Chapter 89

Ororo and Jean Grey sprinted towards the higher levels of the iron tower. The power displayed by Magneto had already surpassed their imagination, and because of this, they were filled with worry for Zhou Yi.

Magneto was not a man of mercy. Many years ago, he even had the idea of controlling nuclear weapons to destroy all of human society, returning humans and mutants to the most primitive state of competition. If this idea had come true, the number of casualties would have been unimaginable. Fortunately, Professor Charles stopped his mad idea.

A person who could come up with such an idea would be merciless to their enemies, a fact that required no thought. Especially for someone like Zhou Yi, who challenged Magneto's authority from a human standpoint, death was the most likely outcome according to Magneto's usual behavior.

The two ran rapidly, their mutant physiques giving them physical abilities far beyond those of ordinary people. A 300-meter tower was no challenge for them. Soon, they reached the middle of the tower.

Just as they were about to continue, a gunshot rang out. Jean Grey instinctively opened a protective shield. Indeed, a high-speed bullet appeared on the telekinetic shield, the conical bullet head futilely spinning, and after a moment, it fell to the ground due to the loss of kinetic energy.

"Wow, wow! Look who's here, isn't this the beautiful Jean Grey? I think this isn't our first meeting!" A hoarse female voice came from the layers of intersecting steel supports. Ororo and Jean quickly followed the sound and immediately found a blue figure there.

A blue, seductive figure, like a witch, squatted in a corner of the steel tower, holding a sniper rifle and showing a mocking smile to the two.

Jean Grey's eyes met the gaze of Mystique, and she immediately noticed the deep provocation in her eyes.

"Ororo, you go up first. I'll deal with this person and catch up with you." Jean Grey took a deep breath and said to Ororo.

"That's right, you can easily bypass me, but do you think Eric's subordinates are just the beast below and me? There are people waiting for you above. My little chocolate!" Mystique nimbly leaped between the steel structures, appearing on a nearby passage in just a few steps.

However, she made a sidestepping motion, opening part of the passage. Clearly, as she said, she didn't mind Ororo passing through her blockade.

Ororo's gaze moved back and forth between Jean Grey and Mystique, and finally, she gritted her teeth and rushed upward. Magneto's subordinates would not openly defy his orders, meaning that as mutants, even if they were enemies, there would be no danger to their lives. At most, they would suffer some hardship. So, after weighing her options, she resolutely chose to rush upward.

Watching Ororo leave, Jean Grey focused all her attention on Mystique. She was one of the professor's most outstanding students and had heard of Mystique. From a purely ability standpoint, she believed the person in front of her was no match for her.

"Let me give you a piece of advice, you're not my match. So, it's best to get out of my way honestly!" Jean Grey threatened mildly, but Mystique's expression changed upon hearing her threat.

"Is that so? My beautiful Jean, do you really think that?"

A bolt of lightning suddenly struck a nearby police car. The powerful electric field instantly caused a massive explosion, turning the entire police car into a huge burning fireball. Although there was no one in the police car, it still caused a great commotion.

This scene made Jean Grey even more anxious. She didn't know how much pressure Zhou Yi, facing Magneto, was under, but she knew it was far greater than that of the ignorant humans on the ground. Therefore, her desire to rush to his side became even more urgent. Even if she could only share a part of the pressure, it would be enough to calm her heart.

To achieve this, she decided to end the fight quickly. Her telekinesis directly gripped Mystique's throat, intending to quickly incapacitate this enemy.

However, Mystique's reaction was completely unexpected. Her body changed instantly, and soon a familiar figure appeared in front of her.

"Stop, Jean! It's me!" A man with brown hair, a handsome face with a melancholic expression, and a prominent red quartz glasses called out to Jean Grey.

"Scott!" Seeing the familiar figure struggling in her telekinetic grip and calling her name, Jean Grey's hand trembled, and the instability in her mind immediately affected her ability.

Feeling the force on his neck weakening, Scott struggled and broke free from Jean Grey's restraint. He then walked towards Jean Grey, touching his neck, and spoke with a deep, heart-wrenching and desperate tone.

"Jean, why? Why are you doing this to me for that guy? Have you forgotten everything between us? Why, why are you betraying me!"

Although she knew the Scott in front of her was the famous Mystique in disguise, Jean Grey still couldn't help but take a step back, defending herself.

