Chapter 83: Mental Link
Moonlight poured over the surfaced Soviet submarine, and seawater cascaded down both sides of its hull, forming countless tiny waterfalls under the moonlight.
Rorschach held Raven as they floated on the sea surface, looking up at the scene.
A submarine weighing over two thousand tons was hauled out by Erik with his bare hands; this guy was truly ruthless.
Atop the submarine, Sebastian Shaw stood in a sharp suit, his tie not even slightly askew.
He looked down at everyone on the sea surface, a polite smile on his face: "Erik, you've finally learned to take the initiative."
Erik stood on a piece of metal wreckage floating on the water, staring intently at him. The magnetic field around him vibrated violently, churning the surrounding seawater into a frenzy: "It's been eighteen years."
"Yes, eighteen years." Shaw nodded. "If your mother could see you like this now, she would surely be very gratified."
Erik's pupils suddenly constricted.
Charles's Psychic Power surged out like a tide, echoing in everyone's minds: "Everyone, from now on, we are one."
A warm force flooded into Rorschach's consciousness.
That was Charles's Telepathy, like an invisible bridge connecting everyone's thoughts together.
In that instant, Rorschach "saw" everyone's emotions.
Darwin's nervousness was like a flickering flame, Banshee's focus like a taut string, Alex's eagerness like a spark about to explode, Angel's fear like a startled butterfly, and Raven's resolve like a warm stone.
Then there was Charles's own voice: "Stay calm. I can feel each of your emotions, and you can feel mine. This is the power of a Mental Link."
Rorschach's mind stirred slightly.
A link?
He tried to sense in reverse—not passive reception, but active probing.
In that moment, he touched the core of Charles's Psychic Power.
The source of that power was like a bottomless lake, calm, deep, and harboring endless possibilities.
This was Professor X's Telepathy, Alpha-level peak, a Psychic Power approaching the threshold of quasi-Omega level.
[Detected Professor X's Psychic Power fluctuations]
[Current Psychic Power Level: 2.8, Ability Characteristics—Telepathy, Mind Control, Memory Reading, Consciousness Link, Astral Projection]
[Hint: This ability can be acquired through blood contact]
Rorschach silently withdrew his Psychic Power.
No rush. Now is not the time.
On the battlefield, Shaw was still speaking.
He raised his hand, and a blinding light shone from his palm—it was the energy just absorbed from the nuclear submarine, now condensing into a ball of light and blasting toward the sea surface.
"Scatter!" Charles's Psychic Power rang out instantly.
Everyone scattered to dodge. The light ball grazed Darwin's shoulder, exploding into a water wall over ten meters high.
Charles's voice echoed through the link: "We can't let him keep accumulating energy. His absorption has a limit; we need to overload him."
Erik spoke coldly: "How do we overload him?"
"Attack together. If one person isn't enough, then two; if two aren't enough, then all of us."
Alex's energy Impact blasted out; Shaw raised his hand to catch it, and the light instantly vanished into his palm.
Darwin metalized and charged, only to be sent flying by an elbow strike.
Banshee's sonic waves pierced the eardrums; Shaw's brow furrowed slightly, finally showing a reaction.
Red Devil appeared behind Banshee with a grin: "Nice voice, kid. Mind if I borrow it?" Before he finished speaking, both vanished simultaneously.
Charles's Psychic Power exploded instantly: "Sean!"
Banshee was taken a hundred meters into the sky.
But he didn't panic. His Sonar Location activated, capturing all surrounding reflected waves during his descent. He opened his mouth and emitted a low-frequency sonic wave, forming an invisible air cushion that let him land gently on the sea surface.
Red Devil was stunned: "Oh? You have this trick too?"
Banshee flipped him the middle finger.
Rorschach watched this scene, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.
These rookies are growing up quite fast.
Charles's Psychic Power rang out again: "Everyone, stay linked, stay synchronized. We are not fighting alone."
Rorschach felt that warm power flowing through his consciousness and suddenly thought of a question—if Charles's Psychic Power could link everyone, did he notice when Rorschach just reverse-sensed his source of power?
He looked at Charles.
Under the moonlight, the bald man was staring at Shaw atop the submarine, his expression focused and showing no sign of anything unusual.
Rorschach breathed a sigh of relief.
It's good he didn't notice. Or perhaps he did but didn't say anything.
