A system of checks and balances had been established by Twilight after issuing defensive wards for all the U.S personnel through a Restoration spell, Javelin Squads had been placed on top of the seven fortified buildings with objectives to shoot down incoming masses of enemy forces, they were closely defended by Machine Gun nests in bottom level while the Machine Gunners were protected by Sniper Squads in the middle of the building.
Javelins take out the masses,Snipers pick out the dangerous individuals to the Machine Gunners, Machine Gunners mow down any forces getting close to their Snipers to say the least this should work just fine
Twilights thoughts focused on something else as she wiped sweat away from her forehead, there had been disturbing news through a Military radio of a unrivaled mutant heading to the Washington Bridge it seemed as if nobody was going to do anything about it.
"You Sergeant" she pointed addressing to the uniformed man, "you are relieved of my command, I only request you stay here and communicate with any higher ups you may have"
With a quick teleportation spell she arrived at the top of one of the few buildings that were mostly intact, kneeling down on one knee Twilight talked to herself "Let's see what we got"
A loud, thundering sound ruptured the air, and soon after, lightning appeared in high, high in the sky above. Having searched the cosmos, endlessly attempting to find @_ulysses_, Omega had finally located him on Earth. "About damn time!" Omega told himself as he watched New York City burn bellow. He had expected to come upon the green creature, but while he had sensed the conflict bellow, he had absolutely no knowledge as to why it was happening.
But, with a quick glance, it appeared another Mutant/Human conflict was abound.
Giving a small huff, Omega closed his eyes, willing an assortment of storm clouds to surround him, encasing him in a shield of lightning, rain, and the booming sound of thunder. From this safe vantage point, Omega saw many battles going on, but he was only interested in one thing.
THERE!
Omega glared down at Ulysses, but, despite the fact that they weren't his targets, several other things caught his attention. By the bay, Omega saw a Time Siphon, slowly devouring the temporal lines of mutants as they fell before her. Elsewhere, he saw what appeared to be a living star.
"Some powerful beings have come today," he muttered to himself, curiosity sparking within him. Perhaps he should become involved.
But which side would he take?
Looking down once more, he decided that whoever the green one was sided with, he would be against them.
Ding
A thought rang through his mind, as he knew it was time to leave his barrier. Disappearing from the electro magnetic spectrum, Omega placed a veil around himself, and, taking in a deep breath, blasted forward, bull rushing towards Ulysses at speeds easily exceeding Super Sonic. As soon as he came close to the city, Omega's invisibility dissipated, revealing himself to the battlefield bellow.
As the Crusaders Watched the terrifying lieutenant Ezekiel disappear into the night like a specter knowing that just like a specter where ever he went he would leave a trail of bodies one of the men spoke while the rest stood in a mix of awe and fear "Man glad he is on our side "The rest of the crusaders nodded silently in agreement the squad leader Steven turned toward his men "well men lets go we can't lose to him their is still plenty of evil to fight in this city ".
Suddenly a spear plunged through the man to his right named Carmine he was hit with such force that he went flying into the darkness Steven yelled "Carmine "when he first joined the crusaders Carmine had been a recruit as well they got along quickly and even when it seemed like the training was gonna break one of them the constant companionship of the two got them both through to the end he was the best man at his wedding the godson to his kids and a father of his own how the hell was he gonna tell Carmines wife Joanne he let her husband his best friend die .
But he would have to think about that later as more of his men followed Carmine's lead next was Kevin a rookie god dammit he was just a kid then Brian he was a big drinker but he was also one of the nicest people in the whole organization but again he had to order the rest of his squad he was their leader he could not break down now "Quick turn on your emergency projectile shields "it was experimental equipment only given to a few squads his was one of them but it did its job when the last spear came soaring towards Clark it broke his shield but the shield stopped him from being pierced but the sheer force of it still sent him flying .
Next came a flurry of daggers that were like bullets but the shield were more then enough to stop them and Clark had been knocked safely out of range while mostly unharmed Steven looked back "Clark call for backup "He turned back towards the women who brandished her blade and introduced herself as a vampire Shit Steven thought they packed for mutants not vamps Clark radioed for support "Command the is squad Alpha Two requesting back up we are being assaulted by a vampire we have men down we need immediate assistance .
Steven looked at the women "Who am I? I am Squad leader Stevens and those were my men you just killed "he dropped his gun and cracked his knuckles knowing it would take time before he could get assistance his only chance to save the rest of his squad even at the cost of his own life was to take her on in a hand to hand battle knowing her strength he could probably only take two punches if he was lucky but he did not have to win only avoid her blows it was a desperate gambit but otherwise he and his men would not live much longer .
Truth be told the world was getting more and more dangerous everyday. Wars were being fought on both minute and grand scales as sects, species, and corporations all collided in deadly competition for resources and power. Others were merely blinded by hate and ignorance, choosing to let their anger out at the world with no bias to their targets. Some had vowed get revenge on the cruel world that scared them by doing do whatever it took. Showing extreme zealous in their beliefs and philosophies. The X-Gene was something that fueled many a continuously rapid growing firestorm of hate that transformed into an ongoing human crisis , as extremist on both sides devoted themselves to the destruction on one another by any means necessary. People fear what they don't understand and react in horrendous displays of violence , backing the hated into a corner called extinction , until the animal with no where left to run lashes back with everything they've got for a chance at survival. The recent events across the globe that involved the mass murder of mutants who only sought refuge from the spiteful world , catapulted the planet into a state of terror. This torrential downpour of mayhem was now enveloping the east coast in a destructive wave of hate backed by mutant powers and calculated strategy. The mutant Envy had probably endured years of suffering like most of the mutants in the world , and fate would have it that he and a select group of others would share their pain with everyone else. The message would be written in blood.
Falcon Bishop had been raised by his mother to know that hate never got you anywhere, and if you fed negative energy it would multiply itself infinitely causing ripples of chaotic distortion in your world, affecting the people around you. In his trance like states , while resting in the Golden Sarcophagus , Falcon had came to enlightenment and brought back with him a supreme intelligence to pair with his righteous moral code and sense of honor. He had chosen to utilize his gifts and the lessons he had learn so that he could become a champion of justice while pleasing the gods he believed in and taking his mother's teachings to heart. He vowed to become a hero to the people who had no voice and he tried his best to destroy the evil in the world one day at a time. He made considerable progress as he single handedly sabotaged major criminal organizations but up until today he had never been to war. He had managed to maintain peace and order as best as he could but he always knew the day would come when he would have to truly be on the frontline of battle , in the trenches against someone who fought with passion and devotion to their causes with amazing powers. Falcon knew that everyone went through struggles but he wouldn't hold back on those who didn't know how to properly channel their feelings and fight the better fight. If there were innocents involved he'd put his life on the line for every single soul he could , with all he had. Someone had to.
The white cape of the Paper Ronin cowl danced in the wind , the eyes of his Bastet mask glowed with a bright gold energy as his stoic demeanor remained quiet and calculated, crouched in a hunting position and observing every thing that was happening as he waited for his moment to strike. He was the Panther stalking it's prey in the urban jungles , patiently anticipating and pouncing in the right moment for the perfect kill. The Immaculate Incarnation had managed to rescue quite a few civilians as he trailed the fiery holocaust casting mutant who trekked on a warpath of destruction toward a destination that Falcon geographically predicted to be Washington Bridge. The Ronin's artificial intelligence , Nefertiti , had directed and worked in unison with military units to evacuate the people from the cities pinpointed on the map he provided them with, but it was time to stop the mutant reaper before she could claim any more lives.
His intel on the woman was thorough and highly informative. Before Clutch vanished and went dark he provided his protege Falcon with every dossier , terabyte of data , and video feed that he had acquired during his time as the Wildcardz Leader. Falcon instantly recognized the woman who was making her presence known with atomic explosions as Azrayne Hellnova. She was a powerful telepathic telekinetic mutant terrorist with ties to the Venezuelan monarch Ivana Strigidae and the man who lead the mutant force today, Envy. The Paper Ronin had studied the recent world events carefully , watching every fight , and studying every person involved in the wars of powerful people hoping to construct stratagems to defeat every single one of them if they ever made a move against humanity. The first attack on NYC which was contained thanks to the Wildcardz, the dethroning of the Supreme Chancellor , and even the attempted takeover of Tokyo. Falcon had did his homework. The VZA and the Liberators had always been red flagged as potential threats in his files and he was ready for the one he selected as his latest target.
As Azra nonchalantly wrecked havoc and walked as if she was strolling through peaceful meadows , The Paper Ronin was running with a great speed towards her with his anti-metal claws ready to cut through her body. He was positive that his attack could not be predicted, his movements gave off no sound , and he was completely invisible on all wavelengths of light as he masterfully bent his figure into pure nothingness. Not only was he invisible but it was deemed impossible for him to be perceived by any sense at all, making him comparable to a deadly ghost that turned tangible only to attempt to rip the woman's heart out. His anti-metal claws would easily tear through the strongest of armors like butter with a hot knife , and he had hope his initial attack succeeded , wanting to see her beating heart in his hand. He made no hesitation as he fluid movements seemed constant like a swift gust of wind aiming to kill.
With uncanny speed he brought himself up and over so that he was facing the Venezuelan Elite , his hand outstretched towards her face , ambient energy gathering in his palm before it turned into a spherical collection of glowing white light hot enough to melt her skin off her face. Though the orb resting in his palm could burn Azra he was simply creating a glorified flash bang , detonating it point blank range so that it exploded in a immense combustion of pure light that would blind his opponent. Under the illuminating blanket of the bursting white solar flare , Falcon created space between him and the VZ mutant , landing a few feet away. As he landed , still invisible to the naked eye probably even more so thanks to his massive flash attack , he drew out one of his automatic pistols and unleashed a barrage of Nth Metal bullets straight for the woman's brain before holstering it and clasping his hands together as if he was attempting to control something...
The missile exploded on contact just as he had planned but Solaris didn't leave it at that. She flew out of the crater she had formed when she was driven into the ground by the explosion and aimed to tackle him in mid air and drive him into the ground. The pavement beneath them shattered and formed a particularly nice crater around them. The living star wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug and formed an aura of extreme heat. The ground beneath them melted and flowed and they immediately began to descend into the earth at a rapid pace.
Solaris looked at him, her expression difficult to read because of her blazing eyes. The heat aura was directed inward as well, hoping to cause enough pain that he wouldn't be able to try and break free of her grip. "Listen to me." She said as they descended through the earth. "I am a living star, I'm over thirteen billion years old and I swear to you on the graves of my children that if you stop your attacks now I will help you find the people who killed your brother." She cast aside the inward portion of the heat aura so that he might think clearly about what she had said. If he rejected her offer one final time she would stop trying and start trying to contain him...which was the purpose of her attempt to drive him into the earth. If she couldn't disable him, she would trap him until the battle was over. At least, that was the plan...but Solaris knew full well that plans rarely worked exactly as one had hoped. I just hope he's not completely crazy.
Solar Hawk was too close to Induction to be struck by the newly falling debris the green alien had created. Luna Hawk on the other hand was fighting at range. She heard the debris passing through the air above her and acted immediately. There was a deafening sonic boom as she went from zero to super sonic in a split second of flight and then came to a sudden halt again just beyond the reach of the falling debris. She shifted the focus of her attack to the new arrival, sending a wave of seventy five caliber Nth Metal rounds flying for his chest, each one charged with fifty thousand volts of electricity.
For her part Solar Hawk extended the dome of white energy they fought in to include their new foe and then extended it again when yet another person decided to join their party. The dome now contained all five fighters and excluded any and all civilians in the area. Any missed shots, explosions or excessive attacks would be safely contained from the surrounding area. The dome itself was virtually impenetrable, escape was possible, but quite difficult, especially while under attack.
Luna Hawk mused about Thunder Dome, but there was certainly more than two people involved and she deeply hoped more than one left. She was also fairly certain the bullet storm directed at Ulysses wouldn't work and was already considering her next strategy. She hoped to remain out of close combat range, not because she couldn't fight, quite the opposite in fact, but because she wanted to be able to aide Solar Hawk if she needed to.
As the two thundered through the air at speeds which would have reduced most aeroplanes fit for flight to simply combust into a pile of ash, Anthony’s suit stood strong; cable of Interplanetary spaceflight, and able to survive re-entering a planet’s atmosphere at even heightened velocities and temperature, this wasn’t something which the Annihilator Suit of armor was incapable of achieving…
…However.
Apex’s own heat radiation was unlike anything Stark was able to tolerate within his current suit of armor, which had previously lost the protective trion coating. The trion coating was the primary source of heat absorption against high temperatures, and whilst the Virillium could rapidly manipulative and adapt its own molecular structure to evolve and survive, Apex was simply radiating heat far faster than the Virillium could adapt to.
--Sir, system’s failing. Unable to form any offensive. All available powercurrently in use will be redirected and employed to re-form the Trion exoskeleton, ETC five seconds… Estimated time of falling, four seconds--
Stark paused the AI to think a question, not verbally spoken but thoughtfully as they continued to fall, Stark had to make sure they fell into a neutral zone, and not somewhere like Russia where Alpha could call backup. “Where are we falling, Horizon?” And almost instantly after, the AI registered his qualm, and corrected their final trajectory.
--Employing re-entry redirect, shifting final destination by thirty eight degrees to the left, final trajectory and landing point within the People's Republic of China--
And subtly, with a barely noticeable shift, Stark’s shoulder-mounted repulsion units fired, delicately controlling where the two would inevitably land, and calculating the exact location… And calling a friend.
CRASH!
Bounce, bounce…. Bounce…. Thud.
