Apocalypse felt a momentary sense of embarrassment. Five million might be a fortune for ordinary people, but for a being of his caliber, one capable of healing him… it was practically an insult.
Even Apocalypse found Soren's power somewhat unfathomable. The skill he had demonstrated just moments ago proved that if Soren desired wealth, he could easily acquire it without negotiation.
Apocalypse exhaled slowly, his glowing eyes narrowing. "Sir, if you can do as you claim, then when my new world rises, you will have anything you desire."
Soren chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm just a doctor. Fame and wealth don't concern me. If the right patient appears, I simply do what I must."
Apocalypse was momentarily taken aback. This human was different, unlike the greedy, self-serving individuals he had encountered for millennia.
"Then let's begin." Soren gestured toward a door. "Come to the operating room, and I will heal your body."
Apocalypse turned to Storm and the others. "Wait here." His tone left no room for argument as he followed Soren inside.
The treatment room was simple, appearing no different from an ordinary clinic. A single advanced operating table stood in stark contrast to the otherwise rudimentary surroundings. Apocalypse studied the setting, then turned his gaze back to Soren.
With a slight smile, Soren extended his hand. Instantly, the air shifted as a gentle green light emerged from the void.
As the luminous energy intensified, the green light concentrated into Soren's palms, radiating waves of raw life force.
Sensing the moment had come, Soren reached forward, pressing his fingers lightly against Apocalypse's forehead. A soft current of pure life energy flowed into him.
Apocalypse's expression changed immediately, his ancient face betraying rare shock. The overwhelming life force surged through his cells like long-awaited rain upon a barren land.
His body, worn by the passage of time, began to absorb the energy greedily, each cell bursting with newfound vigor.
The transformation happened rapidly. The decades of decay, the withering of once-powerful cells, gone in an instant. The immense force infused within him brought about an astonishing rejuvenation. His very essence, once dulled by time, now radiated with the unbridled might of his peak.
"The treatment is over." Soren withdrew his hand and as the last remnants of green light dissipated. However, in Apocalypse's eyes, the doctor had become even more enigmatic.
With a sharp intake of breath, Apocalypse sat up abruptly, his hands trembling slightly as he examined them.
The sheer strength he now felt was almost unreal, akin to the days when he ruled civilizations with an iron grip. His body thrummed with power, like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
"Satisfied?" Soren asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he observed Apocalypse's astonishment.
Apocalypse finally regained his composure. "More than satisfied, sir. But tell me… what is your name?"
"Just call me Soren Macaluso ." His reply was simple, his tone unreadable.
Apocalypse's eyes narrowed in thought. "Mr Macaluso, are you a mutant? A healer of some kind? No… you do not seem like one." There was an unreadable curiosity in his gaze.
Soren merely chuckled. "Does it matter?"
With that, he turned and gestured for Apocalypse to follow. Without another word, they left the treatment room and stepped into the hall.
The moment they emerged, all eyes turned toward them. Storm, Psylocke, and the others stared in disbelief. Their expressions mirrored shock, awe, and even a trace of fear.
They had doubted Soren's claim, how could anyone restore Apocalypse's body so quickly?
And yet, Apocalypse, once showing signs of age, now emanated an overwhelming, revitalized presence.
Before Soren could speak, a mechanical voice echoed within his mind. The system had spoken.
A series of mechanical prompts echoed in Soren Macaluso's mind.
[Beep! Congratulations to the host for completing the initial mission! The system is officially bound!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the initial gift package. You have treated Apocalypse, an A+ level character, and one ability related to that character will be randomly selected.]
As the words faded, an overwhelming amount of data materialized before Soren's eyes, listing the vast arsenal of Apocalypse's powers.
[Apocalypse]
[This world A+ Level] [Available Abilities: Desertification LV.10, Potential Awakening LV.10, Telekinesis LV.10, Mental Attack LV.10, Flame LV.10, Ice LV.10, Teleport LV.10…]
The sheer number of max-level abilities left Soren momentarily speechless. Each one was a power that most people could only dream of, abilities that could reshape nations, dominate battlefields, or crush enemies in an instant.
Then, the system's voice returned.
[Extraction begins immediately. Congratulations to the host! You have obtained Ability ~ Potential Awakening LV.10!]
A slow grin spread across Soren's lips. Potential Awakening?
That was Apocalypse's signature power, the very ability that had transformed his Four Horsemen into monster mutants. It allowed him to awaken the latent strengths within others, pushing them beyond their limits. With this, Soren's own future just became a whole lot more interesting.
He turned toward the imposing figure before him.
Even within the sterile confines of the hospital, Apocalypse exuded raw power. His ancient gaze settled on Soren, studying him with something akin to wonder.
Soren suppressed the rush of excitement within him. "The treatment is over. I hope you'll come again next time."
Apocalypse regarded him for a moment before giving a slight nod. "You have done well, healer. Your power is… intriguing." His voice was deep, resonating like the echoes of history itself.
With that, he turned on his heel. The Four Horsemen silently fell into formation behind him. As they left the Health Center, a surge of violet energy enveloped them.
Soren's coat fluttered as the sheer force of it pulsed outside. Then, in a flash, they were gone, vanishing into the void like phantoms of war.
Soren exhaled, his eyes shining. "Not bad for a first mission."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream