chapter 299

Chapter 299:

– Layla –

I blasted out of Magneto's damn meteor base, following the sounds of fighting and explosions. As I shot out of the massive asteroid, my eyes narrowed when I realized where we were. His floating fortress was hovering directly above New York City. Specifically, right over the part of town where my penthouse was—where my family lived.

"Of all places," I muttered darkly.

A wave of cosmic energy rippled through the air. I turned to see Jean Grey standing across from Charles Xavier on the rooftop of my own building. The two of them were locked in some kind of psychic showdown. I was surprised she hadn't already mopped the floor with him, but she looked utterly drained.

"Guess it's up to me."

I dove down and landed directly behind the professor. Jean's eyes flickered with relief when she saw me, though she shot a curious glance at my new wings.

My fingers tightened around Charles Xavier’s neck. He was so focused on his psychic struggle with Jean that he didn’t even flinch when I grabbed him. One twist and a sickening crack echoed across the rooftop.

Jean’s eyes flicked to me, a sharp look of surprise more than shock. “Layla, couldn’t you have just knocked him out?”

I met her gaze without a hint of regret. “No. Charles was too dangerous. He was an Omega-level telepath who could control any mutant he wanted, but Cul turned him into a puppet like it was nothing. That’s not a risk we could keep around.”

Jean shrugged, glancing down at his limp body, sitting in the wheelchair, without much emotion. “I get it. It was probably for the best, although the rest of the X-men won’t see it that way when they find out Charles is dead.”

I nodded and turned my attention back to the chaos around us. The sounds of fighting echoed through the city. Flames and smoke rose in the distance, and explosions shook the air. “Where’s Cul? He stole the Power Stone, and I’m taking it back.”

Jean’s eyes shifted to the skyline where smoke billowed above Central Park. “If you mean that insane Asgardian who came out of the asteroid, demanding the Mind Stone, he’s over there. Loki, Akeno, Natasha, and Carol are fighting him and Magneto.”

[Go fuck him up and take back what's yours!]

{Quest Started: Ascension}

{Defeat Cul and claim both of his Infinity Stones!}

…

“Mom!”

I spun around in mid-air, my heart clenching at the sound of Heather’s voice. She was flying up to me, her eight black wings outstretched and looking pristine, even if her outfit was shredded and splattered with blood. My pulse slowed a little when I saw none of it was hers.

“Are you okay, Heather?” I asked, my eyes scanning her up and down for any hidden injuries.

She nodded, drifting closer with a tired but determined look in her eyes. “Yeah, I’m good. All of this blood isn’t mine.” She let out a breath. “I’ve been handling riots all over the city. It’s like everyone’s lost their damn minds. Some assholes took this chaos as an opportunity to cause trouble.”

My jaw clenched at that, but before I could say anything, Heather went on, “I saw Spider-Man and a few others doing the same thing, but they weren’t exactly handling it like I was. I took care of the worst of the worse. There were a lot of men trying to take advantage of the chaos and–”

I drifted closer and pulled her into a hug, feeling her body relax a bit against mine. “I’m sorry you’re stuck in this mess. I didn’t want to pull you out of university to help.”

Heather smiled at me, a quick flash of warmth cutting through the seriousness in her eyes. “Mom, I was never going to have a normal life. If I wanted that, I wouldn’t have become a Fallen Angel in the first place.” She tilted her head slightly, her expression shifting to concern. “Is Asia okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, she’s fine. The Doom Slayer’s got her well protected in case anything else pops up.”

The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of Heather’s lips. There was definitely something I was missing there.

“You know,” she said, eyeing me up and down with a curious look, “your new golden wings are really pretty. But where did they come from?”

“I absorbed the power of the Mind Stone,” I said, feeling the weight of that truth settle over me. “A couple of my other pairs of wings will probably change soon too.”

