Jean's awakening, the pathological fervor deep within the brand
Cold.
The biting cold was Jean Grey's first sensation upon regaining consciousness.
It wasn't physical coldness, but a deathly chill that seeped from the depths of her soul. She was strapped to a specially made restraint bed, her wrists, ankles, and neck firmly locked by energy chains that gleamed with a ghostly blue light. These chains continuously drained the energy from her body, leaving her feeling weak and empty.
This is a solitary Containment Room on the top floor of the Baxter Building. The walls are made of a special energy-absorbing alloy, which can isolate most energy and Psychic Fluctuation.
She lost.
Before that man, her proud Phoenix Force was crushed by a hand—a hand made purely of flesh and blood, yet more domineering than Deity's.
The moment this realization surfaced, it was overwhelmed by another, more turbulent and violent emotion.
It wasn't humiliation, it wasn't anger.
Rather, it's a kind of... desire.
A near-mad desire to experience that violence and power once more.
Boom!
Deep within the soul, a pitch-black Throne, forged from endless bones and stardust, stands majestically.
A blurry yet imposing figure sat upon the Throne.
He couldn't see his face clearly, but Qin knew who he was.
Lynn.
The man who crushed the Firebird she had transformed into with his bare hands, and then, in the most brutal way, slammed this "Throne Brand" into her soul.
The brand, at this moment, radiated a scorching, burning heat, creating a stark contrast with the icy chill she felt. Like a black sun, with each pulse, it infused her soul with the same thought, the same instinct—
Obey him.
Find him.
Try to please him.
To become his sharpest knife, his most affectionate pet, his most... and only collectible.
Just then, a faint but familiar mental signal, overcoming the barrier of space, painstakingly penetrated into the Containment Room.
[Qin... save me...]
It was Professor Charles Xavier's voice.
The voice was filled with despair, pain, and the last hope for her, her "proudest student."
If it had been a day earlier, upon hearing this call, Qin would have responded without hesitation by burning everything she had.
But now...
When this signal touched the Throne Brand deep within her soul, Qin felt only an indescribable... disgust and irritation welling up in her mind.
noisy.
The wail of a loser was so jarring.
What right does a remnant of the old era, trampled underfoot by the new god, have to disturb her reverence for the supreme being?
[Qin... can you hear me? I'm the professor...]
The mental signals became more urgent, tinged with a hint of disbelief and panic.
Qin's brows furrowed slightly.
In those emerald green eyes, there was no trace of struggle or longing, only impatience at being disturbed.
She couldn't even be bothered to sever the link.
Because all her thoughts and senses were frantically extending outward, greedily trying to capture another aura.
The scent of that man.
Found it!
Underground! Very, very deep!
He was right there!
This discovery caused Qin's breathing to quicken instantly. The Throne Brand deep within her soul suddenly burned, and an uncontrollable fervor, like a volcanic eruption, swept through her entire body.
She wants to see him!
Immediately! Right now!
Click!
The energy chains binding her wrists cracked open with a crisp sound amidst the dim red Phoenix light.
Not enough! Too slow!
A glint of madness flashed in Qin's eyes. She stopped trying to break through with energy and instead tensed all the muscles in her body, beginning a savage struggle in an almost self-destructive way!
"Heh... heh..."
Beast growl escaped her throat, her bones groaning under the immense strain. Her skin was scorched by the energy chains, emitting the smell of burning protein.
But she couldn't feel any pain.
Or rather, this minor pain is nothing compared to the anxiety of not being able to see that man!
I want to see him!
She roared, Phoenix Force within her was no longer restrained by any reason, transforming into the most primal and violent Dark Gold flames, which erupted with a thunderous roar!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of loud explosions occurred as all the energy locks were broken simultaneously!
The powerful recoil force sent her flying, crashing into the cold Alloy Wall before she slid helplessly to the ground.
"Cough cough..."
Qin coughed violently, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. She was covered in wounds and extremely weak. But her eyes shone with a frightening light, burning with a flame called "devotion."
She struggled to get up from the ground.
His legs buckled, and he collapsed heavily to his knees.
I can't stand up... I'm too weak.
what to do?
Qin's gaze swept across the empty Containment Room, finally settling on the cold floor.
climb.
Yes, climb over there!
Once the thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.
The pride of the past, the glory of the X-Men, the dignity of Omega-Level Mutant... all turned into insignificant dust at this moment.
Nothing is more important than going to him!
Jean Grey, the woman who once looked directly into the eyes of the Deity, has now let go of everything.
Like the most humble and devout fanatic, she crawled out of the temple of her Deity, bit by bit, with her hands and knees.
She used her telekinetic powers to force open the door to the Containment Room.
The corridor outside was deserted, the cold lighting casting a long, elongated shadow of her disheveled figure.
She ignored all of this.
In her world, only that underground presence remained, guiding her like a lighthouse.
She stumbled and fell as she crawled, her oversized hospital gown dragging on the cold alloy floor, quickly wearing it apart and revealing her scraped, bloody knees.
She didn't care.
She murmured unconsciously.
"My... master..."
"I am coming..."
"Please... look at me..."
She moved faster and faster, from struggling to move at the beginning to crawling on the ground in a frantic manner.
Five underground floors.
Biological laboratory.
This is it!
When Qin finally climbed to the heavy metal door, she almost cried tears of joy.
She could sense that he was right behind the door!
That unique aura, so powerful and controlling, that made her soul tremble, was so clear, so... intoxicating.
She trembled as she reached out to touch the door, as if touching a sacred relic.
But just as her fingertips were about to touch the cold metal door...
Two figures appeared silently before her, like ghosts, blocking her path.
A figure, surrounded by visible Scarlet arcs of electricity, had eyes that resembled two inextinguishable Chaos flames, filled with destruction and envy.
Another figure, tall and slender, with long black hair moving without wind, seemed to blend into the surrounding shadows even though she was standing there, exuding a pure Aura of Death that could freeze one's soul.
It is Wanda Maximoff.
And Hela.
They had just come out of the lab; Lynn had told them to stand guard outside the door and not let anyone disturb him while he was "processing his tools."
At that moment, as they looked at the Red-haired Woman kneeling on the ground, disheveled and exhausted, yet with eyes burning with the same fanaticism and possessiveness as their own, their expressions instantly turned extremely dangerous.
Another one...
Yet another... despicable woman who dares to lay a finger on their Deity!
"You want to go in?"
Wanda's voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling malice capable of distorting reality.
"Who gave you the audacity?" Hela's lips curled into a cruel smile, and countless jet-black Night Sky Sword slowly emerged from the air behind her, their tips pointing outwards, locking onto Jean Grey on the ground.
"This isn't a place for someone like you."