Lost City

"The scenes just now showed what Jean was like when she was with Wolverine."

Black Phoenix spoke calmly. Watching the happy Jean, Cyclops fell silent. This was a little different from what he had imagined.

"This is what Jean was like when she was with you."

As Black Phoenix spoke, the surrounding scene suddenly changed, becoming an image of Jean and Cyclops together.

How should he put it? Two words: utterly bland. Jean was not excited at all. She was like she was spending time with an ordinary friend, completely without ripples.

Cyclops fell even more silent. He knew these scenes were real. Black Phoenix said, "Scott, you have no sense of romance at all. Jean got tired of you long ago. The problem is, Jean always thought she was a good woman, so she deceived herself into believing she still loved you. But in truth, she stopped loving you a long time ago. The one she truly loves is Wolverine, Logan."

Cyclops sighed and said, "I don’t know whether what you’re saying is true or false, but even if it’s true, I can’t blame her. If anyone is to blame, it can only be me."

"Blame yourself?"

Black Phoenix was dumbfounded. What kind of brain did this guy have? Not only did he not hate Jean, he actually blamed himself? "Yes, blame myself."

Cyclops nodded. He said, "If I hadn’t been so boring, why would she have fallen for someone else? Besides, if it had been another woman, she would have dumped a blockhead like me long ago. Only Jean was still willing to stay by my side. In short, it’s all my fault. Jean did nothing wrong. If we can resolve this smoothly, I’ll try to become more interesting. For her, I’m willing to change myself. In my heart, she is the most important person."

Black Phoenix stared at him in shock. Was this the legendary simp? The ultimate simp?

For some reason, Black Phoenix suddenly felt a little moved. Having a boyfriend willing to give everything for you was truly too blissful.

Why would I think something like that?

Black Phoenix suddenly came to her senses, her face filled with shock. She should hate men like this the most. The kind of man she liked was domineering and overbearing, one who would directly order you around regardless of whether you agreed—ah, the so-called president.

"You’re thinking this way because I’m influencing you."

At that moment, Jean’s voice suddenly rang out. Immediately after, the right half of the Black Sun turned white, and Jean’s face appeared within it.

"Jean!" Cyclops shouted in delight.

Jean smiled. "Scott, meeting you was the greatest fortune of my life."

Black Phoenix cried out in disbelief, "Why are you in my consciousness? Didn’t I seal you in the deepest part of the consciousness space?"

"That was only a disguise. During this time, I’ve been using the method Iron Man taught me to merge with you. Without you noticing, you and I have already merged halfway."

Jean said, "I believe we’ll soon merge completely and become one person."

"I don’t want to merge with you! You’re nothing but trash!" Black Phoenix roared furiously.

Jean smiled. "My personality is indeed somewhat cowardly, which is why I need you. With my strengths added to yours, we’ll become the most perfect woman in this world."

Both Black Phoenix and Cyclops were stunned by those words. The old Jean would never have said something like that. Her personality had already begun changing.

"The most perfect woman?"

Black Phoenix snorted. "Hmph, you have too many restraints. I don’t want to be like you. I want freedom. I want to do whatever I please."

"Freedom is not doing whatever you please. Freedom means no one can force you to do something you don’t want to do."

Jean said, "Iron Man told me that. He is a Creator God, one of the strongest beings in the universe, yet he has never acted recklessly. He has his own principles in his heart. After we merge, we’ll be like him too."

"What kind of freedom is that? Freedom is doing whatever you want."

"No, that’s called being a lunatic."

Jean snorted. The two began arguing back and forth. Black Phoenix did not notice that, as their quarrel continued, her consciousness was gradually being merged by Jean.

Seeing that the sun was gradually turning white, Cyclops could not help but let out a sigh of relief. Then he remembered what had happened earlier and sighed inwardly.

However, Cyclops did not feel any resentment. If Jean truly chose to leave him in the end, he would quietly depart and wish her happiness.

Jean sensed Cyclops’s thoughts and stopped arguing. She smiled at him. "Scott, being with Logan was only because I craved excitement, like a child secretly learning to drink. The one I truly love in my heart has always been you. Of that, I am absolutely certain."

After a pause, Jean added, "In this life, I will only marry you."

Cyclops was beside himself with excitement. "Really? Jean, that’s wonderful!"

"A woman so hypocritical that she even deceives herself," Black Phoenix said disdainfully.

"I’m not deceiving him. If I didn’t love him, I could never merge with you this quickly. Love is the ultimate force for dissolving negative emotions. Scott’s words moved me and made me very happy."

