Dark Phoenix

Andrew could have stopped Professor Charles, but he did not. He concealed his true identity with flames and personally received him. "Professor Charles, what did you want with me?"

"Were you the one who turned those Mutants back into ordinary people?"

As Professor Charles asked, he cautiously probed Andrew's mind, yet sensed nothing at all.

"Do not probe me, or you will die. In fact, if I had not suppressed my instinct to retaliate, you would already be a vegetable."

Andrew said, "I can tell you the truth and let you retain these memories, but you must sign a contract with me and never reveal this matter. Otherwise, I will take your soul."

As Andrew spoke, a contract appeared before Professor Charles. After reading it, he hesitated briefly before choosing to sign it.

Professor Charles had to get to the bottom of this matter, and the contract was not particularly harsh.

After Professor Charles signed the contract, Andrew said, "I am the Demon King of Hell. I made a deal with those Mutants: they give me their souls after death, and I help them become ordinary people again."

"A Demon King? A soul transaction?"

Professor Charles was dumbfounded. He had guessed countless possible truths, but he had never imagined the truth would be so unscientific, so absurd.

"If not a Demon King, how could anyone turn so many Mutants back into ordinary people?"

Andrew said, "Professor, this is a fair and willing transaction. There is no conspiracy involved."

Professor Charles said, "Human souls should belong to God."

"No, most people's souls only go to Hell. In fact, entering my Hell is far happier than entering any other Hell. My Hell has even been certified by Kamar-Taj as the best Hell."

Andrew said, "Professor Charles, would you like to reserve a house in my Hell? It might appreciate in value someday."

"I have never been much good at investing. Everything I invest in loses money. Fortunately, I inherited quite a large estate."

The spendthrift second-generation rich kid, Professor Charles, chuckled self-deprecatingly. Then he asked, "Mr. Demon King, no humans were involved in this matter, and there is no conspiracy, correct?"

Andrew said, "There definitely is no conspiracy, but humans were involved."

Professor Charles was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Andrew said with a smile, "What comes next is paid content. If you want to hear it, please top up first."

Professor Charles was stunned. Just as he was about to say something, Andrew waved him out of the Illusion Realm. "Sorry, the top-up system is not available yet. Professor, remember this symbol. If one day you wish to sell your soul, call for me immediately."

As Andrew spoke, the flames around him transformed into a blazing phoenix. This was the symbol of Rebirth Hell, and Professor Charles instinctively committed it firmly to memory.

"A soul with the potential to become a Holy Spirit."

Greed flashed through Andrew's eyes. The professor's soul was exceptionally pure and priceless. If he entered Heaven, even the Archangel would personally come out to receive him.

While speaking with Professor Charles, another part of Andrew's consciousness was receiving Phoenix. Worth mentioning, Rogue had not come along. She had probably been persuaded by the professor and the others.

Andrew looked at the unruly, violent Dark Phoenix before him and said with a smile, "Phoenix, or rather, Dark Phoenix. I have wanted to meet you for a long time."

Phoenix, Jean Grey, had two personalities. One was her refined and ladylike surface personality; the other was the violent inner personality possessing the Phoenix Force. Professor Charles had sealed this inner personality with Psychic Power, leaving her unseen for all these years.

The one Andrew had Pulled In to the Illusion Realm was not the surface personality, but the inner personality, Dark Phoenix.

"You can break through that Old Man's seal?"

Dark Phoenix said excitedly, "Hurry up and let me out. I want to destroy this world."

Andrew asked, "This world is so beautiful. Why do you want to destroy it?"

"Because I hate this world. I want to destroy everything."

Dark Phoenix roared with a savage expression. She had been imprisoned for far too many years, and coupled with the influence of the Phoenix Force, she had long since lost her reason, like a madwoman.

Andrew shook his head. "That will not do. I have not finished enjoying this world yet, so I cannot let you destroy it. Besides, you do not represent Jean Grey. Any contract you sign would be invalid."

"If you will not release me, I will kill you."

Dark Phoenix flew into a rage at his words, gathering a streak of pitch-black flame and blasting it fiercely at Andrew. Andrew flew backward, and the flames struck a stone sculpture, instantly disintegrating it into nothingness.

This was the Phoenix Force, capable of disintegrating everything. However, Dark Phoenix had yet to take control of Jean's body, so she was not especially powerful yet—her strength in the Illusion Realm was equivalent to her strength in reality.

"You are not capable of killing me."

Andrew smiled. Dark Phoenix grew even angrier and pursued him with attack after attack. Andrew did not hold back either, engaging her in a fierce battle within the Illusion Realm. However, he did not use his full strength, deliberately keeping himself evenly matched with Dark Phoenix.

What was Andrew trying to do?

It was very simple: fight with Dark Phoenix, play with her, talk with her, and let her vent the violence she had accumulated over decades. That way, she would gradually change and stop thinking about destroying the world all day.

Of course, aside from saving Earth, Andrew had another goal: picking up girls.

For someone who had been lonely for decades, when a person suddenly appeared to fight with her, play with her, and talk with her, it would be hard not to fall in love with that person.

Once he won over Dark Phoenix, Andrew would find a way to merge Dark Phoenix and Phoenix. By then, Jean Grey would completely belong to him. That was called overtaking on a curve.

Six hours later in the Illusion Realm, Dark Phoenix sat on the ground in exhaustion and said resentfully to Andrew, "I will definitely kill you."

"Sorry, I do not like being killed. I only like killing others."

Andrew smiled. "All right, that is enough for today. See you next time."

With that, Andrew waved his hand and drove Dark Phoenix out of the Illusion Realm.

At this moment, only six seconds had passed in reality. A group of Mutants who had returned to being ordinary people were weeping with joy, while a group of TikTok video creators frantically filmed videos and added captions such as "miracle."

Seeing the Mutants return to normal, Storm could not help asking, "Professor, did you discover anything?"

Professor Charles sighed. "I was about to discover the truth, but I got kicked offline because I had no money to top up."

Storm was completely baffled. What did that mean? And was he not the richest second-generation heir? Why would he have no money? Had he finally squandered his entire inheritance?

Professor Charles did not explain further. At that moment, he noticed that Jean seemed somewhat dazed and asked with concern, "Jean, what is wrong?"

Jean said, "I do not know why, but I feel much lighter. And a little happy."

Storm said, "Maybe it is because Logan is not here. That guy keeps pestering you every day even though he knows you have a boyfriend."