Volume 9: Fate of Destiny Chapter 32 My daughter, your whole life has been a joke...
On the planet that produces a lot of Compound No. 5, in the huge crater that was still being destroyed due to the out-of-control Phoenix Force, Mason, standing in the dark Phoenix flames, looked at his hands.
The body that had been flickering as if it was running out of energy was now regaining stability, and the most dangerous part of the vicious time attack had passed.
Apparently the Speedsters protected him on the battlefield in the past, making Kang the Conqueror's fateful surprise attack on him fail.
Another death trap set by Old A was cracked. The stability of the past, like the foundation of a building, firmly and silently supported the captain in pushing his story to the end at this moment.
And before him, Madeline's burning body was still bound tightly.
The pair of eyes that were flickering with fire reflected chaotic light. With the help of the brain wave enhancer repeater inside the Master Power Armor of the Universe, White Queen Emma had entered Madeline's chaotic mind at this moment.
This is not good news.
Because after losing Madeline's will, the chaotic power of the Dark Phoenix is no longer under control. It is gradually controlling this body that fits it perfectly and trying to pull Madeline out of the entanglement network woven by the psychic, so as to complete the final arrival of the Dark Phoenix in this world.
"Emma, hurry up."
Mason glanced at the decreasing shield value of the MAX-level energy matrix applied by the main processor of the Star Emperor's Heart to the Main Power Armor of the Universe, estimated the consumption time, and urged.
"I've found her!"
The White Queen responded:
"The speed of time in the spiritual world is much slower than that in the outside world. This family conflict that has troubled you for a long time should be resolved today. I will help you solve it, son."
“I think you are thinking of a rather dangerous plan now, but it’s up to you. I will continue to suppress the Dark Phoenix, but you must regain your consciousness in three minutes.
Its energy level has been increased to a level that cannot be stopped, enough to tear the world apart and send Ciri and I to safety.
Old A's trap is over!"
Mason gave a reminder, and the Black Phoenix that was bound in his hands seemed to have sensed the crisis of being used.
In her rage, she launched a more determined and frantic attack. The dark Phoenix fire transformed into swirling dark spots of light. That was energy that had entered an ionized state, and every drop was enough to flatten a city.
All of them were smashed onto Mason in the nearly zero-range bombing. The attack further increased the load on the Star Emperor's Heart processor installed in the power plant, and even the core spark beat more violently.
The sneaky Wild Phoenix seemed to have foreseen that the tragic life of the Dark Phoenix was about to end. After forcing the cunning gods to retreat in the battle on the periphery, it turned around and rushed into the devastating annihilation field. In a rather cunning manner, it hid in Mason's power armor protection matrix, and got as close to Madeline as possible to continue devouring the flames burning on her body.
This kind of legitimate opportunity to have a snack is rare. Although I am already very full, if I don’t seize the time to eat a little more, I’m afraid I won’t have the chance again in the future.
"Ciri, get Gollum ready."
Mason reminded the hunter in the communication that had been disturbed. Ciri asked in surprise in the fierce battle:
"What are you going to do? Throw her next to Madeline? This level of matter annihilation will melt Gollum in an instant! Even Kryptonians can't withstand such an environment."
"No."
The captain opened the storage compartment of the Master of the Universe's Power Armor, held something in his hand, stared at the pair of chaotic burning eyes in front of him, and reached out to hold the Black Phoenix's chin.
When the latter opened her mouth and spewed out the flame of annihilation, he stuffed the object in his hand into her mouth and forced her to swallow it.
He corrected:
"I mean, let Gollum prepare to say goodbye to her friends. Even life as a queen should have a little more ceremony, right?"
…
"I have imagined what the Dark Phoenix's spiritual world is like, but isn't this a bit too exaggerated?"
The White Queen frowned the moment she entered Madeline's mind, and when the figure woven by her enhanced psychic power appeared, Emma looked up at the burning world in front of her.
In the reflection of the flames in the sky, one can vaguely see the scene of another world rushing towards them.
The surroundings should have been a full picture of a city block, but now it had been reduced to desolate ruins in the apocalyptic scene of blazing flames. Only a white house in front of him remained intact.
"She's hiding in there."
Emma moved her fingers and said softly:
"The power of the Dark Phoenix acts on both matter and consciousness, destroying her sanity while destroying the outside world. This is the only fragment of her memory that is still intact, and it is a moment of great significance to her.
I guess it’s the scene where Madeline’s foster world is destroyed by impact.
The child's life also took a fork in the road at this time. The day before, she was a carefree little girl, and the next day she would be sent to utopia to face the darkest moment of her life.
