Marvel: Alchemist

Chapter 16: The Clash of Titans

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Spring 1983 – Cairo, Egypt

The world was caught in chaos. Apocalypse's war was reaching its climax, and the X-Men were barely holding on. The battle had already reshaped Cairo, turning the city into a battleground of gods and warriors. But now, a new force entered the fray.

From the east, a fleet of transport carriers and heavy aircraft streaked across the sky. On the ground, an armored convoy barreled through the ruined streets, carrying Golden Enterprise's elite strike force. At their head, twelve figures moved with unnatural precision—the homunculi, each a pinnacle of alchemical might.

Edward Lin stood at the helm of the assault, his dark eyes locked onto the heart of the battlefield. His son was still in enemy hands. That alone sealed Apocalypse's fate.

Jackie Wu's voice crackled through the comms. "We're five minutes out from direct engagement. The X-Men are barely holding the line."

David Chen, coordinating the ground forces, responded sharply, "Once we break through the perimeter, we focus on retrieving William. Everything else is secondary."

Edward's voice was calm but firm. "Make no mistake—we are not here as saviors. We are here to end this."

The moment had come.

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The Battlefield Shifts

The first wave struck like a hammer. As the X-Men struggled against Apocalypse's Horsemen, the arrival of Golden Enterprise's forces shattered the momentum of battle.

Ares, the strongest of the homunculi, landed in the midst of the chaos with the force of a meteor, his Kryptonium-plated fists slamming into the ground and sending shockwaves through the streets. Magneto turned, sensing the new power, but before he could react, Hermes blurred through the battlefield at impossible speeds, striking with pinpoint precision.

Storm, high above, called upon the raging skies, but an energy barrier from one of Edward's alchemists deflected the lightning strikes. Nightcrawler, dodging attacks, caught sight of the reinforcements and muttered, "Who the hell are these guys?"

"They're not with Apocalypse," Mystique said grimly. "But that doesn't mean they're our friends."

From atop the central pyramid-like structure, Apocalypse watched the new arrivals with intrigue. He turned his gaze to William, who was still suspended in the energy field. "Your people come for you," he mused. "But it is too late. You are already mine."

William gritted his teeth. He could feel Apocalypse's power forcing its way into him, threatening to overwrite his very essence. But deep within, his own strength refused to break. He wasn't done yet.

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Edward vs. Apocalypse

Edward Lin moved with purpose, cutting through Apocalypse's lesser minions with ruthless efficiency. His mastery of alchemy allowed him to reshape the battlefield itself—creating barriers, forging weapons mid-strike, and disintegrating anything in his way.

At last, he reached the core of Apocalypse's stronghold. With a single gesture, he shattered the entrance, stepping into the chamber where his son was being held.

Apocalypse turned to face him, his ancient eyes filled with amusement. "You are no mutant. No god. And yet, you come before me as if you are my equal."

Edward stared back, his expression unreadable. "I don't need to be your equal. I only need to kill you."

With a single motion, he unleashed a devastating alchemic strike. The battle between Edward Lin and Apocalypse had begun.

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The Battle Continues…