Chapter 78: A Drop of Blood
The conference room lights were as stark white as a hospital emergency room, casting a sickly pallor on everyone's faces.
Rorschach leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over those present—Charles sat at the head of the table, hands folded, his expression as serene as a priest's after mass.
Eric stood by the window, his back to everyone, staring out at the pitch-black night sky, his shoulders tense like a bowstring drawn to its limit.
Darwin and Banshee were squeezed into one chair; Havok, Alex, sat with his head bowed, fiddling with his fingers, from which a red spark or two occasionally jumped, only to be smothered by Angel's wing next to him.
Toad huddled in a corner, clutching a ball of light, squeezing it until it dispersed, then forming it again, repeating the cycle like a malfunctioning machine.
Raven leaned on Rorschach's shoulder, her blue scales glowing dully under the fluorescent light. Her breathing was light, but Rorschach could feel the slight stiffness in her shoulder—it was tension, and also anticipation.
"Everyone's here," Charles began, his voice soft yet causing everyone to look up.
He stood up and walked to the whiteboard.
The four photos of the Hellfire Club members were still pinned there. Shaw's smile remained impeccable, the White Queen's gaze as coldly beautiful as ever, with Azazel and Riptide occupying their corners, like the King, Queen, Ace, and Joker in a deck of cards.
"We all experienced what happened today," Charles's gaze swept over the group. "Anything to say?"
Silence.
Darwin scratched his head and mumbled softly, "Anything to say? I wanna say that diamond woman was really damn hard."
Banshee chimed in beside him, "Hard is one thing, but she's also so pretty. Pretty is one thing, but she can fight so well. Fighting well is one thing, but she can also control her emotions—when she turned to diamond, I tried to disrupt her with my sonic waves, but she didn't even flinch."
"She doesn't have eyebrows," Alex said quietly. "When her face is diamond, her eyebrows are diamond too."
"...You observed really closely."
Raven looked up at Charles. "That Azazel, how do we deal with him? He's too fast, impossible to catch."
Charles nodded and turned to Eric. "Eric, what do you think?"
Eric finally turned around and stepped into the light. His face was colder than usual, but the fire that had burned in his eyes for eighteen years seemed to burn even fiercer today.
"Azazel's spatial teleportation," he began, his voice low, "isn't infinite. He needs time to locate each teleport, about a fraction of a second. If we can seize that gap and blanket his landing point with area attacks, he won't be able to escape."
"A fraction of a second?" Darwin's eyes widened. "Who can catch that?"
"I can," Eric said flatly.
Everyone fell silent.
Alright, Magneto could indeed catch it.
Charles continued, "Riptide didn't act today, but according to Moira's intel, his tornado radius can reach fifty meters, with wind speeds over three hundred kilometers per hour. Once he goes all out, we won't even be able to stand steady."
"I can fly," Angel raised his hand.
"Can you fly inside a tornado?"
Angel thought for a moment and silently lowered his hand.
Darwin suddenly asked, "What about that Shaw? He just came out to say hello today and then left. What does he actually want?"
Charles and Eric exchanged a glance.
"A show of force," Charles said slowly. "He wants us to know he doesn't take us seriously at all."
Eric sneered, "More than that. He wanted me to see him, to remember what happened eighteen years ago. He wants me angry, out of control, rushing to my death."
"You almost did rush up," Raven said softly.
"Almost," Eric glanced at her. "But I didn't."
Rorschach leaned back in his chair and spoke lazily, "So besides getting a sense of their capabilities, what did we gain from today's operation?"
Everyone looked at each other.
Darwin scratched his head. "The gain is... we got our butts kicked?"
"And?"
"...We came back alive?"
Rorschach laughed. "What kind of gain is that? Coming back alive is the bare minimum; dying would have been a loss."
Charles looked at him, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny. "Do you have something to say?"
Rorschach stood up, walked to the whiteboard, and pointed his finger at the White Queen's photo.
"Emma Frost, the White Queen. An Omega-level telepath, psychic power on par with Charles. Can transform her entire body into diamond, Mohs hardness 10, basically immune to physical attacks. When transformed, she has no emotions and is immune to all psychic attacks."
He paused and looked at the group. "But did you notice? She has two weaknesses."
Charles raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"First, she can't use both abilities simultaneously." Rorschach pointed at the coldly beautiful face in the photo. "When she diamondizes, she can't use Telepathy. To use Telepathy, she can't diamondize. Why did she stay in Diamond Form the whole time today? Because among us, there's Charles."
Everyone suddenly understood.
"She was afraid Charles would read her mind," Alexblurted out.
"Right," Rorschach nodded. "So she chose defense, giving up offense. That gives us an opportunity."
"What opportunity?" Darwin asked.
Rorschach didn't answer directly and continued, "Second, her eyes."
He pointed at the blue eyes in the photo. "When diamondized, her eyes can't completely turn to diamond. That's the only weak point on her body. If Eric's strike today had been a bit more accurate, the angle a bit trickier—"
"It could have pierced through," Eric took over, a glint flashing in his eyes. "Her eyes are the entry point."
Charles pondered for a moment, then looked at Rorschach. "You observed very carefully."
Rorschach spread his hands. "Had nothing better to do."
Raven whispered beside him, "You were busy touching her face."
Rorschach said without changing expression, "Touching her face was part of the observation."
Raven rolled her eyes.
Charles cleared his throat lightly, steering the conversation back on track. "So, next time we face the White Queen, our tactic is clear—force her to switch forms. When she's diamondized, Erik attacks her eyes with metal. When she reverts to her human form, I use Telepathy to control her."
"What about Azazel and Riptide?" Banshee asked.
"Azazel is mine," Eric said. "His teleportation isn't unlimited. I can cover the entire battlefield with metal, leaving him no place to land."
"Riptide..." Charles looked at the group. "We need someone to hold him off."
Darwin slapped his thigh. "I can take a beating!"
Banshee raised his hand. "I'll use sonic waves to disrupt him. Tornadoes are air currents; sound waves can affect their direction."
Alex said quietly, "I can blast him from a distance."
Angel flapped his wings. "I can distract him from the air."
Toad poked his head out from the corner. "I... I can flash light in his eyes?"
Everyone looked at him.
Toad shrank back sheepishly. "Forget I said that."
Charles nodded. "Then it's settled. In the next few days, targeted training. We need to find ways to counter them in the shortest time possible."
Everyone assented.
After the meeting, Rorschach walked out of the conference room with his arm around Raven. The corridor lights were dim and yellowish, stretching their shadows long.
Leaning on his shoulder, Raven suddenly asked, "What were you really thinking when you touched her face today?"
Rorschach looked down at her and smiled carelessly. "Thinking her skin was really nice."
"Cut it out."
"Seriously," Rorschach tightened his arm around her waist. "Smoother than yours."
