Apocalypse did not keep Soren waiting long. Barely ten minutes had passed before a spatial fluctuation rippled through the entrance of Everlife Medical Center once more.
Soren, lounging in the reception hall, smirked as the doors automatically slid open. "Oh? Back so soon?" His voice carried an amused lilt. "Come in. Have a seat!"
Apocalypse stepped inside with his usual presence, his Four Horsemen trailing behind. With a mere nod from their master, Psylocke approached and silently placed a package on the table before Soren.
"Mr. Macaluso." Apocalypse said, his deep and courteous. "This is your money. In addition, I bring you… something else."
Soren raised an eyebrow as Apocalypse extended his hand. A blood-red ruby, nearly the size of a chicken egg, materialized in his palm, glowing faintly under the clinic's lights. He placed it gently on the table, offering it forward.
"Consider this a small token of my appreciation. I trust you will find it… useful." Apocalypse's tone was polite, but there was an undeniable weight.
Soren blinked, momentarily taken aback. He had expected payment, sure? The gemstone alone was worth far more than the five million he originally charged. Clearly, Apocalypse had put some thought into this gesture.
A slow smile crept onto Soren's face as he picked up the ruby, rolling it between his fingers. "Well now, aren't you generous?"
He chuckled. "I won't say no to a gift this nice. I appreciate it."
He lifted his gaze back to Apocalypse, his tone turning playful. "If you, or any of your… associates, ever need medical attention again, you know where to find me."
A knowing gleam flickered in Apocalypse's eyes. "I will keep that in mind." His smile, though subtle, was one of satisfaction.
With nothing more to discuss, Apocalypse turned and strode toward the entrance. A surge of violet energy engulfed them all, and in an instant, they were gone.
The moment the room returned to stillness, Soren wasted no time. With anticipation bubbling inside him, he reached for the initial gift package granted by the system.
[Beep! The Initial Gift Package is now opening!]
[Congratulations, host! You have received:
Gene Modification Scalpel
God-Level Business Card Case]
Two objects materialized in his hands.
The first was a sleek, silver-white scalpel razor-sharp, yet oddly weightless. A slight shiver ran down Soren's spine just from holding it.
The second was a business card case, its surface exquisitely crafted with a subtle silver texture. It exuded luxury without being overly ostentatious.
Soren stared at them for a moment, his brow furrowed. A scalpel and a card case? The names sounded impressive, but what exactly could they do?
Almost as if responding to his thoughts, the system's voice returned.
[Gene Modification Scalpel]: A surgical tool capable of modifying, repairing, or deleting genetic sequences. Can stabilize cellular viability, remove defective genes, and perform microscopic genetic operations.]
[God-Level Business Card Case]: Stores the host's business cards. Any holder of the card can instantly teleport to Everlife Medical Center by crushing it.]
(Note: The business cards are single-use items.)
Soren's lips slowly curled into a grin of pure excitement.
"Now this… this is cool."
He flipped the scalpel between his fingers, already thinking of countless ways it could make his job easier. Marvel was full of mutants, altered beings, and genetic disasters. This could revolutionize his entire approach to treatment.
Then, his attention shifted to the business card case. He opened it, finding it empty, for now.
"System, how many business cards can this thing generate?" he asked curiously.
[The case will generate ten business cards per month. The host can hold up to ten at a time.]
Soren scoffed. "Tch. Only ten?" He considered it for a moment before shrugging. Eh, whatever. That's still enough to make me look mysterious as hell.
With a chuckle, he snapped the case shut and leaned back, twirling the ruby between his fingers.
"Not a bad haul for my first mission."
Time passed in the blink of an eye. Within just half a month, Everlife Medical Center had become a well-known name in this prosperous town. Word spread fast and whispers of a genius doctor who could perform miraculous treatments.
Every patient who left the clinic did so in awe and admiration. It didn't take long before wealthy businessmen, celebrities, and even powerful figures sought treatment.
However, Soren Macaluso was not one to bow to arrogant fools..
A wooden sign appeared at the entrance of Everlife Medical Center.
The sign read:
Consultation fees are variable. Any valuable item may be used as payment.
Any illness or injury can be treated. No interruptions allowed during treatment.
The number of patients seen per day is at the doctor's discretion.
Operating hours? Uncertain.
The first time people read it, they cursed in secret.
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
"Who does this doctor think he is?"
"Uncertain fees? Does he just make it up on the spot?"
Yet, despite their complaints, the line outside the clinic only grew longer each day.
On such a day, a man with a disabled arm walked into the clinic.
When he emerged ten minutes later, his arm was completely restored.
He clenched and unclenched his fingers, flexing them in disbelief. Then, with tears of joy, he laughed wildly and ran off into the streets.
That was all it took.
By nightfall, the line stretched far down the road, with dozens of desperate people waiting their turn.
But just as another patient stepped out, Soren's voice rang out from inside.
"This is the end of today's consultation."
And just like that, the wooden doors slammed shut.
The gathered crowd sighed in disappointment.
Yet none dared to bang on the doors or demand an exception. They knew better.
Whispers spread among those waiting.
"Doesn't anyone ever try to force their way in?"
An older man in the crowd let out a dry chuckle. "Try? Oh, they try." He leaned in, lowering his voice.
"A few days ago, a high-profile tycoon came with his bodyguards, fully armed with rifles."
"They figured they could intimidate the doctor into treating their boss first."
"Before they knew what was happening, every single one of them was thrown out… missing various limbs… one lost his third leg."
A chill ran down the spines of those listening. No one questioned the rules after that.
Inside the clinic, Soren was tidying up his instruments when~
His sharp gaze snapped toward the ceiling as a massive surge of energy rippled through the air.
"What the hell…?"
A sudden gust of wind rushed through the streets. The sky outside darkened, and light blue energy waves surged across the horizon.
The sand dunes trembled.
Soren's ears picked up the first distant screams.
Then, chaos erupted.
Buildings began to crumble. Their structures twisted and collapsed into dust, yellow sand replacing once-thriving streets.
The transformation spread like a tidal wave, devouring the town inch by inch. People ran, tripping over each other in blind panic. Their terrified screams echoed through the ruins.
Soren clenched his fingers, curling into a fist. His keen senses confirmed what he already suspected.
"Apocalypse…"
His brows furrowed as he turned his gaze back to his Medical Center.
Something was… off.
While everything outside was turning to desert, his Everlife Medical Center remained completely untouched.
Not even a single grain of sand had crossed into its territory.
A perfect 100-meter radius surrounded the clinic, untouched, intact, and shielded from the devastation outside.
Soren exhaled through his nose, amused.
"So, even now, Apocalypse is giving me respect, huh?"
He leaned against his desk, rubbing his temples.
"But you turned all of Egypt into a wasteland. What the hell am I supposed to do now?"
His voice was dry, but there was a flicker of irritation in his gaze.
After all, what was the point of running a medical clinic if there was no one left to treat? Was he supposed to create sand people!?
Soren's fingers drummed against the desk as he considered his next move.
He had always known he would have to relocate eventually.
He just hadn't expected Apocalypse to force his hand so soon.
"Looks like it's time to find a new city to set up shop."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream