Chapter 56: Battle In The Limbo (01)

Chapter 56: Battle In The Limbo (01)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. This history has no interest in offending any party. Having the sole objective of only entertaining the readers. Enjoy~

...

"There's no other way to go but forward."

- Sabito, Kimetsu no Yaiba

....

Recap: In the last chapter, Eidolon and the rest dived on Limbo to search for Illyana. They explore this new place, Eventually discovering that she already spent years on it. Now, they're on the way to Belasco's city to the final confrontation.

.....

A.N.: Well, well.

Webnovel has a limit of 20k words by chapter. What a bummer. So this first part will have 13K. I stopped in a cliffhanger, to mess with your guys too.

Anyway, this messed up my plan. But I will release the rest still this week, the problem is I have things to do, you know? So I don't know when.

But I will release till Friday at least. I don't have time to edit, other priorities.

Fun Fact: Did you guys know that there's a demon in lImbo that idolizes Peter so much that he uses a symbiote to become Spider-Man?

Keep this information in your mind. This and the connection between symbiotes and the limbo.

.....

Eidolon P.O.V.

We are again on my flying nimbus produced by Shirakumo's(Kurogiri) original quirk.

The mood is a little heavy now. The fact that Illyana spent six Years here all alone left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

I, on the other hand, am pondering one more time about this multiverse where I ended up.

Again, assumptions are dangerous.

Even meta-knowledge can't be taken as a face of value anymore.

Ah, Marvel~ A big company that was active for over 80 years when I came here. One of the great names of entertainment. Passed some bad times during the 90s but survived.

Where I want to go is... Existing for this long allows a variety of canon things and source material, creating some inconsistencies, contradictions, and other problems.

The most common is the fluctuation of the power level of the characters.

Discussions about who can defeat who are sometimes unsolved because of these inconsistences. One time a character is fighting cosmic threats and in another moment is having a hard time against someone mid.

But other things can differ too. Like origin stories as an example...

Rogues was originally a villain. And she one time absorbed a little too much of Ms. Marvel, gaining her powers. Because of this Rogue of the 90s cartoon could fly and had super strength in her base form.

Did Peter's parents experiment on him to make him compatible with the spiders in this universe?

Jean died like 7 times in the comics. But there are decades of time that allow the opportunity for these sagas to happen... In real life how this will work?

And Logan... Another rabbit hole...

Origin stories... Are probably closely related to Fate.

Fate... This force invisible force that I had no idea how powerful it is. Is Illyana now being protected by it?

I remember reading once that Illyana disappeared for months to the X-men before returning. But on another time I read that they haven't even noticed her disappearance, it was like a second.

Did Fate adapt the time dilatation to this place, to give her time to grow into what she should be? Did Fate take into consideration my existence and interference?

Or this is all a coincidence?

I tested fate when I killed the Green Goblin. Still waiting to see if he returns.

But should I go out of my way to impede someone's origin story just to see what happens? What the consequences will be? Testing is essential to me to understand this world... This is a big deal, it's my life after all.

I want to know if higher forces are toying with our destinies.

With who can I test it? Recently I heard a report of General Ross spending a lot of time in a hidden military facility. And I bet that he is becoming the Red Hulk right now. I would be worried if I didn't know that the Red Hulk has a weakness to the Negative Zone energy and for some reason bladed weapons. I'm lucky that I read it in the wiki on my former life.

But Betty Ross becomes a Hulk too, right? Should I constantly work against her to become a Hulk just to see if Fate will be forceful to turn her?

Hmm... Well, this is all just speculation. I just need to remember to keep an eye open to all possibilities and my mind open to unpredictable things.

I decide to turn to my temporary team and start some small talk to alleviate the mood "Well, Scott. It appears that you're not that wrong in coming. Considering the time dilation, when we come back, not even a second will have passed then." I comment

He only grunts in acknowledgment at my words.

Is he still mad that I called him out about his overprotectiveness of Jean when we first met? Or is it about the talk I gave him earlier? You are a little petty, my dude.

I'm trying so hard to not let my distaste for your fictional representation get on me, but I have to say... You're not making it easier.

I'm not blind to the motives. It is his little jealously that becomes even uglier when amplified by whatever conditioning Sinister did to him.

After my talk with Jean, aparently she really listened to some of my advice and started act more independently. She also told me that she connected more with the girls. Previously she was closer with Scott. The two of them are the first students and bonded over the fact that they couldn't turn off their powers.

Now, they are more distant... And for some reason is my fault. Like I did something to the girls get together.

Meh, probably they talked about me in a good way and he doesn't like it.

Whatever, don't care. I will be civil at least.

"Let's talk about the rescue plan..." I said attracting everyone's attention again "Let's be sneaky and kidnap Illyana." I say

"Sneaky?" Kitty asks

"Kidnap?" Piotr raises a eyebrow

I go to answer them in order "We still don't want a war." I say looking at Kitty

"Even after we know that this guy has Illyana under custody?" Scott asks

"Belasco threath level increased severalfold after our discovery of the time dilation." I say calmly "He is here for seven centuries to OUR time..."

I see their eyes widening in realization.

"One night being six Years... He must be alive for hundreds of thousands of Years..." Jean says a little shocked.

