The fusion of X-Genes was not something Ethan Cole had attempted for the first time.
Long before today, he had already integrated two different mutant abilities into his body. One allowed him to alter his physical appearance at will, while the other granted him a powerful instinct for sensing danger.
Those abilities had already proven extremely useful.
If someone judged him only by the Phoenix Force, however, Ethan technically wouldn't even qualify as a mutant.
The reason was simple.
The Phoenix Force did not exist within his genetic structure. It was fused directly with his soul, an innate cosmic power that had become part of his very existence.
Only after integrating other X-Gene abilities into his body could he truly be classified as a mutant.
Inside Laboratory Sector Six, Ethan's figure suddenly appeared.
A faint swirl of reddish energy surrounded him before slowly dissipating into the air. Once the glow faded, he calmly reached into his coat and removed a sealed test tube.
Inside the tube was a crimson solution.
It contained the purified genetic stock extracted earlier from Victor's body—the core X-Gene responsible for the healing factor.
A mechanical arm immediately descended from the ceiling.
The arm delicately clamped the test tube before retracting into the laboratory's analysis system.
Watching the process, Ethan spoke clearly.
"Open the genetic testing sector. Perform a deep analysis of the target X-Gene."
He folded his arms.
"After that, compare it with my existing genetic structure and calculate the optimal fusion formula."
"Understood, sir," Svija replied. "Estimated calculation time: thirty minutes."
Ethan nodded.
"That's fine."
He walked calmly into the preparation area beside the testing chamber and began organizing the equipment needed for the fusion procedure.
This would be his third X-Gene integration.
Because he had already completed two successful fusions in the past, Ethan felt absolutely no concern about the process.
The technology had already matured.
Even in the worst-case scenario, the outcome would simply be a failed fusion attempt and the loss of the injected gene sample. If that happened, he could simply repeat the experiment.
If it failed once, he would try again.
If it failed twice, he would try a third time.
Eventually, success would come.
As for catastrophic genetic collapse or similar risks, those were problems that applied to amateurs—not to Ethan.
He had spent more than one billion dollars researching gene isolation and extraction technology.
For X-Gene fusion alone, his total investment had already exceeded tens of billions.
Most of the mutant soldiers working secretly under his command were the result of similar experiments.
While Ethan himself had integrated only two X-Gene abilities, he had performed dozens of successful gene fusions for others. The experience he had accumulated was immense.
In terms of experimental data and practical results, he could confidently say that no one in the world possessed more experience than he did.
In short, the conditions were perfect.
There was nothing to worry about.
Half an hour passed quickly.
By the time Svija finished calculating the optimal fusion parameters, Ethan had already completed all necessary preparations.
He removed his coat and lay down directly on the central testing platform.
Moments later, the nutrient solution began filling the chamber around him.
The transparent liquid slowly rose until his entire body was submerged. A breathing tube was carefully attached to his nose and mouth so he could inhale comfortably while inside the tank.
Strictly speaking, Ethan no longer needed oxygen to survive.
Even if he were thrown into the vacuum of space, he would still remain alive.
But breathing had become an instinct.
More importantly, the X-Gene fusion process required extreme concentration. Any discomfort or distraction could interfere with the delicate procedure.
So Ethan preferred to maintain familiar conditions.
Although his body floated motionless within the nutrient solution, he remained fully conscious.
He could clearly sense everything happening around him.
Several mechanical arms extended from the sides of the testing platform. One arm carried a slender injection needle filled with crimson genetic solution.
Two additional robotic arms descended from above.
Each one held another injection needle.
Moments later, all three needles pierced into Ethan's body simultaneously.
One needle entered directly into his heart.
The second inserted along the base of his spine.
The third penetrated near the base of his skull.
The crimson X-Gene solution slowly flowed through the needles and into his body.
Once the genetic solution entered his bloodstream, the true process began.
The foreign gene would gradually integrate with his existing genetic structure. This was an extremely slow transformation, requiring careful monitoring and constant adjustments.
Additional mechanical arms extended into the chamber.
Some carried microscopic surgical tools that entered his body through tiny incisions. These tools operated at the cellular level, guiding the genetic integration and correcting any unstable mutations.
Other instruments monitored biological functions such as blood flow, pulse rate, and neural activity.
Some systems focused on stabilizing Ethan's metabolism.
Others adjusted the cellular structure of his body so it could properly adapt to the incoming X-Gene.
The process continued for more than three hours.
Throughout the entire period, Ethan floated silently in the nutrient solution with his eyes closed.
To an outside observer, he would appear to be sleeping peacefully.
In reality, his consciousness remained completely clear.
He could feel every microscopic change taking place inside his body.
For three full hours, his body endured waves of intense pain.
The new gene was forcing his entire biological structure to reorganize itself. At the genetic level, his body was essentially dismantling and rebuilding itself from the ground up.
It was a form of forced evolution.
The process compressed what would normally take hundreds of thousands of years of natural evolution into a span of only three hours.
The magnitude of the transformation happening inside his body was impossible to imagine.
Suddenly—
Buzz.
The liquid inside the nutrient chamber trembled.
Ripples spread across the surface as a faint red glow began leaking from Ethan's body.
The glow resembled thin crimson smoke drifting slowly outward.
Moments later, Ethan's body began to rise.
He floated upward from the nutrient chamber as though gravity had lost its hold on him. The mechanical arms connected to his body automatically withdrew and retreated into the ceiling.
Suspended in midair, Ethan was surrounded by drifting red energy.
"Sir," Svija's voice announced, "the genetic fusion has been completed successfully."
At that exact moment, Ethan opened his eyes.
A flash of excitement appeared in them.
His body slowly rotated upright in the air. His muscles were well-defined and perfectly proportioned, his skin pale but healthy.
Deep within his eyes, a faint red glow shimmered subtly.
It gave his gaze an almost unnatural intensity.
A satisfied smile appeared on Ethan's lips.
He casually waved his hand.
From across the laboratory, a surgical scalpel suddenly shot through the air toward him. The blade sliced cleanly across his forearm, opening a deep wound that exposed bone beneath the skin.
Blood flowed immediately.
Ethan watched calmly as the injury began healing.
Within three seconds, the wound completely closed.
Not even a scar remained.
The smile on Ethan's face grew wider.
"The X-Gene fusion is extremely successful," he said quietly.
He flexed his fingers slightly as he examined his arm.
"The healing process consumes my own energy reserves, but that isn't a problem."
His eyes glimmered with satisfaction.
"With my current energy capacity, even if my body were slashed thousands of times, I could recover in a very short period."
He paused thoughtfully.
"In terms of regeneration alone, this ability is now stronger than both Sabretooth and Wolverine."
Ethan lowered his arm and looked toward the ceiling.
"More importantly…"
A faint crimson glow flickered briefly around his body.
"The Phoenix Force, which has been dormant for more than three years, has finally begun to loosen."
His voice carried unmistakable anticipation.
"I believe that within the next few days, the Phoenix Force will reach a new stage of development."
The shackles that once limited his body had begun to break.
Once those restraints disappeared, the Phoenix Force would begin expanding again. His body would gradually adapt, allowing him to contain increasingly greater amounts of its power.
Like a snowball rolling downhill, the growth would only accelerate.
.....
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