The surrounding space suddenly distorted and folded inward.
Karl had activated the Mirror Dimension.
The environment around them transformed instantly, separating the area from the real world. Black Phoenix looked at Karl with confusion, clearly not understanding what he intended to do.
Behind Karl, a projection of a muscular humanoid figure clad in platinum armor slowly appeared.
It was World Beyond, Karl's Stand.
Karl calmly looked at the red-haired woman in front of him.
"Za Warudo."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Time inside the Mirror Dimension froze completely.
Everything stopped.
The Black Phoenix, the flowing air, even the movement of energy particles.
Karl walked forward slowly toward the mature red-haired woman standing motionless before him.
Then he cancelled the time stop.
Time resumed instantly.
Black Phoenix's pupils shrank slightly when she saw Karl suddenly standing right in front of her.
Because she possessed a fragment of the Phoenix Force, she could clearly sense the abnormal fluctuations in time that had just occurred.
Karl had actually stopped time.
And he had done it without relying on any external device or artifact.
"I don't care what your intentions were," Karl said slowly while staring directly into her crimson eyes.
"From now on, you belong to me."
"Now and in the future."
"Black Phoenix… do you understand?"
Despite Karl's domineering declaration, there was no fear in the Black Phoenix's eyes.
Only curiosity.
And a hint of amusement.
It was almost as if she was certain that Karl would never harm her.
After a short pause, she smiled faintly.
"Alright then."
"If I belong to you…"
She lifted Karl's chin slightly and kissed him gently.
"Shouldn't I receive the same bracelet that your other women wear?"
"I've seen it on all four of them."
"What about mine?"
Karl blinked in slight surprise.
Then he chuckled softly.
"I don't have a bracelet ready right now."
"But…"
"I do have something better."
"A fragment of the Phoenix Force."
The moment Karl mentioned those words—
Black Phoenix immediately looked up at him.
Her eyes filled with unmistakable interest.
"Do you want it?" Karl asked casually.
A small phoenix-shaped flame of red energy appeared in his palm.
"Come here."
"I'll give it to you."
Black Phoenix stepped forward without hesitation.
However, just as she reached Karl's arms—
Karl suddenly turned around and withdrew the fragment.
Seeing the Black Phoenix standing before him in a black lace nightgown, her appearance was dangerously alluring.
Karl decided he would tease her first before giving her the fragment.
Black Phoenix narrowed her eyes slightly.
A mischievous smile appeared on her lips.
She immediately accepted the challenge.
The two began competing with one another.
Karl had not expected the Phoenix to respond so competitively, but he did not retreat.
With his enhanced strength and combat ability, he eventually overwhelmed her completely.
The confrontation inside the Mirror Dimension lasted seven full hours.
By the time it ended, Black Phoenix was too exhausted to move.
Only then did Karl stop.
The two remained inside the Mirror Dimension.
Karl sat on the bed he had summoned earlier while holding the Black Phoenix in his arms.
Then he retrieved the Phoenix Force fragment from his system space.
He gently placed it on her forehead.
The fragment immediately melted into a streak of red light and fused into her body.
A faint phoenix cry echoed.
Red energy spread from the Black Phoenix's body before gradually fading.
After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes.
Her pupils were now even deeper crimson, shining like precious gems.
Karl leaned forward and kissed her again.
The two remained in the Mirror Dimension until morning before finally leaving.
After absorbing the fragment, Black Phoenix's emotions toward Karl had clearly changed.
Her earlier fascination had transformed into something closer to deep attachment.
Karl himself had also begun to genuinely like this powerful and mature woman.
Not only because of her strength—
But also because the Black Phoenix before him was completely different from Jean Grey.
Her current appearance was far more captivating.
Her temperament, her figure, even her aura—
All of it was more intense.
Yet strangely enough, that side of her seemed to exist only for Karl.
The Next Morning
At breakfast, Wanda immediately noticed the unfamiliar red-haired woman sitting beside Karl.
Her expression darkened instantly.
She glared at the Black Phoenix with obvious hostility.
Black Phoenix, however, did not care in the slightest.
She calmly sat beside Karl while eating breakfast and occasionally placed food onto his plate.
May, Raven, Gwen, and Helen Cho simply watched the scene with gentle smiles.
None of them were bothered by Karl having another woman.
In fact—
They were almost relieved.
Karl's stamina was far beyond what the four of them could handle.
Because he insisted on spending nights with them, they had often urged him to find additional partners.
So seeing another woman join the household actually made them quite happy.
Only Wanda looked extremely dissatisfied.
Meanwhile
After returning home the previous day, Tony had already delivered Karl's message to numerous global financial conglomerates and wealthy families.
Within hours, a worldwide treasure-hunting frenzy began.
Artifacts connected to mythology suddenly skyrocketed in price.
Even objects with only suspected mythical origins were sold for astronomical sums.
Eastern artifacts were especially sought after.
Many items rumored to be connected to ancient deities were purchased immediately, regardless of cost.
Even S.H.I.E.L.D. began collecting such artifacts, hoping to discover why Karl was interested in them.
However, they were destined to be disappointed.
Without Karl's system, no one could determine whether those items truly possessed any hidden power.
Meanwhile, Karl and Black Phoenix focused on something more important.
They began constructing mental defenses.
Together, they installed psychic protection within the minds of:
Raven
May
Gwen
Helen Cho
Wanda
Pietro
Peter
Yelena
George Stacy
Helen Stacy
These defenses were designed to block external psychic interference, including telepathic attacks and mind control.
The defense structures were embedded directly within their consciousness.
Even if Professor Charles Xavier attempted to use the Cerebro brainwave amplifier, it would have no effect on them.
After absorbing the Phoenix fragment, Black Phoenix's psychic power had grown tremendously.
Her mental abilities were now far beyond Charles's.
Her overall strength had also increased noticeably.
She had become even more terrifying than before.
Karl did not install any defense for Juggernaut.
When the brainwave amplifier previously affected the world, Juggernaut had not been harmed at all.
He had not even felt discomfort.
This was understandable.
After all, Juggernaut's power comes from the demon Cyttorak.
Compared to a mystical entity of that level, Charles's telepathy simply could not influence him.
After finishing the defenses, Karl and Black Phoenix visited Tony's house.
They installed mental protection for both Tony and Pepper as well.
However, for some unknown reason, Black Phoenix seemed particularly irritated by Tony's presence.
As soon as the work was finished, she immediately pulled Karl away.
The two quickly left.
When they returned home, Karl suddenly remembered something.
He took out a black bracelet.
It had been specially designed by Speed for Black Phoenix.
"Here," Karl said.
"Your bracelet."
"Do you want me to put it on for you?"
However, Black Phoenix did not take it.
Instead, she used her powers to transform the bracelet into a collar.
Then she raised her pale, elegant neck toward Karl—
silently signaling for him to put it on her.
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