The merging process was difficult and slow, but it was definitely happening.
However, the power of the Tiger Talisman was too limited.
Even though this was less than one ten-thousandth of a fragment of the Phoenix Force, it was still far too powerful compared to the Tiger Talisman.
Using Jean's own power, the Phoenix Force violently tore open the psychic cage.
Jean could only barely resist it with the help of the Tiger Talisman.
Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Luke carefully considered his options and first gave Jean a Resurrection Cross and a Resurrection Coin.
Then he created another Tiger Talisman and placed it on Jean.
In theory, most equipment effects could stack, but only if the user had an inventory slot.
Luke wasn't sure whether Jean could simultaneously benefit from multiple Tiger Talismans.
Now he could only try—treating a dead horse as if it were still alive.
This second Tiger Talisman also merged into Jean's body, emitting another light of balance and fusion alongside the original talisman.
The Phoenix Force's resistance weakened, and the speed at which the two opposing personalities merged began to accelerate.
Realizing the danger, the Phoenix Force erupted completely and directly occupied Jean's sea of consciousness.
But the merging process continued.
Luke could also sense that within the body, Jean's consciousness was fiercely resisting, cooperating with the Tiger Talisman to weaken more than half of the Phoenix Force's power.
The Dark Phoenix personality glared fiercely at Luke, and brilliant Phoenix Fire erupted from her hands.
Just as Luke prepared to persuade her with reason (force), the Dark Phoenix threw the flames and immediately turned to run.
???
Wait—if you were going to run, why act so aggressive? I thought you were about to unleash a major attack!
Luke swatted away the flames with a dark expression and quickly gave chase.
At the same time, New York within the Mirror Dimension came alive, transforming into a living city behemoth that pressed toward the Dark Phoenix from all directions with overwhelming force.
The Dark Phoenix showed no fear. Seeing no escape in any direction, her flowing red hair danced in the wind as a terrifying aura spread across the sky.
Caw!!
A massive flaming Phoenix, dozens of meters tall, erupted behind Dark Phoenix Jean. Its agile form pierced through the entire city of New York and slammed violently against the sky of the Mirror Dimension.
Crack—!!
The Phoenix Force's inherent destructive and disintegrating power tore open the barrier of the Mirror Dimension, revealing the real New York beyond it.
Dark Phoenix Jean seized the opportunity and fled outward.
Luke pushed forward with both hands, and a blue current of freezing energy instantly sealed the shattered spatial passage, forming a Wall of Ice Sighs hundreds of meters thick.
At the same time, an even more powerful surge of cold energy shot toward Dark Phoenix Jean, colliding with the giant Phoenix behind her. The temperature of the entire space fluctuated wildly, rising and falling as ripples spread through space itself.
"Luke, must you really stop me? All for the sake of that awful woman…"
Dark Phoenix Jean's furrowed brow relaxed, and her flushed face curved into a seductive smile.
A flame-shaped mark appeared on her forehead. Combined with her enchanting eyes, it gave her an almost demonic charm.
Just like… a succubus!
"As long as you remove those two talismans and allow me to completely take over her consciousness, then I… will belong to you."
Dark Phoenix Jean gently stroked her cheek with her right hand, then she slowly sucked her index and middle fingers.
She let go of her now spit-drenched fingers and slowly slid them down inside her pants as she bit her lower lip seductively.
"She is cold and distant, but I burn like fire. I will give you the ultimate pleasure."
Dark Phoenix Jean stepped closer to Luke, caressing and fingering herself with one hand while the other traced across Luke's abdominal muscles.
The Dark Phoenix personality was indeed very skilled. She knew how to use all her advantages, combined with her power, to achieve her goals.
She was the Phoenix Force, and also the dark personality born from merging with Jean's consciousness.
She could control the Phoenix Force more easily than Jean Grey herself and could unleash nearly all of its power.
In terms of strength, Dark Phoenix Jean was definitely stronger than Jean Grey.
But… she was also far less reliable than Jean Grey.
