Chapter 374: Chapter 374: The Warning of the True Phoenix
"This beautiful lady is all yours now, dad. Go get 'em!"
Clark: ...
Clark was at a loss for words with his daughter's ambiguously phrased encouragement. Should he just say: Isn't she just like her dear old dad? (‵▽′)ψ
Luckily, at that moment, the Phoenix fire came at him again. The destructive flames of the Phoenix allowed Clark to avoid pondering how to respond to his daughter's headache-inducing comment. Furrowing his brow slightly, he summoned a vast amount of divine power to form a wall several meters thick in front of him. Like in previous clashes, the Phoenix fire hit the wall and was gradually neutralized.
"Damn it!" At this moment, Jean Grey, fully controlled by the Phoenix, couldn't help but shout in frustration, "Is that all you've got?"
Clark chuckled and replied, "If it works against you, why should I change it? Have you ever heard of the 'Descending Palm' technique?"
As he spoke, Clark extended his right hand forward and then fiercely pulled it downward, transforming the divine power wall into a massive hand that crashed down on the Phoenix-possessed Jean like a mountain.
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, Jean's body was smashed into the ground, leaving a huge, ten-meter wide, three-foot deep imprint on the previously smooth lawn. The divine power of the Phoenix clashed with Clark's retaliatory force, emitting a sizzling sound.
In fact, as Clark had absorbed more of the Infinity Stones, his divine power had become even more concentrated. This not only made him stronger overall, but also gave him an advantage in one-on-one cosmic battles.
Originally, during his first encounter with the Phoenix host, even though the host was not very compatible, Clark had found the battle quite challenging. Now, facing Jean, nearly a perfect host in her Dark Phoenix form, he could suppress her effortlessly without breaking a sweat.
Unless she could evolve into the White Phoenix form, which would require her to maintain a fully conscious mind and completely control the Phoenix power, she would stand no chance against Clark in a one-on-one battle in this universe.
If Jean truly reached that level, then this conflict could potentially be resolved through dialogue.
Watching Jean pressed into the ground, her Phoenix power fizzling under his divine power, Charles, who had already exited the school, suddenly shouted from afar, "Don't hurt her! The one who unleashed the destructive power wasn't her. Jean is a kind soul; please, don't hurt her!"
"No," Clark responded calmly while continuing to combat the Phoenix power, "It's not just her from before; even now, she's still being manipulated by the Phoenix force. Unless it willingly retracts its power, I can't promise restraint."
"Dad..." Lois, having stepped back, approached Clark again, speaking softly, "I can see that big sister is completely controlled by the Phoenix force. Is there a way to destroy it without hurting her?"
His daughter's request, while challenging, was now his to fulfill.
Frowning slightly, Clark said, "I can only try to calm her down or destroy her completely. Those are the only options."
Lois didn't hesitate: "Then let's calm her down. I only fought her to see if there was anyone in this world who could match me."
Nodding, Clark looked at Jean, sprawled on the ground under his divine power, "Now, you have two choices. Either go back peacefully and return control to your host, or wait for me to kill this perfect host of yours and then completely eradicate your presence in this world."
The Black Phoenix stared fiercely at Clark, appearing almost ferocious but hesitated to make a decision.
Clark, undeterred, continued nonchalantly, "Or, we can keep this up. Draining divine power in battle is my forte; I don't mind."
The Black Phoenix, realizing the truth in Clark's words, finally spoke, "Withdraw your divine power first. Otherwise, once I retract my power, this body won't withstand yours."
With a slight smile, Clark withdrew his hand, and the divine power pressing down on the Black Phoenix vanished.
In the universe, Clark now held a dominant advantage over the Phoenix force, so he wasn't worried about any tricks.
His power could suppress the Black Phoenix once and could do it again, in any manner he chose.
Feeling the divine pressure lift, the Black Phoenix gave Clark a deep look and coldly said, "Kid, make sure I don't see you in the super-dimensional space."
The moment the Black Phoenix spoke, Clark felt a chill. Did this mean that the true cosmic Phoenix had noticed him and was now targeting him?
Realizing he had caught the attention of an entity he couldn't currently contend with, Clark felt a shiver, but in front of his daughter, he couldn't show fear. Instead, he feigned an air of composure.
Meanwhile
, Jean's eyes had cleared. She straightened her tattered clothes and then timidly stood up, muttering to Clark, "Thank you."
Clark, putting aside his concerns about the Phoenix, smiled slightly, "You're thanking me for hitting you?"
Jean earnestly replied, "If you can help me suppress that uncontrollable power, I'd be willing to be hit by you every day."
In fact, many mutants struggled to control their powers, requiring a process of adaptation. Both Professor X and Magneto had gone through this.
The more powerful the ability, the harder it is to control flexibly.
And for Jean Grey's Phoenix power, which wasn't even her own, full control would require reaching the level of the White Phoenix.
Achieving that level would need the right conditions, timing, and support, all aligning perfectly. Until then, the Phoenix power would only bring her endless trouble and pain.
As the breeze fluttered their clothes, Clark looked at Jean's hopeful face and smiled warmly, "Alright. If you ever feel like you can't control the power inside you, come find me. I owe you a coffee."
As the onlookers returned, Jean suddenly said, "When I was under the control of the Phoenix force... I sensed a peculiar energy fluctuation. I saw a blue-skinned mutant awakening, seemingly wanting to rule the world."
Professor X and the others were puzzled.
A mutant wanting to rule the world with his abilities?
Who could think up such a bizarre plot? Not even Magneto was that delusional!
"That guy's name is Apocalypse," Clark calmly explained. "He claims to be the world's first mutant, living around 5,000 years ago in ancient Egypt. His only ability is to transfer his consciousness into other bodies, taking over their bodies and their mutant powers."
Under everyone's gaze, Clark continued to share information about Apocalypse, "In any era, Apocalypse gathers four powerful mutants as his Horsemen. Under his command, they conquer all known territories."
"This time, the ones chosen by Apocalypse include: Storm, who can control weather; Psylocke, who can create weapons with her mind; Angel, who has the ability to fly; and…"
Seeing everyone attentively listening, Clark finally revealed the last of Apocalypse's Horsemen: "Magneto."
As Clark listed Apocalypse's details, Jean stepped forward and asked, "Did you feel it too?"
"Of course," Clark said calmly. "If the Phoenix force, beaten so badly by me, can sense his energy release, I, who have been leisurely fighting, can feel it even more clearly."
Understanding the situation, Professor X immediately spoke, "If we let them continue unchecked, the peace we've worked so hard for will be lost. We must stop them."
"It's not necessary to go to all that trouble," Clark said, looking towards a certain direction. "They're already here."
___________________
(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)
If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT
___________________
50% OFF ON ALL LEVELS WITH CODE 3EFEF ON PATREON
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone