The Golden Destroyer

Sitting on the edge of a skyscraper, my legs dangling in the void. The icy New York wind whipped my face, but I paid no attention. I was alone, lost in thought, analyzing every event of the past few days.

Magneto, Shaw, Sinister. Three names that imposed themselves on my mind like so many reminders of my naivety. Each was playing a very specific game, pulling invisible strings, and I was there, in the center, a piece they were trying to manipulate as they pleased. The stupidest thing is that I had voluntarily thrown myself into this mess, wanting to play games that I didn't understand.

I clenched my fists, feeling my slightly golden skin capture the flickering lights of the neon signs around me. Naive. Passive. Too human. These words echoed in my head, and rightly so. Since my arrival in this world, I had groped, hesitated, tried to cling to a humanity that no longer meant anything to what I had become.

Magneto had used me, playing on my emotions, on that sense of justice that still boiled within me. A sense that I thought I had hidden well, but it wasn't the case. Shaw, for his part, had given me the illusion of an enlightened alliance, but I was just a pawn to consolidate his power. As for Sinister… he had orchestrated two massacres, not only to defy and test me, but also to remind me that he was always there, in the shadows, ready to strike.

I sighed for a long moment, my gaze fixed on the city lights. "Enough," I murmured to myself.

I had to open my eyes. This world would not give me a choice. I had meta-knowledge, a unique advantage, and an overwhelming power that was just waiting to be unleashed. Yet, I remained there, hesitating, bending to rules that I didn't need to follow.

"If I continue like this, I'm going to die." This thought struck me with brutal clarity. Prudence had saved me so far, but it would ultimately destroy me. This was not the time to be cautious. It was time to impose my will.

I had to tell Shaw his truths, show him that I was not his pawn, and that he would no longer manipulate me. I had to hunt down Sinister, directly, brutally, without playing his little mind games. And Magneto… He would no longer play with my emotions. I saw where his cause could converge with my ideals, but I would confront him in terms that would leave little room for doubt: I would not be an instrument.

And for that, I had to become stronger. Much stronger. My meta-knowledge was a tool, a guide. I knew what dangers this world held, and I also knew where to find the power necessary to face them.

I looked up, the icy wind rushing through my clothes. I was no longer afraid. It was time to take matters into my own hands, to play by my own rules.

The dragon within me was growling.

—-------------------------

I pushed open the massive door of the Hellfire Club's main lounge, my footsteps echoing heavily on the marble floor. The members present, seated at tables or chatting in low voices, froze at my entrance. My imposing silhouette was bathed in a palpable aura of tension. My amber skin, slightly crackling, seemed to capture and reflect every gleam of light, making my appearance almost supernatural. My eyes, slit like those of a reptile, shone with a contained fury that made more than one tremble.

I advanced, each movement heavy with threat, towards Shaw, sitting with his usual air of self-sufficiency at the head of the table. I hadn't bothered to get rid of the blood that still stained my hands and clothes.

"You knew, Shaw," I launched, in a deep, vibrant voice, breaking the silence like a clap of thunder.

Shaw, still impeccable in his tailored suit, raised his eyes to me, feigning a serenity that he struggled to maintain. Yet, his gaze betrayed a hint of apprehension.

"I knew what, Jonathan?" he replied calmly, folding his hands in front of him.

I stopped a few steps from him. My tall stature and menacing aura made Shaw look almost insignificant, despite the assurance he displayed.

"That the target you sent me to kill had his family there. That I wasn't just going to eliminate a rival, but also cause a tragedy."

Shaw sighed slightly, rising slowly to face Jonathan. "These are collateral damages. Nothing more. A necessity to protect the interests of the Club, and by extension, your own interests."

Faced with such disdain, I clenched my fists, my nails, hardened like claws, digging into my skin. "Don't play this game with me, Shaw. You didn't send me there for your 'interests'. You wanted to consolidate your power, which is understandable. But by giving incomplete information, you're playing with fire."

Shaw raised an eyebrow, regaining some of his composure. "And if that were the case? You are powerful, Jonathan, but make no mistake. Here, I set the rules. If you don't want to bend to my orders, you can leave, but know that you will no longer have access to my resources."

These words were the last straw. I felt an intense heat rising within me, a raw anger that I struggled to contain. I had survived the Phoenix Force, I could stand up to entities that Shaw couldn't even imagine. Who was he to think he could threaten me just because he had money and connections?

With a dull, terrifying sound, a long, shimmering tail emerged from the base of my back, passing through my pants with disconcerting ease. It undulated slightly, its bristly surface covered in a yellowish energetic glow, sharp as a blade.

Without warning, I snapped my tail in a sharp movement. The nearest marble column was cut clean through, collapsing with a deafening crash. Stone shards flew across the room, eliciting cries of panic from the members present.

Shaw, though still, had taken a step back, his eyes fixed on the serrated tail whipping through the air. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.

I approached further, my features etched with a cold fury. "Never threaten me again, Shaw. I don't need you, your Club, or your power games. And the next time you try to manipulate me, I will reduce you to ashes before you have time to utter a word. I only kill when necessary; don't become a necessity."

Shaw swallowed, struggling to maintain a semblance of calm. "Jonathan… You have to understand. I do what I do to maintain balance. You, you are a brute force. You don't yet understand the subtleties of this world."

I stared at him for a moment, then straightened up, my tail vibrating before retracting slowly.

"I don't play your games, Shaw. This is not a warning; it's a promise."

Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and left the room, leaving behind an overwhelming tension and a Shaw more shaken than he wanted to admit.

