The years passed like grains of sand in the relentless desert winds. Apocalypse's rule over Egypt solidified, and his empire flourished under his iron hand. Yet, while his reign over the kingdom was undisputed, his thoughts turned towards the future, towards the legacy he would leave behind. The future, as he envisioned it, would not just rest in his hands but in the hands of his children—the Clan Akkaba.
For the past fifteen years, Apocalypse had fathered a small army of children, each born from his carefully selected harem of wives—women who embodied his ideals of survival of the fittest. Each wife bore him five to ten children, creating an extensive progeny that grew under his watchful eye. His wives, once the pinnacle of beauty, strength, and cunning, had aged gracefully, now entering their late thirties and forties. Apocalypse, who had initially seen them as vessels for his future, found himself developing an attachment that surprised him. These women were more than mere instruments; they had become his companions, pillars of his empire.
But, Apocalypse was not one to linger on sentiment. He knew that time would pass, and while his mutant gift of eternal life would see him survive the centuries, the same could not be said for most of his children. Their powers, inherited from his divine bloodline, were numerous and varied, but few had the gift of an extended lifespan. Despite this, he had instilled in them the principles of survival of the fittest, training them rigorously in magic, martial arts, and the ancient knowledge of Egypt. Their education was relentless, demanding, but always with a measure of care that demonstrated Apocalypse's understanding of their need for guidance and growth.
"I am not just training warriors," Apocalypse often mused, "I am forging the future."
His children, young and full of potential, responded to their father's teachings with varying degrees of success. Some excelled in the manipulation of magic, wielding spells of power that rivaled even the greatest of Egypt's sorcerers. Others showed an affinity for physical combat, their bodies honed into living weapons through the ancient martial techniques Apocalypse had mastered. Yet, it was not just their powers that Apocalypse sought to perfect. He wanted them to grow mentally strong, to understand that power without control was a path to destruction.
"Power is nothing without unity," he would remind them during their lessons. "In the original timeline, the Clan Akkaba fell to infighting, driven by ambition and greed. This time, it will be different. You will not be my enemies, but my allies. You will stand together, loyal to one another, and loyal to me."
Apocalypse knew well the dangers of ambition left unchecked. The original Clan Akkaba, in the timelines he recalled through his mutant intellect, had been a den of vipers, constantly at war with each other, sabotaging the very foundation of their strength. He would not let this fate befall his current progeny. His children would learn to trust one another, to function as a single, cohesive unit, bound by the unbreakable ties of blood and loyalty.
The discipline was fierce, but so was the love. Despite his cold demeanor, Apocalypse ensured that his children were nurtured, that their emotional well-being was taken into account. He was no fool—he knew that a broken mind was as useless as a broken sword. His children were the future rulers of his empire, and they would be both feared and respected, not just for their power, but for their unity.
As the years went on, the Clan Akkaba grew stronger, their powers more refined. They had become a force to be reckoned with, but they still had much to learn. Apocalypse watched them carefully, ensuring that none of them strayed too far from the path he had set. There was no room for rebellion or dissent in his empire. The children knew this, and they respected their father not just as a leader, but as the embodiment of their ideals.
One evening, Apocalypse gathered his children in the grand hall of his palace. The walls were adorned with relics of the past, reminders of the power he had amassed over the centuries. His children stood before him, a small army of young men and women, each one brimming with the power of their mutant heritage.
"My children," Apocalypse began, his voice deep and resonant, "you are the future of my empire. You are the Clan Akkaba, born from my blood, and destined to rule alongside me. But power is not given; it is earned. In the years to come, you will face trials that will test your strength, your loyalty, and your resolve. You must stand together, for only then will you survive."
The children listened intently, their eyes fixed on their father. They knew that his words were not just a lesson, but a promise. A promise that one day, they would inherit the empire he had built, but only if they proved themselves worthy.
"I have given you everything," Apocalypse continued, "my knowledge, my power, my guidance. Now, it is time for you to show me that you are ready. Ready to carry the legacy of the Clan Akkaba into the future. Do not disappoint me."
The room fell silent as Apocalypse's words hung in the air. His children stood tall, their expressions determined. They knew that their father's expectations were high, but they were ready to meet them. They were the Clan Akkaba, and they would prove themselves worthy of their father's legacy.
As the years passed, the children of Apocalypse continued their training, growing stronger with each passing day. They knew that the future was uncertain, but they were prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead. Under their father's guidance, they would become the rulers of Egypt, and perhaps, one day, the rulers of the world.
But for now, they were content to follow in their father's footsteps, learning from his wisdom and strength. For they knew that as long as they remained loyal to one another, and to Apocalypse, they would be unstoppable.
And so, the Clan Akkaba rose, a force to be reckoned with, and a testament to Apocalypse's vision of survival and power.