Kapitel 161: Apocalypse's Soul

Authors Note-

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Ivan and Chris sat silently, savoring the tranquil moment.

After over 20 minutes, Ivan sighed and returned to reality. "Don't dwell on these unhappy things. Since you've made a choice, don't regret it. You'll have a chance to see your mother, and I believe she'll come around. By the way, I need to tell you something—you have sibling, a sister. You should get along well in the future."

"Sister!" Chris exclaimed in shock, his loud voice prompting Tina, Kyle, and others in the room to investigate.

It took Chris a moment to react, "Dad, is she another illegitimate child like me? How many others are out there? If you have more, we could form a basketball team. Why hasn't anyone looked into this?"

Angry, Ivan hit Chris's head. "Nonsense! Except for your situation, I can assure you I have no other illegitimate children."

At this point, everyone rushed out, curious about the so-called daughter. Ivan decided not to conceal it. He detailed Eli's story with everyone present and used Apparition to bring her to the farm.

When Chris and the others saw the pure Eli, they were stunned. Created by Ivan's fusion of countless mutant genes, Eli embodied the human concept of beauty. Despite appearing eight years old, her consciousness was that of a newborn. Even with the knowledge left by Gaia and Alaya in her mind, her eyes conveyed purity, as if capable of evolving the human mind.

Everyone gathered around, showering Eli with attention, leaving Ivan sidelined and irrelevant.

Unfortunately, Chris and the others frightened Eli, prompting her to escape the crowd and seek refuge behind Ivan, visibly scared.

Ivan worked hard to comfort Eli, introduced her to Chris and the others, and believed in their ability to get along. Eventually, Ivan witnessed Eli and Chris chatting and laughing, putting his mind at ease.

Housekeeper Henry Morgan prepared a sumptuous dinner to celebrate Ivan's return. Ivan enjoyed the pure earth food he had missed during his journey across the universe and fell asleep in the middle of the night.

While Ivan enjoyed tranquility on the farm, chaos reigned outside. A catastrophic war in Cairo, disseminated through various channels, terrified everyone, especially world leaders. The enormity and danger to Earth became apparent, leaving those in power powerless. Faced with the looming threat of destruction, they resorted to prayers, realizing their authority provided no solace. They escalated weapon research and development and intensified defenses against mutants in response.

Simultaneously, shadowy forces delved into investigations about Chris and others, employing various tactics like wooing, seducing, and threatening to control them.

Ivan, however, remained indifferent to these concerns. In a mild sense, he feared no one on Earth, wielding personal power and commanding formidable forces.

In solo combat, Mage Gu Yi remained the strongest. What once caused Ivan some apprehension now presented a 100% chance of victory.

Ivan commanded thousands of mutants in group battles, enhanced mercenaries led by Arno, golden legions, and various magical animal legions. Ivan could obliterate his opponents within minutes in a conflict.

Thanks to Kerry's effective management, Ivan's business empire spanned the globe. Hydra's scientific personnel used advanced technologies to produce products tailored to Earth's conditions, contributing to Ivan's unparalleled wealth. Dubbed the uncrowned king, Ivan's influence was so potent that a mere sneeze could impact the entire Earth.

Despite the secrecy surrounding these matters, Kerry distributed control of the industries to different individuals to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

In space, Ivan's Black Shadow mercenary group thrived independently. Accumulating funds and acquiring technologies, they became a powerful aid to Ivan, even operating effectively without his direct command.

Ivan spent gloomy days on the farm, seeking solace in nightly conversations with Tina. Venting the frustrations accumulated in the universe, he studied Apocalypse's soul. Employing the familiar method, Ivan enveloped Apocalypse's soul in the red light emitted by the Reality Gem, delving into its mysteries.

It took an entire day for the Reality Gem to generate a unique illusion based on the soul of Apocalypse. This was an unprecedented duration for Ivan, who was accustomed to quicker analyses of magical treasures. The environment created by the Reality Gem reflected the real world, allowing insights gained in the illusion to be applicable outside. The complexity of Apocalypse's soul, however, demanded a prolonged examination.

Eagerly, Ivan immersed his consciousness into the illusion created by Reality Gem, reaping substantial rewards. Apocalypse's soul had transcended traditional understanding, existing in a realm beyond the essence of a typical soul. Ivan discovered the origin of this transformation in Apocalypse's memory—the blood of a Celestial. Unfortunately, the bodies of the Celestial group members had long been destroyed over countless years.

Apocalypse's soul had evolved into a composition of rules and information, surpassing the limitations of flesh. Yet, despite reaching this advanced state, Apocalypse had not fully developed his true abilities. He perpetuated his existence by inhabiting other mutants' bodies, allowing his soul, now governed by rules, to assimilate the skills of captured mutants automatically. This explains his capability to retain his original abilities even after occupying different bodies.

In certain aspects, Apocalypse could surpass beings like Odin and Thanos. While others sought to understand the rules, Apocalypse possessed a ruled soul.

Ivan recognized that Apocalypse's approach could have been more efficient. Instead of recklessly seizing bodies, copying the blood of a specific mutant could provide complete genetic information. Apocalypse's situation resembled an ordinary person inheriting a century of skills but needing to utilize them appropriately.

Typically, individuals focus on a single elemental force due to energy limitations. However, Apocalypse, with his godlike power and regularized soul, pursued omniscience and omnipotence. Collecting various mutant abilities brought him closer to a god-like form. If he could gather all mutant abilities, he might genuinely replicate the power of the Celestial group.

Few in the universe followed the path of omnipotent rules, considering it an expensive pursuit. Most believed that understanding more rules expended excessive energy. Ivan, however, diverged from this norm. Initially, he used the gem to open the channel of brain evolution, kickstarting his journey toward omniscience and omnipotence. Now, Apocalypse's soul offered an alternative path, promising faster strength growth when combined with his existing methods.

While observing Apocalypse's soul in a deep sleep, Ivan felt mixed emotions. Both were on the path of omniscience and omnipotence, yet Apocalypse, with superior qualifications, faltered due to the lack of a super brain. On the other hand, Ivan compensated for his lack of innate advantages through relentless effort, gradually achieving victory. The prospect of unlocking restrictions and allowing the brain to develop independently could make Ivan omnipotent. However, this transformation would mark the end of Ivan's identity.

Ivan contemplated Apocalypse's soul, considering his next steps. With the Reality Gem's thorough analysis, Ivan had acquired the knowledge he sought. Logically, to eradicate any potential threat, eliminating Apocalypse seemed appropriate. However, Ivan hesitated; Apocalypse possessed formidable combat capabilities and could be a valuable asset if controlled. The challenge lay in preventing possible backlashes from Apocalypse's unpredictable nature.

After careful consideration, Ivan devised a solution. In the underground laboratory of Skull Island, he summoned a phantom and retrieved a small cockroach from a secure location. The insect appeared ordinary, soaked in a white substance resembling a spring silkworm, but it was, in fact, a type of Gu worm. Initially refined in China, this creature's genes were a fusion of countless insects, capable of autonomously developing a body tailored to a specific soul when infused.

However, Ivan had no intention of bestowing Apocalypse with a body optimized for his power. Instead, he had manipulated the worm to imprison Apocalypse's soul ultimately. The insect, now under Ivan's control, served as a fail-safe. If Apocalypse dared to resist or pose a threat in the future, Ivan could effortlessly terminate him with a mere thought.