Date: Tuesday, July 27, 2010.

  Location: Xavier Insitute, Scarsdale, New York

  The on area of the Xavier Institute buzzed with low versation as several students lounged around or discussed assigs. Close to the kit entrance, Colossus sat with a sketchpad, his metalligers creating delicate lines and curves. He enjoyed drawing, and it was difficult for him to do so while transformed. However, the exercise was his way of practig his trol and fior skills while in his metallic state. A distinct, tinny ringtone broke his tration.

  He shifted out of his metal form to avoid damaging another cell phone. Pulling out the device, he saw Illyana’s name fshing on the s and answered, immediately, "Illyana? Is everything alright?"

  Jubilee who sat a few meters away reading a graphiovel, lifted her head at the mention of Illyana's name. She preteo be engrossed in her book, but her ears were focused on the versation.

  "Piotr, I need your help," a touch of desperation seeped through Illyana’s voice.

  “What happened? Are you safe?” Colossus's brows furrowed with .

  “We're safe for now. But we 't hahis on our own. Azazel... he’s making his move. Limbo has been invaded again, this time he has allies."

  Colossus repeated questioningly, “Azazel is back?”

  Jubilee’s eyes widened. She knew of Azazel from Tyson’s reting and reized the danger.

  Illyana tinued, "I need backup. Where's Logan?"

  “Why do you need Logan?” Colossus asked, hesitating.

  “He’s a fighter. Tyson respects him and thinks he’ll e to help.” Illyana’s voice held an edge ency.

  “I’ll get him,” Colossus promised. “Stay safe. I’ll call back soon.”

  He ehe call and stood up, heading in search of Wolverine.

  Jubilee waited for a moment, biting her lower lip. for Tyson and the danger of Azazel, caused her to make up her mind. She couldn’t stay behind and wonder. She o help. Pg her graphiovel down, Jubilee snuck after Colossus. She tiptoed after him, staying hidden behind ers and rger decorations.

  Colossus found Logan in a secluded alcove. His rugged face was focused on a cigar. Colossus cleared his throat, "Logan."

  Logan looked up, “Peter. What’s up? I promise I wasn’t going to smoke it here.”

  Colossus ignored his ent, and that Logan had mispronounced his name, "Illyana called. She and Tyson are in trouble."

  Logan immediately stopped what he was doing, his eyes narrowing. "What did she say?"

  "She said they decided to front Azazel. They're going in together against him and a horde of demons. I told her I’d help, but she said Tyson suggested asking if you were willing to join them.”

  Logan grunted, standing up, "That kid is always biting off more than he chew."

  Colossus nodded solemnly, “She asked specifically for you, Logan. She said Tyson trusts you."

  Logan smirked, “That kid. Got a lot of nerve.” He took a moment to sider, then nodded, "Alright. I'm in." The two turo exit the Institute heading towards the train station.

  Jubilee watched them from her hiding pce. She started sneaking after them, keeping to the shadows and ensuring she was oo close to give herself away. However, Logan's heightened senses picked up on her presence almost immediately. The st of bubblegum and sparklers drifted to his nose. A slight smirk tugged at the er of his mouth. He was not about to reveal her, not after Tyson ented about him and Ororo just before he left.

  As Wolverine and Colossus arrived at the train station, they immediately spotted a familiar face. Illyana’s blonde hair stood out as they approached. Relief was evident in Colosus’s eyes as he swiftly closed the distand ed his sister in a warm embrace. "Illyana," he murmured, pulling back to i her. "Are you alright?"

  She gave a small smile. "I've seeer days, big brother." Turning to Logan, she stepped forward and gave him a brief hug. "Logan. Thank you for ing. Tyson will be gd to see you."

  Logan nodded, his eyes sing the surroundings. "Always got your backs. Now, where's the boy wonder?"

  Almost as if on cue, a bright fsh of white light erupted. When their vision cleared, Tyson stood there, a rge duffel bag slung over one shoulder. “Logan, Piotr,” Tysoed with a nod, then smirked. “Thanks for joining the party.”

  Colossus frowned, gng at the duffel bag. "What’s in there?"

  Tyson shifted the bag’s weight, “Supplies.”

  Logan's nostrils twitched, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Guns?"

  Tyson smirked, “Good nose.”

  But then Tyson’s nostrils fred, catg a whiff of a familiar st. Logan's grin widened, almost wolfish. Tyson's eyes sed the surroundings, settling on a particur er. "You e out. I know you're there."

  With her position revealed, Jubilee hesitantly stepped around the er, her face a mix of defiand nervousness. She gave a sheepish smile, “Guess I’m not as sneaky as I thought.”

  Tyson gave Logan a knowing look before he walked over to Jubilee, his face softening. To her surprise, Tyson reached out, seemingly ruffling her carefully styled hair. Jubilee’s eyes widened slightly, she let out a small yelp, swatting at him in mock irritation. "Hey! Watch the hair!" She stopped suddenly, her eyes darting to where his hand had just been. "Wait... you touched me! How?”

