Chương 70: Chapter 70

"Director Fury is doing everything in his power to find those responsible for what happened," said Natasha.

Rogers was quite good at understanding people but not so adept at grasping the nuances of situations, and for that very reason, he asked Natasha:

"That means he already knows who's responsible for what happened, doesn't it?"

Natasha Romanoff merely gave a meaningful smile. Her confirmation wasn't necessary, as everyone knew that Fury was a professional, and such matters were precisely his specialty.

"Ha!" exclaimed Tony, expanding a screen across the entire room where Fury's face appeared.

From Fury's appearance, one could tell he wasn't particularly pleased with Tony's actions but was powerless to do anything about it.

"Long time no see, Dr. Richards," said Fury.

"Indeed, I'm very glad to see you're safe and sound. I take it you've had more on your plate since the Sentinels went out of control?"

Only the deaf couldn't hear the sarcasm in my tone.

"Dr. Richards, I didn't think you'd be interested in this matter," Fury replied.

"It's of interest to my friends. The X-Men wish to receive clear answers about what happened. Considering they have Omega-level mutants, I'd recommend you provide explanations as soon as possible."

The one-eyed director of S.H.I.E.L.D. drilled me with his gaze for a few seconds before saying:

"Since you're all gathered in one place, I think it will be convenient... The culprit has been found, and soon he will be punished to the full extent of the law."

Fury's statement calmed me, as it meant I had something to offer the X-Men, but...

"What about Stryker?"

Nicholas Joseph Fury, barely restraining his irritation—which I could feel even through the screen—said:

"And what does he have to do with this?"

The Avengers looked at me in confusion. Most of the team didn't understand who Stryker was. This misunderstanding was corrected by Tony, who brought up the information on Stryker that he had managed to obtain.

"Not only did the Sentinels attack Xavier's school, but also a squad under Stryker's command."

"Shit," muttered Fury.

And then it became clear to me that this information hadn't reached him.

—= Some time later =—

As a result of the conversation with Fury, the one-eyed director of S.H.I.E.L.D. would be searching for information about Stryker. At first glance, Fury heeded my words and would fulfill his part of the deal regarding providing information to the X-Men. If my one-eyed friend didn't keep his promise, I'd have to help the mutants find Stryker.

However, all this was currently a third-tier problem. The primary issue was the Phoenix, and after that, the problem of Sinister, who had set this chain of events in motion.

Leaving the tower, I immediately teleported to my island laboratory, where the ship I had designed for long-distance flights was located.

At the moment, my clones were working on it. One of them saw me and relayed some information.

"In that case, let's get to work..." I whispered.

—= Some time later =—

Thanks to having clones at my disposal, as well as Kronos, the work proceeded at an unhurried pace, during which I managed to finish everything I had planned.

I completed the work after nine months. The long-distance spacecraft, in my opinion, turned out extremely well. I hadn't spared any effort or resources on its armaments and defenses.

Making sure everything was functioning correctly, I deactivated the time bubble.

Now it was necessary to ask the team who would be willing to embark on a journey that, according to preliminary calculations, would take about nine months. The Phoenix's rate of departure from the planet was incredible. And it wasn't that Jean Grey was flying at an unbelievable speed, but that her powers were warping the fabric of space-time.

"Kronos, connect me with the team."

"Executing..." said the AI.

And soon, holograms of my team members' faces appeared before my eyes.

"What's up, Stretch?"

"Reed, is everything okay?"

"Brainiac, I hope this is something serious!"

"Reed, Betty and I were about to watch a show; I hope this is important?"

Before answering the barrage of questions, I leisurely took out the infographic showing the events that had occurred on Earth some time ago. It wasn't just a set of numbers and charts; before me lay a high-tech tablet connected to an orbital network of satellites designed specifically to monitor unusual energy phenomena.

These satellites, installed in various orbits around Earth, were not mere observers. They were capable of detecting psionic energy.

On the screen appeared a map of Earth covered with a network of lines and colored spots. Each line represented a flow of psionic energy, and the spots indicated places where the concentration of this energy had reached a critical level. The satellites not only recorded its level but also determined its origin, sources, and direction of movement.

Showing everyone the infographic, I began to speak:

"We have a very serious problem..."

—= Some time later =—

"Are you sure?" I asked my girlfriend with a slight smirk.

Sue had quickly agreed to accompany me on this journey that even Odysseus would envy.

"Oh? So you want to get rid of me, Reed?" Sue asked, her gaze suddenly so cold that I couldn't help but realize my mistake.

"No, of course not," I replied faster than I expected.

"I'm sure, Reed," Sue said with a slight smile.

