New York — Hero Academy.
Inside the Cerebro chamber—
The machine lay in ruins.
Havok had just destroyed it—
Forcibly severing the connection.
Cutting off—
Apocalypse's control over Professor X.
But the damage—
Was done.
In Apocalypse's eyes—
Modern humanity was flawed.
Too dependent on:
TechnologyWeaponsMachines
"They cannot harm a god."
Even the Hero Alliance—
Was nothing but a thief—
Stealing divinity.
So—
He chose punishment.
Using humanity's greatest weapon—
Nuclear fire.
To reset the world.
To rebuild it—
From ruins.
A world without machines.
A world—
That worships him.
Aftermath — Cerebro Room
"Professor! Can you hear me?!"
Jean Grey shook him urgently.
Professor X—
Unconscious.
His mind—
Shattered.
First:
Forced invasion
Then:
Global nuclear launch
Finally:
Cerebro destruction
His mental strength—
At rock bottom.
"…We've got trouble."
Wolverine extended his claws.
Defensive positions formed instantly:
Havok
Cyclops
Standing guard.
Then—
A distortion.
Space—
Shifted.
Five figures emerged.
The Arrival
At the front—
Apocalypse
Behind him—
The Four Horsemen:
Magneto (A-Class)
Storm (B-Class)
Psylocke (B-Class)
Angel (B-Class)
Originally—
Only C-Class.
Now—
Enhanced.
Empowered by Apocalypse.
Tension
"Where's Professor Koro?"
"…Not here."
"He took the new students to the mountains."
"…Great."
Wolverine's instincts screamed.
Danger.
Even though Apocalypse was only Above Dragon (early)—
This group—
Could not handle him.
Only one person could.
Jean Grey—
If she fully awakened—
Phoenix Force.
Recognition
"Erik…?"
Jean whispered.
Magneto—
Did not respond.
His eyes—
Cold.
No mind control.
No manipulation.
This—
Was his will.
Magneto's Past
He tried—
To live normally.
A family.
A peaceful life.
Then—
Discovered.
Hunted.
His wife—
His daughter—
Killed.
For being different.
Humanity—
Rejected mutants.
So—
He would reject humanity.
"Then I'll build a world—"
"Without humans."
And to do that—
He needed Apocalypse.
Conflict
"Erik—please, we can talk—"
"…There's nothing to talk about."
With a gesture—
Metal warped.
Professor X—
Pulled from his chair.
Toward Apocalypse.
The Plan
Apocalypse intended—
To transfer his consciousness—
Into Professor X.
To gain—
Global mind control.
A god—
Over all humanity.
Attempted Rescue
"STOP!"
Wolverine lunged—
But—
His body froze.
Pinned.
Metal—
Against metal.
His skeleton—
Adamantium.
Unbreakable.
But—
Useless.
Before Magneto.
He was slammed into the wall.
Helpless.
Declaration
"The age of Apocalypse…"
"Begins now."
Intervention
"Lightning Release—"
A blur.
From the shadows—
Mirrorblade Sage
"Strombreaker"
Lightning—
Condensed.
Piercing forward—
THRUST—!
The blade of lightning—
Drove through Apocalypse's body.
Electricity—
Exploded outward.
Even for Apocalypse—
There was resistance.
His body—
Enhanced.
Resistant to elements.
But—
Still—
Damaged.
Escalation
Mirrorblade's Sharingan spun.
"…Not enough."
"Then—"
"Detonate."
The Strombreaker—
Changed form.
Unstable.
Violent.
CRACK—!
Lightning erupted.
A localized explosion—
Of pure chakra.
Mirrorblade—
Already retreating.
Fast.
Precise.
Calculated.
Because he knew—
This—
Was only the beginning.
The Battlefield Has Begun
Apocalypse stood—
Amid the lightning.
Unmoved.
Unshaken.
And smiling.
Because finally—
Someone—
Was worth fighting.
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