Chapter 50: Chapter 46 - 1951
POV: Baldur
Korean War. 1951.
After two weeks of observing, things are finally moving. After the end of World War II, which ended almost the same way as in my past life, with the explosion of the two atomic bombs in Japan, we had a few calm years, though that's relative.
The United States showed no intention of attacking us after discovering the location of the fight between me and Apocalypse. They deduced that Genosha was testing some experimental weapon and chose a secret Nazi bunker in the mountains as their target. With America thinking that we have weapons of mass destruction, they didn't attack us. I found this situation quite advantageous, so I subtly fueled that idea behind the scenes.
With the war over and Genosha's troops withdrawn, we returned to our retreat, showing no intention of interacting with other countries. We even declined the offer to join the UN, which is an international organization aimed at facilitating cooperation in terms of international law and security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and world peace.
Wakanda, as a small country, accepted to join it. With that and our secret resources, I know they have plans to try to seize our technology. They are confident that in the coming years, they will have the power to do so. Unfortunately for them, my kingdom will not remain stagnant, waiting for them to advance. Our technology advances year by year as well.
After everything calmed down, I focused all my attention on my future battles. I have a troublesome enemy and another terrifying one ahead of me. I needed a plan to kill the Juggernaut and then a way to kill a cosmic entity made of pure energy.
I must say, the years I spent planning were not wasted. After everything was done, it was easy to find Cain Marko, the Juggernaut, and his half-brother, Charles Xavier, who were fighting on the Korean War front line. I watched them for a week, waiting for Cain to find the Temple of Cyttorak. The only surprise was seeing Xavier using his powers against an enemy soldier.
When he was about to be killed, he used his powers to make the soldier kill himself. How he acted afterward proved that he has no skill in using his powers, at least not yet. I, of course, took precautions against mental attacks after my fight against Apocalypse, but even he cannot come close to Xavier's psychic powers.
Another week passed, and finally, Cain couldn't handle the pressure of the battle and deserted. He ran desperately into a nearby forest, Xavier felt his half-brother fleeing and ran after him, probably wanting to bring him back to prevent him from being executed for his crime. Thankfully, I didn't bring General Nordur, if he saw Cain fleeing from battle, leaving his comrades behind, he would have killed him instantly.
The Temple of Cyttorak had been hidden by time for centuries. The war made it emerge once again into the world. Cain entered the forest out of fear and found the entrance, Xavier sensed him with his powers and was the second to enter, I the third.
While invisible, I entered the temple and followed them quietly. Up close, I could get a better look at the appearance of the two brothers. Xavier looked very much like the actor James McAvoy, only younger, while Cain resembled no one I can describe. I can only say that he looks like a second-rate villain from old comics. I don't know what goes through a deserter's mind, but I think they want to find the safest place possible to avoid confrontation.
"MARKO... WAIT, THIS PLACE ISN'T SAFE!"
"SHUT UP, XAVIER!"
As always, Xavier is more perceptive of the situation than his brother. I passed by Xavier and went towards Cain, who continued running into the temple until he reached the end. On the walls of the stone temple are large images, even though they are corroded by time, it is still possible to see the image on the north wall: a great being sitting on a stone throne, wearing a complete armor covering his face, and at his feet are hundreds of souls crying out in agony. But Cain wasn't paying attention to it, but rather to the huge red ruby in the center of the room.
The red ruby was atop a skeleton dressed in massive red armor. If his greed hadn't blinded him, he might have seen the murals around the room showing the fate of those who wield the diamond, they would become practically gods, but in the end, their souls would be enslaved. That was the price of power.
"MARKOOOO!!" Xavier's voice made Cain realize he had no time until his brother arrived. He probably thought his brother would donate the ruby to some museum or simply leave it there, whatever the reason, Xavier's voice made him rush and grab the ruby. As he grabbed the ruby, he could see the inscription around it transforming from an ancient magical language to Asgardian.
"There's something carved in the gem! That will decrease its value," I ignored his stupidity once again, almost impatiently waiting for him to read the inscription.
"Whoever touches this gem must possess the power of the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak! From now on, you who read these words will become... Forever... A human Juggernaut!"
"BOOM!"
