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Hammerhaven, control center.
The new nerve center of Hammer Industries buzzed with the frenetic energy of a place where the future was being shaped and controlled. The wall mounted screens hummed with the constant flow of information, and the air was thick with the quiet whirr of machines processing data at speeds incomprehensible to the human mind.
This was the epicenter of Nail's 'brain' so to speak. At least the one on Earth. They had backups all across the planet in case this one was destroyed, and of course another up in space on their secret space station. Nail was too useful to ever risk in an attack or calamity.
In the center of it all, Justin stood at his command station, eyes narrowed as he took in the streams of information flowing across multiple screens. His tailored suit was as crisp as ever, but there was a tension in his posture, a coiled spring ready to snap. He had been in the middle of reviewing the latest developments in their European operations when the first alert came in.
They'd been caught completely flat footed this time.
"Nail, report," He barked, his voice cutting through the hum of the room. His close retinue all busily working stations as they tracked information and tried to parse the situation in real time.
Nail responded immediately. Her voice was cool and calm, devoid of any emotion, but still laced with an urgency that conveyed the gravity of the situation. "Sir, reports are coming in of a large-scale attack on New York City by Magneto. He is leading a small army of metahumans and has already caused significant damage. The city is in chaos, and local forces are being overwhelmed. Casualties are rising rapidly."
"Numbers?" Phantazia immediately asked, eyes fixed on the screen she was working on, even as her eyes glowed as she sent messages and calls with the implant all his employees sported now.
Nail promptly answered, "The fog of war has limited my ability to account for all variables, but through the New York CCTV system and citizens posted videos and screenshots, I approximate the force following Magneto to be at least 200 strong, with 189 distinct individuals processed, with the likelihood that I've missed several due to the destruction."
Domino, eyes sharp as they flickered over several screens, bit out a curse, "How did he hide that many metahumans?"
Justin's hands clenched into a fist. "Magneto," He muttered, the name a curse on his lips. "Damn it. How the hell did he get the drop on us?" He slammed a fist down on the console, melting right through it in his rage, the drops of molten metal splattering around him, "If he also has a secret space base I'm going to lose it!"
But before Nail could respond, another alert flashed across the central screen. Nail didn't miss a beat. "Sir, a second report is incoming from Cairo. It appears there is another attack underway, this one by an unidentified being of immense power. Early surveillance shows significant destruction across the city, with structures liquefying and military forces being systematically obliterated. The entity is accompanied by your target - Sinister."
Pictures and video were displayed on the screens immediately, everyone stopping what they're doing at the sight of an alien looking man literally liquefying streets as Egyptian police vehicles and their inhabitants sunk and drowned as they watched - before the man clenched his fist, and crushed it all beneath him, as he strode forward, unbothered, Sinister spotted cowering in his shadow.
Hammer's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing to keep up with the torrent of information. Two simultaneous attacks - one in New York and one in Cairo - each spearheaded by forces he couldn't easily combat, and who had struck without any warning - he didn't even know who the hell the alien or metahuman was, that was doing a walkabout in Cairo! His thoughts flicked to his own people, scattered across the globe, each critical to his operations. He needed to protect them, secure his assets, and most importantly, maintain control.
There would be losses to civilian life, but that would have to be born for now. He wasn't sending his team in until he had more information.
"Nail, get me everything you can on this new being in Cairo," Hammer snapped out, his voice sharper than the edge of a knife. "I want surveillance from every available satellite, drone, and camera. I want a profile built, and I want his next moves predicted. What is this thing, and what does it want? Nail, I want answers yesterday!"
"Already in progress, sir," Nail responded efficiently, her algorithms processing terabytes of data in real-time. "I'm coordinating with global surveillance networks to track and analyze his movements, lip reading of Sinister suggests he calls himself Apocalypse. Preliminary reports suggest a level of power and control over matter that is unprecedented. Estimated casualties in Cairo and the surrounding region are already in the hundreds of thousands as Apocalypse collapsed parts of the city into a spontaneously created magma vein."
Apocalypse is not a very promising name… And what world do I live in where spontaneously creating a volcano out of nowhere is not the worst thing I could expect?
Justin's mind whirled. He felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him, threatening to crush him under its enormity, but he couldn't afford to falter. There was too much at stake. He needed to move, to act, and to do so with the precision and ruthlessness that had built his empire. First he needed to ensure his assets were protected.
"Get Kaecillius on the line," Justin ordered, his voice a low growl. "I want every class A employee in Cairo portaled out and up to the space station immediately. No delays, no screw-ups. Get them out now."
I'm not losing Sunil, or Forge and Vanko! Not to this random monster!
Kaecillius appeared on one of the smaller screens as the call connected through Nail, his expression calm but alert. "Understood, Master Hammer," He said, his tone professional. "I will begin the evacuation immediately."
"Speed is of the essence," Justin added, his eyes narrowing. "If this thing in Cairo catches wind of what you're doing… We could be looking at a lot more than just a city in ruins." If he had to sacrifice all of Egypt to safeguard the three most important assets he had in Cairo at the moment… He would.
Thankfully neither Maya nor Helen was in New York or Cairo at the moment, saving him the effort and time to secure them as well. Just in case, he sent an email out, typing it out mentally in a few seconds - ensuring Maya and Helen would be taken to a black site immediately by his security forces.
Kaecillius nodded at his orders and the screen blinked off as he got to work. Justin turned his attention back to the situation in New York, where Magneto's attack was tearing the city apart. The mutant had always been a potential wildcard, but this - this was an outright assault on one of the most populated and monitored cities in the world.
This was going to do terrible things to metahuman vs human relations. Well… If he didn't have an AI who would ensure to drown the aftermath in obfuscation and stories to put the blame elsewhere.
Still… The timing for this was absolutely awful.
"Yelena!" Justin yelled, snapping his fingers as he moved quickly across the room, a thought hitting him like a thunderbolt.
Yelena looked up from her own console, her icy blue eyes meeting his with steel in them. "What do you need, sir?" she asked, likely anticipating action. But he wouldn't risk any of them, not yet. This was something else.
"Get Stark on the line. I want him to keep the hell away from New York," Justin ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. With Stark tower in the process of being built, there were decent odds the man was in New York.
He didn't want to leave everything to Nail right now, as the AI really needed to figure out Apocalypse and how to best counter him, utilizing most of her power on that matter.
A few phone calls wouldn't make a difference perhaps, but he wasn't taking chances. Not when he had people at hand who could do the work just as well.
Yelena hesitated, a rare flicker of doubt crossing her usually impassive features. "You realize that means we'll be revealing we know his identity," She pointed out. "Once we do that, we lose any leverage we might have had in that direction."
Justin cursed under his breath. She was right, of course. Tony Stark's identity as Iron Man was one of the worst-kept secrets in the world, at least when it came to any intelligence agency, but admitting it openly would strip them of a card they could have played at a critical moment in public. But this - this wasn't just about playing the game anymore. This was survival.
Tony Stark could not go anywhere near Magneto.
"I don't give a damn," Justin finally said, harshly, the frustration boiling over. "If Stark gets anywhere near Magneto, he's dead. Magneto will crush him without even trying. I want him nowhere near New York. Now!"
Perhaps the man would be intelligent enough to realize it himself. But Justin wasn't taking any chances on the idiots' potential self sacrificing ways.
Yelena nodded, her fingers already flying over the keyboard as she worked to make contact. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with the urgency of the moment. Justin could feel his pulse pounding in his temples, but he couldn't afford to stop, not now. Not with everything on the line.
