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*****
In the universe, on a planet themed around entertainment, inside a nightclub.
Multicolored lights spun within the bar, and deafening music pounded so violently it seemed capable of bursting hearts. All kinds of humanoid creatures writhed wildly inside the bar, but the most eye-catching figure, surrounded by the crowd and twisting his body intensely, was a three-meter-tall fire giant.
He wore a crown of flames, his entire body glowing scarlet, looking as if he were formed from solidified magma.
"Damn it, can't we choose a different location?"
Dormammu's deep voice was laced with dissatisfaction, as magical flames intensely burned atop his head.
Fiora, the Kryptonian Commander, whose face was as cold as frost and snow, nodded in agreement.
This place truly was too annoying.
"But you guys let me choose, and I think this place is great."
Surtur, the focal point of the dance floor, quietly appeared behind the two, gently clapped Dormammu on the shoulder, chugged a glass of flaming liquor, and let out a long, satisfied sigh.
Ever since he destroyed Asgard, everything looked pleasant to him!
Before that, the theft of the Eternal Flame had cost him most of his power, forcing him to hide on his own planet, like a rat. Now...
Hmph hmph!
He was fearless!
Surtur cracked a smile.
"Great? Hmph!"
Dormammu scoffed in dissatisfaction, looking at Thanos and Mephisto across from him, beginning to doubt whether joining them was the right choice.
Thanos looked at the group and sighed wearily.
This team was hard to manage.
If they didn't share a common enemy, the few of them wouldn't have gathered together at all.
"What's the matter?"
Suddenly, Mephisto, who was sitting beside Thanos, shifted and looked at the group in surprise, though a flash of mocking laughter crossed his eyes.
They were all fools; once he recovered his own power, if he got the chance...
"Mephisto! Are you planning how to steal our souls?"
Suddenly, a suffocating question emerged from Dormammu's mouth.
Surtur froze for a moment, then looked at Mephisto and roared, "If you try to harm me! I'll run my sword through your head!"
He, Surtur, Destroyer of Asgard, Creator of Ragnarok, wielder of the Twilight Sword in his left hand and the Eternal Flame in his right, was fearless!
Mephisto looked utterly innocent and spread his hands.
"Don't think of me as being so evil; I'm just a fair businessman, right, Miss Fiora?"
Fiora raised an eyebrow and replied coolly, "Don't drag me into this."
Mephisto twitched his lips and suddenly said, "Just now, one of my contractors was killed."
Thanos, who had been silent, noticed Mephisto's subtle expression and asked, "Was it... the superheroes who did it? The Kents?"
"Our leader, you really are smart! Much smarter than some people."
Mephisto chuckled wryly.
"Who are you talking about?"
Surtur bellowed furiously, nearly drawing his forty-meter-long greatsword.
"I didn't say you! You are the being who destroyed Asgard, how dare I speak ill of you."
Mephisto said blandly. Surtur was stunned for a moment, then smiled satisfactorily.
Dormammu weakly covered his forehead, sighing involuntarily.
What kind of bizarre teammates did he have?
"And then?"
Thanos continued to ask.
"And then? Naturally, my energy clone was destroyed, so I severed the connection."
Mephisto stated it calmly. Thanos's lip twitched involuntarily, and Fiora's eyes widened, a crimson ray shooting out.
Mephisto tilted his head and dodged, the red ray grazing his face before hitting some poor unfortunate soul, ripping him in half.
The next second, before chaos could erupt, Dormammu's eyes flashed, and a sweep of purplish-black magical energy passed over, making everything look as if nothing had happened.
"Don't cause trouble here."
Thanos gave Fiora a side-eye.
Fiora said coolly, "This? Trouble? Hmph!"
Mephisto watched the spectacle, chuckling, "Hurry! Kill them all!"
"Mephi!"
Thanos growled.
Mephisto shrugged and shut his mouth.
He certainly didn't want to incur the wrath of the group.
If the four of them came after him together, he couldn't handle it.
"Alright, let's get down to business."
Thanos muttered, looking at Dormammu.
Dormammu had said he sensed a strange power that might aid their revenge.
Dormammu remained silent for several seconds. Just as Surtur was growing impatient, with the magma on his body beginning to flow, he spoke: "I sensed a formidable power, a great power originating from an ancient entity."
Fiora's eyes brightened; Surtur and Mephisto were curious.
Dormammu hesitated for a moment but decided to reveal it.
The power was strong, and he wasn't truly confident in taking it alone. Most importantly, it was only a small fraction of that power...
"The Phoenix Force."
"The Phoenix Force?"
Fiora asked quizzically, while the faces of Thanos, Surtur, and Mephisto hardened.
"Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"
Mephisto couldn't help but ask.
The Phoenix Force—even he was tempted by it.
After all, even an ordinary person, if they could withstand the Phoenix Force, could instantly become a supreme being in this universe. Even for them, acquiring the Phoenix Force would lead to a massive power increase.
Surtur's eyes shimmered.
The Phoenix Force, the Eternal Flame...
It sounded like destiny.
Thanos pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "You didn't have to tell us about this, did you?"
He didn't believe Dormammu was being so benevolent.
Dormammu's lips curled slightly, and he slowly said, "The Phoenix Force is not whole; you should know that it shattered into many fragments."
Thanos and Mephisto nodded, but Surtur and Fiora looked bewildered. Before they could ask, Dormammu continued, "The complete Phoenix Force shattered into many fragments, scattered across various dimensions. The Phoenix Force in this world is only one part of it."
Pausing, Dormammu said, "After I sensed the presence of the Phoenix Force, I discovered something interesting."
Upon hearing this, Thanos and the others grew curious.
"The Phoenix Force is aggregating."
"Aggregating?"
Mephisto cried out in surprise.
"Exactly, they are aggregating," Dormammu slowly stated. "My guess is that the fragments of the Phoenix Force not merged with a biological host are converging toward the hosts who have merged with the Phoenix Force, strengthening their power. The hosts of the Phoenix Force are also mutually attracted because of this. In short, they are aggregating."
"But why?"
Thanos asked skeptically.
The Phoenix Force has been scattered for so many years; why is it starting to aggregate now?
"Why? That's not important, hehe!"
Dormammu thought of the crucial implication and couldn't help but let out a sinister laugh, saying, "The key is that while the Phoenix Force is aggregating, we can pursue the Phoenix Force fragments across various universes! And then possess the complete Phoenix Force!"
(End of Chapter)