After Cain read the inscription on the ruby, it emitted a burst of red light that engulfed my vision. The temple shook as if it were struggling to resist the change, I don't think it will take long for it to collapse on us.
When the light disappeared, Cain Marko was no longer the scrawny cowardly kid, he now stood three meters tall with a body covered in muscles that would make even Thor envious. His clothes were replaced by the red armor lying on the ground near the ruby, the armor looked new and covered his entire body, leaving only his arms exposed. I didn't recognize the metal of the armor, so perhaps it was made in Cyttorak's dimension.
"HAHAHA! This is amazing! I feel like I could shatter a mountain with a single punch, HAHA!"
"Markoo!!! What happened to you!?"
Xavier finally reached where we were and was paralyzed by the huge change his brother had undergone.
"Xavier, just in time. I've always wanted to rip off that beautiful head of yours."
Driven mad by the power he received, he probably thought he no longer needed Xavier to live. Cain walked toward him and aimed a punch at Xavier's face, but luckily, Xavier proved to be a competent soldier as he dodged to the side.
"BOOM!"
The massive fist collided with the wall, easily piercing through it.
"You're crazy!!"
"Stand still and let me rip off your puny head. I promise you won't feel a thing."
Cain ripped his arm from the wall, but the idiot didn't consider the damage he was causing to this thousands-year-old construction.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The temple began to shake and crack, we had seconds at best to escape before it collapsed on us. The temple was several meters below ground level, built from massive blocks of stone, even Cain would have difficulty digging through them to escape.
"Marko, we have to get out of here now!"
The stones from the ceiling begin to fall, and the exit is blocked. Before doing anything, I contemplate whether I should interfere or not. Cain will surely survive, and I'm not a big fan of Xavier. If they made a top ten of the biggest screw-ups ever made by Marvel characters, Xavier would occupy at least two spots in the top.
Finally, the entire ceiling collapses on us. I decide to make my move. I shoot using Sigel, aiming at the ceiling. The burst of golden light hits the stones, destroying them and clearing a path through the ceiling. The dust cloud covers our vision, leaving the two brothers trying to figure out who did it.
When the dust settles, we are now in the center of a crater. The only thing still standing from the old temple is this room.
"Who are you?" Xavier is the first to notice me, as I remove the optical illusion and become visible to them.
"Nobody important, just want the head of the big idiot over there."
"MY HEAD!? I'll give you my fist!"
Like any good idiot, empowered by power, he doesn't even think about attacking a strange man who has already demonstrated great power. Cain rushes towards me like an unstoppable steamroller. I'm not sure if he received any knowledge from the ruby about his powers.
One of Juggernaut's most powerful abilities is the force field that surrounds his skin, protecting him from any physical damage. And after breaking through this barrier, he has a ridiculous healing factor that can rebuild his body even if it's completely destroyed, thanks to the nearly indestructible ruby.
Juggernaut punches me, but it's slow and without any skill. I easily dodge it, spinning my spear and hitting the handle on his leg, causing him to stumble and fall face-first to the ground.
"YOU DAMN!"
He tries to get up, furious, but I thrust my blade into his back, right in the center of his spine.
"AAAAAAAA!"
Juggernaut's defense against physical damage makes him almost indestructible, but it doesn't work against magical attacks or enchanted weapons, and my spear is both.
"MARKO!"
I don't understand why Xavier cares about this idiot. He pulls out a pistol and shoots several times at my back, but the bullets can't even draw a drop of blood from me.
"How is this possible!"
I pull the blade out of Cain's spine and turn to face Xavier.
"Kid, there's nothing impossible in the universe we're in."
Juggernaut gets up as if nothing happened and tries to grab me, but I dodge once again, easily ending up facing the two of them.
"It doesn't matter, I'm unstoppable now," he says.
(I needed a punching bag for training anyway.)
This time I attack with my fist, my strength enhanced by the runes. Juggernaut counters my blow, and our fists collide. The force of his blow sends me flying backward. It's almost impossible to compare my strength with his, but he's dumb and has few fighting skills. Unfortunately, I won't be able to defeat him in a long-distance fight.
(This is going to be fun!)
I grab Sigel and attack Juggernaut head-on, smiling, excited for the fight against the giant.
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