68 the four horsemen of apocalypse(chapter 68)
previously in chapter 67
As he made his way out, he passed by a figure clad in a skin-tight red suit, the hourglass symbol on her belt catching his eye. The woman glanced briefly at Crossbones and his men before focusing her attention on Misty Knight and her companion. Seeing that they were unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief before casting a curious look at them, silently demanding an explanation.
"Crossbones' men attacked," Misty Knight began, launching into a report as the middle-aged woman interjected, "And he's a damn good fighter."
"He left after that," Misty Knight gestured towards the unconscious Crossbones. Meanwhile, an annoyed Oliver walked on, lost in his thoughts until suddenly, he remembered something. "Right, I had that Chrono Nexus Relic," he muttered to himself, pulling out the broken pocket watch from his pocket. Though broken, it still held an E-rank option, so he decided to upgrade it, adding a new option while improving the old ones.
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Chapter 68
[ Name: Chrono Nexus Relic ]
[ Grade: Black ]
[ Description: This enigmatic pocket watch, its history obscured by the mists of time, is crafted from alien materials with an origin lost to mortal comprehension. Once the possession of an immensely powerful being, the watch is now shattered and seemingly inert. Unbeknownst to ordinary eyes, this broken relic carries a latent, unpredictable power. It randomly awakens remnants of its past might, causing rifts in the fabric of time and pulling unsuspecting beings into its temporal embrace as long as the holder possesses mana. ]
[ Option 1: Temporal Freeze - Activates the power to freeze time for the next 10 minutes, granting the wielder a brief respite in the flow of temporal currents (Rank: D) (Active) ]
[ Option 2: Quantum Echo - Unleashes a quantum echo, creating a duplicate of the wielder that can act independently for 50 minutes (Rank: D) (Active) ]
[ Option 3: Time Dilation - Manipulates the flow of time around the wielder, slowing down time for 100 seconds within a 100-meter radius, allowing for strategic advantage. (Rank: C) (Active) ]
[ Durability: 100% ]
"A time dilation, this would—" But, as usual, the relic began draining his mana, creating a portal. "Gosh, I hate this feeling," Oliver muttered to himself, watching as the portal formed and then sucked him in. Unlike the last time, however, he remained conscious throughout the journey.
When he emerged on the other side, he found himself in a strange location—a mountain range shrouded in dark, ominous clouds. The atmosphere was heavy with an otherworldly aura, making New York seem like a serene paradise in comparison. In front of him, a vast army encircled a castle with towering, ominous spires.
"Well, looks like I've stumbled upon something interesting," Oliver chuckled to himself, peering down at the multitude of soldiers below. With a sense of invincibility coursing through him, he descended closer to get a better look. Much to his surprise, most of the soldiers were not human but humanoid aliens with black, rubber-like skin, horns, and singular eyes. Each one donned intricate armor, and they were being led by four figures, each more enigmatic than the last.
There was one resembling the Egyptian god Anubis, another with a head wreathed in flames and adorned in red armor, a third appearing like an actual pharaoh, and lastly, a figure wrapped in white bandages resembling a mummy. The mummified figure wielded a bow and arrow, a red helmet-like structure obscuring their face.
"What are they, an Egyptian band?" Oliver mused to himself, fascinated by the scene unfolding before him. However, his curiosity piqued the attention of the Anubis-like figure, who suddenly turned his head in Oliver's direction.
A ripple of tension spread through the group as War, the fiery-headed woman, inquired, "What is wrong, Death?" The figure resembling Anubis replied, "There is someone else here, a spark of life, yet I can't see their form." This revelation put the other three on guard, including Pestilence, the bandage-wrapped woman who also happened to be a woman.
"Then point me in their direction. Let's see if they can survive an arrow from me," Pestilence declared, her voice cold and eerie. She deftly loaded her bow with a sinister-looking arrow, aiming directly at Oliver's location. In an instant, the arrow was released with deadly precision.