Raven raised her hand to punch him, but he caught her wrist.
"But I prefer yours," he leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice. "The scaly kind, has texture."
Raven's ears turned slightly red. She glared at him but didn't pull away.
The two walked away, chatting and laughing.
Behind them, Eric stood at the conference room door, watching their retreating backs with a complex look in his eyes.
Charles walked to his side, following his gaze, and sighed softly. "Eric, some things—"
"I know," Eric interrupted. "Don't need to say it."
Charles was silent for two seconds, then suddenly asked, "Do you think what he did today was on purpose?"
"What?"
"Touching the White Queen's face."
Eric thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Don't know. But that speed of his isn't something an ordinary person could have."
Charles nodded, his gaze deep. "I noticed that too."
The two looked at each other and said nothing more.
Early the next morning, as the sun just peeked over the horizon, an urgent CIA communication shattered the manor's tranquility.
Moira's voice came through the communicator, carrying barely suppressed urgency. "Charles! Shaw's ship is moving! He's heading towards Cuban waters, coordinates sent to you!"
Charles jumped out of bed and grabbed the communicator. "What about the US and Soviet fleets?"
"Already at DEFCON 2! Warships from both sides are gathering in that area, could open fire any moment!"
Charles took a deep breath and looked out the window.
In the morning light, the others were emerging from their rooms, faces showing varying degrees of confusion and alertness.
"Assemble," his voice echoed in everyone's minds. "We leave in five minutes."
The C-130 transport plane took off again, carrying these young Mutants, speeding south towards the sea.
No one spoke in the cabin.
Darwin was fiddling with the freshly scabbed wound on his arm, a'souvenir' from yesterday's training.
Siren held his headphones, lips moving slightly as he hummed an unknown tune.
Ravager Alex stared at the floor, fingers unconsciously tapping his knee, each tap producing a crackle of red energy sparks.
Angel curled up in her seat, wings folded around her like a transparent cloak. Raven leaned against Rorschach's shoulder, breathing steadily.
Charles sat at the front, the latest intelligence reports spread across his lap.
Eric stood by the hatch, arms crossed, watching the approaching sea surface through the window.
Rorschach feigned sleep with his eyes closed, his psychic energy quietly spreading out, covering the entire cabin.
He could sense everyone's emotions—tension, excitement, fear, anticipation.
Like a tangled mess, intertwined, impossible to tell who was who.
But it didn't matter.
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
Chaos makes for good fishing in troubled waters.
The hatch opened, and sea wind carrying a salty, fishy smell rushed in.
Below, a white yacht lay quietly on the sea's surface like a pearl.
In the distance, the dark silhouettes of several warships loomed faintly—the fleets of the US and the USSR, converging on this area of the sea.
"Jump!" Charles ordered, and everyone filed out of the hatch in succession.
Rorschach held Raven by the waist, adjusting their posture mid-air. His Super Speed granted dynamic vision, allowing him to see everything below clearly—several figures stood on the yacht's deck, a woman in a white dress particularly conspicuous, like a breathing ice sculpture.
Red Devil stood beside her, his pointed tail swishing behind him, a sly smile playing on his lips.
Riptide stood by the ship's rail, hands in his pockets, his expression as indifferent as if waiting for a bus.
The cabin door was open, and inside stood a man in a black suit.
Sebastian Shaw.
They landed on the sea surface behind the yacht, stealthily approaching using the ship's shadow as cover.
Charles's psychic energy spread out like ripples, enveloping the entire yacht.
"They know we're here," he whispered. "Spread out, proceed as planned."
Before the words finished, Red Devil appeared before them.
"Back again?" He grinned. "Miss me that much?"
Eric raised his hand and gestured. Several metal railings from the sea surface instantly flew up, transforming into sharp arrows shooting towards him.
Red Devil clicked his tongue, teleported away, and reappeared on the deck ten meters away.
"Missed," he waved at Eric. "Again?"
Riptide moved.
He raised his hands, palms facing up.
The next second, the wind over the sea suddenly turned violent. A tornado materialized out of thin air, sweeping seawater towards the group.
"Spread out!" Charles's psychic command echoed in everyone's minds.
Darwin was the first to charge forward, his skin instantly turning metallic, bracing against the edge of the tornado.
Siren opened his mouth and let out a sharp shriek. The sound waves collided with the tornado, shifting the wind column's direction by a few degrees.
Alex pushed both hands forward, firing a red energy shockwave at Riptide.
Riptide sidestepped to avoid it. The tornado lost control and violently dissipated into a mist of water.
White Queen emerged from the water mist. Her white dress was soaked and clung to her body, outlining her perfect curves.
She looked at Charles and smiled slightly. "Back again? How do you want to fight this time?"
Charles didn't speak. His psychic energy surged out like a tide, directly piercing her consciousness.
White Queen's eyes focused. She instantly switched to her Diamond Form—crystalline skin refracting dazzling light under the sun, breathtakingly beautiful yet chillingly cold.
Charles's psychic energy crashed against her diamond shell, scattering like water hitting a reef.
"Useless," White Queen shook her head. "I told you, in Diamond Form, I'm immune to all psychic attacks."
Eric seized the opportunity, raising his hand in a sweeping gesture—the scattered metal fragments on the deck flew up again. This time, they coalesced into a sharp metal spike, aiming directly for White Queen's eye.
That was her only weakness.
White Queen's expression changed slightly. She dodged sideways. The metal spike grazed her cheek, leaving a shallow scratch on her diamondized skin.
Not a wound, just a scratch.
But this time, Rorschach saw clearly—the position of that scratch was just a tiny bit deeper than yesterday's.
Eric's force was more precise, the angle more cunning.
Just one more time.
He was about to move when Red Devil suddenly appeared behind him, hands resting on his shoulders.
"Kid," Red Devil grinned. "Want to come play with me up there?"
The next second, Rorschach felt a blur before his eyes. He was already a hundred meters in the air.
Red Devil let go and waved at him. "Bye-bye."
Rorschach fell.
The wind howled, the sea surface drawing closer.
But he didn't panic.
His psychic energy instantly erupted, forming a barrier around his consciousness.
His Super Speed dynamic vision allowed him to see every inch of space below clearly—the yacht, those figures, the diamondized woman.
And the scratch on her face.
He adjusted his posture, plummeting downward like a meteor.
Red Devil watched him fall with smug satisfaction, then suddenly realized something was wrong—this kid's falling speed was too fast, his posture too stable. It didn't look like free fall at all.
"What—"
Before he could finish, Rorschach had already swept past him. His right hand swung through the air, firing a laser from his fingertip aimed at White Queen.
White Queen sidestepped to avoid it. The laser grazed her shoulder, leaving a scorch mark on her diamondized skin.