This is her destiny...
Just like that night in Gotham when my Mason got hit by that damn bottle, he always tells me that unfortunate story.
Emma, wearing the classic White Queen uniform, walked forward. The last sanity hiding place left for Madeline did not have much obstruction in front of her. After pushing open the door, she could see the entire house.
The simple, everyday yet warm interior structure forms a sharp contrast with the earth-shattering outside world, as if two completely different destinies were shaped by the wall.
She locked herself up here, like it was a "doomsday shelter" for herself.
"Madeline? Are you there?"
Emma called out.
Then the door was pushed open, and the pale Red Queen appeared before her. She was not as fierce and chaotic as the outside world, but the light flashing in her eyes meant that she had guessed her own ending.
"Mason, let her listen."
The White Queen called out, and the captain of the outside world stretched out his hand and flicked it lightly beside him, turning on the playback device of the main power armor of the outside universe, and played the words that the bastion had said before into Madeline's mind, clearly describing the Supreme Beast's desperate plan before his death and Doom's arrangement for Madeline without any embellishment.
But the Red Queen's expression did not change much.
She is not a fool.
In fact, when she absorbed the four Phoenix fragments and faced the Supreme Professor, she already knew that she could not escape the cruel future of becoming the Dark Phoenix.
"Let Golu go! I've come this far only for her, my only friend..."
She did not hide anything, and tried to maintain her dignity and calmness as she said to Emma:
"If your son hadn't interfered that day, I would have been buried with Utopia. Lingdan had the Cradle of Utopia in his mind, and I am a mutant who can manipulate minds.
I knew the truth when I killed him.
I was going to die there!
I died together with the professor in the name of revenge. I knew that my people would eventually be free, which made me no longer worry about the future.
Mason, he shouldn't have gotten involved."
"That's not just my son, that's your brother too. Besides, if that's your complete revenge plan then it's stupid! How could I give birth to such a stupid daughter like you?"
The White Queen shook her head and said:
"You pushed yourself to this point after a series of wrong decisions. Mason did nothing wrong in this matter. I guess you regretted it when Compound No. 5 was injected into your body.
It never took strength to fight the Phoenix Force, but when your brother wanted to help you at my unreasonable request, you turned to the wrong person for help.
But... I'm not here to argue with you about this."
Emma looked at Madeline.
This was the first time she had truly seen this girl who had the same genes as her. Judging from the relationship between Mason and her, there was no doubt that Madeline in front of her was her daughter.
“Your best friend Gollum is outside. Mason brought her here with him. Her only request in choosing to serve your brother was to save you.
You are lucky in this respect.
Your life may be bleak, but your friendship is real.
I'm here to help you. Your brother is willing to give you one last chance. I can remotely back up your consciousness to the brain wave enhancement machine.
That is if you are willing to do so.”
The White Queen looked at the pale girl in front of her. She stepped forward and said:
"This is where you lost your parents, right?"
“I tried my best to save them, to save the community I grew up in, but I couldn’t, and my powers awakened under the pressure of the apocalypse.
But that is not the power that can change everything.”
Madeline had no ill will towards Emma, she knew the relationship between her and this woman.
But just like when Mason first met Emma, a genetic or blood connection alone was not enough for two strangers to become relatives or form a family.
She looked around the room with mixed feelings, and said to Emma in this place where memories were made:
“This is where light ends and darkness begins. After I gained the power of the Phoenix, I once wanted to send myself back here, to keep the only beauty that had disappeared in my short and terrible life.
But I can't do it.
I can't hide myself in my own memories and become a coward. After they sent me to the First Sequence of Conquerors, my fellow countrymen who had the same experience as me needed me more.
They need a leader.
They chose me.
I try my best to do my best and hope that my tragedy will not happen to other compatriots.
But unfortunately, I don't have Mason's wisdom and his luck. I can't make those wonderful plans, nor do I have any way to fight against those malicious people, nor do I have an ideal grand enough to hope to reverse the dark ages.
I admit that I am a loser.
I failed miserably in my attempts to be a leader, a friend, or even a good person.
I really wanted to ask him to stand beside me, Mason, the son who made you proud. I could see from your eyes that he was the perfect son in your heart.
After learning his story and what he had been through, I knew Mason was the man his fellow Americans needed.”
Madeline, who had stripped off all external identities and returned to her pure self, no longer denied her mistakes, perhaps because Mason's absence allowed her to be more honest.
