Chapter 51

  Arc 5 - Ch 4: Darkchylde

  Date: Sunday, May 29, 2011.

  Location: Four Seasons Downtown, Manhattan, New York

  Tyson and Illyana found themselves ba his suite just as the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the sky a kaleidoscope of warm hues. Tyson turo her, the sling ring clutched in his hand. He extended his arm, her the powerful artifact back, but Illyaly pushed his hand away.

  "You should hold on to that," she said seriously, her voice carrying a weight that he hadn't heard outside of when they'd been in dangerous situations.

  Tysoated, "Illyana, I don't want to cause you any trouble. You should take it back," he insisted, attempting to press the ring into her hand.

  But Illyana was having none of it. She crossed her arms, "I'm not taking it back," she stated, her tone leaving no room fument.

  Tyson searched her face, trying to dis why she was so adamant. There was a seriousness in her eyes, that went beyond mere stubbornness. Seeing his hesitation, Illyana sighed, her features softening ever so slightly. "Look," she began, her voice tinged with worry, "You mentiohat you sehis week was going to be big. Jubilee said earlier, the st time you had a feeling like this, the institute was attacked."

  Tyson fought back a frown. He khat their reasoning wasirely accurate. It hadn't been a feeling or a vision that had prompted his as, but rather a reition of the events unfolding around them. He couldn't ht expin his meta-knowledge to them. This was the closest he'd e.

  "I won't let you be taken. That won't happen again. Not if I help it." Illyana's plea was stuffed within a promise. "You o be prepared, have an option, a way out, if things go south," she pressed on, taking a step closer. "I 't always be there. As much as I want to, I won't be there to save you ime." The admission was tinged with regret.

  The weight of her words settled on Tyson's shoulders. He uood the lengths she was willing to go to keep him safe. This was her way of ensuring he survived.

  "I've only beeing wins since you've been gone," he said defiantly.

  Illyana raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm colored her words. "Maybe. But victories against who? A guy with a flying skateboard and a small dinosaur?" She scoffed, "What if Mago es back? Take the ring. Use it if you o. Just... be safe, okay?"

  Tyson waue, to assure her that Mago wouldn't e for him, but the words died on his tohe truth was, he couldn't be certain what the future held. ges had already occurred from what he knew before. He couldn't predict exactly what was in store. Plus, a part of him wao hold onto the sling ring. If he remembered correctly, and his meta-knowledge held, Thor would be arriving oh soon. The A One had been adamant that Tyson couldn't prevent the destru of the Rainbe. If she was right, aried to interfere anyway, there ossibility he could end up stranded on Asgard. If that happehe sling ring might be his only way back to Earth.

  Tyso out a resigned sigh. As much as he wao believe he could handle whatever came his way, Illyana had a point. The threats here were minor pared to what he had faced before. The Green Goblin and Lizard were child's py pared to the likes of Mago. Tyson pictured the master of magism in his mind, and a chill ran down his spine. He was making moves toroteg himself from the dangerous mutant but remained woefully unprepared to stand against such power.

  "You're right," he said finally.

  Relief filled Illyana's eyes as she pressed the sling ring into his palm, curling his fingers over the smooth metal. "Just promise me you'll be careful. I know you want to help people, but remember you 't save everyone. You're important too."

  Tyson ug the ring safely into his pocket. "I'll do my best. And I'll use this if I o escape."

  She pulled him into a fierce hug, and Tysour gratefully. They stayed that way for a long moment. When they finally pulled apart, he still felt uneasy about it, but he didn't push the issue further.

  "Trust me, Tyson. Everything will work out," she said reassuringly. "Now, let's head back before my time is up."

  With a flick of her wrist, she accessed her mutant power and a portal swirled to life. Hand in hand, Tyson and Illyana stepped through the series of shimmering vortexes, emerging onto the stoeps of the New York Sanctum.

  Her voice was gentle as she asked, "Are you looking forward to your date with Jubilee?"

  Tyson frowned, "I don't uand. Why are you pushing this date?" he tered.

  "Jubilee cares for you deeply. Deeply enough to risk her life fighting by your side against the demons. She gave you her power to aid me, but we both know it was truly for you," Illyana responded. She paused, gatherihoughts before tinuing. "If I hadn't been there... if you hadn't helped me battle the demons in Limbo when you first arrived at the institute, you likely would have ended up with her."

  A sad, regretful look crossed Illyana's face. "And that first day, everyone downpyed me banishing you as a schoolyard fight. I could have killed you. I did not deserve your help then."