The crash itself was devastating. Stark and Apex were flung in opposite directions as they struck the ground at terminal velocity, Stark’s AI instantly using overhead satellite imagery to capture the entire area and watch them both with pin-point accuracy as they fell, and keep Alpha’s position known to him the entire time, and feeding it back to an unspecified friend.
A few seconds later...
"Ugh, Horizon... Are you tracking him?"
--Yes sir, calling your associate now--
With a cough, Stark rolled onto his front, and then knees, coming to a stand as the satellites expertly tracked Alpha. With a chuckle, Stark raised his forearm, and placed it to his mouth, speaking into an intercom with a smirk.
"Maverick, you are clear to go. Target in a mostly isolated area, his exact coordinates being relayed to you as we speak... Have fun, over and out."
And then he collapsed onto a single knee, regaining his breath, and awaiting till Alpha inevitably found him. He would have to keep the Russian Renegade here until Maverick arrived, and once they did... The terrorist was in for one big surprise. But there was one thing, which wasn't really a surprise....
Apex stood straight, still inspecting the crash site. Stark had either been killed, fled via teleportation, or was still in the area; unless his suit was even more advanced than Aleksei had surmised, he would be in no condition to keep fighting on his own. Odds were that he had already left. The Alpha Mutant coughed once again, his strained lungs still taking in copious amounts of air with each breath. He wasn't hyperventilating, but it was clear that he would be impeded by his tired respiratory system.
<I'll need to talk to Gregor about getting my lungs fixed,> he thought to himself. Gregor could work miracles with his x-gene, taking apart and putting back together damaged tissues until they were good as new. He would be busy on the battlefront, though, taking care of wounded mutants with more pressing concerns than a little cough. Aleksei had had worse; he'd be just fine in the meantime. He put a finger to his visor, seeing if it would still function. To his surprise, it seemed as though everything was in perfect order. His location was now transmitted to his allies, as well as his condition.
<China? Brilliant...> His face fell in dismay. He would have to rely on another teleportation jump to return to the battlefield. It could be worse; odds were strong that he would've landed in the ocean. That would have been a major problem. His spirits rose once more as he noticed that his communicator still worked, and that he had a faint signal to rely on.
"<Mac, do you read me? It's Aleksei. I'm...in China. You think you could get over here to pick me up anytime soon?>" he inquired of his American friend. Mac Miller was another mutant, one with the power to move himself and others throughout the world in an instant. Mac was one of Aleksei's favorite Americans because he was just about fluent in Russian, and thus, they could communicate with little trouble. Mac never had much time for revolution; he wasn't much of a front-line fighter. Instead, he did what he was best at: moving things. People, intel, money, whatever they needed. He was a valuable resource to the Liberators, even if he was a less publicly known one.
"<Aleksei, that you? China?>"
"<Long story, comrade.>"
"<...Yeah...yeah, I could pick you up soon enough. I'm carrying our wounded out of the city...we're encountering some pretty nasty resistance here. I've got my hands full...never a dull moment on the New York front, friend.>"
"<Take your time, Mac,"> replied Apex. "<Your priority will always be the fallen. When you get a chance, though, you know where I am. Preferably soon, of course.>"
Mac paused over the mic, the sounds of battle in the distance coming through. "<Don't worry, I'll be there soon. Mac out.>" Aleksei always found it a little strange that Mac had never elected to take a code name. Must've just been a personal preference of his. Besides, so many of them were already taken. Aleksei had to beat the senses out of three other Apexes before he could truly claim the name for himself. For the time being, it seemed as though he'd be stuck in the Chinese wilderness. It would just be a matter of time before authorities showed up; he hoped Mac would arrive soon. In the meantime, he began marching towards where he inferred Stark would have crashed, intent on investigating to see if his foe had truly died, or if he had escaped.
The opposing human forces were organized and clearly under the guidance of a unified field commander that was an expert in ground combat. Envy acknowledged that under normal circumstances he was a major threat and could possibly turn the tide of the battle in an instant. These were far from normal circumstances however. Envy's mutant army was being lead by not one, but two adept tacticians fueled by a mutual hate for mankind.
Apex and himself had worked together long enough in the terrorist organization known only as The Liberators, and have come to fight as one in perfect harmony, seamlessly synchronizing and predicting the other one's next command. Preparations were being made and put into place at the moment that would attempt to overwhelm Envy. His animalistic instincts were being bombarded by multiple triggers. His canine like intuition sent a subtle chill up his spine.
Envy turned his figure to a slightly older woman not too far behind him that stood on the same glacier. She had been a inhabitant of Noc Haven and before the events that had transpired leading to this war, she had moved to Venezuela. Like any other telepath, she could form and reinforce a psychic barricade preventing any unwanted intrusion. Offensive attacks or otherwise. She nodded her head and closed her eyes while simultaneously shooting her arms towards the sky. A violet tinted bubble began to grow around the majority of the group, protecting them from the metaphysical assault that threatened them. Yet, it was too late for a fraction for the group as the were brought to their knees.
"Shaman!"
The mutant leader yelled out another name to a tattooed man as he rushed to the aid of some of the fallen, simply shaking his head grimly. Envy gritted his teeth in anger. There would be losses, but the pain he felt for his brethren was still very real.The skirmish was far from over as The Liberator's ears perked to a high pitched screech heard in the distance. The wail of engines roaring throughout the clouds was a familiar sound to his ears. Jets. Heavily armed.
"<Get Atrocity. We have incoming aircrafts heavily armed flying towards us. Take them out. This psychic barrier can only take so much damage before leaving us vulnerable.>"
Lifting his finger off the communicator in his helmet he turned to the psychic once more, "Take the group to shore. Continue the march to the next fight. I'll stay here. Something is coming this way."
She nodded in affirmation knowing full well that the war mongering mutant was capable of taking care of himself without her mental shield. The large group of those still standing rushed the shore and began to swarm into the city. They refused to acknowledge the human civilians and simply ran past them, leaving them unharmed. The majority of the group were attempting to just pass the city. The White house was clear in their minds and remained their destination.
A fair amount of his disciples refused to leave his side, however. Aware that the monstrosity Envy had spoken of would need the hands of those with super strength to combat his hulking strength and physique. Before any instructions could be given, the green beast was already in sight. Sooner than expected, he started his raging assault on the group. His enormous fists destroying and wrecking the ice beneath their own feet, using it to cause an artificial earthquake and knocking them off their balance and into the sky. The pure shock of the convulsion caused the entire bay to shatter into major fault lines, leaving the super strong comrades in the icy water.
"You have chosen the wrong side, Traitor."
His voice was calm, cool and low key. He kept his emotions in check as his mind predicted and planned this fight. He may beat him in a battle of wits, and even though Envy was augmented with Vibranium talons, there was no guarantee that he could pierce his skin in a contest of physical supremacy. He lightly tapped his communicator once again and spoke in a whisper, "@_ulysses_."
The simple mention of his name would bring further assistance into the fray to help even out the odds. Envy didn't wait for his new ally just yet. He started off slow and accelerated into a swift dash with his talons extended, being agile as he leapt and avoided the ice crevasses that had been made by his foe.
"The only thing worse than a sapien, is a mutant that sympathizes with them."
His whisper came out with a visible white cold breath as he side stepped to the left of the hulking beast and crouched down, aiming his armed fists to the left of his ribcage, hoping to pierce his lung. Without a pause or break in his speed, he turned once again, this time facing the back of Hulk's torso. One more swift movement of his hands as he aimed to sever his spinal column.
Maverick had sent a small squad with a simple, but dangerous mission from their base in china. To tag the mutant known as Apex. That in itself wouldn't be too difficult. A group of soldiers started towards him ready to intercept. The M.S.C's jumping through the trees as if they weren't clad in body armor. It wasn't too soon until he was in sigh approximately 500 feet away from their target. Hidden among the forestry one of them took aim behind their target, out of eyeshot, as the rest of them simply stood by to watch their teammates back as he extended his rifle from the bushes. His finger slowly and without hesitation pulled the trigger as he fired at the seemingly unstoppable mutant.
The round flew through the air at speeds greater then the speed of sound, as a majority of bullets did. Should the round hit him, he would find that the round is actually....a paintball it would seem. Simply splattering some viscous liquid along his back The shot would have at best caused a human being to stagger. Once they took their shot, regardless of whether or not it would hit, the M.S.C left, merging seamlessly into the forest, nowhere to be found with no real signs of even broken branches or moved debris to indicate they were ever there.
Not even 30 seconds after a shadow seemed to loom over the air. One would know how the Spartans felt in the battle of 300 when the sky had been blackened with arrows. An artillery strike released hundreds of thousands of beehive artillery rounds raining from the sky. The sky littered with small super sonic armor piercing nanocrystalline tungsten carbide flechettes as in compressible as diamond that would soon tear the forested area apart. Tearing through trees like clay and apparently having no concept of "cover" as they pierced through any conventional substance that covered 500 feet in radius as it would bath the area for around 10 seconds. Their associate was just outside the radius, but not by much. With sharp darts spearing into the a mere 5 feet away from him. But none of them endangering him.
He stood in a small clearing, oblivious to the minute details of his surroundings. His heavy breathing had intensified once more as his lungs gasped for air. Space was no place for a mutant like him. He doubted that he would experience trauma; he had been through worse than freefall from orbit, as ridiculous as the statement sounded. But the re-entry to the planet had left his lungs starved of air, and his breathing was far from ideal. Focusing on controlling how much he inhaled, he stood in the Chinese wilderness, hunched slightly over as the world spun around him. He closed his eyes, concentrating on the atmosphere. Never before had he tasted oxygen in such a way, reveling in how accessible it was to him. One way or another, a single minute in outer space would stick with him forever.
But now, he had more pressing matters to deal with. He felt a small, viscous projectile splatter against his back. Whipping his head around, he tumbled forward, rolling into a crouch. His eyes looked from side to side, seeking out whomever had just shot him with what seemed to be little more than a paintball. Clearly a planned maneuver, it was obvious that he was being targeted. But by whom?
<The Chinese?>
"Net," he whispered, moving quickly between the trees. They were not precise enough to deal with him in such a manner so quickly. Additionally, whoever had taken the shot hadn't utilized a conventional ballistic; they were aware that bullets wouldn't hurt him. <What else do they know about me?> he wondered. A side effect of his vast reputation throughout Russia was readily available knowledge of his powers. Not specifics, but enough for the well-informed to know that impacts wouldn't hurt him...and that needle-fine projectiles would. His Kevlar suit worked to mitigate basic piercing damage, but if someone tried to wipe him out with precision like this, their projectiles would undoubtedly be far more effective than basic pins and darts. And then there was the matter of the paintball. <I have been marked...but why...?>
A second later, the Russian Renegade had his answer. It started out as a whistling, a small noise at the edge of his mutant senses. He heard it faintly, coming from the air. Then his enhanced eyes picked them up. Flechettes. Thousands of them. He had hardly any time to look up into the cloud and fire a beam.
A wide burst of energy surrounded his face, shooting upwards into the deadly cloud of metal. It protected him, a relatively small ray of energy piercing the deluge of death. His hands and legs, though, were scratched and scathed by dozens of the metal bits. His particle field somewhat mitigated them, protecting him from the ones that hit at an angle, but the others tore right through, ripping at his skin.
"Stol'rezkiy, nnn," he groaned. So...sharp. Pain was not a new feeling to him, but his nervous system shot into overdrive, informing him of the dozens of metal bits now embedded in his palms and calves. Using his optic blasts, he incinerated the remaining shrapnel in his skin, absorbing the energy but letting it wipe away the metal. Removing a roll of bandages from one of his pouches, he quickly wrapped his palms and his right calf with white linen, imbued with painkilling drugs. He glanced at his surroundings, torn to pieces by the cloud of shrapnel.
<Thorough indeed. Effective in principle, but a failure in practice,> he thought. He winced as another spike of pain tore through his arm. <...mostly.>
Whoever had just attacked him must have done so on Stark's orders, or at least his suggestion. They also seemed to have quite the resources at their disposal. Government-affiliated? Perhaps. He would be sure to investigate them on his own time. But now, he would need to respond to their prideful strike on him in kind.
Turning 360 degrees, he unleashed a massive burst of power, razing what remained of the forest he stood in. Streams evaporated and trees burst into flame before incinerating completely as the Alpha Mutant let loose. All that would remain in the vicinity of the Burning Bear would be a blackened circle, devoid of any life at all. If Stark were still in the area, he might have been caught too.
Apex breathed heavily once more. "<Whenever you're ready, Mac...>" he sent through his communicator. Soon, his friend would be here to take him back to where he should be. Soon...
The alien's projectiles had missed the target as expected, the winged angel firing back rounds from her assault rifle. Despite his shell capable of nudging away round these were not just store bought ammunition. The Nth metal rounds fired through his dermal coating dropping his feet to the ground. His idle lips gritted into a scowl as his hand reached behind the cloak of his cape. When it retracted it was holding a firearm in its grip. With stunning speed his arm raised to beside his chest, emptying each incendiary shot aimed at the rifle user.
In the midst of the gunfire revolving from the arm the Gecko Prince's radiation storage fired in a nearly unnoticeable beam from his eyes, only shown to be as the blur of heat across pavement. With the only noticeable effects being a warm spot of intense radiation of wherever it might hit. If the beams of intense radiation remained on the Valkyrie for their entirety in the bubble, the long term effects could be devastating.
Several months beforehand the Scourge of the Cosmos' trusted gatekeeper had sacrificed himself to revive the Crimson Chaotic, despite the exceedingly low chance of his survival. When the stars collided Ulysses had been freed once again, to be confronted by the Chancellor of the Cosmic Council, during that time in which he unleashed his rage in a form of lasers into the headmaster. And at last, he had tracked down the Silver Hand, showing himself to the battleground. With the last round in his weapon he spun the six-shooter towards the hovering hunter, firing a distraction round towards him simply to catch him from his guard for the brief moments needed.