Not a wound, just a scorch mark.
But in that moment of distraction, Eric's second wave of attack arrived.
The metal spike shot again, this time aiming for her other eye.
White Queen was forced to retreat. Her foot slipped, she lost her balance, and started to tumble sideways.
Rorschach landed, right beside her.
He reached out, held her arm, and steadied her.
"Careful," he said, his tone gentle as if concerned for an old friend.
White Queen looked up at him. Her diamondized face showed no expression, but her eyes—those blue eyes that couldn't be fully diamondized—flickered with a complex emotion.
"You—"
She didn't finish.
Because Rorschach's hand was already holding her arm, his fingertip precisely pressing on that scratch.
That shallow, almost invisible scratch was now seeping an extremely minute amount of liquid—not blood; she had no blood in Diamond Form.
But the scratch itself was damage to the skin's surface, with tissue fluid seeping out.
His fingertip registered a cool sensation and a faint hint of moisture.
A system prompt sounded in his mind:
"Mutant Emma Frost (White Queen) blood (trace amount) detected. Analyzing..."
"Analysis complete. Ability acquired: Diamond Form 1.0(Full Version). +1000 Points."
"Note: Due to acquisition method being blood contact, the full version of the Diamond Form ability has been obtained this time."
"Current Diamond Form level: 1.0 (Full). Full-body transformation possible. Diamond purity 100%. Hardness approximately Mohs scale 10."
"Note: Full Diamond Form provides immunity to psychic attacks, but psychic abilities cannot be used while in Diamond Form."
"Current total Points: 20800."
Rorschach's expression remained unchanged. He let go and took a step back.
White Queen stood there, staring at him for three seconds. Her eyes held an indescribable emotion—confusion, wariness, and a faint, elusive curiosity.
"You..." she began, wanting to say something.
But just then, a black shadow descended from the sky.
Sebastian Shaw landed on the deck. His gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally settling on Eric's face.
"Erik," he said, his tone as familiar as calling an old friend. "Eighteen years, and you've learned to ambush?"
Eric's pupils contracted sharply. The magnetic field around him fluctuated violently, causing all the metal on the yacht to tremble.
"Shaw—"
Charles raised a hand and placed it on his shoulder. "Erik, calm down."
"Yes, calm down," Shaw smiled, a gentle smile as if comforting a junior. "We've had enough fun for today. Next time we meet, we'll fight seriously."
He raised his hand, palm facing up.
The next second, several water columns erupted from the sea surface. Riptide stirred up a storm again. Red Devil's figure flashed around the group, fast as a ghost.
"Retreat!" Charles's voice rang in everyone's minds.
Everyone quickly retreated, leaping into the sea.
Rorschach was the last to leave. He glanced back at the deck, meeting White Queen's gaze.
She stood there, her diamondized body refracting brilliant light in the sun. Those blue eyes stared at him, deep as bottomless wells.
Rorschach smiled at her, waved, then turned and leaped into the sea.
Seawater submerged him. Only the gurgling sound of water remained in his ears.
But he knew—that single drop of blood today was worth it.
Chapter 79: The Black King
The entire text has been carefully checked, and no typos or inconsistencies were found. The content is coherent, and the character personalities align with the plot development. The following is a slightly adjusted version (mainly optimizing a few punctuation marks and line breaks for smoother mobile reading):
---
Seawater surged from all directions, filling his mouth and nose with a salty, fishy taste.
Rorschach sank three meters below the sea surface, adjusting his breathing. Super Regeneration rapidly broke down the water he had choked into his lungs into harmless trace elements.
His consciousness was still stuck on that moment—the instant his fingertip touched the scratch on the White Queen's cheek. The cool sensation, the slight dampness, and the complex emotions flashing in those blue eyes that couldn't fully transform into diamond.
[Diamond Form 1.0 (Complete Version) Ready]
[View detailed ability description?]
"I'll look later," he silently recited in his mind, kicking his legs to float towards the surface.
On the sea surface, the storm stirred up by Riptide had subsided. Sunlight spilled down once more, dyeing the seawater a dazzling gold and blue.
Charles and Erik stood on a floating plank, surrounded by the others who had just emerged from the water.
Darwin's metallic skin hadn't fully receded yet, glinting with a mottled sheen under the sun.
Banshee clutched his throat, his face twisted as if he had swallowed a hundred bees.
Ruin Alex's hands were still trembling, shaking like he had Parkinson's.
Angel's wings were soaked through, drooping on his back like two transparent plastic sheets, flicking off strings of water droplets with every flap.
Tom surfaced from the water, spat out a mouthful, his face flushed red: "I... I can't swim..."
"Then how did you get down there just now?" Darwinasked, looking utterly confused.
"You pushed me!"
"...Oh. Then sorry."
Raven swam over to Rorschach, her blue scales shimmering with fragmented light in the water.
She gave him a once-over, her gaze meaningful: "I saw that move just now."
Rorschach's expression didn't change: "What move?"
"The way you helped her up." Raven narrowed her eyes. "You held on for quite a while."
"When saving someone, you have to make sure they're steady, of course." Rorschach wrapped an arm around her waist, grinning shamelessly. "If she fell, such expensive diamond... what a shame if it shattered."
Raven rolled her eyes, too lazy to ask further.
The group climbed aboard the waiting speedboat one by one.
Charles was the last to board. Standing at the bow, his gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on the distant white yacht.
The yacht was moving slowly, heading southeast—towards Cuban waters.
"He didn't make a move." Erik walked up beside him, his voice low. "Shaw didn't make a move today."
"Mm-hmm." Charles nodded. "He's waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
Charles was silent for two seconds before speaking slowly: "For us to be ready. For when he finds it interesting."
Erik sneered: "He's certainly confident."
"It's not confidence." Rorschach's lazy voice came from behind. "It's enjoyment. He enjoys the process of his prey struggling, enjoys watching his opponents' expressions shift from hope to despair."
He paused, looking at the shrinking yacht: "People like him aren't in a hurry to end a fight because they believe they can never lose."
Erik turned to look at him, a flicker of something strange in his eyes.
Charles sighed: "Let's go. Back to the meeting."
The speedboat headed towards the CIA destroyer, a long white line of spray trailing behind its stern.
---
The c-130 transport aircraft carried a group of silent Mutants northward.
No one spoke in the cabin.
Darwin leaned against the bulkhead catching up on sleep. Banshee hugged his headphones listening to music. Ruin Alex stared blankly at the floor.
Tom huddled in a corner, kneading a ball of light in his hands—squeezing it, letting it disperse, then reforming it—as if venting something.
Angel curled up in his seat, wings pulled tight against his back, occasionally twitching, perhaps from a nightmare.
Raven leaned against Rorschach's shoulder, her breathing even. Rorschach closed his eyes, feigning sleep, his consciousness sinking into the system panel.