  She went on, her voice heavy with regret. "Before that moment, I didn't know about the demons in Limbo. It's easy to look baow ahe way I acted… That was the first sign of the influehe demons being in Limbo had on my soul. But that's no excuse. At times, I still wonder if I deserve you even now. Without you, I would've ended up corrupted or killed by demons, or captured by Azazel and forced to be his queeher way, my life would have been over. Instead, I'm safe, learning to bee even stronger, and taking my future into my own hands. All because of you leadio the sorcerers."

  Illyayson's gaze steadily. "But Jubes... she has earned her ce at happiness with you, even if only for a day." her voice grew solemn. "I wao give you a year to experience a normal life. Things did not unfold that way. Such is often the case for people like us. But this may be the st carefree time you spend with Jubilee. You will be ing to Kamar Taj soon to begin your training."

  Tyson opened his mouth, ready to respond, to share the disappointi he'd been holding on to. "Illyana..." he began, but before he could finish she interrupted him.

  Illyana's expression hardened, leaving no room fument. "Don't try to vince me otherwise. You will do this. For her, and me, and yourself." Her tone brooked no disagreement, making it clear she would not be swayed.

  Tyso a flicker of annoya being shut down so pletely. When he spoke, his tone carried a slight edge of accusation. "So, you met Felicia. And it seems like I'll be going on a date with Jubilee," he said slowly, "Have you been seeing anyone?"

  Illyana's gaze drifted dowreet before returning to meet his. "There was this one guy," she admitted, her words ced with a hint of something unspoken.

  A sharp, ued pang of jealousy twisted in Tyson's gut. He fought to keep his voice even, to mask the sudden surge of emotion. "Who was he?" he asked, aiming for casual but falling short.

  Illyana's eyes sparkled with a teasing glint. "Jealous?" she asked, her tone pyful in trast to Tyson's seriousness. She paused, letting the question haween them before finally a name. "His name is Victor."

  "Victor?" Tyson echoed, the name unwele on his tongue. He was about to delve deeper, to probe for more information, when Illyana tinued, her words cutting off his train of thought.

  "He won't matter when you joi Kamar-Taj."

  Tyson said hesitantly, "About that…"

  But then he was interrupted yet again.

  This time it wasn't by Illyana, it was the heavy door of the Sanctum creaking open.

  The A Oood in the doorrojeg an aura of disappoi. "You have broken the rules, Illyana Rasputin," she stated.

  Illyana's brow furrowed in fusion, then her eyes sparkled with defiance. "How? I've only just returned, and not a day has passed," she tered, her tone carrying a note of challenge.

  "You stole a sling ring and taught Tyson magic. That is against our ws."

  "But teag him to use a sling ring barely ts as magic," Illyana argued. Her words were rushed and defensive as she attempted to downpy the severity of her as.

  The A One's gaze shifted, settling on Tyson. "And where, exactly, is the sling ring now?" she inquired, her voice deceptively calm.

  Illyaured towards Tyson, who raised his hand, holding the ring outstretched. "It's right here," he said steadily despite his nervousness.

  "You attempted to steal a magical artifact," The A One accused.

  Tyson's heart sank. He rushed to expin, to salvage the situation. "No, I didn't. That wasn't my iion," he protested, but the words rang hollow, even to his ears.

  "There will be sequences for this," The A One decred.

  Illyana stepped forward, pg herself between Tyson and the Sorcerer Supreme. "It was my choice to give it to him," she said, "Punish me."

  But The A One remained unmoved in the face of Illyana's defiayson will not be accepted to Kamar-Taj this year. He may be sidered agai year," she delivered the verdict, each word a hammer blow, shattering the hopes that had taken root in Illyana's heart.

  Illyana's protest was fierd immediate, "But he has the potential! You don't uand. He used the sling ring on his first try. You 't…" she began, her words tumbled over each other in a desperate bid to ge the Sorcerer Supreme's mind.

  "The decision is made," The A Oerrupted, her voice cut through Illyana's objes, leaving no room for further debate.

  Illyana's face flushed with anger, her hands g into fists at her sides, trembling with barely tained fury. "This is unfair," she said.

  But the A One's expression was unging. "Fairness does not govern the w. Adherence does," she expined in a chiding tone remi of a parent reprimanding a child.

  Tyson remained silent, uanding with a sinking realization, that this was likely the oute the A One had expected. He wouldn't have been accepted into Kamar-Taj anyway, not until after the Battle of New York. But now, the Sorcerer Supreme had a justification, a crete reason to bar his entry.

