"I had intended to show you some respect."
Clang! Clang!
Apocalypse tore off the blue-green breastplate engraved with a triangular spire and scepter emblem, casually tossing it onto the ground. As he spoke, he reached for the eagle-wing pauldron at his side and strode toward James.
"After awakening, I witnessed, in but an instant, the course and evolution of this world's civilization over thousands of years. I also saw that, in this age, my kind had not become the outcasts of the world and the enemies of ordinary humans as I had imagined."
Bang!
The pauldron crashed onto the stone floor. Its upturned eagle beak smashed out a crater, sending spiderweb cracks spreading inch by inch.
".Yes. From the moment of my birth, I too was despised by mortals. I slaughtered and conquered without end until I was worshipped as a god. Yet you solved the root cause of mutants being unable to coexist with ordinary society with barely any bloodshed. But—"
Apocalypse reached behind his head and pulled out the metal tubes one by one. The armor across his back fell away as well, revealing his bare blue-gray body. His savage muscles subtly swelled, gleaming with a metallic sheen.
"—we were born to rule! Live as equals with humans? Naive child, the power of immortality you possess is something I have finally gained as well. It is not particularly remarkable, but it is useful."
Ssssh...
The claws between James's knuckles slowly extended, while sharp bone spikes burst from his elbows. Since he wore Vibranium armor, he did not deploy the bone shields along his forearms.
He watched Apocalypse strip away piece after piece of his ancient armor and march toward him. Dark-blue energy flames surged higher and higher around Apocalypse's body, blazing like a fierce humanoid torch.
Boom!
A