Wheel of War

Authors Note-

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The ground rumbled as gravel around the pyramid floated up. A stalwart figure slowly emerged.

Apocalypse, preceding the use of space ability, advanced step by step, each step causing Chris and others to feel their hearts twitch.

"You've angered me, ants. I'll now use all my strength to make you die in pain."

As Apocalypse spoke, a shield enveloped him again, instantly appearing by Professor X's side. He reached out to grab it, wary that a full-strength shot might elude his control, risking harm to Professor X and jeopardizing his plan. To prevent accidents, he aimed to take down Professor X first.

Yet as Apocalypse's hand was half-stretched, a short black knife was intercepted by Azazel, the only one with superb space ability to save them.

"What an annoying little bug!" Apocalypse lifted his hand, a cloud of yellow sand forming a round shield to block the knife. Despite the delay, General and Clark arrived. They simultaneously struck, and Apocalypse couldn't resist and was blasted out.

Inexplicably, Apocalypse disregarded the potential harm to Professor X. He opened his arms, lifting the pyramid with a rumbling sound. Intending to wipe out everyone, the pyramid descended.

"Let me handle this!" Clark shouted, soaring into the sky, effortlessly holding the pyramid. Everyone was stunned; he looked innocent yet harbored immense power. Was this a beast disguised as a child?

Besides Chris, who knows Clark's Kryptonian identity, Ivan consistently taught him power control. Even at his young age, Clark regularly flew into space to absorb solar energy, making lifting a pyramid effortless. 

Apocalypse, taken aback by Clark's ability to block his ultimate attack, pondered the potential danger of such power in a young child. Could it pose a threat as he matures? In Apocalypse's eyes, the victory was substantial, but the priority was obtaining Professor X's body. Despite his strength, the opponent could be controlled through telepathy.

Seizing Clark's distraction, Red Devil teleported everyone hundreds of meters away. Apocalypse, employing both empty hands, shattered the massive pyramid. Fragments surrounded Clark, who punched and smashed them, but the dust swiftly reformed, trapping him. Meanwhile, golden tower fragments hurtled toward Professor X and others.

With no escape from the wide-ranging attack, Chris stepped forward empty-handed. The desert rioted around him, forming a hundred-meter-high sandstorm. Amidst it, Chris's huge face appeared, roaring against the broken gold tower.

Boom, boom, boom!

Pyramid fragments collided with the sandstorm, and Chris's massive face was battered by debris. It became a contest of endurance, and the onlookers, including the X-Men and world leaders observing via satellites, were terrified. The immense power displayed was more difficult than nuclear weapons, causing deep unease among the leaders.

Apocalypse sensed that the tide was turning against him. After several consecutive killing moves and the diminishing pyramid fragments, he gritted his teeth, mustering all his strength. Suddenly, he thrust his hands forward, and Chris felt a powerful force hitting him. His chest tightened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Chris's controlled sandstorm collapsed, and the remaining pyramid fragments plummeted. In the critical moment, Kyle shouted, "Simba! Devour!"

Beside Kyle, the half-meter-high dog, Simba, rushed out, growing suddenly from half a meter to over two meters. With a roar, Simba's mouth acted like a black hole, sucking in all the pyramid fragments.

Witnessing this, observers questioned whether Simba was a dog or a disguised monster. The day's events shattered their beliefs, making it hard to trust their eyes.

Unsatisfied with devouring the pyramid fragments, Simba aimed at Apocalypse as if intending to swallow him too. Apocalypse felt the immense suction force and bowed his body to withstand it, using a blue energy barrier. He teleported into the air, pressed his hands down, and unleashed dozens of yellow sands attacking Simba from all directions.

Despite Simba's strong devouring power, it could only move in one direction. Faced with numerous yellow sands from different directions, Simba was helpless. Each contact caused immediate decay, embodying Apocalypse's decomposition ability. In the crisis, the Red Devil teleported and saved Simba, redirecting Apocalypse's anger toward him.

"Watch me!" Kyle blocked Apocalypse, revealing a magic book. A complex magic circle with triangles and six sides appeared, opening the first page. Another depiction showed a divine bird engulfed in flames, vividly lifelike.

Kyle extended his hand, pressing it on the magic circle. The circle's pattern projected into the air, spanning dozens of meters. Uttering an incantation, Kyle said, "I summon in my name—Fire Phoenix!"

"Chirp!" A melodious song echoed as a colossal bird, over 50 meters long, emerged from the magic circle. Bathed in flames, it boasted a slender neck, sharp claws, and beautiful, elongated tail feathers.

The phoenix flapped its wings, soaring toward Apocalypse. One hundred meters away, it spewed a fiery pillar.

Sensing danger, Apocalypse hastily shielded himself with a blue barrier. Surprisingly, the flame possessed magical power, slowly eroding the energy shield. This extraordinary fire damaged the space itself—nothing escaped its burn.

This phoenix, once kept on Skull Island by Ivan, evolved after swallowing a ray of eternal fire. Now exceeding 50 meters in length, its flame bore characteristics of eternity. Though shorter than the Black Dragon Smaug, it surpassed in strength. In the magic book's hierarchy based on strength, the Phoenix sought to claim the position on the first page that initially belonged to Smaug.

Fearing the flame's power, Apocalypse couldn't let it attack unchecked. He gestured, summoning a dozen yellow sands into the air, creating a dragon-and-phoenix aerial battle.

The phoenix continuously spewed fire, incinerating the yellow sands. Yet, two sands persisted, and Apocalypse seized the opportunity, utilizing his decomposition ability.

Sensing danger, the phoenix blazed, burning the sands. However, one strand of yellow sand's decomposition ability inflicted harm, creating a substantial hole in its abdomen.

Apocalypse smiled, underestimating the phoenix. However, his smile shifted to astonishment as the phoenix's wound burst into flames, swiftly healing. As a divine bird, it could be reborn from ashes. A minor wound posed no challenge; its recovery rivaled Apocalypse's super recovery ability, fueled by the power of flames.

Annoyed, Apocalypse commanded more yellow sand to assail the phoenix, which retaliated with a raging fire, engaging in a fierce battle between man and bird.

"Bro, why not summon more beasts from your magic book? Can't they join forces to defeat Apocalypse?" Having recovered from her earlier injuries, Chris rejoined the battlefield and inquired.

"Your thinking is too simplistic. Aside from the Phoenix, the others are merely cannon fodder. The Phoenix's ability to be reborn from ashes allows it to endure the attacks of the Apocalypse. Other summoned beasts would disintegrate under his yellow sand, unable to withstand a single strike. They're too vulnerable to my summoned beasts. Even Smaug would only buy a little time, and I don't know if Apocalypse has other abilities. I won't take that risk," explained the Red Devil, considering Chris's suggestion.

After some thought, the Red Devil snapped his fingers, creating a blue space wormhole. He addressed the others, "It's unclear when this battle will end, and your injuries and abilities aren't sufficient. Those suited for fighting the Apocalypse should leave. Staying won't benefit you, and it may hinder others."

In truth, the Red Devil proposed this idea with a significant degree of self-interest. Mystique and the Blue Devil were both wounded. They'd be out of harm's way if they followed his suggestion. This way, Red Devil could ensure the safety of his wife and children.