  Her invitation to the Sanctum had been a trap. Set up to lead to this very moment.

  Illyana gred at the A One, her disappoi and frustration palpable, "This isn't right," she decred, refusing to accept the decision that had been handed down.

  The A One shook her head, a gesture that held both finality and warning, as she said, "The matter is closed."

  As The A Ourned away, reentering the Sanctum, the finality of her words hung in the air. Illyana looked at Tyson, her sapphire eyes shimmering with guilt and apology. He could see the bme she pced squarely on her shoulders, though he loo reassure her that it was not her fault. Tears threateo spill from Illyana's eyes as she turo face Tyson fully, the guilt etched into every line of her face, a silent accusation against herself. Without hesitation, Tyson stepped forward, closing the distaween them and enveloping her in a hug.

  "I'm so sorry," Illyana whispered, her voice crag uhe strain of her emotions. She seemed smaller somehow with her usual fidence defted. "We should've just stayed ba the hotel room like you suggested," she murmured, a weak chuckle esg her lips in a feeble attempt to lightemosphere.

  Tyson responded with a chuckle of his own, a soft, reassuring sound that vibrated through his chest. "Hey, no, no. This is not your fault. Listen, this one is on me. I should have seen this ing. I was being selfish when I accepted the ring…" he said, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes.

  Illyana shook her head, her golden hair swaying with the motion. "But this isn't right. This isn't how things were supposed to go," she said, her voice ced with a sorrow that cut straight to Tyson's heart. "I just... I 't wait another year," Illyana fessed, her voice barely above a whisper, the words hung heavy between them.

  The weight of her admissioled on Tyson's shoulders. "We'll figure this out," he reassured her.

  Illyana paused, uainty flickering in her eyes like a dle in the wind. "I don't know if I should go back," she said, her voice trembling with the weight of her doubts.

  "No, you o stay," Tyson said firmly as his hands moved to grip her shoulders, "You're meant to be a sorceress. And you... shouldn't be defined by this. By me. You're talented, Illyana. And not just that. Learning magic is your best ce to close the portals in Limbo, to stop the demons."

  Her gaze held his, searg the depths of his eyes, seeking the truth in his words. And perhaps she found it. The familiar determined gliuro her sapphire orbs.

  "Okay," she finally agreed, "I'll stay. Not for you, but for me. Because you're right, I have things to do and learn." Illyana, for once, spoke hesitantly, "But I did do something for you. Or rather, I learned something, for us." She paused, gng down as she gathered her thoughts. "I wao show you when you got to Kamar Taj, but sihat's not happening..." Her voice trailed off and she looked up at Tyson almost sheepishly. "Promise you won't judge me too harshly. And create an illusion so no one see us."

  Tyson affirmed with a nod, "I promise.

  Illyana said slowly, "Remember when the A One said I could el the Limbo dimension as a power source?" Tyson nodded, recalling the versation from months earlier. Illyana tinued, her words ing faster now, "Well it turns out that has allowed me to learn magic far beyond what I should be able to do at this stage."

  As she spoke, Illyana began casting a spell, her hands weaving mystical gestures that led to the creation of sparks that hovered in the air. The sparks took on a distinct shape, f a plex spellform.

  Tyson warily watched her movements. He remembered the versation with the A One as he watched her casting, "Didn't the A One say that eling Limbo would be like letting the demons in...corrupting you?" Realization crossed Tyson's face as the implications sunk in.

  Illyana began to t in an aohe words flowed from her lips like a haunting melody. Tendrils of crimson energy swirled around her fingers, their iy grew with each sylble.

  As the t reached its cresdo, Illyana's body began to ge. Her ptinum hair darkened slightly. Her once fair skin took on an ashen hue as if the very essence of Limbo was seeping into her pores.

  Tyson watched in awe as Illyana's transformation tinued, her features shifting and morphing before his eyes. Her eyes, once a brilliant blue, now glowed an eerie yellow with the pupils reduced to slits. Horns, curved and sharp, erupted from her forehead. Clothing dissolved into nothingness, the fabriraveling like smoke on the wind, repced by a suit of armor that molded itself to her body. The dull silver metal g to her curves, hugging the swell of her hips and the gentle slopes of her breasts, atuating her feminine physique. As the transformation s end, a leathery tail unfurled from the base of her spine, and the appendage whipped through the air with a sinuous grace.

  Illyana's t reached its final he sparkling energy around her pulsing and thrumming as the sorcerous spellform mixed with the demonic magic of limbo. The entwined magics settled across Illyana's skin.