Women could be unpredictable and prone to changing their minds, and the Phoenix—an embodiment of emotion—became even harder to predict after merging with human feelings.
If everything went according to her wishes, it might be fine.
But if she felt even the slightest dissatisfaction, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Luke naturally understood this.
Therefore, from the very beginning, he never intended to abandon Jean Grey and choose Dark Phoenix Jean.
Of course, that didn't mean he planned to give up on the Dark Phoenix.
Instead, he chose to…
Luke grabbed Dark Phoenix Jean's slender hand and slowly pulled her closer.
He could even feel the Dark Phoenix's scorching breath.
A flash of joy appeared in the Dark Phoenix's eyes as she continued in a seductive voice, "How about it? Whatever she can do, I can do as well. And what she cannot do, I can still do!"
"If you wish to destroy the world, I will raise world-ending flames for you, burn everything in existence, and forge an unrivaled crown for you with the blood and wails of the gods."
"If you wish to save the world, I will burn away all the evil in existence for you, using evil spirits and darkness to sweep away every enemy before your eyes."
"At that time, you will be the King of the World, and I will be your Queen!"
"That sounds great. I have to say, woman, you understand my heart very well."
Luke gently stroked her crimson cheek, his tense muscles gradually relaxing.
"Then you agree? Then make your choice quickly—just kill that bitch!"
Dark Phoenix Jean said urgently.
"Of course…"
Luke smiled brightly, secretly activating the Whitebeard template and fully unleashing his Conqueror's Haki. "I don't agree!"
Boom!!!
Luke thrust three Tiger Talismans into Dark Phoenix Jean's body in a single motion.
At the same time, he wrapped both arms around her, unleashing endless freezing energy.
"I choose—to have them both!"
"I want you, and I want Jean too!"
Luke fully circulated the energy within his body, converting it into ice and the power of Orochi's Earth Will.
He forcefully suppressed the Dark Phoenix's Phoenix Force.
Admittedly, the Phoenix Force held an extremely high status.
But Luke chose to use quantity to suppress the Phoenix's quality.
It was merely a fragment of the Phoenix Force, one piece among countless others.
He could still subdue it.
The Dark Phoenix was initially furious when Luke suddenly turned hostile and unleashed his power without warning.
But when she heard the domineering words—"to have them both"—Dark Phoenix Jean involuntarily softened slightly.
Of course, more importantly, five Tiger Talismans erupted simultaneously with the power of Yin-Yang balance, greatly accelerating the fusion of the Dark Phoenix personality and Jean.
With Luke's overwhelming suppression from the outside, Omega-level Jean Grey's psychic resistance from within, and the assistance of the Tiger Talismans, the rampant Phoenix Force was forcefully suppressed.
Dark Phoenix Jean resisted for barely ten seconds before being steadily forced back into the sea of consciousness.
A sigh filled with countless complicated emotions echoed in the air.
Dark Phoenix Jean lifted her charming eyes and looked deeply at Luke, as if she wanted to engrave him into her memory forever.
"Luke, you have successfully attracted my attention."
"I will remember you, forever and ever."
"I hope that the next time we meet, you will be just as tough as you were this time—and not turn into a soft-legged coward."
The Dark Phoenix stopped resisting the power of the Tiger Talismans, allowing them to pull her consciousness and Jean's consciousness together.
She opened her arms and embraced Luke, pressing her soft body tightly against his.
Ice and fire intertwined; instead of repelling each other, they triggered a strange chemical reaction.
"Don't be too proud. We will meet again soon."
Whoosh—!
The Dark Phoenix's consciousness receded like a tide, perfectly merging with Jean.
Jean's consciousness returned, and a trace of the enchanting Dark Phoenix flashed in her eyes.
"The Dark Phoenix's consciousness has disappeared. I can now completely control the Phoenix Fire. The crisis has been resolved."
Jean was still hugging Luke as she spoke softly.
Hearing this, Luke released Jean and withdrew all of his power.
He looked down at Jean Grey.
Jean Grey looked up and met Luke's gaze. "Thank you."
After speaking, Jean leaned closer.
____
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