Psylocke crossed her arms and fixed Aron with a skeptical gaze. "You're pnning to take enosha? Do you even know what you're walking into? Shield, the Avengers, even the X-Men stay clear of that pce for a reason."

  Aron leaned back, unfazed by her tone. "Jean told me about the advaeology on the isnd. I've faced worse. If Genosha's tech is the biggest obstacle, I'll disma."

  Psylocke shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You don't get it. The tech's not the only problem. Sure, Genosha's defenses are advanced, but the real threat is who's running the show there." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "Do you know about Sugar Man and Gengenier?"

  Aron frowned. "I've heard the names but didn't think they were still relevant. Weren't they old Genosha operatives?"

  Psylocke snorted bitterly. "Relevant? They're the reason Genosha's untouchable. Sugar Man's no ordinary threat—he's a bio-geicist who stumbled upon something no one else should've. He and Gengenier found an a site buried deep in Genosha. It was some sort of vault—ohat housed mutants from a fotten age."

  Jean's eyes widened. "A mutants? Like the legend of Apocalypse and the Horsemen?"

  "Close enough or maybe older," Psylocke expined. "They weren't ordinary mutants. These were proto-mutants, the kind of powerhouses who could crush armies on their own. Sugar Man found a way to ehem, twisting them into something worse. He calls them Mutates—a mutants stripped of their free will and bound to his trol."

  Aron ched his fists. "And this is why Shield and the others don't act? They're afraid of these... Mutates?"

  "It's not fear," Psylocke said, her voice sharp. "It's practicality. Every strike force that's gone up against Sugar Man has been wiped out. Shield sent one of their best units years ago, and they didn't even make it to the isnd's core. Then Wakanda and Ironmaed intervening, but even they weren't willing to risk it. Genosha's untouchable because it's a death senteo challehem ht."

  Jubilee groaned, sinking into her seat. "So, let me get this straight. There's an army of a mutants under Genosha, trolled by a psycho stist, and that's who you're pnning to fight?"

  Aron's expression darkened, but there was a dangerous spark of resolve in his eyes. "If no one else will free those mutants, then I will. They're ensved, just like the rest of Genosha's popution. That ends now."

  "How?" Psylocke pressed. "I'm not questioning your strength, Aron, but brute force isn't enough here. Sugar Man's had years to fortify his trol. He's not going to let anyone waltz in and take over his empire."

  "What if we cut off his trol over them?" Jubilee suggested. "Like, I don't know, short-circuiting his maes? If these Mutates are being mind-trolled, then they be freed, right?"

  "hat's risky. We have no idea how the mutates or the A mutants would react. For all we know, they could drown the isnd in blood before we have a ce to do anything. And sidering they are a, the risk is too big," Aron looked at Jean. "I alone might not be able to do this. Jean, you o master your Phoenix Force. Together, we will break their trol and stop them." Then he looked at Wanda. "And Wanda will take this ce to destroy Sugar Man and Genegineer or whatever he is, ond for all."

  "t me in," Wanda said without hesitation.

  "Just three of you?" Psylocke said. "I don't think so. I'll help you as well."

  "Me too," Kitty said. "Don't t us out again."

  "You fetting me," Jubilee added. "I'm not sitting on the sidelines while you guys go and have all the fun."

  [Woofff! Wooff!] Goldy barked, wagging his tail.

  Aron sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, alright. You're part of the team, Goldy. I'll need your o sniff out any Mutates anyway." He then g the girls. "The more help we get, the better. But we 't endanger anyone else. If you want to join us, you o be ready to risk everything. People will die. This isn't a game, and I 't afford to worry about anyone when we face Genosha."

  "I'm in," Kitty said without hesitation.

  "We are not afraid," Jubilee said firmly.

  Wanda smirked. "I've been waiting for this moment."

  Jean smiled. "her am I."

  "Theter get to training," Psylocke said. "We've got our work cut out for us."

  Aron nodded. "I agree. Our first step is to get stronger and hone our abilities. I'll awaken your tent talents with my Phoenix Force after you master your present power."