To be honest, having Sue on this journey reassured me, as it meant someone close to me would be by my side.

"Who do you think from our group will agree to come?" Sue asked.

"I think Ben and Johnny will definitely agree, but Bruce and Betty will probably stay here. But we'll get a definite answer soon."

Ben and Alicia were the first to arrive, and judging by how excited Alicia was, it was safe to conclude that they both had decided to join us on this journey.

"Thanks for coming."

Ben merely smirked and said:

"Alicia would have eaten me alive if I'd missed out on a trip like this."

At that moment, Alicia was chatting with my girlfriend. By the way, it was worth mentioning that she had undergone basic enhancements necessary for her body to withstand the conditions that space held for us.

"I don't doubt it..."

At that moment, the room flashed with light. Johnny and Crystal arrived in grand fashion.

"See? I told you we weren't late!" Johnny exclaimed with a satisfied grin.

Crystal merely shook her head in response, but the smile on her face revealed the true emotions hidden within.

"I hope my presence won't inconvenience you," Crystal said.

Sue waved it off, declaring:

"Nonsense, without you this trip would be extremely boring!"

A couple of minutes later, the rest of us were surprised when Bruce and Betty arrived, laden with bags.

"Hope we're not late?" Betty asked with an awkward smile.

"No," I shook my head. "You're just in time."

I didn't expect Betty and Bruce to agree to embark on a space tour, especially since Bruce was still dealing with the Hulk issue, and Betty hadn't undergone the enhancements I had offered her. I was curious why she had turned down my proposal… Now it makes sense why… Bruce and his girlfriend were indeed lucky.

After everyone arrived, things progressed quickly, cheerfully, and merrily. Despite the impending journey being fraught with dangers… the pleasant company soothed my mind, which was beginning to envision incredibly grim potential futures.

"All engines are functioning," announced the ship's AI.

"Excellent," Ben declared with a smirk on his face.

Ben and Johnny expressed their desire to take the helm of the ship, at least initially. From what I gathered, it was about closing some childhood gestalt.

"Is everyone ready?" Johnny asked without turning around.

We were in the cockpit, as it offered the best view. Each of us had a seat that secured our bodies in place using innovative electromagnetic technology.

"Ready?" I asked Sue, who was seated to my right.

I posed the question because the look in her eyes, directed at the seats, was full of irritation.

"Don't you think a different color should have been used?"

I glanced around our surroundings. To my eye, all the colors looked organic and sleek for a long-distance spacecraft.

"I think everything is wonderful…"

My words calmed Sue, but I realized that changes were imminent.

"In that case, ready," the girl declared.

Johnny, who was watching what was happening behind him with interest, smiled and said, "Since everyone's ready, let's start the ascent."

"Ben, check the stabilizers," I said, nodding toward the massive control panels. "We need everything to go smoothly."

"That's for you to know, Reed," Ben muttered, his hands deftly sliding over the touchscreens, checking the readings. "I wouldn't let this junk fall apart."

I smirked, knowing I could trust Ben in any situation.

"Johnny, start the engines on first thrust," I addressed the youngest member of the team, who seemed in his element.

"At your command, Captain," he responded with a mischievous grin and began his work.

The sound of the engines igniting filled the cabin, and I felt the ship begin to vibrate, preparing for launch.

I glanced at the monitors once more to ensure everything was on track. The gravitational generators had stabilized, and the ship was ready for the jump into space.

"Switching to full power," I declared, and Ben nodded, moving the lever forward.

The ship accelerated sharply, and I felt gravity begin to wane. The sound of the engines intensified as we rapidly ascended, leaving Earth's atmosphere behind.

"We're ready for the hyperspace jump in five seconds," Johnny's voice sounded confident, and I felt all the muscles in my body tense in anticipation.

"Three... two... one..." Ben added, his hands confidently controlling the ship.

The world around us warped, like a painting transitioning into a blurred image. Space and time shifted, and we instantly found ourselves in the black void of space, where the light of stars seemed even brighter and closer.

At that moment, the entire bridge was filled with joyful exclamations.

—= At This Very Moment on Earth =—

—= En Sabah Nur =—

The ancient, immortal mutant was not blind and clearly saw that something extraordinary was happening in the astral world.

"Phoenix… This is interesting," En Sabah Nur remarked, a satisfied smirk appearing on his face.

At that moment, his consciousness was already processing what his suit had received. Streams of data flowed through his mind so rapidly that Apocalypse, by this time, was well-versed in this world.

The ancient mutant froze for a moment as he saw someone familiar… Someone who had once fought alongside him in the arena. Someone who had conquered the Goddess of Time.