"No, Scott. I haven't betrayed you. Zhou Yi and I are just friends."

"Friends?" Scott's face showed a mocking smile, and his appearance changed again. This time, he transformed into Zhou Yi's appearance.

"Jean, you say we're just friends? Isn't that too heartbreaking? I gave you my whole heart, and you repay me like this?"

"Yi?" Jean Grey's mind became even more confused, and she shook her head helplessly, not knowing what to say.

"So, you're a bad woman, my dear Jean!" The Mystique disguised as Zhou Yi walked directly to Jean Grey and suddenly punched her in the stomach.

Jean immediately fell to the ground, the pain in her stomach causing her to curl up involuntarily. Mystique then returned to her original form and stepped on her face. She looked at the woman whose face was twisted with confusion and pain and grinned.

"Do you know why I know about your relationship with these two men? That night, I disguised myself as you and sneaked into the hotel. Then I met that cute little man. I originally intended to pass through, but that cute little man was too proactive."

At this point, her voice became more excited.

"The passion that could burn everything almost melted me. I never thought he would have such passion and skill. Although it was uncomfortable to be in your form, I have to admit, it was a pleasant and unforgettable night. Such a cute little man, how could you let him fall into your hands, don't you think?"

Mystique's laughter reached Jean Grey's ears, and the sound not only grated on her but also ignited the rationality in her heart. It was as if she heard another self screaming and roaring. She could even feel how angry she was.

It was as if her private possession had been touched by someone else, and the extreme jealousy and hatred were almost tearing her apart. She felt that her other side was beginning to awaken.

Jean Grey herself was an extremely powerful mutant, with a personality inside her that was even more powerful than Magneto and Charles. The formation of this personality seemed to be related to a great power that originated at the beginning of the universe, which also made her power uncontrollable. At least, it was uncontrollable now.

To prevent her power from going out of control, Professor Charles placed a mental cage in her mind, where a being called the Dark Phoenix was imprisoned. She was Jean Grey's truest and most desire-driven side. If the Jean Grey who usually appeared was a calm and rational existence, then the Dark Phoenix was a completely instinctual and emotional one.

The Dark Phoenix had been suppressed deep in Jean Grey's heart for years, representing her sealed emotions and power. Professor Charles originally hoped to use time to help Jean Grey grow to the point where she could accept this power, but over time, Jean Grey and the Dark Phoenix had taken a path he did not want to see.

The Dark Phoenix, like Jean Grey, had been growing. She absorbed Jean Grey's emotions and used their power to repeatedly attack the seal. She always longed to replace the rational Jean Grey and become the only existence. This was something the professor absolutely did not want to see.

He could only strengthen the seal with his mental power, but the results were always limited. Emotions were something humans could not control, and Jean Grey's complex emotions had severely damaged her defenses.

It was only a matter of time before the Dark Phoenix appeared. What Professor Charles did was merely to extend this time as much as possible.

This was a very secret secret, known to only three people in the world. Besides Zhou Yi, who had some knowledge from his past life, only Professor Charles, who built the mental cage, and Magneto Eric knew about the existence inside Jean Grey's body. As for Mystique, she was completely unaware.

If she knew the truth, she would never challenge Jean Grey's psyche in this way. Beneath that fragile psyche was a presence more terrifying than a volcanic eruption. Provoking her was like lighting a cigarette in a mountain of explosives. However, she knew nothing about all this.

Jean Grey's lifeless eyes began to glow with a dark red light, a flame-like color that had the power to captivate the heart just by looking at it. As this light began to flow, flames began to rise from Jean Grey's body.

These were not real flames, for although they had the appearance of fire, they lacked the temperature and burning properties of fire. However, in terms of destructiveness, they were no less powerful. Under the dark red flames, all matter that came into contact with them was easily torn apart and decomposed, even the hard steel was no exception. Whether it was the ground or the tower's supports, they turned into dust-like particles upon contact and began to slowly revolve around the source of the destruction, like a ring of dust orbiting a planet.

The Mystique who had been relieved a moment ago now showed a look of horror, for she had already seen the gaze of the woman floating in the air, surrounded by dark red flames.

It was filled with naked anger and killing intent.

At this moment, Mystique realized that she had touched a dangerous presence that should not have been touched. She began to regret it, but regret was useless. To save herself, she could only try to make up for it with her actions.