Max carefully placed the Darkhold on the fourth machine, a sleek, ominous device that hummed with latent energy. As the machine activated, a piercing, inhuman scream erupted from the Darkhold. Its pages fluttered wildly as if the book were alive and in agony. A second scream echoed through the chamber, this one far more guttural and enraged. It came from the peak of the pyramid, where Apocalypse—or rather, Chthon—was.
The moment the machine was fully operational, Max swiftly activated an energy shield, enveloping the room and the four machines in a protective dome. The shield flickered briefly before stabilizing into a glowing barrier of shimmering light. He turned to the group, his voice steady but urgent.
"Chthon will send everything he has to stop this machine. Expect hordes of N'Garai, and probably Chthon himself. Prepare for battle."
Not even a second later, the first wave of N'Garai came crashing into the chamber, their screeches filling the air as they lunged toward the group. The sound of their claws against the stone echoed like nails on a chalkboard.
"Don't hold back!" Max shouted, his eyes locking on Bruce Banner. "The energy shield will protect the machines if the pyramid collapses, so feel free to tear it apart!"
Bruce gave a smirk, his eyes already glowing green. Within moments, he transformed into the Hulk, roaring as he charged into the first wave of N'Garai. His fists swung wildly, sending creatures flying and smashing them into walls with bone-crushing force.
Magneto tested his powers and quickly realized the energy shield surrounding the machines suppressed his abilities. He gritted his teeth but redirected his focus. With a savage flick of his hand, he manipulated the metal within the walls of the pyramid, launching spears of debris through the advancing N'Garai, impaling them effortlessly.
Sabretooth and Juggernaut teamed up, tearing through the enemies with ruthless efficiency. Sabretooth slashed through their ranks, leaving the creatures crippled for Juggernaut to finish with earth-shaking blows.
Meanwhile, Tony Stark's nanotech suit enveloped his body, and he soared into the air, repulsors blasting N'Garai with precision. He and Steve Rogers worked in unison—Tony blasting foes from a distance while Steve used his shield to break necks, delivering swift, deadly blows.
Mordo weaved through the chaos, his hands glowing with Eldritch energy as he hurled spells toward the advancing creatures. With each flick of his wrist, he summoned ethereal whips and discs, decapitating N'Garai or cutting them in half. His focus was unwavering, each kill deliberate.
Colossus, clad in his organic steel form, crushed the heads of the N'Garai with his fists, while Illyana Rasputin cleaved through the beasts with her Soulsword, its eldritch energy slicing through them like butter. Kitty Pryde darted between them, phasing through walls and the floor, shooting N'Garai with an energy pistol Max had provided her, and phasing just in time to avoid their claws.
Storm, restricted by the enclosed space, still managed to create fierce gusts of wind, hurling N'Garai through the air and slamming them into the walls with bone-shattering force. Hank McCoy fought beside her, using his enhanced agility and claws to rip into the flesh of the monsters, grunting with each strike.
Wolverine was in his element. His claws flashed in the dim light as he slashed through the N'Garai, cleaving off limbs, severing heads, and tearing into their torsos with brutal efficiency. Blood and gore splattered across the stone walls as he gutted one after another. He lopped off heads, gutted bellies, and spilled their innards across the chamber floor, leaving a path of carnage in his wake.
In the background, Max stood near the energy shield protecting the machines, casting Bombarda Maxima and Cutting Curses toward the oncoming hordes. A few N'Garai managed to get close, and Max dispatched them quickly, twisting the head of one with his through the crysis suit enhanced strength, snapping its neck with a sickening crack. Another met its end with a well-placed knife to its throat. Without hesitation, he turned back to the horde and unleashed another series of Bombarda Maxima, watching with satisfaction as groups of N'Garai exploded into pieces.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. The air shifted as Apocalypse, possessed by Chthon, descended into the chamber. With a single, earth-shattering punch, he ripped through the top of the pyramid, sending debris cascading down into the chamber. The once-confined space was now exposed to the open sky. Storm seized the opportunity and summoned dark clouds overhead, her eyes glowing as thunder rumbled and lightning crackled in the air.
Apocalypse roared, his voice a chilling blend of fury and madness. He lunged toward the energy shield, his fists colliding with the barrier in a desperate attempt to destroy the machine.
But the Hulk was faster.
With a mighty leap, Hulk slammed into Apocalypse, driving him into the ground with a resounding crash. Apocalypse—no, Chthon—screamed in frustration, the ground buckling beneath him as he tried to retaliate.
"Everyone with mutant powers, get under the shield!" Max shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. He activated the machine Hank had given him, the one designed to suppress mutant abilities. A faint hum filled the air, and within moments, Apocalypse's mutant powers were neutralized. No one within 300 meters could use their abilities.
Then, Max activated the third machine. A second energy shield materialized, this time surrounding the group and Apocalypse. It kept them protected from the onslaught of N'Garai but, more importantly, it trapped Apocalypse within the barrier with them.
Chthon's voice came from Apocalypse's mouth, garbled and furious, attempting to cast a spell to pulverize their bones. But instead, nonsensical words tumbled from his lips. Max grinned, knowing the third machine was working.
As Chthon struggled, Max transfigured the surrounding debris into a massive Vibranium block, encasing Apocalypse within it, leaving only his head exposed. Chthon roared in anger, trying to break free, but his body remained immobilized within the unbreakable metal.
The group stared at Max in disbelief. "What did you just do?" Tony asked, his voice filled with astonishment.
Max smirked and began to explain. "The third machine is based on technology I reverse-engineered from Hank Pym. Originally, it was designed to communicate with ants. But in this case, it disrupts any meaningful vocal communication. Chthon has to speak incantations to cast spells, and now he can't form coherent words."
Max glanced at the Vibranium-encased Apocalypse. "With his mutant powers suppressed by the second machine, and his magic disrupted by the third, Chthon can't do much of anything."
The group stood silent for a moment, the battlefield quiet except for the occasional crackle of electricity from Storm's lingering clouds.
For now, they had Chthon in check.