In the next few minutes he spoke with the President, the WSC, and Ross, helping coordinate the response - at least against Magneto. There weren't many assets in Africa that weren't his.
Nail quietly reported Storm was flying full speed towards Cairo. And Justin wished her luck, but he couldn't send his own team to assist. Not yet. They didn't have enough information.
Suddenly, a priority call rang through his implant, cutting through the din of the command center like a knife for him. The screen on his glasses lit up with a name that made his heart skip a beat - Hope. No, you're not anywhere near this! He begged internally.
His mind racing with sudden worry, he answered the call. "Hope, what the hell are you doing? Where are you?" he demanded, his voice laced with an edge of panic he couldn't quite hide.
She had still refused to be enhanced to the extent the others were, he didn't want her anywhere near either front.
He winced as he saw Ross power armor division was giving the go ahead to fly into New York pop up on the screens. Sending the goblin suits against Magneto was pure suicide. Even with plastic weaponry, they'd never get a shot off before he dealt with them. He gave it nothing but a look and a shake of his head, as his focus immediately returned to Hope as she answered his pleas.
Hope's voice came through the line, calm and steady, but with an underlying tension that matched his own. "I'm in New York," She said, her words sending a jolt of fear through him. "I'm ready to assist." The Wasp suit was not ready for someone of Magneto's stature.
The room seemed to still around him, the noise and chaos fading into the background as Justin's world narrowed to the phone call. "What? No - no, Hope, you need to get the hell out of there!" He snapped, his voice tight with panic. "You cannot go near Magneto. Do you hear me? Stand down, that's an order!"
Domino and Yelena shared a look as his shout echoed across the command center, Yelena shaking her head with thinned lips.
"People are dying, Justin," Hope replied, her voice soft but resolute. "We don't have a choice. If I can get there in time, I can help. I can make a difference, he'll never even see me coming."
"Damn it, Hope, you don't understand - " Justin started, but she cut him off.
"I'm sorry, Justin," She said, and he could hear the determination in her voice. "But I have a duty. I'll be careful. I promise it'll be okay."
The line went dead, and for a moment, Justin just stood there. His mind was a whirlwind of fear, anger, and frustration. He couldn't lose Hope - not to this, not to Magneto. Not when they were on the brink of something so monumental.
Maybe they wouldn't work out. Maybe they were too different, maybe his secrets would disgust her. But he was willing to give it a try. And now she was in the middle of a warzone, heading for Magneto, while in a metal suit!
He turned to Nail, his voice shaking with barely controlled rage. "Nail, as soon as Kaecillius has anyone important out of Cairo, have him home in on Hope's tracker and portal her out of New York. I don't care what it takes - get her out of there!" She can hate me later, but she'll be alive.
"Understood, sir," Nail responded smoothly, already recalculating her operations to account for the change.
The command center continued to be a hive of activity, every corner of the room buzzing with voices as Domino, Yelena, and Phantazia shouted orders through their implants, coordinating the massive, multifaceted response to the crisis. Phantazia's fingers moved in a blur over her keyboard, multitasking to an insane degree as she was likewise sending out orders mentally and audibly.
"Get those satellite feeds up now, Nail!" Phantazia yelled, her voice cutting through the noise. "I want eyes on every street corner, every building. We need to know exactly where Magneto and his army are at all times to plan a counter offensive."
Domino was barking orders into her own comm, her tone brisk and commanding. "Pull our people out of Manhattan now - get them to the rally points, and tell them to hunker down until we can extract them. We're not losing anyone today, you hear me? Not one!"
The room was a tempest of organized chaos, every person operating at the peak of their ability, every second counting down like the last grains of sand in an hourglass. Justin's mind raced, processing a dozen different streams of information at once, his thoughts moving faster than his words could keep up.
"Nail, I want casualty estimates for New York," Justin demanded, his voice clipped and harsh.
There was a pause, just long enough for Nail's calculations to complete. "By my estimates, if this is not stopped within the hour, you're looking at two million dead in New York alone, sir."
Magneto is really going full stop, tearing skyscrapers apart… Justin knew it was only a matter of time before someone decided to try a nuclear strike to stop him.
He couldn't even blame them.
Unfortunately, unless they had plastic nukes and managed to hide that from Nail, it wouldn't do much good..
"And if we can't stop it today?" Justin ground out, a feeling of helplessness running through him.
"Total loss of New York, sir, death toll over fifteen million."
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Cairo,
Apocalypse strode through the heart of Cairo with a measured, deliberate pace, his every step echoing like the tolling of a great bell through the streets. The city lay in his path like a lamb before the slaughter, its ancient walls and modern structures alike trembling in the wake of his reawakening. The sky above was a mottled gray, thick with the smoke of burning buildings, and the distant wail of sirens played a mournful symphony against the backdrop of the chaos he had unleashed.
Behind him, Sinister followed like a shadow, his once-arrogant demeanor now tempered by a barely concealed fear. He watched as Apocalypse moved with an air of unassailable confidence, a titan in a world of insects, utterly unbothered by the panic that gripped the city.
Ahead, the Egyptian military had scrambled into position, their armored vehicles lined up in a futile attempt to stop the advancing god. Tanks, personnel carriers and even artillery were lined up, with gunships hovering in the air, all bristling with weaponry. Soldiers barked orders and readied their weapons, their faces a mix of determination and dread. They were the best Egypt had to offer, and yet, Apocalypse regarded them with the same indifference one might afford a swarm of flies.
With a flick of his wrist, Apocalypse brought his power to bear. The lead tank, a massive metal beast with a barrel capable of leveling a building, crumpled like paper. Metal screamed as it twisted and bent, the tank folding in on itself, its once-deadly cannon now a useless hunk of mangled steel. The crew inside barely had time to react before they were crushed, their screams cut short as the vehicle was compacted into a cube of scrap.
Another lazy gesture, and the gunships in the air exploded into fireballs as if a small star was born inside, their pieces raining down in a deadly hail. Helicopters spun out of control, their rotors sheared off by invisible forces, crashing into the streets below. Those that attempted to flee found themselves suddenly gripped by a telekinetic force that ripped them apart mid-air, scattering debris and body parts across the city.
Apocalypse continued his march, his expression one of mild disdain. Bullets fired at him vaporized before they could touch his skin, dissolving into dust in the air. Missiles exploded harmlessly against a barrier of raw energy that surrounded him, the force of their blasts redirected back at the military lines, tearing through vehicles and soldiers alike. The buildings on either side of him began to liquefy, the concrete and steel flowing like water, forming great, towering waves that crashed down upon those foolish enough to resist. The structures disintegrated into nothingness, reduced to their base elements by the sheer magnitude of his will.
He reached out with his mind, his consciousness expanding to touch the minds of millions around him. The city was a cacophony of thoughts and fears, a maelstrom of chaos that he sifted through with ease. He read their terror, their desperation, their pitiful hopes that this was all just a nightmare. The corner of his lips curled into a sneer as he plumbed the depths of their minds, seeing for himself the weakness that had taken root in humanity.
How far you have fallen, En Sabah Nur mused, his thoughts echoing with ancient contempt. Although he supposed Apocalypse would be what he'd go by from now on, as he brought it to the world as it so needed. Once, you were a race that understood fear, that knew what it meant to tremble before the unknown. You fought for survival, for dominance, and in that crucible of terror, you grew strong. But now… He glanced at the remnants of the military forces, the wreckage of their futile defense scattered across the streets, Now you cower behind your machines, believing them to be your salvation, when they are nothing but shackles that bind you to your own impotence.