[Diamond Form 1.0 (Complete Version) Ability Description]
[Full-body Transformation: Can convert 100% of body surface area into organic diamond structure. Mohs hardness 10, density 3.52 g/cm³.]
[Physical Defense: Nullifies conventional physical attacks (bullets, cold weapons, blunt force Impacts).]
[Mental Immunity: No emotional fluctuations while in Diamond Form. Immune to all mental attacks.]
[Weakness Explanation: Transformation requires approximately 0.5 seconds to complete. Cannot use Telepathy while transformed. Weight increases to approximately 228 kg (based on an original weight of 65 kg).]
[Fusion Hint: Can be complementarily fused with existing Super Defense 2.3 and Super Regeneration 2.0. Recommended to perform fusion at an appropriate time to significantly enhance comprehensive defensive capabilities.]
Rorschach silently gave the system a mental thumbs-up.
228 kilograms.
After full-body diamond transformation, one step could stomp a hole in the floor.
If he jumped from a height and landed wrong, he could plant himself into the ground.
But then again—he recalled the White Queen's crystalline diamond shell this afternoon, the dazzling light refracted in the sunlight, and those blue eyes that couldn't fully transform.
This ability was worth it.
By the time the plane landed on the Xavier Estate's private runway, it was already 4:30 PM.
The setting sun dyed the entire Victorian building orange-red, as if gilding the leaves of the ivy.
Hank was already waiting at the door, clutching a notebook, his glasses reflecting light like a cat that had caught a whiff of something.
"Charles!" he rushed forward. "Did you collect combat data? I need everyone's—"
Charles raised a hand to stop him: "Let them rest first. Meeting in the conference room at 8 PM."
Hank awkwardly shut his mouth, his gaze sweeping over the group before finally settling on Rorschach, pausing briefly.
Rorschach smiled at him, a harmless-looking grin.
Hank shivered and quickly averted his eyes.
At 8 PM, the conference room lights were as stark white as a hospital emergency room.
Everyone gradually arrived and took their seats.
Charles sat at the head of the table, hands folded on the surface, his expression as calm as if he were attending Mass in a church.
Erik stood by the window, back to everyone, staring out at the pitch-black night sky, his shoulders taut like a fully drawn bowstring.
Darwin and Banshee squeezed onto one chair. Ruin Alexfiddled with his fingers, occasionally letting out a red spark or two, which Angel beside him promptly smothered with a wing.
Tom huddled in the corner, kneading his light ball—squeezing, dispersing, reforming—in a cycle like a malfunctioning machine.
Raven leaned against Rorschach's shoulder, her blue scales emitting a dull glow under the fluorescent lights.
"Everyone's here." Charles spoke, his voice not loud, but it made everyone look up.
He stood and walked to the board.
The four photos of the Hellfire members were still pinned there. Shaw's smile remained impeccable, the White Queen's gaze still coldly beautiful, with the Red Devil and Riptide occupying their respective corners.
"Everyone experienced what happened today." Charles's gaze swept over them. "Anything you want to say?"
Silence.
Darwin scratched his head, muttering quietly: "Want to say? I want to say that diamond woman was really damn hard."
Banshee chimed in beside him: "Hard is one thing, but she's also so pretty. Pretty is one thing, but she can fight so well. Fighting well is one thing, but she can also control her emotions—when she turned to diamond, I tried to disrupt her with sonic waves, but she didn't even twitch an eyebrow."
"She doesn't have eyebrows." Alex said gloomily. "When her face is diamond, her eyebrows are diamond too."
"...You observed quite carefully."
Raven looked up at Charles: "That Red Devil, how do we deal with him? He's too fast, impossible to catch."
Charles nodded, turning to Erik: "Erik, what do you think?"
Erik finally turned around, stepping into the light.
His face was colder than usual, but the fire that had burned in his eyes for eighteen years seemed to burn even fiercer today.
"The Red Devil's Space Jump," he began, voice low, "isn't infinite. He needs time to locate each teleport, roughly a fraction of a second. As long as we seize that gap and blanket his landing point with area-of-effect attacks, he can't escape."
"A fraction of a second?" Darwin's eyes widened. "Who can catch that?"
"I can." Erik stated flatly.
Everyone fell silent.
Alright, Magneto could indeed catch it.
Charles continued: "Riptide didn't act today, but according to Moira's intel, his tornado radius can reach fifty meters, with wind speeds over three hundred kilometers per hour. Once he goes all out, we won't even be able to stand steady."
"I can fly." Angel raised his hand.
"Can you fly inside a tornado?"
Angel thought for a moment, then silently lowered his hand.
Darwin suddenly asked: "What about that Shaw? He just came out to say hello today, then left. What does he actually want?"
Charles and Erik exchanged a glance.
"A show of force." Charles said slowly. "He wants us to know he doesn't take us seriously at all."
Erik sneered: "More than that. He wants me to see him, to remember what happened eighteen years ago. He wants me angry, out of control, charging to my death."
"You almost did charge." Raven said softly.
"Almost." Erik glanced at her. "But I didn't."
Rorschach leaned back in his chair, speaking lazily: "So besides figuring out their capabilities, what did we gain from today's operation?"
Everyone looked at each other.
Darwin scratched his head: "The gain is... we got our butts kicked?"
"And?" Rorschach pressed.
"...We came back alive?"
Rorschach laughed: "What kind of gain is that? Coming back alive is expected; dying would be the loss."
Charles looked at him, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny: "Do you have something to say?"
Rorschach stood up, walked to the board, and tapped his finger on Shaw's photo.
"Sebastian Shaw," he began, his tone casual as if introducing an old friend. "An Energy Absorption-type Mutant. Can absorb all forms of energy—kinetic, thermal, electrical, even nuclear radiation—converting it into his own strength, speed, healing ability, and even using it to slow aging."
He paused, looking at the group: "Do you know what that means?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"It means the harder you hit him, the stronger he gets." Rorschach pointed at Alex. "Your energy blast hitting him is just a meal. He eats it, then has more strength to beat you."
Alex swallowed hard.
"Then what do we do?" Darwin asked. "Don't hit him?"
"If you don't hit him, he's just an ordinary person." Rorschach shrugged. "But the problem is he'll hit you. And he's lived at least twenty years, with more combat experience than all of us combined."
Charles frowned slightly: "Do you have a solution?"
"Yes." Rorschach walked to the window, looking out at the dark night. "But his ability has an upper limit."
"An upper limit?"
"Right." Rorschach turned around. "All Energy Absorptionhas a limit. Like a balloon, it bursts when inflated past a certain point. Shaw is the same. As long as the attack energy exceeds his absorption limit, he's finished."
Erik's eyes lit up: "What's the limit?"