I glanced towards Central Park, the chaos below pulling my attention. The dark storm cloud above it was alive, flashing with continuous bolts of lightning. Akeno was clearly putting up one hell of a fight against Cul. I wondered how much juice he had left after sealing me away. If the Mind Stone hadn’t helped, I would’ve been stuck there much longer.

[I helped too!]

The system chimed in my head. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes slightly. ‘Yes, yes, you did. And I’m grateful, really.’

[Damn right you are!]

Heather’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Are you going to take down another bad guy?”

I smirked, the adrenaline sparking in my veins. “Damn right, I am.”

She grinned, her eyes glinting with pride. “Go kick his ass, Mom!” She looked down, her smile fading as she spotted two cars slamming into each other in the streets below. “For fucks sake…” Heather flew down to help,

– Loki –

The truth was, Loki had given up his quest for the throne of Asgard. It wasn’t worth the headache, the betrayal, or the endless fights. He would have loved to explain that to the evil uncle he never knew existed, but Cul hadn’t given them a chance to talk before he and his mind-controlled puppet decided to attack them.

Cul Borson, Odin’s deranged brother, stood in the center of Central Park, eyes blazing with the crazed hunger of someone who wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted. He kept demanding to know where the Mind Stone was, insisting that he could sense its energy all over Loki, the “false son of Odin.”

Loki smirked at that. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever called me,” he muttered. He hated Odin and everything he represented, so being called a false son felt like a compliment.

Before he could revel in his defiance, Magneto—puppet extraordinaire—ripped a nearby park bench from the ground. The metal groaned and twisted, reforming into large, deadly spears. In an instant, they were all flying toward Loki, each one aimed with pinpoint precision and moving faster than sound.

“Shit,” Loki breathed, bracing for impact.

But Carol Danvers swooped in, a blur of gold and energy, taking the hit for him. The spears clanged off her with a metallic screech, shattering as if they’d hit a brick wall. Loki wasn’t entirely sure what her powers were; they reminded him of the Space Stone with their sheer raw energy. Whatever it was, she was fast, strong, and apparently, a walking shield.

“Get your head in the game, trickster,” she snapped, glancing at him over her shoulder before diving back into the fray.

“Where is my aunt!?” Akeno’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and filled with rage. She floated in the air, lightning crackling around her like an electric storm. Her eyes locked onto Cul, daring him to answer.

Cul just sneered. He didn’t need words to show his disdain. He waved a hand, his eyes glinting with a dark red energy. The lightning surrounding Akeno fizzled out instantly and transformed into a chittering, writhing swarm of spiders that fell to the ground and began scuttling toward them.

“Oh, fuck,” Loki whispered, eyes going wide. He recognized that aura. “He has the Reality Stone...”

Loki quickly hopped back, his boots digging into the scorched ground as the wave of spiders rushed at him. The swarm was taller than he was, their tiny legs and chittering bodies making his skin crawl. Before they reached him, Carol blasted them with a wave of her cosmic power, burning them to a crisp, while Natasha took care of the stragglers with a quick fire spell. Loki’s brows rose. The red-headed spy had definitely picked up a few new tricks since the last time he’d seen her. It only reinforced his decision—trying to conquer this world or Asgard wasn’t worth the effort.

Natasha landed next to him, eyes sharp and focused. “Loki, if Cul has an Infinity Stone, you need to use yours to counter it.”

Loki chuckled, rubbing his jaw with an exaggerated sigh. “About that…” He started, dragging out his words. “I kind of lost it.”

Natasha’s eyes went wide before narrowing into a glare. “You WHAT? Are you joking right now? This isn’t the time for any tricks, Loki!”

Before he could respond, she grabbed him and yanked him to the ground as a metal projectile whizzed past, nearly shaving off the top of his head. They slammed into the charred grass as another barrage came from Magneto. The master of magnetism had been busy, summoning a collection of nearby cars and twisting them into sharp projectiles. Loki cursed under his breath. This day just kept getting better.

Loki pushed himself up and conjured a dagger, hurling it at Magneto’s throat. The blade stopped mid-air and shot back at him. Loki dismissed the magic before it could hit him, watching as it vanished in a shimmer. Even conjured metal was under Magneto’s control. What an annoying bastard.

