"What's going on here? What the hell happened?"
Dormammu's voice trembled, a rare crack in its usually imperious tone.
"Perhaps we can talk?" it suggested, its tone uncharacteristically tentative.
"Negotiate terms now?" Thor's voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. "It's too late for that!" His eyes burned with defiance, unwavering as he stared at the cosmic entity before him. The swirling flames of the Phoenix Force descended once more, hurtling toward Dormammu like an unstoppable inferno.
"Ah! Stop it!" Dormammu's voice rose to a frantic shriek, a cacophony of fear and pain.
The Phoenix Force had initially been like a mere spark against Dormammu's vast, shadowy form—a drop in the ocean of darkness. But now, it had become a surging river, an unrelenting tide of power.
"Stop! I can leave! I swear never to invade Asgard again—no, I promise never to set foot in this universe!"
For the first time in eons, Dormammu was truly afraid. The cosmic overlord, who had ruled the Dark Dimension with an iron grip, now felt his very essence unraveling. His form began to disintegrate, a sensation utterly foreign to him. Dormammu was facing the one thing he had thought impossible: death.
The flames intensified as Jean floated above the battlefield, her red hair whipping wildly in the torrent of energy. Her once-clear blue eyes now gleamed with a haunting golden light, and intricate patterns of Phoenix energy etched themselves across her face. She looked like a goddess of destruction incarnate.
Suddenly, Jean hesitated. She paused the relentless onslaught of the Phoenix Force, turning her gaze to Thor with conflicted eyes. Deep within, she knew the truth: if she pushed further, she risked losing control entirely.
Dormammu noticed the hesitation instantly, his laugh ringing out like a death knell. "You can't control it, can you? If you kill me, you'll destroy your friends too!"
Jean's entire body trembled as buried memories resurfaced. She saw flashes of her childhood—a car crash, her mother's lifeless body, and the aftermath. Her uncontrollable abilities had caused it, and her father had given her to Professor Xavier in despair.
Thor had told her the truth years ago, and now, faced with Dormammu's taunts, the weight of her past threatened to crush her resolve. The full power of the Phoenix Force was unimaginably terrifying, more destructive than anything she had ever unleashed before. What if it happens again?
She looked at Thor, her eyes pleading for reassurance.
"Don't worry," Thor said firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "No matter what happens, I'll take you home."
Dormammu's laughter erupted once more, mocking their defiance. "Stupid mortals, always bound by emotions! Emotions make you weak!"
Jean's expression hardened, the hesitation in her gaze replaced by unwavering determination. "No," she said, her voice ringing with newfound strength. "You're wrong. My emotions make me strong!"
With that declaration, the Phoenix Force roared to life again, exploding outward in a violent surge that engulfed the entire dark dimension.
In a shadowy corner of the battlefield, Mordo watched in horror as events unfolded. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his chest. He clutched at his heart, but it was too late. His flesh began to dissolve, transforming into streaks of dark energy that spiraled upward. The energy streaks coalesced and surged toward the heart of the Dark Dimension.
"No... my lord! Why are you doing this? Please, no—!" Mordo's anguished cries were swallowed by the dark currents as his body vanished completely.
Across the Earth, similar scenes unfolded. Sorcerers aligned with Dormammu, who had drawn upon his power, suddenly found themselves consumed by an inexplicable force. Their forms disintegrated into streaks of black energy, rising into the sky before disappearing altogether.
"What's happening?" Wong asked, his voice filled with shock and confusion.
"They're Dormammu's believers," Strange replied, his tone heavy with grim understanding. "Dormammu is desperate. It's recalling all of its power to fight back. From the moment they accepted its power, this fate was sealed—Mordo included. He's gone."
"What?" Wong's jaw dropped in disbelief. "How is this even possible? Not even the Ancient One could force Dormammu into such a state!"
Strange didn't respond immediately, but the worry etched across his face spoke volumes.
"No! You can't kill me!" Dormammu bellowed, his voice thick with despair. "Darkness is eternal! The Dark Dimension will never disappear!"
Thor's eyes narrowed, his expression icy and resolute. "The darkness may persist, but you won't," he said coldly.
Thor's words cut deep, their truth undeniable. "You were once a mere necromancer who stumbled upon the Dark Dimension. To claim its power, you abandoned your mortal body and let your soul be consumed by the flames of dark magic. You became a monster for power, and now you'll face the consequences."
Dormammu writhed, his colossal form breaking apart under the unrelenting force of the Phoenix energy.
"No... darkness will not vanish! I am eternal!" Dormammu's final screams echoed as his body disintegrated into primordial dust.
A faint soul emerged from the collapsing remnants, darting away in a desperate bid for survival. In its fragmented thoughts, it clung to a single hope: if it could escape, it could one day rebuild itself.
But before it could flee far, an irresistible force pulled it back toward the battlefield.
"No!!!" Dormammu's final cry was lost in the void as the Phoenix Force obliterated every last trace of his existence.