"Yeah... And this is the thing about sorcerers... They fight by preparing themselves. With this much of a time, and the resources of this dimension..." i left the rest unsaid.

After some time, I decide to relax them a little. "Well, he must have reached a power roof after some time, if not he woud have escaped using his own strenght" I comment

"So... The best way is still to rescue Illyana stealthily." Mikhail says

"Are we really not gonna talk with the guy before?" Kitty asks unsure "Maybe we could solve this peacefully..." She says optimistically

"No. And we are gonna kidnap her. "I say determinedly

"There you go again with kidnaping..." Kitty says

"We need to consider all the possibilities... Illyana was brought here at a young age. High chances of a brainwash." I say shocking them again

"Even if not slowly, maybe she was enlaved though magic. So we couldn't just go there, find her and say: 'Illyana we came to rescued you!'... Maybe she would snitch on us, think that we are the enemies and putting everything to lose." I explain and watch they face change in a large array of emotions

"We kidnap her first and ask questions later." I conclude and then wait them to nod.

"What is the plan?" Saeko asks

"Simple. We will create an escape teleportation route with three steps. First I will invade, take her and teleport her to Mikhail which will be a little farther. Then Mikhail will teleport again to Kurt. And then you guys alternate in teleportation to move as far aways as possible..."

"The other will wait in certain positions to prevent ambushs and will be joined by the two that will continue to teleport away. I will stay behind to create a distraction, clones and bait whoever is in the Belasco's castle in the opposite direction and then I will join you all.

"After this, when we arrive far enough we will stop and examine Illyana..."

"Examine?"

"Who know how her body is right now..." I shrugh my shoulder "Maybe she has a tracking spell, a magical high infectious disease, a curse or other thing that connects her with Belasco. We will not be taking her to our world without cheking that first." I say

"..."

"You really is cautious..." Jean comments.

Again I shrugh "I say something similar to the Avengers, but I will say to you all now. We are strong. And we can affect many people easily. And I'm not talking about powers only. Every decision you make can have big consequences..." I take my time to look at everyone to convey my seriousness.

"In the worst-case scenario, we could facilitate Belasco escape and subsequent invasion of our dimension. A invasion much worse than the Battle of New York. Are we gonna allow this when everything that takes to avoid it is being cautious?"

I let them think about my words "We will plan the details after seeing the layout of the place where Illyana is located." I say and go back to look at my hand.

Is not like my hand is interesting, but there's a change-

"I noticed that you're looking at your hand contantly since we arrived in Limbo... Is there a problem?" Jean voice interrupt my thoughts

I look at her, everyone is also looking at me with various level of interest

Well, no harm in telling. Is just one of my many powers.

"Do you know that I can turn into animals, right?" I say and for some reason Kitty giggles.

There's some sort of inside joke about me? Whatever...

After Jean nod, while admonishing Kitty with her look I continue.

"Well, is more complicated than that..." I start "Apparently , my Animal Shapeshifting in truth connects with the biosphere of the place I am."

I then raise my hand. My fingers elongated, nasty claws grew and some spikes appear in my knuckles.

"So my power connected with the Biosphere of the Limbo when I came here..."

"So you can turn in the demonic animals from here now?" Kitty asks interested

"Yes. I was testing and is much harder. Probably because I don't know the animals from here and because I just arrived." I say

I notice that I feel like Im slowly losing "connection" with my home dimension and is become harder and harder to transform in normal animals.

But is not a big problem because I have other powers to transform into animals from Earth.

The thing is that after I leave Limbo I will probably lose the ability to transform into the demonic animals from here.

I think the crux of the question is that the Beast Boy card I absorbed is from him as an inexperienced teenager.

Should I dedicate a good time to train his ability? Or should I use some Power Boost Cards? I feel that I can gain the ability to "save the files" of animals that I encounter if I improve this ability.

When I use the next Travel Ticket I will train this ability.

"So you can transform in those things that we saw on the market?" Kitty asks when poking my hand

"Yes."

"So, can you gain their abilities like... I don't know. You said that there fantasy-like universes out there. So you can become a dragon if you go there? Or a unicorn?" She asks with her eyes twinkling

"I already can transform into a dragon. And animal transformation is useful when you try to take only the advantages, but is rare for a animal to have a power that I don't have already." I say calmly

"Whaat? You can transform in a dragon?? Can I ride you?" She asks excitedly

"..." I look at her "Phrasing, please..."

" ! Oh! Oooh~" Realization slowly hit her and she blushes a little

"It is not just anyone that can ride me. But if you are good girl I can allow you one day..." I put my face closer to hers and tease. Her face goes even redder.

Why is so fun to make girls blush?

Now the mood is better.

I will let them concentrate for now, while I focus on an interesting discovery.

Has'zy, the nice demon lady, gave me the currency of this world for me to play. No, she is not my sugar mama.

I initially thought that I could cheat and produce a lot of currency and buy a lot of things without a care. But is not possible to make a perfect copy.

Between my fingers rest the currency. Is a thin black rock-metal thing with strange proprieties. The literal translation of this would be "Shard of the Black Heart" in the language here.

