X-Force: Beyond Omega

"Surprised to see someone other than you using multiple mutations, huh?" Aron mused with a smirk. "Guess this is the first time you've met someone like me. Well, this will be your last. You'll be dead in a minute."

Apocalypse scowled, his expression darkening. "You speak as if you have already won." He reached into his pocket dimension to grab the device that he found in the lab. It was a device made by Forge to temporarily suppress the Phoenix Entity and Apocalypse knows that without the Phoenix Force, he should be able to get into Aron's mind and take over his body, then the Phoenix Force would be his to control.

He gripped the device tightly, activating it with a silent command. The air vibrated with an eerie hum as a crimson field expanded outward, latching onto Aron like a thousand spectral chains.

'That was... Eehh?! What was that? Was that supposed to do something? Well, let's play along for now,' Aron noticed that nothing was wrong with his body. He used The Phoenix Force and made it look like he was struggling, its fiery essence flickering erratically. He staggered midair, his golden irises dimming slightly. His smirk faded, replaced with a look of genuine surprise—or so it seemed.

"Ah… damn," he muttered, pressing a hand to his head. "That's… unexpected."

Apocalypse's smirk widened. "Your power is vast, but even you cannot defy the ingenuity of mortal minds. Forge's device may have been designed to suppress the Phoenix, but in my hands, it shall pave the way for true ascension. Now, without your crutch, without the Phoenix, you are merely a powerful mutant. And a powerful mutant… is still beneath me."

Aron remained still, his expression unreadable. His stance loosened, and for the first time, he looked… vulnerable. Apocalypse wasted no time, vanishing in a blur of movement.

Apocalypse clenched his fists. Purple energy was swirling around him. "You thought yourself untouchable. But even gods have their limits."

He clenched his fist and vanished.

BOOM!

A fist the size of a boulder slammed into Aron's stomach, sending him flying backward at breakneck speed. He crashed through floating debris, his body colliding with cosmic fragments as he tumbled through the warped battlefield.

Apocalypse didn't let up.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared above Aron, both hands raised high. SLAM!

Both fists came crashing down like a meteor, sending Aron hurtling downward once more. The sheer force of the impact cracked the very space around them, causing the void itself to tremble.

Aron grunted as he twisted in midair, stopping himself just before he could hit the ground. His breathing was even, but his expression was one of hidden amusement.

This was exactly what he wanted.

For years, he had absorbed power after power—each mutation, each enhancement, each ability he had taken from others. He had trained, experimented, and tested the limits of his ever-growing arsenal. But there was only so much he could do without a true challenge.

Apocalypse? He was perfect.

So Aron made a choice.

He played along.

A smirk formed on Apocalypse's face as he watched Aron pause, as if shaken for the first time. "You feel it, don't you?" he taunted. "The absence of that divine power. You have relied too much on it."

Aron exhaled slowly, stretching his shoulders. He rolled his neck as if adjusting to a new reality. "You know, you might be right," he said casually. "I guess I have been slacking a bit, relying too much on the Phoenix Force."

Apocalypse's eyes gleamed. "Then kneel."

Aron grinned.

"I think not."

BOOM!

They clashed once more.

Apocalypse moved with frightening speed, his form flickering between dimensions, shifting across space with the ease of a god. Every strike he threw could shatter mountains, every kick carried the force of collapsing stars.

And Aron?

He took every single hit.

Apocalypse's fists crashed into him like cannonballs, each impact shaking the very fabric of the battlefield. Aron's body twisted from the sheer force, yet he never truly broke. He allowed himself to be hit, his cells absorbing every ounce of kinetic energy.

Shaw's mutation.

With each blow, he became stronger.

Apocalypse struck with a hand crackling with Celestial energy—energy capable of reducing beings to dust. Aron let it land. The energy surged through his body, its immense power filling him instead of harming him.

Energy absorption.

Apocalypse unleashed a devastating psychic assault, trying to shatter his mind.

Aron smirked. "Cute."

Organic Diamond Form.

A spike of dark matter erupted from Apocalypse's hand, aiming to pierce his heart.

Intangibility.

The spike passed through him harmlessly. Aron smirked, turning to look at the man behind him. "You got anything more?"

"Foolish mortal... I will end you with this single strike," Apocalypse's eyes narrowed. He could feel it now. Something was wrong. He had been dominating the battle. He had landed dozens of strikes, and used his full arsenal of power against Aron.

So why?

Why wasn't he getting weaker?

Apocalypse lunged forward, swinging with all his might. His massive fist tore through space itself, creating a rift in reality as it surged toward Aron's face.

And then—

It stopped.

With a single finger.

Aron raised one hand, barely even trying, and stopped Apocalypse's full-powered punch with nothing but a single finger.

A beat of silence.

Apocalypse's eyes widened. He tried to pull away. His muscles tensed, his energy flared—but his fist wouldn't budge.

Aron slowly tilted his head, golden irises gleaming with raw, unfiltered dominance.

"...Did you really think I was struggling?" Aron said softly, amusement lacing his tone.

He tightened his grip. CRACK.