  She stood before Tyson, her very presence radiating an aura of danger and allure. He couldn't help but stare as he took in the sight of Illyana's transformed state. She was a vision of demonic beauty.

  Illyana opened her eyes, fag him, her yellow eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. "Demons corrupt, but Limbo is mine."

  "So, what do you think?" Illyana asked, her voice a throaty purr that sent shivers down Tyson's spine. She cocked her hips to the side, waiting for his response.

  Tyson swallowed hard, his eyes roaming over Illyana's transformed body. "You're... incredible, Lyana," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Illyana's smirk widened, showing off sharpened fangs. "Good. Because my spell allows us to touch," she stepped closer to Tyson. "And when I'm eling Limbo, and you're basking in my dark majesty… Call me Darkchylde."

  Tyson's eyes widened in surprise as he processed her expnation. "You learhat spell?" he asked, his voice trembling with excitement.

  Illyana closed the distaween them, her body mere inches from his. "For one minute, I'll be ued by your death touch," she expined. Her breath was warm and tickled his skin.

  Tyson's mind reeled. "I don't know what to say," he mumbled.

  Illyana smiled a genuine, warm smile that seemed at odds with her demonic appearance. "Don't say anything," she whispered, leaning in closer. "Just kiss me."

  And with that, their lips met in a passionate, searing kiss. Tyson's hands roamed over Illyana's armored body, marveling at the sensation of touch that had been deo him for so long. He could feel the power c through her, the dark energy of Limbo that flowed through her veins. As the kiss deepeyson's mind was flooded with images aions from Illyana's memories. He felt the weight of her burdens, the darkness lurking within her soul. But he also felt the strength of her spirit. They were lost in each other, their bodies and minds iwined. And when the spell finally ended, and they relutly pulled apart, Tyson had touched the darkness within Illyana, and it touched him iurn.

  Illyana's eyes widened as she took in Tyson's transformed appearahe result of abs her demonic powers during their passionate embrace. His skin, previously a light brown, had taken on a reddish tint. Tyson's eyes now glowed an eerie mismatched green and blue, the pupils reduced to mere slits. Horns had sprouted from his forehead. His face had taken on a sharper, more angur appearance. As her gaze traveled down Tyson's body, she he ges in his physique. His frame seemed even more powerful. His clothing had been repced by a form-fitting suit of pte armor, not unlike her own. The metal hugged his tours, atuating the raw power that his presence emanated.

  "Darkchylde," Tysohed, his voice taking on a deeper, more resonant tone. "We have to do that again."

  Tyson began to t, his words echoed with plyphs and sigils glowed around him, swirling with eldritch light. She could feel the hairs on her arms standing on end as the spell took form.

  With a final utterayson thrust his hand toward her, and the spell sank into her body. Illyana's heart pounded as Tyson's lips met hers once more. His kiss was hungry, passionate, demanding more. She yielded to him, her body melted against his armored form. Tyson's gaued hands slid over her armor. Piece by piece, he stripped away her protes, baring more of her flesh to his seeking mouth.

  Far too soon, their stolen minute ehe spell dissipated in a shimmer of light, leaving them breathless and wanting. She gasped as his firailed fire across her skin. Illyana gazed up at Tyson, eyes dark with desire. Her face was flushed, lips kiss-swollen, and she felt a thrill at the evidence of his need for her pressing against her side.

  "More," he growled, voice rough with arousal.

  A hint of flickered across Illyana's features. "Tyson, we o be careful. Pulling too deeply upon Limbo's power be dangerous."

  But Tyson was uerred, and spoke with a wild, almost feverish enthusiasm. "I ha. I've never felt so alive, so powerful. We could go to Limbo, cast the spell again, and make love like before."

  Illyana's heart ached at the longing in Tyson's voice, the desperate desire for a e that he had been denied siheir st enter. She uood the temptation, the allure of losing oneself in Limbo's raw, primal energies. But she also khe risks, and the toll that su act could take on their humanity.

  Reag out to cup his cheek, her thumb traced the sharp tours of his newly transformed face briefly before retrag as she felt the drain on her life force. "I know how much you want this. How much you crave the toud e you have been deprived of. But we have to be strong."

  Tyson's eyes had fluttered closed for a moment as he savored the sensation of her skin against his. "But why? Why deny ourselves this pleasure, this opportunity to be together?"

  Illyana smiled sadly, her heart heavy with the weight of her words. "Because, my love, if we pull too deeply upon Limbo's power, we risk losing ourselves entirely. We could bee ed, our humanity stripped away until nothing remains but the demons. Search my memories and you'll uand. The demonifluence of Limbo tempts you and pulls at your base desires. It's like Sabertooth. But you've gotten so good at trolling your impulses, your influehis is no different."