"And you're here… Reed Richards…"

Apocalypse's satisfied smirk widened. He realized that this era would become one of his favorites.

"I hope you haven't weakened since our last meeting."

En Sabah Nur's pyramid had lost its functionality by this moment, and for that reason, he destroyed it without any extraneous thoughts.

"But before that… We need to gather new Horsemen…" For a moment, the faces of his children and wife, trapped in an eternal battle in the demonic dimension, flashed through En Sabah Nur's consciousness.

—= Jean Grey =—

Everything was engulfed in fire. An all-consuming flame that brought and took lives. The spectacle was mesmerizing and yet terrifying… But the moment this mass of fire took the shape of a fiery bird… the fear Jean Grey felt evaporated as if it had never existed.

"I am PHOENIX!!!"

These words were spoken not so much in the girl's consciousness as in her soul. And these words meant something greater to her.

If someone else had been nearby in open space with Jean Grey, they would have witnessed a majestic and thus beautiful scene. The girl's body was covered in a cloak of fire. Her red hair, which already resembled tongues of flame, now embodied the very essence of the fire of life. Her eyes, which once gleamed emerald, were now milky white.

Perhaps because Jean Grey hadn't trained to master the Phoenix's power, or maybe because she couldn't withstand Sinister's attack, or perhaps because Phoenix was something all-encompassing, none of it mattered. What mattered was the present reality: Jean Grey had been consumed by the Phoenix. And now, this incredibly powerful entity moved in a direction known only to her.

—= Peter Quill =—

Peter Jason Quill, Star-Lord, the scourge of space, was currently occupied with a mission assigned to him by Yondu.

This mission had led Star-Lord to a planet inhabited by extremely ugly lizards. And if we talk about the atmosphere prevailing here… it's better not to think about it at all. Morag was already an extremely lousy place, and there's no need to worsen it with disheartening thoughts.

Peter knew exactly what to do in such moments. His hands quickly found the right song.

"And I miss you…" Peter repeated a verse from the song that was playing in his helmet at that moment.

To this song, Peter playfully entered the temple that opened before him. Numerous traps in the temple were activated for Peter as if they weren't traps at all.

Star-Lord's helmet had a built-in map of the area, where all the upcoming adventures were meticulously marked.

A satisfied smirk appeared on Peter's face. Turning up the volume of the song, Peter headed straight to the center of the temple, where his mission awaited.

Because Peter was inside the temple… he didn't get to see the gigantic fiery bird that flew by nearby.

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Chương 71: Chapter 71

It was impossible not to notice the arrival of the Phoenix. In the empty, colorless expanse of space—devoid not only of air but also of vibrant hues—the giant Phoenix, blazing brighter than the stars, stood out like a torch in the darkness.

After my companions on this journey witnessed this sight firsthand, their faith in my words was reinforced.

"What exactly is the Phoenix?" Betty Ross asked.

Among all of us, Crystal and I held the most information. The Inhumans had some knowledge about the Phoenix, but even that was incomplete. They only knew that this entity possessed incredible power, capable of destroying not just continents but entire planets.

After all, the Phoenix had managed to wreak considerable havoc in the vastness of space, and the Inhumans were part of this cosmic community.

"According to what the Inhumans know, this entity is a natural disaster that poses a danger to all living things," Crystal said. "But that's not all, is it?"

The question was directed at me; apparently, I had gained a certain authority even among the Inhumans.

"Yes," I nodded, and, reaching for the controls using telekinesis, I opened the texts I had managed to reconstruct from memory. "To sorcerers, the Phoenix is known as something even more incredible than a mere elemental fury... I suppose I should start from the very beginning, for only by understanding the origin can we reach the conclusion. It all began millions of years ago..."

—= Some time later =—

The tale of the Phoenix's origin took about an hour, during which I provided a concise summary of what was known to the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, and they knew quite a lot—including that the Phoenix is essentially the embodiment of life throughout the universe and was believed to survive the death of this universe to ignite life in the next.

"And we're supposed to somehow deal with a girl who has wielded such power?" Johnny said, raising an eyebrow.

Johnny's words hung in the air. That very thought was in the mind of every member of my team who had embarked on this arduous journey.

"No, I certainly believe in our abilities, but I'm not arrogant. We're unlikely to defeat an entity like the Phoenix," I shook my head. "We just need to bring Jean Grey back to her senses, and that is much simpler and more realistic."

My words reassured them, but another question arose.

"And how exactly are we planning to bring Jean Grey to her senses?" Ben asked.

In my friend's voice, I distinctly heard notes of concern for the girl's fate.

"My plan, essentially, is to break through the Phoenix's fiery defenses and reach Jean through telepathy."

