"People who've lived for thousands of years?"
"You're saying mutants… all have lifespans that long!?"
Evelyn's eyes widened again in disbelief. The more Herman spoke, the more outlandish his claims seemed to her.
"Of course not. Only a few possess such abilities. Some mutants' powers just happen to grant them extended lifespans. The one we're about to encounter happens to be one of them."
Herman withdrew his gaze, his expression calm.
His mood, however, was far from sour. From Evelyn's earlier words, he could tell she hadn't led them astray—they still had quite a distance to travel before reaching the necropolis of Hamunaptra. The discovery of Apocalypse's pyramid along the way was nothing more than a fortunate surprise.
Yes, a pleasant surprise.
It wasn't that Evelyn had made a mistake. She possessed an uncanny "intuition" when navigating the desert, a natural ability to discern direction without any instruments.
Herman suspected it was a lingering echo from her past life as an Egyptian princess.
After all, compasses and navigation tools often failed in this desert, just as his own "mental scan" could sometimes be disrupted by strange energies.
Yet Evelyn's "intuition" had never once steered them wrong. Since the start of their journey, Herman had tested it multiple times—and every time, she'd been correct.
So, no, she hadn't lost their way.
Finding the Pyramid of Apocalypse was simply a one-in-a-million coincidence.
"Does this have anything to do with the City of the Dead, Hamunaptra?" Evelyn asked, unaware of what they had actually stumbled upon. To her, it seemed they'd found the very city they'd been searching for.
"Strange… based on the information you gave me, we shouldn't have found it this soon." She frowned, visibly puzzled.
"The pyramid we're approaching has nothing to do with the Egyptian history you know. Think of it as… a separate, hidden chapter of an ancient past."
Herman nudged the white camel forward, its pace quickening.
His explanation was sound.
The massive pyramid rising in the distance belonged to no pharaoh, nor was it connected to Anubis, the Egyptian god of death.
It was the resting place of Apocalypse—the monarch of the Mutant Dynasty. A civilization that might have existed long before ancient Egypt itself.
To be honest, Herman had never expected to find Apocalypse's slumbering pyramid here.
He knew of Apocalypse, of course—knew his legend and power—but he'd always believed the mutant's pyramid existed only in the timeline of Days of Future Past.
Yet here it was, in a universe untouched by that event.
'Thinking about it, I suppose it's not that strange,' he mused. 'Days of Future Past only changed modern history. Apocalypse has existed for thousands of years.'
A small smile tugged at his lips as the realization settled in.
"Alright then… you're the sorcerer. You must be right." Evelyn blinked, then tightened her grip on the reins, urging her camel to keep pace with him.
"Superpowers that let someone live longer… If a person's genes carried self-repairing telomeres, and their cells could divide indefinitely without degeneration, then theoretically, living thousands of years wouldn't be impossible."
Evelyn muttered as she processed the information, her voice quick and animated. That stubborn, analytical streak of hers refused to die.
Even with her worldview in shambles, she still clung to scientific reasoning, trying to make sense of the fantastical through logic.
Years of materialist education weren't so easily erased. Evelyn was determined to defend her "science," no matter how fragile it now seemed.
"Longevity is just one of his powers," Herman said, glancing at her with amusement. "He has many mutant abilities. Are you planning to come up with a scientific explanation for all of them?"
Evelyn stared at him blankly, while Herman's thoughts turned briefly toward the being they were about to meet.
Apocalypse—an ancient mutant who had gained countless abilities by absorbing the powers of others through a unique method of "devouring."
Super speed. Super strength. X-ray vision. Healing factor. Telekinesis. Telepathy. Elemental control…
Over the course of thousands of years, Apocalypse had accumulated an unfathomable number of powers. Any ability that existed during his lifetime—he likely possessed it.
"So many powers?" Evelyn gasped. "How many? Don't tell me… more than you?"
This poor girl, having met only one extraordinary being in her life, truly believed Herman's abilities were already unmatched.
"In some ways, yes," he admitted. "If you can imagine a power, chances are, that mutant has it."
Herman nodded lightly. Though his own abilities were vast, he couldn't compare to Apocalypse's millennia of accumulation.
Through his "devouring" ability—remarkably, with almost no side effects—the mutant monarch had amassed at least a thousand distinct powers.
A power like that…
It was the kind of "cheat" ability most protagonists in fantasy novels could only dream of.