Despite the need to confront the cosmic being, the master of the Metahumans had sent a message from the bay to his location, the storefront window demonstrating the latest televisions displaying the words, Ulysses. The Cosmic being and the Predator would surely still trace the Universal Undertaker, leaving the elder mutant with his previous foes. The Enigma had sparked his mind to the ground below their feet, then it was gone from underneath his feet. Kermit sprinted through he tunnel being carved at that moment in front of him directly under the dome for hundreds of feet. Until it wasn't.
The greenskin sprinted forward for brief moments until he stopped dead ahead. Then shot upwards, the ground above him just inches from his skull, at the speed he was going could provide a serious concussion even for him. And as he approached the top...
The upper layer of the the street ahead combusted, sending chunks of asphalt and cement into the street. Ulysses however being sent through a tunnel of flame and ash until his blast to the skyline of New York. The chains of metahuman and human alike fought below as before, not a change in their position. From the rooftops the bay was spotted, or what was left of it. Pools of ice holding soldiers and the mountains o it overlapping warships. And as fast as he left, he approached. The Solar Scholar leapt from to position himself at the raging green figure at the bay.
It only then occurred to me that the landscape had not rested for hours. The chaos of the riots, the revolution overthrow, the sounds. There was scarce an area of the city not yet overtaken. The greater good of course was the base idea of the urban warfare but the chaos had reached a point where people were now dying twice. And yet the humans couldn't see what their arrogance lead to. Had they just respected the mutants there would be no death in the city. Nearly everyone of them saw this and yet they continued to fight against those around them. There was already scatterbombs laid over a strip of New York and something of an atomic blast in the distance from the human's ignorance. And at last they've manifested rage into the beast. Until I go through it's chest.
The Snake was behind the creature, aimed to go in and out. His fists remain extended, his meteorite knuckles primed for however durable the beast may be.
After leveling probably a dozen buildings racking up a horrific body count eventually someone came to intercept her activities. Her telepathic awareness alerted her just so briefly of the arrival on the roof. Not direct awareness but one of the civilians heard a noise. Instantaneously her hands lit up readied for another assault of nuclear fusion what she wasn't expecting was the sudden impact to her back it could have been tragic for the scarlet haired elite. Except for her natural defensive, she kept a telkeneitic shield at all times.
She should have died then and there instead everything in a thirty foot radius just got leveled. An instantaneous detonation almost before the cloaked adversary could so much as land. Buildings shattered and people vanished and if Azra was lucky those potential assailants did to. However she doubted that one explosion would do and was quick to capitalize on the moment.
As buildings fell and disaster struck anyone who could survive however probably was focusing on that. Surviving. It was that moment Az sought to enter the minds of her foes, when focus was on a thermal nuclear disaster. She sought to do three things the most sudden was an attempt to simply turn the brain off. This obvious more clear attack was followed by the second move which sought to strike the area of the brain that handled pain. Again the move was simple but performed by an alpha. An expertly handled effort to force the opposition to be convulsing in pain. And the third move was more subtle an effort to disarm the senses. The hearing sight and touch performing just a fraction slower. If that were successful it might give her an edge in what was to follow.
"Assuming you are still breathing I think we can agree fighting power versus power is unwise. How many lives will vanish if we did that? So shall we do it the old fashioned way?" Stretching her arms out in a cross like formation two hilts snapped to her hand and six others arrived around her. Then the blades erupted into life with radiant energy. "Course if you kill me I might level the island...should be fun." Her forehead bled the debris and nuclear assault and TK did help soften the impact still blood flowed. This fight could very well be her end. But she'd likely die a martyr and likely demolish the entire city so why remain concerned?
Time Siphon narrowed her eyes when her attack was cut off by a telepathic bubble. The ancient part of her, the animal part, snarled in frustration and indignation. She put her hand to the dome as the army advanced beneath it and proceeded to lecture the pathetic ant who had constructed it and all those within hearing range...which given she was shouting through her armor's com system, was most everyone fighting on both sides. "I am a Time Siphon! You dare to oppose me with this pathetic telepathic construct?! Everything ages, even that which does not die and that includes your simpleton barrier." The barrier began to age. Age was funny, it effected different things in different ways. For the mortal it made them grow old and wither, for the immortal it was the passage of time that did little to make them old or closer to death, but it was still the passage of time..and that...more than anything was what Time Siphon's fed on, the natural advancement of time. Constructs like buildings and telepathic barriers aged differently and the barrier felt it in the way of immense damage that it was not actually taking. For a Time Siphon as hungry as Raeyn was currently the process took several minutes, but she grew more powerful as it occurred and the process speed up naturally. Not directly combating the Time Siphon was a tactical mistake, one most people never made twice.
Given enough time, a Time Siphon could feed off of anything and without any attacks directed against her, she had plenty of time. So she hovered, her hand on the barrier and followed it as it moved and eventually...the barrier flickered and collapsed. Raeyn wasn't done though, the barrier had a short temporal line and had done little to feed her, she needed more fuel to do significant damage in faster rates of speed. That meant she needed an easy target with a long temporal line. Her mind raced through the area, sifting through temporal lines like a coin collector through his prized collection. Even while she did this, she focused on destroying the Oracle, not with her Siphon abilities but with her armor's weaponry. The Oracle was old and of little value and Raeyn was angry with her. Instead of taking her temporal line, she sent twin orbs of radiant plasma flying at high velocity toward the old woman from the palms of her hands.
Yes, there you are, that will work just fine. Time Siphon's range was still greatly reduced, she needed it increased, she needed more memory shards. She flew ahead of the mutant army and landed in Times Square where she crouched down and placed a hand on the ground. Her first target did not last long, the pavement of the streets of New York began to crack rapidly and then fall to pieces until it finally fell away to dust and left only the ground beneath it. That too began to crack and those cracks raced for the advancing mutant horde with alarming speed. The cracks spread and widened, until they became small gaps in the earth and then as the very ground beneath mutant feet aged, the cracks pulled apart until they were crevasses through which whole squads could plummet to their eternal doom. Memory shards began to snap into place and the Time Siphon became infinitely more dangerous...to both sides.
The Time Siphon's war was now a mental one. You have the range now, end this pathetic excuse for a war. Take them all, the mutants and humans and aliens, exterminate the whole lot of them and feed on the city itself. Reduce the whole fucking place to dust. You have refused your natural right for far too long. Everyone of power felt a shiver run down their spines and the hair stand up on the back of their neck as the newly fed Time Siphon stretched out her mind and took hold of every temporal line in New York city, from humans and mutants to the buildings themselves.
You are a Time Siphon, life and death are your birth right, the temporal line of every creature in creation is yours to feed upon at your whim. Crush New York, crush the mutants, fuel yourself and regain what you have lost.
No! Save New York, stop the war and maybe the two sides can come to a truce! It was the small voice, it sounded like a child.
These pathetic ants deserve nothing, they live at your whim. They will tear your new planet apart if you let them.
It's their planet as much as yours! Peace can be had, understanding can be reached. Save them Raeyn, be a hero!
Time Siphon's eyes were closed during the entire conversation in her head. Suddenly, they snapped open and she released the temporal lines of the city. She did not know right now why she always ended up listening to the child's voice. She wondered who it belonged to and why it was so persistent...and why she cared so deeply about its opinion of her. She had known these answers in Tokyo and given it all up to save the lives of everyone living in the city.
You ignorant fool!
"SHUT UP!" Raeyn shouted out loud. The voice went silent, for now.
Time Siphon returned to the battle and flew at high speed through New York's now desiccated streets until she was face to face with @_envy_. She hovered just off of the ground in front of him no more than forty feet away. "You want the President?" She asked and took hold of @clara_mass 's temporal line. She of course was out of range to feed on, but Envy had no way of knowing that. Mostly she wanted to get a feel for it, to make it easier to take a hold of later.
"End this attack and I'll bring the President to you." Time Siphon said. She didn't actually expect him to agree to it, there was too much hate and he delighted too greatly in the death he was causing. What this little interaction was designed to do was give her time as she reached out again for Temporal Lines, this time the lines of the people fighting to save the city. @charm_caster@paper_ronin@anthony_stark@maverick_6 She began the process of sending a message through their temporal lines. I am Time Siphon, we need to organize. Any volunteers? You can respond by thinking, I'll feel it.
"Truth be told Stevens we are technically on the same side." She was here to prevent mutants barbarity. However the extremism of these crusaders she knew wouldn't help. Wars were home to many people but those who spawned terror were not the people who'd ever help. Personally Tymeria didn't much care but Charm and Ronin favored this side so here she was. Her actions claiming lives with ease and barely registering to the ancient knight. She'd seen people die like that before and in similar ways before. And so on and so on.
Reinforcements were called but that was fine she'd seen conflict for so long this duel didn't strike her as the last. "I know I did. And I'm sure they were good men. But when you come to a scene like this it's to be expected that people will die." On the bright side she knew she was fighting a man. Somebody who'd stand his ground regardless of odds.
She started with a standard dash at Mach one she could cover four hundred meters in a second. The distance could be cleared with ease. The adamantine blade slammed down with enough force to decimate the road and if she was lucky splitting Stevens in two. Of course she planned a follow up. That secondary move intended to grab a near by car and fling it toward the human. The speed and strength behind the throw was enough to likely completely flatten the vehicle and hopefully the opposition.
Upon the bay of New York City, a dark, swirling vortex of black mist materialized, giving entrance to Night.
Long had she been gone, but the deaths, the sin, the evil that rang forth from this conflict re-awoken her, and she came. In truth, she cared little for what happened to the people, but she did care about fueling the chaos. The more evil, the more loss of life, the more likelihood she could quicken the coming of The Darkness.
And so, the Dark Cosmic Being sided with the mutants in their in-devour.
Reaching out with her mind, she made her presence known to the leader of this attack, @_envy_, "Hello, the one called Envy," her voice was cold, dark, seeping with despair and suffering.
Following the rain of death that had taken the Alpha Mutant by surprise, he expected another assault on his person. He stood ready, eyes unblinking, head turning to take in every detail. He'd leveled the nearby area, destroying what had remained of the forest he had stood in. He saw no sign of his attackers, nor their base of operations. Like a snake, they had struck sharp and with venom, before retreating, evidently unable or unwilling to commit to an extended fight with the Russian Renegade. They were smart, then; having failed in their initial assault, they would pool their resources and return with a refined strategy. Apex respected that.
The loss of blood in his hands staunched by the bandages, he used his communicator to call Mac. "<This is the all clear, Mac.>"
"<Acknowledged,>" responded the teleporting mutant with no code name. Moments later, he appeared about five feet away from Aleksei, a small pop resounding throughout the now-desolate plateau. Mac winced when he saw Aleksei's bandaged hands. <It must be terribly strenuous for him to transport our wounded,> thought the Alpha Mutant. After all, that was Mac's function in their group of dissatisfied mutants. Well, dissatisfied may be putting it lightly...
Mac reached out his hand as if to ask for a handshake. Aleksei responded, and in an instant they were back outside New York.
NYC
Small hidden camps, cloaked from detection by a few skilled mutants, contained a plethora of tents, each designated for use as temporary recovery areas. Thanking Mac for the assist, and wishing him luck bringing back more wounded, Aleksei marched into the Officer's Tent, smiling when he saw his favorite Healer.
"<Gregor...good to see you. You look rejuvenated as always,>" said Aleksei, his thick Russian accent belying his skillful diction. "<Would you mind...>" Aleksei coughed again, his damaged lungs still bothering him, "<ahem...would you mind taking care of these?>" he asked, raising his bandaged hands.
The older man smiled, his hands suddenly aglow with an amber light. "<Whatever you did this time, I'm sure I'll be able to fix it,>" replied Gregor, his hands hovering over Apex's. A moment later, the wounds on his hands and calves were fully healed. Gregor looked tired, his arms dropping back to his sides. "<Aleksei...I can't do this all the time...it tires me, comrade...good God, what happened to your lungs?>" asked the old healer incredulously. "<You held your breath for far longer than any man should...your alveoli are devouring themselves as we speak...how long were you underwater?>" he chuckled, eyes aglow with mirth. "<I mean, I've heard of competitive diving, but this->"
"<Space.>"
The single word cuts off Gregor, an awkward silence falling over the room.
"<You were in...?>"
"<Space...yes. Open space. I'd rather...I'd rather not discuss it now, Gregor. Can you fix my lungs?">
Gregor whistled.
"<You're a cosmonaut now, too, are you? Stupid. You need a helmet to breathe there,>" he laughed, prompting Aleksei to smile as well. <Good old Gregor.> Another man who didn't belong on a battlefront. He'd volunteered to come, but healing so many people in a row had clearly taken its toll on the Russian elder. His eyes glowed once more, and Aleksei coughed horribly. A second later, it was over.
"<There. Better than new. Don't f*** them up again, boy,>" laughed the senior. He was obviously exhausted. Gregor's healings always came with...side effects. For him, that is. "<I need...sleep. See you after we win. Do it for the kids, man. Tell that pretty wife of yours I said...hello...>" continued the old healer, falling softly back into a soft chair. His eyes closed, and he began to sleep deeply.
Aleksei didn't have the heart to remind him that she had been lost to the sapiens all those years ago.
Downtown
About ten minutes later, and Aleksei was back in the heart of the fighting. His visor blazed with energy as he ran towards the location of Envy, the man currently spearheading the campaign in America. As Apex had taken Russia's mutant underworld, he hoped that Envy would do the same with America's. Rushing through the heart of the ravaged city towards his squad, he vaulted over ruined cars and slid under collapsed structures, ready to assist his ally in glorious retribution against the human race.