—------------

The atmosphere in the room was heavy, almost suffocating. The runes engraved on the stone walls pulsed softly, fueled by Selene's magic. She stood in the center of the room, a scarlet glow in her eyes, while a circle of necromancy crackled beneath her feet. Facing her, I stared at the scene without flinching.

"There, it's done," Selene said, straightening up. "Your dear 'witness' will soon spill everything he knows."

I nodded, my features still marked by a cold determination. I extended my arm, allowing Selene to absorb a small amount of my life energy as agreed. She shivered as she felt the intensity of its power.

"Jonathan, I'll be frank with you," she said, licking her lips, her voice honeyed but tinged with a barely veiled ambition. "We have a basic agreement, but I think we can go much further."

At this phrase, I arched an eyebrow, interested. "I'm listening."

Selene approached, her movements feline and calculated. "The Hellfire Club is a puppet show controlled by Shaw. But with you… with your brute force and intimidating presence, I could break his strings and take control. Help me become the absolute Black Queen, and I will teach you things you don't know, like magic."

I stared at her for a moment, my thoughts swirling. The offer was tempting, but I had learned not to be manipulated anymore. I smiled slightly.

"That's an interesting proposition, Selene, but if we're going to modify our agreement, we might as well do it my way."

Selene's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Oh? What do you mean?"

I stepped forward, my imposing stature casting a shadow over the sorceress.

"If I help you take control of the club, I want something in return. I want the position of White King. With this position, I can realize ideas I have. And you…" I paused, my gaze hardening. "I will give you more power than you have ever dreamed of. My essence will transform you into something far beyond what you are now. But know one thing, Selene: if you ever become a threat to me or to the world, I will kill you. Definitely."

Silence fell, interrupted only by the crackling of the runes. Then, against all expectations, Selene burst out laughing, a clear, crystalline laugh, but charged with an unhealthy enthusiasm.

"Finally, you're behaving like a true predator," she said, moving, her eyes scrutinizing every detail of my face. "You learn quickly, Jonathan. I like that."

Despite her fingers tracing my torso and absorbing some of my energy, I didn't flinch. "So, is that a yes?" I asked.

She slowly tilted her head, a predatory smile stretching her lips. "It's a yes. But remember, Dragon: I am not easy prey. If you want to play this game, be prepared to face what I am."

"Perfect. Now, show me where I should begin." An equally intimidating smile spread across my face.

The pact was sealed. An unlikely alliance between two predators, each aware that the slightest misstep could mean the end of the other. But for now, they shared a common goal: overthrow Shaw, hunt down Sinister, and redefine the rules of the game.

—--------------------

I should never have been there. Not that night, not at that base. But orders are orders, and no one says no to Sinister. Yet, when the alarms went off, when the red lights flooded the corridors, I knew something was wrong. This wasn't a simple attack. No. It was something else.

It all started with a rumbling. At first, I thought it was an earthquake. The walls vibrated, the lights flickered, and my colleagues muttered prayers. Then I saw the shadow.

A shadow so vast that it swallowed the entire base.

I went out onto the observation platform, and that's where I saw it. Immense. Majestic. Terrifying. A creature beyond imagination. Its spread wings obscured the sky like a veil of darkness, each beat raising dust storms and uprooting trees for miles. Its body, covered in golden scales shimmering in the moonlight, seemed made of divine, indestructible material.

It easily measured dozens of meters, maybe more. Watching its three heads move, their eyes gleaming with a malevolent light, I felt crushed, tiny, like an ant under a giant's boot.

Then, it landed.

The ground cracked under its weight. Thousands of tons. I don't even know how I know that number, but it's all I could think about. The shockwave overturned armored vehicles, pulverized walls, and shook the foundations of the base. Several men died instantly, simply crushed by the shockwave. I was thrown against a railing.

I had never felt such fear. It was a primitive, visceral fear. My legs refused to move, my heart beat so hard I felt like it was going to explode. The others opened fire, but it was useless. The bullets ricocheted off its scales in a shower of sparks. The missiles? They burst against it like firecrackers.

It advanced slowly, implacably, like a god come to claim his due. Its long, sinuous tails lashed out at the buildings, reducing them to dust. The detention pods exploded under the pressure of its steps, releasing an acidic vapor. But that didn't stop it. Nothing stopped it.

And then, it roared.

The sound... My God! The sound. It was as if the mountain itself was screaming. That roar pierced my very soul, a cry so powerful that it shattered windows, triggered the remaining alarms, and made my ears bleed. I saw men fall to their knees, screaming and holding their heads.

I wanted to flee. I wanted to run. But my legs were frozen.

It raised its three heads, and I understood what it was going to do. A light began to form in its throats. First a simple gleam, then a blinding torrent of golden energy. Three beams shot out at the same time, striking the heart of the base.

The explosion was cataclysmic. Flames devoured the buildings, the screams fell silent, and all that remained was a smoking crater. The heat burned my skin, even several hundred meters away.

When the dust settled, it straightened up.

I saw it climb the ridge, its colossal wings spreading in all their glory. It was an apocalyptic vision. Lightning danced around it, striking the ground, illuminating the valley like a doomsday storm. The rain began to fall, heavy and cold, but it only amplified its aura.

It roared again, and this time, I collapsed. It wasn't a cry. It was a proclamation, a warning etched in thunder.

When I woke up, I was alone. The smoking ruins were all that remained of the base. I don't know why I'm alive. Maybe it spared me so I could tell this story. Maybe it wanted the world to know.

It's not a man. It's not a mutant.

It's a god of destruction.