  Tyson delved into Illyana's memories, seeking uanding. He learhat the demonic appearahey had taken on was not a physical transformation like Dr. ors experienced. Rather, it was a side effect of eling too much of Limbo's dark magic. When drawing upon that tainted power, the corruption of the demons seeps into the magic itself and is the caster. Tyson had already received a double dose; once from kissing Illyana, and again from casting the portal spell, tapping directly into Limbo's energies. The transformation was not something that enhahe magic; it was a symptom of pulling too deeply from that demonic dimension to fuel are spells. Draw too greedily, and the bleed-off could Tyson or Illyana into full demons, potentially even binding them permaly to Limbo.

  The revetioyson shaken. He knew now the seductive danger of Limbo's power. Like an addictive drug, it could transform the user beynition if abused. Tyson uood he would o exercise restraint when wielding magic tied to this realm, lest he lose himself to corruption, a price that her of them could afford to pay.

  With a heavy sigh, Tyson pulled away. "You're right," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "We 't risk it, no matter how much we might want to."

  Illyana's mouth curled into a bittersweet smile. "I know it's hard, Tyson. But we have to be strong, for each other and ourselves. I'll get stronger and be able to cast this spell without the downsides, I promise."

  The two lovers stood in the shadow of the New York Sanctum in their demonis. "You should think about college," Illyana suggested.

  Tyson was caught off guard by the statement and shifted unfortably. "My guidance selor made me send out a felications, but I haven't followed through..." he admitted with a hint of guilt.

  "You should," Illyana insisted, her voice brooking nument. "Keep living your life. We'll see each other year." Her words carried a note of finality.

  Without warning, she swirled her arm in the air, and a portal appeared with a whoosh. Tyson's eyes widened, "Wait," he said quickly, urgently.

  "It'll just make it harder," she said as she avoided his gaze, uo bear the pain lurking in its depths. "And have fun with Jubilee. I like her. She's got spunk. Felicia's...acceptable, I suppose."

  Tyson's voice was tinged with desperation as he pleaded, "Darkchylde… Illyana, slow down."

  But Illyana's expression hardened with solemn resignation. "This is better. For both of us." Her voice was barely audible as she stepped through the swirling vortex and disappeared, the portal snapping shut behind her.

  A sinking feeliled in Tyson's gut, a sense of foreboding as the empty silence echoed Illyana's departure. He stood there, heart heavy with the knowledge that she was gone. Sorrow welled up within him, but receded as fragments of Illyana's memories surfaced. Thoughts about their retionship, her feelings towards him. Iably, they turo Jubilee and the man she had mentioned, going on a date with. Victor.

  Curiously, Tyson delved into her memories around this… Victor. But he only got as far as his surname before he froze.

  Von Doom.

  Tyson rolled the name around in his mind, lost in ption at its familiarity for less than a heartbeat.

  Then rage flooded through him like a lightning strike, sc away all traencholy. His hands curled into white-knuckled fists, nails biting into his palms. His jaw ched, breaths ing in sharp, harsh bursts through fred nostrils.

  Victor Von Doom.

  Dr. Doom.

  Fury coursed through Tyson's veins as he stormed towards the door of the Sanctum. Blood dripped from where his adamantium nails had dug into his skin. He cocked his arm ba the door, but before he could strike, it swung open. The A Oood there, her voice as smooth as silk, trasting the boiling rage within him. "Tyson, please e in."

  A growl rumbled in his throat, a primal sound that spoke of the depth of his emotions. "Skip the pleasantries." His words were sharp, cutting through the air like a bde. He wanted answers, not courtesies, and his voice rose with each passing sed.

  "Inside, please," The A One said, a note of firmness underlined her calm demeanor, a subtle reminder of the authority she wielded.

  Tyson decided against making a se oreet. He stormed in, his steps heavy with the weight of his frustration. The door closed behind them, sealing them off from the outside world. The lights within the Sanctum dimmed red as Tyson's demoni triggered the wards. But he paid them no mind as he exploded, the name bursting from his lips. "Victor Von. Fug. Doom!"

  "Names! I pyed along with your pns, but this is too muo more."

  The A One listened silently, her expression an unreadable mask. When she finally spoke, her words carried the weight of iability. "I am going to die. You know this."

