Secret Wars Volume 2
X-Men: Covert / Instinct / Strength
The Soulsword is the ultimate embodiment of Illyana’s magical strength. Forged during a time of great need and despair. Illyana was desperate to find a way to free herself of Belasco and find a way to leave Limbo. Attempting to use the white magics that her previous teacher, the elderly Ororo, taught her. She attempted to create, with all her strength, something that would help to free herself; only to find that she would fail each time. Realizing that she could not properly produce the exact spells as the elderly Ororo because they used magic with differing motives, she reconfigured the spells. She would use a portion of her still intact pure soul combined with her motivation, revenge, a bright light grew directly in front of her. When she reached in she drew forth, what appeared to be a very simple looking silver sword. When she fully grasped it and pulled it from the brightness, light enveloped it completely and a surge of energy consumed Illyana. While in Illyana’s hands the Soulsword, as she named it, aided her in defeating Balesco. It also contributed to her ruling in Limbo, controlling her demons while away, and in battle while she was on the Earth dimension. With each and every use of the blade, its strength grew and its abilities increase exponentially. Much later it was revealed that the sword was just the beginning of her magically strengths. Through time a suit of armor composed of the same magical properties as the sword would come to the holder of the blade. It was revealed by Dr. Doom that the Soulsword granted leadership of Limbo, and the armor was, by right, the protection given to the owner of the sword.