He extended a hand, and the street before him split open, the asphalt cracking and buckling as a chasm formed in the earth. From within, molten rock surged upward, a geyser of lava spewing forth and consuming all in its path. The soldiers screamed as the ground beneath them melted away, the very earth rebelling against their presence. Apocalypse barely spared them a second glance, his attention already shifting to the city beyond even as the soldiers burned.
Technology, he thought with disdain, It has its place, as a tool, as a servant to the powerful. But you have become its slaves, living your lives in service to your own creations, allowing them to dictate your every action. You have forgotten the true source of power - strength, fear, domination. These are the forces that shape the worl, the forces that drive evolution. And you have lost them all.
As he walked, Apocalypse reached out with his mind, sending tendrils of telepathic power spiraling through the city. He could feel the fear gripping the hearts of the people, the primal terror that had been buried deep within them, now rising to the surface. It was a fear they had not known in generations - a fear that went beyond the everyday anxieties of modern life. It was the fear of death, of destruction, of a power so vast and ancient that it made their entire existence seem insignificant.
It was fear that had evolved humanity. Until they'd now succumbed to this lazy and pathetic existence. It was the fear of gods that they'd left behind, that allowed this weakness to set in.
Yes, Apocalypse thought, his sneer deepening, This is what you need, what you have forgotten. Fear is the engine of evolution, the catalyst that drives you to adapt, to overcome. Without it, you have become stagnant, weak, complacent. You live your lives in comfort, without challenge, without the threat of annihilation to hone your instincts, to make you stronger.
He watched as civilians fled before him, their minds filled with terror. Some cowered in the ruins of buildings, others ran through the streets, desperate to escape his wrath. But there was no escape. Apocalypse was everywhere, his presence a dark shadow over the city, a force of nature that could not be outrun.
"You have lost your way," He called out, his voice echoing across the city, "You have forgotten the value of fear, the way it sharpens the mind, strengthens the body. You have forgotten that the strong rule, and the weak serve. But I will remind you. I will scour the weakness from this world, purging the frailty that has taken root in your souls. Those who survive will be worthy to serve me, to live under my rule. And those who do not…" He let the words trail off, the implication clear.
Another building liquefied at his command, the structure collapsing inward as its materials reverted to their most basic state. He moved through the wreckage, untouched by the chaos he created, a god among men. The cries of the dying were nothing more than a distant murmur to him, their lives inconsequential in the grand design he envisioned.
"I am not a tyrant," Apocalypse said softly, his mind touching the collective consciousness of the city even as he looked straight into the drone from a news station that was recording him, "I am a savior. I am here to provide a service, to cleanse the world of its weakness, to prepare it for a new age. An age where strength and fear rule, where those who survive will be worthy of life. You will grow stronger in your fear of me, you will evolve, or you will perish. This is the natural order, the way it has always been, and the way it will be again." He promised.
He lifted his gaze to the horizon, where the rest of the world awaited his judgment. Cairo was but the beginning, the first step in a grand design that would sweep across the planet, reshaping it in his image. There would be no place for the weak in his new world, no room for those who clung to their machines and their comforts. Only those who embraced fear, who grew stronger in the face of it, would survive to serve him.
Some would survive despite not being worthy, like those worms like Sinister who could remain useful, even if he'd undoubtedly betray him again, as such worms did. He'd make sure to show him the folly of such a thing this time.
"I will remake this world," Apocalypse vowed, his eyes burning with ancient power, "I will forge it anew, in my image, and from its ashes, a new race will rise. A race of the strong, the worthy, the evolved. And I will be their ruler, their god, for all eternity!"
He continued to walk through the ruins of Cairo, his every step a declaration of his power, his every thought a decree of the future that awaited humanity. The world would tremble before him, and in that trembling, it would grow strong.
He allowed the camera to keep filming, having plucked out of nearby minds what its purpose was the moment it showed up.
The world deserved to see and despair the coming of Apocalypse.
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Hammerhaven,
Justin's mind raced as the events on Earth spiraled further out of control. The reports from New York and Cairo were grim. He had made a name for himself by staying ahead of the curve, anticipating threats before they could manifest - for the most part anyway. But this… This was different. Magneto's sudden, brutal attack on New York was bad enough, but the chaos being unleashed by Apocalypse in Cairo threatened to destabilize everything he'd built.
And damn that idiot Tiberius Stone for having the gall to livestream Apocalypse's slow walk through Cairo.
Already all over the world people were asking, where was H.A.M.M.E.R?
He couldn't afford to take chances - not when the stakes were this high. They needed to get a better read on Apocalypse before they could strike with overwhelming force and remove him from the board before he could strike at them.
Justin still stood in the center of his command station, molten slag as it was, it still gave a better view of all the screens. He was still surrounded by the controlled chaos of his most trusted operatives coordinating their global response. His tailored suit clung to him, drenched in the sweat of mounting tension. The screens around him flashed with real-time data - casualty numbers, satellite imagery of the carnage, and a rapidly updating list of Hammer Industries' personnel across the globe. His mind flicked to Kaecillius, who was handling the evacuations in Cairo, but his instincts screamed that more needed to be done - and fast.
He couldn't wait for Kaecillius. The sorcerer was skilled, but even his speed had limits when he had to be careful not to draw the attention of Apocalypse. Justin's people were in danger, and the idea of any of them being caught in the crossfire of the carnage was unacceptable.
Even him staying here was a risk, this could be Magneto's next target, once opposition solidified in New York.
"Domino, Phantazia, Yelena," Justin said sharply, his voice cutting through the noise, "Prepare to move. We're getting off this rock."
Without waiting for a response, Justin spun on his heel and strode towards an open spot off the center of the room, his heart pounding in his chest. The air was thick with the scent of ozone, a byproduct of the advanced electronics he'd melted through in his rage, but now it felt stifling, oppressive, unsafe. The command center seemed to close in around him, a pressure that mirrored the weight of the decisions he had to make. He reached into his suit and pulled out the sling ring, the enchanted artifact cool and smooth against his skin.
With practiced precision, Justin made a circular motion in the air, and a glowing orange portal sprang to life before him, its edges crackling with energy. Beyond the portal lay the interior of Hammer Industries' space station, a sleek, sterile haven high above Earth's atmosphere.
One that the enemy wouldn't know about, and where they would remain safe, in a worst case scenario.
"Move!" Justin ordered, motioning for his closest subordinates to follow with a sharp hand gesture.
Domino was the first to react, her eyes scanning the portal with a mixture of readiness and unease. "You really think we need to bail out like this?" she asked, her voice low but carrying a note of underlying tension.
"We can't afford to be caught flat-footed," Justin replied, his tone clipped as he stared at the portal. "Too many unknowns. We need to be where we can regroup if things go south."
Yelena nodded in agreement, her sharp eyes flicking between him and the portal. "If this goes as bad as it looks like it might, we need to be ready to strike from above." She murmured.
If Justin thought an orbital strike would solve this, he'd already have ordered one. But this Apocalypse was showing off a new power every damn minute, and he couldn't afford to blow up Egypt just to have the damn monster walk it off.
Phantazia stepped closer, her fingers brushing the edge of his arm, eyes intent on him, almost judging. "And what about Cairo and New York?" She asked, her voice a quiet murmur, though there was no mistaking the concern in her tone. "Kaecillius is still down there. We should be helping."
"We will," Justin said, his voice tight. "But we need to secure ourselves first. Then we'll make our move."
Without another word, Justin stepped through the portal, his senses tingling as he crossed the threshold. The cool, sterile air of the space station greeted him, a contrast to the thick, oppressive atmosphere of Earth below. He could feel the shift in gravity as his feet touched the polished metal floor, the subtle adjustment as his body acclimated to the station's artificial environment.