  Tyson's anger wavered, and a flicker of uainty broke through the storm of his emotions. But it was short-lived, his rage wasn't so easily quelled. He poi her angry and acg, "You don't get to pull that card. You were the ohat made me promise not to interfere with that," he shot back, his voice a mix of betrayal and desperation, "And why shouldn't I? I could take down Kaecilius, and stop Doom before he's a real threat!"

  The A Oyson's gaze, her eyes b into his soul, as if she could see the very fabric of his being. Her voice carried the weight of her position, "Because I ot see past my end. The Sorcerer Supreme must protect the Earth and the time sto transds me, it transds you, Tyson, and it certainly transds any feelings you harbor for Illyana."

  Tyson stood silent, his posture stiff, his mind rag with the implications of her words. He kneossible future, but it was only ohere were already so many small ges. Despite what he thought he knew, and what his metaknowledge granted him, the future was unknowable. Illyana going on a date with fug Dr. Doom roof of that.

  The A One tinued, "There are many who might succeed me, but things keep ging." She began to t off on her fingers, eaame a possibility, a potential path that the future might take. "Steven Strange, Kaecilius, Karl Mordo, Wong, Illyana Rasputin, Victor Von Doom, several others whom I ot say, and..." She paused, a hint of something that might have been amusement in any other situation crossed her face.

  "Tyson Smith."

  Tyson's rea began as a low, rumbling chuckle, but quickly died into something more manic, a sound of frustration and disbelief.

  "Don't patronize me. The whole 'You're the chosen one' bullshit might have worked back when I first arrived at your doorstep," Tyson said, his voice raw with emotion. "If I'm truly a didate to succeed you, let me begin training now. I'll work harder than anyone. I'll protect the Earth, the Time Stohe Sanctum, Illyana, all of it." He was nearly begging now, pleading with everything he had. The depth of his vi was clear in every word, i of his shoulders, the iy of his gaze. This was more than a request. It was a vow.

  The A One shook her head, her expression unging, "No, Tyson. There is a price to pay first." A growl of frustration tore from his throat, it was a sound that spoke of the wearihat came from being told of costs and sequehat he could not fully uand. The A One remained calm as she faced his ahough it did little to quell the fire burning within him. "If I let you into Kamar-Taj now, yer will lead you to front Victor Von Doom, and likely Kaecilius too, altering the future I strive to protect."

  Tyson's hands ched into fists, his adamantium talons slid out involuntarily in a physical maion of the rage that ed him. "It's not Kaecilius and Doom you should be worried about," he decred.

  Suddenly, the world around them shifted, the walls of the Sanctum gave way to an illusioed by Tyson's powers, a maion of the fury that coursed through his veins.

  They stood by a window in a hospital room, gazing out at a river as a solitary bolt of lightning branched across the stormy sky. Time slowed to a crawl, and the lightning bolt spread as slowly as mosses.

  The A his se with a heavy heart. It was the furthest point iure her eyes had beeted to see, a limitation imposed by the Time Stoself. She took in the view of her final vision, knowing what it represented.

  The moment of her death.

  Tyson's voice cut through the silence, colder than the air outside the illusionary window.

  "You act all wise, you think you know what's best," Tyson said, his voice cold and sharp as a bde. "You. Know. Nothing." He drew out each word for emphasis. "Nothing beyond this point."

  He stalked closer, looming over her though she did not retreat. "You're trying to direct a py when you haven't finished reading the script. How could Kaecilius be a didate when you know what he'll do?" His lip curled in a sneer. "Is Ned on your list too? Or America?" He ughed mogly. "No, they wouldn't be. Because you don't know who they are. Because you 't see past this point and have no idea who I'm talking about!"

  The A One said nothing, her pcid expressioraying not a hint of the turmoil Tyson's words stirred within her. She had known this frontation was ing, though she had hoped that possibilities would align to avoid it.

  With deadly calm, he spoke, each word a promise, a threat that hung heavy in the air. "If anything happens to Illyana. You won't live to see this day."

  The vision around them dissolved, and the walls of the Sanctum reappeared as the lights returo their normal brightness. Tyson had teleported away, leaving the A One aloh the weight of a future clouded by uainty.

  She stood alone in the Sanctum, the burden of her knowledge weighing heavily upon her. But the A One held fast to the belief that there was still hope, that the future was not set in stone.

  — Rogue Rept —

  When Tyson materialized, the grouh his feet was a scorched, barren wastend, littered with jagged rocks and pools of bubbling, noxious liquid. The sky above was a swirling maelstrom of reds and bcks, punctuated by fshes of sickly green lightning that illumihe hellish se in brief, disorienting bursts.