"…"

A silence ensued that spoke louder than hundreds of words.

"This is just one of your many plans, right?" Bruce asked me hopefully.

"Yes, but there's no point in voicing them," I shook my head.

Confusion appeared on my friends' faces. The question was posed by Betty, who was the least patient among all the women on the team.

"Why?"

My gaze shifted past her, noting what I had sensed five seconds ago.

"Because right now, we're going to have to deal with space pirates," I said.

And at that very moment, the ship's scanners identified the object approaching us. The scanners had not only determined the composition of the ships but, using high-precision sensors, had also discovered that the ship was packed with all kinds of weaponry.

"A pirate ship of the Ravagers is approaching us," announced the ship's AI, who had obtained this information by penetrating the first level of the pirates' ship's defenses.

It couldn't break through the second level because traces of an AI were present on the first.

"Pirates, huh?"

A satisfied grin spread across Johnny's face. He was practically glowing with excitement.

"I've always wanted to try my hand as an adventurer fighting space pirates!" the blond exclaimed. "Reed, will you open the door for me?"

At that very moment, Crystal and Sue exclaimed:

"No!"

"Johnny, have you lost your mind?!"

Using my enhanced vision, I was able to see what this pirate gang consisted of... And for that reason, I said:

"He'll handle it. The pirates don't pose any serious threat to him."

My words calmed only Susan, who looked into my eyes and saw the full confidence that Johnny was capable of dealing with the Ravagers.

However, Crystal wasn't so sure about this, and she declared sharply:

"No, I won't let you risk your life just because you want to!"

Flames flared up on Crystal's hands, but this didn't frighten Johnny. A broad grin played on the blond's face, threatening to turn into a wide smile. Sue's younger brother, unafraid of the flames, embraced the girl and said:

"Everything will be fine. Have I ever lied to you?"

The girl reluctantly shook her head and extinguished the flames.

"How I hate it when your fiery temper speaks," she whispered into Johnny's chest.

The blond just smiled and said:

"That's why you fell in love with me."

As Johnny headed to the airlock, a sweet smile played on Crystal's face.

—= The Ravagers Clan of Charlie-27 =—

Charlie-27 was a seasoned thief with an excellent nose for loot, and at this moment, he sensed that the ship, which didn't resemble any other in the part of the galaxy he knew, was full of treasure that rightfully belonged to him, Charlie-27—and that could mean only one thing...

"Prepare for boarding!"

A satisfied grin appeared on Charlie-27's face at the fact that the ship hadn't shown any sign that they, the Ravagers Clan of Charlie-27, had been detected.

"Captain!" one of his subordinates suddenly exclaimed.

Charlie-27 turned his gaze to the one who had called him. The subordinate's voice was full of surprise, which could mean anything.

"What is it?"

The subordinate just gulped and said:

"The ship ahead of us has opened its doors! And from there emerged a figure engulfed in flames!"

For a moment, Charlie-27 thought it was the Phoenix, whose appearance they had all witnessed, but then he calmed himself when he remembered that the Phoenix was in territory under the control of the Shi'ar Empire.

"What?"

Charlie-27 didn't have time to be surprised before his ship shuddered and, a moment later, was engulfed in an explosion. After which, soothing darkness embraced him.

—= Reed Richards =—

In his form as a fire elemental, Johnny could do without air in space, which allowed him to act so recklessly.

The blond, enveloped in flames, stepped into open space, and because there was no resistance from air, he rammed the Ravagers' ship at incredible speed.

The hole that suddenly appeared was just as quickly sealed by Johnny himself. The blond knew that the pirates needed to be taken alive.

"Time to meet our guests," I said as the ship, now under Johnny's control, began moving in our direction.

The guests who appeared on my ship were quite fascinating, not least because, though anthropomorphic, they differed greatly from Earth's inhabitants.

Their internal organ structure was entirely different. I discovered this the moment they approached within 10 kilometers of the ship. Telekinesis, control over electromagnetic waves, and the Rinnegan allowed me to perform such tasks with incredible ease.

"How did you like the show I put on?" Johnny asked as our guests' ship found itself in the electromagnetic grasp of our vessel.

At that moment, the ship's AI messengers—in the form of repair drones—were preparing the captured ship for sale. All its weapons had been dismantled to facilitate the delivery of the Ravagers.

"Too flashy," Ben declared first, looking not particularly impressed by Johnny's actions.

Johnny's right eyebrow twitched, clearly irritated by Ben's words. But his temper was soothed by Crystal, who playfully smacked him, and as his head dipped a couple of centimeters, she enveloped him in her embrace.

