In the decrepit house, Apocalypse narrowed his eyes and subtly activated his power to use Xavier's abilities to invade Syd's mind. However, Syd was prepared. His eyes glowed red as he forcibly expelled the psychic link, preventing Apocalypse from establishing a connection.
Just before the connection was severed, Syd heard a chilling message in his mind.
"I will find you…"
The voice left Syd with a frown of concern.
In the rundown wooden house, both Xavier and Apocalypse were intrigued by the powerful psychic presence that had intruded. Although their perception of the intruder was somewhat vague, they sensed the immense strength of this individual.
"An Omega mutant?" Apocalypse's eyes narrowed.
Regardless of whether the intruder was an Omega mutant, such a powerful individual could not remain unknown for long. They would inevitably meet.
Apocalypse glanced down at Xavier. Once he obtained Xavier's abilities, his power would be greatly amplified, making even Omega mutants a lesser threat. Despite his confidence, Apocalypse was not intimidated by Omega mutants. With his diverse abilities, he believed he could contend with them effectively.
Turning back to Xavier, Apocalypse said, "Let's continue."
Soon, Xavier's voice reverberated in the minds of people worldwide once more.
Apocalypse spoke slowly, "The purpose of this transmission is to inform the strongest among you, those with great power, that this world will soon belong to you."
Xavier, who had been repeating the message verbatim, suddenly altered his last line.
"…Protect those around you. This is my message to you!"
Apocalypse's eyes, once white, returned to their normal color. He severed the power boost, his expression darkening as he looked at Xavier.
As Xavier's message concluded, reactions varied across the globe.
At S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury's expression grew grim. Clenching his communicator, he debated whether to call Captain Marvel back to deal with the mutant ancestor.
"Mutants are truly dangerous," Fury mused, reflecting on the ongoing threats: the Messiah, the White-Haired Stranger, and now, this mutant ancestor.
The X-Men, who had heard Xavier's voice, recognized the urgency of the situation and accelerated their efforts.
Soon, a black fighter jet landed at the Brotherhood's base. Noticing the commotion, Magneto and Mystique emerged to see Cyclops and the other X-Men disembark.
Magneto, frowning, addressed Cyclops, "What are you doing here? And what's with that voice? Was it Xavier's? What's going on?"
Cyclops stepped forward, sincerely explaining, "Magneto, we need your help…"
He briefly detailed Apocalypse's emergence and Xavier's abduction.
Magneto's face darkened as he listened. Despite their differences, he did not wish to see his old friend Charles harmed or killed by a new threat.
He agreed to join the fight against Apocalypse and, along with the X-Men, boarded the jet heading to Cairo, Egypt.
Meanwhile, Agent Coulson used S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technology and intelligence to pinpoint the Messiah's location.
Soon, Syd saw a group of black-clad agents holding signs asking for his assistance against Apocalypse.
Frowning, Syd emerged from the shadows and approached. Agent Coulson, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline, looked anxious as he paced nearby.
"Is the Messiah not in this area?" Coulson asked, visibly distressed.
Seeing Syd, Coulson recognized him immediately.
"Syd!" Without hesitation, Coulson approached Syd, ignoring the other agents' attempts to stop him.
"Syd, we need your help. Can you…"
Coulson's nervousness was apparent, and he was unsure if Syd would agree. Standing next to such a formidable figure made Coulson sweat with pressure.
Syd understood Coulson's request and considered it briefly. If Apocalypse hadn't mentioned looking for him, Syd might have ignored the situation for a while. However…
After a moment's thought, Syd nodded in agreement, much to Coulson's surprise.
"Alright, lead the way. I need to see Apocalypse," Syd said impassively.
Coulson, relieved, quickly led Syd to a nearby helicopter. Observing Coulson's slow pace, Syd frowned and said, "Coulson, forget the helicopter. Just tell me the direction to Cairo."
Coulson, startled, hesitated but eventually pointed left after checking a satellite map.
In the next instant, Syd effortlessly lifted Coulson by the collar and floated into the air.
With a swift motion, they sped toward Cairo, Egypt.
As they flew through the air, Coulson was astonished by the speed.
"Is this Syd's speed? It's incredibly fast…" Coulson marveled, comparing it to the speed of the helicopter.
Had he known that Syd could fly even faster, perhaps breaking the sound barrier, his amazement would have intensified.
In Cairo, Egypt, Apocalypse and Xavier stood on a high vantage point, overlooking the city.
"What are you planning to do?" Xavier asked, sensing something ominous.
"You'll find out soon enough," Apocalypse replied, casting a fleeting glance at Xavier.
In the next moment, Apocalypse raised his arms, aiming at the distant city.
End of Chapter