walked through the clouds; powerful telekinesis lifted them up, making it feel like walking on flat ground.
Arriving at the seaside, a crystal-clear ice boat broke through the water. Under Jean's astonished gaze, the two stepped onto the boat to travel.
"Is this also your ability? These ice blocks feel harder than steel. And how did you manage to master both Water and Fire, these two completely opposite powers, at the same time?"
This was simply forcing Ice Man and Pyro together.
You have to know, both of these people are top-tier among Level 4 Mutants.
"When power completely merges into your marrow and becomes instinct, the so-called incompatibility of Ice and Fire is a joke. As long as you can dominate your own power, controlling them is as simple as breathing."
Ethan waved his hand, and monstrous waves formed in the sea, creating a thrust that pushed the ice boat to speed forward through the waves.
Three hours later.
They had already set foot on the land of a certain country in Africa.
Ethan didn't give her a chance to ask questions, pulling her directly deep into the hinterland.
Poverty, hunger, slaughter, disease.
Scenes of hell on earth were laid bare before Jean Grey.
At this moment, she suddenly understood Ethan's intention.
Compared to these people, her bit of tragic fate was nothing.
At least she had never gone hungry, and at least she had once possessed friendship and love.
In this chaotic land, human life was as cheap as grass.
"Since you possess god-like power, you can completely dominate your own life. You don't need to rely on anyone, nor do you need to live for anyone. You are unique; you can be a god who saves the suffering, or you can be a demon that makes people tremble with fear."
Ethan stood atop a pile of ruins and said with a smile.
Not far away, a group of brutal warlords were brandishing slaughtering knives as they charged toward a backward tribe.
The next second.
The sweltering air instantly solidified, and extreme cold descended.
Those arrogant warlords hadn't even reacted before they turned into lifelike ice sculptures.
After a moment of stunned silence, the tribe's survivors prostrated themselves on the ground.
They kowtowed frantically toward Ethan, their eyes filled with fanaticism, as if they were worshipping a True God who had descended to the Mortal World.
"Why care about the eyes of the secular World? If you don't like being called a demon, then just be the god of these people."
Ethan pointed at the group of people worshipping.
"Jean, your heart has been held hostage by morality for too long. You must understand, we are different from Mortals. Standing at the height of a god, the judgment standards of Mortals are meaningless."
"What is called a god?"
"Only those who can completely dominate their own destiny deserve to be called gods."
"Open your eyes and look at this World; don't let emotions blind you."
"Discard that weak past, embrace your new life, and you will discover that life is actually so colorful."
At this moment, Ethan's whole body seemed to radiate "Holy Light," just like the most devout missionary.
This feeling of standing at a high-dimensional perspective and inducing a top-tier powerhouse to fall... oh no, to experience Awakening, was simply too wonderful.
Although Mr. Lu Xun never said it, the meaning is similar: Men have two great hobbies—persuading respectable women to go astray, and persuading fallen women to return to the path of virtue.
What Ethan is doing now is pulling Jean Grey, this "respectable woman," into the water.
Chapter 68: Jean's Rebirth, Agent Hill Gains Superpowers
"Perhaps… you are right."
Jean Grey let out a soft sigh.
"Don't listen to me; listen to your own heart. Your biggest flaw is that you love to struggle against yourself."
Ethan stopped while he was ahead and said no more.
He couldn't say for sure what Jean would become in the future.
"Ice Demon, your silver tongue is truly formidable. I now believe you are a demon, because demons are best at bewitching people's hearts."
Jean Grey finally smiled, and at this smile, it was as if a hundred flowers were blooming in full bloom.
"Confess honestly, how many ignorant maidens has this line of reasoning tricked?"
Having cleared away her Heart Demon, she felt the power within her flowing smoother than ever before.
Her intuition told her that although the man in front of her had a purpose, his logic was correct.
"By the way, Raven is now the vice president of my group, full of drive every day and endlessly happy."
Ethan dropped a bombshell.
"Raven?! Didn't she always treat Erik as her savior? How did she end up hanging out with you?"
"Erik is too extreme and too selfish. As for me, I gave her absolute trust and respect. We are partners, comrades-in-arms opening up the New World together."
Ethan had never treated Raven as a subordinate; this kind of respect could not be faked.
Jean Grey keenly captured this point.
"It seems your female classmates with stories are not limited to just Raven."