Jean shook her head. She said, "However, Scott, after merging with Black Phoenix, I’ll become someone who likes pursuing excitement. You’ll have to work harder in that regard, or we may gradually drift apart."

"I’ll work hard. I definitely will."

Cyclops nodded repeatedly. "Iron Man has plenty of experience in that area. I’ll go ask him for advice."

"Learning from Iron Man is a good idea. He’s not only interesting, but also very devoted. There are so many beautiful women around him, yet he is never tempted. He only loves Scarlet Witch."

Jean nodded. She did not know what was happening in the outside world. Otherwise, she would never have said such a thing.

Blood God Wang Bert’s reputation in certain matters was known throughout the Entire Universe.

"That bastard," Black Phoenix cursed unhappily. Then she suddenly realized something was wrong and cried out in alarm, "How did this happen? Why is there so little of my consciousness left?"

The sun in the sky had basically turned white. Only a tiny patch of black remained in one corner.

"Because you have already been merged by me. From now on, you are me, and I am you."

Jean smiled slightly and completely merged with Black Phoenix. Then she transformed into human form and descended from the sky.

"This is great—"

Cyclops had just begun to speak when Jean suddenly took the initiative to embrace him. Then their lips met.

In the Lost City, Cyclops regained consciousness and began grinning foolishly. Wade, who had been dancing the whole time, glanced at him and said, "It’s over. Cyclops has gone stupid. That means he failed."

Everyone’s hearts sank at those words. Then Cyclops came to his senses and hurriedly said, "No, I succeeded. Black Phoenix has already been merged by Jean. Iceman, you can let her out now."

Middle-aged Iceman said, "Are you sure? I’m about to disappear. If she has deceived you, things will become very bad."

"That’s right. If Black Phoenix is still Black Phoenix, we might lose," Franklin said. "I’ve already exhausted my power and can’t help you anymore."

"Don’t worry. Black Phoenix has merged with Jean. I’m absolutely certain of that."

Cyclops nodded with complete certainty. Then he thought of something, and that foolish grin appeared on his face again.

"I strongly suspect he has been controlled by Black Phoenix," Franklin complained.

"Relax, he hasn’t. That’s the smile of a love-struck puppy. Black Phoenix should have successfully merged with Jean."

Wade said impatiently, "Iceman, let Jean out. It’s time to deal with that bastard Apocalypse. Once we’re done with Apocalypse, we’ll find the BOSS and join him in besieging the Celestial Group. Once the Celestial Group is dead, the world will be completely peaceful. Then we can enjoy life without worries. Wow, I’m really looking forward to retirement."

"Wake up. You still haven’t paid off your mortgage or car loan, just like me," Wolverine said.

Wade was speechless and viciously gave him the middle finger. Apocalypse also gave Wolverine the middle finger, making the veins on Wolverine’s forehead bulge with anger.

"Then let Black Phoenix—no, let Jean out."

Middle-aged Iceman and Franklin exchanged a glance and made their decision. Middle-aged Iceman then took a deep breath and inhaled all the cold air back into his mouth.

Franklin snapped his fingers, and the planet vanished. Black Phoenix—or rather, Jean—appeared before everyone. Compared to before, she was clearly more alluring. Wolverine’s eyes went straight, and his earlier enlightenment instantly vanished without a trace.

Jean said with disgust, "Bobby, isn’t this move of yours a little gross? You blow cold air out with your mouth, then suck it back in with your mouth."

Middle-aged Iceman blinked and said, "Is it? I use my mouth to breathe cold air and chill Logan’s beer. He’s always happy about it."

Wolverine’s mouth twitched. "I won’t be happy about it ever again."

"That really is unfortunate news. Everyone, see you in the future."

Middle-aged Iceman smiled. His body rapidly reverted to youth. At the same time, Franklin withdrew his hand, and his body began flickering rapidly, making it seem as though he could disappear at any moment.

Facing everyone’s worried gazes, Franklin yawned and said, "The consumption was too great. The rest is up to you."

"Go rest. Leave the rest to me."

Jean spoke with unusual initiative. Then she transformed into a mass of black flames and shot toward Apocalypse like a meteor. Apocalypse was greatly alarmed and hurriedly poured power into Light Flame with all his might, trying to block Jean’s charge.

It was worth mentioning that Apocalypse was still synchronized with Wade. There was no helping it—his strength was suppressed by Leech.

