"Was it an illusion?"
Vincent Hall muttered.
For a brief moment, he felt a massive energy fluctuation.
It was the most powerful force he had sensed, aside from Odin and the Ancient One.
Even the aged Odin and the Ancient One (without the Time Stone) might not match this raw energy.
That unique, powerful aura belonging to mutants.
Vincent had only felt it from Jean Grey before.
But this power felt vast as an ocean, ancient as if traversing thousands of years of history.
"Apocalypse has made his move!"
"He's in Cairo!!!"
Vincent's Psychic Dominator ability instantly scanned the minds of humanity, searching for Apocalypse.
Finally, he caught a glimpse of a man in a hooded cloak. Just a glimpse, but it confirmed Apocalypse's return.
Jean Grey was traveling, having severed ties with her past.
Even though Vincent told her Apocalypse had transferred his consciousness and resurrected, she just spent one night with him and left.
"Since you've appeared, I won't leave you a way out this time."
Vincent's psychic net covered Cairo. His Super Brain worked at max capacity, scanning the mental ocean.
But he couldn't pinpoint Apocalypse's exact location.
Clearly, Apocalypse had learned from Professor X's tracking methods. Using the same trick wouldn't work.
"Cunning old fox."
Vincent withdrew quietly.
He didn't dare do a brute-force sweep.
If he spooked Apocalypse, the ancient mutant would flee.
Apocalypse mastered teleportation.
His teleportation resembled another mutant's power: Blink (Clarice Ferguson), played by Fan Bingbing in Days of Future Past.
Most likely, Apocalypse used spatial displacement to evade detection.
"Why return to Cairo?"
Vincent pondered.
Many mutants in the US had taken the Cure.
Since the injection time was short, few realized the Cure wasn't permanent. But over time, more would discover their X-genes reactivating.
But places like Cairo and the African continent would birth new mutants.
And mutants fleeing US/European persecution would hide in the lawless regions of Africa.
"Is he looking for new Horsemen?"
"Or gathering an army of mutants who hate humanity?"
Vincent believed Apocalypse returned to Cairo to gather support for a massive comeback.
The Avengers were nothing to him.
Few on Earth could threaten him.
Vincent was the obvious one.
If Apocalypse wanted to rule Earth as a god, he had to eliminate Vincent first.
"So, I don't need to rush."
"Just wait for the rabbit to hit the tree."
Vincent smiled and retracted his telepathy.
Cairo. Inside a Pyramid.
Apocalypse lowered his hood. He looked toward New York with greed.
"Charles Xavier isn't dead. Jean Grey was 'killed' by Logan. No one can stop me from taking Charles's power!!!"
Apocalypse's face twisted. He hated traitors.
He killed Magneto because he saw an opportunity.
He wouldn't have killed Magneto normally. A powerless Magneto was just a man. For an ambitious soul, living as a cripple was worse than death.
But Magneto's power was returning.
This meant the Cure only suppressed the X-gene temporarily.
"The card I held... I nearly had Angel kill the boy."
"But to dismantle the mutant resistance, I used Worthington Industries to give humans the upper hand, filtering for the true Chosen Ones."
"Only those who crave power will follow me again."
"Those who took the Cure... once I control the world, I will use Charles's power to wipe you all out!!!"
Charles Xavier was a treasure.
His telepathy surpassed all others. To Apocalypse, he was a natural god.
With Charles's power, Apocalypse could control everyone on Earth.
The battle at Alcatraz destroyed the existing mutant factions.
And killed the one he feared most: Jean Grey.
Jean was dead!
A pity. Her power was the Ultimate Answer.
Even Apocalypse didn't dare transfer his consciousness into Jean. The Phoenix Force would destroy him instantly.
Young Jean had weaknesses. Fully realized Phoenix Jean was invincible.
Only Logan, with his bond to her, could reach her humanity and kill her.
Everything went according to plan.
Except for one variable: The Ice Demon.
Where did his power come from?
"Iceman has potential. Perhaps I can make him a Horseman."
The Frost Knight.