She turned her head to look at Emma and said in a hoarse voice:
"When I first met him, everything I said to him was true...Except for the mind control part , I had no other friends besides Gollum, and it was difficult for me to learn how to express kindness properly in the environment I grew up in.
I'm sorry I ever wanted to kill your son. I always have a hard time controlling my emotions when the power of the Phoenix is in effect.
But I think there is no point in talking about this now, my story is about to end and Mason has chosen an ending for me.
I had no choice but to accept it.
I appreciate your kindness.
Even after I hurt your family, you were still willing to help me.
But it's no longer necessary.
The addition of Compound No. 5 has allowed the Phoenix Force to merge more deeply with me. The residence you see here is my last bit of sanity, and it has been locked by the Dark Phoenix.
I can't run away.
It won't allow me to leave. It needs a host to unleash its full destructive power.
If you want to help me, kill me."
Emma was silent for a moment, then she said:
"I thought it would be difficult to convince you, but I didn't expect that you actually knew everything. The real you is really rational and sober. If you had been so frank with your brother when you first met, things might not have come to this.
But you got one thing wrong.
Besides Gollum, you are not without friends. Although the mutants of the first sequence did not talk to Mason in advance, I guessed what they were thinking.
At this very moment, they were fighting in hell.
The elite troops seem to be marching together for a great goal called the future, but with their decisive actions, they also hope to use this sacrifice to ask Mason to spare you.
Madeline, you have done a great job as a leader because your protection and guidance have made them willing to obey you and make sacrifices to save you.
They remember you and still call you the Commander-in-Chief.
What you have done for your people will not be forgotten.
Even if Mason was put in your position, he would not necessarily do better than you. That kind of collective hatred will not be diluted or abandoned because of one or two people.
Professor Supreme's choice at the last moment proved that he also knew that only the fall of Utopia could ease the hatred of the past.
You did nothing wrong in this matter.
Your only mistake is that you should trust your family more. He has been trying to get close to you, but you have been stubbornly pushing him away, perhaps because he failed to save you when you needed him most like he saved others.
But you know it's not his fault."
She took a step forward, and as she got closer to Madeline she could feel the heart-searing power emanating from this will, it was the erosion of the Black Phoenix, but Emma did not retreat.
As Madeleine looked at her hesitantly, she reached out and took the girl's cold hand, and said:
“This is our first meeting and also our last.
I don't want Mason to execute you with his own hands. That would have an irreversible impact on his sentimental heart, like a knife stabbing into his heart. That is mutual harm that should not exist between family members.
I will help you end this pain of loneliness, my daughter, and allow you to die as Madeline Prior, but perhaps before you go you should see your friends again.
Sorry, kid.
I wasn't able to be with you when you needed me the most.
But I promise, I will stay here with you until the end. You have done a lot of things wrong, but maybe in the last moments, you can tell Mason what you want to tell him in person.
Go ahead. At this point, there is no need to hide your vulnerability anymore. He won't laugh at you.
Go ahead, I will be here to protect your 'sanctuary' until you return."
Emma's words made Madeline silent for a few seconds, then she sighed and said to the lady in front of her:
"Thank you, Emma, you are a good person."
"I'm not, at least not before I met Mason."
Emma smiled, endured the burning of the Dark Phoenix, and reached out to touch Madeline's hair.
She kissed her daughter on the forehead, then reached out and pushed, forcibly tearing open the Dark Phoenix's power constraints in the burst of mental power from the brain wave enhancer, allowing Madeline's last bit of sanity to return to her body.
At the same time, outside, Mason also loosened his hand. He watched as the annihilation energy that was causing all things to wither in front of him was suppressed and recycled into Madeline's body.
The fire in those chaotic eyes also went out at this moment, and she looked at Mason, who had opened his visor, with a very complicated look.
The gray-blue lips moved and whispered:
"I'm sorry, Mason, my presence must be bothering you... I'm sorry."
"You should tell her."
Mason pointed behind him, and when Madeline turned around, she saw Ciri and Gollum flashing towards her.
He landed in the suspended space amidst the remnants of dangerous power, and the Iron-Blooded Fallen One took off his visor, revealing his worry and concern on his hideous face.
"Gulu... (Little girl, are you okay?)"
She shouted, and the next moment, Madeline threw herself into Gollum's arms with red eyes, and said in a crying voice:
"It hurts... it hurts so much, grunt."
The Queen hugged her trembling friend tightly, stroked her shoulders, and said in a gentle voice that shouldn't belong to an Iron-blooded Warrior:
"Gulu Gulu (It's okay, it's okay, I'm coming.)"
