Chapter 329: Phoenix is a Sly Fox

Unexpectedly, one of the three Phoenix Force fragments found its trusted host in such a short time, and the chosen host was none other than Ava—Clark's closest companion.

Clark suddenly felt his previous impressions of the Phoenix were completely overturned.

From the movies and comics, his perception of the Phoenix had always been of a powerful, proud, and aloof entity. But now, it seemed that wasn't quite right.

Where was its pride?

Its coldness?

Its dominance?

Playing such schemes, it didn't have the demeanor expected of a cosmic overlord. It was more like a cunning fox!

Clark's realization that his understanding of multiversal entities might have been too presumptuous, or perhaps biased, was unsettling.

Although in the original films and comics, the Phoenix was always portrayed in a way that suggested overwhelming power that made one naturally think of it as a clear-cut, straightforward cosmic entity—a noble and free-spirited divine presence.

But was that really the case?

While multiversal entities don't often appear in movies, and the Phoenix Force, usually a protagonist's ally, can easily be misconceived, considering the behavior of other cosmic entities might offer some clues.

Take Cthon, Dormammu, or even Mistress Death, one of the top five cosmic entities of the Marvel Universe. Their actions reveal that beings of the multiverse are not as noble and straightforward as one might imagine.

As a peer who often interacts with these entities, is the Phoenix truly an exception?

If you thought so, you'd be greatly mistaken!

Compared to the aforementioned cosmic powerhouses, Phoenix's maneuvers are not only equally cunning but often more sophisticated.

Consider all those who have hosted the Phoenix Force: Jean Grey, Thane. Each one, without exception, was eventually corrupted by the power of the Phoenix, turning darker and more dangerous.

Even Wanda, as a host of Cthon's power, has not been completely consumed, maintaining some semblance of her self-awareness.

Which power is more dangerous? The answer is clear.

Yet, people still feel a great affinity for the Phoenix, even considering it a righteous ally.

As they say, the viewer sees clearly what the player does not.

Even we as an audience might harbor illusions about the Phoenix, let alone the characters within the Marvel universe.

Who is more cunning, Cthon or Phoenix? Isn't it obvious?

Just like this time, the Phoenix pulled a fast one on Clark.

Clark isn't a saint; when dealing with such calamities as the Phoenix, he doesn't usually consider whether its chosen host is innocent.

Thane was originally a good-hearted kid, but after a series of setbacks, plus manipulation by Death and corruption by the Phoenix, didn't he turn into a greater menace than even Thanos?

But now that the new Phoenix host is Ava, Clark cannot simply resolve the problem with brute force.

This isn't just a plot; it's an open strategy!

Even knowing this was the Phoenix's plan all along, Clark is at a loss for what to do.

After all, he is not one to… well, you know.

Now the situation has become complex. To extract the Phoenix Force from Ava without harming her, Clark doesn't have the capability. Perhaps he could seek out the Infinity Witches?

However, given the mysterious and formidable nature of those three witches, Clark prefers to keep his distance.

After examining the effects of the Phoenix Force on Ava, Clark found that, like Wanda, as long as Ava doesn't use the Phoenix Force actively, it shouldn't harm her.

Even if used once or twice, it might be okay.

But controlling such a potent force as the Phoenix is easier said than done, especially for a superhero who often faces danger. For them, the difference in using the Phoenix Force is between zero times and countless times.

Unable to think of a better solution for now, Clark decided to bide his time. He provided Ava with an MP3 player loaded with the "Soothing Heart Mantra" and temporarily put the issue to rest.

Given Ava's lifelong struggle with molecular instability, she should be okay for the time being.

When the "Soothing Heart Mantra" can no longer suppress the Phoenix Force, perhaps a solution will present itself.

After all, the BGM of "Moving Heaven" is fully charged, and with the Reality Stone at hand, Clark can break through his current limits and ascend to a higher realm at any moment.

Perhaps another breakthrough might be just what is needed to reach the threshold of a multiversal entity.

The path ahead seems to pave directly to the peak, and Clark is confident in his rapid progress. Once his powers surpass those of the Phoenix, the remnant force within Ava might just be a minor issue.

Refreshed, Clark and Ava walked out of the room, only to learn that all the weapons needed by the Avengers had been crafted.

Of course, even with Eitri the Dwarf King involved, not every Avenger could be equipped with an artifact like M

jolnir. If such artifacts were mass-producible, each of Asgard's Warriors Three would have wielded one long ago, and Loki wouldn't have spent years wielding mere daggers.

Such artifacts require perfect alignment of time, place, and person, and the user must meet specific conditions. The earlier crafted Bright Silver Hammer and Sky-Stick required significant effort from Clark.

Particularly the Sky-Stick, though less powerful than the former, demanded more from Clark in its creation.

In the end, among the Avengers Clark brought to Nidavellir, only Daisy and Natasha were deemed capable of wielding such star-core artifacts.

After awakening her Eternal genes, Daisy's powers had climbed to near-Skyfather levels. Although likely still not a match for Thanos, she was now in the same league. The reason for Natasha's eligibility wasn't entirely clear to Clark, but in the comics, she had been able to lift Thor's hammer, perhaps indicating an exceptionally strong inner spirit?

For Daisy, wielding any artifact less temperamental than Mjolnir shouldn't pose any issues.

During her time at the Divine Quarry with Clark, Eitri had crafted a pair of armguards for her, using two star cores, primarily to enhance her own abilities.

With her new personalized artifact, Daisy's powers had climbed even further. Shattering a moon-sized satellite with one punch was now trivial for her.

Black Widow's situation was more complicated. As a former spy, her combat style revolved around various modern firearms, which, even if effective, relied heavily on contemporary technology and differed from the miraculous enhancements Clark could apply.

Hence, her weapon had not been finalized until Clark's return. After some discussion, considering her effective use of spear-like weapons in Avengers 1 and 3, her signature weapon was settled as a spear.

With Clark's design and Eitri's craftsmanship, a beautiful white spear with petal-like blades was forged in just a day. Clark, true to form, unilaterally named it "Pear Blossom Rain" without consulting Natasha.

Regardless of how out of place such a name might seem in the Marvel universe, for Clark, if it felt right, that was enough.

Other equipment was also enhanced, like Hawkeye's "Black Blade: Night," which became sharper with the addition of Uru metal. Captain America's shield, too, was recast with Uru, making it even more robust than before.

Now, with a shield in one hand and a hammer in the other, even if Captain America faced Hela, he might manage to hold his ground for an extended period—perhaps even a whole day, if feelings were to develop.

As everyone's gear was upgraded, not just those who had traveled with Clark to Nidavellir but also those who had stayed behind on Earth, the group was fully satisfied and ready to return to their home planet.

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