Volume 9: Fate of Destiny Chapter 28: Show you what real anti-Phoenix tactics are
"7 seconds..."
On the pure white throne of the fighting world, Lord Doom stared at the scene in front of him under his camouflage helmet. In his eyes, he could see the cruel scene of Mason ripped open Bastion Unit-1 with a clean and tidy manner.
At this time, less than 10 seconds had passed since the battle began, which could almost be called an instant kill.
It turns out that not only did Doom miscalculate Mason's abnormal strength during his encounter in the Utopian world, but he also made a terrible mistake in his estimation of his normal combat power.
Of course, this is also related to the fact that the various programs of the Bastion have just been perfected and have not had time to be infused with more combat skills. The robot himself admits that there is at least a three-generation gap between him and Mason's power armor in terms of hardware.
This is equivalent to a level 90 wizard killing a level 60 warrior with one sword, which is not surprising at all.
"It's obvious that all of his combat power is built up by creation, which is obviously contrary to the principle of power that the truly powerful believe in. However, after putting all his energy into 'strange skills', he still created a nearly impossible miracle.
Mason Cooper..."
The God narrowed his eyes.
He waved his hand to disperse the scene in front of him. Although there were still a steady stream of super mutants being awakened in that base, they were not even a "trouble" when facing Mason wearing the main power armor of the universe.
"Is it the miracle brought about by the perfection of manufacturing skills? Your 'special interpretation' of power makes all the methods that can be effective against other strong people be greatly reduced in front of you.
Ultimately, it’s not brute strength you rely on, it’s wisdom.”
The Lord of the Fighting Realm stood up from his throne, walked down the steps and let the white mist in front of him dissipate. In the area under his throne, there were more than a dozen biological capsules placed in various forms.
All models from Bastion II to Bastion XVII were housed there.
As the ultimate creation produced by the Nimrod-class Sentinel mother nest, Bastion naturally possesses an innate hive consciousness. While he is a powerful individual, he also possesses the God-given talent of "unity" and group combat.
Lord Doom was not quite sure in which direction he should develop the Bastion, this "surprise", but after seeing Mason's tactics with his own eyes, he suddenly had a wonderful inspiration.
“It is said that in order to reach the pinnacle in every field of manufacturing, Mason Cooper used his special powers to create not used for combat but for craftsmanship.
This gave him ten times more energy than others to gain external power, the power of wisdom, for himself in endless exploration. "
He reached out his hand, patted the biological cabin of Bastion Unit 2 beside him, and said:
"We can no longer use conventional means to deal with such a person. The ridiculous assassination of Old A has proved this truth. He cannot be defeated by pure force.
Batman taught him to always have a plan for any eventuality, so the only way to stop him is to become him."
Doom lowered his head and looked at the lifelike Bastion robot in the bio-chamber.
He stroked his chin and said
"From now on, you are called Mason Unit 2... Abandon your useless power. I and the Doomsday Star that will eventually shine also need an excellent manufacturing team."
"Click"
The bio-capsule opened outwards the next moment, and Bastion opened his eyes and changed his face, eventually becoming an individual exactly the same as Mason, with only slight differences in the details.
He subconsciously wiped his neck and shoulders.
The experience of being killed and shot in the head by Mason just now seemed to still be there. The only luck was that he didn't feel pain and it wouldn't leave any psychological trauma. He calmly accepted the arrangement that Doom had just made for his future life and asked again:
"But now, are you just going to sit back and watch this assassination attempt fail? If you just let it go, you will be reprimanded by Mr. A, right?"
"I need to have the ability to intervene if I want to."
Lord Doom waved his hand and said casually:
“He has blocked off the world and no longer trusts me, not to mention that I have already given him the most powerful Black Phoenix I can muster, Madeline.
He was the one who messed up a good hand, so what reason did he have to scold me?
Besides…”
The Lord of the Fighting Realm paused and said meaningfully:
"He had to survive the duel with Old K before he could say that stupid 'Mazer Fake' to me? Well, don't pay attention to the thoughts of a loser, Mason No. 2.
Start learning.
I have the entire Council's database and the mind extraction program from the Fox's Nest. You don't have much time left, but I think you should be able to give the terrible Mason a surprise when he knocks on my door with murderous intentions.
We must make good use of the power of wisdom.”
The God shook his head, then looked down at the countdown to zero. After confirming that Madeline's transformation was successfully completed, he completely cut off all communication channels with Old A and others, and took off the badge on his collar that symbolized his identity as "Director of Hope", letting it melt in his palm without any reluctance.
This represented a choice that was not difficult for him to make.