<For tomorrow,> he thought, sprinting back into town, rejuvenated and with renewed passion for their cause.
Twilight watched the explosion from above as it rippled in the air, something had startled this mutant but the Origin had no clue to whom had done it regardless the fact remained that the explosion continued to expand outwards with incredible force casually destroying anything in its way.
Not too soon afterwards it came into contact with the building she stood upon fortunately the damage her wards withstood in this predicament would have been more severe should it have been at ground zero, despite the force of the blast being successfully defended from it did not shield the building and soon it began to topple over from structural damage.
Instinctively Twilight decided to leap off the building than rather risk getting stuck between in the toppling structure, Fourth Plain Twilight thought while in free fall
I must know what I'm going up against in order to defeat her, let us see shall we?
everything seemed to be in slow motion as she adjusted her balance from falling head first like a an arrow tip to feet first by swaying the weight of her body backwards in the blink of an eye
Telepathy,Telekinesis,Radiation, mhmm nothing a powerful mage isn't capable of replicating Twilight was now fifty feet away from hitting the ground, using heightened reflexes and speed beyond a normal humans capabilities she aimed for a free falling car and pressed feet against it to launch herself to another car which allowed her to be within the reach a broken up concrete pillar Twilight skipped across its remains that were no larger than a book, the Origins speed made this environment look like a play ground as everything seemingly was set up perfectly allowing her to get into this rhythm of super parkour
I'm bigger,faster and stronger than her but she is well with in the means of harming me
she reached for the edge of a slab of stone several times larger than herself to end her string of movements with a swing to the remains of a destroyed vehicle, looking back she realized what felt like almost a minute was reality just a few seconds that had passed by and she crossed a hundred feet away from her starting point I still got it! Twilight contemplated contently as she pumped her arm up and then down in a cheerful manner, too early had she celebrated when the telepathic assaults smashed into her already strained ward.
The sound of smashed glass accompanied the visual image of a once invisible shield turning visible in a pink aura and shattering apart, Twilight stumbled back angered dam I'm down to seventeen shields now with out a second more to lose she began to rapidly scout the environment in the pathway of a square.
Battle of the femme fatale
"Mystic protector" North secured
"Mystic protector" East secured
"Mystic protector" South secured
"Mystic protector" West secured
Twilight began to creep upon her target in the stealthy way of a Ninja to then examine her opponent a mere minute after teleporting to Washington Bridge
"Assuming you are still breathing I think we can agree fighting power versus power is unwise. How many lives will vanish if we did that? So shall we do it the old fashioned way?"
."Course if you kill me I might level the island...should be fun."
Twilight gnashed her teeth Damm, I have to put in so much mana into the Mystic protector shields if what she says is true, I can't just risk it, the female ninja was undetected so far so she focused Mystic protector tier two aches Twilight felt form on her sides from the result of her depleting her base mana supply and now had only reserves left
The shields are good now, no city busting nukes are escaping today, Twilight was relieved at the cost of a generous amount of Mana this city will be saved from this potential attack, with shields evenly placed a thousand yards away from Azrayne this would be a magic caged death match both figuratively and literally as the amount of powered required to penetrate past the barriers Twilight manifested would have to be greater than the necessary power to annihilate a city.
Time to end this
Twilight stepped out of the shadows to face her opponent "spiritus constructs" Kunai and sheathes manifested over the Origin, two on her shoulders blades and two by her ankles followed by a belt of Kunai numbering six on her waist. Twilight removed two Kunai from the sheaths on her waist which instantly regenerated two more magically "After you" she gestured as the Origin dual wielded the blades with its tips pointing the opposite direction of where the Mutant was.
Twilight's last action is a smirk as a Kunai manifests in the air and is caught by the handle via her mouth.
A barrage of fire flew towards the old mutant. He lifted his hand up and a field of electricity formed right in front of him. The rounds exploded against the shield, causing him to slide back a little. As soon as he dropped his electricity shield, the other winged warrior flew at him. His right hand attracted a dollar coin. He aimed it right at the mace wielding hero. The coin flew from his finger tips at high speeds with electricity trailing behind it. Just the heat could burn a normal human's skin down to the muscle.
After he fired his shot, more combatants came into the arena. "This is a waste of time", he thought to himself. Induction had bigger plans and frankly this encounter was not on the top of his bucket list. As the other parties began fighting, Induction stepped to the sidelines. He began walking closer and closer to edge of the 'arena'. He was prepared to watch the other participants duke it out for their lives, much like Roman gladiators. Induction sat down in a meditating pose and pulled a small electrical field around himself. The old man chuckled. "Are you not entertained?" he whispered to himself.
I've been told they have my dog. It's only then that I realize this situation was actually serious.
His posture shifted from the usual tomfoolery into an unseen timidness, a reflection of the boy beneath the shenanigans, and it wasn't so much the dog that he was concerned about, but the fact that even if he wanted to; escaping the White House secret service would have been impossible.
With that in mind, he bowed his head and walk behind the creepiest of the lot, his eyes flickering with a deep seeded distaste. It didn't take long, however, for that same distaste to redirect its' trajectory once the surroundings changed and became more reclusive.
"Why do you want me here?" He hastily questioned, arms crossed above his still developing chest, eyebrows knitted together, and feet anxiously tapping the floor. All of this incidentally displayed his feelings regarding his puppy being taken hostage as well as the minimum info pertaining to his father's safety during these trying times.
"Do you want me to trend #MutantGate for the 2k that follow me on the gram?" Troy wasn't fond of the Pierce Administration, he wasn't much fond of his mother in general, so his sarcastic tone wasn't unprecedented, but at the moment....it was unfounded.
"C'mon. I know what you're about, @_animus_. Tell me what my mommy needs." He rolled his eyes in childlike fashion, huffing and puffing without the full debriefing, but even as the hotheaded Addams child went about his business in an immature way, parading his iPhone 6 Plus in the face of mister clean and his lot of service service henchmen, a part of his being, a part that wouldn't speak unless spoken too, wanted a chance....even a small one....to help fight the good fight.....and all anyone had to, even mother....was ask.
His head reminds me of a jawbreaker. I think I want a jawbreaker.
@legacy_: "If it serves you, you can." Thomas says with a casual calm, the pressing matters of the topic more prevelant than any second hand reporting of it.
"I didn't call you down to argue, and I didn't call you down to talk about your mother... Enough people are taking that responsibility in the media. This is about you, me, and this country. " Reaching out Animus uncurls his fingers to show a rough bare hand, "Your phone please, Troy."
@_animus_: "You sure know how to make a guy feel special," he retorted in a playful fashion, his hands floating from his sides and landing on his heart, mimicking the swooning nature of a young girl meeting her favorite pop star.
"Okay, okay." He responded once more, placing his precious phone into the palm what felt like the Sahara Desert made flesh.
"Ouch," he retracted his hand in a convincingly hurt manner, "Try not to look where you're not supposed to." Troy smiled like a Colgate commercial, giving off his best rendition of a put together teenager.
Omega watched the green skin leave, retreating as fast as he could down through the tunnels. Meanwhile, Omega placed his hand forward, allowing the incendiary round to make contact, but to be extinguished seconds later.
"No!"
Omega, refusing to be ignored, swallowed his form with power, allowing his electrical might to engulf him, and he shot forward, faster and faster, racing after Ulysses. First, he refused to let this creature simply leave what had happened on the Bastion and simply forget it. Secondly, he needed something else...something important to him.
Still, he intended on fighting first, ask questions later.
Once more, he saw Ulysses, and continued speeding forward, hoping to tackle him into the bay.
@legacy_: "I'll try my best contain my curiosity..." The mastered mind says with a raised brow and upturned lip, strolling away to a table, disappearing between the dim shadows set in the gaps of the hanging archaic lights above the room.
"This will be your mobile handheld operating system for the transformation...I'll just set the code inlay and...yes. Now, the fun part." His shape-shifting legs stretch like elastic bands, crossing the room in a cool two steps to stand in front of the begrudging first son, "If I told you I could pull your mothers Vutton heels off your neck, if I told you I could make you more than just a tabloid celebrity on par with a Kardashian...If I told you I could give you glory, worship, and power. What would the illustrious, Troy Addams say to me?" A single V-shaped brow raises, slowly. No signs of laugh lines were around his lips, leaving the impression that a joke was in rare form for the technological Rembrandt.
"What if I told you I wanted to turn you into the embodiment of America itself."
Protecting the innocent right? Even in the face of the atrocities committed against the mutant race, they were still in the wrong when these commanding figures took it upon themselves to commit this terrorist act. So that's why you betrayed them? You're a mutant, Trevor. Sooner or later you're going to have to realize that mutants and humans simply cannot coexist. Things like this...
They were meant to happen.
---
The lord and savior of the mutant revenge plot struck out first, bypassing the half-melted bay water and the rubble of dockside Manhattan in a show of his kingly agility. Hulk felt the claws rend his flesh, but they were minor lacerations compared to the greater mass of his thick frame. Besides, they regenerated almost instantly anyway. Though these were hardly a factor in the greater scheme of the battle, Envy knew their purpose. He planned these strikes, mere sparks before an electrical storm.
Hulk lashed out in their direction, finding nothing but open air. His truly monstrous strength made the very air a weapon as the sound barrier cracked under the density of his fists, even without moving all that quickly. This pattern continued for as long as Envy engaged in close quarters combat with the beast, each one of his attacks meant to take down the most intense of physical juggernauts only serving to anger Hulk further. The attempted lung puncture came and met solid flesh, causing a hiccup in Hulk's offense, but nothing more.
Even the spinal fluid oozing from the miniscule, but still clinically paralytic, slash on his elephantine back played as small a role in cooling Hulk's temper as a headache lasting just a second - if that.
The most dangerous weapon on the planet, and he stood mere inches away from crushing every bone in Envy's body. The sudden drops in air pressure from his fists passing by would be enough to cause extensive damage just with a glancing blow, nevermind the catastrophic effects from the attempted punches themselves given the beast's terrifying biology. Just as the beast, a green juggernaut in every sense of the word, loomed over Envy with the intent on ending his dreams in one fell swoop, they locked eyes.
Though his were hidden behind a mask, Envy would be able to read a story in Hulk's.
---
Humanity has grown bloated and overconfident, right? Too unafraid to admit defeat in the presence of a superior lifeform?
Wrong. Damn wrong. When Darkchild and Warsman literally rained blood on Gothic City, people were scared. We were horrified, and we wanted to know if we could be safe. When Brahma Bull went out on any given Sunday afternoon and caused his unique brand of havoc, did we raise up in arms and march against him like a well-organized war machine? No. We huddled in our living rooms, praying it wouldn't happen again. But it did. It keeps happening. It won't stop happening.
We're afraid.
We're afraid just like you are.
How many times do you think these people have been relocated? How many times do you think they've ran from something they couldn't understand or even want to understand? They're just people, people who - if they were mutant - you would be protecting with your last breath. Well some of them are mutant, damn it. Some of them earned a life in this city. Some of them raised children and started saving money for college. Some of them love other mutants, some of them love humans. It doesn't matter, because they're all people. Because they have the capacity to love. Because they have the strength to love over the allure of hatred in a cold and bitter world.
I don't think you want to destroy humanity because of what you blame them for.
I think you want to destroy humanity because you just want to ruin lives. It's the only thing that helps you sleep at night.
Sure, there are cruel people out there. We have the Charlemagne LeBeaus and the Otto von Dooms. But you don't go after them do you? You go after civilians. After the sheep. People who don't fight back. People who run.
You just want to watch them run. You just want to hurt them.
That's why I hate you.
That's why I will never join your cause.
And that's why I'm going to break every bone in your body, because you don't deserve to be in the same hemisphere as these brave people who put up with not only your crap, but all the terrorists in the world combined and they have come back stronger than ever before.
That's the strength of hope. And hope always beats fear.
---
In the precious few attoseconds between Hulk's indomitable gaze meeting with Envy, a gaze telling him all of this and more, there came a distant thunderclap. Air molecules rushed back into place, but they were still second place to the iconic Molecular Michelangelo. It seemed obvious that he planned on impaling the beast for all that he was worth. But, like Envy's blades, this only proved the strength of the monster in question. Instead, Hulk met the reptilian man's resolve with a stony disposition, moving not but the scant few inches allowed by his new opponent's thunderous momentum.
The response of the beast, though short, remained brutal and to the point. He lashed out immediately, not even waiting for the spear-like fists of the Atomic Artisan to leave the marvelous sculpture of his back muscles. Hulk turned around and reached for the reptilian skull, barring that then his leg. Even a glancing grab would have extensive consequences for this interloper considering all of what made Hulk the monstrosity Abraham Lannister studied.
But if anything, Hulk's anger fueled him further into the motion, and if he proved successful - then Ulysses would have more on his plate than just another enemy to fight.
"You won't give me what I want, you won't tell me what I need to know, you won't give me the closure I deserve," his tremulous tone shook her like rag doll, "and you ask for my blessing?" Clarice quietly sat across from the socially estranged aristocrat, taken back by his disillusioned beliefs that she owed him anymore apologies than already issued, but it was that very silence that made him angrier.
"You got me f*cked up, Clarice." He laughed like a seal and it stirred her astray, pulling her out of her characteristic portrayal of an ice queen and plopped into the shoes of the innocent girl he once knew.
"YOU ruined me. YOU ruined my life," he screamed with an unbridled conviction, his parted hair mingling as his head shook back and forth with an unkempt rage, "I will not let YOU ruin our sons' life. Do YOU understand me? I won't allow it." He placed his palms over his face, breathing in deeply and exhaling through his the creases; his anxiety rising by the millisecond.
