The Phoenix Force was one of the most terrifying entities in the entire Marvel multiverse. It was not merely a source of energy or a cosmic weapon—it was a fundamental force of creation itself, capable of reshaping reality on a scale few beings could even comprehend. Entire regions of the universe could be cut apart, regenerated, or erased entirely under its influence, as if existence itself were nothing more than raw material waiting to be rewritten.
At its highest level, the Phoenix possessed the ability to burn away anything that should not exist, purifying the universe by destruction and renewal. Worlds, civilizations, and even entire cosmic structures could vanish in its flames if they were deemed unnecessary to the balance of life.
The Phoenix could manipulate every form of energy throughout the multiverse. It could draw upon the life force reserved for future generations and consume it, effectively denying those lives the chance to ever exist. That stolen vitality could then be converted into devastating destructive power capable of wiping out entire star systems.
It also possessed dominion over space and time. By folding spacetime itself, the Phoenix could open black hole–like gateways that allowed instant travel across unimaginable distances. Movement through time was equally possible, allowing the entity to cross eras with ease. Spatial dimensions meant little to it—whether the target existed in a single universe or across infinite layered realities, the Phoenix could reach it.
Even stars were nothing more than fuel.
The Phoenix could absorb raw cosmic energy directly, consuming the radiation of entire suns if necessary. A planet could be reduced to pure energy and devoured without effort, its mass converted into power for the entity that controlled it. Enemies were no exception; their energy, their life force, and even their psychic essence could be drained away.
More frightening still, the Phoenix existed as a nexus for spiritual energy across the multiverse. Every psychic current, every fragment of consciousness, every ripple in the mental realm was connected to it in some way. That connection granted abilities such as telepathy, teleportation, and mental projection across unimaginable distances.
However, those descriptions represented the Phoenix Force at its peak.
Ethan Cole was nowhere near that level yet.
So far, the abilities he had managed to unlock were only a small fraction of the Phoenix's true power. His strongest capability was powerful telepathy, along with the ability to transmit thoughts directly across distance. He could also absorb free-floating energy from the environment and manipulate minds with disturbing ease if he chose to.
One unexpected side effect of the Phoenix's presence inside him was that he no longer relied entirely on ordinary food to survive. Even if he stopped eating for long periods of time, his body would not starve.
But immortality remained out of reach.
For now, his lifespan was still limited by the durability of his physical body. That limitation bothered him more than anything else.
Although his current abilities were already impressive, Ethan understood that true mastery of the Phoenix Force required something far more important than raw psychic power.
His body needed to become stronger.
The Phoenix Force was like a cosmic engine, and his human body was the machine meant to contain it. If the machine was too fragile, it would eventually break under the strain of that power. Because of that, strengthening his physical vessel had become Ethan's primary research objective.
That goal explained why he had devoted years to studying the mysterious X-gene carried by mutants.
Over the past two or three years, his experiments had achieved remarkable success. Using purely scientific methods, Ethan had already managed to extract more than thirty different mutant abilities from various test subjects.
Some mutants could discharge electricity. Others possessed flight, aquatic adaptation, hypnotic influence, or physical transformation abilities. Each gene carried a unique evolutionary advantage, and Ethan had carefully cataloged and preserved them all.
Extraction was only the first stage.
Fusion was the real challenge.
While stripping a mutant ability from its host required precision, combining different X-genes into a single stable system was far more complicated. Each mutant gene functioned differently, and no universal fusion method existed. Every ability required its own customized integration process.
So far, Ethan had successfully fused only two abilities into his own body.
One allowed him to alter his appearance through controlled biological transformation. The other gave him a powerful danger perception instinct that warned him when threats approached.
The rest of the mutant abilities he had collected remained unused.
To be honest, most of them no longer impressed him very much.
After all, he already possessed the Phoenix Force.
Once his control over the Phoenix reached a higher stage, he would eventually gain the ability to manipulate matter at the subatomic level. At that point, the structure of reality itself could be rearranged at his will.
When that day arrived, Ethan would stand at the absolute peak of all Omega-level mutants.
Technically speaking, he had already reached Omega status.
But Ethan knew the truth.
He wasn't the strongest yet.
At best, his current power level placed him roughly on equal footing with Magneto.
That realization didn't discourage him. Instead, it sharpened his focus.
To increase his mastery of the Phoenix Force, his body needed to become stronger. The more durable his physical form became, the more Phoenix energy it could safely channel. Even a small improvement in physical resilience could trigger a chain reaction of growth, unlocking entirely new ways to use his power.
And recently, Ethan believed he had found the opportunity he needed.
"Svija, how did the final stage of the plan go?" Ethan asked as he removed his lab coat and changed into a set of casual clothes.
"It has already been executed, sir," the AI replied through his earpiece. "The target has taken action. Based on current projections, contact with you should occur within twenty-four hours."
A tiny wireless headset was hidden inside Ethan's ear, small enough to be nearly invisible. Svija's voice reached him clearly through the device as he finished preparing to leave the laboratory.
"Make sure the surveillance team continues monitoring the situation," Ethan said calmly. "If anything unusual happens, notify me immediately."
"Understood, sir."
Ethan stepped into the underground parking garage connected to the laboratory facility.
"What's on my schedule today?" he asked while walking toward his car.
Svija responded instantly.
"In the morning, Ms. Adeline contacted you. She invited you to dinner this evening and mentioned that she plans to introduce her new boyfriend. You were occupied with the experiment at the time, so I informed her that you would receive the message later."
The AI paused briefly before continuing.
"At seven o'clock tonight, you are scheduled to attend a charity gala. At eleven o'clock, you have a meeting arranged with your four-hundred-and-thirty-second romantic partner at the Midnight Howl Bar."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Alright," he said after a moment. "Cancel the dinner with Aunt Adeline. Tell her I've been extremely busy recently and that I'll visit her when I have time."
"Understood."
"Also contact sweetheart number four-three-two," Ethan added casually. "Move the date earlier and ask her to dress up nicely. I'll pick her up shortly and she can accompany me to the charity gala tonight."
"Message sent, sir."
By now Ethan had reached his car.
The limited-edition luxury sports car activated the moment he stepped inside. The engine roared to life like a sleeping beast waking from hibernation, its deep mechanical growl echoing throughout the underground garage.
As the vehicle slowly rolled forward, Ethan rubbed his forehead with mild frustration.
"Aunt Adeline changed boyfriends again?" he muttered.
"The sixth one, sir," Svija replied from the car's audio system.
Ethan sighed.
"Yeah… that's definitely a headache."
He paused for a moment before speaking again.
"I hope this guy isn't approaching her because of money. Svija, run a background investigation on him and send me everything you find."
"It will be done, sir."
Ethan pressed the accelerator.
The sports car shot forward instantly, the engine roaring through the garage as the sleek machine surged toward the exit and disappeared into the streets of New York.
Adeline was the aunt who had taken care of him after his parents died. Technically, they weren't related by blood. She had simply been his mother's childhood best friend, someone who stepped in when no one else could.
Adeline had never married, and even in her thirties she remained a strikingly attractive woman with a lively personality. Over the years, her relationship with Ethan had become incredibly close, almost like family despite the lack of blood ties.
But recently, Ethan had started avoiding spending too much time around her.
The Phoenix Force didn't amplify his negative emotions the way it did with most hosts. However, it seemed to influence other aspects of his personality.
For example, it had greatly increased his interest in beautiful women.
The effect wasn't strong enough to turn him into some uncontrollable predator, but it was still intense enough that long periods of close contact with someone like Adeline could become… uncomfortable.
That was one of the reasons Ethan had chosen to live independently at such a young age.