"I never wanted the Phoenix Force!!!"
Jean Grey's tears fell like pearls.
"Fate doesn't ask for permission," Vincent sighed internally.
It seems Jean isn't the target for the final 'One Marsh Fragrance' harem quest. She's too... heavy.
"Fate? What fate? Since I was a child, I was treated like a monster. I finally found a home, and I killed my lover. I killed my teacher. Tell me, is this fate?"
Jean was emotional. The Phoenix Force surged with her grief, trying to break its cage.
"You have Xavier's psychic cage and the Ancient One's magic seal inside you. If the Phoenix breaks free again, fueled by your rage, it will eat the Earth."
Vincent's low voice anchored her.
"I know. I know," Jean sobbed, lowering her head, fighting to suppress the chaos inside.
"The Phoenix chose you. It didn't destroy you; it made you its host. That's not a coincidence. Your psychic power is the only thing strong enough to bind with it. You are the Phoenix now. Stop resisting your own power."
Vincent's voice carried a hypnotic magic, piercing her defenses.
"You are strong," Jean looked up, tear-stained and beautiful. "Even if the Phoenix breaks loose, I don't think it can kill you. You have a power... a despair... that even the Phoenix fears."
Vincent remained vigilant.
"Do you know who I really am?" Vincent sat opposite her, relaxed, crossing his legs.
If Apocalypse was a god, Jean Grey was the entity that gods feared.
Even a fragment of the Phoenix Force was more terrifying than an Infinity Stone.
"Who are you?" Jean asked, her emotions stabilizing.
"I'm Vincent Hall. Just graduated. Oh, and I did some cool stuff. I froze the Kingpin. I sealed the Vatican in ice. I destroyed a US Carrier Strike Group."
"Yes. I'm the one they call the Ice Demon."
Jean didn't recoil. Instead, she relaxed. Talking to another "monster" felt... right.
"Why did you freeze the Vatican?"
"They wanted to kill me. To stay safe, I sent them to heaven to meet their God. I doubt they thanked me."
Vincent grinned. It was a cold smile.
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"But killing is wrong."
"Living for others is tiring, Jean. You don't owe the Professor anything. You don't owe Scott anything. You killed them because you weren't in control. It wasn't your will."
Jean looked lost. "Really?"
"Really."
Vincent stood up and offered his hand.
Jean saw a glimmer of light in her darkness. For so long, she had been trapped in the void with the Phoenix, waiting to be consumed.
She felt guilty about Charles. But deep down... she hated how he suppressed her true nature. Her nature was like the Phoenix—free, boundless.
She instinctively grabbed Vincent's hand.
"Come. Let's take a walk."
They levitated, flying over the ocean.
Vincent summoned an ice boat.
"Is this your power? This ice is harder than steel. How do you master Ice and Fire?" Jean asked, amazed.
"When power becomes part of your soul, contradictions like 'Fire and Ice don't mix' are just old wives' tales. I dominate my power."
Vincent waved his hand. A massive wave pushed the boat forward.
Three Hours Later. Africa.
They arrived at a war-torn coast. Vincent didn't let her speak. He dragged her into the heart of the conflict.
Poverty. Slaughter. Starvation.
Jean's heart ached.
Compared to this, her "tragic fate" seemed trivial. She had never starved. She had lived in luxury.
"You have the power of a god, Jean. You don't need to depend on anyone. You can be unique. You can be a savior, or a demon."
Vincent smiled.
Ahead, a warlord was massacring a primitive tribe.
SNAP.
The scorching earth froze instantly.
The warlord and his men turned into ice statues. They died without knowing who killed them.
The tribe fell to their knees, worshiping Vincent. Their eyes were filled with fanaticism.
"Why care what people think? If you hate being called a demon... why not be a god to these people?"
Vincent pointed at the tribe.
"Your heart is bound by rules set by weak men. But we are different, Jean. We are gods. True gods dictate their own fate."
"Open your eyes. Look at the world objectively. Let this power be your pride, not your shame."
"Start over. Throw away the past. Life can be colorful."
Vincent looked like a saint.
Internally, he was laughing.
Lu Xun said: Men have two hobbies—pulling good girls into the mud, and persuading bad girls to go straight.
He was pulling Jean Grey into the mud.
"Maybe... I should listen to you," Jean whispered.
"No. Listen to your heart. Your biggest problem is that you deny yourself."
Jean smiled. A real smile.
"Ice Demon. You are good with words. You bewitched my heart, but I know you're right."
She felt powerful again. The gloom was gone.
"So, how many women have you used this speech on?" she asked slyly.
"By the way, Raven is my VP now. She's very happy."
"Raven? She left Eric?"
"Eric is too extreme. Too selfish. I gave her trust. We are partners building a new world."
Jean sensed his sincerity.
"You have many stories. And many women."
"I just follow my heart. I never force them. If they make a Deal with the Devil, I satisfy their wishes 100%. Fair trade."
"Since you mention fairness... you saved me. What is the price?"
Jean slipped into the role. She buried her past deep.
"No transaction between us. But if you want to repay me... hurry up and heal."
Vincent offered his hand again.
Jean took it.
"You shouldn't be called a Demon. You have honor."
"Haha. I am a demon to my enemies. That's enough."
Vincent dragged her back to the boat.
"The School isn't my home anymore. I don't know New York. I used to find peace only at the School..." Jean said, looking vulnerable again.
"Stay at my villa. It's my favorite house. You can crash there."
Vincent offered casually.
Jean was genuinely looking for a fresh start. Not on the streets, but in luxury.
"Raven will be surprised."
"You just woke up from death. Rest. If you need anything, find me. My mind is open to you."
Vincent winked.
Jean giggled.
"It's dinner time. I don't have groceries. Wait a sec, I'm going fishing."
Vincent took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and flew into the ocean.
He returned seconds later with a massive catch of tuna.
"That's unfair! Cheating! Fish don't have superpowers!" Jean laughed like a little girl.
"Haha! Ending up in our stomachs is the greatest honor a fish can aspire to!"
Vincent laughed.
To them, gods among mortals, consumption was a blessing.
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