  Tyson's eyes, still held the demoni as he sed the horizon, his face torted into a mask of pure, unadulterated rage. The A One's words echoed in his mind as a taunting reminder of his limitations. He could feel the anger within him, a seething, boiling fury threateo e him entirely. In the real world, Tyson knew he couldn't give in to his darker impulses, and couldn't unleash the full extent of his powers without devastating sequences. But here, in Limbo, the rules were different. This was a realm where the strong thrived and the weak were ed.

  Tyson's fists ched at his sides, his knuckles turned white with the force of his grip. He o unleash his rage, to find an outlet for the fury that burned within him like a raging inferno. And thanks to Illyana's gift, he had the perfect hunting ground. In the distance, he could see the twisted, malformed creatures that inhabited this hellish realm, their bodies were a grotesque amalgamation of flesh and bone, and their eyes glowed with a feral, hungry light.

  Tyson smiled a cold, predatrin that held no trace of humanity. These were the perfect targets for his rage, the ideal victims upon which to unleash the full extent of his powers. Tyson maed the armor around his hands and arms, leaving only his adamantium cws uncovered.

  He stepped, and the borrowed teleportation power allowed him to close the distayson approached the first of the creatures, a hulking, misshape with razor-sharp cws and a maw filled with jagged, needle-like teeth. The creature lu him, a blur of teeth and cws, but Tyson was ready. He sidestepped the attack with inhuman speed, his wickedly sharp talons, sliced through the beast's flesh like a hot khrough butter. The creature howled in agony, its blood spttering the ground in a spray of crimson.

  But Tyson wasn't finished. He unleashed a flurry of blows. The creature stood no ce against the onsught, its body sliced and eviscerated with each strike.

  The creature's body hit the ground with a heavy thud, its limbs twitg sporadically as the st vestiges of life drained away. Tyson turo the horizon and the expanse of Limbo that stretched before him. His eyes glinted with a wild, predatory light, feral instincts rose to the forefront of his mind. This hellish dimension was his pyground now, a ndscape ripe for unleashing the full fury of his rage and darkest desires.

  He inteo take full advantage of the time he had allotted himself. One hour in which restraint and mercy would be cast aside, his inner demons given free rein to mete out destru. One hour to visit every ounce of pent-up misery he harbored onto the inhabitants of this nightmarish realm. The thought stirred his blood, primal anticipation flooding his veins. His cws flexed at his sides, razor-sharp talons ag to rend flesh. Tyson bared his teeth in a savage grin and broke into a loping run, his powerful limbs eating up the ground, bolstered by occasional teleports, as he raced toward his victim. For one hour… the hunt was on.

  — Rogue Rept —

  Nearly two hours ter, Tyson found himself sitting in a b at the House of M, his mind reeling from the aftermath of his impulsive rampage through Limbo. The b was a mess, a chaotic jumble of papers strehazardly across every avaible surface.

  Tyson sat hunched over a rge, wooden table, he rested his elbows on the surface with his head cradled in his hands. He was kig himself mentally, cursing his stupidity and ck of trol. He had been given an incredible gift, a ce to wield Illyana's power for aended period, and what had he doh it? He'd wasted most of his allotted time on a meaningless rampage through Limbo.

  The st time Tyson had been granted access to Illyana's abilities, he had used the opportunity to amass a fortuhrough a single heist. It had been a risky, stupid, fool-hearted move. It had put him in the crosshairs of multiple gover agencies. But it had set him up for a fortable existence, free from financial worry. But this time, he had squandered his ce, allowing his baser instincts to take trol, to guide him doath of destru.

  Tyson sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping in disappoi. He knew he had no oo bme but himself. He had allowed his anger, his frustration, to cloud his judgment. And now, he was left with the sequences of his as, the bitter taste ret lingered on his tongue.

  But even as he berated himself, Tyson knew he couldn't afford to wallow in self-pity. He had to make the most of what little time he had left, to use Illyana's power to its fullest potential. And so he turned his attention to the pages that spread out before him, the fruits of his bors from the remainder of his time with her knowledge.

  The table was littered with sheets of paper, each covered in an array of are scribbles and rough transtions. Tyson had been w feverishly, his hand flew across the pages as he sketched out the intricate runes and symbols o cast the Death Ward spell. It was a plex intation that required an uanding of the mystical arts, a nguages, and an unwavering focus.

  Tyson had none of those things. Yet, for now, he had all those things, thanks to the temporary, borrowed knowledge he had absorbed from Illyana during their kiss.

