If he had to classify it in the most structured way possible, Ethan Cole would divide the power of the Phoenix into five distinct levels. The first level involved abilities such as telepathy, teleportation, and mind control. These were the most fundamental manifestations of the Phoenix Force—powerful, certainly, but still relatively restrained compared to what lay beyond.
The second level revolved around energy devouring. At its weakest, this ability allowed the involuntary absorption of free ambient energy in the environment. As the power grew stronger, however, it evolved into something far more terrifying. A user could deliberately swallow specific sources of energy, gradually progressing to the point where even something as vast as a star could be consumed.
Ethan was currently standing at the early stage of this second level. Because his physical body still had limits, the amount of energy he could safely absorb was restricted. At the moment, his strength could only be described as impressive among mutants, but far from extraordinary.
Once he possessed a true healing factor, though, everything would change.
With a constantly regenerating body, his physical endurance would increase dramatically. His cells would be able to repair damage at incredible speed, allowing him to contain far greater quantities of energy without collapsing under the strain. The bottleneck limiting the growth of the Phoenix Force inside him would essentially disappear.
Under those conditions, Ethan believed he could rise to the peak of the second level in a very short time.
The third level was something entirely different. At that stage, the Phoenix Force would no longer simply absorb or store energy. Instead, it would manipulate external energy freely. The concept was similar to touching a single point that controlled an entire surface.
For example, Ethan could flick his finger in New York, and the western coast of America might suddenly erupt into a violent hurricane. The energy involved would not come solely from his own body. Instead, he would be redirecting the natural forces of the world itself.
At this stage, control over matter would also advance to the subatomic level. Matter could be broken apart, rearranged, or reconstructed at will. Any object could be decomposed into its most fundamental particles and rebuilt into something entirely new.
A being who reached this level could already be described as a god walking on Earth.
The fourth level of the Phoenix Force went even further. At that stage, the user could plunder and manipulate the energy of the entire universe. Time itself could be interfered with. Reality could be altered or rewritten.
Such authority over existence was something that normally belonged only to true cosmic gods.
And then there was the fifth level.
That level represented the ultimate form of the Phoenix Force. At that stage, consciousness would no longer remain confined to a single universe. It would project across the entire multiverse, transcending the barriers separating dimensions.
A being at that level could influence the operation of the entire multiverse itself. Timelines, dimensions, and realities could be destroyed or reshaped with ease.
Compared to that unimaginable height, Ethan's current mastery of the Phoenix Force could hardly be considered profound. He was still in the early stage of understanding how to properly apply the power.
In the past, his own caution had slowed his growth. He had been wary of pushing the Phoenix Force too far, afraid that its overwhelming energy might spiral out of control. But now he no longer had that concern.
He slowly clenched his fist.
The moment he did, the space around him trembled faintly. It felt as if the surrounding air had turned fragile, like glass that could shatter with the slightest pressure.
This sensation was not an illusion.
Teleportation itself was an ability that involved tearing through space. By breaking the fabric of space and stepping through it, he could instantly appear at a different set of coordinates. In Ethan's perception, space was nothing more than an infinite collection of geometric points arranged in a vast structure.
Once you understood that structure, breaking it became surprisingly simple.
A soft groan escaped his lips as he tilted his head back. A faint reddish glow began to surround his body, flickering like a flame dancing in the air.
This was the visible manifestation of the Phoenix Force.
It resembled fire, but in truth it was something far more complex. It was an energy entity with an unimaginably high temperature, yet it could also behave in completely opposite ways depending on Ethan's will.
If he allowed the energy to attach itself to another person, it would not necessarily burn them. Instead, it could feel warm and gentle, like standing in a soft spring breeze.
"The Phoenix Force has started growing again," Ethan murmured quietly. "And it's faster than I expected."
In the next moment, the skin on his body suddenly darkened. Portions of it turned scorched black, and thin trails of smoke began rising into the air as if his flesh had been burned alive.
The damage looked severe.
Yet within seconds, the burned areas rapidly regenerated. Fresh skin replaced the charred flesh, restoring his body to perfect condition.
Then the destruction began again.
Heat surged through his body, scorching his skin once more. The cycle of damage and recovery continued repeatedly, each wave of pain washing over him like a relentless tide.
"Based on my original growth rate, it would have taken at least six or seven years to reach the third level," Ethan said calmly to himself. "But now that I have a healing factor inside my body, forcing the Phoenix Force to grow like this will accelerate everything."
He paused briefly, considering the consequences.
"At this rate, it should take no more than a week."
Of course, there was a price.
"During that time," he continued quietly, "I'm going to suffer quite a bit."
Ethan shrugged lightly.
"It doesn't matter. There are no lasting side effects, and power always comes with a price."
He allowed the destruction and regeneration of his body to continue without resistance. Although waves of pain surged through his nerves, his expression remained completely calm.
Not a single trace of discomfort appeared on his face.
"Sir, the saber-toothed mutant was released half an hour ago," Svija's voice suddenly echoed in his ear through the communication channel. "The Dark Department has now lost visual surveillance of him."
Ethan merely raised an eyebrow slightly.
The news did not surprise him in the slightest.
"Tell the Dark Department not to focus on tracking him anymore," Ethan replied calmly. "From now on, their priority should be gathering other useful intelligence."
"Understood, sir. I'll relay your instructions immediately," Svija said. "There's also another message uploaded by the Dark Department that you may find interesting."
"What is it?" Ethan asked.
"Senator Robert Kelly will submit the Mutant Registration Act to Congress tonight. According to the available intelligence, there is a high probability that the bill will pass."
Ethan gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment.
"So it's finally happening."
He lowered his gaze slightly, thinking to himself.
"That means the storyline of the first X-Men conflict is about to begin."
He had tried his best not to interfere with the timeline since arriving in this world. Despite that effort, however, the events were already more than a year behind their original schedule.
That alone was proof that the timeline had already shifted.
"In the future, the story will definitely change even more," Ethan murmured.
After a brief moment, he shook his head slightly.
"But that's inevitable."
This was not a scripted narrative or a predetermined storyline. It was a real world. Every decision he made, every action he took, would inevitably ripple outward and reshape events.
There was no point obsessing over maintaining the original trajectory.
With that thought, Ethan slowly closed his eyes.
His telepathic senses expanded outward like invisible waves. In an instant, he locked onto Victor's location. The savage mutant was currently moving steadily in the direction of Manhattan.
Ethan opened his eyes again, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"It's time to see what happens next."
His gaze drifted toward the distant skyline of the city.
"Magneto… don't disappoint me."
.....
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