This little rock/metal thingie has a lot of energy stored inside and... darkness properties.

Is used as a reagent, ingredient, and even in a way to empower the demons from here.

Dude... This place is a fucking cultivation world!!

This is like those Spirit Stones that are currency and can help with cultivation.

Makes sense that this is the currency. If we humans had something that we should just eat to live a little longer and grow a little stronger, it would be the most valuable thing in the world to us.

Gold is simply the best option because there's really no need to change and our ancestors liked the thing.

I use my All Seeing Eyes to look at the ground and I can detect reservoirs and veins of this metal. And the deeper I look, the strongest this energy signature gets.

So maybe the core of this planet is full of these things.

Observing a little more carefully, I notice that the place where we are going, Belasco's city fortress, is resting in a huge vein of this Black Metal. So this thing should be really precious.

Seriously, this Black Metal is just a little worse than Stark's Arc reactor when the question is energy. But the process to transform the energy inside into something usable to humans can be a little complicated.

Hmm~ My American side is getting antsy seeing all these resources sitting here. Maybe I should bring "freedom" to this dimension and "liberate" these guys from this...

Well, let's focus on Illyana's rescue now. In the future, I will come back here.

Hmm... Would be nice to gain a demonic summon to put on this place... Oh Raven, when you will come to me? I can only dream for now.

Hm? I turn my face abruptly to look at the distance

"What?" My action didn't go unnoticed by Jean

"Illyana's position changed..." I comment while focusing on the horizon.

Beyond the trackers that I put on Illyana's plushie that I gave her, and the nano trackers that I put inside her, I also registered her on my [Search] power.

[Search] is such a good power that even All For One wanted it. Seeing a person one time you can always reactivate the power and see the "light" of this person from miles away. Coupled with my super senses I can locate anyone on a planet with this.

Search can even point to weak points in a person's body... It is what that Wild PussyCat used to train Classes 1-A and 1-B. Like inform me this person has low stamina, that one has a bad knee and other things. Is another power on the list of upgrades.

"She is Moving? To where?" Piotr asks while I continue to observe

I raise from my sitting position without taking the eyes of Illyana's position

"She is being pursued..." I say making them gasp in shock and worry

But I continue calmly "Sometimes the unpredictable can be good news..." I comment "I'm going ahead. The cloud will follow me." So it's true that we wouldn't find Illyana in a castle or as a prisoner.

Without waiting for a response, I move. I become intangible just to ignore air resistance and fly faster and without a sound, a little trick of mine. Is cool to do sonic booms, but I can be stealthy when I want.

I move fast, to save Illyana. In no time I'm above the plains wasteland where she is running. She sometimes Blinks in a blue light, using her teleportation, to move dozen meters away.

But her pursuers are relentless. Seventeen demons, being led by a robed and hooded figure. A woman, for the shape of her body.

I could wait for the eventual cliche moment where Illyana would trip and the pursuers would get close and I would save her in the nick of a time.

Is not a bad approach. Wait would allow me to hear them talk and discover more of the situation. But...

Meh... Cliches...

I shrug my shoulders and release my Conqueror's Haki on the 18 pursuers.

The world trembles a little, the red clouds churn and look like the sky is pressing against the Earth.

The demonic pursuers fall on all fours while foaming. Their consciousness holding by a thread in the face of my controlled Haki.

The robed woman also falls, but she is in a better state.

Illyana notices the situation after turning back to check on the people pursuing her. She is the only one not affected by me.

I slowly descend between her and the others. When my feet touch the ground, I use my powers to make the earth envelop the demonic ones in a tight prison.

The robed woman is enveloped by my Lasso of Truth in an equally tight way. I squeeze the golden lasso in my hand, making it glow, ready to extract some answers.

"Don't hurt her!" Illyana suddenly appears in a flash of blue light between us. Protecting the woman.

Stockholm much? Well, I can understand a little because I know the face below the hood.

"Illyana... Do you remember me? I came with your brothers to save you." I say calmly.

I watch her patiently. Yep, 12 years probably. Her hair is longer now, a straight blonde hair that reaches her waist. A cute face with hits of sharpness show that she passed for some challenges here. She is skinny but doesn't look malnourished. I don't see signs of abuse either. Recent ones, at least...

Her brows furrowed a little. "You... You're that friend of my brother. Eidolon... You gave me a plushie." She says, remembering.

"Yes, we came as fast as we could. Only here we discovered that time passed differently. Only one day passed to us..." I say with a sad voice. I don't want her to think that her brothers abandoned her.

To my words, a single tear slowly slid down her cheek. The fact that her face remains mostly unchanged is another indicator that she is used to acting strong and has some good willpower.

"They are coming to this place right now, I came ahead because I'm faster..." I explain and she sniffs a little.

She turns around to hide her face, I can only see her hand wiping her eyes.

"You must have passed some hard times. You're so strong. We are all proud of you..." I say going to give her my characteristic head pats. "Don't worry, no one will hit you anymore. I'm here."

She starts bawling her eyes and turns around to bury her face in my mantle.

.....

After some minutes, holding Illyana's small trembling shoulders, she recovers herself. She is really resilient.

"So..." I start and look at the robed woman.