“Answer me, Loki!” Natasha shouted, throwing multiple light spears at Magneto. He blocked them with a massive slab of metal, the spears shattering harmlessly against it.

“I’m not playing any tricks,” Loki snapped. “The Mind Stone has a mind of its own. After I freed the Phoenix Avatar from its control, it just… vanished.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Natasha’s voice was sharp, filled with frustration. “Cul thinks you still have it!” She pointed an accusatory finger at him.

Loki nodded, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. “Yes, and that’s probably good for us. He’s clearly done something to delay Layla. If Cul believes the stone is with me, he won’t be going anywhere. We need to give your darling angelic goddess the time she needs to break free and come save our collective asses.”

Natasha’s eyes flickered with something between disbelief and grudging agreement. “Fine,” she said, shifting her focus back to the battle. “But if you get us killed with this gamble, I’ll find a way to haunt you.”

“I’d expect nothing less,” Loki said, throwing a glance at Carol and Akeno, who were both exchanging blows with Cul. He could see the sweat on their brows and the strain in their movements. They were both slowly pushing him back, but that’s when an extra aura stacked on top of Cul’s already dark red one. This one was purple and sent Carol blasting backwards out of the park, where she crashed hard into a building.

– Layla –

I arrived at the park just in time to see Cul punch Carol square in the face with a glowing purple fist. The impact sent her flying out of the park and into the distance. Cul’s voice thundered as he roared, “Hand over the Mind Stone!” He slammed the Power Stone into the pommel of his massive Asgardian greatsword, and the blade started pulsing with a dangerous energy. I caught sight of Akeno’s eyes going wide as Cul raised the weapon, aiming to slice her in half.

Before the blade could fall, I was there, my body moving faster than thought. A purple lightspear formed in my hand, intercepting Cul’s strike with a sharp clash that sent sparks skittering across the ground.

“Aunt Layla! You’re okay!” Akeno’s voice broke through the tension, relief flooding her features.

“Ara, Akeno-chan, were you worried about me?” I couldn’t help but tease her in the same tone she always spoke with, sparing her a quick glance.

Akeno puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away, trying to hide her embarrassment. “It’s been a very stressful day...”

I had to give her that. Both of her girlfriends had been mind-controlled and turned against her, and it was a miracle they were safe now.

“Jean is fine,” I told her. “I dealt with Charles.”

“How dare you ignore me!” Cul’s voice snarled, vibrating with anger. He poured all his strength into our locked weapons, the Power Stone’s glow intensifying.

“You look tired, Cul,” I said, my tone dripping with mock sympathy. “Trapping me in that illusion must have taken a lot out of you.”

His eyes darkened, turning an unnatural black as he snarled, “I still have two Infinity Stones, and you have none! You shall know Fear.”

I felt the familiar push against my mind, the same insidious fear attack he had used on me before. His eyes gleamed as he tried to overwhelm me with pure, gut-wrenching terror. But those days were over. The Mind Stone and I were one now, and his tricks didn’t stand a chance.

[Be gone, evil thought!]

The system’s voice rang in my head, its usual sass even more satisfying now.

Cul let out a scream, throwing his head back as a snarl of pain ripped from his throat. Blood-red tears dripped from his eyes. “How is that possible?” he demanded, his voice raw. “How are you resisting Fear?” He pushed himself harder, drawing on even more power from the stones, but it was clear he was reaching his limit. His movements had a desperation now, the kind that told me he was on the edge.

I took advantage of the opening, knocking his greatsword aside and snaking my free hand forward to grab him by the throat. His eyes widened, and I leaned in, meeting his glare with a smile that promised nothing good. “You have something that belongs to me, and I intend to collect interest,” I said, tightening my grip. “Both of those Infinity Stones are going to be mine.”