  Tyson ughed, “I’ve been practig. Using the illusions. I didn't actually touch you."

  Jubilee huffed, but her eyes shimmered with a mix of awe and curiosity. "So, what have you and Illyana been up to?"

  With a casual shrug, Tyson responded, "Oh, you know. Caught a couple of flights, and hopped from oel to the . Met some wizards, getting ready to battle a few demons." He paused, gng at Illyana with a teasing glint in his eyes. "You know, just the usual stuff."

  Jubilee folded her arms, trying to look stern but her pyful nature broke through. "Wizards and demons huh? Need any help? I tag along."

  Tyson's demeanor shifted. The levity in his eyes was repced with a gravity that bore down on Jubilee. He slowly shook his head. "Not this time, Jubes. I'm sorry."

  She frowned, "But—"

  He cut her off, "Azazel means business. Last time we squared off." He drew an X on his chest with his fingers over where his heart was. "Stabbed me right through the heart."

  He gestured towards Logan and Colossus. "They'll survive something like that." Tysourned his gaze back to Jubilee, his eyes filled with a mix of protectiveness and pain. "You won’t."

  "Hold on, Tyson," Illyana said with her eyes locked onto Jubilee.

  Tyson turned, an obje ready on his lips, but Illyana was already moving. She walked up to Jubilee and, in an uncharacteristically warm gesture, linked arms with her. The movement was so fluid that it left little room for protest as she started to guide Jubilee away from the group. Tyson watched them go. He looked over at Colossus and Logan, silently pleading for backup. But Colossus simply raised an eyebrow, an amused look crossing his metallic face. Logan, meanwhile, took a deep draw from a cigar, the ember glowing brightly. He simply gave a non-ittal grunt, seemingly tent to let things py out.

  Tyson sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "Great," he mumbled.

  Meanwhile, away from earshot of the men, Illyana and Jubilee stood fag each other. Illyana’s blue eyes searched Jubilee's. "Look, thanks for ing. I know you're mostly here for Tyson," she begaone softer than usual.

  Jubilee blinked in surprise, clearly not expeg this. She started to speak, but Illyana held up a hand.

  "I treated you like crap when we were at the Institute." Illyana tinued with a trace ret in her voice.

  Jubilee nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, you did."

  Illyana chuckled dryly. "Trust me, I knoause stretched betweehe past momentarily bridging the distahen, with a sly glint in her eyes, Illyana added, "I also know you have a thing for my boyfriend."

  Jubilee's face turned a deep shade of red, her eyes wide. "I— What? I don’t—”

  "I see the way you look at him. It’s always been like that. Sihe moment he arrived at the institute." Illyana’s tone was did yet oddly gentle, "He spent his nights with me, you know. But his days?" She leaned in closer, "His days were with you."

  Jubilee's brows furrowed, her eyes narrowing. The implications hung heavily between them. But before she could retort, Illyana tinued, "He cares about you. A lot. He might not say much, and might not let it show, but I see it. The way he looks at you, the way he worries. Trust me, I know Tyson."

  Jubilee looked down, her face a mix of embarrassment, fusion, and guilt. Illyana took a step closer, her gaze softening. "But you showed up. That means a lot. More than you probably realize." She sighed, her voice tinged with a hint of mencholy. "None of the irls from the Institute ever made su effort for me. So, thank you."

  Jubilee bliaken aback by the ued gratitude. She opened her mouth, perhaps to say something ciliatory, but Illya her to it.

  Leaning in spiratorially, Illyana whispered with a smirk, "But between you ayson's never gon you tag along. He cares too much to let you get hurt."

  Jubilee swallowed and gave a slight, sad nod. Her usually vibrant face held a somber expression. After a moment of ption, she lifted her , making eye tact with Illyana. "Look, I get it," she began, trying to hide the tremor in her voice, "You guys have been through a lot… But I've seen what Tyson do with other mutants' powers. With Jeaook on Mago, and with your help, he faced down Azazel. Just think of the possibilities with mine."

  Illyana's brow raised skeptically, a pyful challenge evident in her eyes. "No offense," she drawled, "But what are a few sparkles going to do against a legion of demons?"

  Jubilee's cheeks reddened, but she squared her shoulders, meeting Illyana's gaze head-on. "They aren't just sparkles," she retorted defensively, her hands balling into fists, tiny lights flickeriween her fingers. "They're explosions. And with focus, I make them a lot bigger than you've seen."

  Illyana's eyes traveled to the dang lights in Jubilee's hands, then slowly trailed back up to meet her eyes. The pyful smirk on Illyana's face turned into a broader, more sinister grin. "Explosions, you say?" she mused, almost purring the words. "Now that we work with."

