"Yo, buddy. Cold look you've got there," said a guy with spiky hair and a neon coat, grinning as he stepped in front of Apocalypse. "You're a newbie, right?"
Apocalypse said nothing, but his silence didn't stop the man.
"How about I help you level up for a small fee?" the guy offered. "I know all the best quests, fastest gear routes. You'll be god-tier in no time."
Apocalypse raised an eyebrow. His voice was calm, but heavy with disdain.
"There are always such gilded worshippers... parasites dressed as prophets."
The man blinked, unsure whether to laugh or back away.
"Uh... so... is that a yes or—?"
Apocalypse turned slightly, his gaze icy.
"Lead, then. Let me see this world from the eyes of the weak."
And so, the self-proclaimed guide led the ancient mutant lord deeper into Eternal Ascent — unaware of the god he had just tried to scam.
Meanwhile, back in the Hellfire Club, the celebration for Max's successful mission was in full swing. Music pulsed through the lavish chamber, laughter echoing from elite mutant guests. But Max, slouched in a velvet armchair with a drink in one hand and his phone in the other, looked... confused.
He blinked at the screen.
"That guy is seriously playing my game?" he mumbled, staring as the unmistakable image of Apocalypse—yes, Apocalypse—wandered around Eternal Ascent like some casual noob.
"What is he even planning to do...?" Max narrowed his eyes, watching closely as the ancient mutant lord started interacting with other players in the game. They were bowing to him. Following him.
"It seems... he's already gaining followers," Max muttered under his breath. "So, he's begun forming his army—inside my world."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, brows furrowed.
"But why here? Why play my game now?" he asked quietly, trying to piece it together. His voice was low, almost disbelieving.
Just then, Emma Frost approached, her diamond heels clicking against the marble floor. "What's got you so concerned?" she asked, pausing by his side with a knowing smile.
Max glanced up at her, then quickly shut off his phone with a flick of his finger.
"Nothing," he said smoothly, flashing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just... someone odd popped into my game. That's all."
Emma raised an eyebrow but said nothing, giving him that look she always did when she knew he was keeping secrets. Then, with a sip of her champagne, she turned back to the party.
Max leaned back again, the smile maintained.
Apocalypse… inside my game. This wasn't part of the plan.
"Hm, maybe even he's surprised by my tech," Max thought as he leaned back in his seat, eyes narrowing. Then a darker thought crept in—
"Or… is he thinking this is some mutant power, and now planning to take over my body?"
His eyes widened slightly, a grin slowly forming.
"Great. I don't even have to do anything. Let him come to me—then I'll claim him like all the others."
A month passed.
Apocalypse now sat in a vast, darkened chamber inside his private stronghold, deep within the heart of the Eternal Ascent game world. Around him stood others—oppressed mutants he'd rescued and empowered, his followers, his rising generals. They had formed a new order. And this world? It had proven far more than simple entertainment.
"The world of Eternal Ascent is... fascinating," Apocalypse said, his tone both intrigued and calculating. "The powers here—they feel real. Not the slightest difference from reality."
"Yeah, that's true," a young mutant beside him added, nodding, awe still in their voice. The others murmured in agreement.
Apocalypse rose, the glowing sigils of the game flickering against his robes.
"And that is why I have decided—" he announced, voice echoing. "I will take over Max Ryder's body. His avatar, his code, his soul... it is the most perfect vessel in this world. If I possess it, I gain both: his power, and this world."
The room went silent for a moment. Then, slowly, his followers nodded. Some grinned. Others clenched fists in approval. They were ready.
"But I don't think getting him will be easy," the Nightmare Woman said quietly, her eyes shadowed beneath her hood, her voice laced with caution.
Apocalypse stood tall before the gathered mutants, his gaze unwavering, his presence like a thundercloud ready to split the skies.
"I've seen his powers," she added, lifting her hand. A shimmer passed through the air—a projection—replaying Max Ryder's battle in New York. Buildings cracked, light tore the sky, and the air shimmered from the sheer energy Max unleashed. "It's monstrous. Reality itself bends when he gets serious."
Apocalypse watched closely, arms crossed. He studied the fight with cold interest, then nodded slowly.
"Yes. His power is... impressive."
His voice was calm, but resolute. "It is layered, dense—hidden beneath control. But even so, they are limited." He turned toward the others, his eyes glowing with ancient certainty. "My power comes not from this Earth alone. I am a force born of ancient blood, strengthened by celestial knowledge and cosmic mastery."
He raised one hand, and the very room trembled.
"Max Ryder is powerful, yes. But in front of me? He is nothing."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room. Some looked in awe. Others grinned fiercely. One mutant stepped forward and dropped to a knee.
"Then we follow you, my lord," he said. "To take this world and the next."
Apocalypse turned to face the massive digital world map displayed across the chamber wall. One name pulsed with energy at its core: Max Ryder.
"He has built a throne in this false world," Apocalypse said, eyes burning with resolve. "But I will tear it down. Piece by piece. Until he stands before me... and kneels."
"It will be as you say My Lord" Others bowed and said following him.
***
"Is he a fool or what?" Max muttered, eyes narrowed as he watched the scene unfold across the floating interface in his office.
The image showed Apocalypse surrounded by loyalists, confidently declaring his plan to take Max's body—and his world.
Max leaned back in his chair, arms draped lazily across the sides, a smirk twisting at the corner of his mouth.
***
Support me at
patreon.com/boring_world
It's 22 chaps ahead