"Hmm... I need to inform you that we have an unusual visitor at the moment. It's Mark Kenner... Well, not exactly Mark himself, but an alien that has taken over his body—Vorrak."
This revelation left the man momentarily stunned. The name Mark Kenner resonated with him, stirring memories that took a while to settle his agitated mind.
While Mark Kenner was familiar to him, the surname Kenner struck an even deeper chord. That was his family name—he was Jack Kenner.
Born in Canada in 1869, he later moved to New York City, where he spent the rest of his life until that tragic day.
On that day, his son and daughter-in-law were claimed by an unknown force in a conflict that took their lives like soldiers.
This loss drove him to search for this mysterious force connected to the supernatural, eventually leading him to meet the Ancient One, who took him on as her disciple.
Now, standing before him was the Ancient One, revealing that someone who shared his last name—most likely his grandson—had arrived, but he was currently inhabited by an alien.
This stirred feelings of shame and anger within him. He felt ashamed for allowing the boy to be left alone and taken over by an alien, and angry that someone had seized control of his grandson's body without consent.
The only thing holding him back from expressing his frustration was the presence of the Ancient One.
"Is this true? Is my grandson really here? Is he still alive?" He fired off questions to the Ancient One, one after another.
His breath quickened, and his heart raced at the thought of possibly reuniting with his only remaining family.
"It's true that your grandson is here... However, I can't confirm if he's still alive since I haven't spoken to Vorrak, the entity who's taken over his body. If you'd like, we could go and ask him," the Ancient One replied calmly.
Her underlying intention was to create a bond between Jack Kenner and Vorrak, even if it turned out to be a complex one.
Jack Kenner was an anomaly she had watched closely since the day they first crossed paths. It was remarkable that he was still alive after all this time, making her believe that he held a unique secret known only to him.
Naturally, she had everything planned out. The meeting with Vorrak, his introduction to the Sanctum, helping him get acquainted with the Mystic Arts, and eventually leading him to Kamar Taj—all of it was for this specific day.
A day meant for two extraordinary beings to cross paths. A mutant among humans. The Ancient One understood that there were countless earthly secrets beyond her knowledge, yet she was aware of the existence of mutants.
Apocalypse, whose real name is En Sabah Nur, is known as the very first mutant born on this planet. He possesses the remarkable ability to control his body at a cellular level.
This control has allowed him to master a range of abilities, including rapid healing, enhanced strength and speed, limited shapeshifting, immunity to toxins, and halting his aging process—making him effectively immortal.
He's a genius who, utilizing advanced alien technology of Celestial origin, developed biotechnological enhancements that granted him telekinesis and the ability to manipulate energy.
Through this alien tech, he also gained the power to possess others and access their mutant abilities.
Thus, the Ancient One was aware of the hidden mutants in the world. Now, standing before her, she suspected that Jack Kenner might also be one, based on several observations she had made.
First, Jack was taken aback by the revelation that magic is real, showing a mix of surprise and relief that piqued the Ancient One's curiosity.
Second, as he aged, he retained a youthful appearance, which was unusual in today's world.
Third, he was nearing a century old, yet his physique remained unchanged since his youth.
These three observations led the Ancient One to conclude that Jack Kenner was indeed a mutant.
However, she sensed that he harbored many secrets she was still unaware of—perhaps the ability to conjure fire, ice, or other elemental forces.
Or maybe he possessed sharp claws or could create protective shields through his mutant powers.
Though she saw him as a good person, the Ancient One was not one to ignore the unknown; she felt the necessity to uncover the truth to prepare for what was to come.
That's why she had Vorrak by her side, keeping a watchful eye on him.
As for Jack Kenner, after processing the Ancient One's words, he agreed to follow her to the library, where Vorrak was lost in meditation, frowning and oblivious to the world around him.
---
Just moments before Jack Kenner and the Ancient One arrived, Vorrak was deep in meditation, lost in a trance. Suddenly, he felt his consciousness shift to a place that was both familiar and strange.
It was so vivid that it seemed like a dream—a moment from his past. In this place, he was taken aback to realize he was back when he was just a soul.
In the expanse of pure white, a single crimson red sword floated in front of him, undisturbed.