"Jean has changed so much. She was never this proactive before," Shadowcat could not help remarking.

"She merged with Black Phoenix, of course she changed. But she is still Jean—the Jean I deeply love," Cyclops said.

Shadowcat froze for a moment, then smiled. "You’ve changed too."

"I have to change. Only then can I keep my woman."

As Cyclops spoke, he fired lasers at Apocalypse. At the same time, Wolverine, Yuriko, and the others all launched their attacks. Apocalypse’s Light Flame trembled continuously and could shatter at any moment.

To save himself, Apocalypse abandoned all the Earth Giants and recalled their power. The Earth Giants all turned back into mud. Seeing this, Psylocke and Quicksilver returned to the battlefield and joined the assault.

Anyone could see that Apocalypse was on the verge of defeat and death.

Wang Bert asked the Celestial Group, "Celestial Group, you’re about to lose."

"Perhaps."

Although all his subordinates were about to be defeated or killed, the Celestial Group was not anxious in the slightest. Instead, he looked as though victory was already in his grasp.

The Celestial Group was not afraid of Wang Bert seeing through something. Space Lord currently held an absolute advantage, so he could not possibly make those people stop.

"I hope you can give me a little surprise."

Wang Bert smiled. The primordial mutant aura on Black King and Jason had increased his control over the Mutant Source by 0.1%. It might seem like very little, but to Wang Bert, it was enough.

This 0.1% would determine the victor of this battle! Not long after, Apocalypse’s Light Flame shattered under everyone’s bombardment. Jean then shouted, "Get back!"

Wolverine and Yuriko glanced at Jean, then retreated together. Jean spread her hands and unleashed her disintegration ability with full force. The armor on Apocalypse’s body immediately crumbled into dust.

Apocalypse had no strength left to resist. He seemed to have regained his senses as he said to Jean, "I have lost. Please grant me the dignity of a king. A king should die in the manner of a king."

"The dignity of a king? What the hell is that? Sorry, I’m in a hurry to go on a date with Scott. I don’t have time to play with you."

Who knew how a king was supposed to die? Jean could not be bothered with him. Her disintegration ability enveloped Apocalypse, and Apocalypse gave a bitter smile as his entire body was disintegrated.

Apocalypse had fallen.

Wolverine could not help glancing at Jean. Jean had changed so much. The old her would definitely have fulfilled Apocalypse’s final wish.

"Enough wasting time. Let’s help Professor deal with Legion, then besiege the Celestial Group together," Jean shouted.

No one wasted words. They all went to help Professor. With their efforts, thousands of Legions died one after another.

"At last, I can be free."

The final Legion stabbed a sword into his own body, declaring the official fall of Legion, the Omega-Level Mutant.

Professor could not help sighing. Having abilities that were too powerful was not necessarily a blessing. Legion was an obvious example. Thousands of personalities—who could endure that?

By this point, the Celestial Group’s subordinates had either betrayed him or died. Everyone was preparing to head to the high-rise building and besiege the Celestial Group when the entire Lost City began shaking violently.

"Space Lord, Apocalypse and the others have been defeated and killed. Though it is not what I hoped for, I anticipated this possibility. After all, my opponent is you, Space Lord. No matter what happens, it is perfectly normal."

The Celestial Group flew outside the high-rise building and said, "So I made some preparations in advance."

Wang Bert stepped out of the high-rise building and asked with interest, "What preparations?"

"These preparations are the Lost City."

As the Celestial Group spoke, the Lost City rose up like a living being. Everyone was startled and hurriedly fled the Lost City’s range.

After a series of transformations and combinations, the Lost City became an earth-yellow giant that stood between heaven and earth. Then the Lost City rapidly shrank until it was roughly the same size as the Celestial Group.

That was not all. Next, yellow light lit up across the Lost City’s surface. When the yellow light faded, it was covered in a suit of earth-yellow armor. Other than the color, it was almost identical to the Celestial Group in every respect.

"I remember you said only one Celestial Group came," Wang Bert snorted.

"Only one Celestial Group did indeed come, but I carry the power of three Celestial Groups in total. We would never dare underestimate you, Space Lord."

The Celestial Group said, "My body cannot use all three portions of power at once, so I fused the other two portions into the Lost City and transformed it into a super puppet. This puppet was previously only a half-finished product. Later, Original Sin, Apocalypse, Legion, and the others died one after another, and all their power was absorbed by the puppet. As a result, the puppet evolved into a Celestial Group, a Celestial Group just like me."