Marvel: Tony Stark's Journey in the Omniverse

Hello, I hope you are all having a good day! I am now in North Carolina after a 6.5 hour drive. I am feeling good so I thought I'd give you a chapter early today. Maybe there will be a second one who knows :). I'd like to thank the following people for powerstones: ASURA69s, Sabine_Bailey, Kaiser_Kaier and rex_of_dreams. I am barely back in the 90s woooh! Now enjoy the chapter guys.

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Tony sat across from his father in the dimly lit study of the Stark estate, hands folded, expression unreadable. Howard had seen this look before—it was the look of a man with a plan.

"Dad, it's time I do something big," Tony said, his voice devoid of its usual playfulness.

Howard set down his whiskey glass, already wary. "And what exactly do you mean by 'big' this time, son?"

Tony leaned forward. "I'm worried I'm going to be needed in too many places at once. Between coordinating the Fortress of Science, overseeing Krakoa, training with Shifu Luo Feng, and spending time with family and friends, I'm stretched thin. I need to be more… efficient."

Howard raised an eyebrow. "You already have more power than most humans alive. Why do you need more?"

Tony exhaled sharply. "Because what's coming terrifies me. There are things out there—things beyond human comprehension. Thanos, goes from world to world, slaughtering half the population before moving to the next. And he's the merciful one." Tony's voice hardened. "Then there's Knull, the primordial god of darkness, who will encase our entire planet in a living abyss. And let's not forget Galactus—the Devourer of Worlds, who eats planets to sustain himself."

Howard paled slightly. "Jesus, Tony…"

"These aren't bedtime stories. They're real, and they're coming. And as I am now, I am not enough." Tony's hands clenched into fists. "I still don't feel like my work is enough."

Howard studied his son for a long moment before sighing. "I had no idea you were carrying all that weight," he admitted, rubbing his temple. "Alright, son. If you think this is necessary, then go find this Apocalypse person and get the power you need. Just don't get yourself killed."

Tony grinned. "Not planning on it."

The Mongolian Steppe stretched before him, an endless sea of green and brown, untouched by time. He had arrived at the coordinates given to him by Nathaniel Essex, aka Mr. Sinister, but there was nothing. No ancient temples, no hidden stronghold—just vast, open wilderness.

Tony frowned and reached out with his psychic senses, probing the area for hidden structures. Nothing. He sighed, crossing his arms. "Figures he's not just gonna be waiting out in the open for me."

Then, out of nowhere, a rectangular spaceship decloaked, hovering ominously above the earth.

Tony smirked. "Well, that's more like it."

A ramp extended from the ship, and from the darkness emerged him.

Apocalypse.

En Sabah Nur was a mountain of a man, standing at seven feet tall, his blue skin gleaming under the sun. His eyes, old and knowing, studied Tony with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

Tony barely had time to speak before Apocalypse raised a hand, launching a telekinetic blast his way.

"Ah, shit—" Tony teleported just in time to avoid being turned into a stain on the dirt.

"You read the inscription on my tomb, yes?" Apocalypse's voice was like rolling thunder. "Let me remind you." His eyes glowed. "Venture not within, o mortal—lest ye gaze upon the wrath of Apocalypse. Now gaze upon my wrath."

Tony groaned. "Could we not do the whole 'attack first, talk later' thing for once?"

More blasts. Telekinetic waves tore through the landscape as Tony dodged, teleporting from rock to rock, trying to create distance. "Apocalypse! I have come to bargain!"

Apocalypse teleported behind him and swung a fist the size of a wrecking ball.

Tony barely dodged in time. "Of course he has teleportation. Why wouldn't he?" He teleported 50 feet back, breathing hard. "Okay, big guy, if that's how you wanna play it—"

Tony blitzed forward in a burst of telekinetic energy, drawing his monomolecular sword mid-air and slashing at Apocalypse's midsection.

CLANG!

The blade barely scratched him. Apocalypse smirked. "A brave attempt." His fist shot out like a piston.

Tony managed to dodge most of the impact, but the shockwave still sent him crashing into a nearby rock formation.

Okay. New plan.

Tony reached out with his mind, grabbing hold of the very earth beneath Apocalypse and hurling boulders at him with brute telekinesis. Apocalypse responded by disintegrating them mid-air with a flick of his wrist.

"Alright," Tony muttered, wiping blood from his lip. "That's fair."

Apocalypse was suddenly in front of him, moving faster than a being his size had any right to. He swung, and Tony caught the blow with a psionic shield—only for Apocalypse to crush through it like paper and send Tony skidding across the ground.

Pain shot through his body. Apocalypse was strong. But Tony had been training.

As Apocalypse lunged again, Tony teleported behind him, summoning a wave of force that slammed the ancient mutant into the dirt. Apocalypse merely rose, brushing off the attack like the dust from his shoulder.

"You are strong," he admitted. "Stronger than I expected. But you are not strong enough."

He raised a hand, and suddenly Tony's limbs froze.

His telekinesis fought against Apocalypse's, but the sheer weight of his power was suffocating. Shit. This is bad—

And then, without warning, Apocalypse let go.

Tony staggered back, confused. "What…?"

Apocalypse studied him with something resembling admiration. "You are worthy of survival," he declared. "Come, warrior. Let us speak."

Tony took a deep breath, steadying himself. Finally.