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His people followed swiftly, their faces set with grim determination. As soon as they were through, Justin turned back to the portal, his thoughts already racing ahead to his next move. He could feel the seconds ticking away, each one carrying the weight of thousands of lives. The situation in Cairo was deteriorating rapidly, and there was no telling how long Kaecillius would need to gather up all class A personnel.
Justin wasn't going to leave it to chance.
He opened another portal, this time leading back to the command center in Hammerhaven as a relay of sorts; he didn't want to give even a momentary glimpse of his space station to anyone.
The space seemed colder now, the shadows longer, the ever-present hum of machinery a constant reminder of the precarious situation as live updates flashed across the walls. Justin moved with purpose, his steps echoing in the otherwise silent room - Domino would no doubt be pissed at him for suddenly disappearing without her, but this needed doing now. Without hesitation, he opened yet another portal, this one glowing with an intensity that matched the urgency he felt.
The portal flared, revealing the familiar space of the X-Mansion's front lawn. Charles Xavier was there, as Justin expected, Nail having kept him in the loop, seated in his wheelchair with a steely resolve etched on his features. Behind him, the X-Men stood ready, their faces hard with resolve. Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Beast, amongst others - each one a warrior in their own right, prepared for the battle ahead.
"I trust you're all caught up," Justin said curtly, waving them through towards another portal he'd just made. "I'm sending you to Cairo. You need to hold that monster back long enough for the rest of our forces to arrive. Storm's on her way, but you're going in first." He knew without a doubt they'd likely intended to stop Magneto, but honestly, Magneto just knew them too well, and some, like Logan, would be useless there.
Xavier looked grim as he accepted the change in assignment without a word. The man had likely already figured it out before Justin arrived, if he'd been following the broadcasts.
Magneto was the lesser threat. And Justine was calling in his chit. This was an alliance, and it was time for the X-Men to show it.
Cyclops stepped forward, his face set in grim determination. "We're ready," He said, his voice low and resolute. "We'll do whatever it takes."
But as the X-Men began to move toward the portal, Xavier wheeled forward, drawing a sharp intake of breath from the others. Wolverine's eyes narrowed, and Jean Grey's brow furrowed in concern.
"Professor," Jean began, her voice tinged with worry, "You shouldn't be going with us. It's too dangerous."
Xavier's gaze remained fixed on the portal, his expression unyielding. "I have to, Jean. This metahuman's telepathic power is immense - too great for me to fully comprehend from here. If I'm not there with you, I fear you'll all be overwhelmed by his mind. I must be there to counter his influence, to give you a fighting chance."
Justin's face tightened at hearing of the telepathy of this monster, how many powers does he have? His mind was calculating the risks, and not liking what it found... "What about the implants? The ones we all have - they've been enough to block most telepathy so far." He asked hurriedly, if we can't even protect our minds…
Xavier's expression was grave as he turned to Justin. "Your implants are effective against me, yes. But I can't say for certain about this metahuman. His power is beyond anything I've encountered. The implants might not be enough."
For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Justin could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him. It was a gamble, but when it came down to it, he'd rather gamble with the X-Men than his own crew.
Finally, Justin nodded, his voice hard. "Fine. Go along and learn what you can, protect your team and we'll have backup on the way shortly." If you live long enough for that…
In his mind he was already resigned to risking the lives of the people he'd grown close to. He'd need them to face Magneto, to bring him down to allow H.A.M.M.E.R to wipe out the forces he'd brought with him.
The US military was already on its way, which meant War Machine was on its way to lead a division of power armor. Justin needed to get Magneto down before they arrived.
It would not do to win all this, to then have Iron Man execute General Ross for getting his honeybear killed…
Xavier inclined his head at Justin's words, acknowledging the command, though both men knew there were no guarantees of back up. Luckily heroes were the self sacrificing sort. The X-Men moved through the portal, their expressions a mix of determination and unease. Xavier was the last to enter, his eyes meeting Justin's one last time before he disappeared through the glowing circle.
He watched as the X-Men and Xavier went through, vanishing into the chaotic landscape of Cairo. The portal shimmered and closed, leaving Justin alone with his thoughts, wondering if any of them would survive.
Coldly deciding their deaths were worth it if he could get enough data to strike at Apocalypse.
For a moment, Justin stood still, his thoughts a whirlwind of calculations and contingencies. The space station was his fallback, his last line of defense, but he couldn't shake the feeling that even this might not be enough. If Apocalypse was as powerful as Xavier feared, then this was only the beginning if they couldn't get him down.
Like against Thanos in the movies, divided they fell. Could he afford to leave them alone against Apocalypse, no matter how beneficial? Was his decision wrong? Was he going to get them all killed by wasting the X-Men?
Justin gritted his teeth, forcing the doubts aside. He couldn't afford to think like that. Not now. He activated the sling ring once more, opening a portal back to the space station. The glowing circle beckoned, a passage to safety, to regrouping.
When he entered, he saw Kaecillius, and most of the Hammer team, as well as Sunil, all safe and sound.
Domino and Yelena both stomped up to him, eyes flashing with anger, but he stopped them, "We don't have time, yell at me if we survive." He said clippedly, walking up to Kaecillius briskly, waving Phantazia closer.
"The Extremis solution worked on getting you out of Sinister's grip." He told her, watching as her face settled in cold resignation. He felt a shiver up his spine at the risks he was about to take, "Take Domino and Kaecillius, go to New York, use portals to get close to Magneto, use your power to mess with his, Domino will cover your backs." He turned to Kaecillius, "Get several shots of Extremis, once Magneto is distracted, make a small portal behind him and stick him, then get out, no unnecessary risks." He ordered.
Phantazia nodded, "We'll get it done, sir." She said, looking pained to be going against the brotherhood in battle.
Domino grabbed Justin by the collar, hissing at him, "If I'm going with them, then you're not setting a foot off this station, got it?"
"You're missing a sir, somewhere in there." He said dryly, comforted by the usual dynamic between them, especially at a time like this.
"Eat shit, sir!" She snarked, before joining Phantazia and Kaecillius, the trio soon disappearing from sight.
Justin turned to Frank and Bucky, "Get everyone suited up, the second we get word Magneto is down, you're all going in, no mercy, every invader dies."
Hopefully Magneto will have fucked off to go after Sinister by then.
Either way they couldn't wait much longer. One threat needed to be removed - so they could all focus on the major one.
It was a gamble,
He was rolling the dice.
If it came up snake eyes he'd have no other option but orbital bombardment.
----------------------------------------
Cairo,
The X-Men stood among the ruins of Cairo, where the ancient city's beauty had been reduced to rubble. Dust and smoke filled the air, and the ground was scarred with cracks and fissures. Buildings lay shattered, their remnants still smoldering. The sound of distant sirens was a constant reminder of the chaos and devastation that had overtaken the city - and also a sign there was still life in the city.
Leading the team, Cyclops scanned the area through his visor, its red lens reflecting nothing but devastation wherever he looked. Wolverine, his adamantium claws glinting, stood ready for battle just looking for their enemy.
The rest of the X-Men were spreading out, wary of being caught with their pants down, all of them tense and ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
Xavier's voice resonated in their minds, offering guidance and strength. Stay focused, he is nearby, that is all I can tell with his immense psychic presence, we are not alone, backup will arrive.
The team moved forward cautiously, their senses heightened as they advanced through the ruins. The air was heavy with tension, every sound amplified by the oppressive silence that surrounded them - the screams of the wounded and dying breaking their hearts as they moved past them, not having the time or capabilities to help right now. They could feel Apocalypse's presence in the air, an overwhelming pressure that bore down on them, making the hairs on the backs of their necks stand on end.