Charles is a true gentleman—he could clearly use Telepathy to peer into everyone's secrets, yet he chooses to respect everyone's privacy.
This kind of person is rarer than diamonds in this era.
Atop the submarine, Shaw stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at everyone on the sea: "Have you had enough fun? If so, it's my turn."
He raised both hands, palms facing up.
Energy from the Nuclear Reactor was being released; the seawater began to boil, and white steam rose into the sky, shrouding the entire sea surface in a hazy mist.
Charles's voice rang out in the link: "He's about to use a big move! Scatter!"
Everyone scattered to dodge. But the mist was too thick; no one could see anyone else.
Holding Raven, Rorschach's Psychic Power quietly spread out, capturing everyone's position in the mist—Darwin was twenty meters to the front-left, Banshee was fifteen meters to the back-right, Alex was swimming further away, and Angel was flying in mid-air.
And Shaw. He stood atop the submarine, surrounded by scorching energy, like a nuclear bomb about to detonate.
Rorschach took a deep breath. Come on then.
Let me see how big of a blast you, this human nuclear bomb, can make.
Chapter 84: Following Magneto
The seawater boiled like a pot, gurgling with white steam.
Rorschach held Raven, floating on the sea, looking at the man on top of the submarine, enveloped in energy—the blow Shaw had just unleashed had raised the temperature of the entire sea by at least five degrees.
Darwin was thrashing not far away, his skin alternating between metallic and rubbery, trying to adapt to the temperature difference.
Banshee's throat was too hoarse to speak, so he could only gesture to Alex.
Charles's mental link was still active, but that warm power was noticeably weaker—resisting Shaw's Mental Assaulthad consumed too much of his mental energy.
[Detected chaotic energy fluctuations on the battlefield, it is recommended to temporarily avoid the conflict.]
The system notification flashed by.
Rorschach glanced at Shaw on top of the submarine, then at Erik standing on the metal wreckage.
The man's magnetic field was still trembling, like an overloaded generator.
The opportunity had come.
Charles's voice sounded in the link: "Everyone retreat! Shaw's energy reserves are too high—"
Before he could finish, a silver light flashed.
The metal wreckage beneath Erik's feet suddenly accelerated, carrying him towards the top of the submarine.
His target was Shaw, the man wearing a helmet who had absorbed the energy of the Nuclear Reactor, the enemy who had personally killed his mother eighteen years ago.
"Erik!" Charles's voice carried a rare urgency, "Come back!"
But Erik did not turn back.
Rorschach's eyes lit up. This guy was going to Solo the BOSS.
He patted Raven's waist: "You go first, follow Charles and the others."
Raven looked up at him: "What about you?"
"I'm going to watch the excitement."
Raven stared at him for three seconds, then suddenly asked: "Watching the excitement, or picking up scraps?"
Rorschach leaned down and kissed her, not answering.
After Raven swam over to Darwin, Rorschach took a deep breath, his mental power quietly spreading out, locking onto Erik's position.
With Super Speed, he silently followed.
Erik's metal wreckage stopped fifty meters from the submarine.
Shaw stood on top of the Bridge, his suit still immaculate. He looked at Erik, a polite smile on his face: "Erik, eighteen years, and you finally dare to face me alone."
Erik said nothing.
But his magnetic field provided the answer.
The metal fragments swirling around him instantly accelerated, transforming into streaks of silver light, sweeping towards Shaw.
Shaw stood his ground, not even dodging.
The moment the metal fragments struck his body, they all stopped—not blocked, but absorbed.
The kinetic energy contained in the fragments was converted into his own power, then released from his palms, turning into an Impact wave that blasted back at Erik.
Erik raised a hand, and a magnetic field barrier formed. The Impact wave struck it, exploding in a dazzling light.
"Not bad." Shaw commented, "In eighteen years, you've at least learned to defend."
Erik still said nothing. But he raised both hands, his fingers loosely clasped.
The seawater around the submarine suddenly exploded—countless metal fragments rose from the seabed. These were the wreckage of sunken ships, cannon shells left over from World War II, and discarded equipment from the USA and Soviet Union's confronting fleets.
They converged into a metallic torrent, like a silver giant dragon, pouncing towards Shaw.
Shaw's eyes lit up: "Now that's more like it."