  Illyana raised her voice, "Tyson, e here."

  Tyson turned his attention from Logan and Colossus to find Illyana being him. Wolverine simply tilted his head towards the two women and made a 'go oure with his hand. "Looks like you're being summoned, bub," he teased.

  Tyson rolled his eyes, shaking his head. He approached Illyana and Jubilee, "What's going on?"

  Jubilee stepped forward, "Listen," she began, her voice filled with urgency. "I want to help. I know you think it's too dangerous, and maybe it is, but..." she took a deep breath, steadying herself, "...if you won't let me e with you, at least take my power. Make it t."

  Illyana crossed her arms giving Tyson a challenging look as if saying, 'What will you do now?' Her tone was soft as she expined, "It hurts, you know," she murmured.

  Jubilee raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't look like it hurts you."

  "Not me," Illyana whispered, eyes darkening, "Everyone else."

  Jubilee squared her shoulders, steeling herself. "I ha," she insisted, shooting Tyson a desperate look that screamed, 'Trust me.'

  Tyson rubbed the back of his neck, "You'll be safer this way. I'm good with it if you're sure." He paused, turning his gaze to Illyana. "But if I'm taking her power, you have to give me the time to make it t. If it's as destructive as I imagine, you 't be anywhere near. I'll need five minutes without w about friendly fire."

  Illyana crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "If yoing to do this, promise me something."

  "What?" he asked, wary of her iy.

  Her voice filled with steel. "No banter. No mercy."

  Wolverine chuckled from behind them, "That's more like it." Colossus simply nodded, agreeing silently with Illyana's se.

  Tyson gathered everyone closer, "Here's the pn." He pointed a fiowards Jubilee. "I touch Jubilee for five seds. That'll give me five mio cut loose with her power."

  Jubilee tried to look determined, but her eyes revealed her ay.

  Tyson theured towards Illyana, his face tightening with . "When I go, take her back to the institute so we know she'll be safe. I hose five minutes. After that? Portal in with the cavalry."

  Wolverine grunted, crag his knuckles. "So what should we expect?"

  Tyson expined. "Magic traps, demons, and all sorts of shenanigans. Azazel won't make it easy. He teleport like Kurt too. But nothing I came in tact with there couldn't be hurt by your cws." he smiled grimly, "I'll clear as much as I with Jubilee’s power."

  Illyana remarked, "Alright, we all get it." She gnced between Jubilee and Tyson. Turning to Logan and her brother, she suggested, "Let's give them a minute, and we'll start when they're ready. Go guard the guns or something."

  Wolverine raised an eyebrow but said nothing, and with a nod, Colossus replied, "Uood." They both moved away, leaving Jubilee and Tyson in their private bubble.

  Jubilee looked early at Tyson, her voice filled with . "It was hard leaving you behind. I knew you'd be okay, but we just... left you. In the middle of nowhere. We had no idea where you were going or if we'd ever see you again."

  Tyson's eyes softened, his gaze distant. "I couldn't e back to the institute. Still 't. There are reasons."

  "Whatever it is, the professor will five you," Jubilee insisted, her voice hopeful.

  Tyson took a deep breath, the weight of his choices apparent in his eyes. "Maybe. But I took advantage of him. On principle, I 't just accept handouts from him after that. My idea, what I did... it's too soon to tell if it even worked. Years from now, perhaps we talk about it, but I'll never live at the institute again."

  Jubilee's face fell, the pain of his words evident. Tyson tried to sole her, "We're almost set, you know, with a more perma pce to live. Ohis Limbo mess is sorted, I promise we'll talk."

  Jubilee took a moment to process this, a million thoughts aions pying across her face. The weight of uainty pressed down on her. She let out a heavy sigh, pushing aside the chaos of feelings to focus oask at hand. "Alright," she said, her voice firm. "Are we doing this or not?"

  Tyson stepped closer, the weight of what was about to happen pressing down on both him and Jubilee. The atmosphere was charged with ay and anticipation, but before the tension could bee unbearable, Illyana piped up, "Hey, it's her first time. Be gentle."

  Jubilee was caught off guard and blushed a deep crimson, but she grasped onto the momentary levity. She batted her eyeshes exaggeratedly at Tyson and pyfully leaned in, her voice dripping with faux sultriness, "She's right, you know. It'll be my first time being touched like this." Slowly, she slid off her yellow gloves, revealing her delicate fingers, and pced them on Tyson's face. As their skin made tact, a sudden rush of energy flowed between them.

  She was a lonely child to two prosperous ese immigrants who hardly had time for her between business meetings and overseas trips. When her mutant power maed, fearful whispers and pointing fingers followed her down the halls of her elite b school. She chose to escape the mounting pressures and incessant bullying by running away. She relied on her wit, agility, and powers, ofteing to stealing to survive oreets of Los Ahe X-Men discovered her, and the institute became her sanctuary, her new family. For the first time, she didn't feel alone or out of pd her personality shone as bright as her powers. Her experiences had given her a blend of youthful exuberance, resilience, and independence, yet left a yearning for e.