Vorrak remained rooted in place, carefully surveying the endless white surroundings.
"That sword… It's the one I've been searching for. I can't believe it's been within my mind all along." He frowned, overwhelmed by the surreal nature of it all.
It felt dreamlike, and though he felt a strong urge to reach for the sword, a part of him hesitated, fearing that doing so could lead to his downfall.
He often prepared for the worst. What if nothing happened when he reached for the sword? It seemed implausible, much like the plot twists he had encountered in various novels and comics, despite his hazy recollections of the past.
While some memories were clear, others eluded him, but he sensed that the current situation could lead to significant, perhaps irreversible, consequences.
And so, Vorrak held back from grasping the sword. For what felt like an eternity to him, only a minute passed outside.
"Why am I like this? Why am I hesitating to grab a sword? Am I really so cautious that I can only think of the worst outcomes?" he pondered.
Part of him resisted the idea of backing down, even if it meant facing death, while another part was gripped by fear.
He found himself torn about what to do with the sword before him. It was both a triumphant discovery and a reminder of his cowardice.
Indeed, he grappled with the notion that he was a coward, even as he reassured himself it was merely caution in his actions and awareness.
Now, he faced a test of his resolve: was he a true warrior at heart? Would he seize the sword, or would he retreat and lose the chance to wield it forever?
---
Outside of his awareness, the Ancient One and Jack Kenner were patiently awaiting Vorrak's completion of his meditation. They both understood the importance of maintaining focus during such a practice.
Meditation serves as a test of patience, and those who succeed are significantly rewarded, becoming more in tune with the energy they have accessed—particularly the universal energy harnessed by the Sorcerers of Kamar Taj.
As they waited, the truth about Vorrak began to surface. "That's your grandson, and the entity within him is known as the Corruptor. He's quite an interesting character, notorious for collecting pieces of skin from others, or so I've heard."
*Crack*
Then, out of nowhere, a loud snap echoed as Vorrak unleashed a surge of energy, a dark and malevolent force that made both Jack Kenner and the Ancient One take a few steps back in alarm.
Reacting quickly, they conjured a mirror dimension to contain the chaos while the energy from Vorrak continued to wreak havoc in the surroundings.
The Ancient One frowned; before she could fully grasp the situation, Vorrak's eyes flew open, emitting a blinding crimson light that filled the space.
Taken aback, Vorrak realized the disturbance he had caused and hastily used a sling ring to teleport away from the Ancient One, anxious about the impact this might have on their minds.
He was acutely aware of the sinister nature of his aura, even feeling his own thoughts deteriorating under its weight.
A crimson portal appeared before him, and without hesitation, he stepped through. He didn't care where he would land—his mind was too chaotic to think about it.
Watching this unfold, the Ancient One reflected on the vision she had seen while using the time stone to glimpse the future.
"Is this what it has come to? What have I set in motion?" she murmured, questioning her decision to teach Vorrak the Mystic Arts.
Suddenly, a portal opened and a human figure tumbled out. Jack Kenner quickly created his own portal to catch the falling person.
As soon as he recognized who it was, Jack Kenner breathed a sigh of relief—his grandson was unharmed and in good condition.
Jack Kenner's gaze turned intense as he focused on where Vorrak had just departed.
"Vorrak... thank you," he said gravely, feeling the robust life force radiating from his grandson. It seemed that with Vorrak inhabiting the body, it was now overflowing with vitality.
He sensed that something had been unlocked within his grandson's DNA, possibly the X gene—an indication of his mutant abilities.
Unbeknownst to Vorrak, the bearer of the body he had inhabited possessed the X gene, and had he been aware, he would have taken the time to examine and understand it fully.
Now, however, the body had been forcefully expelled from him.
---
In a distant, unfamiliar universe, amidst endless emptiness, Vorrak lay curled up like a little ball, clutching a tiny sword measuring just five inches.
His awareness was slipping away as his body twisted in discomfort. After a brief struggle, he finally found a moment of calm.
"What just happened? I pulled out the sword, and this is what I get?" Vorrak muttered, irritation lacing his words, just then, he heard a faint beeping sound.
[Congratulations, Host had found a relic of the past. Crimson Omen is a cursed blade forged from a dying star and bound to an ancient, malevolent entity...]