X-Men # 184 - The Blood of Apocalypse Part 3: War... What is it Good For? / Riddles of the Sphinx Part 3

“THE BLOOD OF APOCALPYSE”

Apocalypse has returned and declared war on humanity. The X-Men are against the ropes, almost at their end. Then the unthinkable happens. A new horseman joins his ranks; an all-too-familiar horseman that will leave the X-Men shattered forever! (and we're not just talking about this guy on the cover!) Part 3 (of 5)!

Rogue retrieves Famine and discovers that it is the former X-Man Sunfire, while the other X-Men are concerned that with the Sentinels all down, The 198 are going to do something bad. Ozymandias pesters Apocalypse to release Pestilence, and jibes him, telling him that he has changed and is now one of the weak. Apocalypse punches Ozymandias, who goes to Gazer to get him to repay his debt, however Gazer is no longer, only War remains, and War informs Apocalypse of Ozymandias’ traitorous ways. The X-Men talk with Mystique and her associate Pulse, in the hope that he will be able to use his powers to neutralize Apocalypse, but Pulse admits that he is afraid. Valerie Cooper asks the X-Men if they are satisfied that the Sentinels are down now, while Emma Frost and the Beast tend to Sunfire / Famine, and Colossus discovers Ozymandias. Ozymandias offers to lead the X-Men to Apocalypse, while Rogue wonders where Gambit is. Havok, Rogue, Iceman and Bling go with Ozymandias to stop Apocalypse. As they make their way through the sphinx, they learn it is yet another vessel from the Celestials. Apocalypse converses with Pestilence and wonders if Ozymandias was right, when suddenly Ozymandias appears in his chamber, with the X-Men not far behind. However, they are shocked to see three of The 198 - Skids in particular - along with Fever Pitch and Scalphunter - siding with Apocalypse. The X-Men and The 198 argue, when suddenly, Apocalypse presents his newest Horseman - Death - but Rogue knows that it is really Gambit who has been changed dramatically!

Gambit prepares to undergo his transformation into one of Apocalypse’s Horsemen, and wants to do it without painkillers. He warns Apocalypse that he is not doing this because he hates the X-Men, but because he loves them, and so he can this way keep an eye on Apocalypse. Apocalypse and Ozymandias jibe Gambit and inform him that once the transformation is complete, there will be nothing of the Gambit the X-Men knew left.