Marvel: Umbrella Corporation

With a resounding clang, Jean unleashed a powerful burst of red energy from within. Her long red hair instantly floated upwards, suspended by the sheer force of her power.

When she opened her eyes, they glowed a vivid red, with the fleeting image of a phoenix flickering within.

The immense Phoenix Force emanated from her, incinerating everything around her to ashes.

As an ancient cosmic force, the Phoenix Force represented unborn life, creation, and destruction. Though Jean held only a fraction of its power, it was enough to obliterate the Planet Earth.

For the first time, Apocalypse's face contorted in shock and apprehension as he faced the terrifying Phoenix Force.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

Jean remained silent, her last sliver of sanity focusing her destructive intent on her target.

"Die!"

Behind her, a massive fiery phoenix materialized, its force surging toward Apocalypse.

Apocalypse quickly raised a shield around him to fend off Jean's onslaught.

"Ahhhhh!!"

A cry of pain escaped him.

Clearly, Apocalypse's power was no match for Jean's; he was overwhelmed and on the defensive.

"I am a god! How could a mere mortal hurt me?"

With a roar, he unleashed his energy, forming a gray energy shield around himself.

Seeing the tide turn, Erik and Lorna put aside their fatigue, manipulating metal to hurl it toward Apocalypse.

*BOOM!*

Tony, regaining some strength, raised his hand, releasing a blast from his red energy cannon.

Although no one quite understood how Jean had suddenly become so powerful, everyone around her immediately joined the assault with everything they had.

In a distant ruined building, hidden behind a shattered window, Psylocke watched Apocalypse being pushed back. She lowered her weapon, her psychic blades vanishing as she prepared to leave.

"Betsy Braddock, former American, Hellfire Club member, later recruited by Apocalypse."

Hearing someone speak her name and backstory, Psylocke instantly summoned her twin psychic blades and turned warily toward the staircase.

A man, dressed in black armor that obscured his entire form, stepped into view. Three others dressed identically followed him.

"Who are you?"

The leading man did not respond immediately, simply saying, "The Hellfire Club still has a bounty on your head. Only we can protect you."

"So, who are you?" Psylocke narrowed her eyes, gripping her weapons tightly.

If anything went wrong, she was prepared to escape through the window.

"My name is William. I belong to the Umbrella U.S.S. team."

"So, is it you recruiting me or Umbrella?"

"Me."

William's tone shifted to mild interest, though his helmet concealed any expression.

"I see potential in you, and you lack affiliations. My team just happens to need new members."

Psylocke's eyes flickered with interest. She knew her circumstances were as he described—having betrayed the Hellfire Club, and being a mutant, her future looked bleak.

Joining the renowned Umbrella might not be a bad choice.

"How do I know you won't just hand me over to the Hellfire Club?"

"The Hellfire Club is nothing worth mentioning."

Seeing his confidence, Psylocke nodded slightly.

"I hope Umbrella doesn't disappoint me."

"Rest assured."

With that, William led the members of the Omicron team toward the window.

"Hurry and get the equipment ready. Don't let the target escape."

"Yes, Captain."

Soon, they began unloading boxes, taking out various pieces of equipment.

..........

In the skies above, with a loud cry, the golden armor on Apocalypse disintegrated into ashes.

"Ughh!!"

A deep, pained groan escaped him, and the indifference and superiority once present in his gaze were replaced by terror.

The woman before him possessed a power far beyond his comprehension, a power perhaps matched only by those who dared call themselves gods.

"Who… are you?"

Jean's face twisted in rage and sorrow as she looked at Apocalypse. She struggled to keep her voice in check, her will battling to maintain control.

Inwardly, she could feel a voice urging her to relax, to surrender control.

With her knowledge of psychology, she suspected this was her second consciousness—a part of her she would not allow to take over.

Who knew what her other self might do?

But the voice in her mind only grew louder.

"We are one. Why resist me?"

"No… Get out of my head! Ahh!"

With a fierce cry, her Phoenix Force flared anew, obliterating Apocalypse's inner armor and even searing his flesh.

However, with his powerful regenerative abilities, he quickly healed.

This couldn't go on. At this rate, he would surely die! Realizing his dire situation, Apocalypse prepared to open a portal to escape.

Everyone below noticed this.

"Jean, he's trying to escape!"

"We need to step up our attacks!"

"Quick, interrupt him!"

Charles, seated in his wheelchair, cast a concerned glance at Jean. But there was no time for hesitation, so he placed his hands on his temples.

A wave of powerful mental energy surged forth, targeting Apocalypse's mind.

With Charles's mental assault, Apocalypse struggled to focus, his portal failing to materialize.

Under normal circumstances, Charles's mental power would be insignificant to him.

But now, with Apocalypse managing his shield, enduring physical pain, and defending against Jean's attacks, Charles's mental attack became too much.

"Now!"

Three adamantium rods, controlled by Erik, pierced Apocalypse's shield, embedding into his body. Erik then used the metal to drag Apocalypse down to the ground.

With a loud crash, dust erupted, only to be disintegrated instantly by the Phoenix Force. Apocalypse knelt on one knee, his body bloodied, with three rods still lodged in him, looking utterly defeated.

"Die!"

With a shout that was a mix of fury and despair, Jean unleashed her full Phoenix Force, and Apocalypse's body dissolved into dust.

"Nooooo!!"

Apocalypse's final, anguished scream echoed before he vanished completely.

Witnessing this, the people around displayed a mixture of excitement, relief, disbelief, and confusion.

They had prepared themselves for the worst, yet Apocalypse had been defeated so unexpectedly.

"Jean! What are you doing?"

As they prepared to celebrate, Erik's shocked voice cut through the air.

Everyone turned to see Jean, her Phoenix Force still blazing, with her gaze now fixed on Charles.

Hovering in pain, Charles was lifted from his wheelchair by Jean's power.

"It was you… who sealed me away for so long!"

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