Apocalypse grimaced.

Aron chuckled. "I gotta admit, I let you have your moment. But let's be real... you never stood a chance."

With a flick of his wrist, he released the stored-up energy.

BOOM!

Apocalypse's entire arm exploded. He barely managed to isolate the energy before his entire body was torn to shreds, but even that was barely enough. "ARGGGG!" The First Mutant howled in agony, his ancient body regenerating almost instantly, but the damage was done. For the first time in millennia, Apocalypse felt fear.

"You…" he breathed, stepping back.

Aron grinned, flexing his fingers. "You're wondering how I got so strong, huh?"

Apocalypse didn't respond, glaring daggers at Aron.

"You see, I wasn't just fighting you."

He raised his palm, and a faint blue glow pulsed from within it.

Apocalypse gasped.

No… It wasn't possible.

His power...

His essence...

It was being drained.

Aron smiled, watching the realization dawn on his opponent's face. "I've been absorbing your strength this whole time. Every time you hit me, every time you unleashed an attack, I took a little bit more. Slowly, piece by piece. You see, you are ancient and strong, no doubt about that. That's why, I had to take it slowly to avoid overpowering myself. And as you can see... My body has adjusted quite well to all this new strength."

Aron's body was covered in a translucent, dark-blue aura. Energy crackled around him like lightning, his eyes gleaming with a golden glow. His presence was overwhelming and dominating, and Apocalypse finally understood.

Aron was a true god.

The strongest being in the universe.

And Apocalypse was merely his prey.

However, his pride refused to let him submit so easily. He couldn't accept defeat. Not like this. Not when he had come so far. He grit his teeth and raised both arms, his cosmic energy surging.

"I am a god!" he roared. "I will not be defeated by the likes of you!"

Aron merely sighed.

Apocalypse charged.

But Aron simply raised his hand.

"Sit down like a good doggy."

BAM.

An invisible force slammed into Apocalypse, crushing him to the ground so hard the space beneath him cracked. His entire body refused to move, his limbs paralyzed under an unimaginable weight.

Aron floated above him, looking down.

"I remember you saying or probably thinking something about weak and strong... about us being ants to your kind," he mused. "But if that's the case... how does it feel to be an ant now?"

Apocalypse struggled against his bindings, his muscles straining, but even his strength was nothing compared to Aron's. He let out a growl, glaring at Aron with rage-filled eyes. "You dare peek into my mind!"

"Sush!" Aron placed a finger on his lips. Instantly, Apocalypse lost his ability to speak.

Apocalypse tried to scream. He wanted to shout and roar at the top of his lungs. He wanted to kill this arrogant upstart. He wanted to tear his body apart and feast on his soul, but he could do none of that. His voice refused to come out. It was as if something was preventing him from speaking.

Aron chuckled softly.

"Tear me apart? Feast on my soul?" he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "Isn't it nice to dream? Anyway. I'm done."

Aron extended his palm toward Apocalypse. He summoned the Death Aura. Instantly, an oppressive presence descended upon the battlefield. It was cold and terrifying, freezing the very air around them.

Apocalypse looked up. Never before in his long life had he felt so small, so powerless, so insignificant. He didn't know what that power was, but he could feel its overwhelming power. It was as if it came from another realm entirely. It was far beyond him. No human, mutant or Celestials could ever hope to wield such a terrifying force.

This was... true power.

And it terrified him.

"Any last words?" Aron asked.

Apocalypse opened his mouth to speak. But no sound came out.

Aron smiled. "Oh..." He lifted the ban allowing him to speak.

"What is that power?"

"Creation, Life, Death," Aron replied simply as he summoned his Phoenix Force on his left hand. "The power over all things. The ultimate power of all existence."

"Impossible..." Apocalypse breathed, his eyes wide with horror. "How can you have such power?"

"It was fun," With that Aron released the Death Aura, engulfing Apocalypse in an instant. The death force instantly devoured Apocalypse's life force and began eating away at his soul. His skin peeled off, his bones dissolved into ash and his internal organs liquefied within seconds.

Aron watched as Apocalypse died.

His body crumbled to dust, leaving only a small pile of ash behind.

"Mumm~" A sultry moan came to Aron's ears as he felt a little kiss on his cheek. "I like this gift." Lady Death's voice purred into his mind. He could feel her arms wrapping up around his chest. Her big boobs pressed against his back, yet there was no physical form. It was a faint ethereal form.

"You are a sight for sore eyes," Aron said. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, I just came to visit," Lady Death said. "And I must say, you have grown quite well. Did you miss me?"

Aron chuckled, turning around to look at the woman he loved. "You know I do."

Lady Death giggled. "I wish I could be there in person," she said. "But unfortunately, I am still bound to my realm. Still, I will always be with you."

She leaned forward and kissed him once more, her soft lips brushing against his. Aron closed his eyes and allowed himself to savor the moment, the warmth of her embrace filling his soul. It lasted for a few seconds before her presence faded away.

"I can't wait to continue where we left off next time," Lady Death whispered into his ear and then vanished completely.

Aron sighed.

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