"Don't know." Rorschach spread his hands. "But we can test it. One person isn't enough, use two. Two aren't enough, use everyone." He looked at the group. "Like you said before, overload his absorption until it bursts."
Charles pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "That makes sense. But we need a plan, coordination—"
Before he could finish, the conference room door suddenly swung open.
Moira stood in the doorway, a button on her uniform crooked, her face darker than the night outside.
Clutching a stack of documents, she strode quickly to Charles's side and whispered a few words.
Charles's expression changed.
Everyone exchanged glances.
"What is it?" Erik asked.
Charles took a deep breath and looked at the group: "Shaw's ship has entered Cuban waters. He's approaching the USA and Soviet Union fleet standoff line."
The conference room fell so quiet they could hear the rustle of wind through leaves outside the window.
"What does he want to do?" Raven asked.
"Detonate a missile." Rorschach said flatly. "Make both the U.S. and Soviet sides think the other fired first, then take advantage of the chaos to detonate a few nuclear bombs, using the radiation to trigger more Mutant awakenings."
Everyone looked at him, their expressions complex.
"How do you know?" Erik asked.
Rorschach smiled: "I guessed."
Charles stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "Regardless of his exact plan, we can't let him succeed. Pack your things. We depart in one hour."
Everyone acknowledged and began filing out of the conference room.
Rorschach walked out last with his arm around Raven. The corridor lights were dim yellow, stretching their shadows long.
Leaning against his shoulder, Raven suddenly asked: "What you said just now... did you really guess it?"
Rorschach looked down at her, grinning shamelessly: "Part of it."
"And the other part?"
"The other part—" he leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice, "—I saw it in the script."
Raven was momentarily stunned: "What script?"
Rorschach smiled, tightening his arm around her waist, and said nothing more.
Outside the window, the night was ink-black.
In the distance came the roar of aircraft engines—the CIA transport plane, waiting on the runway.
Rorschach glanced back towards the conference room.
The four photos were still pinned to the board. Shaw's smile remained impeccable, the White Queen's gaze still coldly beautiful.
He remembered this afternoon, the complex emotions flashing in those blue eyes that couldn't fully transform into diamond.
And the cool dampness transmitted by his fingertip.
Next time we meet—the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Next time we meet, it won't be as simple as touching her face."
Chapter 80: Diamond Upgrade
Moonlight washed the backyard of the Xavier Estate in silver. The Angel statue in the fountain stood silently, the repaired crack on its wing nearly invisible in the night.
Rorschach leaned against his window frame, staring at his palm for a full three minutes.
[Diamond Form 1.0 (Complete Version) Ready]
[View detailed ability description?]
Obviously.
With a thought, the system panel unfolded in his consciousness, lines of tiny text scrolling down like a bank statement.
[Ability Name: Diamond Form (Complete Version)]
[Current Level: 1.0]
[Source: Blood contact with Emma Frost (White Queen)]
[Ability Details]:
Full-body Transformation: Can transform 100% of body surface area into organic diamond structure. Mohs hardness 10, density 3.52 g/cm³.
Physical Defense: Nullifies conventional physical attacks (bullets, cold weapons, blunt force impacts). Theoretically can withstand approximately 5000 joules/cm² of impact energy.
Mental Immunity: No emotional fluctuations in Diamond Form. Immune to all mental attacks.
Localized Control: Can freely control any body part for diamond transformation with millimeter-level precision.
[Weakness Description]:
Transformation requires approximately 0.5 seconds to complete (may be exploited in combat).
Cannot use any other abilities while transformed (including Telepathy, Energy Manipulation, etc.).
Full-body diamond transformation increases weight to approximately 228 kg (based on an original weight of 65 kg).
Eyes cannot be fully transformed into diamond.
Skin will crack when bearing loads beyond a certain threshold.
[Fusion Prompt]:
Can be complementarily fused with existing Super Defense 2.3 and Super Regeneration 2.0 to significantly enhance overall defensive capabilities. Recommended to consume points for fusion at an appropriate time.
[Upgrade Options]:
Diamond Form 1.0 → Diamond Form 2.0: Consume 1000 points.
(After upgrade: Transformation speed increased to 0.3 seconds, diamond purity increased to 100%, hardness increased to Mohs 10+, localized control precision increased to micrometer-level.)
Rorschach stared at the last line, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
1000 points for a life-saving skill that could buy him an extra three seconds on the battlefield—this deal wasn't bad.
He glanced at the number in the top right corner of the system panel: 20,800.
Enough to spend.
"Upgrade."
[Consumed 1000 points. Remaining: 19,800]
[Upgrading Diamond Form 1.0 → 2.0...]
[Upgrade Complete]
[Diamond Form 2.0 Ability Details]:
Transformation Speed: 0.3 seconds (40% improvement over version 1.0)
Diamond Purity: 100% (optical clarity reaches top jewelry-grade)
Hardness Level: Mohs 10+ (exceeds natural diamond, approaching theoretical limit)
Localized Control Precision: Micrometer-level (can transform a single finger or even a fingertip)
New Features:
Diamond Sense: In Diamond Form, can perceive vibration waves within a 5-meter radius (similar to bat sonar)
Form Memory: Can preset 3 diamond transformation modes (e.g., 'Combat Full-body Mode', 'Localized Defense Mode', 'Lightweight Mode')
Weight Optimization: In full-body diamond state, can reduce weight to 185 kg by adjusting crystal structure (approximately 19% lighter than standard state)
Rorschach raised his right hand, focusing his mind slightly.
This time, the change was much faster than during the day—almost as soon as the thought formed, his entire hand turned into crystal-clear diamond. Moonlight passed between his fingers, casting scattered spots of light on the floor like a handful of crushed diamonds.
He made a fist.
The sensation was strange. Not the cold hardness of metal, nor the rough texture of stone, but a... how to put it, like grasping a piece of breathing crystal. The surface was so smooth it had almost no friction coefficient, yet he could clearly feel every line on his palm—wait, did the sense of touch remain even in Diamond Form?
He extended his left hand and tapped his diamond-transformed right hand with his ordinary fingers.
*Ding—*
A crisp sound echoed in the room, like striking a tuning fork.
"Damn," he couldn't help muttering to himself.
This thing was worth it.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the lawn outside the window.
Rorschach swept the area with his mental senses and smiled.
Hank was squatting by the fountain, holding that damned telescope. The lenses reflected the moonlight like two bright, beady eyes.
He was staring at Rorschach's window, a notebook open on his knees, muttering to himself.
"The energy fluctuation changed again... changed again... this time it's high-frequency crystal vibration... frequency stable... amplitude... comparing with diamond standard sample..."
Rorschach sighed.
Did this guy never sleep?
With a thought, his diamond hand returned to normal. He then pushed open the window and waved at Hank. "Good evening, Hank. What are you studying?"
