At this moment in Pennsylvania, the Brotherhood of Mutants—or, more accurately, the vast majority of mutants willing to fight for their rights—had gathered here.
Jean Grey stood silently, dressed in a loose, reddish-brown robe.
However, a powerful aura was clearly building around Jean Grey, as if someone had provoked her again.
The mutants below looked at Jean Grey with fear in their eyes, occasionally mixed with a flash of adoration.
Even if Magneto were still alive and returned here now, it's doubtful many mutants would follow him, as they had already been conquered by the immense power of the Phoenix Force.
"Boom!" Just at the edge of Jean Grey's gaze, a fighter jet appeared—another one from the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, still utilizing their most advanced technology.
This time, the Xavier Institute had deployed most of its students; anyone capable of controlling their powers had come.
While not all of them would necessarily participate in combat, they needed to send a clear message to humanity: the Xavier Institute was holding nothing back; this time, they were giving it their all!
"They actually came?" Mystique's eyes flashed with surprise.
She considered herself someone who understood Charles, but she couldn't quite grasp why he would still side with humanity when the situation was so advantageous for them.
Besides, mutants forming an autonomous state wasn't about seceding from human society.
Even with an autonomous state, mutants would still be part of humanity and couldn't completely detach from human society.
Mutants were merely demonstrating their strength to gain their rightful place.
What was wrong with that?
"Jean, I'm back!" Cyclops's excited voice echoed in the sky as he flew directly out of the jet.
At this moment, he was filled with confidence.
"Jean, I will definitely bring you back!"
"Bring me back?" Hearing this, Jean Grey vaguely recalled some unpleasant memories—the memories of the Dark Phoenix personality being imprisoned in a psychic cage.
And so, Jean Grey grew angry.
"Boom!" A dazzling, orange-red blast of power rocketed towards Cyclops.
Jean Grey intended to obliterate both her annoying boyfriend, Cyclops, and everyone from the Xavier Institute.
"Bang!" There was a loud crash.
However, the current Cyclops was no longer the one who couldn't control his abilities.
Powerful shockwaves shot from his eyes, clashing head-on with the Phoenix Force, and he wasn't even at a disadvantage in the power struggle!
While Cyclops was fine, the other mutants around him weren't so lucky, especially the students inside the Xavier Institute jet.
After the collision between the shockwave and the Phoenix Force, the entire jet began to tremble.
"Land!" Fortunately, the Xavier Institute's jet was a high-tech aircraft with excellent defense and shock resistance.
Thus, Ororo quickly brought the students safely to the ground.
"Raven, it's been three months.
Has Erik appeared?" Charles's somewhat hopeless voice sounded in Mystique's ear.
This time, Jean Grey's attention was drawn to Cyclops, giving him a chance to communicate with Mystique.
"Erik should still be recovering…" Mystique frowned.
Although she hadn't seen Magneto in three months, and it was normal for him to recuperate for so long after being severely injured by Huang Wen and Jean Grey last time, she hadn't paid much attention.
However, Charles had mentioned Magneto's situation for the second time, making Mystique hesitate.
"Three months ago, I sensed that something might have happened to Erik, so I quickly contacted you, but my consciousness was dispersed by Jean.
In these three months, I haven't found an opportunity to speak to you alone…" Charles sighed softly, explaining.
"Erik was first sent flying by a palm strike from Huang Wen, and then he was injured by the shockwaves from Jean and Huang Wen's battle, so he found a secluded place to heal…" Mystique asked hesitantly, "When you say something happened to Erik, you mean his injuries, right?"
"No, I mean Erik might already be dead." Charles's voice carried a faint sadness.
"I contacted you as soon as I sensed it, but unfortunately…"
"Erik, dead?!" A flicker of sadness crossed Mystique's eyes.
But when she saw Jean Grey floating in mid-air, her emotions slowly calmed down.
"Erik's matter can wait until after this is resolved.
Right now, the most important thing is the mutants forming an autonomous state.
Charles, are you really going to stop us?"
"I'm sorry, Raven, you know I have no choice.
Such a massive conflict will only make more ordinary people reject us…" Charles's voice grew steadily firmer.
"Boom!" Before Charles and Mystique could finish speaking, another roar echoed in the sky.
The Phoenix Force and the shockwave collided once more.
Again, it was a stalemate, demonstrating how powerful Cyclops's current enhancement was, allowing him to go head-to-head with the incomplete Phoenix Force.
"Hmph! If this body hadn't grown, how could you possibly stop me? And do you really think I'm using my full power?" Jean Grey's dissatisfied and icy voice rang out.
In the next moment, a destructive force gradually rose from Jean Grey's body.
It turned out that Jean Grey had only used the energy within the Phoenix Force, without any specific attributes or so-called laws, the reason being the emotional power that had inexplicably awakened within her, influencing her.
"Bang!" Just as Jean Grey's destructive power was about to reach its peak, a heavy thud suddenly sounded nearby.
Everyone looked over to see a large green figure emerge from the dust, accompanied by three other people.
Indeed, these four were the Hulk, Logan, John, and Yuriko.
"Looks like we're a little late, but not too late, I guess!" Logan surveyed his surroundings, looking at Jean Grey and Cyclops floating in mid-air.
He suddenly rubbed his eyes.
"Uh, am I getting old and seeing things?
That person in the sky, why does he look so much like that kid Scott?
How come he's not wearing glasses and can fly now?"