"I told myself I was done with this. With you, with Kurt, with it all." His fingertips slid down the skin between his eyebrows and before they left his Hollywood leading man face, they clung to his rosy cheeks as he thought thoughts that shan't be said.
"I'm a dad now," he managed to get out, "I have purpose. I'm together, I've pulled myself together, and there you are, back it again, pulling at my strings, and asking me to do things that I don't want to do." Noah appeared so disappointed in himself, because as much as he tried; Clarice wouldn't voluntarily admit to her hand in his predicament.
"You promised me, Clarice. You promised me things would change," He swallowed his fears as he adjusted his posture, hands now politely folded atop the wooden table. With that said, he went forth and respectfully declined her proposition.
"I'm not signing my parental rights away, Clarice. I thought you would have learned by now, but if you didn't know....he's OUR son. And as much as you hate to admit it....we loved each other once. Stop playing games and grow the hell up. That boy needs his dad and his mom. Show him you can be just that. Please Clarice, don't be the reason our son gets caught in the crossfire of whatever scheme you've got planned."
Dotted Line
I don't like her. She's liked a spoiled container of sour cream hidden behind the vegetables in an unlit fridge. It smells like shit, but no can seem to find it cause it's hiding behind the goody goods and no one ever suspects the goody goods. I'd probably be okay with her if my dad didn't look so bothered every Friday morning before I left for the White House and elated every time I returned. He's always worried about me. I think he's afraid I'll turn out like her, but I'm not her. I'm not him. I'm Troy Addams and goddammit....
"I'd say you're a pimp looking at his next top hoe."I place a hand on my hip, disappointingly shaking my index finger, as I look into the eyes of my perplexing Vice President. I'm ashamed to have thought @_animus_ had class, because he chose me of all people to exploit. Or maybe I should be honored? Regardless this was exploitation and exploitation was a running gag in my line that needed to end.
"I'm not going to be used and discarded, Mister Newscastle. I'm worth so much more," I'm not going to lie, I've always wanted to be a hero, but this seems too good to be true. "I need to know what's up, because if what I'm thinking you're saying is true.....then I can be hero? A real hero?"
@closure: "Quite the turn of phrase." Thomas says with a pearled smile of nonchalant humility. He was in this for the long haul, though his demeanor said otherwise. In truth now that he stepped on the world stage, his immortal face would be forever etched into history. If he failed here, he would be an eternal Pariah, the empire he spent decades building would collapse in moments. " I'm not know for my altruism Troy. I am a cold man. Methodical and strategic. This isn't about my warm hearted attempt to bond with my employers son. It's about power and image. You agreeing benefits me in numerous ways. " His hand rolls from his own direction to Troy's "Me helping you benefits you in numerous ways, as well as your mother and the entire country. It's in that mutual benefit that you can be assured, this isn't ruse. It's an opportunity of genuine freedom."
A large satellite shaped machine's coned outer ring begins to spin, flashing with a rainbow of neon light slowly, the sound picking up causing Thomas to raise his voice, "Your worth more to me in the long term than the short. So long as you play the hero you want to be so badly, the one you so obviously wear the dream of on your sleeve like a tattoo, then you can be whatever you want to be. All I ask is that you represent this nation and all those within her borders when you do."
Solar Hawk reacted to the coin the moment she heard it in the air. The coin crashed into a white energy shield that sprang up in front of her and fell to the ground a crumpled mess. She was about to respond to Ulysses when she saw him leave the scene and then returned her focus to the now idle Induction. Rather than rush him with her mace she chose to rely on her ring, something he would have a much harder time defending himself against.
The White Lantern generated a force box around induction and sought to drive it against the dome barrier she had created earlier. The box formed a wall of white energy directly in front of him, on both sides and over his head, if the attack worked he would be smashed against the energy dome with enough force to break bones. Solar Hawk preferred her mace, she preferred the old ways of fighting, but she was not afraid to tap into the significant powers of her White Lantern ring.
Luna Hawk reacted before Ulysses fired his shots, but her armor took time to activate...not much time, but time none the less. A neurological impulse from her brain sent to her helmet activated Liquid Nth Metal projectors carefully woven into her clothing the moment she saw Kermit pull his weapon. By the time he had fired the liquid Nth Metal was hardening into segmented plates along her legs and groin. The first of his bullets struck her in the chest, just below her right breast even as the armor began hardening over her stomach. Gold blood splattered out behind her as the bullet passed through her body and she staggered backward, nearly dropping to one knee. The rest of the bullets crushed harmlessly against her Nth Metal armor the exact moment it hardened over her chest and back. His radiation eye beams had the same difficulty, the armor was able to absorb a majority of the radiation, but the armor did lose its initial protective layer under the assault. The armor held up, damaged but still perfectly functional. Note to self, re-program the armor to activate from the shoulders down.
Luna Hawk grit her teeth and forced herself to stay on her feet. The pain was intense but the shot had failed to strike her heart and the damage to her lungs was beginning to regenerate. "I really hate getting shot." She muttered and used her left hand to draw a pistol/crossbow weapon from her hip and leveled it at Induction. With pain still dominating her chest and her lungs struggling to recover she chose to wait to see his response to Solar Hawk's attack.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, Ulysses generally freaked out.
"OH SHIT."
And without another gasp for breath the Devourer's Dilemma was slammed into the concrete again, and again, and yet once more before the Translucent Trauma fazed into the ground, his faded figure in a static motion which could only end in sending the chunks of concrete he passed through behind him towards The Hulk. The swings into the ground had caused immense damage to his outer shell, the strength was unnatural for any mutant yet seen. Ulysses refazed over the concrete into a stable form, his fists in a clear act of anger. And it was only then when the veins in his forehead could be made out when his finger rose from his side towards the Jade Juggernaut beginning only as a cool breeze into the wind, in simply seconds turning into far beyond subzero temperatures.
The Gecko Prince was freezing him solid.
Rarely was this needed, though it was in this experience. Something that literally got stronger the more it got hit was rare, one of those beings had attended the battle but the epic beams of kinetic strength had not been seen across the skyline for a long shift @jack_. The slam to the spinal cord had seemed to simply make the monster dazed for brief moments with a force that should have torn right through on any other lesser being. If the beast had indeed frozen over it would be followed with a series of punches directly in the spinal cord with literally the high hundreds slamming into it.
Yet another problem arises.
The cosmic being had been determined to track the Virtuous Villain across the cityscape and to the bay, the true problem arising at the moment of decision of whether to focus on the cosmic for brief moments and risk the monster slamming a fist into his chest. Or rather through his chest entirely. Or possibly continue a solid freeze on Hulk and let the cosmic possibly fire on him. Though the choice was clear to continue a focus on freezing and allow the cosmic to make a move. Despite the absolute risk of doing so.
While the chance of the time wavering predator to strike again was certainly a possibility it wasn't a likely matter. Gods forbid of that happening.
Yet if this plot pulled through. The march on D.C had been accomplished, the future would face less vile interaction. The mutants wanted the colonial United States? It's their land. And a young government getting used to the comfy chair of the Oval Office certainly will be less than prepared to counteract an army.
The lacerations caused by the Vibranium talons were surgical if not precisely on target of the major spinal columns and breathing organs of Envy's target. He grinned momentarily, proud that his skills had not faltered when he chose to train with a sword instead of just his claws, risking the deterioration of his hand to hand skills. The accuracy of his strikes proved he was just as deadly in close quarters as ever. Despite the wounds that would be a quick and fatal end to almost any opponent, the green monstrosity regenerated and healed the wounds over with his rhino like skin.
The mutant supremacist predicted that his strong frame had been coated with an even more durable hide, but this was astonishing even to Envy. His claws lacked the ability to pierce the beast and so his sword would have failed also. He couldn't win this fight, but he didn't need to. As he began to retreat with a number of backflips and summersaults, he gazed into the creature's eyes. He saw not pain, nor hate. Simply anger. Hulk didn't need to verbally say why he was angry as his glare spoke 1000 words.
For a moment, Envy considered what he was doing. Was all this destruction and devastation worth simply proving a point? Can creating a wall and preventing peaceful co-existence to flex the strength of mutant supremacy justifiable? Can Envy die of old age, or even now, saying that the ends justified the means?
He smiled, revealing razor sharp canine teeth through his crimson helm,
All that and more. Reconciliation was never possible.
His determination was not doused nor was the fire raging behind his eyes extinguished. The roaring clap of the sonic boom sounded like the equivalent of a large bomb being detonated in danger close proximity, but thanks to Envy's early retreat and tactical evasion, he managed to avoid the worst of it. However, he did not dodge the molecular destruction unscathed as his torso began to leak an all too familiar sanguine fluid and into the ice. He gasped for air as he noted a few broken ribs. The monster was no animal to be taken lightly and he kept all the knowledge of this past fight in his mind for future reference should they ever clash again.
"You're not angry at me, Brother!"
Envy's words howled like a lone wolf's roar in the snow as he chuckled before continuing,
"You're mad at yourself! You're furious that you're fighting your genetic siblings in favor of those that would cast you out and burn you at the stake if given the chance!"
His smirk grew wider and his fangs sharper
"You're confused and jealous. You're confused because you have no true home although I still offer you sanctuary undeterred by our scuffle. And you're jealous of me, because I have found me destiny and plan to see it fully realized whatever the cost."
He coughed with a slight grimace, but his facial features returned to the proud and cocky mutant that spoke while gripping his injured side with a unsheathed hand.
His final quip was made as a distraction so he could contact someone he had met in secrecy while en route to today's bloody war. It was a man he thought he would never need to call upon as the mention of such an arrangement could best be described as a deal with the devil. At this point all was at risk. His mutant army had been making small breaks in the opposition's line of defense and beginning the trek to the White House, but they were never meant to be the threat.
They were peaceful pawns who played their part as a distraction to slow down the Nations defenses an disrupt it's heroes. Albeit, to Envy's dismay that some of the more violent ones who had thirsted for battle had lost their lives, but the ones who maintained the goal of Mrs. Pierce in their mind were in one piece. Everyone knew the plan, yet they still rose their hands and agreed to it's details. It was now time to call upon this trade of souls and play his trump card. The Liberators would be accompanying him and they knew when the time for the final phase in their plan was.
The M.S.Cs functioned differently from ordinary soldiers, and their mutant hostile contact was tricky to deal with. They, never left, but simply moved about, cloaked, hidden from sight. Difficult to spot in the distance. They however noticed something, from over a mile away, they heard something. He was speaking, not to them. No, to an alley. They had hackers intercept the signal so they could listen in. The fact that he is being teleported in changed everything. They could kill the mutant, kill Mac before he could "retrieve " Apex. Crippling the mutant forces. They then proceeded to leave
The instant his eyes began to glow. They knew he would attack. It was a universal warning sign. However, it only took them a minute and a half to cover an entire mile, with over 100 lbs of gear and the M.S.C's spoke using implants that in essence used technology to mimic telepathy. The squad was in the midst of splitting up.
One M.S.C was in the middle of the forested Tundra saw the beam as it began obliterating the forest, and jumped over into a river. Diving head first in as he looked up to see the death ray sweep by that would have obliterated him. The others simply took up positions. Remaining a distance away. After all was said and done, though one of them nearly died and had to remain hidden in the frigid river, he could stay submerged for up to an hour. And so there they returned to their mission. They from vast distances with rifles that could make the shot, they waited. He seemed to believe they were gone, that they had retreated.
The time for the kill opportune. Their prey was in sight. The mutant known as "Mac" had appeared and they acquired him in their reticules, loaded with a conventional .50 cal weapon. Not for Apex, but his alley. Apex would undoubtedly shrug this bullet off. But it would be overkill against someone who was of human durability. With it's muzzle energy roughly translating into 7.5 tons of force in one shot, it would easily take limbs off a human being or if connected with the base of the spine, blow him completely in half....
He was walking over and as one sniper was about to reduce the man's head to red mist, he stopped. Not hesitation, but recieving the command to do so through their communications
"Hold your fire..."They all heard from their commander. After recieving further orders, from here, they only watched.
He and the rest of them only watched as Mac took Apex's hand, and saw him teleport away.
NYC
An F-72 Sat atop a skyscraper as it began to vertically ascend and take off. "Alpha one to Overwatch. Requesting stand by Strike package for the following coordinates. Over." "Roger that. Standing by for Strike package."
The decision to allow Apex to leave was deliberate. He had been marked, and that mark they used to target him for artillery, could also be tracked. The mutants had cloaks, but it didn't seem to signals. So, instead Maverick had decided to track this and others. Starting here, where the mutant known as Apex was. They watched as he charged into new york frm the skies from remote satellite, filled with vigor, and with that, they decided to strike the mutant camp. The jet uncloaked nearing the location and unleashed a Hanfium loaded missile on the area....just as the mutant
There was a flash and then a large explosion as the bomb hit. Gamma Rays and X-Rays emitted from the bomb caused anything in the center to be atomized in a few moments, and most things near Blast waves surged through the area, some people being by them and being liquified from a few hundred feet. Others being blasted back. Bradshaw watched as a literal block was cleared was cleared and windows shattered for quite the distanc. The area looking like a meteorite crash sight. And just like that, they jet dissappeared. Not to be seen or heard.
"Clean hit. Target destroyed. Numerous KIA confirmed." "Didn't have a chance."
He then saw a woman running. The explosion's physical blast waves damage her, but she reformed instantly. Since she was distance away, far from the epicenter. He had then had an idea as he picked up a radio. "Send a of M.S.C's to intercepted lazed target." "Roger that." He heard from command as he they sent a team after her. Bradshaw simply jumped down and fired his grappling device to swing down to the ground to regroup.