Hank jumped, nearly dropping the telescope into the fountain.
He fumbled to catch it, looked up, and forced an awkward smile. "Ah, Mr. Rorschach, you're still awake? I, I was just... observing nocturnal animals... yes, nocturnal animals..."
"Nocturnal animals?" Rorschach raised an eyebrow. "Do we have any here at the estate?"
"Yes, like... like..." Hank thought quickly. "Like owls! Owls are nocturnal. I'm studying owl Flight patterns, yes, Flightpatterns!"
Rorschach laughed.
This guy's ability to lie was inversely proportional to his talent for scientific research.
"Did you see clearly?" he asked, leaning on the windowsill, his tone as casual as discussing the weather. "Where did the owl fly?"
Hank froze, looked up at the sky, then down at his notebook, and finally blurted out, "It, it flew away."
"Then shouldn't you go back to sleep? We have training tomorrow."
"Oh, right, okay..." Hank sheepishly packed up his notebook and started walking back with the telescope.
After a few steps, he stopped and looked back at Rorschach's window.
Under the moonlight, the man was still leaning on the windowsill, waving at him.
Hank bit his lip, finally unable to hold back. "Mr. Rorschach, just now... was there something glowing in your room? I saw a flash of light, a very specific frequency, like the crystal vibration of diamond—"
"Hank," Rorschach interrupted, smiling innocently. "Your eyes must be playing tricks on you. Where would I get diamonds in my room? I'm broke. The most valuable things I own are my eyes."
Hank opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but couldn't find the words.
Finally, he sighed and walked back with the telescope.
After a few steps, he stopped again and spoke without turning around. "Mr. Rorschach, I know you don't want me studying you. But I want you to know—whatever secret you have, as long as you don't harm anyone at the school, I'll... I won't investigate further."
Rorschach watched his retreating back and was silent for two seconds.
"Hank."
Hank turned around.
"You're a good person." Rorschach smiled. "Get some sleep."
Hank was taken aback for a moment, then smiled too.
Under the moonlight, the two looked at each other across half the lawn—one smiling carefreely, the other smiling with a simple honesty tinged with a hint of confusion.
Finally, Hank shook his head and disappeared into the night.
Rorschach closed the window and lay back on his bed.
The Angel reliefs on the ceiling were still there, edged in silver by the moonlight.
Staring at the carved wings, he suddenly remembered the scene on the White Queen's yacht that afternoon—the dazzling light refracted by her diamond-transformed body in the sun, and the complex emotions flashing in those blue eyes that couldn't fully transform.
[Diamond Form 2.0 Ready]
[It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the new ability's characteristics as soon as possible to maximize its effectiveness in combat.]
Rorschach turned over, a slight smile on his lips.
Familiarize? There's plenty of time.
After all, Shaw wouldn't make his move for a few more days.
After all, that beachfront showdown was still to come.
Raven's even breathing came from the next room. Darwin's faint snores could be heard downstairs. Occasionally, the hum of machinery drifted from Hank's room on the third floor.
Everything was quiet. But Rorschach knew—the real storm was coming, and soon.
Chapter 81: Fleet Standoff
The morning sun had yet to dry the dew on the Xavier Estate when a CIA emergency communication roused everyone from their beds.
Rorschach opened his eyes, his Psychic Power sweeping out—Charles's study was brightly lit, and Moira stood before the communicator, her face darker than last night's sky.
Eric leaned against the window, arms crossed, staring out at the gray, overcast day.
Hank crouched in a corner, clutching a notebook, his glasses reflecting light like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Again?" Rorschach muttered, rolling out of bed.
From next door came the rustling sounds of Raven getting dressed; downstairs, Darwin's snoring abruptly ceased, replaced by a flurry of hurried footsteps.
Tom ran past in the hallway, his light sphere nearly setting the curtains on fire.
Five minutes later, the meeting room was filled.
Moira stood before the board, clutching a stack of freshly printed intelligence reports, the edges of the papers still warm from the fax machine.
She took a deep breath, and her first sentence sent a chill down everyone's spine:
"U.S. and Soviet fleets have squared off in Cuban waters."
She posted the first photo—an aerial reconnaissance image. On the gray-blue sea, dense rows of vessels were arrayed in two lines, like two groups of roosters ready to fight.
Destroyers, cruisers, submarines, and the faint silhouettes of aircraft carriers in the distance, a dark mass filling the entire view.
"The U.S. Navy's Task Force 136, including the aircraft carriers 'Essex' and 'Independence,' totals 19 destroyers, 13 supply ships, 6 cruisers, and several submarines."
Moira tapped the photo. "On the Soviet side, four Type 641 conventionally powered submarines have arrived in the waters near Cuba, each carrying nuclear torpedoes."
Darwin gulped. "Nu... nuclear torpedoes?"
"Type T-5, warhead yield equivalent to 3,500 tons of TNT." Hank adjusted his glasses, adding quietly, "About one-fifth the power of the Hiroshima atomic bomb."
The meeting room fell so quiet you could hear leaves falling outside the window.
Moira continued posting photos—the second was from a submarine's periscope view, showing a U.S. destroyer passing overhead, the white froth churned by its propellers clearly visible.
"This was captured yesterday by the Soviet Submarine B-59. It was surrounded by 14 U.S. warships and forced to dive to evade. But conventional submarines have limited battery power and can't stay submerged for long."
Moira paused. "The temperature inside the compartment once rose to 50 degrees Celsius. The sailors struggled to breathe, their emotions on the verge of breaking."
Raven gasped. "50 degrees? That's like a steamer basket!"
"Worse than a steamer basket," Rorschach lazily chimed in. "At least you don't have to hold your breath in a steamer."
No one laughed.
Moira pulled out a third photo—a submarine surfacing, with several Soviet sailors standing on the deck, their expressions weary and grim.
"Yesterday afternoon, U.S. anti-submarine aircraft dropped training depth charges around the B-59. Even though they were training rounds, the explosions underwater sounded like hammers pounding on a coffin."
She looked at everyone, her voice dropping lower. "Captain Valentin Savitsky thought war had broken out and ordered a nuclear torpedo counterattack. According to Soviet protocol, launching a nuclear torpedo requires unanimous agreement from three senior officers. Deputy Captain Vasily Arkhipov cast the deciding vote against it at the last moment, preventing nuclear war."
Silence.
A long silence.
Charles took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "So what we're facing now isn't just Shaw's conspiracy, but also a potential nuclear war between two superpowers that could erupt at any moment?"
Moira nodded. "Yes."
Erik walked over from the window, his gaze fixed on the photo of the B-59, his voice low as if squeezed from his chest, "That's exactly what Shaw wants."