He spread his arms, facing the metal torrent head-on.
Rorschach floated three hundred meters away on the sea, watching this scene, silently giving Shaw the middle finger in his heart.
This old guy had absorbed the energy of a Nuclear Submarine; his internal reserves were now enough to flatten a small island.
In his opinion, Erik's attacks were merely serving him on a platter.
But Rorschach noticed a detail—as Shaw absorbed the metal torrent, hairline cracks began to appear on the submarine's Bridge beneath his feet.
That was structural fatigue from excessive metal stripping.
[Detected target Energy Absorption overload critical point: approximately 37%]
[Recommendation: Continue to deplete until overload is triggered.]
The system prompt was very thoughtful.
Erik's attack frequency was decreasing—not because he was tired, but because he was adjusting.
He was waiting for an opportunity, for the moment Shaw's absorption approached its limit.
Rorschach silently approached within fifty meters.
At this distance, he could clearly see the expression on Erik's face—that chiseled face showed no anger, no hatred, only a cold, almost ruthless calm.
This was true killing intent.
Shaw seemed to have noticed something as well.
He frowned slightly, and just as he was about to speak, Erik's attack changed. It was no longer metal fragments, but the submarine itself.
The two-thousand-ton behemoth began to tilt.
The hull emitted a piercing metallic screech, rivets flew off, steel plates tore, and the entire submarine, like a toy squeezed by a giant hand, began to deform.
Shaw's expression finally changed.
The Bridge beneath his feet was collapsing; he tried to leap up, but Erik's magnetic field had already locked down the entire area.
"This is your true purpose." Shaw looked down at Erik, "Not to kill me, but to destroy my foothold."
Erik finally spoke, his voice as cold as winter seawater: "Eighteen years ago, when you killed my mother, you also stood high above, looking down at her."
Shaw was silent for a second, then smiled: "Good."
He gave up absorbing the metal, crossed his arms over his chest, and launched himself like a cannonball towards Erik.
Erik was waiting for this. He clasped his hands together, and the metal fragments swirling around him instantly condensed into a giant metal spike, shooting towards Shaw.
The moment of Impact, a dazzling light exploded.
The metal spike hit Shaw's chest, paused for a tenth of a second, then began to melt.
Shaw's Energy Absorption was fully open, but that metal spike was only the first—the second, third, and fourth shot out like a rainstorm.
Shaw's absorption speed finally couldn't keep up.
His skin began to glow with an abnormal red light—a sign of energy overload.
He tried to retreat, but Erik's magnetic field had him firmly locked in place.
The last metal spike arrived.
This spike was smaller than the previous ones, only finger-thick, but its speed was almost imperceptible.
It didn't strike Shaw's chest, but rather shot towards his back—the collapsing submarine Bridge.
The moment it pierced the Bridge, countless metal fragments scattered and flew.
One of them flew directly towards Rorschach.
Rorschach's eyes lit up. He didn't dodge; instead, he stepped forward.
The metal fragment grazed his arm, cutting a shallow gash in his skin.
The moment blood seeped out, the system notification sounded in his mind:
[Detected trace target blood on metal fragment: Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto)]
[Analyzing...]
[Analysis complete, acquired superpower: Magnetic Field Manipulation 1.0, points +1000]
[Note: Due to acquisition method being blood contact, this acquisition grants the complete version of Magnetic Field Manipulation.]
[Current Magnetic Field Manipulation level: 1.0, capable of manipulating metal and surrounding magnetic fields, range approximately 50 meters.]
Rorschach's mind stirred, and he tried to sense the surrounding metal.
In that instant, he "saw" countless trajectories—the wreckage of sunken ships on the seabed, the peeling fragments of the submarine, and even the warships of the USA and Soviet Union fleets tens of kilometers away, all twinkling with faint light in his consciousness like stars in the night sky.
This was Magneto's perspective.
His lips curved slightly. It was worth it.
The battle on the sea was nearing its end.
Shaw stood on a piece of metal wreckage that was about to sink, the red light around him growing brighter and brighter.
His Energy Absorption was completely overloaded; he was now like a nuclear bomb about to detonate.
Erik looked at him, his gaze still icy: "Eighteen years."
Shaw looked up at him, then suddenly smiled: "Do you know what your mother's last words were?"
Erik didn't speak.