To their surprise, the arrow simply vanished into thin air, causing a moment of confusion among the four figures. As War pondered their next move, she made a decisive gesture, "Just send a few of our soldiers there. Whoever they are, they aren't as important as Kroaka. We will litter the path to Kroaka with the bodies of those who stand against us."
"For there an apocalypse is coming!" War proclaimed with fiery determination, her soldiers rallying behind her as flaming catapults launched projectiles towards the imposing castle ahead. The scene was one of chaos and impending conflict as Oliver watched, intrigued by the unfolding events in this mysterious dimension. Meanwhile, 20 of the soldiers below began to move in his direction, their heavy footsteps echoing against the rocky terrain. Oliver paid them no mind as his attention was suddenly drawn to a large pteranodon soaring out of the fortress, a rider atop it. His curiosity was cut short when Pestilence took aim and swiftly shot the rider down with unerring accuracy.
Unlike Oliver, who had the luxury of storing the arrow safely in his shell home, the unfortunate rider was impaled by Pestilence's arrow. The pteranodon, however, continued its flight, the rider's body swinging limply beneath it. "So, they want to weed out intruders. This arrow must hold some special venom," Oliver mused to himself, a hint of fascination in his voice as he made his way back into his shell home.
Without acknowledging the foot soldiers now approaching, Oliver picked up the arrow, immediately feeling the venomous substance begin to seep into his skin. "Hmm, definitely poisoned," he confirmed with a grimace. Despite the discomfort, he knew his potent healing factor could handle it as long as he didn't suffer any severe injuries. He examined the arrow closely, realizing it was a formidable weapon with powerful capabilities.
[ Name: Pestilence's Plague Arrow ]
[ Grade: Blue (Peak) ]
[ Description: Crafted by Pestilence, an Omega-level mutant with a deadly power to spread disease through her arrows. Those struck by this arrow are infected, becoming carriers of death and contagion. ]
[ Option 1: Contagious Duplication (Rank: D) (Passive) - Upon being fired, the arrow duplicates itself, creating another arrow with the same abilities while the original stays loaded. ]
[ Option 2: Homing (Rank: D) (Passive) - This arrow homes in on its target with unerring accuracy, seeking out those whom the user desires to infect. ]
[ Option 3: Pandemic Detonation (Rank: D) (Active) - When activated, the arrow can be detonated, releasing its deadly payload in a wide 100-meter radius, spreading the same disease to all within range. ]
[ Durability: 100% ]
"Huh, so she was called Pestilence. Guess that suits her. All of these options are great, especially the first one," Oliver remarked, a hint of admiration in his tone as he studied the arrow. "Now that I've given it an option, it no longer affects me," he noted with satisfaction, twirling the arrow in his hand before placing it securely away. "Well, it's definitely an infinite arrow," he grinned, pleased with his find as he stepped out of his shell home.
As he emerged, the foot soldiers were upon him, twenty of them sprinting towards him with weapons drawn. Oliver held Pestilence's arrow in one hand and the Eldritch Alloy in the other, ready for the impending skirmish. With a swift move, he dodged the swing of a soldier's halberd, immediately retaliating by jamming Pestilence's arrow into the soldier's neck.
The effect was swift and gruesome. The soldier began to convulse, writhing in agony as the deadly disease took hold, his body degenerating rapidly before finally succumbing to the affliction. "Oh, that is nasty," Oliver muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he parried a sword strike from another soldier with his Eldritch Alloy shield. The shield then transformed, spikes growing from its surface, impaling the soldier before Oliver swiftly moved on to the next.
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Author's Note: Here's another chapter—I hope you guys enjoy it! By the way, I'm currently binge-watching the entire MCU. If you know what's coming, you'll understand where this is headed. Also, I've been reading "Battle Through the Heavens." Anyone interested in some alchemical pills? Because Henry (my new MC) has a lot, and the MCU will be shaken when he enters the scene.