"Exactly," Rorschach took over. "He doesn't want either the U.S. or the Soviets to win; he wants both sides to press the button simultaneously. Once the nukes go off and radiation spreads worldwide, Mutants will awaken everywhere—that's how he plans to kick off his new World order."
Darwin scratched his head. "Then how do we stop it? We can't just jump into the sea and haul up those submarines one by one, can we?"
Erik glanced at him but said nothing.
That look sent a chill down Darwin's spine.
Charles walked to the board, pointing at the central area of the U.S.-Soviet fleet standoff. "Shaw's yacht is currently near this stretch of water. He doesn't need to personally launch a missile—he just needs to create a 'miscalculation' when tensions are at their peak."
"Like what?" Raven asked.
"Like using Riptide's whirlwind to capsize a U.S. destroyer, or having Red Devil teleport a Soviet Commander onto the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier," Rorschach shrugged. "That's the kind of thing the Hellfire crew is capable of."
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.
Alex whispered, "So what do we do? Charge in and strike first before they do?"
Charles shook his head. "We can't initiate combat. If we start fighting in the middle of the fleets, both the U.S. and Soviets will think the other side is launching a supernatural attack—that would be the real spark."
"So then what?" Erik stared at him. "We wait?"
Charles was silent for two seconds before replying slowly, "We wait. But not idly. We need to know Shaw's exact location, when he'll make his move, and every step of his plan."
He turned to Hank. "Can Cerebro locate Shaw?"
Hank shook his head. "Shaw wears a helmet that blocks Telepathy. Cerebro can't scan him. Same with the White Queen—when she's in Diamond Form, her Psychic Poweris completely shielded."
"Then we'll have to rely on visual surveillance," Moiragathered the files. "The CIA will deploy high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft to monitor that stretch of water around the clock. The moment Shaw's yacht shows any unusual activity, you'll be notified immediately."
Charles nodded. "We'll also prepare to depart at any time."
After the meeting, everyone gradually left the room.
Rorschach walked out last with his arm around Raven. In the hallway, Raven leaned against his shoulder and whispered, "Do you think this war will actually happen?"
Rorschach looked down at her and smiled. "Yes."
Raven was taken aback. "But you just said—"
"I said a fight will happen, not a nuclear war," Rorschachtightened his arm around her waist. "I mean Shaw will make his move, we'll make ours, and there'll be quite a show on that beach."
Raven was silent for a few seconds before suddenly asking, "And what about you? What role do you play in that show?"
Rorschach stopped walking and looked at her seriously.
"I play the one who survives to the end."
The afternoon sun lazily bathed the backyard lawn. Angelcircled in the air, Banshee practiced sonic location, and Darwin and Alex sparred in a corner—Darwin's skin shifted between metallic and rubbery, while Alex's energy sparks were much more controlled than a few days ago, only blowing up one lawn sprinkler.
But Rorschach knew this was just the calm before the storm.
He sat on a bench by the fountain, holding a leaf in his hand. With a slight thought, his right hand instantly transformed into Diamond Form, the transparent crystals refracting brilliant light in the sun. The leaf was gently held between his fingertips, its veins clearly visible.
[Diamond Form 2.0 operating stably]
[Current Mode: Partial Defense Mode, weight optimization activated]
[Hint: It is advisable to integrate Diamond Form with other defensive abilities at an appropriate time to significantly enhance overall survivability]
Rorschach withdrew his focus, his hand returning to normal as the leaf drifted to the ground.
Footsteps approached from behind.
He didn't turn around. "Hank, what do you want to study this time?"
Hank stopped awkwardly, clutching his notebook, his glasses reflecting light. "Ah, I, I was just passing by... and, well... that..."
"That what?"
Hank bit his lip, finally unable to hold back. "Mr. Rorschach, I saw what you did just now. The diamond transformation of your hand—the conversion speed was visually estimated at under 0.3 seconds, hardness at least Mohs scale 10. That's even stronger than yesterday."
Rorschach turned and smiled at him. "So?"
Hank took a deep breath. "I want to know how you do it. This rate of ability enhancement doesn't match any known pattern of Mutant evolution—"
"Hank," Rorschach interrupted, patting the seat beside him. "Sit."
Hank hesitated, then cautiously sat at the far end of the bench, only a third of his rear touching the seat, ready to flee at any moment.
Rorschach looked at the distant sky and spoke slowly, "Have you ever considered that the rules of this Worldmight not be limited to what you write in your notebook?"
Hank opened his mouth but said nothing.
"Some things don't need scientific explanation," Rorschachturned to look at him. "Like what's in Charles's head—can you calculate that with quantum mechanics?"
Hank thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Exactly," Rorschach stood up and patted Hank's shoulder. "Instead of studying how I got stronger, study how to help everyone survive this battle. If we live, there'll be plenty of time for research later."
Hank stared at him for three seconds before suddenly asking, "Do you think... we can survive?"
Rorschach smiled.
"Yes," he said. "Because I don't want to die."
With that, he turned and walked toward the main house.
Behind him, Hank sat on the bench, staring at his retreating back, the pen in his notebook paused on the last page.
Evening fell, the sunset dyeing the entire estate orange-red.
Rorschach stood by the window in his room, watching the last glimmer of light sink below the horizon.
His Psychic Power quietly spread out—
In Charles's study, he and Erik were talking in low voices, their words hushed, but occasional phrases like "submarine," "beach," and "if" could be heard.
In Raven's room, she lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, her blue scales glowing softly in the twilight.
Hank was on the third floor, tinkering with equipment, muttering to himself.
Downstairs, Darwin and Banshee were playing cards, with Alex and Angel watching from the side. Tom huddled in a corner, molding a light sphere into a lopsided little bird.
Everything was peaceful.
But Rorschach knew—
Tomorrow, or the day after, at the latest within three days, this peace would be shattered completely.
He raised his right hand, focusing his thoughts.
His entire arm instantly transformed into Diamond Form, refracting the last rays of the setting sun in the twilight.
[Diamond Form 2.0 is ready]
[Remaining Points: 19,800]
The corner of Rorschach's mouth lifted slightly.
Come on, Shaw.
Let's see if your Energy Absorption can withstand my 228-kilogram diamond fist.
Chapter 82: Submarine Phantom
Night fell like a sponge soaked in ink, pressing heavily over the Atlantic Ocean.
Rorschach leaned against the wall of the c-130 transport aircraft, listening to the roar of the engines, his gaze sweeping across the cabin: Darwin was curled up in a corner, dozing, his skin occasionally shimmering with a metallic luster; Banshee held headphones, humming softly; Ruin Alex's fingers tapped unconsciously on his knees, producing only a couple of sparks.
Angel folded his wings and slept leaning on Raven's shoulder. Raven rested with her eyes closed, her blue scales shimmering faintly under the dim light.
