The group wasted no time and immediately entered Jean's room.
She was sitting weakly on her bed, looking guilt-ridden and exhausted—her emotional state clearly unstable.
"Alex, Charles… I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself."
The moment she saw them, Jean quickly sat upright, shame flooding her features.
"No one is blaming you, Jean. And you didn't hurt anyone."
Charles quickly comforted her with his usual calm gentleness.
"Jean, there's no need to blame yourself. Based on my guess, someone may have been manipulating you."
Alex said seriously.
"Don't try to soothe me like a child. I know what I did. I know what I am."
Jean shook her head, defeated.
"You misunderstand, Jean. I'm not comforting you."
Alex smiled faintly as he pulled up a chair and sat beside her bed.
"Tell me about the voice you heard. Tell me about Ta Lo."
"You already heard from Charles, right?"
Jean glanced at Charles. He nodded.
Only then did she begin to gather her thoughts, speaking slowly.
"Around three years ago… a voice suddenly appeared in my mind."
"A voice that felt like it came from deep inside my heart."
"It kept telling me to go to a place called Ta Lo."
"That only by going there… could I truly solve my problem."
"That if I didn't… one day I would lose complete control—and destroy everything."
"Alex… that voice wasn't a hallucination. It felt like a calling. A… destiny."
Jean's voice grew dimmer with despair.
Even now, after so many years, she still knew so little about the terrifying force within her.
And she feared it more than anyone.
"Besides the voice—was there anything else?"
Alex continued.
"At first I could only hear it. And I could vaguely see a place… but it was always shrouded in mist. I couldn't make it out."
"But just now—when I lost control—I saw a few clearer images."
"It was a beautiful place… mountains, lakes… peaceful."
"And I'm certain—that place is connected to the power inside me."
Charles, Erik, and the others listened in dead silence.
Jean took a breath, then looked up:
"Alex… Charles… I've already made my decision."
"I'm going to find Ta Lo."
"Hold on."
Alex raised a hand.
"Jean, can you draw the fragments you saw?"
"Of course."
She nodded.
Paper and pencil were brought in quickly.
Jean wasn't a trained artist, but she sketched diligently, recreating the mystical scene.
Alex leaned over—
And instantly recognized it.
Ta Lo.
Even with Jean's imprecise drawing, Alex recognized the distinct mountain seal.
"Just as I thought."
He nodded.
Jean's eyes sharpened.
"Alex, what does that mean? Do you know what this place is?"
Charles and Erik also looked over eagerly—hope lighting their faces.
If Alex knew this place—
Then Jean's problem might finally have a solution.
"Yes, Jean. I know this place. And I can tell you with certainty…"
"Your loss of control isn't your fault."
Alex didn't mince words.
He explained everything about Ta Lo:
The hidden realm.
The mystical guardians.
The divine dragon.
And the ancient evil—the Dweller-in-Darkness.
The others were stunned.
It sounded like a legend, a fantasy tale.
But since it came from Alex—
They believed every word.
"So you're saying… if we destroy this Dweller-in-Darkness, Jean will be free?"
Erik growled, eyes cold.
"Then we go kill that damn thing!"
"And we will."
Alex nodded without hesitation.
Even if Shang-Chi would eventually kill it… that wasn't the point.
Jean was Krakoa's family.
And the Dweller had targeted her.
That alone meant:
It must die.
"Rest for now, Jean."
Alex stood and left the room.
Immediately, Krakoa began investigating Ta Lo.
Alex joined the search, using his super-human perception.
But Ta Lo was no ordinary place.
A divine dragon guarded it.
Ancient mystical spells shielded it.
Even Charles using Cerebro found nothing.
"We got absolutely nothing… This place really is extraordinary."
Erik muttered.
It was shocking—even for Charles.
Which only confirmed how mysterious Ta Lo truly was.
"In that case…"
Alex thought for a moment.
"There's only one way left."
"We find Shang-Chi."
According to the original story, the pendants Shang-Chi and his sister Xialing wore were the keys to locating Ta Lo.
If they couldn't find Ta Lo normally—
Then Shang-Chi was their best bet.
"Leave this to me."
Alex said confidently.
Finding Ta Lo was hard—
But finding Shang-Chi?
Child's play.
He activated his super hearing—
And scanned the entire United States.
"Got him."
His eyes brightened.
BOOM!
A sonic blast—
And Alex vanished.l
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