Chapter 96: Pulling a Woman from a Good Family into the Deep
"I don't want to have the Phoenix Force at all!" Jean Grey's tears fell like pearls.
"This fate is beyond your control," Ethan Hayes sighed inwardly. It seemed that if he wanted to complete the final mission of Destined Encounter, it would not rest upon Jean Grey.
"Destiny… what is destiny? Since I was young, I've been regarded as a devil. No one ever treated me with normalcy. Now, I've finally found a home, but I killed my lover and my teacher. Is that destiny?" Jean was overwhelmed, her emotions stirring the Phoenix Force within her, ready to break free.
"You have the professor," Ethan's deep voice resonated in her ears.
"I know, I know," she replied, trying to suppress her inner turmoil.
"The Phoenix Force chose you. It didn't destroy you; it made you its carrier. This is fate, not coincidence. Your spiritual power is what allows your soul to merge with the Phoenix Force. The Phoenix Force is you, and you are the Phoenix. So, don't resist your power," Ethan's voice was calm and penetrated Jean's soul.
"You are strong. Even if the Phoenix Force were to escape, they might not be able to kill you. You have a power that even the Phoenix fears." Jean raised her head, her eyes wet and vulnerable, but Ethan's wariness toward the Phoenix never faded.
"Do you know who I really am?" Ethan leaned back on the sofa, crossing his legs, his relaxed posture contrasting with the powerful entity before him.
"Who are you?" Jean asked, her curiosity piqued as she calmed slightly, her despair softened by the stability Ethan exuded.
"My name is Ethan Hayes. I graduated this year. Among other things, I froze Kingpin, sealed the Vatican, and destroyed a fleet of aircraft carriers. Yes, I'm the Ice Demon."
Jean listened, surprisingly unruffled by his revelations, finding herself at ease in his presence as if they were kindred spirits.
"Why freeze the Vatican?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"They tried to kill me. So, to keep myself safe, I sent them to meet their God. Not that they would thank me," Ethan grinned, his expression cold.
"That's it?"
"Yes, that's it."
"Still… killing is wrong."
"People live for themselves, not for others. Carrying that burden is exhausting," he shrugged.
"You don't owe the professor—because you saved him from Apocalypse. And you don't owe Cyclops; what you did wasn't by your own will," Ethan reassured her.
"Really?" Jean's expression softened, hope rekindling in her heart.
"Really." Ethan stood up, extending a hand toward her.
Jean's gaze was distant, but a glimmer of hope shone through her despair. She felt like she had been trapped in an endless void, with only the Phoenix Force—a force that longed to devour her—by her side. But Ethan's outstretched hand broke through her darkness like the first light of dawn.
She knew she had let down Professor X, but deep down, she felt conflicted about him. Her true self, she realized, was not the submissive persona the professor had encouraged. Like the Phoenix, she was wild and unrestrained, meant to soar across the universe.
"Let's go for a walk," Ethan said, smiling.
Jean accepted his hand, sensing no malice in the Ice Demon. She had heard of his exploits, and a part of her even admired his audacity. Where others saw cruelty, she saw courage—the courage to defy the world. It was a strength she lacked but secretly envied.
They began to walk through the air, sustained by their psychokinetic powers. Soon, they reached the coast, where an ice ship surfaced from the sea, awaiting them. Jean was intrigued.
"Is this one of your powers? These ice formations are harder than steel. But how do you control both ice and fire?"
"When power is truly a part of your soul and will, the incompatibility of ice and fire becomes irrelevant. Master your powers, and they'll become as natural as drinking water," Ethan explained, summoning waves to push the ice ship forward.
After three hours, they arrived in Africa. Ethan led Jean through the continent, where she witnessed poverty, hunger, and violence on a scale she had never imagined. The sight humbled her, putting her own struggles into perspective.
"With your power, you can completely control your life. You don't need anyone's permission or guidance," Ethan said, watching her closely. "You can help those in need, become their god, or choose to be the devil in others' eyes."
They stood in a war-torn region, where warlords were massacring helpless tribes. Ethan summoned frost that solidified the scorched earth, stopping the violence. The tribe was saved, and the warlords, never knowing who they had crossed, were struck down.
Countless people prostrated before Ethan, treating him as a god. Ethan turned to Jean. "Why care what others think? If you don't like being called a devil, why not be a god to some?"
Jean's resolve wavered as Ethan's words broke through the barriers she had erected within her heart.
"To these people, I'm a god. Why shouldn't you see yourself the same way?"
Jean pondered his words, realizing how her life had been bound by others' expectations. Now, standing in the poorest and most chaotic parts of the world, she began to understand her power's potential.
"Maybe… I should listen to you," she murmured.
"No, don't listen to me. Listen to yourself. Your biggest issue is resisting who you are," Ethan replied, his voice steady.
Jean looked up at him, her heart lighter. "Ice Demon, you're quite persuasive. I thought devils only deceived. Yet, I feel like you're right."
Jean even smiled, finally clearing the haze that had clouded her mind. "So, how many women have you used these words on?"
Ethan chuckled. "Oh, Raven is now my company's vice president. She's quite happy."
"Raven? Didn't she always believe Erik was the Mutants' savior? Why follow you?"
"Erik is too extreme and self-centered. I offer her genuine trust, and she trusts me in return," he replied, looking at her sincerely.
Jean sensed his honesty, a rare trait among those she had met before. "You seem to have many stories, none of them simple."
"Haha, I just follow my heart and do what I enjoy. I've never forced anyone. They've all made their own choices."
"So, if you believe in fairness, what price do I owe you for saving me?" Jean asked, her tone playful yet serious.
"There's no debt between us. But if you want to repay me, move forward from this chapter," Ethan extended his hand again.
Jean took his hand without hesitation, her trust in him renewed. "You don't deserve to be called a devil."
"Haha, for my enemies, I certainly am a devil," he replied, laughing. He led her to the ice ship and brought them back to his villa.
Back at the villa, Jean looked around, adjusting to the new surroundings. "The Wizel School for Gifted Youth was my only home. New York is unfamiliar to me," she confessed.
"Then stay here. This villa is one of my favorites," Ethan replied, treating her as an old friend.
"Raven would be shocked to see me here," she mused, regaining some of her old elegance.
"You've returned from the dead. Rest up. If you ever need anything, reach out. For now, my mind is open to you," he winked, making her laugh.
As dinner approached, Ethan took off his suit jacket. "Wait here. I'm going fishing," he said, stepping outside.
Jean watched, amused, as he soared into the sky, diving into the sea to catch a massive haul.
"That's hardly fair. Fish don't have superpowers," Jean chuckled, her laughter innocent and pure.
Ethan laughed heartily. "Falling into our stomachs is the fish's blessing!"
For the first time in a long while, Jean felt at peace, realizing that perhaps her journey was just beginning.
READ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD OF EVERYONE FOR ONLY $7!
LINK: patr eon.com/SenatusPopulus
ALSO CHECK MY OTHER PROJECTS!
Naruto: Masters of Strategy?