By the time Bradshaw arrived, the M.S.C's had this woman not killed but contained. Knives stabbed through pressure points as she laid paralyzed on the floor struggling. Furious as she looked at the men overlooking her. The men, unaware of what Bradshaw was going to do next. Simply watched him or covered the area as he approached the woman.
[Graphic Content warning]
Images flashed in Bradshaw's head. Even one with as much hatred as him would sometimes hestitate to do something so inhumane to a mutant, even if for stratagetic purposes. Behind his cold exterior he had to remind himself to see this pained, weak and yelling woman as not a human. But an animal.
With each step the images of his wife and daughter would appear. Such things only haunted and brought only hate instead of love. Made him fight his feeling of humanity towards this creature instead of embrace it. He didn't even remember having literally nearly every single bone in his body broken from that. Bradshaw took his knife out as it began to vibrate as he stood over her and grabbed her by the head as he slit her eyes open with his knife, so that she could not. The knife both both sawed and seared. Even his own men barring the M.S.C's cringed as they watched him. The woman tried to move but couldn't, though she could scream, and that she did. Very loudly. It attracting mutants and bringing telepathic attention to them. He then began to cut her stomach open, and disembowel her. With this done, he brought out a bomb and put it inside of her through the hole. She was already beginning to heal. The wound now sealing up completely. They would have company soon if they didn't move, and so they did move. Gone without a sound.
The walls were punched down as they sought to recover their ally. There she laid. Breathing heavily, eyes open. Her friends sought to allow her to recover, to get out of the fight. She didn't want this. All she wanted was change.....
*Click*
As her allies have taken her over to be looked over as to why she feels a pain in her stomache, the beeping soon makes it become strikingly clear to a few, while the rest where unaware and had no idea what hit them.
Bradshaw put the detonator away as he watched the explosion from a safe distance. It taking out half a block, but not reaching the evacuation sight. He stares at the explosion. His teammate hands him a tablet of all things as he looks at a map. M.S.Cs begin tracking and DNA tagging hidden mutants, even capturing some of the weaker or more peaceful mutants and interrogating them in makeshift areas. Gaining insight to where they are and of their motives. A few had made it to DC but that was to be expected. What drew Bradshaw's attention in the most was the data compiled. He flipped through files made for superhumans on the spot that already detailed many of their powers, abilities and even motives based on hacked street camera footage. Then he saw him, the one responsible for this. (@_envy_)Confronting a giant green monster known as The Hulk. (@roosevelt) As well a vigilante who's pleas fell onto def ears. (@timesiphon)However Bradshaw wanted the man. He was the one. Bradshaw pressed a button on his radio.
"Found him? Good. Stand the f*** by. I'm on my way."
And now, by my gentleman's code of honor, I must oblige.
---
Washington DC
---
"NO MORE FIGHTING!"
The slogan plastered on picket signs danced in the mid-day air. A similar hashtag ran rampant online. People were fed up with the conflict, and they let their opinions be heard. Of course, once those were out in the open, they were free game for anti-peace rioters. These were the hardened veterans of attacks on human cities by mutants, soldiers who lost limb and family in conflict against the metahuman regime. The careless actions of superhumans who fought without a care in the world, breaking the world around them into pieces without so much as a verbal apology. These were people caught in the crossfire. And they were not going to lay down and take this heinous assault.
Stormclouds in the distance. Looks like another flurry of snow coming. No one thought much of it.
Hidden within the ranks of either group were unseen members of a strange organization. Neither human nor mutant nor anything in-between. These were people of a different creed, those forged in the angry aftermath of the San Betral and Gothic City disasters. Those two events were one in the same, perpetrated by an entity beyond understanding or mercy. Slathered upon their persons were symbols of a cultist phenomenon greater than any before it.
These were the Blood Pact. And they were carrying bombs.
At the press of a few buttons, the entire scope of the riots and peace marches was changed. In an instant, all the verbal arguments became physical. People were now dead or injured on either side, and instantly blamed those they now confronted as the ones responsible for the attacks. Violence bred violence, and the mission of the Blood Pact proved successful.
The clouds opened.
Not a single flake of snow fell, but instead the dark void above hurled a far more malevolent downpour upon the nation's capital. Again, the terrors of San Betral and Gothic City resurfaced. But for the riots in the streets, the senseless fighting, none had any idea what was happening. They were too absorbed in the beatings, the thrashings, and the maulings. They turned into animals, manipulated in this moment for the greater entertainment of a higher power.
Nobody in those streets noticed that the sky dripped red, weeping solemnly as the most precious fluid of both life and death rained down upon them. No blood-colored water, but instead the legitimate fuel of mind, body, and soul. Among this horrendous torrent, the remains of a generation - innards and other assorted body parts, mangled and recycled. In that moment, those still possessed of a rational mind beheld something terrible, even more ghastly than the hellish storm brewing around them. The shadow of an unknowable monstrosity hovered over them. The skyline changed from Earthen to a foreign creature dominating the atmosphere from horizon to horizon.
An engine of the apocalypse, some would say, but the sounds coming from its gullet were entirely alien. No beast known to mankind could replicate the horrendous cacophony emitted from whatever existed as the beast's mouth or vocal chords. And it did not exist as a singular note, forgotten in an instant, but rather a continuous drone - so that it would be remembered forever, scarred into the minds of those who heard it.
"Oh Brother of the End Times," a voice called out in the streets, quietly, so that only he and the dark child could listen.
"Wherefore art thou?"
A single figure made his way through the streets, so slathered with blood and gore as of this moment to be mistaken for a butcher's hovel. Chunks of the disgusting marvel of nature clung to his person, but he seemed elated by this fact. Each clump of people, so enraged as to forget their names, that he passed suddenly stopped fighting each other. Thier minds were irrevocably taken by something more powerful than anger, and that was pain. So sharp and infinite a pain that they began to scream, but no sound escaped their lungs - for those too, were victimized. Every ounce of their being, every fiber now washed in blood, was a plaything for the monster in their midst. Their insides sizzled outwards, replacing solid skin with broken flesh and a new addition to the ever-increasing layer of sanguine carnage bathing the city streets.
Curiously, the monumental White House remained untouched.
But perhaps that was all part of the Administrator of Pain's scheme, or rather his purpose in being here.
Shadows began to follow him. Out of the mounds of flesh came the chosen, the elated few who were spared from his incomparable power. Those with unwavering loyalty now, owing their new master a debt beyond debts. This mindset became elevated through a religious zeal unique only to humanity and they followed the Xelu'tari warlord wherever he went, spreading his destruction across the world as he saw fit, even as the sewers scabbed over and the injured and lame were drowning in blood.
"You have given me passage to this world once more," he spoke again, this time to another mind far away, one capable of instilling great envy and fear in his enemies.
"For that, I have given you passage to your future," he gestured to the distant man, telepathically showing him an image of the road to the White House open and unguarded.
"Our bargain has been sealed with the blood of yet another city. Show me that I was right! Show me that I have chosen you not out of convenience, but out of your own ambition! Show me the strength of the mutant race! For if they are truly powerful, then only they will be chosen to survive my apocalypse! The Blood Pact has been made, do not yield!"
Omega's momentum came to a abrupt halt as he saw Ulysses get rag dolled by The Hulk. Despite the determination in Omega, he couldn't help but laugh at the situation before him.
He quickly regained his cool as he saw the green skinned being disappear, only to reappear and begin to freeze the angry juggernaut. His mission once again in his mind, teleported down to the ground behind Ulysses.
"Hey, leave the Jolly Green Giant be. I have to talk to you, NOW!" Omega elevated his voice, turning it into a thunderous war that anyone within the city could potentially hear if they paid attention. "I'm hear to make a deal. A gracious offer if you ask me, considering how rudely you left the Bastion. I...." Omega sentence was stopped, as the last of his breath left. His cosmic awareness alerted him that something was horribly, HORRIBLY wrong.
The sense of pain, not his own but others flowed over him, and the source was coming from DC.
"Warsman," Omega gasped, knowing that he was here.
He looked back towards Ulysses. "If you wish to hear my offer, contact me telepathically, or come with me now. Otherwise, I will come back, and force you into open discussion."
And with that, he left.
------------------------
Washington D.C.
------------------------
With a flash of light, Omega appeared before the terror of the universe. Around him, the color red fell everywhere, blood and death staining the ground.
"Warsman," spoke Omega, using a calm tone, showing himself to be unfazed by the events around him. "I sensed your...presence. I am unaware as to whether or not you know me and/or remember who I am....I would hope you do." Omega added, raising a questioning eyebrow. While he did not fear Warsman, far from it, he would rather not anger him, wishing to not draw out a conflict between the two...yet.
"I have come to ask, as I ask the other beings of great and terrible power, for you to join the Universal Council....I hope you say yes."
Slight distortions in the air suggested a barrier of some kind surrounded them. Presumably magic as if it were matter or TK she'd likely have fealt it more. For a moment she was disappointed but then thought better of it. This might benefit her, she had to remember this was a march not a move to claim land. New York wasn't the place for her to die. Death was fine however, there was a use in her end should she pass. Odds of her leaving this fight in good health were few, of course that didn't mean she'd just lay down and die either.
"Never understood the weapon in a mouth. Your head doesn't move about like an arm can. The reach is terrible. But oh well." Her playful commentary was meant to be a bit misdirecting. Focus on what was said and on the barriers. Designed to attempt to give the mind a distraction while her mind sought to enter the ninjas. She'd attempt to sway the senses. To make the eyes see three of Azra rather then one. To make the magicians ears think every step of the three was thunderous. And to make ones sense of touch not feel a thing. How susceptible the magician was to telepathy however Azra didn't know.
She charged toward the ninja from the right flank. Her right hand slashed with an attempt to spill ones intestines. She'd spin around slashing with her left hand toward the back of the neck seeking to part ones head from shoulders. Of course using her telekinesis she had six other blades about her. Two of those blades would spin on a low horizontal axis, two on a decent vertical axis. They each moved swift like saw blades seeking to remove both arms and legs. Remaining two blades simply hovered about Azrayne for defensive purposes. It was allready tough to defend against six blades, of course this would be even harder if the telepathic attack had worked. As it'd seem like the move could be on either side and dead center. When one doesn't know which is the illusion and which is real it's hard to catch every move to prepare for.
It got better however, Azra didn't know if the invisible assailant from before was around. So she'd readied for a cover, by means of small but no less deadly detonations. With every blade of hers it's blazing energy left a trail of glittering light they lingered in the air where the blades had passed. And with a thought those several dozen particles of nuclear energy burst like grenades. When it came to size they were no wider in radius then an RPG. However the explosive force didn't change thanks to Azra's mutation. They might be in nothing more then a car sized crater, the explosive force used however was like being struck with nukes repeatedly a dozen times over.
If I got a nickle for every time somebody complained about the Kunai in my mouth,,psh never mind here she goes Twilight lost another ward from the several telepathic attacks sent by Az dam her Telepathy is strong Twilight began to tighten her fists in frustration I HATE TELEPATHS!
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The Mutant made her move but the Origin was more than prepared for this assault, she saw the incoming strike head towards her side in a attempted gutting but an Origins shields would have handled this blow with out breaking however Twilight had a feeling she would need all the shields she could save for later so this pink beauty opted for a counter maneuver.
She parried the blow with her left Kunai which instantly disintegrated from the effects of Azrayne's right sword but it was just enough to deflect it from coming into contact with the ward, the left sword came closing on the pink haired girls neck but a quick jerk downwards and it was intercepted by the flat side of the Kunai in Twilights mouth and that too disintegrated in a mist of blue but the recoil saved the shields strength.
Oh NO YOU DON'T!, Twilight gnashed her teeth as she saw the extra blades move in for their turn a left hand reached for the Kunai on her hip while the other shot forward both hands quickly intercepted the other two swords with two Kunai's using speed beyond any normal person's capabilities.
The Kunai's exploded into blue mist, Az's weapons were easily capable of destroying most matter but the Origin had the advantage of being able to parry and quickly reconstitute her losses but there was one thing the Origin wasn't expecting Azrayne's nuclear combo.
Explosions,explosions everywhere! Twilight for this moment was quickly overwhelmed and felt five shields deplete almost instantly as the force of KE hurled her away from Az, Twilight continued to tumble through the air before landing several street blocks away eleven shields left the Origin shot her eyes towards a building that sloped as a ramp and in Azrayne's general direction how convenient "You're good, but I'm better"
a spit second later and the ninja was wall running against the thirty meter high collapsed building, one hand held against the wall as she traveled upwards at subsonic speeds while the other hand reached for a Kunai on her wrist and tossed it towards Azrayne at speeds fast as lightning but it did not stop there as Kunai's continued to regenerate at the cost of Mana and this Origin was relentless as she scaled up the wall leaving after images in the wake of her momentum Twilight would toss Kunai's machine gun style towards the Mutant with a Kunai weighing 78 grams and moving 5,954,572 meters a second the hundreds of Kunai's Twilight threw would each individually have the kinetic force of 3,305 tons of TNT.
Twilight finally reached the top and somersaulted a hundred feet into the air where the sun faced her back, free falling she charged a Kunai and closed her eyes as she filled it with Mana Shredder bomb she tossed the Kunai which glowed a firey red and duplicated thrice and those thrice duplicated thrice and so on and so on as they moved at hyper sonic speeds while spreading like shotgun pellets and littering the battle field.
Twilight did not stop now, oh no she didn't she had one more legendary move up her sleeve Now time for the finisher "Game over" Twilight whispered as she stomped on the ground to prepare for exerting her peak physical speed which was 119,091,456 meters a second and by the action of putting all her weight into this upcoming haymaker Twilight devoted all of her remaining Mana into the additional strengthening of the shield as when the blow connects with anything solid at all it would release the power of two Tsar Bomba's the total KE force alone being one hundred and fifth-teen megatons.