  "Latent talents?" Jubilee raised her brow. "What do you mean?"

  "There's a reason why only a handful of mutants reach their full potential. It's not because they aren't trying hard enough or they don't have the natural talent. Rather, it's because they ck the knowledge to unlock their potential."

  Jean frowned. "Are you saying there's some sort of hidden limit?"

  "Yup. Take Jubilee for example. She create explosions and fireworks, right? Guess what would happen if I were to improve that power?" Aron asked.

  Jubilee tilted her head. "I don't know, bigger explosions? Maybe an even cooler-looking firework?"

  Aron grinned. "Explosions equal to that of nuclear explosions."

  Jubilee's eyes bulged. "Say what?!"

  "What about me?" Pietro who was sitting in the er in silence finally spoke.

  "I promised Wanda not to put you in danger. So, ask your sis," Aron said.

  Pietro stared at his sister for a moment before she relented.

  "Fine. If you want to join, you practice with me."

  Pietro nodded silently.

  ...

  Sihey would stay there, food and water would be their priority. Aron used his portal, went to the city, and bought enough food for one month. He alsht several teens filled with water.

  "This should hold us for a while," he said. "But don't get fortable. We're starting immediately. First Jean."

  Jean stood up nervously. She didn't know what to expect, but she was more than ready to learn. She had been through so mu the past few days and the thought of reag her full potential excited her.

  "I saw how you trolled yer back then. You stopped that power from ing you," Aron said. "Now I need you to focus on that same feeling. You o trol the Phoenix force without suppressing it." He grabbed her hand and teleported far into the sky. "You ready?"

  "Yes," Jean answered.

  "The's go."

  Aron unleashed his Phoenix Force, transf into a golden aura. "This is the protective aura. It will help you sense danger and shield your body. As long as you maintain it, nothing harm you."

  Jean tried to replicate it, but she failed miserably.

  "Again," He instructed. "Stop restraining the power. Let it flow... Like you are breathing. Don't trol it or force it. You're oh the Phoenix."

  Jean closed her eyes, breathing deeply as she tried to calm her mind. The Phoenix Force surged within her, wild and untamed, like a tempest she couldn't quite grasp. The sky turned bck with clouds. "Let it flow," she whispered to herself, eg Aron's words. "Oh the Phoenix."

  Aron watched her struggle, his golden aura flickering faintly. "Focus, Jean. Don't let fear dictate your as. The Phoenix Force isn't a curse—it's a part of you. Feel it, accept it."

  Jean's body trembled as she let go of her mental barriers. For a moment, the energy within her surged outward in an untrolled burst, engulfing the sky in a fiery bze of red and gold. Aron raised a hand, shielding himself as the wind howled and the temperature spiked. But then, as quickly as it erupted, it stabilized.

  'Nice! I knew she could do it,' He smiled.

  Jean's aura began to glow—a warm, steady light that radiated power and trol. Her eyes opened, glowing faintly with fiery energy. Even her veins were glowing with the Phoenix Force. "I feel it," she said softly. "It's not fighting me anymore. It's… listening."

  Aron nodded, "Good. Now, let's see if you use it." He poio the horizon, where a cluster of storm clouds was gathering. "trol your power, and disperse that storm."

  Jean raised her hands, her fiery aura expanding around her. She could feel the Phoenix Force humming at her and, no longer a chaotic force but a willing ally. She extended her will toward the storm, imagining it breaking apart under her influehe clouds resisted at first, but then, as if yielding to her newfound mastery, they began to dissipate ihin air, revealing the clear blue sky behind them.

  Aron cpped his hands once, his grin widening. "hat's reality manipution. Not bad for your first try. But don't get cocky. This is just the beginning."

  ---

  AN: If you are w about prade, Phoenix Force do that, it's called Polification. And it even awake power or mutation. And I'm thinking of making Goldy a super doggy. The girl in the harem will be Jubilee at the end of this training arc.

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