-XXXX-

"Apocalypse, we have guests," Winter Soldier said, "The X-Men and the Brotherhood are here for their team-mates"

"Don't worry, we'll return them," Apocalypse said, "In a few moments"

He injected something into both Archangel and Daken, before undoing their restraints. Opening their eyes, the two mutants stretched, before bowing

"What do you order of us?" Archangel asked

"Take care of the X-Men and Brotherhood," Apocalypse replied

The mutants headed off, as Logan groggily opened his eyes. He was losing count over how many times he had been unconscious these past few months and it was starting to irritate him. He saw Apocalypse working on something and struggled against his restraints, as Apocalypse held up a syringe attached to a tub of boiling adamantinum. Sabretooth was unconscious nearby, his latest injury slowly healing

"What did you do?" Logan asked

"I simply harvested his adamantinum. You're getting your metal back"

Apocalypse injected the adamantinum into Logan's body, bonding it to his bones, as Logan cried out in pain, molten hot steel pulsing under his flesh, as Apocalypse kept injecting the liquid metal, being very delicate in his work

"Soon, Logan, you'll have your indestructible body back. Soon, you'll be mine"

Under the intense pain of the molten hot metal, Logan passed out

-XXXX-

The battle was still raging out in the corridors, as Colossus and Juggernaut kept smashing through the walls, causing total destruction, as the X-Men and Brotherhood kept up the vicious fighting. Blob had several deep cuts on his huge stomach from X23, while Cyclops had a burn mark on his right shoulder from Pyro. However, the fighting came to an abrupt halt when Archangel and Daken appeared

"Oh, that doesn't look good," Gambit said

Archangel flexed out his metallic wings, firing off several sharp feathers. Pyro scorched them and was smacked into a wall, as Archangel spun around and kicked Jean in the stomach, throwing her back. Cyclops fired an optic blast, which Archangel ducked, before uppercutting him on the jaw. Gambit and Havoc attacked, only to get smacked aside, followed by Toad and Omega Red. Daken saw X23 and grinned, before charging at her, tackling her around the waist and sliding along the floor. She stabbed her claws into his torso, as he struck her and got to his feet

"So, you're the clone of my father?" he asked, his eyes glowing red

"Ah, so you're my brother," X23 said, getting up

"No, I'm not your brother, simply because you're not related to me. You're not a part of my family. You're just a simple clone"

"No, I'm not"

"You were just raised to be a weapon"

"Yeah and weren't you?"

"I wasn't an experiment. I actually existed. I have a place in the world. You don't"

X23 growled, rage taking over her and she lashed out. Daken grinned and caught her arm, popping out his claws and stabbing her bare stomach. X23 groaned, swinging her other fist, only for Daken to twist and slam her against the wall. Flicking out her foot claw, X23 swung her leg out, but Daken jumped over her leg, as she got to her feet and kicked. He blocked and stabbed, but she dodged and kicked him in the stomach, her claw slicing through his flesh. Daken groaned, as X23 elbowed him in the jaw. Growling, he slashed her face, then her stomach, before kicking her through the wall

"A clone, X, that's all you are. Nothing more," he said, following after her, "Never meant to have a life, never meant to have a family"

"I am more than a clone, Daken," X23 said, "I am Wolverine's daughter. I am your sister. I am more Wolverine's flesh and blood than you are"

Daken growled and slashed, but X23 ducked, slicing him across his flank, as he whirled around, rage in his eyes. X23 kicked at his head, but he caught her leg and kicked her other leg out. X23 landed heavily, rolling away onto her feet and blocking Daken's next strike, as he slashed at her with his other fist

"You know, bone claws are useless against steel claws," she said

And to prove her point, she kneed him in the gut, before slicing through his claws. Daken growled at this, kicking X23 in the face, then slamming her face into the nearby wall. Popping his claws out, Daken ran them against the wall to quickly sharpen them, then stabbed them into X23's throat. She choked on her blood, as he threw her across the room

"You can stay there, bleeding Wolverine's blood all over the floor"

X23 slumped against the wall, as Daken grinned and left the room to join in the fight

-XXXX-

Logan opened his eyes. He blinked rapidly against the bright light, feeling strength coursing through him. Apocalypse was standing before him, a smile on his face

"And how are we feeling, War?"

"Wha-?"

"Ah, much better I see. Rise up and take your place as my Horseman of War"

Apocalypse removed the restraints, as Logan fell to his hands and knees. He felt a surge of power pulse through him and rose to his feet, an evil grin appearing on his face, showing off his large, sharpened canines

"I am ready to serve thee," War grinned

"Excellent. I have three Horsemen ready to serve me. All I need is one more"

"I smell blood and violence"

"Go and enjoy. Introduce yourself to your old friends"

War headed off in the direction of the battle, as Apocalypse smiled. Slowly, it was all coming together. A battle would be raged and he would be left as the ruler of the strongest warriors in the world. Then from there, he would branch out into the galaxy

-XXXX-

"Logan! There you are," Jean cried, "We've been looking for you"

War simply popped his adamantinum claws out and walked up to Pyro, stabbing him in the back. Pyro cried out, as War removed his claws and slashed at Iceman, narrowly missing him

"Whoa there, Logan, what's going on?" Iceman asked, creating a shield of ice

"It looks like War has finally joined us," Death said

"Let's lay waste to these pathetic warriors," Famine growled

At that moment, Apocalypse appeared amongst the mutants, as his horsemen flocked to him, standing by his side and grinning at the other mutants

"I think it's time we took this elsewhere," Apocalypse said, "Let's go and start the battle that will end all battles"

And with that, he and the horsemen disappeared in a flash of light

"What the hell was that all about?" Cyclops asked

"The battle to end all battles," Jean said, "That can't be good"

"Where did they go?" Shadowcat said

"Where's X23?" Storm asked

She and Iceman went looking in the nearby rooms, finding her unconscious, her hair matted with blood, as Iceman picked her up gently

"Let's get out of here," Mystique called

She and the Brotherhood quickly left, as the X-Men headed back to their jet. Storm and Jean flew the jet into the air, before taking off back towards the mansion

"I'm doing a search of power waves," Cyclops said, "I should be able to find them"

"Hurry it up if you can," Storm said, "We can't waste too much time"

-XXXX-

"Yes, this will do," Apocalypse said

He and his horsemen had appeared in New York Town Square. The citizens were running away in fear from having seen the four mutants appear out of nowhere, as Famine and War popped their claws out, eager to cause some slaughtering, while Death spread his wings and hovered overhead

"Yes, take them all," Apocalypse ordered

-XXXX-