  As Tyson ected with Jubilee's memories, a cascade of emotions and images rushed into his sciousness.

  Curiosity.

  Tyson recalled Jubilee’s feelings when he first stepped foot into the institute and she led him oour of the institute. She studied him, trying to figure out the enigma that he presented.

  Sympathy.

  Then came the memories of an uanding that only someone who had been through their fair share of struggles could offer. Tyson experienced Jubilee’s feelings from when he’d revealed his power and its harrowing side effects to her. She responded not with fear or disdain, but with passion.

  She saw past the powers, past the facade, Tyson realized. The memories shifted again, this time to their shared moments, little ss of time when they ughed, fided, and just... existed together. She liked me for who I was, quirks and all.

  Jealousy.

  But it wasn't all pleasant. He felt a twinge of what lurked whenever he spent time with Illyana. She wao be closer, to be the one he fided in.

  Loneliness.

  There rofound sense of loss when he decided to leave. She felt like she was ba the streets, alone in the world.

  Jubilee's eyes widened in panid pain, her breathing greid, but determination held her ihe cold, numbiion of Tyson's power made her entire body shudder with the sensation of impending doom. Yet, she held her hands steadfastly against Tyson's face, brag herself against the anguish and deepening abyss that threateo e her.

  Jubilee's grip began to weaken, her energy waning. Sensing this, Tysoly removed her hands from his face. His eyes, now filled with gratitude and uanding, locked onto hers. "Thank you," he whispered.

  Without another word, he turned and stepped through a swirling portal, its ter revealing an unmistakable gateway to Limbo. The portal closed behind him, leaving Jubilee standing there, her knees bug from the exertion. Illyana, for once looked genuinely ed. She moved quickly to support Jubilee.

  Time passed differently within Limbo. With her free hand, Illyana opened a portal, high in the dimension’s sky, to eheir time was synced. She called Piotr over, “Stick your hand through here.” He looked at her skeptically. She ensured in a tohat hid her uainty, “It will be fine.”

  With a series of quick jumps, Illyana's teleportation ability whisked them away, depositing them in the familiar surroundings of her old room at the Institute. The room felt like a fotten relitouched sihe chaos of the invasion. It seemed like so long ago, but it’d beehan two weeks sihe institute was ihere was so much damage to the rest of the mansion that noone had gotten to examine her room yet. A few of Illyana's tris still y scattered on her desk from her hurried exit.

  Illyana's eyes, usually so guarded and fierce, softened with as she took in Jubilee's pale plexion. She guided the slight girl into the bed. Jubilee offered ance, her strength sapped by Tyson's power. She groaned, her voice barely above a whisper, "You weren't kidding, that felt horrible. I imagined weakness, maybe some nausea... But that? That felt like I was dying."

  She slowly turned her head, log eyes with Illyana. "You said earlier that you knew how I felt about Tyson. So why are you being o me now?" She questioned, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her tone.

  Illyana leaned back, crossing her arms and regarding Jubilee coolly. "Because," she began, choosing her words carefully, "he's now fully aware of your feelings."

  "What? How…" Jubilee's eyebrows kogether as uanding dawned, “He has all my memories, he knows what I went through, and how I felt.”

  Illyana's gaze was distant, her usual fidence repced by a raw vulnerability. "There are things about my past, that I've locked away, deep inside. I hadn’t told anyone, even my brother doesn’t know everything," she began, her voice tinged with the pain of memories long buried. "When I was younger, I was taken. They wao use me; to sell me to the highest bidder. But my powers emerged just in time, and I escaped that horrid fate." She took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Growing up, as I became a woman, I felt the natural urges, like everyone else. But after everything I went through, the idea of being close to someone, especially a man, was... tainted. It scared me." Her eyes glimmered with a hint of tears, "But then Tyson came along, and somehow, around him, things felt... different. I didn’t have to hide what happeo me or be ashamed of my past. When I touched him, he saw everything I experiehere isn’t another person who could uater than him."

  Jubilee's heart ached as she listened. "Illyana, I'm so sorry. I thought my life oreets was tough, but what you went through..."

  Illyana shook her head, sileng her. "I don't need pity. It's the past, and I've learo cope. But there's something else." Her expression grew solemn. "Limbo, it's not just a pce. It's a part of me. When we use your painst Azazel, it's like you're helping to heal a piey soul. You wao help, to save me from the darkness. Regardless of your motivations, today you are my hero.."