  But Tyson would only have true uanding, for the few minutes until Illyana's power and memories faded. And now, as he stared down at the pages before him, he could see the fruits of his efforts taking shape. The runes and symbols were intricate, eae carefully crafted to el the mystical energies o cast the Death Ward spell. The transtions were rough, hastily scribbled in the margins, but they were enough to guide him through the plex intation.

  Tyson's eyes flicked across the pages ensuring that every detail was correct. He khat even the slightest mistake could have catastrophisequences, and as soon as her knowledge faded Tyson would be unize any mistakes he'd made.

  But as he reviewed his yso a sense of growing fidence, a certainty that he had done everything right. The Death Ward spell was within his grasp; the ability to touch, the freedom and normalcy that had eluded him for so long, was within his grasp.

  Tysohe st wisps of Illyana's borrowed knowledge slipping away as his e to Limbo faded. He took a deep, steadying breath, he shut his eyes to gather his resolve.

  When he opened his eyes, his gaze fell uporanscribed spell. A flicker of disappoiwisted his features as the runes and symbols danced across the page, their meanings slipped away like grains of sand through his fingers. Expetly, the uandings and insights that had guided his hand during the transcription had vanished, leaving behind a jumbled mess of gibberish.

  Yet, a glimmer of hope remained. His notes scrawled in pin English, remained clear and legible.

  Without Illyana's mystical expertise to guide him or her e to Limbo, achieving the Death Ward casting would be impossible. Though the intricate intation was now far beyond him, the pleted spellform and hasty notes were securely in his possession. He had doted every detail he could. But with the spellform fully transcribed and hints at how to acquire the necessary foundational are knowledge, Tyson had a base to build upon. The road ahead would be difficult without a mentor to lead him through the intricacies of the mystic arts. But with his substantial financial resources and es, Tyson was determio begin the journey on his terms, rather than wait at the A One's whim.

  It would be a long, solitary road of study and experimentation. But Tyson now possessed the tools to take the first steps. He tightened his jaw in quiet resolve. The reward would be worth whatever the cost. The ability to touch others, to truly ect with them on a physical level, was a gift beyond measure.

  And so, with a final, determined nod, Tyson pushed himself to his feet, his hands swept the pages into a stack before him. The spell he now possessed was only one of the avenues he pnned on pursuing. He had work to do. And nothing, not the lingeri of his impulsive as in Limbo, nor a powerful sorceress who could see the future, would stop him.

  Behind the Ses

  - Through the previous feters we see Tysnizing that his illusion power has grown signifitly, but g that his absorption hasn't. But it has, just not in the way that Tyson expects. He hasn't gained trol of the absorption but has grow es to trolling other personalities. Their influen him is less and his trol over them only loosens in moments of heavy emotional stress or when he wants to let them out.

  In chapter 46 we saw Tyson touch a hand thug so that he could learn Japa's the first time iory that Tyson flippantly uses his life absorption and he is pletely ued beyond gaining the knowledge he wants. It's subtle, but Tyson was always remorseful when using his life drain without sent. This remorse and apologetic feelings were because ue moping within his head.

  Here we see Tyson being influenced briefly by the Darkchylde personality and the strong e to Limbo, once Illyana points out the influeyson reign it in. The personality emerges agaihe A One angers him. But Tyson think through the rage, vents his emotions in Limbo, and then uses Illyana's power toward something structive.

  His as show his growth, but he still has a way to go.

  - In the first draft of this arc, this chapter and the previous two were all one long chapter. Splitting it allowed me to get more depth. In this chapter particurly, I was able to delve into some of Illyana's thoughts, and reasoning behind her as in arc 1 that I didn't explore at that time. Also since Illyana hadn't had an appearan Arc 4 and won't have one in Arc 6, I wao do something special by showing her progress and Darkchylde.

  - Every on a while I get asked if the Fantastic Four will be in this story. sider this chapter firmation. I have a rough idea of when they'll be introduced. Don't get too excited that I name-dropped Doom. I have a story idea around his introdu, and it will be separate from the F4, but the soo either will be seen is… *cheotes* Arc 8. That's a long way off.

  - In the initial outline for this Arc, Illyana's appearance was mostly a meism for Tyson to get his hands on a sling ring. Iline, I didn't defihe oute of the events of, Thor. Some things I pn, but others I 'discovery write' and just decide as I move through the narrative. But giving him the sling ring would have served as a 'get out of jail free'. But as I wrote, I focused more on Illyana and her appearance became much more. Ultimately Tyson did not get the sling ring. If you're this far into the story, you know I have no qualms against putting Tyson in jail.