A deep, rumbling chuckle suddenly echoed through the streets, and the X-Men froze. The sound reverberated off the broken walls, sending a chill down their spines. From the shadows ahead, a massive figure stepped into view.
Apocalypse emerged, towering over the crumbling cityscape. His blue skin seemed to glow with an eerie, unnatural light, and his eyes burned with a menacing energy. He wore ancient armor adorned with symbols of power long forgotten by mankind, and his every movement radiated confidence - an unshakeable belief in his own superiority.
"Children, nothing but children," Apocalypse intoned, his voice deep and resonant, carrying a tone of dark amusement. "You dare to challenge me? How amusing… At least you're a cut above the rabble, perhaps even… Worthy?" He craned his neck, "Or is your fear pressed down by the cripple, making you brave enough to face me?"
Don't let his words get to you, you're all brave in your own right, here to defend our world, our way of life, Xavier sent to them, being guarded by Mimic, who stood tense as he watched Apocalypse stroll forward without a care in the world.
Without hesitation, Cyclops gave the order. "X-Men, attack!" He commanded, firing a powerful optic blast at Apocalypse, widening it as to take his sight away even if he could handle the power of the attack.
The beam shot through the air, a concentrated force of energy that could demolish a building with ease. It struck Apocalypse directly in the chest, but the ancient being didn't even flinch. The energy dissipated harmlessly against him, as though it were no more than a gentle breeze.
Apocalypse's lips twisted into a smirk. "Is that truly the best you can muster?" He said, in a way that would come off as mocking on anyone else, his voice actually dripping with condescension and disappointment.
Before Cyclops could react, Apocalypse lifted a hand and unleashed a wave of telekinetic force. The invisible energy struck the X-Men like a freight train, sending them flying backward. Cyclops crashed to the ground, his visor cracked from the impact, while Jean was hurled into a pile of debris, her telekinetic shield barely protecting her and the others.
Without her, they might have all been pasted right then and there. She groaned in pain as she struggled to climb out of the debris.
Wolverine, however, was on his feet almost instantly, his regenerative abilities healing his injuries in seconds. With a feral growl, he charged at Apocalypse, his claws gleaming as he slashed at the towering figure, intent on cutting him to strips.
Apocalypse moved with lightning speed, catching Wolverine by the throat in mid-air. His grip was iron, unyielding, and he held Wolverine aloft with ease, studying him closely.
"You have spirit," Apocalypse said, his voice laced with curiosity as he studied Wolverine. "I can sense the beast within you, the rage that drives you. You are different from the others... Almost worthy."
With a flick of his wrist, Apocalypse slammed Wolverine into the ground, creating a crater beneath him. Wolverine's bones cracked under the force, but his healing factor quickly began its work, mending the damage as he groaned in pain.
Undeterred, Wolverine pushed himself up, his eyes blazing with fury. "I ain't done with you yet," He snarled, his voice thick with determination as he lunged at Apocalypse again.
Apocalypse carelessly threw Beast into a building meanwhile, before sending a sonic blast that splattered Nightcrawler across several walls as the metahuman attempted to flank him, cries coming from the rest of the X-Men at how effortlessly one of them died.
Apocalypse tilted his head, watching Wolverine's relentless struggle with a mix of amusement and disdain as Wolverine refused to give in to despair. With a simple gesture, the ground beneath Wolverine became malleable, and he sank into it up to his waist, trapped.
"Why do you persist?" Apocalypse asked, his tone now almost contemplative. "You know you cannot win, yet you continue to fight. Is it sheer stubbornness, or something deeper? What drives you?" Another beam from Cyclops, and a psychic blast from Jean were carelessly shielded as he studied Wolverine, looking almost pleased.
Wolverine's eyes narrowed as he glared up at Apocalypse. "Because someone's gotta stand up to monsters like you," He growled, his voice filled with pain and fury. "No matter what."
Apocalypse regarded him for a moment, then nodded slowly, as if acknowledging some hidden truth. "Indeed, you are different from the others. You have potential... You are…Worthy."
Before Apocalypse could continue, Jean Grey, her eyes glowing with intense psychic energy, launched her most powerful telepathic attack. The raw force of her mental assault would have overwhelmed most opponents - but Apocalypse barely noticed.
With a casual wave of his hand, he increased the gravitational force around Jean. She gasped as she was forced to the ground, the pressure building so rapidly that she felt as though her bones might snap. Her telekinetic shield flickered as she struggled to stay upright, but the weight was too much. The ground beneath her began to crack, and she was slowly pushed down into the earth, her mind screaming in protest.
"Pathetic," Apocalypse muttered, dismissing her, as he turned his attention back to Cyclops, Beast and the others.
Xavier's attempt to help Jean finally began to bear fruit as Apocalypse completely dropped any thoughts of her, focusing on what was in front of him.
Cyclops, struggling to his feet, let out a scream of frustration and fired another optic blast, this one even more powerful than the last. The beam of energy was blinding, cutting through the smoke and debris, aimed directly at Apocalypse's face.
But Apocalypse simply raised his hand, catching the beam as if it were nothing. The energy crackled in his palm, the light reflecting off his cold eyes as he studied it.
"Decent," Apocalypse said, his voice calm and measured. "But not quite enough."
He turned his gaze to Cyclops, who was struggling to maintain the blast, his body trembling with the effort. Apocalypse's eyes narrowed as he considered the young leader, then, with a flick of his wrist, he redirected the energy back. But not at Cyclops.
Iceman screamed as he was devoured by the blast, Cyclops watching in horror, the trap Iceman had been building disappearing as he died. Before Cyclops could do anything else, Apocalypse sent his own beam, a copy of what Cyclops had done, back at him as well, a contemplative look on his face.
The beam struck Cyclops with devastating force, knocking him off his feet and sending him crashing into the side of a building. He slumped to the ground, his visor shattered, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, broken bones visibly poking out of his skin.
"Not worthy." Apocalypse said with a sigh, walking past the struggling Wolverine.
"Scott!" Jean's voice rang out, filled with horror and desperation as she struggled to free herself from the ground, but she was too weak to help him.
Apocalypse turned away from the fallen Cyclops, his expression one of bored disdain. The X-Men were proving to be less of a challenge than he had hoped, and their fear was almost palpable, feeding his sense of superiority.
"Is this truly the best you have to offer?" Apocalypse called out, his voice resonating through the ruins like a death knell. "If you kneel, I will perhaps give you a chance to improve, become something worthy." He offered.
At that moment, the skies darkened, as lightning struck Apocalypse, Colossus taking the chance to throw a car at him, even as Banshee blasted him with as much sonic pressure as she could manage.
Storm descended from the sky, eyes white as the skies themselves fell upon Apocalypse.
Apocalypse easily brushed off Banshee's shout, the car not even registering to him as it bounced off him, his eyes only for Storm, "Worthy…" He muttered in consideration.
Before he could say more, a thunderous roar shook the air, and the ground beneath them trembled violently. Apocalypse barely had time to react before a massive green figure crashed into him with the force of a freight train. The Hulk, a creature of pure, primal rage, slammed into Apocalypse, driving him back with a barrage of powerful blows.
Apocalypse's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he was forced to take a step back, the sheer power of the Hulk's attack catching him off guard. The two titans clashed, their fists meeting with explosive force, sending shockwaves through the ruins.
From the shadows, Captain America emerged, his shield gleaming in the dim light as he moved quickly to get past the rubble, the X-Men left gaping in shock at his passage. He was followed closely by Hawkeye taking a perch on a mostly intact building, his bow at the ready, and Black Widow, her gaze focused and determined as she helped Cyclops, dragging him away from the battle.