When I used [Foresight], I said that I saw three surprises. I only talked about two.

The third one is this.

" Alternative universe?" I ask telekinetically removing the hood of Ororo Munroe.

An older Ororo Munroe, in the late thirties at least. There are other small differences here and there. But yeah, is one of the many Storms.

It's too early to Multiverse bullshit.

X-men... Always with the crazy adventures of time travel, other universes, aliens...

"Yes. Ms. Ororo was my caretaker here..." Illyana answers me while Ororo looks at me silently.

"Oh... Is that so? Let me first-" I was interrupted by the distant sound of my cloud approaching "They're here." I say before grabbing my cloud telekinetically and yanking it to us much faster.

....

Jean Grey P.O.V.

Okay... I know that Eidolon said that surprises are common. And we should let any preconceptions at home before coming here...

But this is starting to get ridiculous.

First, this place... Limbo is not like I expected. The demons... People here are much more civil than I expected. I totally thought that we would have to fight hordes of demons to release Illyana from a cage hanging high on a tower of a demonic wizard or something.

Then we discovered that six years has passed here and Illyana was the apprentice of the guy. We change plans and suddenly she makes our job easy by coming to us.

And then another surprise...

There's an Ororo here.

Taking my eyes away from the wholesome reunion of the three siblings I look at the ... other Ororo.

She is like, 95% similar to our Ororo. She is older, okay. But there are some other differences too. Small... you wouldn't notice if you don't pay attention.

It is like... Twin sisters that lived in different places and these differences molded them differently too.

"By the way... Why did you tied her like you're into some BDSM play?" I ask Eidolon at my side with a raised eyebrow

"It is called Kikkou Shibari, the Turtle bondage rope." Kitty says while nodding "Masterfully Applied. Good job." She gave Eidolon a thumbs up.

I'm not even surprised that she knows these things. I shake my head before looking at Eidolon again, waiting for an answer.

"What? It is efficient." He says calmly with a shrug of shoulders. The alternative Ororo still glaring at him "Violence and sex is the human race's favorite things. This knot is years of evolution and research have given form..." He explains.

"..." I'm surprised that he can convince me with his bullshit.

"I can't release her before we discover if she is not an evil version..." Eidolon says

"She is not bad!" Illyana suddenly says from between her brothers. The 12 years old Illyana still amazed me a little. Yesterday she is a cute child and now she is a pre-adolescent.

"For you, I will give her the benefit of the doubt." Eidolon says "This lasso compels the one bound by it, to tell the truth..." He declares before squeezing the Lasso "Did you take care of her?" He asks Ororo in robes.

"Yes..." She answers without even thinking. Her eyes widen after the word leaves her mouth.

"Did you do it by Belasco orders?"

"... Y-yes. This too..."

"Are you genuinely good to her?" Eidolon asks after the ambiguous answer

"Yes..."

"Any Hidden motive?"

"She is a child... There's a need for a motive to help her. But..." The Ororo struggles a little. "I was still hopeful that one she would help me go back to my universe..." She confesses.

"What are you to her really?" He asks

"Her caretaker... Babysitter... Whatever. I took care of her between Belasco lessons and protected her of abuse and other things... I couldn't defy Belasco... He... He has Cat... Kitty Pryde and Kurt under his spell." She confesses giving Kitty and Kurt a look.

Kitty and Kurtgasps are at my side.

There's another Kitty and Kurt here too.

"Hm... It appears that you are not that bad... The last question before I release you..." Eidolon pauses and looks at the demons that are enveloped in the earth like statues "Are these guys of any importance?" He asks. His eyes grow cold.

Ororo looks at him "No."

"Very well..." He takes the Lasso back and puts it away in some place.

Then, he turns to the demons. In his hand appears a huge... Sword? No, I chainsaw? A chainsaw sword.

That thing looks impractical. At least six feet in length and thick as my torso

*Vrrrre* The thing turns on.

Eidolon's arm blurs and in the next moment the upper body of all the demons disappear in a rain of gore that was taken far away from us by the wind.

I notice Eidolon eyes in Illyana. Because of that, I look at her too, her eyes show neither shock nor disgust. My heart clenches a little, imagining everything she has been through.

"Is the chainsaw sword really necessary? You could have ended them more cleanly..." Murasaki asks with some mirth in her voice. I feel a weird emotion come from her... something I can't put my finger on it.

"Well, I have a chainsaw sword, so I need to use the chainsaw sword." Eidolon answers like is obvious.

Kitty is nodding at my side for some reason, even with her face a little pale from the display of blood.

"Why do you even have a chainsaw sword?" I can't help but ask

"Why didn't you have a chainsaw sword?" He asks back "I have a chainsaw sword for the same reason anyone would have a chainsaw sword if they could." He says a lot and nothing at all.

But Kitty is still nodding like he said the obvious "He is right. I wish I had a chainsaw sword." She comments wistfully

"Here. Take the kid's version." Eidolon says and pulls from who knows where a small version of his chainsaw sword, only three feet in length

"Kid's version?" I ask slowly. My mouth twitched a little, when I see Kitty all giddy holding the thing.

"Yeah, this one doesn't have the flamethrower imbued." He says again like is something completely normal while teaching Kitty how to use the monstrosity.