“Help me, slave!” Cul choked out, his voice strained as my grip around his neck tightened. I could feel his pulse pounding against my fingers. I wasn’t going to end this quickly. Not after everything he put me through. No, this was going to be dragged out a bit. He deserved it.

A sudden rush of air behind me made me turn my head just as Akeno’s voice rang out. “Aunt Layla, watch out!”

A mid-sized Jeep slammed into my back with a force that would have broken a lesser being in half. The metal bent and wrapped around my body, groaning as it tried to crush me. I clicked my tongue in annoyance and flared out my sixteen wings. Metal shards and pieces of the destroyed Jeep flew in all directions, clattering to the ground around us.

I glanced at Magneto, who was hovering nearby with a cold, focused expression. He had been fighting Loki and Natasha when I arrived, but it looked like he’d come to save his master now.

“Charles Xavier is dead,” I said, my voice sharp as I looked back at Cul. “How are you still controlling Magneto?”

Cul’s lips twisted into a dark grin despite the pressure around his neck. “Heh, I made sure the cripple planted one final powerful suggestion in the metal man’s mind. For the rest of his life, he’ll never disobey a direct order.”

[Wait a minute! He did what now?]

Akeno, who was floating beside me, her ten black wings flared out and ready, caught on immediately. She turned her sharp gaze toward Magneto and shouted, “Knock yourself unconscious!”

Cul’s eyes widened, panic crossing his face. “What? No! That won’t—”

To everyone’s surprise, Magneto reached up, pulled his helmet off, and, using his powers, reshaped it into a small metal bat. Without a second thought, he swung it at his own face. The sick thud of metal against flesh echoed as he smacked himself hard, once, twice, three times. On the fourth hit, he dropped to the grass, unmoving.

Loki and Natasha moved toward us, both of them staring at Magneto’s crumpled form. Loki threw his hands up in the air, muttering various curses in ancient Asgardian. “It was that easy to beat this old man all along!?”

I smirked, tightening my grip on Cul’s neck until his eyes bulged. His breathing turned ragged, a mix of rage and desperation flashing across his face. I leaned in close, my voice cold. “You have something that belongs to me, and I’m taking it back. Both stones are mine.”

Cul tried to draw on the Power Stone’s energy, but he was too weak now. The greatsword slipped from his fingers and left a small crater in the ground.

“End this, Layla.” Natasha sounded like she was pretty much done with this whole fiasco at this point.

“Do you have any last words?” I asked, my voice cold and unwavering as I stared down at Cul. His face was twisted in anger and desperation, his eyes bloodshot and wild.

“This isn’t over, we will–”

Crack!

I didn’t care to hear the rest. His neck snapped cleanly under my grip, the sound sharp and final. The so-called God of Fear, brother of Odin Borson, was dead. I released him, and his body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

I stood there, taking in the sight as a red glow surrounded his corpse. The Reality Stone appeared on top of his chest, humming with raw energy. Without wasting a moment, I reached down and grabbed it, the warmth of the stone pulsing against my skin. As I pocketed the Reality Stone, my eyes shifted to the greatsword lying beside him. The Power Stone, still embedded in the pommel, shimmered with a familiar violet light.

“Don’t mind if I do,” I muttered, prying the Power Stone from its place. The moment it touched my palm, a jolt of energy rushed through me. It didn’t have a mind of its own, but it felt as if it recognized me, almost like it was happy to be back with me.

I glanced up and saw Akeno watching me, her eyes wide and cautious. Loki was muttering something in disbelief, while Natasha kept her gaze locked on me, a slight nod of approval crossing her face.

“Layla, are you ok?” Akeno asked, her voice a mix of relief and concern.

“I’m more than ok,” I said, unable to stop the grin from spreading across my face.

Before I could say anything more, the stones in my hands floated up, hovering a couple of centimeters above my palms. The red and purple orbs spun in a tight circle, energy crackling between them. My wings flared instinctively as the stones shot forward and slammed into my back!

{Quest Complete!}

XXX

A lot of neck snapping this chapter…