35: The Man of Steel!

"You!" Rhodes furrowed his brows. Amidst the deceased lay elderly individuals, women, and children. This indiscriminate massacre evoked profound disgust within him.

"What? A group of mortals akin to ants are but specks of dust beneath my feet. Do I require your consent to sweep away such dust?" Apocalypse sneered.

Rhodes tightened his fists at his sides, his gaze locked on Apocalypse's form. The charged atmosphere sent temperatures plummeting.

"Attack!"

In a blur of motion, Apocalypse dashed toward Rhodes, akin to a speeding arrow.

Rhodes met him head-on, the two exchanging rapid punches. The sheer force behind their fists created a powerful gust, the four punches colliding in a symphony of impact. Neither managed to breach the other's defenses.

Apocalypse withdrew, studying his bloody knuckles with mild satisfaction.

His superhuman physique had always eradicated concerns of physical frailty, his ability to age curtailed by his immortality. Even so, he found himself vulnerable to the inevitable decay of his physical prowess.

Desperate to maintain vitality, he'd savagely slain the people of Egypt, siphoning their lives to sustain his own strength.

Regarding the battered form before him, Apocalypse perceived his own fists' collapse as indicative of Rhodes' perfection.

Apocalypse tightened his fist, his flesh and blood swiftly regenerating.

Rhodes' expression remained unchanged. He hadn't anticipated injuring Apocalypse with a mere punch. Leveraging his molecular manipulation ability facilitated quick self-repair.

Before them, a cobalt beam shot forth. Rhodes evaded, and as it struck the ground, a rift formed, swallowing soil and clods as if devouring them into another dimension.

"The original destructive energy wave?" Rhodes became alert. Should he be ensnared by this shockwave, he'd vanish completely, dissipated into the universe.

Apocalypse raised an eyebrow, "You're familiar with my ability. Who are you?"

Rhodes refrained from answering. "No need for words."

Two crimson beams erupted from Rhodes' eyes, piercing toward Apocalypse's forehead.

"Simple~" Apocalypse remarked lightly, conjuring a barrier that absorbed the thermal energy rays. Two crimson streaks radiated at the barrier's edge, flowing into Apocalypse's body. His shoulders twitched, followed by a surge in muscle mass.

"Sun's energy? Impressive," he murmured, his eyes closed, seemingly savoring the absorbed power.

Having assimilated Rhodes' energy, his covetous regard shifted to Rhodes.

"I can't wait. Submit to your memories!" He chortled maniacally, hands rising as his eyes emitted a soft azure glow.

Rhodes sensed a prickling sensation within his mind, dispelling it through focused concentration.

Suddenly, Apocalypse staggered back, clutching his head, eyes wide in astonishment. "What! Your spiritual realm is overwhelming! I can't even approach it."

Rhodes emitted a cold snort; his evolved super spirit was impervious even to Apocalypse.

"Hmph! While I'd prefer not to harm your form, presently, there's naught I can do!" Several cerulean beams radiated before Apocalypse.

Rhodes sidestepped, endeavoring to dodge, but the myriad beams hindered him. Apocalypse's light seemingly manifested from every part of his body, not emanating from a specific source.

"Bang!"

One beam struck Rhodes' arm, penetrating and eliciting blood. The searing pain hampered his evasion.

Further beams followed, rendering evasion impossible. Rhodes suffered multiple impacts, the beams piercing his body and leaving hollow punctures.

"Regrettably, fret not. Your body shall be restored, cared for attentively. Your head, however, shall be severed and wielded as a plaything by my minions." Apocalypse grinned, advancing upon Rhodes.

"Ding! Host [Rhodes] has evolved [Man of Steel]!"

Before their eyes, Rhodes' body healed visibly. Wounds merged rapidly, rendering his form unscathed and even more robust than before.

"Hey! Still capable of healing? Yet it suits my purpose," Apocalypse jeered, assembling multiple beams before him, aiming to sieve through Rhodes' body.

However, the blue beams didn't affect Rhodes. Striking his form, they dissipated akin to water striking a wall, vanishing instantly.

"What! This is the molecular-destructive light. Has your form surpassed the molecular construct of this world?!" Apocalypse's surprise was palpable.

Rhodes brushed his body, the beams of Apocalypse proving ineffective, almost a tickling sensation.