"Everyone, move in, don't give him a chance to catch his breath!" Captain America ordered, his voice calm but commanding.
Hawkeye nocked an arrow and fired, the projectile streaking through the air toward Apocalypse, before splitting into three, each exploding into big globs of glue as they struck Apocalypse's legs.
Apocalypse broke through the glue with ease, sending a beam of pure destruction at Hawkeye, who simply allowed himself to fall off the building to avoid it. He turned just in time to catch the Hulk's fist with his own, the impact creating a crater beneath their feet.
"So, something interesting has joined the fray together with the rabble," Apocalypse mused, his voice carrying a tone of grudging respect. "Perhaps you will provide the challenge I seek." His punch was enough to launch the Hulk back, crushing Wolverine as the Hulk rolled over him, the regenerating metahuman cursing up a storm as he tried to claw his way out of the ground.
Storm and Jean both went to assist him, urged there by Xavier. Jean cried even as she worked, eyes flickering from the dead, to the ones like Beast and Cyclops who were out of action. I'm useless, all I can do is watch people die…
As the battle raged on, Captain America leaped into the fray, his shield raised as he charged at Apocalypse, only to be tossed away with contemptuous ease by Apocalypse as the Hulk continued his assault, each of his punches causing the ground to tremble.
Meanwhile, up in the space station, Justin watched the battle unfold on multiple screens, his heart pounding in his chest. His command center buzzed with frantic activity, operatives working at a fever pitch to analyze the situation below. The images on the monitors were chaotic - an overwhelming blur of destruction and combat.
"Nail, what the hell is going on!?" Justin demanded, his voice sharp with a mix of anger and confusion.
Nail's voice responded calmly, though there was a hint of urgency in her tone. "Sir, the Hulk and several other individuals have emerged from the Nile. They appear to be part of a larger force led by a man with wings on his feet." As everyone processed this, she added another bombshell, "Iron Man is with them, he just popped up on satellite feeds."
Justin's eyes widened in disbelief. "What is even going on anymore!?" He'd suspected of course that Atlantis was real. The underwater kingdom was the most likely culprit for all the trouble with Wakanda. Yet for them to show up now, and with who they showed up with… And why the hell is Tony with them all of a sudden!?
"It would explain why Nick Fury was difficult to locate," Nail continued. "It appears that this is where Fury and his team have been based. They have now engaged Apocalypse directly."
Justin couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration mixed with disbelief. He knew other people had secrets, god knows he'd run into a few, like the Hellfire club that he'd had no idea existed in the manner it did. But this….
Justin couldn't believe what he was hearing. Fury, that elusive mastermind, had been hiding under the ocean all this time. Atlantis, the mythical underwater kingdom, was not only real but had also served as a base of operations for Fury and his new Avengers. And now, in the middle of the chaos, they had chosen this moment to reveal themselves.
Fury, who had fucked up everything since Wakanda, had somehow managed this… Justin should have killed the man when he had a chance. He did not enjoy being blindsided.
Even if the backup in this situation was almost a relief.
"Get me Fury on the line, now that he's out of the water, Nail, you should be able to lock onto his signal, there's no way he's not using something electronic right now," Justin ordered, his voice laced with barely restrained frustration.
"Working on it, sir," Nail replied. The room buzzed with activity as data streams flashed across the monitors, and within moments, Nail confirmed, "I have a connection, sir."
The screen flickered, and the grim face of Nick Fury appeared, his single eye sharp and unyielding. The backdrop behind him was chaos - ruins, fire, and the unmistakable sounds of battle. He didn't look surprised to see Justin, but there was no mistaking the tension between the two.
"What were you thinking, Fury?" Justin barked, his frustration boiling over. "You've been hiding this entire time, and now you decide to show up? You could have warned us, coordinated with us!"
Fury's voice was calm but firm, cutting through Justin's rant like a knife. "I don't take orders from you, Hammer. And as you can see, I'm a little busy right now."
Justin's eyes narrowed. "Busy? Busy doing what exactly? Fighting alongside the very people who nuked Wakanda? You've got some explaining to do!" He almost hissed out, he was so incensed.
Those people had tried to start world war three. You didn't just get a pass on that. No matter if Aquaman, or whatever the equivalent here was called, fought Apocalypse for them.
Fury's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in his eye - something that made Justin uneasy. "It's not your business, Hammer. But since I'm feeling generous, I'll throw you a bone. We found the people responsible for the attack on Wakanda sure, but that's not all. The same guy behind this situation, Sinister, was using their home as a base for decades before he found his Savage Lands, manipulating its leader, Namor. Banner figured it out, fixed the problem, and now they're paying the world back."
Justin's lip curled in skepticism. "You expect me to believe that load of crap, Fury? You're hiding something. You always are." Although it does make sense for how Sinister avoided any attention all this time…
Although how the hell did Sinister, or Fury for that matter, stay underwater for that long? How did fucking Banner handle that?
Fury leaned forward slightly, his gaze unwavering. "Believe what you want, Hammer. The truth doesn't care whether you buy it or not. Take it or leave it. But let me be clear - you're not running this show."
And with that, Fury cut the connection, leaving Justin staring at the blank screen. Fury's final words echoed in Justin's mind, fueling the growing frustration and unease that had been gnawing at him since the battle began.
"Damn it!" Justin cursed under his breath. He turned to Nail, his face twisted with anger. "How the hell did we miss Barton and Romanoff slipping away? We were supposed to have eyes on them at all times." How did the motherfucking Avengers start up without us knowing? When did they get to Tony?
He knew for damn sure Tony had not spent the last year underwater. He kept a good eye on his comings and goings.
Nail's voice was steady as she responded, "They were last confirmed on the SHIELD helicarrier. The signal we had on them wasn't compromised. According to my surveillance they're still there, although trying to slip away in the chaos right now, do you wish for me to stop them, sir?"
Justin muttered to himself, frustration clear in every word. "Fucking Skrulls... I have no idea how Fury always seems to have a way of getting aliens to do his dirty work." Why do the Skrulls so easily work for him? How did that happen? Weren't they supposed to go to their own planet? "Leave it, it's not worth it to let HYDRA know how deeply we penetrated their systems, let the Skrulls escape." He ordered, dismissing that issue to focus on the one at hand.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as he focused back on the fight. "Nail, how's the fight going down there?" Justin asked, hoping that, at the very least, things were turning in their favor now that Fury's forces had arrived.
That way his forces could come in with the finishing blow and take the credit.
Nail's response was immediate, but not what Justin wanted to hear. "Not well, sir."
Justin's heart sank as he turned his attention back to the screens. Apocalypse, still in the heart of the battle, was holding his ground against everything the combined forces of the X-Men and Avengers could throw at him. The Hulk's savage blows, Captain America's precise strikes, and the coordinated attacks of the others all seemed to do little more than amuse the monster.
Down below, the scene was a battlefield of titans. The Hulk roared with unbridled fury, his massive fists smashing into Apocalypse with enough force to shake the very earth. Yet, for every blow the Hulk landed, Apocalypse seemed to absorb it, his form rippling with a dark energy that only grew stronger with each impact. He matched the Hulk's strength, each of his strikes landing with the force of a sledgehammer, driving the green behemoth back with a mixture of sheer power and overwhelming technique.
Neither one was overwhelming the other, but whereas the Hulk had only brute force, Apocalypse had all the powers he could ever need at his fingertips, driving the Hulk back.