In prehistoric times, Apocalypse must have lived like one of those storybook heroes—one of those unstoppable, chosen figures destined to dominate the world.
A full-on "Chosen One" power fantasy template.
"This… this can't even be called human anymore!" Evelyn stammered. "No—what I mean is… if he's truly that powerful, isn't he basically a god? How is that any different?"
Her voice trembled between awe and disbelief. The "scientific" framework she'd always relied on was crumbling fast.
And it wasn't just her—any of the greatest scientists in the world would've been struck speechless before such an idea.
Human genes… evolving to the point of omnipotence?
"The difference is quite significant. Let's just say he's a powerful mutant.
It all comes down to genetics. If you had enough knowledge, you could probably come up with a 'scientific explanation' for most of his powers."
Herman's tone carried a hint of teasing amusement.
When it came to sheer power, he did acknowledge Apocalypse as an extraordinarily formidable mutant.
Back in the era when mutants had only just begun to appear, Apocalypse was already leagues beyond all others—so far ahead it was impossible to even compare.
Even in the future, when the most powerful mutants—Professor X and Magneto—joined forces against him after his resurrection, they still couldn't overcome this ancient being.
In the major event Herman knew of, it had ultimately taken the Phoenix Force—the cosmic power of a future mutant—to finally defeat this relic of prehistory.
Armed with a mysterious pyramid-shaped conversion device, Apocalypse was practically cheating. Of course, reality isn't a novel—despite having the template of a "protagonist blessed by fate," Apocalypse failed to carry that destiny to its end.
In fact, not only after his revival, but even before it, he had already fallen victim to his own arrogance.
As he absorbed one mutant ability after another, his mentality swelled beyond control. He came to see himself as a divine being—omnipotent, untouchable.
With the countless powers he had accumulated over millennia, Apocalypse might well have reached the strength of a Sky Father.
So calling himself a god wasn't exactly wrong. But unlike true deities, whose power stemmed from self-cultivation and growth, Apocalypse's might came entirely from external absorption.
That imbalance created a fatal flaw—his strength far outpaced his state of mind.
Self-delusion is a dangerous thing. As a certain writer once said: when a man learns to fly, he'll soon crave to touch the sun; and when a man gains absolute power, he starts to believe the world was made for him.
Apocalypse was the embodiment of that truth.
His unmatched power and unrestrained ambition fed each other endlessly. To him, the humans he ruled over were nothing but livestock.
A reign without law, driven by arrogance and domination, could only breed resentment among those beneath him. His rule was so cruel that even his own guards, servants, and common laborers eventually grew to hate him.
Apocalypse was at his weakest during the process of transferring his consciousness into a new body to seize fresh powers. During those rituals, the humans and guards who served him—people he openly despised as "insects"—slowly came to understand his vulnerabilities.
And so, during one such transfer, when Apocalypse attempted to absorb the power of a mutant with a self-healing factor, the lowest classes of humans and a faction of his own guards rose up in rebellion.
The self-proclaimed god was buried beneath the golden sands mid-ritual.
The ceremony was interrupted, leaving Apocalypse in a state between life and death...
Despite this, his ability to grant mutant powers had earned him a number of devoted followers. After all, no matter how despised a person may be, as long as they can bring others profit, there will always be those willing to serve them.
Apocalypse had bestowed powers upon many.
Thus, even after thousands of years, he still had a circle of loyal believers—devotees as steadfast as the families who guarded Pharaohs' tombs for generations. One had to admit, ancient Egypt had perfected the art of enslavement.
Millennia had passed, yet the servility of these people hadn't diminished—instead, it had only deepened.
From afar, Herman could see hundreds of figures near the pyramid, laboring to free Apocalypse, digging feverishly through the desert sands to unearth his tomb.
It must have taken them countless years to find this place.
Herman couldn't help but wonder—did Apocalypse still have the power to whisper into their dreams, guiding them from beyond the veil of time?
"If you're not just making this up—and mutants really do exist in this world, created as the result of alien experiments—"
"Then I believe... one day, science will find a way to explain it." Evelyn's tone was firm despite her disbelief, her stubbornness unshaken as she spoke to Herman.
"Seeing how persistent you are, maybe you should change careers—focus on studying mutant genes. That field certainly won't lack prospects in the future." Herman chuckled softly. He understood her tenacity; in a sense, she wasn't wrong.