The deafening sound of a sound barrier broke as the attack flew causing Twilight to recieve tunnel vision on her way to Azrayne.
A united mutant front was more dominating then any military force. What had been seen up until was sadly however just individuals, and that was why they failed. For every mutant there was an ability and as such for almost any issue there was a mutant with a solution. Coordination and communication was a key component to any squad or armed force. If mutants could tap into that they'd be unstoppable, that was what Azra wanted taken from this fight. That the closer her brothers and sisters of the x gene got the more deficient they would be in the long run. Human deaths meant nothing if such unity was the objective. And if she had to be a monster to see that ideal made a reality that was fine. After walking a path of miniature nukes she'd devastated the city with a trail of death and ruin. But that wasn't the end game she reminded herself she couldn't die yet.
Her opponent was faster then her those blades made from the heat of nuclear energy did well against the ninjas weapons. But she was faster then Az would ever be and her mind was well shielded. The assault didn't hit home as hard as Azra desired. A series of atomic detonations however did have some results. Flinging the opposition backward. Of course she could sense the opposition wasn't slain by that move. The crater Azrayne stood in was not the grave of Twilight. Meaning retaliation would come soon and Azra was not prepared to withstand it. A good soldier knows their limits, it was time to ready for her endgame.
"Rose (@decayingrose)" the message was telepathic and brief.
After that she thrusted her eight blades into the soil and focused on her telekinesis. Crafting the finest barrier she could. Soon enough the air began to ripple like rain against the water as kunai impacted. They fell fast and hard. Resistance for Azra was good, after having had to be conditioned for her explosive fighting style. But there was so many and soon enough the barrier fell short. Blood began to flow from Azra's ears and nose from the exertion on her mind. Telkeneitic shields fade and it's left to the Vibranium armor. It holds well but some of the blades break through. Her left arm falls to the soil. She drops to her knees as her right leg is almost removed. And crimson spills upon the soil as a kunai digs into Azra's throat.
She let's the armor fall, it's absorbed to much energy it's near the critical point. The eight blades begin to dissipate. Once more crafting a sea of glittering light about the crimson elite. Her mind focuses on shielding her upper torso. She can't dodge someone tha fast her wounds are to much let the blow come. And so the punch finds a home. Collision with Azrayne's gut with a monstrous force. Her lower body shattered pulverized into a fine vermillion mist. Chunks of gore flung all about, while the rest of Az flew backward and was snagged midflight. Another ninja known as the Decaying Rose had teleported to Az and teleported away. The remnants of the Elite erupted simultaneously into a city reducing nuclear bomb, which was backed by the swords doing so, which was equivalent to the force the Vibranium armor released when charged to a point it couldn't contain. Nothing remained of Azra in New York City. Her body armor and weapons all went off in a trinity of mass destructive output. She left the scene knowing the magician sparred the city the barriers of magic would likely hold, barely perhaps but they'd hold she assumed. She had hopped however that the magician would die saving the city.
~Washington DC~
Azra was delivered on the grass lawn of the White House before the Rose vanished again to escape the blast radius.
What those jade eyes of the alluring redhead saw was monstrous. Warsman had surfaced again crafting a hellish sight no mortal soul should bare withes to. A painful laugh escaped the crimson elite. Perhaps this was why humanity and mutants couldn't coexist. How many disasters had Brahma Bull painted? This was what the third time the monstrosity of Warsman was seen? Mutants did seem to attract imagery that rivaled Armageddon.
A brave security guard who had bitten back the madness creaking in his mind spotted Azra. A patriot who wanted nothing more then to serve his country and get in the presidents pants. Which caused another painful laugh from Azra. How anyone loved the current president was hard for the Elite to imagine. Mutants and Clara would likely never see eye to eye. Bravely the man raised his pistol and fired. No more armor no more telkeneitic shields, the bullet found home.
She seemed at calm as the bullet struck her bleeding forehead, her soft white skin was turned a vermillion mask thanks to the sanguine rain. It was hard to tell where the bullet hit from the front. From the back of her head not so much. Plenty of that pretty brain of hers scattered along the gate and the asphalt. Her heart beat stops. The woman who'd given her life to stand beside greats like Xenon Ivana and Envy had finally actually given her life in service.
As she did the thermonuclear energy she stored within her immaculate figure lost it's containment. No longer held in by the nuclear duchess a final atomic bomb went off. It's radius could remove all of DC, reducing the capital to ash. At the heart of the explosion was the White House it'd fall into almost immediate impact from the explosive force and incinerating heat. Bodies near would be turned statues of ash. For those on the outskirts they'd likely die from radiation poisoning soon. And a large obsidian cloud blossomed the tip of the mushroom reaching for the very heavens.
Time Siphon hovered for a moment as the core of the mutant force teleported away and stayed quiet with indecision. The ancient alien is RIGHT THERE. Her predator eyes focused on @_ulysses_ and longed to seize his temporal line and feast on it...but there was another concern that would not go away. The voice of the little girl.
President is in danger! Raeyn balled her fists in seething anger and finally screamed in fury at how close she kept coming to restoring her memory and power. The scream echoed over the bay, an inhuman sound and haunting sound, the frustrated snarl of a starving predator once more denied food. With her frustration vented she accelerated the flow of time for herself and shot off for D.C.
She arrived just in time for the beginning of a nuclear explosion. Without thinking she threw herself at the explosion before it could grow very far at all. She dropped to the ground between the White House and ground zero a half second before the shock-wave would have reached the building. With her speed so grossly accelerated she had time to think while the explosion grew in incredibly slow motion. I could contain the whole blast if I threw myself on it and extended a stasis field...my armor would keep me from disintegrating but the radiation would kill me...regeneration would be expensive. I'd have almost no reserve left. No,I won't sacrifice that much for these people.
With her decision made Time Siphon closed her eyes as her cape billowed in the nuclear wind and created the largest possible stasis field she could manage. The field surrounded the entire White House and its grounds but that was as large a field as she could manage. She grit her teeth as she felt her temporal reserves drain significantly and she returned herself to the normal time flow. The sad part was few people would actually see what she did in the few milliseconds available to do anything at all. The shock-wave exploded against the stasis field and washed over it harmlessly. Raeyn's one consolation was that she had enough temporal reserves left to consume the radiation and make it safe to rebuild the city, but that would have to wait for the explosion to pass.
The Time Siphon opened her eyes after the blinding effect of the explosion had passed and watched temporal lines snuff out of existence. I hope someone can stop the rest of the explosion...
Omega took notice of the other person who had arrived, and turned his head out of curiosity. His gaze fell towards the newcomer, and he noted that she contained an unstable amount of energy, approximately enough to wipe out all of D.C.. He gave a long sigh, letting his head drop to look down at the ground and assed the situation, while the girl erupted in the large Nuclear Blast. With his enhanced senses, and fast reaction time, he had all the time in the world that he needed.
Omega's first thought was to simply absorb the blast....it was kind of his thing. But then again...
But, before he could think of any other plans, the Time Siphon appeared, using her abilities, she appeared to have saved the White House, and the radiation was also to be dealt with.
But the explosion...
Stretching our his hand, something akin to a vortex appeared around it, encircling the hand and making a large high pitched ringing noise. Then, aiming this hand towards the heart of the blast, Omega began to absorb the explosion itself, sucking in the energy to harness for himself. This way, the power would not go to waist, and would empower him.
Eventually, with the last of the power of the explosion disappearing within Omega's reserves, he lowered his hand, his limb giving off massive amounts of heat, literally smoking from the amount of energy he had captured. But within seconds, this head also subsided, going within Omega to be used at a later time, when it might be needed.
The Regent of Ragnarok had no words for the ambassador of the Universal Council. His decision remained adamant, despite Omega's best warnings. Ragnarok would never join a governing body that opposed the purpose of the Xelu'tari. An army of loyal underlings followed that resolve, and merely stared Omega down with a million eyes. Perhaps they, too, shared in the disrespect Warsman showed time and again to the proposed "law keepers" of the universe. For every good, there must be an evil. But, beyond even concepts of morality, there existed nature. While parliaments governed who lived and who died for the greater good, nature divided even the greatest good among those who were hungrier than the rest. Those who would risk more. Those who were stronger, faster, more reckless.
Those who were merciless, and bloodthirsty.
Klovis Tepes Dracula, one of the many bastard sons of the infamous Count who haunted Wallachia, did not even have to answer. Within the blink of an eye, the entire scope of the battle changed. Someone, or something, set off a bomb in the middle of the presidential front yard. Within the blink of an eye, the entire world stopped - and started again. The Furnace of Eternity burned behind his feverishly intriguing gaze. With each passing attosecond, something happened inside of Warsman's mind, something marvelous. The waves of heat and radiation were infinitesimally slow to him at this point, each pulsating vibration a murmur in his psyche. He memorized it all. Even the core of the explosion itself could not pierce his unwavering stare.
The unbroken visual lock continued, and strangely the Blood Pact behind him remained completely unphased. Even in the full radius of the blast, nothing of Warsman's had been harmed. If one were to record the path of the explosion and diagram it in its entirety, they would notice a large patch missing from the projected fallout range. This small inlet of salvation existed because of the Furnace's power to literally erase anything Warsman happened to lay his eyes on. Of course, no one on Earth knew that. Those brainwashed to his cause of total universal omnicide were hypnotized, calling him a god and shouting praises for his work.
A cruel smile curled to his lips.
The remaining blast and whatever nuclear remnants trickled down from the sky were contained just as quickly as they were released into the atmosphere. Omega had gone to be part of this insurance. Too bad he didn't care enough to show up sooner, or to the other two incidents the Blood Emperor had been personally responsible for. Of all times, why now?
Still, he managed to step forward into the smoking residue of the would-be fiery holocaust. And, of course, where he went - the Blood Pact followed. They were, for all intents and purposes, part of him at this point. An army of half a million bodies, cobbled together from his many strikes on Earthen soil, and trained in the most abhorrent ways of causing complete mayhem. As he went, many of them took up bricks or pieces of broken mortar and stone. Any survivors struggling in the streets were pummeled to death. Shelled-out buildings were invaded and filled with panicked screams, shortly before a marathon of muffled thuds, and then silence.
Finally, Warsman stood upon green grass, his boots flecked with red. Here, at the epicenter of the chain reaction, the powers would come to play at long last. Very few were gathered against him, and it seemed almost unfair to snuff them out so quickly. He caught sight of Omega first, and then the Time Siphon from Gothic City - the one who almost devoured the beast he tore from subspace. He remembered her, and mentally attached a similar sign to Omega upon her head as well.
Only, to him, he wanted to preserve her. He had a solid concept of what time manipulators were capable of, after all. His Xelu'tari minions would have all sorts of fun with her.
"Omega," he finally spoke out loud for the first time in this confrontation. "You know my answer by now. I doubt you want to endanger more people by fighting me, but if you leave - this rabble won't stand a chance. So, what is it going to be? Either way..."
The very soil churned and bubbled, a horrendous smell oozing out of its moistened girth. Heaving out in a massive column shape encompassing the entirety of the White House's front lawn was a geyser of blood, freshly corrupted from the city's water supply. Any inkling of water in Washington DC had now turned into a disgusting red concoction Warsman absolutely adored. But what erupted underneath and around Omega served as an initial use of Warsman's Bloodquake.
Indeed, he had more planned.
In the span of a few seconds, Warsman held personal responsibility for causing the streets themselves to quiver and expand in a fashion similar to a balloon about to burst. The sewers, public drinking water, and everything relating to the greatest asset of any given city next to its people changed from drinkable to an overpowering copper smell and even the taste of copper in the air. Blood, millions of gallons of it, exploded into the sky, covering entire city blocks in the gruesome display.
And, considering Warsman's most iconic strategy, this would not end well. Barring his Blood Pact, everything covered in blood or possessing an ounce of it left in their bodies would be fried from the inside-out, as if maggots were crawling in their living flesh and devouring everything to the bone. Such would be the pain of a single use of Fleshcrawl that those afflicted would be inspired to rip at their own faces, tear out fistfuls of hair, or try to kill themselves in any possible and immediate way.
Warsman, in his infinite cruelty, applied it over a hundred times in quick succession, fearing nothing and finding not a shred of remorse in his empty heart.
Raeyn knelt at the epicenter of the blast, her eyes locked shot for the moment as she tapped into the radiation of the blast. The radiation was her salvation, it was what kept her from becoming little more than a ball of furious instinct when her reserves depleted. Radiation lasted a long time, fall out particularly long, tens of thousands of years in fact. She tapped into its temporal line and coiled around it like a snake. The temporal energy of ten thousand plus years flooded into her cells and fueled her body once more. The radiation levels released by the blast were back to normal levels within seconds and the Time Siphon's eyes snapped open.
The little girl's voice was gone, actually, it was silent, not gone. She knew when to be quiet and let Raeyn be Raeyn, sometimes you just needed to let the animal out. The chains around her darkest instincts slipped away and the gates of her mind opened up. Something deep within the Raeyn's psyche snarled in the darkness and crawled its way to the surface of her mind.
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When Raeyn stood it was with purpose and a furious arrogance born of countless millennia of power. The Time Siphon was unlocked, all restraint was released and all that limited her was the structure of her memory pane. Her eyes burned with anger when the Warsman declared his intentions to drown the planet. "This planet is mine." She said, her voice was different now. She had been fairly soft spoken, a quiet person with a seductive voice. Now she sounded like an animal, an almost rasping voice that carried with it deep seated intensity and anger. The animal was free, the predator had come to the surface after centuries of hiding. Now another predator dared to encroach upon its territory. She walked in a slow circle away from where she stood and locked eyes with Warsman, she cared nothing for his denizens and minions save to feed on them and feed she did. As they neared, she tapped into their temporal lines and fed without as much as breaking stride. When the blood began to fall from the sky her armor reacted on instinct, it snapped a protective visor over her face so that it failed to come in contact with any part of her skin. The Temporal Armor was eager to protect its mistress.