"Haha, I am merely following my true heart to do what I like. Besides, I didn't force anyone. Since it's a demon's transaction, I naturally will satisfy all their wishes."
"With me, fairness is the first principle."
Ethan smiled calmly.
"Since we are talking about fairness, since you saved me, what price do I need to pay?"
Jean Grey quickly adapted to this style of conversation.
She sealed those painful memories deep into the bottom of her heart; this was her privilege as a Mind Great Master.
"There is no talk of transactions between the two of us. If you insist on returning the favor, then hurry up and walk out of the shadow of the past."
Ethan reached out his hand again.
This time, Jean Grey did not hesitate at all and tightly grasped it.
"Actually, your heart is not bad at all; calling you Ice Demon is truly doing you a disservice."
Jean Grey exclaimed from the bottom of her heart.
"Don't, I am the nightmare of all enemies, and that is enough."
Ethan laughed heartily, bringing Jean Grey to step onto the ice boat once again and starting their return journey.
"I can't go back to school, and I am not familiar with New York. I always stayed in the school's ivory tower before, and thinking about it now, it was really foolish."
Returning to the Villa, Jean Grey sat on the sofa, her gaze clear and bright, exuding a fresh vitality of Rebirth.
"Then stay at my place for now; the environment of this Villa is quite good, and I usually like living here the most."
Ethan was as enthusiastic as entertaining an old friend.
Although he knew in his heart that Jean Grey wanted to start a new life, he couldn't just let her wander the streets.
"If Raven sees me, her jaw will probably drop in shock."
Jean Grey recovered her past elegance and intellect.
"You just came back from the gates of hell, so rest well. Call me directly if anything comes up; my mind temporarily has no defenses against you."
Ethan blinked playfully at her.
"Tee-hee-hee…"
Jean Grey was amused, her laughter crisp and pleasant.
"It's time for dinner, and the fridge at home is completely empty. Wait a moment, I'll go down to the sea to get some seafood."
Ethan took off his suit jacket, wearing only a white shirt and suit trousers, and walked directly out the door.
Boom!
He soared into the sky, then plunged into the sea like a torpedo.
Not long after, he came back carrying a large pile of fresh and lively seafood.
"This is too unfair; you are cheating, the fish don't have superpowers."
Looking at the catch all over the floor, Jean Greycomplained like a little girl.
"Being able to enter the stomachs of Divine Rankpowerhouses like us is a blessing cultivated by this group of fish over several lifetimes."
Ethan laughed shamelessly.
The meal was enjoyed by both host and guest to their heart's content.
Ethan could feel that Jean Grey had successfully isolated her sadness.
This was the terrifying aspect of high-Rank mind ability users; as long as they were willing, they could strip away their humanity at any time and retain only divinity.
The two chatted very congenially, from past and present lives to various interesting anecdotes of the Marvel Universe.
Ethan not only possessed a brain surpassing ordinary people, but also the insights of a transmigrator.
This cross-dimensional clash of thoughts gave both of them a feeling of meeting like-minded souls too late.
This was a resonance between kindred spirits.
Mutual appreciation between gods.
"Although many of our views are inconsistent, our angles on looking at problems are indeed the same. Chatting with you is truly exhilarating."
Jean Grey looked at Ethan with sparkling eyes: "However, you seem a bit vulgar, as if you are particularly lecherous."
Ethan shrugged: "Even if I become a god, I still retain a human heart. If even the seven emotions and six desires are gone, what's the point of living?"
Jean Grey nodded thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Ethan. This journey of the mind has reborn me."
At this moment, Jean Grey, whether in temperament or power, had undergone a qualitative leap.
And Ethan wasn't idle either; through this deep exchange, he gained new insights into the application of the Mind Dominator ability.
This kind of practical exchange was a hundred times stronger than simply copying Professor X's techniques.
The sky had completely darkened.
Ethan did not stay overnight.
Although Jean Grey had a very good impression of him right now, he certainly didn't want to play with fire.
In case this Phoenix turned love into hatred in the future, then the group of confidantes at home would be in trouble.
Leaving the Villa, he went straight to the underground laboratory.
Under the cold white lights, Agent Hill was quietly lying inside the reinforcement stabilizer.
The corners of Ethan's mouth curled into a playful smile.
This woman was truly ruthless.
Gene modification carried extreme risks; a slight misstep meant genetic collapse.
But for that transaction, she didn't even frown at all.