He said:
"I had to create my own monster to fight against the terrifying opponent in the final chapter of the apocalypse... and of course, our amazing Mason.
Tsk, it seems I really pissed him off."
…
"Bang"
The blue liquid in Madeline's biological tank was drained, and Compound No. 5, which was injected into her body in a special way, began to take effect.
The moment the Red Queen's consciousness returned, she could feel the primal call from the Phoenix Force, but the psychic power she inherited from Jean Grey and Emma Frost was also strengthened to the limit, allowing her to maintain her sanity in the face of that chaotic call.
Unfortunately, this didn't last long.
To be precise.
The next second after she opened her eyes, when she saw the person in front of her, Madeline's sanity, which had just been regained, instantly burned again.
"MASON!!!"
She roared and shattered all entities in the laboratory, turning into a fire phoenix that annihilated everything and crashed into the man who was looking at her. The scorching flames covered the power of reality distortion, decomposing everything she could perceive into the most primitive particles.
As Madeline's control ability improved, the potential of the enormous Phoenix force in her body was also developed to a higher level, even forming a sheath-like twisted force field.
No more energy needs to be expended to control it, it's like a wave of annihilation that comes with its own aura of destruction.
But increased power isn't always a good thing, especially when the user lacks the ability to manipulate it.
The emergence of the dangerous annihilation field means that Madeline has officially stepped into the level of "Dark Phoenix" under the impetus of Compound No. 5. This talented player who was once highly expected by Utopia ultimately failed to complete the legendary and became another victim of the horror story about the Dark Phoenix.
Unfortunately, this brutal and dangerous force hit Mason like a tide, just like hitting an invisible wall, and was blocked on the periphery by the silver glow.
The combat AI of the Universe Master Power Armor was sounding an alarm. The energy of the armor was rapidly decreasing, and the X-element attached to the X-metal from the Universe Furnace could not withstand such consumption.
After all, what they are facing is the power of the Phoenix, the power of creation, and the ancient power, which are existences that are no weaker than the World Forger. As lower-level creations of the two, they will naturally suffer losses in the confrontation.
Therefore, pursuing the limit of equipment is really a stupid behavior, because there will always be better things calling ahead.
"Snap"
The sturdy gauntlet waved to push away the waves of annihilation, and colorful streams of light flickered in the phoenix fire, just like a classic re-enactment of the first meeting . Madeline, who had pounced on him, flew back at an even faster speed.
However, she rolled flexibly in the air to stop herself from retreating awkwardly, and at the same time, she used the rolling of flames to create a long skirt that covered her body.
The red handprint on his cheek was fading, but Mason in front of him remained motionless.
There was almost no conversation, and the next wave of Phoenix flames surged up again. This time Mason didn't need to resist, because the greedy little bird had been waiting for this moment.
As the raging flames descended, they were absorbed and swallowed into Fox's sharp beak with a chirping sound. Mason took this opportunity to check the condition of the power armor.
The integrity is still maintained at 100%, but the outer metal has undergone some unpleasant deformation.
This means that the energy level that the Dark Phoenix can manipulate has reached the warning line, and as Madeline's will continues to be eroded by the power of the Phoenix, her energy level will continue to increase.
It's not a gradual improvement. The wild revival of the Phoenix power has never been so affectionate. Her growth will only increase exponentially, and the degree of threat is so unreasonable that it's like a firework that has been ignited.
In a very short period of time, it burns all of its life force, transforming into the brightest starlight in the dark sea of stars, and then disappears in a flash in the extreme burning.
"Perhaps they had anticipated this situation when they sent the gifts? It seems that those bastards were sure that I would encounter an enemy that I could not defeat with my wisdom."
Mason grumbled under his breath.
Seeing that Fox had already started to burp but was still insisting on "eating and drinking to his heart's content", the captain finally used one of the final means of this trip.
"Click"
The black Heart of the Star Emperor is connected to the perfectly hollowed-out groove on the chest of the Power Armor of the Universe for inlaying disposable Infinity Gems. The main processor, which is perfectly designed for any mechanical creation, changes its appearance the moment it touches the power armor, which is also a cosmic artifact, and forms several black slots.
After perfectly simulating the positions of the six gems, Mason's pressure and power armor completed the connection.
The burning of the core fire became more intense, and the supply of unlimited energy replaced the X element infusion used by the power armor for energy. As an armed vehicle, the power armor was also given four enhancements by the Heart of the Star Emperor: [Energy Projection MAX], [Energy Absorption MAX], [Mechanical Repair MAX], and [Superluminal Speed].
This is enough to cause a qualitative change in the main power armor of the universe in an instant.