Up ahead, Charles and Erik sat side by side, reviewing the intelligence Moira had delivered. Rorschach's Psychic Power swept over it—photos, coordinate maps, notes that read:'Shaw's yacht has submerged. Last known location here.'
A slight curve touched the corner of his lips.
A submarine. That made sense. Shaw wasn't waiting to get hit. He intended to dive into the deep sea to absorb energy from a nuclear submarine's reactor, turning himself into a human-shaped nuclear bomb.
Charles stood up and clapped his hands. "Everyone, wake up. We have a new development."
The others gradually opened their eyes. Darwin mumbled, "Are we there already?"
"Not yet," Charles said, his tone grave. "Shaw's ship has submerged. It's approaching the Soviet nuclear submarine patrol route."
Banshee was stunned. "A yacht that can dive?"
"It's been modified," Erik said, standing with his arms crossed, his gaze icy. "It's his mobile fortress."
Alex muttered, "How do we fight? Brawl underwater?"
"No need," Rorschach said lazily. "He'll come up on his own."
Everyone looked at him. Charles raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
"Shaw wants to detonate missiles. He submerged to absorb reactor energy," Rorschach said casually. "Once he's full, he'll naturally surface to act."
Erik fixed his eyes on him. "How do you know he wants to absorb a reactor?"
Rorschach met his gaze, grinning carelessly. "Just a guess."
Suspicion deepened in Erik's eyes. Charles cleared his throat lightly, steering back to the topic. "The mission remains the same—find him, stop him. CIA reconnaissance has pinpointed the Soviet submarine's location. The moment he surfaces, we strike immediately."
Darwin raised his hand. "What if he never surfaces?"
Charles was silent for a second. "We force him up."
The aircraft continued south. Twenty minutes later, the cargo door opened, letting in a salty, fishy sea wind. Below, the outlines of several warships were faintly visible on the dark sea—the USA and Soviet Union's confrontation fleet. Further out, a dead silence prevailed.
Charles's Psychic Power spread out like ripples, enveloping the sea area. A moment later, he opened his eyes, his expression shifting slightly. "Found him. Depth approximately sixty meters, moving slowly."
Erik frowned. "How do we get down there?"
Rorschach pointed at the sea. "Jump. It's only sixty meters." He patted Darwin. "You could evolve gills underwater."
"Really?"
"No. But don't you want to try?"
Darwin: "..."
"Jump!" Charles ordered. The others leaped out of the cabin door one after another.
Rorschach held Raven, his legs diamondized as he entered the water first. The seawater was piercingly cold. Super Regeneration adjusted his body temperature, and Super Defense formed an insulating barrier. Raven's scales shimmered with a faint blue light, and she gave an OK sign.
They descended slowly. In the darkness, a massive Soviet nuclear submarine (Type 641 'Foxtrot-class') hung suspended in the water. Beneath it, a modified yacht glided like a deep-sea monster—Shaw's ship.
Rorschach narrowed his eyes, his Psychic Power detecting familiar energy signatures from the ship: Red Devil, Riptide, White Queen, and a powerful presence absorbing everything like a black hole—Sebastian Shaw.
Charles's voice sounded in everyone's minds. "They've detected us. Spread out, follow the plan!"
Before the words faded, a red blur shot toward them. Red Devil Azazel appeared in the water, his pointed tail flicking, a sinister smile on his face. "Care to play in the water?"
Erik waved his hand, metal shards wrapped in water currents forming blades that surged toward him. Red Devilclicked his tongue and teleported away. Alex's energy blast fired simultaneously, red light refracting, grazing the afterimage and striking the submarine's hull, erupting in flames.
The flames instantly illuminated the terrified faces of sailors inside the Soviet submarine's portholes.
Inside the submarine, conditions were critical with high temperatures and oxygen deprivation. Signal Officer Vadim Orlov would later recall the dire situation.
Captain Valentin Savitsky, misjudging the outbreak of war, ordered sweat-drenched, "Fire the nuclear torpedoes!" Deputy Captain Vasily Arkhipov remained silent for three seconds, then uttered one word: "No." That word saved the World.
But outside the submarine, the Mutants only saw a blinding light flare up from the stern—the reactor was overloading!
Shaw was making his move! He was absorbing nuclear energy!
[Target energy signature detected: Sebastian Shawabsorbing nuclear reactor energy]
[Current absorption level: Approximately 3,500 tons of TNT equivalent (one-fifth of the Hiroshima atomic bomb)]
[Absorption ongoing...]
Rorschach cursed inwardly. This old bastard really isn't afraid of blowing up!
He looked at Erik. In the darkness, a fire suppressed for eighteen years burned in Erik's eyes as he stared fixedly at the target, the magnetic field around him violently trembling, churning the seawater.
"Shaw—" The name was ground out through clenched teeth.
Charles placed a hand on his shoulder. "Erik, stay calm."
"I am calm," Erik turned his head. "But I won't wait any longer." He raised his hand and swept it through the air—
The entire sea area trembled! The massive Soviet nuclear submarine, along with Shaw's modified vessel, was wrenched from the seabed by an invisible force, breaking through the surface and exposed under the moonlight!
Rorschach, holding Raven, surfaced. On top of the submarine's conning tower, Shaw stood impeccably dressed in a suit, his hands still glowing with residual heat, looking up at the moon and taking a deep breath. He lowered his gaze to the sea, a polite smile on his face. "Erik. You've finally learned to take the initiative."
Erik stood atop a piece of metal wreckage, enunciating each word. "Eighteen years."
"Yes, eighteen years," Shaw said, his tone nostalgic. "Your mother would be so proud to see you now."
Erik's pupils contracted sharply.
Rorschach sighed inwardly: What a sharp tongue.
Charles instantly expanded his Psychic Power, attempting to link all the X-Men—establishing a Psychic Network to share vision and synchronize actions.
As the Psychic Power swept over Rorschach, a warm force flowed into his consciousness.
Everyone's emotions—Darwin's tension, Banshee's focus, Alex's fighting spirit, Angel's fear, Raven's resolve—were as clear as his own.
Charles's voice was gentle yet firm. "Everyone, from now on, we are one."
Rorschach's thoughts stirred. One? He tried to probe back.
In an instant, he touched the core of Charles's Psychic Power—a calm, deep lake containing boundless potential.
[X Professor's psychic fluctuations detected]
[Analysis complete: Current level 2.8 (Alpha-level peak), approaching quasi-Omega threshold]
[Hint: Ability can be obtained through intimate/blood contact]
Rorschach noted it silently. No rush. The time isn't right yet.
He opened his eyes and looked toward Shaw atop the submarine. Under the moonlight, the man looked down from his high position, smiling politely, his eyes serpentine.
A slight curve touched the corner of Rorschach's lips.
Smile away.
Let's see if you can still smile when Erik drags you down.]