For some reason, the mental image of Eidolon taking his child to a hell dimension to kill demons as a Father-sons bonding time appears in my head.

Hehe. I pity the mother of that family.

"So... Magic Ororo, can you tell us more about the whole situation. Illyana come here, let me examine you. I will need some samples by the way." Eidolon says urging Illyana to get close.

I watch Eidolon take a little saliva and blood from Illyana. Then his arm opens like he is a cyborg and he puts the sample there.

Seriously... Does this guy have a power to everything? I will not even ask. I know the answer... 'Yes'.

"Whoa... So you like, know the future. In what I should invest?" Kitty starts asking but is interrupted by Eidolon.

"Is useless to try to cheat like that... Her universe is not like ours, even a small difference can make everything different. You will just end up too tied with what you think will happen and suffering in some way." He advises

"Party pooper..." Kitty pouts but she suddenly smiles and turns to Ororo "How is the Eidolon from your world?"

"No... Never heard of an Eidolon... Or nothing similar." Magic Ororo reveals.

Kitty's eyes widen "So... About the metas, the battle of New York..."

"Metas, huh? We call ourselves mutants. And yeah, a terrible affair that battle, many died." Magic Ororo says

Jean frowns "How is the mutant situation there?" She asks

"Bad..." Ororo says like she is accustomed

"How many years ago the battle of New York happened?" Eidolon asks, but he appears uninterested

"8 years ago." Magic Ororo answers

"So is useless to talk, many disasters should have happened. Your world is very ahead of yours. With is a little worrying..."

"Worrying?" Rogue asks

"That means that the heroes and villains there are stronger, more experienced and in more quantity than us. If there's universal war, we would lose..." He says

"We don't want wars..." Ororo says

"Don't need to be your universe. Statically Half of the multiverse is with a timeline more advanced than us. Maybe just one second, maybe a hundred Years. I don't like it..." Eidolon frowns "It is good that I don't exist in your universe. With luck, I died in all other universes." He says casually.

Jean stares at him. She remembers the time that he is subjected to Danielle Moonstar's power. His fear... Himself.

'It is not only about him going crazy or being mind controlled. He is worried about an alternative evil version of him coming here.' She thinks

Hector is worried about that truly. But his way of having a meta power was not conventional. And he doesn't think all of his alternative versions have the Essence either. The Multiverse would be broken.

'With luck, I'm the only Hector with powers in all Multiverse...' He thinks 'But why do I feel like I will not be so lucky?' He sighs internally

He even prepared an excuse for this during the interview.

His fabricated origin story is based on Dr. Manhattan, where his power is too strong and he died. For all senses and purpose, if the other Hectors don't have his powers he can say that they didn't awaken in the same way. And if he doesn't exist, that means that they died.

Eidolon then claps loudly, making everyone look at him. "Okay, everyone. The break is over. Let's move to the Belasco fortress. I will say the plan along the way." He exclaims while producing the cloud again.

...

Flying in the cloud again. Everyone is sitting in a circle while Eidolon starts to explain everyone's task

"But... What are you two doing here again?" He pauses to look at the sorcerer duo sitting calmly.

"Kurt told me the gist of it... I want to help." Margali said simply, like is natural.

"..." Eidolon stare at her "And you three solved your issues?" he asks

"..." Margali frowns "It is hard to simply forget years of hate, but I understand that is unfair to blame Kurt. I... I just need time." She says and her two children put hands on her shoulder to Comfort her.

It is really complicated, even if Eidolon gave her someone to blame, must be hard to sort out her feeling in so little time.

"Hm... Well, these things take time. Just keep in touch." Eidolon comments "But are you here for the goodness of your heart or do you want something?" He asks suddenly

Not knowing the person by their fictional character, he will keep his distance.

Margali doesn't answer immediately "Are you sure that you want to fight Belasco? He is not an enemy that anyone wants to make so easily..."

"The Ancient One already told me many things about him" Eidolon interrupts "It is not that I want to make him an enemy, he IS my enemy now. Tell me what you want already..." He says

"Eidolon..." Kurt starts saying but Margali raises her hand

" So you met the Ancient One..." She says with a strange gaze "You're right. Sincerely I just care about Kurt and Jimaine." Margali says "I would accompany you guys just to keep him safe. If you want my help... I want something from Belasco too. Such an old sorcerer. He must have a mountain of useful things..." She says

"An hour ago we are almost fighting and now we are planning a raid together." Kitty comments

"There are no eternal enemies, only interests..." Eidolon quotes from somewhere

Margali smiles at his words "You look like a smart fella..."

Eidolon doesn't react to her patronizing words "Anything in particular that you want?" He asks

Sometimes is good to give someone the chance to make a choice. This will reveal their objective and ambition, and help you make a good map of their Character and intentions

Margali narrows her eyes a little at Eidolon "I want Belasco sword..."

"..." The two stare at each other.

Ororo and Illyana's reaction of surprise didn't go unnoticed by Eidolon even if his eyes never left the older sorcerer.