"Not bad at all," I said, giving Johnny and Crystal a moment.

Then my gaze fell upon the scientists who had joined me on this odyssey. Bruce and Betty were keenly studying the engine schematics obtained through scanning.

Sue, using her Tenseigan, was examining the aliens seated on the floor. Apparently, she was studying their anatomy. Her eyes allowed her to see cellular structures, and thanks to her knowledge of biology, it wasn't difficult for her to notice the differences I had observed.

"They're regaining consciousness," Sue said when she noticed the rapid changes in the chemical processes within their bodies.

She shot me a gaze full of suspicion.

Ha, Sue's intuition was exceptional.

"They are ordinary pirates who make their living by robbing ships and planets, often resorting to murder," I said. "Isn't that right, Captain Charlie-27?"

I had thoroughly rummaged through his consciousness, sorting out all the information that might be useful to me. Now I had a grasp of the galactic political landscape—empires, alliances, and dark regions where no one dared to venture. All this settled into my mind as easily as if I had taken up studying another language.

"P-Please, have mercy!" Charlie-27 stammered in Xandarian.

The translators built into my team's suits—which worked by receiving mental signals and interpreting them into a language understandable to humans—performed their task flawlessly. Everyone understood what Charlie-27 had said, just as he understood us.

His words made many of us look at him in bewilderment. None of us had even considered executing him on the spot. Yes, we were all prepared to kill if necessary, but no one particularly wanted to do it without cause.

"We don't intend to kill you, Charlie-27," I said, looking into his eyes.

One of his eyes was cybernetic, and it incessantly told him that I was extremely dangerous. The energy waves emanating from my body frightened him.

"We're simply going to hand you over to the Nova Corps," I said, sensing the emergence of an energy signature concentrated in a humanoid form.

"Detected a body with dimensions..."

The ship's AI processed the information that a representative of the Nova Corps had appeared.

—= Some time later =—

The Nova Corps member turned out to be Semaya, a Centaurian woman from the planet Centauri-IV. At the sight of her, Charlie-27 shuddered, and the face of another member of that very planet—Yondu—surfaced in his consciousness.

The blue skin and distinctive mohawk clearly indicated that Semaya was indeed of the same race as Yondu. However, unlike Yondu—who had recently fallen out of favor among the Ravagers for violating one of their few rules—Semaya was an exemplary member of the Nova Corps. I had gleaned this from what Charlie-27 knew. Semaya's consciousness was protected by her helmet. The protection wasn't particularly superior; I could, if I wished, break it as easily as a child knocks down a house of cards. But doing so wouldn't help keep the number of adversaries manageable. There was no need to create enemies where it could be avoided.

She was extremely polite upon her arrival and remained so throughout our dialogue.

"Thank you for your help," Semaya said, looking at us. "The reward for capturing Charlie-27 and his ship is listed on the card you have."

During the time she spent on our ship, we learned more about the boundless cosmos. Thanks to Semaya, we discovered details unknown even to the Ravager who had spent his entire life in the criminal underbelly of the cosmic community.

The credits circulating in this sector of space were valued quite differently in other parts of the cosmos, but overall, the currency was quite stable.

"I hope we'll continue to do business together," Sue said with a gentle smile.

A satisfied smile appeared on Semaya's face as well. She nodded and departed with her convoy. Thanks to their helmets, members of the Nova Corps could exist in open space without any problems.

"Hmm, she's not so different from humans," Alicia remarked.

Meeting aliens was, for her as well as for us, a fascinating experience. Moreover, what she noted was indeed true.

"Perhaps it's because most races have more or less the same developmental path," I said, though in my thoughts I entertained another idea... I suspected this similarity arose because of the Celestials.

My words had a certain effect. Sue, Bruce, and Betty began to weigh the pros and cons of my theory.

Those among us less versed in science began to grow bored until Ben spoke up:

"So where are we headed next, Stretch?"

"Shall we venture into Shi'ar Empire territory?" Johnny asked with a smile that boded no good.

Johnny's question, which hung in the air for a moment, caused the trio of scientists to halt their discussion of alien anatomy.

Thanks to Semaya, we now had an approximate map of the wormholes that had been laid over the entire existence of the Nova Corps. I was certain that some particularly secret paths were, of course, hidden, but overall, I had no reason to distrust Semaya's information.

And also thanks to Semaya, we had an idea of what the Shi'ar Empire was like—specifically, their intense dislike of the Phoenix. In this aversion, the imperials might commit quite rash acts.

"Sooner or later, we'll have to do it," I said, showing the map where Jean Grey's path was visible. "Because the Phoenix is currently deep within Shi'ar Empire territory."

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