"I have run too far to leave another world." Raeyn said bitterly. As minions withered and temporal energy flowed into her body new memory shards began to lock into place. Even if his minions were immortal she could feed on them, in fact immortality was worse than mortality. While her feeding would not kill an immortal being, she could drink from its pool for the rest of time and gain year after countless year. The more she could feed, the more power she would gain. If not stopped or forced to fight her power would grow until the whole planet was within her grasp...just as it had been in Tokyo. For now, she did reach out for Warsman himself, the length of his temporal line was tempting, but she was certain she did not want to engage, not yet.
She held out a hand toward Omega symbolically. "The enemy of my enemy."
The city leveling force expanded outwards as the Mystic Barriers contained it, for anyone still alive in the area they would see this amazing spectacle in action but then again they would burn their retina's out go figure.
At the corner of the South Mystic Barrier lay a wounded Twilight, her last eleven wards were shattered through with her only remaining defense being the supernatural Oridin durability which allowed her to survive to this point as hot steam from the nuke's heat begun to sink out of her figure.
She suffered from second degree burns from all over as she stood up weakly, she reached for her side feeling tender flesh "Tymeria, I could use a little help"a warm feeling of blood dripped from the Origin's nose as she watched the surrounding area everything's gone, pure ash
Omega glared at Warsman, pondering his Ultimatum. This world was, despite not quite being where he originated from, his home...technically. Inside, he knew he could not allow anything bad to happen.
Meanwhile, as blood rained from above, leaving the sky an eerie, crimson red, the droplets actually passed through his form, hitting the ground beneath him. Even if they did make contact with him, he had no internal body parts, no true form.
I know...I know I can defeat him. Omega was pretty sure he possessed the power. But he was conflicted, at full power he was a dangerous being. Not just to others, but himself.
No...no I can't let him harm Earth. But at the same time, I'm not sure if it would be wise to battle him.
The confliction within himself remained as such, an inner struggle. On the outside, he kept his cold stare upon the "god" before him. "Warsman," Omega spoke steadily, trying to keep his words as clear as possible, "you will not harm this world. And, yes, I know your answer. And because of that, I have no choice, but to exterminate you from existence."
Turning towards the other, he lifted his arm to the Time Siphon, meeting her hand in a clasp. "Is my ally," Omega spoke, finishing her sentence.
As Envy gave the signal, a darkness consumed his body and soul. The combined powers of Warsman and Darkchild proved straining and almost too much for the mutant terrorist to comprehend as the bargains they struck began to cralw from the shadows and see light. He may regret the alliance later, but for now, nothing was more important than the future of his species. A portal began to absorb him and vacuum his existence to teleport him and his comrades elsewhere. In the blink of a second, he arrived in perfect time to witness the absorption of a nuclear blast that equaled that of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The hellish fire was devoured by unknown forces but as the blinding light began to dissipate, it was made clear that the Time Siphon had defended the White House. Envy felt no anger, but a solemn pain in his chest as it dawned upon him the cost of such an offensive maneuver.
"Azra..."
His voice whispered throughout the calm atmosphere.
"Azra! Where are you!" His voice now bellowed in dismay
He realized that no matter how much he attempted to look for her or call out her name, she was gone. Eradicated for a cause that she believed in alongside those that she had hoped with. A martyr for the cause, she will never be forgotten. Another Liberator gone, but their death as shed light upon the capabilities of the most aspiring mutants and what they were willing to do in conjunction with Envy's leadership.
His chest heaved a wide gasp of air as he could still taste the blight in the air. He calculated his next move, taking into account that the mutant regime was now separated with a majority of their forces still in New York, but a powerful few along the White House perimeter that estimated in the hundreds.
"Envy speaking"
Tapping his communications he conversed with the ground forces that had been maintaing the fight with human forces within the city and near the bay shores.
"Retreat to the respective classified locations and wait for my all clear. This fight has been won, brothers and sisters."
It may not seem like it, but it truly was a victory no matter how the homo-sapiens chalked it up. The taloned terror known as Envy Diabolous would still fight with the closest and strongest of his group today with the intention of retrieving the heads of the Pierce administration's heads, but as he planned earlier. That wasn't the goal. It was the consolation prize. He had reached his goal and played the bloody cards he had been dealt that was stained with the blood of his kind. Two outcomes were possible through the efforts of the assaulting efforts. Either the humans would never again try to strike preemptively on mutant soil, or, and this was the most likely. Homo-sapiens would finally attempt to began the genocide of mutant kind, kicking off the war of human extinction.
It was time for the mutants to take their place as the dominant race as the sapiens did with Cro-magnon. By force.
Taking off the crimson helm and throwing it the ground, he spoke, ignoring the Time Siphon so his presence would be made clear.
"Clara and government dogs! I beseech you! I stand here, unafraid and at the loss of my friends. Your cities are burning and your people are dying. What would you have them do as you sit in your reinforced shelter? Let them have cake?!"
The subtle reference would only be understood by those that can comprehend how dire the situation had become. A nation was at risk of being swarmed for the safety of a few politicians. It was all a matter of time...
They had made a deal, that he would be there in an out within this war upon those who wished to stop them, but something changed when another of his race was extinguished so easily and over nothing. Azra she was something different and special to the mutant cause, even after hearing the order to evacuate and retreat Gen did nothing but stand tall and glare at those who would surely overrun the entire area. He had to decide, either leave these Liberators to there own devices and watch them die quickly or help them. Growling loudly he moved over to Envy, his cash cow at the given moment had been barking at the closed doors of the White House. Hoping to ignite a even more reaction from them, but even as powerful as Gen was he knew when a situation was lost.
They may have "won" but they had lost too much already, he wasnt going to allow for another Messiah to be taken. He placed his hand onto Envy's shoulder, opening a portal behind the duo along with each member. He was there transport out and away from this dire situation. Not wanting to be directly involved, he hated to feel something for these Liberators. They reminded him of his Vine Villains, that against all odds they would fight and become victorious. His now body towered over Envy and he looked down into his eyes "Heed your own words my friend, we need to leave now. Or...more of us will fall."As he spoke to Envy he telepathically communicated with his offspring that were waiting in the shadows.
Ordering them to reveal themselves and take the attention away from his comrades and give them time to get away. He pulled onto Envy's shoulder and looked at the young man, he didn't need telepathy to see that Envy was torn. He wanted to seek revenge for Azra, but he knew that it would be futile with there short numbers. Gen spoke again but this time in a harsh tone "Mourn her later, we do not have time for this. Our deal was to get you out if you called on me, not to fight."Hearing the footsteps of soldiers coming down upon them, Gen held his hand out and a large bubble formed around them. Gun fire ricocheted off the bubble. "You asked for my help...now take it or leave it."The portal was slowly closing and Gen pulled again in its direction and began to move towards it. Turning around to see Envy glare at the White House itself. He wanted to level the place...and so did Gen. But that was for a later time, and he stepped through his portal.
As much as it pained Envy, he was aware of the futility in escalating things. In the eyes of the world and even a few discontent mutants, this siege was a waste of not only time, but of precious lives that belonged to the species of Homo-Superior. World leaders, however, knew that the mutant supremacist had done exactly what he had intended. Envy had pursued the goal of striking and instilling fear into humans and loyalty from the deadliest of mutants while proving to the world's nations, no borders were safe from his force and almost no mutant can tune out his provocative speeches of hate that urged and persuaded them to take up arms for their deliverance.
Gritting his teeth in mock anger, he turned to the dweller of shadows and nodded.
"Fine. This assistance will not go ignored."
Aware that the words of gratitude meant nothing to the heartless demon, he had at least intended to seem somewhat appreciative of his retrieval without making the task seem like a rescue. He stepped backwards, heels first, towards the closing and portal and simply glared in angry passion towards the government building.
"Terrifed cowards hiding behind their fortress!!"
He howled with false fury. They weren't scared. They were being wise. The portal closed as he stepped through, teleporting him to an unknown location where he would take The Liberators to the second phase of a grand plan that would take time to see fully realized. It would be worth it though. The end result will prove once and for all that peace was never an option and that mutants deserved everything even if it meant they had to pry it from cold and lifeless hands.
"Situation in New York is currently in the middle of being contained. The leader seems to have left a signifigant portion of his own mutants behind. A majority of the mutants left behind are the weaker ones. Most metahumans and mutants have either left, been captured and contained, or killed. Place still is an urban warzone. But, most of the dangerous ones are in DC or have been killed, or contained only around two more present a moderate threat. We have moderate casualties. Almost a hundred. Heading to intercept them now."
"Roger that. Proceed Alpha 2."
"Roger that."
The conflict was boiling down and coming to an end. As the situation was being contained. Collaterial damage was immense, and the people weren't yet fully evacuated. However, Maverick already made it's money. The rich were the first people to get on a stealth jet and leave the area to go far, far away from this place, to go somewhere more comfortable. The entirity of the those helpe by the evacuation effort were the middle and lower class of society. Much like the Bedlam breakout, this would help to further Maverick's influence, reputation and power in the corporate and governmental world.
Bradshaw was off to kill or subdue, the last of the potent metahumans. A "speedster" and hundred tonner. Rather typical. Super strength was common. As they appeared on a rooftop, they moved to engage him. MSC's stood by, cloaked from the visible spectrum of light. Ready to execute this manuevre.
Bradshaw shot the large man, not with a bullet...but appearenly a paintbal. He then went into cover.
"Alpha two to Condor-7. Requesting air to ground support." "Request confirmed. Engagin marked target now."
The two looked confused for am moment, looking for where the shot came from. However, as they heard the approach of 3 Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II's, they quickly turned their attention to the sky.
The speedster is quick dodge, not wishing to be turned into wet gore. The 100 toner doesn't move, not expecting the A-10 GAU Avenger Autocannon to hit with 85 tons of force with a single shot, him being sent hurdling back and stunned momentarily by the hit. "I'll get the sprinter. Drone feed says she's still around. Judging from her file. Shouldn't take long. She ain't goin' far. He's her brother."
Bradshaw jumps down, landing witha roll to break his his fall. His eyes scanning the area from under his visor. He shot a connecting device, that set a thin wire trap for his opponent behind him. It wasn't long before she'd rush him. And Bradshaw knew this as she ran up to him at speeds too fast for him to hear before she would impact his face with her fist.
The punch may have impacted, if to her horror, her own fist exploded into wet gore within coming 3 feet of Bradshaw. Her blood coated his helmet as she sought to run past him and did. However, she ran right through an invisible thin wire of Carbon nanotube. The sharp fiber wire severed her leg completely, as she bounced and rollied against the ground until she smashed into a car hard enough to dent it. She crawled out of metal debree woulded by the impact. She laid in a daze, and then saw her ally briefly for a moment. Getting shot repeatedly with paintballs and being blinded. Soon after, her reflexes enabled her to see a LOSAT missile moving at mach 6, smashing into her ally with pure kinetic energy. The direct impact hitting with 20,000 tons of force. Blastwaves from the impact smacked her and sent her sprawling.
In the daze of her vision. She could feel soldiers popping up from the sewers. Non of them harmed as they stood by. Waiting for the results....
"Target neutralized."
Among the dust flying up from the impact, Bradshaw walks up to the armless and legless speedster. Walking towards her as she backs away. Crawling away with such a look of discontent as she scolds him. Of fuy. Bradshaw has a neutral expression as he places his boot on her breast and aims at her. "Pathetic...human. Your resistance only delays the inevitable. Your people will want war, and it will be a war you cannot win. Evolution will ultimately prevail, and your weak species wlll be wiped from the face of the earth."
"Alright, Mutie. May the best species win then."
Bang.
Washington, DC
"Overwatch Delta Charle, reports"
"It's a disaster..."
"The mutants are in front of the whitehouse, and the entire city is under attack. by an unknown entity and forces. Judging from the data, these are the same two entities who made an appearance and launched an attack on Gothic city during the "Bedlam Breakout" incident."
Both Maverick and U.S Armed Forces were on the scene.Hundreds of casualties due to a class 4 entity showing it's face and instantly destroying some of Maverick's personal who just so happened to be near it. They instead resorted to using Drne forces, who bombed areas near safezone to clear away the entity's forces. The mutants were at the whitehouse, gathered to make a final stand. Preparing to launch an attack against the president. However....it seemed they were pulling back. They gather all they can from M.S.C's in the area who use their hearing to relay the events to them.
"Enemy forces are falling back..."
The remainder of the forces who were still present were still there for them to repell, with the aid of national guard, they held the line. They fought hard and long together. towards their common goal. For money, for justice, for revenge, it didn't matter, because they all fought.
MAny hours and millions of bullets later, in the aftermath, it was clear a new era of war has begun. Named or not. This was in some ways, victory for the mutants. They laid waste to much of DC and Manhattan, and killed many people. Laying waste to many who got in their way. However, it was not without casualty, as literally hundreds of their own were kill or captured, with only the strongest or luckiest remaining in the end. Collaterial damage was hardly any concern of Maverick's. Their kill count making up nearly 90% of all mutants deathes and captures in the conflict and having far less casualties, proving their methods worked. Combined with all the rich escorted, and the fact that as a prviate corporation and not a government agency, Maverick would not have to cover the collaterial damage damage. Only the costs to their own losses.
Most of all, this promoted uncertainty in the world's future. Uncertainty among the world's governments and it's people. Uncertainty, created fear. And fear, created money. For Maverick, more money meant morepower.
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