New Century, Phoenix Force

"Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters?"

Time flew by, and the turn of the century was drawing near. Peggy found what she was watching on TV rather interesting.

Of course, she knew about Mutants. In her world, she had encountered several of them, and their abilities had been powerful enough to rival her own as a super-soldier.

What Captain Carter remembered most vividly was a little boy whose mutant abilities had been activated by the Germans. Like Lorna, he could manipulate magnetic fields.

That was why she often looked at Lorna with a strange expression.

She suspected that Lorna was a descendant of the child she had met back then.

Whenever she thought of it, Peggy felt strangely unsettled.

"Professor X?"

She had never heard of him, so she watched the news with particular care.

"What is it?"

Ke Chen sat down right beside her and casually put an arm around her shoulders.

Peggy had long since grown used to that sort of gesture, so she did not think much of it.

Sometimes, that was how one lost their boundaries, little by little...

Captain Carter simply had not noticed it yet.

"Watch the news. I heard the Mutants rescued several astronauts from space."

Peggy explained it to Ke Chen.

Ke Chen looked at the TV as well.

On television, Professor X and the others were being interviewed. Because they had done something so sensational, they were being treated like heroes.

That was no easy thing for Mutants. Most ordinary people were afraid of them.

Things would only improve somewhat once the age of heroes arrived.

Only after superheroes entered the public eye would people gradually come to accept all this.

Before long, he understood what had happened.

The United States had just launched the Endeavour space shuttle. Ground controllers detected an enormous burst of energy at high altitude, similar to a solar flare, and then contact with the shuttle was lost.

After receiving a call, Professor X had sent Mystique, Phoenix, and the others to rescue the astronauts.

Naturally, there had been a price to pay.

Even Mutants could not survive in space.

Space was the domain of gods. Even Asgardians could not survive for long in the environment of space, let alone Mutants.

In this operation, the X-Men had paid the price of Phoenix, Jean Grey, in order to save everyone.

"Phoenix died?"

Even Ke Chen found it hard to believe when he saw the news.

But he quickly realized that Phoenix would probably turn dark very soon.

Jean Grey would not die so easily, because she was the host of the Phoenix Force.

The Phoenix Force came from the Primordial Universe. Born at the beginning of all things, it was chaotic yet immortal, eternal yet unpredictable, an existence that was a child of the universe.

It was the embodiment of life and psychic power in the Primordial Universe, symbolizing life and emotion.

The Phoenix Force had searched the universe for a host and had finally found Jean Grey. How could it possibly let Jean die?

Though it was only a fragment, Jean Grey had possessed the Phoenix Force longer than any other host even in the comics. After completely merging with it, she became the White Phoenix.

Of course, judging from the current situation, she would probably become the Dark Phoenix instead.

"Was she that powerful?"

Peggy asked, not understanding.

"Of course."

Ke Chen explained the Phoenix Force to her.

Peggy listened in stunned disbelief.

There was actually such a power?

How was that any different from a god...

"It is a shame that Jean has always been restraining herself from using the Phoenix Force."

Ke Chen sighed.

Peggy immediately asked, "How do you know all this?"

"I only know a little."

Ke Chen replied casually.

His mysterious manner made Peggy want to understand him completely.

But things took even longer than expected.

After Jean woke up, she did not immediately turn dark. She was still the same as usual.

Ke Chen waited a long time without seeing any major news, and he was somewhat disappointed.

Humans had certain things in common.

For example, enjoying gossip.

As the saying went, when it did not concern them, people could hang themselves high above it. As long as they were not in danger themselves, many could calmly watch the drama from the sidelines and even offer a few comments.

After all, everyone was curious.

But Ke Chen waited for ages and never got to see this earth-shattering piece of gossip.

Instead, Tony Stark sent him another invitation.

Everyone born in the twentieth century had looked forward to the turn of the century with immense anticipation.

Because for most people, they would only experience the turn of a century once in their lives.

It only happened once every hundred years!

How many people could live to be a hundred?

Thus, at this moment, the entire world was swept up in celebration.

Humanity was entering a new century!

As a playboy, Tony Stark naturally intended to have fun while the opportunity was there.

He sent another invitation to a New Year's Eve party.

With nothing better to do, Ke Chen naturally accepted.

But this time, no one was going with him.

Lorna did not like lively gatherings, while Peggy felt nothing about the turn of the century. Strictly speaking, she did not belong to this era.

After all, she was from another world, and there was another version of her in this world.

Most importantly, she knew that Tony Stark was Howard Stark's son.

She did not believe Peggy Carter of this world had never crossed paths with Howard.

If Tony Stark saw her and called her Aunt Carter, that would be awkward.

And after learning that Tony Stark was just as much of a bastard as his father, Peggy liked him even less.

Peggy had never liked Howard. How could she possibly like his son?

With all that considered, Ke Chen could only attend the party alone.

He was still quite worried about those seductive women.

On the final day of 1999, the streets were filled with an air of joy.

Everyone wore a smile, and whenever they met someone, they would say, "Happy New Year."

Those who had not lived through that day could never imagine it.

Many singers created songs to welcome the new century, all brimming with joy.

People believed that the new century would be even better and that life would change even more dramatically.

In truth, that was indeed the case. Technology continued advancing by leaps and bounds. The twenty-first century was completely different from the twentieth, as though an entire technological era lay between them.

Being born in this age of technological explosion was undoubtedly a very fortunate thing.

Ke Chen sped through the streets, and the atmosphere gradually made him relax as well.

Smiles were contagious.

By the time he arrived at Stark Tower, the party was practically about to begin.

With celebrities and elites from all walks of life gathering there, the place was drenched in extravagance. Handsome men and beautiful women moved through the main hall, private rooms, and offices.

"Hello, are you Mr. Ke Chen?"

The moment Ke Chen got out of his car, a woman stopped him.

She had long black hair and fairly refined features. She carried an aristocratic air, with a distinctly British style like Captain Carter's.

"You are?"

Ke Chen was sure he had never met her, so he asked curiously.

"I am Maya Hansen."

The woman immediately introduced herself. "I am a researcher, and I would like to ask you to introduce me to Mr. Stark."