As expected, before they had flown for a few more minutes, a massive firebird suddenly appeared not far behind them.
The sea below started boiling as if it were on a stove, countless marine creatures were instantly cooked, floating to the surface, then immediately turning to black ash upon contact with the Phoenix's falling sparks, sinking again.
It seemed like they were burnt, but in reality, they were decomposed into atomic states by the Phoenix Power.
A deep white line was left on the sea surface as the Phoenix began an unrelenting chase after them.
Su Ming felt the heatwave rushing towards him, and both Cable and Little Rascal showed pained expressions.
Su Ming wasn't without options; the simplest was to jump over, like Wolverine, and deal with Jean Grey, who was enveloped by the Phoenix Power, using claws to put a few holes in her heart.
As a host, the Phoenix would certainly calm down with that.
However, Su Ming would also inevitably be severely injured, with his armor and flesh likely decomposing, leaving only the X Metal skeleton and the brain that was tightly protected.
Besides, Cable was here; killing his stepmother in front of him seemed a bit inappropriate, right?
Only Wolverine would do such a thing, too rash.
The Phoenix Power can burn the world and decompose anything, yet it's helpless against things with undying traits, like the future Deadpool.
However, Deadpool hasn't been cursed by Thanos at this point, he doesn't have undying characteristics, now if you throw little cousin over, he would definitely turn into a puff of blue smoke.
But Black Phoenix is weaker than White Phoenix, although both are changes caused by fragments of Phoenix Power hosting within Jean's body, in Black Phoenix's heart, Jean Grey has always been resisting.
This is the Black Phoenix's weakness.
Su Ming's current plan is to strengthen Jean Grey's will and help her resist the Phoenix from within.
"Cable, do you know how to dance?" Su Ming picked up Cable laying on the cloak, asking him a seemingly unrelated question.
"What?" Cable's face was instantly confused, why did the topic switch to dancing?
"Answer me, do you or do you not know how to?" Su Ming had no time to explain, as the Phoenix was getting closer behind them.
"No, I don't, and I don't have any strength in my body right now," Cable replied quickly despite his confusion, his logic prevailing.
Su Ming nodded, bending down to grab Cable's legs: "Little Rascal, grab Cable's arms, just listen to my command."
Little Rascal wiped her mouth, turned her head to look at the Phoenix, being an X-Men, she had the most vivid memory of Phoenix Power.
Each time Black Phoenix went out of control, it always caused a big incident, every time the entire X-Men mobilized, often with heavy casualties, even Professor X was evaporated once.
"Deathstroke, what do we do?"
"Just follow my orders, a fragment of Phoenix Power is nothing in my eyes," Su Ming replied calmly, bending down to search through Deadpool's utility belt.
This scoundrel was trying to piece himself back together, somehow pulling out a stapler and slowly stapling his split body back together.
Su Ming took his MP3.
Flipping through its playlist, it was indeed filled with classic old songs Star Lord liked, and some tracks Deadpool downloaded himself to set the mood.
Let's use the songs recommended by Star Lord.
He pressed play, and the modified speakers blared out loud, while the group was fleeing ahead, towering waves were stirred up below by the air currents.
Behind them was the burning Phoenix, several tens of times larger than they were.
The wind howled past, but Su Ming was sure Jean Grey could hear the music, seeing the commotion here.
"Little Rascal, raise your hands."
Though Little Rascal didn't understand why, she followed Su Ming's instructions, raising Cable's hands, albeit with some effort.
Coordinating with Little Rascal's movements, Su Ming grabbed Cable's belt, making him do a knee-bent pose.
Su Ming, despite having had a dance-off with Laughing Bat before, had no talent for dancing, so he resorted to something familiar from his past life.
'The Times are Calling'.
No need to worry if the music was in sync or not, this set of calisthenics was quite versatile, matching any song.
"First exercise, stretching..."
Su Ming silently recited in his heart, playing along with the music from memory, making Cable strike various poses.
Apart from a very embarrassed expression, Cable was fine; Su Ming was alright too, but just as they hadn't finished even a small section, Little Rascal was a bit out of breath.
Su Ming simply told her to step aside, sticking to Cable's back, making his feet step on Su Ming's, grabbing his hands to perform like a puppet show.
He was betting now, to see if Jean Grey had motherly feelings towards Cable.
If she did, awakening a woman's maternal instincts would be a very effective tool against Black Phoenix.
Besides, the sillier the dance, the better, as positive emotions, especially joyful memories and feelings, could also help Jean resist the Phoenix.
The Joker next door often says 'smiles are magical', although he's a madman, the phrase oftentimes rings true.
If the victim's smile wasn't due to 'laughing gas', even better.
Now, Su Ming needed Jean to fight against the Phoenix, as this was the most reliable method; as a host, the parasite couldn't go all out against her...
Sure enough, before Su Ming had finished the leg kick exercise, the Phoenix started flickering, like a light bulb with unstable electricity.
Its flight speed slowed drastically.
Jean was reclaiming control of her body, and the Phoenix's persona was being suppressed.
"Almost there, hang in there, Cable, jumping exercise!"
Cable closed his eyes in pain, as if a tear slid from the corner of his eye; he always appeared as a tough guy to everyone, and today, his image was utterly demolished.
Little Rascal witnessed everything today, with her gossipy mouth...
Soon everyone in the X-Men would know, and when the X-Men knew, the Professor would know; when the Professor knew, Magnetic King would know; when Magnetic King knew; then the Brotherhood would know too, the Brotherhood would pass it to Hellfire, spreading further, and all the mutants would know.
Cable, performing a frenzied dance while being chased by the Phoenix... he wouldn't be able to stand his ground in the mutant world by then...
Wade's eyes lit up at this moment, watching his cousin's erratic movements behind Cable, seemingly learning something new...
Finally, the Phoenix couldn't hold on anymore, its vast flames virtually vanished in an instant, as Jean Grey laughed while falling towards the ocean below.
"Godslayer, lasso."
Su Ming threw the golden lasso, pulling Jean Grey back onto the cloak. She glanced at the helpless, slumped-over Cable, burst into laughter, unable to straighten up, hiccupping continuously, panting heavily, making asthmatic sounds as she rolled around on the flying carpet formed by the cloak.
The reason for Black Phoenix's defeat this time was... the host laughed to the point of breathlessness, and with difficulty in breathing, it had to prioritize preserving the host's life, retreating back into the depths of Jean's mind.