A bit punk.
That was Saiki Kusuo's assessment.
He [Apocalypse] gave Saiki Kusuo a strange smile.
"You've come, my child."
Saiki Kusuo: "???"
This guy's as bad as Charles, calling everyone 'child'. No wonder he wants to switch bodies with Charles.
However, Saiki Kusuo couldn't read his mind. The man suddenly teleported right in front of him.
His expressionless, paint-smeared face made Saiki Kusuo take a few steps back in disgust.
"I can sense that you are a very gifted child."
Saiki Kusuo: "???"
"So, come join my flock. Only I can make you stronger."
What is this? Trying to poach talent from under someone's nose? No, wait, he's not Charles's subordinate, it should be said that the other party is engaging in a pyramid scheme right in front of him.
Because he couldn't read the other's mind, Saiki Kusuo couldn't confirm his exact intentions. But judging from his underlings, he probably used this method to trick people into working for him.
Unfortunately, Saiki Kusuo wasn't one of those naive young people. Besides, he had no grand ambitions. He just wanted to eat his beloved coffee jelly every day and live a peaceful life.
Mutant Number One's persuasion was completely ineffective on him. Most importantly, the man said that only he could make Saiki stronger. Ha, what an arrogant fool.
Saiki Kusuo interrupted his slow, sleep-inducing tone: "Sir."
Mutant Number One: "You may call me Apocalypse."
Saiki Kusuo: "Alright, Mr. Apocalypse, I don't think I have time to listen to your lecture. The person lying there is my friend. Can you hand him over to me?"
As he spoke, he calculated the probability of rushing to Charles in front of Apocalypse, teleporting away with him. If that failed, what were the chances of taking down Apocalypse while ensuring Charles still had a breath left in him?
Finally, he concluded that it would be best to just send Apocalypse to Thanos's home planet.
However, in the next second, Apocalypse said something that shocked him.
"Of course. If he's your friend, I won't stop you from taking him."
Saiki Kusuo: "???"
(What's going on? Something's not right!)
Unable to use telepathy, Saiki Kusuo couldn't guess what Apocalypse was up to. He subtly tried to establish contact with Charles, hoping to get an explanation for Apocalypse's sudden change in attitude.
Unfortunately, Charles seemed to be completely unconscious. No matter how Saiki Kusuo called out, there was no response. Apocalypse, however, saw through his plan and smiled slightly.
The smile, combined with his face, was downright terrifying, clearly hinting at some sort of scheme.
"I apologize. He was being rather… uncooperative, so I knocked him out."
He seemed to genuinely consider Saiki Kusuo a comrade, revealing everything without reservation. He swept his hand over Charles's face, and Charles immediately opened his eyes and sat up on the stone bed.
Charles was initially confused, but upon seeing Apocalypse and Saiki Kusuo facing each other, he shouted, "Be careful, Saiki! This guy is dangerous."
"Dangerous? No, I would never harm a comrade," Apocalypse said.
Charles was stunned. "What do you mean?" He seemed to have an idea, and turned to Saiki Kusuo, questioning him loudly, "Don't tell me, Saiki, you've already joined him?"
Saiki Kusuo gave Charles a look that said, Are you an idiot? Seeming to realize how foolish his question was, Charles calmed down and coughed to cover his embarrassment, whispering, "Saiki, what's going on?"
Saiki Kusuo sighed helplessly. "If I knew, I would have gotten you out of here already. I'm the one who should be asking you what's going on!"
Charles frowned. "What do you mean?"
Saiki Kusuo: "I asked him to hand you over, and he not only didn't attack me, he agreed to let me take you."
Charles looked like he'd been betrayed. "Are you stupid? Why didn't you just secretly take me away? Asking him directly is just asking for trouble! Wait, you said he agreed to let you take me?"
Charles's eyes widened, as if he'd heard something unbelievable.
Saiki Kusuo shrugged, gesturing towards Apocalypse.
Apocalypse, even knowing their plan, didn't stop them.
Not only that, he seemed to think Charles was in the way, urging Saiki Kusuo, "His comrades are making a lot of noise outside. You should take him out quickly."
Charles: "???"
Saiki Kusuo: "???"
Even when the two of them were standing outside the pyramid, they were still completely dumbfounded.
Charles couldn't hold it in any longer. "What the hell happened? Why did he let me go? Do you really have some kind of secret relationship with him?"
Considering how Apocalypse had tortured him to the brink of death earlier, declaring he would take over his body, Charles couldn't believe he'd be let go so easily.
"Instead of believing I have a relationship with him, you'd be better off believing he gave up on you because you're disabled and he doesn't want to spend his life in a wheelchair."
Thinking about it that way, it made sense.
Saiki Kusuo put Charles in his wheelchair and pushed him out.
By now, the battle between the assault team and Apocalypse's underlings was nearing its end.
With Raven and Erik leading the charge, the opponents were no match.
The female bodyguard had fled, and the punk girl and the rooster-guy were severely injured and unconscious.
When they arrived, Raven was checking on the team members' injuries. Hearing the noise, she looked up.
"Charles!"
Raven cried out in surprise, simultaneously setting Alex's dislocated arm. He let out a yelp of pain.
Saiki Kusuo handed Charles over to Raven. Raven checked Charles over and, finding him uninjured, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Raven," Charles said. He looked at the others. "Thank you all, too."
Having successfully delivered Charles, Saiki Kusuo turned to leave. He was still thinking about the Time Stone in Apocalypse's possession.
Charles seemed to be suspicious of whether Saiki Kusuo had defected, and seeing him about to leave, quickly called out, "Where are you going?"
"To get the Time Stone, of course. Or did you really think I was going to join the enemy?" Apocalypse's block was gone, and Saiki Kusuo knew of his suspicion. So he answered honestly. Charles was immediately relieved.
"Then hurry back."
He didn't read Saiki Kusuo's mind. After all, he didn't really suspect Saiki Kusuo would be turned, but he'd seen Apocalypse's methods and was worried Saiki Kusuo might have fallen victim to them, controlled by Apocalypse.
After all, as far as Charles saw it, Apocalypse needed a suitable vessel. Now, it seemed the best choice wasn't him, and the only other suitable candidate was Saiki Kusuo.
He watched Saiki Kusuo leave, then said to the others, "Alright, the battle is over. Let's go back."
However, before he could push his wheelchair a few steps, he suddenly stopped. He looked at the members of the assault team, puzzled.
"Where's Jean?"
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