  Jubilee was taken aback. She opened her mouth, trying to form a response, but words failed her; she’d bee speechless. Illyana leaned in, "Thank you again, Jubilee." She leaned down, pg a gentle kiss on Jubilee's forehead. "Rest now, you did your part." And with those parting words, Illyana vanished in a fsh of light, leaving Jubilee aloh her thoughts.

  ~~Rogue Rept~~

  From the vantage point of the jagged cliff, Tyson could see the sprawling castle being built in Limbo's chaotic terrain. The reddish sky and the castle's eerie structure created an atmosphere of dread. Tyson invoked his illusion power, masking his presence. He delved deep into Jubilee's memories and images flooded his mind.

  Jubilee, much younger, experimenting with her powers in a dimly lit room; her joyous ughter as she created tiny sparkles in the palm of her hand; the intense focus as she tried to gee bigger, more trolled bursts; the night skies lit up with her miniature fireworks, leaving spectators in awe.

  Yet, in all those memories, her power remained trolled, never reag its full potential. Maybe a 3/10 of her total potential.

  Tyson aimed his hand towards the castle's outer wall, he visualized the power scale he had structed in his mind. As he recalled Jubilee's practices, he decided he wouldn't just mimic them. He needed more. Much more. Pushing aside any reservations, he dialed her power up to 8 out of 10.

  From his outstretched hands, a radiant stream of psmoid energy shot out, more trated and forceful than anything Jubilee had ever produced. The brilliant energy beam roared like a fiery dragon, surging towards the wall. The impact was catastrophic, the castle wall vaporized upon tact, leaving a gaping hole amidst a cloud of dust and debris. The sheer power of the bst sent shockwaves through Limbo, shaking its very foundation.

  A grin spread across Tyson's face. In a split sed, he teleported just outside the now-broken wall, his feet barely making an imprint in the ash below before he raised both hands. He drew deep from the reservoir of Jubilee's power. Twin streams of stilting energy roared forth, vaporizing walls and structures with ease. Every release of her power was apanied by a thunderous boom, resonating like a war drum across Limbo.

  That powerful sound acted like an arm, drawing in the demons. They came in droves, charging and r, but as they yson, they were effortlessly ed by the raw power he wielded, disiing into nothingness.

  Suddenly, amidst the chaos, Azazel appeared. With a mog tone dripping with arrogance, he began, "You've returned, Nameless One…"

  But Tyson promised Illyana he wouldn't hold back, and wouldn't banter. Without letting Azazel finish, he swiftly turhe full force of Jubilee's power on him. Azazel's eyes widened in surprise and the mighty demon lord disappeared in a swift puff of smoke just before he would have been engulfed in the brilliant bze.

  Azazel made it his mission to frustrate Tyson's efforts, telep around him in an attempt to strike with his lethal bde. But Tyson shared Illyana's innate e to Limbo. It gave him a heightened sense of his surroundings, allowing him to detect the nuances of Azazel's teleportation. Each time Azazel vanished, leaving a swirl of dark energy in his wake, Tyson would already be a step ahead. Sensing where Azazel would reappear, Tyson adjusted his aim accly, targeting the spot moments after Azazel maed. When that wasn't enough, Tyson tapped into Illyana's teleportation abilities, repositioning himself to cause maximum havoc. But Tyson never lost sight of his true mission amidst the cat-and-mouse chase.

  Wreak as much destru as possible.

  Drawing on Jubilee's explosive energy, Tyson obliterated wave after wave of demons. They charged, hoping to overwhelm him, but ended up vanishing into blinding light befetting close. The castle, once a looming structure of dread, was steadily reduced to rubble uyson's relentless assault. Towers crumbled, walls shattered, and courtyards were razed.

  Throughout the battle, Azazel attempted to break Tyson's tration, lunging with his rapier and telep rapidly. But Tyson possessed both Jubilee's explosive power and Illyana's e to Limbo and mao keep the devil at bay. Vilsteth, the faceless demon that saw through Tyson's illusions, joined Azazel. The demon's unique ability te with stone made it an evasive target. Each time Tyson directed Jubilee's explosive energy towards Vilsteth, the demon seamlessly flowed into the storucture or the ground itself, being oh the rock. By the time the explosion hit, Vilsteth had already traversed through the stone, avoiding the attad re-emerging ready to strike.

  Tyson's surroundings became a treaaze. Every rock, every wall might hide Vilsteth. And Azazel was still relentless in his telep attacks. Yet, Tyson mao fend off both adversaries. He danced around Azazel's teleportation stabs and anticipated where Vilsteth might emerge, all the while using Jubilee's powers to destroy any demon that dared to approach.

  But the tide of battle took a sudden turn. The explosive power Tyson relied on waned, its radiant bursts cut out with a flicker.

  Azazel and Vilsteth sehe shift, their fidence growing as Tyson lost hold of Jubilee's explosions. The demons advaaking advantage of this ued ge. Tyson could feel the weight of the battle shifting, the odds now stag against him.