"Lowering yourself so much, is it just to cater to my wicked sense of humor?"
"As expected of a top Agent coming out of S.H.I.E.L.D., able to bend and stretch. I don't like stubborn donkeys, but I very much appreciate ambitious foxes."
Agent Hill's purpose was very clear: to monitor him, or to extract benefits from him.
Furthermore, she probably already knew about the fling between Natasha and himself.
But for these female Agents, the body was merely a weapon, and the concept of chastity was worthless in front of a mission.
If you thought that sleeping with them meant you could control them, your death date wasn't far off.
"It is simply a perfect masterpiece. All the indicators after injecting the serum don't even lose to Captain America Steve."
Raven looked at the data from the side and couldn't help praising.
"Aren't you afraid she'll rebel and cause trouble later?"
Ethan asked casually.
"Her target is you; every debt has its debtor, what do I have to fear? The one who should be worried is you, Big Boss Hao."
Raven laughed coquettishly and teased.
"That makes sense, but the game of cat and mouse is what's interesting. We smashed so much money into R&D, not to do charity. What I want is a hen that can lay golden eggs."
Ethan finally brought the topic back to business.
Nowadays, there were quite a few factions mastering genetic technology.
Although Dr. Connors' technology originated from HYDRA, those serums of his all had defects, easily turning people into half-human, half-beast monsters.
HYDRA had always regarded the super soldier serum as the golden rule; it was the symbol of perfection.
Unfortunately, they had never succeeded in replicating it.
That old man Dr. Connors was also a freak; clearly having the ability to replicate it, he looked down on it instead, insisting on engaging in some kind of human-beast hybrid gene Fusion.
In his eyes, that was the direction of evolution.
The master-disciple duo of Spider-Man Peter Parker and Dr. Connors were simply the sleeping dragon and fledgling Phoenix of the genetic world.
After his brain domain development, Dr. Connors had completely let himself go in genetics, becoming HYDRA's new scientific research darling.
"Then how much is appropriate to price our super soldier package?"
Raven blinked her eyes, looking like a money-grubber.
Ever since she took over the Osborn Group, she finally understood how expensive it was to manage a household.
Ethan's experimental projects here were simply a bottomless pit, burning money faster than a printing press.
If funds weren't recovered quickly, the company would be dragged down.
"Depends on the thickness of the customer's wallet."
Ethan had the look of a cunning merchant.
Although HYDRA had the technology, their product's appearance was poor.
Currently, the most recognized one on the market was still Captain America's model—purely natural, pollution-free, and doesn't grow fur.
This was brand effect.
Although Red Skull had also injected it, that face of his was a typical side-effect dissuasion advertisement.
"This is our star product. Rightly so, Steve that old popsicle has been active again lately; this is a free living advertisement."
Mystique Raven was clearly already a qualified capitalist.
"That's right, we need to help promote Steve more; the more actively he fights, the hotter our medicine sells."
The two hit it off immediately.
Although the Spider-Man Serum was strong, it was for death-seeking squads; the transformed Spider-Monsterwas too scary.
The super soldier serum was different; stable, handsome, and with a wide audience.
It was simply the top choice for wealthy bodyguards and special forces.
The first shot of Vought Company had to ring out loudly.
At this moment, the stabilizer's hatch slowly opened.
The female researcher took the prepared clothing and respectfully handed it to Agent Hill, who was slowly sitting up.
Raven did not choose to avoid looking, and Ethannaturally watched openly as well.
Every muscle line on Agent Hill's body appeared so smooth and full of explosive power; it was simply the Creator's gift.
This robustness did not make one feel abrupt or exaggerated.
What Ethan saw in his eyes was only that wild, sexy tension.
Agent Hill unhurriedly put the clothes back on one by one.
She stood quietly in place like that, as if still savoring the changes in her body.
The surging power inside her body, like a rushing river, made her feel both strange and incredible.
"This feeling of shedding one's mortal shell and being reborn, is this the true power of the super soldier serum?"
Agent Hill found it hard to conceal the shock in her eyes, asking in a hurried tone: "How on earth did you guys accomplish this? You must know that even with S.H.I.E.L.D.and the Military holding most of the original formula, the things they create are always full of defects and have never reached this level of perfection."
"Genetic technology is our bread and butter, after all. In this aspect, we are definitely the ceiling of the industry."
Ethan bullshitted with a straight face, his expression as serious as if it were true.