But in the end, he shrugs and says in a carefree way "Oh, just this? Okay." He accepts easily

Ororo try to catch his attention with her eyes, but he didn't look at her

"I just want you to hold off one of Belasco's followers and the sword is yours, if I get my hands on her. With my plan will be easy to kill the guy..." Eidolon says

'As if I'm giving anything that you want to you' He thinks to himself 'If this Limbo looks like a Walmart cultivation world I will act like Wang Lin. If you want the sword, fight him yourself...'

Nothing is revealed on his face, but now he has the plan that if even Belasco's invulnerability is too much, he wants to at least take his weapon and cripple him beyond recovery.

"Okay, now that this is settled... Let me explain the plan. It is incredibly simple." Eidolon says before outstretching his hand making a hologram appear.

Using the power [Chart] and [Hologram] together with other abilities, a perfect 3D image of Belasco city appears in the middle o everyone

"Is this Belasco's place?" Kitty asks

"Yes, I mapped it earlier." Eidolon says

"When?" Jean asks

"During our two wholesome family reunions... I don't like wasting time" It is all he says, he didn't explain his use of clones and other powers to scout ahead.

Belasco's fortress city looks nothing out of the ordinary when compared with a feudal city. A huge castle surrounded by all types of buildings. The only thing that sticks ups is some incredible tall towers all over the place.

"So, Magic Ororo... Where normally does our target stay in this place?" eidolon asks

"Necrosis normally stays here, in the barracks or in patrol." She points to an isolated place close to the wall. "Belasco and N'arstirh vary a little, N'astirh normally stays holed up in his tower. This one." She points to the specific tower "S'ym is completely unpredictable." She shrugs

"Where the Bloodstone could be?"

"In Belasco study probably..."

"But there's a chance that is with him? In this case, I will need to take it myself... And before he discovers that he can use it to threaten us with Illyana's life..." Eidolon comments darkly

"We will divide ourselves... First, there will be a group with Illyana that will await from my signal and the confirmation that the Bloodstone is not with Belasco before invading sneakily." He makes a light shine on the back of the castle

The faces of everyone appear on the hologram and he move them around the map

"This will be everyone's initial position... Illyana, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Shadow, Mikhail, and Magic Ororo will wait here to go retrieve the Bloodstone and rescue the other Kurt and Kitty." He shows the position

"Murasaki, Marvel Girl, Cyclops, and Colossus will attack Necrosis and the guards. Murasaki will take care of Necrosis and I want the three X-men to go crazy, I want chaos" He says showing the place

"There are civilians in this city?" Jean asks a little worriedly

"No, all of them are Belasco subordinates, but there are some slaves through..." Magic Ororo says

"Just attack the ones that hold weapons and attack you. I will leave this to your judgment." Eidolon says, seeing Jean's uneasy face.

After she nods he continues.

"Mrs. Szardos... Do you know how to set traps?" He asks

"Yes, if you give me some time..."

"Then you, your daughter, and Rogue will wait here. A little far away from the city. I will throw N'astirh to you guys." Eidolon says "Just hold him there if he prove himself too dangerous. Sorcerers are unpredictable."

She nods

"I will attack from the front. Attract attention and keep Belasco busy." Eidolon says pointing to the front gate "Any doubts or suggestions?"

"Isn't the group of Illyana a little fragile to the dangerous task? They had a great chance of finding that S'ym guy, that is strong as N'astirh." Jean asks

"I thought about this, I will give some useful things to Mikhail and Shadow later. But there's no need for them to be super strong, they need to be capable of running away fast. I don't want too many people to put a burden on Kitty and Kurt's powers." Eidolon turns to Illyana's group "If you guys meet S'ym or any other enemies, you guys have Ororo, Shadow and Mikhail to leave behind and continue forward with the task."

He tries to convey the seriousness "Your guy's mission is literally the most important, in the moment you guys complete it and we are getting out here. But no need to risk your lives, remember it." He says

"Any other question?"

"We don't need any help." Margali says signaling at Rogue

"Maybe... Better safe than sorry and I want you guys to defeat N'astirh fast. The fastest anyone defeats an enemy, the fastest they can move to help and we will snowball on them. We have the surprise element. If we go well, we can end everything in less than half of an hour." Eidolon says

"And this girl will be of any help?" She asks with a raised eyebrow

"Mami..." Kurt tried to mediate the situation

"She will..." Eidolon answers with hesitation "Rogue, come here." He then raises his arm. His suit retracts from his wrist to his shoulder. "I will allow you to take a lot this time." He says

Rogue eyes widen and she gulps before nodding.

"Sucking him in broad light... So bold~" Kitty jokes while making a show of spying on them between her fingers that are trying to cover her face.

This only makes Rogue, that is taking off her gloves, blush more.

.....

Later, they are high in the air looking down on the fortress city.

"Yes, N'astirh is in that tower. But is hard to see inside the fortress itself... Wards maybe. But there are two high signatures there and there... No barrier surrounding the city, a little arrogant..." Eidolon points

"That's the throne room and the dungeons. Belasco should be in the throne room." Magic Ororo says "S'ym should be underground."

"Good. Shadow.. Use those." Eidolon says taking off Beowulf of his Sky Poison Pearl "Just channel your energy and you will know how to use it." He says

Shadow put the pair of gauntlets and greaves. The Devil Arm adjusts to her size and she tests it a little.