  The ebb and flow of battle took a sharp turn as Vilsteth tinued using its unique capabilities. Every time Tyson attempted a direct atta the demon, Vilsteth seamlessly melded into the stoerrain, evading the assault. Previously, Tyson could use the explosions to destroy the stone, but now, it was like battling a ghost. Uo destroy the stoyson was surrounded, every surface a vector the demon could attack from. Vilsteth re-emerged uably, sometimes from the walls, other times from the grouh Tyson's feet, catg him off guard. Its cws, sharp and fed of stone, shed out, sshing Tyson's skin. Oddly, these cuts, while painful, didn't activate his abs power. It was as if the demon’s stone anatomy was immuo Tyson's life-drain ability.

  The relentless assault by Vilsteth kept Tyson off-bance, each swing and ssh was aimed not just to harm Tyson but to divert his focus.

  And Vilsteth's assault was a successful distra. In the backdrop, Azazel reparing darker and more dangerous magic. As Tyson fended off Vilsteth's rapid strikes, Azazel's voice began a t, low and haunting. The grouh them quaked slightly, and bck, inky tentacles erupted from the stohey snaked around Tyson's limbs, pulling and strig. Each tentacle felt cold and void of life, sapping his strength.

  Desperate, Tyson tried to access Illyana's teleportation power to make a quick escape. But the tentacles held him firmly, their grip unyielding. Every time he thought of a location to teleport to, the tentacles tightened, disrupting his tration and preventing his escape. Tyson was trapped, his powers restrained by Azazel's dark magic.

  Azazel, with a smug grin stretg across his face, stepped closer to the restraiyson. His voice dripping with malicious amusement, he said, "Feel like talki? It's quite a sight, seeing my beautiful castle in ruins and my minions turo dust. They did toil so hard. But then, y me such a delightful sotion prize."

  Gasping in pain, Tyson mao ask, "What are you talking about?"

  "That fragment of Limbo that now resides in you," Azazel replied, his eyes glittering with greed. "It's like a bea, calling out to me."

  The devil's fingers began to dan the air, hinting at an intation. "All I need is a simple ritual. Onplete, the fragment shall be mine, and I shall reign supreme over Limbo."

  Azazel's ughter began to echo around them, a chilling sound that would send shivers down the spine of any mortal. But then, something ued happeyson began to ugh too. It was hearty and genuine, trasting sharply with Azazel's sinister chuckles.

  Taken aback, Azazel's ughter ceased as he squi Tyson, trying to decipher the meaning behind the ued mirth. Just as he was about to question Tyson, there was a sudden dispy of raw power. Using his strength, Tyson was finally able to tear through the tentacles that had bound him. The spell Azazel woven around him dissipated like smoke.

  With a defiant glint in his eyes, Tyson faced the devil and said, "It won't work. Your pn is doomed from the start."

  Azazel was ued by Tyson dispersing his spell. The devil asked, his voice dripping with dession, "And pray tell, what fw do you see in my pn?"

  As the st word left his lips, the very air seemed to , and from the distortions, a portal took shape. The portal revealed Colossus and Wolverine ready for bat. They stepped into Limbo, eyes focused ohreat at hand. Tyson saw Illyana through the portal, still standihe train station. She looked in, evaluated the situation, and closed the portal.

  Vilsteth wasted no time. Its stone-like cws extended, and the demon luoward Wolverine and Colossus. The ground shook as the three met in a collision of power and fury.

  Tyson turned his gaze back to Azazel. With a smirk, he said, "That fragment of Limbo you're so eager to obtain? It's not perma. It's an echo, a shadow of the real thing."

  Azazel's eyes narrowed, attempting to decipher if Tyson spoke the truth or merely sought to deceive him. His expression torted with rage. "Then, there's no more use for you," he sneered. "Perhaps your death will coax out the true Mistress of Limbo."

  Meanwhile, Tyso a familiar presence. Above them, the swirling portal shifted positions, indicative of Illyana's power. However, Illyana herself did not e through. Instead, the portal remained open, as if watg, waiting.

  Azazel luowards Tyson. Tyson dodged and parried Azazel's attacks with his hands, the slices healing over nearly instantly. Iurn, Tyson sliced at the devil with his cws, attempting to grab hold of Azazel. Azazel, however, was no novice. He teleported out e and tered with his magic, juring a quickly cast shield to protect himself from Tyson’s touch.

  The ndscape of Limbo echoed with the sounds of the battle. The ground trembled, dust and debris flew as the powerhouses duked it out.

  "Alright, rock-face," Wolverine growled, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Let's dance."

  Colossus's anic steel skin reflected the red hues of Limbo. "Stay alert, Logan," he warned, positioning himself between Wolverine and Vilsteth.