Captain America was a blur of motion, his shield flying through the air in well-practiced arcs, striking at Apocalypse with pinpoint accuracy. But Apocalypse moved faster than the eye could follow, deflecting the blows with a contemptuous flick of his wrist, sending the vibranium shield skidding across the ground. He responded with a blast of energy from his palm, sending Cap hurtling backward, his body slamming into a crumbling wall.
Only the fact that the X-Men and Hulk were still taking up most of his attention was saving the captain from being mulch.
Hawkeye and Black Widow circled the battle, launching a series of coordinated attacks from afar, designed to exploit any openings. Hawkeye's arrows whistled through the air, each one tipped with specialized payloads - explosives, acid, EMP charges - but Apocalypse seemed to predict every shot, catching the arrows in mid-air with telekinesis or deflecting them with a casual wave - not bothering to just power through them anymore. His focus on the Hulk.
"Is this the best the world has to offer?" Apocalypse mused, his voice carrying over the sounds of battle. He didn't seem tired, or even particularly challenged. If anything, he appeared to be enjoying himself. "You fight with such vigor, yet you are blinded by your own limitations. Strength alone is not enough to defeat me. I am beyond your understanding."
With a gesture he forced the camera drone down to him, staring into it, "Rejoice, humanity, you've bloated to billions of wasted lives, I will solve that for you. A billion is more suitable, no? Bring me your champions, bring me your savior! I will destroy them all."
He turned his attention to Namor, who had just joined the fray with a fury born of vengeance. Namor's winged feet propelled him through the air as he struck at Apocalypse, managing to make him move his feet to brace himself for a moment as he tanked the hit, not using a power to defend himself, testing Namor's strength. "Better." Apocalypse said, before smiling coldly, "Not worthy still."
As Namor closed in, on foot this time to strike his flank as the Hulk attacked him from the front, Apocalypse raised a hand, and the ground beneath the ocean ruler rippled like water. Namor staggered, his momentum halted as the earth itself seemed to rebel against him, he tried taking to the air, but Apocalypse moved around the Hulk with blinding speed, closing the distance and striking Namor across the chest with a brutal backhanded blow. Namor crashed into the ground cratering it, the impact sending shockwaves through the ruined city.
Iron Man swooped in from above, having helped evacuate the injured X-Men, his repulsors flaring as he unleashed a barrage of energy blasts from his hands. The beams converged on Apocalypse, striking him from multiple angles with enough power to level a small mountain. For a moment, the light was blinding, and it seemed as though Tony's attack might have had some effect.
But as the smoke cleared, Apocalypse emerged unscathed, his expression one of mild irritation. "Technology," He said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You rely too heavily on your machines, believing them to be your salvation. But they are nothing more than tools - tools that can be broken."
With a gesture, Apocalypse turned his attention to Iron Man. The arc reactor in Tony's chest flickered, the power fluctuating wildly as if something was interfering with its core. Tony's suit locked up, the systems shutting down one by one as Apocalypse's influence spread through the circuits like a virus.
"What the hell...?" Tony muttered, struggling to regain control. But before he could react, he was hurled backward by a telekinetic force, slamming into the remnants of a building with a crash, his suit useless.
Jean Grey attempted to rally the X-Men screaming in rage as she unleashed a psychic onslaught, her power fueled by desperation, but Apocalypse merely smirked as he casually deflected her attack with a wave of his hand, sending her crashing to the ground once more, even as her attack allowed Wolverine to get in close, double teaming Apocalypse with the Hulk, well, until the Hulk suddenly slapped Wolverine away like an annoying fly, tossing him halfway across the street.
Captain America yelled at him, "Hulk, no! Friendly!"
"Annoying!" Hulk roared back, before Apocalypse lifted him up in the air with telekinesis, before choosing to drop it as Namor, blood running down his face, stabbed at him, flying in with a vengeance. Apocalypse causally breaking his arms, staring down dispassionately at the screaming man.
"How about we all just kneel in front of our Lord." Sinister said out of nowhere, as everyone's attention turned to him.
Mimic laid dead at his feet, as he held a gun to Xavier's head, tapping an implant at the side of his ear with a smirk. "You're all being very rude…"
"Kneel."
----------------------------------------
New York city,
New York City was unrecognizable. The skyline, once a symbol of resilience and ambition, was now a jagged silhouette against a sky blackened by smoke. Skyscrapers leaned like ancient trees about to fall, some already collapsed into heaps of rubble, while others hung in mid-collapse, their structural integrity ripped apart by unseen forces. The air was heavy with the stench of burning metal and concrete, mixed with the distant wails of the dying and the unceasing din of battle.
Kaecillius, Domino, and Phantazia emerged from a glowing portal onto a rooftop, the portal's light fading as quickly as it had come. The sight before them was one of utter devastation. Domino scanned the destruction below, her expression hardening with each second. Phantazia, usually so composed, winced as the magnitude of the devastation sank in. Kaecillius, calm as always, surveyed the scene with quiet intensity, his mind already formulating their next steps.
Below in the wide avenue that stretched out before them, the remnants of New York's police force were locked in a desperate battle against Magneto's army. The police was vastly outgunned, even with their HammerTech weaponry and they fought with a determination born from sheer desperation. The metahumans' powers were so varied and so plentiful that they didn't last long enough to use their weapons half the time.
Barricades lined the streets, from whatever materials were at hand - abandoned cars, broken streetlights, and chunks of concrete and asphalt. Behind them the officers fired everything they had at the incoming horde, who utilized their varied powers to tear through the barricades like they weren't even there. Leaving a few bodies behind, but annihilating the opposition as they continued on.
Amidst the chaos, a squad of national guard troops attempted to bring a rocket launcher to bear on a towering figure that seemed to be leading the charge. Before they could fire, the massive metahuman hurled a chunk of concrete at them, crushing the soldiers beneath it. Their screams were lost in the din of battle.
Phantazia's face tightened as she saw the devastation, spotting a school bus, the windows painted red. "I hate this, we're just standing by while people are dying."
"We're not standing by," Domino said seriously, laying a hand on her shoulder, "We're getting into position, if we go off half-cocked, we'll end up like them," She gestured at the fallen officers and national guardsmen, "We take out Magneto, and the rest of this will fall apart when the team hits them."
Kaecillius opened another portal, and they stepped through, closer to the action in Manhattan, from where they had a clear view of the battlefield.
"He's tearing the city apart," Domino muttered, her voice barely audible over the distant booms of explosions and the crackle of fires that spread unchecked. Below them, Manhattan's streets were consumed by chaos. The National Guard and police had hastily erected makeshift defenses here as well, but they were being rapidly overwhelmed. Barricades made of abandoned vehicles and debris lined the streets, but they offered little protection against the relentless assault.
Metahumans just weren't held back by such things, not when they were in groups, and could synergize powers. HammerTech weapons meant to handle the powered, not a match when facing a dozen or more super powered individuals working in concert.
Kaecillius's eyes locked onto a distant figure hovering above the ruins of Manhattan - Magneto. The Master of Magnetism floated effortlessly, his cape billowing as he manipulated the very framework of the city with terrifying ease. Massive sections of buildings were suspended around him, held aloft by his will alone, before being hurled with deadly precision at the defenders below or just towards other parts of the city for maximum casualties.
"We need to get closer," Kaecillius said, his voice calm but urgent. "Phantazia, you'll need to disrupt his powers as soon as we're within range. It's our best chance."
Phantazia nodded, determination setting her features. "I'll do what I can, but he's more powerful than anyone I've ever faced. I don't know how long I can hold him back."
Domino, always practical, added, "Just give us an opening. That's all we need."