"Mikhail... Put this." Eidolon takes off the almost forgotten E.D.I. Biomech suit.

"This looks like Thor armor." Kitty comments

"It's inspired in it... A prototype" Eidolon says

Eidolon has outgrown the item, but that doesn't that can't be useful. Together with Cortana, he is working on making a variety of Power Suits. He is combining Spartan armor with this Biomech suit.

In truth, this piece of armor and belt shouldn't even work. The armor would need the Battery that is contained in the hammer. But thanks to the Gacha, it works without it. But don't give the user flight of electricity projection.

And because Mikhail is not a summon, he doesn't give powers to him for now.

"This will give you a good level of durability and strength. Give me back later with a report of the use." Eidolon says like Mikhail is gonna test it. "Now go to your positions... When everyone is ready I will start."

"Rogue take this... It is an anti-magic weapon." Eidolon gives her the Nth metal mace.

She takes it and tries the weight, her moves precise now that she absorbed Eidolon again.

Margali that is giving a long stare at Shadow's Beowulf and Rogue's Mace turns to him.

"Belasco is a strong individual, killed all that challenged him..." She comments as a good-natured warning.

"He never fought me..." Eidolon says

"This is his world..." She continues

"Good... Very good..." He looks down on the city "I don't need to hold back then."

His eyes started glowing dangerously red and the X-men that know of his fight against Thor shuddered a little.

'Against Thor, he is in the middle of New York... And don't want to kill Thor... Now...' Jean thinks to himself

"Remember that we are still down there..." Kitty half-jokes

....

Later, Eidolon is floating alone now. He took off his mantle.

Waiting for Margali to be ready.

While waiting he pulls the Sword of Actuation from his Inventory and looks at it.

'Better be safe than sorry...' And he slowly starts to take off Power Boost cards and use them on the sword.

Hector is a little stingy with his Power Boost cards. Even if they are the "consolation prize" of the Gacha, because of his limited rolls, he can't waste them.

He has a list of powers to upgrade, like [New Order] or even [Erasure], the power that he is keeping a secret to use against Apocalypse and make the eventual confrontation last 1 second.

But powers can be trained, can be improved by an increase in strength... So he is holding it for now.

But items... It is not simple to upgrade items. So is not a waste to use Power Boost cards on it.

He uses cards one a one. And no apparent changes occur, he feels like he is filling a reservoir that he doesn't know the volume of.

Obviously, he can feel the slight increase in the power of the sword with each card, but he is waiting for the... breakthrough or evolution.

In the eighth card, it finally comes... The sword shines and trembles a little

'Last time the Sword the blade changed from blue to red and I gained the ability to shift between hurting only physical or astral things... I used two cards...This time I use 8... If this continues in a geometric progression...' He frowns thinking about the huge amount of cards needed in the future.

32 in the next and 128 after it...

After the light subsided he inspect the changes in the sword.

Appearance-wise, there's only one. The thorny vines that composed the guard and handle changed from green to purple. The sword looks even more alive now, pulsating.

'Oh! I see...' He instinctively knows the new abilities and he tries one.

The thorny vines move around wildly before latching around his hand. But hey not stop there, the vines envelop his hand and continue to grow and grow till they are covering his whole arm.

In a makeshift thorn armguard that ends on his shoulder. Some vines still dance slowly at the end of it, above his shoulder.

'An anti-astral armor? And only the arm for now, huh?' Hector counts his body parts and feels a little headache knowing how much more upgrades are needed.

'Well, at least shows that this sword has great potential...'

He puts the sword away and makes his preparations.

"*Bzzt* In position..." Rogue reports to him in his earpiece.

"Copy that." He says before floating down slowly.

As he approaches the wall, some guards look at him and pointed but he ignored them.

"The One For All users said that named moves are stronger... And weirdly they really get out a little stronger. Must be the adrenaline..." He muses to himself while taking position. "How should I do it?" Some guards with wings fly to him

"First comes rock...?" He mutters

"No... Maybe a United States of Smash?" He muses again

"Nah... Talking about this, maybe I should accompany my moves with a word like Smash... Uvogin uses 'Impact' "

"Maybe 'Strike' "

"I should stick with the basic and go with a Serious Punch..."

The guards finally arrived and surrounded him. Shouting something about trespassing and going to kill him.

"Well, this cheap cultivation world deserves a palm attack..." he raises his hand, flexing many of his energy sources.

The sky darkens a little and the world starts trembling.

Taking the perfect angle he attacks.

From his palm, the Force and his telekinetic powers coupled with Nen emit a giants turbid palm that flies to the city.

The attack razes 25% of the Giants city as a collateral, because the real target is the tower where N'astirh dwells.

It is a testament to the protective wards the fact that the tower is not disintegrated, but it is uprooted and sent flying at a distance... To Margali, Jimaine and Rogue.

"Hm~ I will call it 'Cultivation Bullshit Palm Strike'." He nods to himself

...

"Well, that is our signal." Jean comments seeing the uprooted buildings and rubbles flying crazily on the other side of the city.

She, Saeko, Cyclops, and Colossus are on the roof of a building looking where can only be the barracks of the soldiers.