  Vilsteth, showing off its agility, lu Colossus, its stone cws aiming for the metallic mutant. Colossus deflected the first swipe with a heavily armored arm, but Vilsteth swiftly maneuvered to his side, aiming another blow.

  Meanwhile, Wolverine dashed with feral speed, trying to fnk the creature. As he lunged, cws extended, Vilsteth melded into the ground, disappearing. Wolverine's cws struck stone, sending sparks flying.

  "Crafty little--" Wolveriarted, but before he could finish, Vilsteth reappeared behind him, sshing down with a swift motion. However, Wolverine's keen senses allowed him to twist out of the way just in time.

  Colossus seized the opportunity, aiming a heavy punch at Vilsteth. The creature, anticipating this, darted to the side, causing Colossus's fist to smash into the ground, creating a small crater.

  While Vilsteth was agile and uable, it was the masked demon's unique abilities that ensured her side could gain a clear advantage.

  High above, Illyana's portal pulsed, the window-like opening seemed like Illyana's watchful eye, waiting for the right moment. Tyson knew he had to do something drastic to tilt the ban their favor. Every csh had Azazel trying to go for Tyson's head or neck. The demon was ing and had learned from past mistakes. Aiming for the heart wasn't going to get him the victory he craved.

  Tyson's thoughts remained on the portal. He realized Illyana was waiting for the perfeent to strike. He o create one for her.

  In the heat of their exge, Tyson deliberately left himself exposed. The bait was set. And Azazel took it.

  Azazel's eyes gleamed with malevolent joy as he saw the opening. He aimed his bde at Tyson's nebsp;

  "Got you," Azazel whispered, a triumphant grin on his face.

  The bde made tact. A gasp left Tyson's mouth as it sliced through his skin and into his neck. Time seemed to slow. From the er of his eye, Tyson could see Colossus, momentarily distracted from his battle with Vilsteth, horror evident on his metal face.

  As Azazel's bde glided effortlessly through Tyson's flesh, blood erupted in a pulse.

  Until an ued resista its razor-sharp edge. Just when it should have cleaved through the spi halted. The adamantium fused to Tyson's skeleton had stopped the demon's on.

  A moment of sheer fusion flitted across Azazel's eyes, his arrogant grin faltering for the first time. "What?" he murmured, the realization dawning on him.

  But Tyson didn't give the demon a moment to collect himself. Seizing the fleeting advayson's fingers closed around Azazel's wrist, his adamantium cws pierg the demon's tough skin, making his escape impossible, and allowing Tyson’s palm tact with the demon.

  Azazel's face torted in pain as he felt his very essence being drained away. As Tyson absorbed the demon's life force, he transformed. His skin deepeo a fiery shade of red, and a sinuous tail sprouted from his lower back, swaying menagly.

  "No!" Azazel gasped, feeling the very core of his being siphoned off. But it was too te. With each passing sed, more of the demon melded into Tyson.

  The infusion of Azazel's malevolewisted the fibers of Tyson's thoughts, filling his mind with dark iions and wicked whispers. He reveled in the surge of power flowing through him. The demon's essence coursed through his veins, awakening a hunger for more. Tyson's gaze drifted upwards towards the portal h above. Beyond it, he could sense Illyana watg, waiting.

  A slow smile spread across Tyson's face. She would be the key to seg his reign over Limbo. With her by his side, none would stand against him. Tyson pictured Illyana at his side, beautiful and terrible, Limbo's magiding to her will. Together, they would be unstoppable.

  Tyson called out to the portal. "e to me, Illyana," he purred, his voice resonating with fidend allure. "Join me, and we shall rule this realm as one."

  He could feel Illyana's hesitation through the portal. But Tyson knew how to coerce her. With Azazel's charm, he would exploit her most intimate desires and vulnerabilities.

  Tyson tinued. "I see you, Illyana. I know the darkhat lies in your soul, mirr my own." He imbued his words with temptation. "Why resist? Embrace your destiny, as I have embraced mine."

  The ndscape around him began to shift in respoo Tyson's e with Limbo, and the growing darkness in his heart. The reddish sky deepeo a nightmarish hue. Tyson's tail swayed behind him as he decred, "Behold, my kingdom transforms to wele its new lord. With you at my side, we shall reshape it into a true dominion."

  Tyson could sense Illyana's resolve wavering. Her soul resonated with his words. He would ensure she accepted her full potential. "e, cim your destiny," Tyson anded, his voice eg through the unstable realm. The portal flickered in response.

  With Tyson distracted by his decrations to Illyana, Azazel attempted to teleport away. But Tyson would not allow Azazel to escape his grasp again. He eled Azazel's knowledge of teleportation and traveling through dimensions to thwart the demon's escape. As Azazel tried to teleport away, his silhouette blurring for an instant, Tyson instinctively tered. With a snap, they both vanished and then reappeared almost immediately. The two batants were locked in an intetle of wits and wills. To the onlookers, they seemed to be stationary. The only evidence of their teleportation duel was the slight distortion of their figures and the faint aura of smoke that surrouhem.