Without wasting any time, Kaecillius conjured another portal. The trio stepped through to a rooftop closer to the heart of the destruction. Here, the noise was overwhelming - the roof trembled beneath their feet, and the acrid scent of smoke was nearly suffocating. Below them, the battle raged on with brutal intensity. The police and National Guard, though vastly outclassed, fought desperately against the advancing metahumans, even here at the heart they still hadn't given up. A group of officers was pinned down behind an overturned bus, firing at a towering figure with skin like stone. The bullets bounced harmlessly off his armored hide, and with one powerful swing of a streetlight, he sent the officers sprawling, before he crushed them beneath his feet, stomping onwards.
"This isn't a fight," Phantazia whispered, her voice tinged with sorrow. "It's a massacre."
Domino kept her focus, her voice steady and commanding. "We stop Magneto, and this ends. Let's move."
Kaecillius opened another portal, this time transporting them to a rooftop directly across from Magneto's position, albeit several hundreds of feet away still. They could see him clearly now, his power on full display. With a mere gesture, Magneto pulled the steel framework of a skyscraper apart, sending massive girders crashing into the streets below. The ground shook with each impact, and the defenders scattered, unable to withstand the onslaught. The skyscraper itself began to list, before it crashed down, mountains of dust spreading out across the streets, as more and more metal was added to the swirling mass.
"He's like a living natural disaster," Domino muttered, watching in disbelief as another building began to buckle and collapse under Magneto's power. "If we don't stop him soon, there won't be anything left of Manhattan."
Before they could make their move, the roar of engines filled the air. They looked up to see a squadron of military power armor - Goblin suits - streaking through the sky, their weapons aimed directly at Magneto. The armors descended rapidly, their missile launchers primed and ready to fire.
"They're going to get wiped out," Domino observed, her voice filled with frustration. "But they might buy us the time we need."
Kaecillius nodded, already moving. "Let's go."
He opened another portal, depositing them on a rooftop directly within sight of Magneto, the metahuman having left one such building at his back. From their vantage point, they could see the Goblin suits moving in for the attack, their missile launchers blazing as they unleashed a barrage of explosives at Magneto. The missiles streaked toward him, leaving trails of smoke in their wake.
Magneto responded with the same terrifying ease he had shown throughout the battle. With a flick of his wrist, the missiles halted mid-air, their momentum arrested by his power. The warheads glowed ominously as Magneto dismantled them piece by piece, the fragments of metal falling harmlessly to the ground. The Goblin suits, realizing their weapons had failed, broke formation and attempted to regroup, but Magneto was already one step ahead. He reached out with both hands, and the armored suits began to buckle and warp, their metal exteriors crumpling inward as if crushed by an invisible fist.
"Phantazia, now!" Kaecillius ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Phantazia stepped forward, her eyes narrowing in concentration as she extended her hands toward Magneto. A visible ripple of energy emanated from her, spreading through the air like a shockwave. The metal debris around Magneto began to tremble, the control he exerted over it faltering as she forced him to lose control. The Goblin suits were already lost, as they fell to the ground far below, crushed into balls.
Magneto's gaze snapped to Phantazia, his expression shifting from focus to fury. He immediately recognized the source of the disruption, his control over the battle momentarily slipping. With a snarl, he directed his full attention toward her, the air around him crackling with raw power.
At that moment, another roar filled the air as War Machine, his armor gleaming in the dim light, streaked into view. War Machine launched a volley of missiles directly at Magneto, hoping to exploit the opening Phantazia had created. The explosive projectiles homed in on Magneto, their deadly payloads closing in fast.
The lifetime soldier knowing it was suicide, but having arrived to fight anyway, desperate to put a stop to the destruction of New York.
What is he doing here!? Phantazia screamed in her head, even as her hold of Magneto weakened, the distance greater than what she usually dealt with, the power so much more as well. She couldn't hold this too much longer.
Magneto reacted with the precision and speed of someone who had faced countless battles. With a powerful gesture, he deflected the missiles, sending them arcing back toward War Machine, even as metal fell from the sky as he couldn't control it all with Phantazia messing with his power. The explosions detonated around Colonel Rhodes, but the War Machine armor managed to dodge the worst of the blast.
Only for Magneto to hold his hand out, a snarl on his face as he crushed the War Machine armor into the size of a human torso, tossing it aside with contempt, even as Phantazia moaned in agony, her attempts to control his power slipping, any second now she would no longer be able to prevent him from ripping buildings apart.
Kaecillius didn't waste the opportunity of War Machine's sacrifice. He quickly conjured a small portal behind Magneto, reaching through with a syringe filled with the Extremis serum. With a precise jab, he injected the serum into Magneto's shoulder before he could react, the metahumans focus not on them for those few seconds.
Magneto recoiled, faltering as he felt the serum course through him. Phantazia strained to maintain her interference, her face contorted with effort as she fought to keep Magneto's powers in check.
"The distance… It's too far!" Phantazia cried out, her voice strained as the metal around them began to rise once more. "I can't hold him for long!"
The Extremis wouldn't work immediately, they needed to hold, just for that 30 seconds. They needed to hold!
Magneto, his fury palpable, turned his gaze back to Phantazia, Kaecillius, and Domino. He reached out with both hands, and the air around them thickened with an oppressive force. The metal debris from the nearby buildings began to rise, drawn to him like iron filings to a magnet. Massive walls of steel lifted from the ground on either side of the rooftop, hovering menacingly across from the trio.
"We need to move!" Domino shouted, her instincts screaming at her to act.
But before they could react, before Kaecillius could create a portal, the walls of metal slammed together with a force that shook the entire block. Phantazia had enough time to see the metal 'accidentally' tear, the steel weakened just enough to open a fissure on that side, coming straight for Domino due to her luck power. She had enough time to see her eyes flick to hers. Don't you fucking do that to me! She internally screamed as time seemed to slow down.
Domino, with a cry of desperation, threw herself to the side, making the metal jerk trying to follow her, Phantazia passing through the small opening with milliseconds to spare, Domino choosing her over herself - there was no time to save herself or Kaecillius after that. The walls of steel collided, the impact sending a shockwave through the surrounding area,
Blood trickled out from the compressed slabs of metal as Phantazia screamed.
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Erik stood amidst the ruins of Manhattan, the air was thick with dust, the sun barely piercing through the dense haze that clung to the city like a shroud. Shattered skyscrapers, twisted metal, and broken concrete lay in every direction, a grim testament to the power he had unleashed.
His breath caught as he took in the devastation, the sheer scale of it beyond anything he had ever imagined. Bodies lay scattered among the wreckage, the remnants of those who had tried to defend the city or simply survive its fall. He hadn't just fought a battle - he had torn the very heart out of New York.
His ears were ringing as he staggered forward, his vision blurry as he watched women crying in the streets. As he watched children, lay dead by his hands. Dust spread around them, layering everything in a film of gray, Erik for a moment seeing two different pictures. One from a very long time ago, overlaying this one.
"What have I done?" Erik whispered, his voice hoarse with disbelief. The memory of the fury that had driven him only moments ago felt distant, as if it belonged to someone else entirely. The mind control that had twisted his will was gone, but the consequences remained, stark and irrevocable.
He fell to his knees, his hands trembling as they touched the ground, feeling the cold reality of the destruction he had wrought. A heavy weight settled in his chest, the enormity of his actions pressing down on him like a crushing burden.
"What have I become!!" He cried to the sky, tears running in streaks down his dust covered face.
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Justin stared at the signals tracking his subordinates.
His gaze caught on two.
Lost.
"Justin… Your eyes are glowing."
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