Iceman was an Omega-level mutant in potential (Level 5), currently operating at Level 4.
Apocalypse could unlock that potential.
Make Iceman nearly as strong as the Ice Demon.
Apocalypse didn't fear Vincent. He might not kill him, but he could escape.
The only unknown was Vincent's hidden depths.
Apocalypse had been gathering intel for years. He could interface with global networks just by touching a computer.
He knew SHIELD. He knew Asgard.
He realized he had been arrogant in the past.
But now, he harbored a greater ambition: To become the God of Gods. To replace Odin.
Odin wasn't unbeatable.
Apocalypse was confident he could defeat Odin.
"Start with Bobby Drake."
If he wouldn't submit, Apocalypse would steal his power.
This was what En Sabah Nur had done for 3,000 years.
"Iceman isn't in New York right now."
Apocalypse smiled.
Knowing Charles was alive gave him the key to breaking the X-Men.
He walked deeper into the pyramid, seeking the sarcophagi of his descendants.
Many Pharaohs were his offspring.
As the only god of this ancient civilization, he left many contingencies.
War had begun.
He would use everything to rule the world.
Starting with Earth.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Storm, Ororo Munroe, was handling school affairs.
Beast, now the Secretary of Mutant Affairs, informed her the government planned to close the school.
All students must take the Cure.
The X-Men could join the government, but the school had to go.
"Professor, if only you were here. What should we do?"
Storm sighed.
The school was near New York.
And New York housed a demon.
Vincent Hall.
Storm constantly warned students not to go to Manhattan or provoke Oscorp.
Without Xavier, the school was failing.
Suddenly.
Storm's vision shifted.
She stood in a white void.
Charles Xavier sat in his wheelchair, smiling at her.
"Professor? Is it really you? Am I dreaming?"
Storm looked at him in surprise.
"You see my spirit. My body is destroyed."
Charles smiled wisely. No resentment in his eyes.
"Professor, Jean died. But the Ice Demon took her body."
Storm remembered.
"What are you worried about?"
"Oscorp researches gene enhancement. I worry they'll use Jean's body to create Phoenix-powered soldiers."
"Jean was saved by the Ice Demon. She isn't dead. The Phoenix Force is destruction and life. Mr. Hall activated the life aspect. She was reborn."
Charles revealed the truth.
Storm gasped.
"Professor, can we find Jean and resurrect you?"
"My body is gone. I exist because my psychic power is strong. Unless I transfer my consciousness like Apocalypse... But Ororo, you know I would never do that."
Charles refused.
Storm looked sad.
"Child, when I faced Jean, I knew my fate. I don't blame her. She saved us all. The Phoenix Force created a dark personality. I had to suppress it. Logan did well. He is a true warrior."
"Logan is leaving too. Returning to Canada. He's aging..."
Storm was pessimistic.
The X-Men were falling apart. It was their twilight.
"Child, don't despair. Darkness is coming. We destroyed Apocalypse's body. But I realized at the last moment... he hijacked my mind to transfer his consciousness into Angel."
"Warren Worthington III?"
Storm's voice dropped.
They were once fellow Horsemen.
Warren survived but lost his wings. Became a billionaire.
"Warren didn't know. By the time he realizes, it will be too late."
"If Apocalypse completes the transfer... humanity is doomed!!!"
Storm looked grave. Her power came from Apocalypse's enhancement. She knew his strength.
"I called you to warn you. Erik was killed by Apocalypse. But I know Erik. He wouldn't die that easily. He has a plan."
Charles knew his old friend.
"Professor, I'll rally the X-Men! Find Jean! Find Apocalypse! Without your power to steal, we can kill him!!!"
Storm declared, killing intent rising.
"No. Jean has severed her past. She's at a critical point mastering the Phoenix. Disturbing her could push her over the edge. Mr. Hall resurrected her because she contains the Phoenix. If she dies, the Force runs wild. That's bad for Earth."
Charles stopped her.
"With our current strength, we can't kill Apocalypse. We got lucky last time."
"It's not just Jean. I know the Ice Demon is hunting Apocalypse too!!!"
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