  From the er of his eye, Tyson spotted Vilsteth's form dissolving into the stohe ground rippling as it swiftly moved toward them. Tyson knew he had mere moments before the stone demon would be upon him. He tightened his grip on Azazel, determio finish what he had started before Vilsteth could intervene.

  Illyana's portal snapped shut. Tysohe shift in Limbo. He sensed her presenearby and anticipated Illyana's timely intervention against Vilsteth. His words, bined with the stone demon's intervention had finally stirred her to join him. But when the familiar shimmer of her teleportation magic fred, she wasn't positioned between them and the ining stone demon.

  Instead, Illyana emerged o Tyson and Azazel, determination clear in her eyes. Her arm reached out straight and unwavering, her hand inches from the side of Azazel's head. The silence of Limbo was shattered by two booming sounds.

  Azazel's eyes went bnk. Any malice, determination, or emotion in his gaze vahe steady stream of energy Tyson had been siphoning cut off instantly as brain matter and bone sprayed out from the opposite side of Azazel's head.

  What was left of Azazel's head lolled. It was then that Tyson noticed the rge k missing, and the on ched in Illyana's grasp. It was one of the guns he'd picked up after leaving the city.

  Illyana had ehat Azazel's reign of terror was halted, ond for all.

  The winds of Limbo suddenly felt even colder. The battlefield, which had moments ago been a swirl of relentless a, came to a standstill. Each of the mutants seemed frozen ihe reality of what had just transpired taking its time to set in. Illyana's face remained as steely and resolute as ever, but there was an undeniable weight behind her eyes. No quip, , no banter; only the grim expression of someone who'd made a hard choice.

  The stone around them remained eerily quiet. Vilsteth never re-emerged from its hiding pce within the rocks.

  Finally, the silence was broken by Illyana. She exhaled, a breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding. "It's over," she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of relief mixed with sorrow.

  Wolverine grunted, his gaze fixed on Illyana. "Didn't see that one ing."

  Colossus nodded. "her did Azazel," he said in his thick Russian at.

  Tyson, still processing the enormity of what had just happened, mao find his voice.

  Tyson coldly asked, "You... What have you done? Millennia worth of knowledge, all that power, all that magic... gohe others turo Tyson. His mismatg yellourple eyes narrowed into slits as Limbo's skies turned blood red, mirr his rage. "I was to be king, with you the queen at my side. And now what? There's no rewind from this..." Tyson stopped, his words sending his thoughts into a spiral. "Unless I attack the Sanctum. I'll take it from the A One. If I bring it back here, it bring Azazel back. I’ll take his strength as my oossessing it, my power will stretch beyond infinity."

  Illyana approached Tyson. She said calmly, "You're not going to attack the Sanctum." Tyson's eyes narrowed as she spoke, "You are already my king, and I am your queen." She was so close, Tyson could hear her whisper as she ed an arm around his neck, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mihe line froze Tyson in his tracks. His memories aa-knowledge came to the forefront of his thoughts as the line resonated with something he remembered from his past life. 'Game of Thrones'. "I am hers and she is mine."

  But how could Illyana know that? Tyson's thoughts began to spiral. Thinking of Game of Thrones reminded him of the first time he saw Jean, and thought she was Sansa Stark. Thinking of Jean brought Tyson's thoughts to Jubilee and her gifting him her powers so they could fight Azazel. Then his thoughts came full circle to Illyana who he was about to harm, because of Azazel's insidious, malicious thoughts. Tyso his rage repced by fusion and unease. Illyana's words had stirred something deep within him, awakening memories and feelings from another lifetime. Had she peered into the depths of his mind the way he had doh others? Or did she possess some other means of unveiling his secrets? Tyson searched Illyana's face, looking for deceit or manipution. But all he saenness, passion, and… regret.

  All his thoughts ground to a halt as Illyana stabbed her Soulsword through Tyson's abdomen, angled upward. She pced the bzing sword perfectly to slide under his adamantium ribcage. It pierced his lung and lodged in his heart. The look of betrayal on Tyson's faearly broke Illyana's heart.

  But then it twisted into a snarl, being a murderous mask as Azazel's personality reemerged.

  Tyson tried to teleport, tried to use his magic, but the Soulsword lodged in his chest dispersed any power he brought to bear. The on held a particur strength against magic, magical creatures, and demons; among which Tyson was now ted.

  Tyson’s adamantium cws emerged to rend Illyana, but Colossus and Wolverihere, holding his arms out, away from her. His healing factor worked to heal his body, as fast as the Soulsword damaged his insides, but it was only temporary as the on was still lodged within his chest.

  "I'm sorry," whispered Illyana.

  The tears running down her face revealed it was the truth.