After the commotion, demonic people start pouring out of the buildings like ants.

Colossus rises from his crouched position while covering his body in metal. He Steps out the roof and loudly lands on the path of the soldiers.

While this, huge icebergs fall from the sky around them, conveniently blocking other escape routes. Eidolon doing trapped most of the soldiers in that part of the city.

Some demonic soldiers could fly, but they're hit by Cyclop's blasts. Jean helps attack the mind of the ones flooding Colossus and throwing what she can to the ones flying.

Murasaki is completely still even if the fight already started. She wants to join already, but she held herself back.

Her eyes focused on the buildings. At some point, a centaur knight steps out of one of the buildings shouting something, maybe orders...

Saeko smiles under the mask before disappearing from her spot.

She steps on Colossus's shoulder before moving forward so fast that she appears to be teleporting. Where she passes, demons receive cuts and fall.

She finally arrives at the back...

"Mist?" Necrosis, the huge centaur with six arms, looks around before hastily raising his shield.

The blow makes him slides a little before he steadies himself to look at his opponent.

"Wench! You will pay for your cheap tricks..." He exclaims while taking a variety of weapons.

Saeko raises his sword. "Im gonna enjoy it..." She licks her lips

....

Outside the city

"Good control..." Margali praises while watching the tower flying in her overall direction. Jimane and Rogue at her side.

When the tower falls and starts sliding in the ground, she times perfectly and hit her Wando f Power on the ground.

Blue glyphs shine on the ground and converge where the tower falls.

Then a huge explosion and a pillar of blue light emerge with enough strength to reach the clouds.

'A sky beam... Typical...' Rogue thinks... But is more like Eidolon than her. She shakes her head to focus again.

She absorbed a lot. Really a lot this time.

Eidolon controlled what powers she would absorb this time. Focusing on the quality of powers, but in the quantity of energy. She is almost glowing with strength.

After the light subsided, a creature that looks like a humanoid pterodactyl with a horse face emerges from the rubble. He is very hurt and enraged.

Looking around, he spotted his three enemies

"I'm gonna make you three wish that you never existed-" He starts saying before receiving an attack from Rogue Mace, he is sent flying to the ground. She doesn't hesitate before dropping down on his chest with her knee. And then taking a deep breath she releases a sonic scream close to his skull.

And then drops the mace on his chest again

"..." Margali watches this unfold.

"Are we really necessary here?" Jimaine asks unsure while starting to float, her hands glowing ready to give support.

.....

Back to Eidolon, he continues to rain down the destruction on the site, in a controlled way.

Targeting especially the towers, the place that Magic Ororo said are the core of the wards. He disturbs everything with the goal of making Illyana's group travel unnoticed.

At some point, he notices someone appearing from the balcony of a high part of the castle.

'Finally...'

Belasco looks exactly like someone would imagine a demon. Red skin, yellow eyes, and horns. He is using regal clothes also red, but some with some jewelry. In his waist was a sword.

He looks around unfazed by the destruction. Then he finally looks at Eidolon.

"I was already bored without suicidal people like you..." he drawls complacently

Eidolon doesn't answer him "Belasco is on the balcony of the largest Building" He mutters into his earpiece.

....

With Illyana group.

They received the message and looks at Illyana.

She closes her eyes in concentration.

"It was not with him..." She says after some time.

Everyone nods.

"We are invading right now, Eidolon".

If the Bloodstone is not with Belasco, Eidolon only needs to take the guy away now.

....

Eidolon raises his hand and releases a high concentrated blast of Air Cannon at Belasco.

The Upper part of the castle is destroyed, but Belasco is unaffected after he raised a shield.

"You're not bad... Will make a nice puppet." Belasco comments

To keep his focus on himself Eidolon emits his Nen and other energies. Ready to go all out.

"Oh... Are you a demigod? It's always these heroic types born with a golden spoon in their mouths..." He says condescendingly

Eidolon punches the air.

But before his motion is finished, a small portal appears in front of his fist. His arm disappears and reappears close to Belasco, already giving him an uppercut to the sky.

A convenient power that he took on the world of the Incredibles.

Eidolon doesn't stop there. It is not n his style to give enemies chances. He continues to punch the air like he is Shadowboxing.

His first disappeared and reappeared in different positions close to Belasco.

He punches almost every inch of his body... Face, stomach, crotch, liver, ribs, back. Belasco is treated as a ragdoll for some time. Throw around in the air by the force

"ENOUGH!" Belasco screams stabilizing himself in the air with a burst of magical energy.

He is panting in fury, but he looks just a little hurt.

Eidolon appears above, his arm already pulled back in a huge motion. His first is shining in a blinding light.

All this time he is not simply punching Belasco to accumulate damage.

He is using Fa Jin. Accumulating the kinetic energy of dozens of punches to multiply this one attack.

"First comes rock..." He says before burying his arm in Belasco's torso.

Belasco is shot at the ground like a bullet, Eidolon still connected with him while he caved his heart.

......

A.N.: Aah... I really wanted to end the arc with this chapter, but...

The characters talked by themselves. Their talk too much, I swer.

Bye, bye. This week I end this arc. I will even add the epilogue as a apology.

Till some day.