"I sense the seal of magic."
Vincent Hall spoke calmly.
Behind him was Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. It was becoming deserted. Many students had been taken home by their parents to receive the Cure.
"Human evolution won't stop."
"And the birth of mutants won't end just because of a temporary suppression."
Vincent whispered.
A portal of sparks opened.
The Ancient One, dressed in yellow robes, stepped through from the snowy peaks of Kamar-Taj.
"The Phoenix Force chose us. It is a fire of hope. But this girl... her spirit is not strong enough to bear it," The Ancient One sighed.
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown," Vincent recited.
"Are you ready?" The Ancient One asked.
"Sorcerer Supreme, you know I won't inherit Kamar-Taj's magic. I won't become the Sorcerer Supreme." Vincent refused flatly.
"Why?"
"Haha, I'm afraid of altitude sickness."
"That's not an excuse. You could live in New York and still be the Sorcerer Supreme." The Ancient One's gaze was intense.
"You knew you couldn't stop me. Why come?" Vincent met her eyes.
"Because I can no longer see your future. You could be the source of chaos, or the guardian of order."
"I am just me. Besides, your chosen successor will be better than you think. What are you worried about?"
The Ancient One was silent. I'm worried about you. His power was already warping the world.
"I just want to know... whose side is your heart on?"
"My heart is always on my side," Vincent shrugged.
"Clearly, I won't get an answer today. People change. Just like my successor. Who knows if he will keep a pure heart?"
"If he doesn't, kill him for me."
"As you wish," Vincent agreed.
Suddenly, The Ancient One tossed him a ring.
"A Sling Ring. Consider it payment for the promise."
Vincent caught it with a grin. "I accept with gratitude."
The Ancient One opened a portal and returned to Kamar-Taj. Vincent's stance on the coming wars was crucial. She had no more time to dwell on the future.
"Helpful old lady," Vincent muttered.
She scammed demons, but she protected Earth. That was enough for him. He lived here. His money and women were here. Of course he'd protect it.
"Jean Grey, sealed and treated as dead."
How could Wolverine's claws kill a cosmic entity?
Behind him, the air crackled.
A woman in a black suit with silver hair and white eyes descended on the wind. Storm.
"Who are you? Why are you trespassing?" Storm demanded. She sensed the energy spike.
She saw the handsome young man standing before the graves of Jean and Scott.
"So, Charles is dead?" Vincent turned, smiling politely.
Zap.
Storm's eyes glowed with lightning. Static charge built up around her hands.
"I mean no harm. I was in New York, curious about the mutant endgame. It's tragic."
Vincent ignored the lightning aimed at his face.
"Why tragic?"
"Mutants could have led humanity into a bright future. Instead, fear has paused evolution. Isn't that tragic?"
"The Professor said if we return to normal lives, it's a good thing for everyone," Storm said, lowering her hands slightly.
"Professor X? Heh. An old fool. He saw power and preached kindness. He should have taken a stand. Mutants aren't a disease; they are an immune response to extinction."
"Sir, I don't know who you are, but you will not speak ill of the Professor!" Storm was angry.
"Good intentions don't make you right. If all humans were mutants, Thanos wouldn't dare step foot on Earth."
"Who?"
"Never mind. Anyway, you think it's over? The Cure is temporary. When it wears off, the government will have you on a leash."
BOOM.
A bolt of lightning struck Vincent's position.
He side-stepped it effortlessly, as if he knew it was coming.
"I have enough tolerance for beautiful women, Ororo. Even you."
Vincent raised a hand. Behind him, the earth rumbled.
Jean Grey's coffin floated out of the dirt. Telekinesis.
"Put her down!!" Storm screamed.
She summoned a thunderstorm. Lightning rained down.
An ice wall materialized instantly, blocking the strikes.
"The Phoenix Force shouldn't be buried."
Vincent levitated. With the coffin in tow, he flew into the sky, vanishing faster than Storm could track.
Long Island Villa.
Vincent landed on the scorched lawn. He opened the coffin.
Jean Grey lay there, peaceful.
"Phoenix Rebirth. Let's see if it works."
[Flame Emperor]
A miniature sun formed above his head. He compressed it into a fist-sized ball of purple fire.
He pressed it into the wound on her chest.
The intense heat vaporized the coffin and the grass, but it didn't burn Jean.
Instead, the purple fire seeped into her.
Golden flames erupted from her body. She floated.
Vincent's mind was pulled into a psychic realm.
A vast, white space.
A Fire Phoenix shrieked, its heat threatening to incinerate his soul.
[Tier 4 Power?]
Tier 3 manipulated atoms. Tier 4... manipulated laws?
Amidst the white light, he saw a woman.
Naked, hugging her knees, looking lost. Jean Grey.
The Phoenix struggled against magical chains—The Ancient One's seal.
"Who... are... you?" Jean asked slowly. She was confused.
"Jean. Do you want to leave this place?" Vincent smiled warmly.
"Can... I?"
Vincent extended his hand.
"Of course."
Suddenly, an old man in a wheelchair appeared behind him.
"You shouldn't take her out. She is too dangerous." Charles Xavier.
"Professor. You could project yourself as a young man standing up, you know," Vincent wasn't surprised.
"Old habits," Charles smiled sadly. "She has a second personality. The Dark Phoenix. It will consume you."
"You have no body, Charles. Your psychic projection won't last long here."
"I know. I'm not here to fight."
"Good. Then leave."
Vincent blasted Charles out of the mindscape with a psychic pulse.
"Who was that?" Jean stood up.
Vincent laughed. That old fox unlocked her memories before leaving.
"You know who he is."
Vincent offered his hand again.
The mental world shook. Storms, lightning, chaos tried to stop him.
He ignored it all.
Jean took his hand.
Reality.
Vincent opened his eyes.
Jean's clothes had burned away.
She opened her eyes, gasping in pain as memories flooded back. Killing Scott. Killing Charles.
She fell.
Vincent caught her and carried her inside, dumping her on the sofa.
He threw her one of his shirts.
"Why save me?" Jean whispered, broken.
"I didn't save you. The Phoenix won't let you die," Vincent sat opposite her.
"You shouldn't have done it."
Jean's emotions spiked. Objects in the room began to float.
"Control yourself, Phoenix," Vincent commanded, his Psychic Sovereign aura suppressing her telekinesis.
"I saved you because I felt like it. If you want to commit suicide, go ahead. But remember: if you die, the Phoenix gets loose. And without a host, it will eat the Earth."
That was the truth.
If Jean died, the Force would just drill into the core and consume the planet.
Jean looked at him, terrified and awe-struck.
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