The only regret is that the [Plane Crossing] ability granted to the vehicle cannot be activated. It seems that Old A must have used some kind of super item to complete the blockade of this planet, and its quality is no lower than that of the Heart of the Star Emperor.
It really took a lot of effort to put him in a cage.
“Get out of the way!”
Mason, who had completed the upgrade of his weapons and protective gear, said something, and Fox, who was already full of Phoenix Fire, turned into fire with a crackling sound and dissipated in the flames.
For the first time in its life, the greedy wild phoenix felt the pain of happiness.
Can’t finish it!
I can’t finish it at all!
The energy burst of the Black Phoenix was far beyond its comprehension, allowing this wild phoenix to truly witness the horror of ultimate life, and of course it also gave it a higher yearning.
Perhaps this is what a Phoenix should look like.
"Bang"
Mason could no longer feel the slightest pressure after being burned by the Phoenix Fire and squeezed by the distortion of reality. Facing the various attacks from Madeline, whose eyes had turned pure black, the energy matrix supported by Mason's power armor was only slightly rippled. Unless the Dark Phoenix could smash the star body of Unicron with one blow, she would have no way to deal with Mason in his current ultimate form.
"I got here 25 seconds ago."
Mason's voice rang out from under the closed X-metal helmet. With a hint of indifference, he said to Madeline, who had spread her phoenix wings and completely destroyed the area connecting the 300-meter underground base to the ground:
"I had a full 25 seconds to kill you before you came to, but I didn't. I didn't want to hide your fate, Madeline.
You are beyond help.
Whether it was the erosion of the Phoenix Force, or the rash acceptance of the enhancement of Compound No. 5, or the fact that you were in an unknown mental state and ran to Doom for help, these actions have pushed you into an irreversible hell.
Even if I don't do anything, you won't be able to leave this planet alive.
But I hope you can be a wise guy..."
"Gurgle!"
Madeleine responded:
"Give me back my Gollum!"
This is her only obsession.
In the Dark Phoenix state, the dark side of her heart was constantly triggered by the Phoenix force and shocked her soul, which was enough to make any strong-willed person go crazy in an instant, but she miraculously did not completely sink into the desire for destruction and still roared her bestie's name.
She once said that he was her only friend.
Now it seems that she was not lying.
"I'd like to tell you that Gollum is on his way, but I guess you can't listen right now."
Mason jumped up from the ground and jumped in front of Madeline in the silver light. He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to reappear from the particle transfer.
This close contact with the Dark Phoenix caused cracks to appear in the energy matrix. Although it was repaired in the next second, it was enough to prove that Madeline's world-destroying energy level was still increasing.
According to the captain's estimation, it might take Madeline less than five minutes to decompose this world in this state.
The Red Queen is struggling.
It was almost exactly the same as the last time.
However, this time Merlin did not crush her neck again. Under the full-covering helmet made of X-metal, the captain looked at the poor man who was falling towards self-destruction with a look of pity.
Frankly speaking, his feelings for Madeline were not particularly special.
Rather than admitting that she was his sister, it was the images that the Supreme Professor showed him before his death that made Mason's heart fluctuate.
It was compassion and empathy for the cruelty suffered by a little girl, but it was a long way from generating emotions, not to mention that Mason's standards for "family" were always strict.
Even for Emma, it took a long time to slowly enter Mason's heart.
To put it more cruelly, the brother that Madeline wanted was long gone, and what existed in the body was just an alien soul. The captain was not satisfied with the bad impression that Madeline's first few meetings with Mason left on him.
If he really had a sister like this, Mason would definitely examine whether there was something wrong with his own way of education.
“Emma…”
Mason restrained the Dark Phoenix, whose energy level was still increasing, and said in his armor:
"If you want to do something, hurry up. Even the Universe Master Armor in this form can't stand the increasingly crazy Black Phoenix.
I don't want to ask you how long it will take you to save your daughter, but I can only give you a few minutes.
Do what you can to bring her back and fulfill your responsibilities as a mother."
"But I decided to put this repeater in this suit of armor in order to help you kill her, Mason."
The White Queen explains:
"I don't want to be a hindrance to you, son... If I had to choose between the two of you, I would definitely choose..."
"But how could I allow my mother to make such a terrible decision?"
The captain shook his head and said:
"Forcing you to kill one child to protect another, I can't do such a tragedy. I'm not a bastard like Old A.
Come on, Emma, don't waste your time."
"Then trap her!"
The White Queen activated the brainwave enhancer in the Osborne Tower and took a deep breath, saying:
"Leave it to me, son. Let me end this. I won't let the best person in the world get his hands stained with blood again."