After all, in the future, wouldn't there be organizations capable of cloning, merging, and even enhancing mutant genes? The Sentinels from Days of Future Past were the direct result of such research.
And if one expanded the concept of "science" to encompass the entire universe, then mutant genes themselves could be seen as the "scientific creations" of the Celestials.
Science, after all, was simply the study of laws and patterns—anything in the cosmos that could be understood, harnessed, and utilized fell within its scope.
Even magic could be called a form of science.
Herman thought briefly of Asgard's rune-based technology, wondering whether Thor would keep his promise when he eventually returned to the future.
"I still find the study of ancient Egypt far more fascinating."
Even though Evelyn was astonished by everything she'd learned about mutants, she clearly had no intention of changing her field. The mysteries of ancient Egypt still captivated her heart.
"Perhaps," Herman replied with a faint smile.
He knew exactly why Egypt's history drew her in.
Casting a thoughtful glance at the flustered woman beside him—who was struggling to keep her balance on the camel as its pace quickened—Herman's expression softened slightly.
"If there really are civilizations out there capable of turning entire planets into laboratories, then their technology must be far beyond ours."
Evelyn, still focused on steadying herself, didn't notice his gaze. As she adjusted her posture, her mind continued to race. Her ability to accept the extraordinary was almost alarmingly fast.
"This isn't about how advanced they are," Herman said evenly. "It's more like... they exist on an entirely different dimensional level. To them, every corner of the universe is a potential testing ground."
He thought of the weapon and armor Odin had given him, his eyes growing distant. The King of Asgard surely intended to use his strength against the Celestials. The Celestials themselves showed little compassion toward their "experiments" scattered throughout the cosmos.
Compared to Odin, Herman knew even more about what they truly were.
And he could already foresee it—
As Earth's population continued to grow, it was inevitable that one of the Celestials would one day awaken on this planet.
In other words, if Earth was to survive, Herman would eventually have to confront that very being himself.
But that was still far in the future. For now, he had time—time to grow stronger.
"It feels like you're telling a sci-fi story," Evelyn sighed, exasperated. "But my instincts keep telling me you're telling the truth... I'm starting to regret agreeing to be your guide."
She exhaled deeply. Though her worldview was collapsing bit by bit, she still couldn't bring herself to deny what Herman said.
It wasn't that there were no holes in his story—there were plenty—but for reasons she couldn't quite explain, something deep inside her told her to trust him.
"A woman's intuition is rarely wrong. Trust it—you're not mistaken." Herman smiled faintly. He wasn't lying; everything he said was true.
To humanity, the Celestials were essentially beings from a higher dimension.
And as everyone knew—
Mutants were the result of the Celestials' experiments on Earth.
Such unique beings weren't exclusive to this planet, either. Many worlds across the universe were home to lifeforms with similar mutations.
They were all products of the Celestials' design.
The same genetic blueprint, manifesting in different ways across different species, had produced an infinite variety of mutants throughout the cosmos.
Few realized that the Titan race—of which Thanos was born—was also the outcome of one of the Celestials' experiments.
"Who knows if you're telling the truth or not... Sorcerer, why has it taken so long? We still can't see this pyramid you keep talking about!"
Evelyn, swaying atop the camel, raised her binoculars now and then, trying to catch a glimpse of the mysterious structure Herman claimed to have seen through his "sorcery." But the distance was too great, and the dunes too high—she could see nothing beyond the endless stretches of sand.
"It's just ahead... maybe we should pick up the pace?" Herman said with a playful glint in his eye.
His tone was light, but even he couldn't hide his anticipation.
"The camels are already going as fast as they can!" Evelyn protested, gripping the saddle tightly. The jolts beneath her were so intense she could hardly stay upright.
These camels were worth a fortune—and for good reason. They were faster than horses. Evelyn was quietly amazed by their strength and stamina.
She hadn't expected what came next.
"Well, since you've already called me a sorcerer... it would be a shame not to show a little magic."
As he spoke, golden light surged from Herman's hands.
A divine radiance rippled outward as he blessed both camels with his power.
The animals let out loud cries, their bodies suddenly glowing as they bolted forward with blinding speed.
"What—what's happening!?" Evelyn barely had time to shout.
And then—
She felt a burst of acceleration that no supercar on Earth could ever match.
The two white camels, bathed in golden light, shot across the desert like twin streaks of lightning.
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on P@treon.
[Upto 50 chapters ahead for now]
[email protected]/PinkSnake