"She said, 'Don't hurt my son.'" Shaw's smile grew even more radiant, "Too bad you didn't hear it."
Erik's pupils suddenly contracted. He raised his hand, preparing to deliver the final blow to Shaw.
But just then, a roar came from afar—it was the artillery fire of the USA and Soviet Union fleets, finally opening fire across the entire sea.
Cannonballs rained down, exploding into columns of water on the sea surface.
Charles's voice sounded in the mental link, urgent and desperate: "Erik! Come back! They're going to attack indiscriminately!"
Erik looked up at the warships, then at Shaw.
He was silent for three seconds. Then he turned, stepped onto a piece of metal wreckage, and sped away into the distance.
Shaw stood his ground, watching his retreating figure, still smiling.
Rorschach watched this scene, making a mental note.
Shaw's last words were deliberate. He knew he couldn't win today, but he wanted to plant a seed of doubt in Erik's heart.
He turned and swam towards Charles and the others.
Behind him, the submarine finally collapsed completely and sank to the seabed.
Shaw's figure disappeared into the churning seawater.
On the surface of the sea, the artillery fire continued.
Rorschach swam to Darwin and the others, and Ravenimmediately swam over: "Are you hurt?"
"Just a scratch." Rorschach shook his arm, smiling carelessly, "Got cut by a metal fragment while watching the show."
Raven stared at the wound for three seconds, then suddenly asked: "That fragment, it was from Erik's side, right?"
Rorschach's expression didn't change: "I don't know, maybe."
Raven rolled her eyes, not bothering to ask further.
Charles's mental link sounded again: "Everyone, evacuate this sea area! The USA and Soviet Union fleets are out of control!"
Everyone responded and swam away into the distance.
Rorschach lingered at the back, looking back at the boiling sea.
Where the submarine sank, only spreading ripples remained on the sea surface.
Shaw was nowhere to be found, Erik was nowhere to be found, only the warships were still firing wildly.
He took a deep breath and turned around.
[Magnetic Field Manipulation 1.0 is ready.]
[Current metal detection range: approximately 50 meters.]
Rorschach's mind stirred, and he tried to manipulate a fist-sized metal fragment on the seabed.
The fragment wobbled, slowly rose, and floated to the surface.
He glanced at it and smiled.
This ability was more fun than he imagined.
In the distance, the CIA's escort speedboat was approaching.
Charles stood at the bow, waving to them.
Rorschach put away the metal fragment, put his arm around Raven, and swam over.
Behind them, the sound of artillery gradually faded.
The night of October 27, 1962, was destined to go down in history.
But for Rorschach, this was just another step on his path of plunder.
Chapter 85: Iron and Blood Aftermath
The seawater was like boiling noodle soup, bubbling with hot steam.
Rorschach held Raven as they swam toward the support speedboat. The sea behind them was still churning—shells from the USA and Soviet Union fleets were crashing into the water like dumplings, exploding into pillars of white water.
That Soviet Union submarine, weighing over two thousand tons, had completely sunk to the seabed, leaving only ripples spreading across the surface.
Darwin leaned over the gunwale and reached out to pull Rorschach up, muttering, "You two finally made it back. I thought you were going to stay down there and become neighbors with the sharks."
"Sharks?" Rorschach shook the seawater off his body. "Right now, the sharks are probably running faster than we are."
Raven rolled her eyes and leaned against his shoulder.
Banshee was slumped in the cabin, his throat so hoarse he couldn't speak, so he could only give Rorschach a thumbs-up.
Alex's hands were still shaking, but the eager glint in his eyes hadn't faded—this guy really loved to fight.
Charles stood at the bow, staring at the boiling sea in the distance.
Erik was not on the boat.
Rorschach scanned the area. "Where's Erik?"
Charles didn't turn around, his voice very soft. "He left on his own."
Rorschach raised an eyebrow. According to the original plot, Erik should have just finished fighting Shaw and needed a moment to recover.
But he chose to leave on his own—indicating he had already begun to doubt Charles's philosophy of 'peaceful coexistence between humans and Mutants.'
The speedboat's engine started, and it headed toward the CIA destroyer.
Rorschach leaned against the gunwale, his mind shifting slightly as he sensed the metal within fifty meters.
[Magnetic Field Manipulation]
In that instant, he'saw' countless faint glows in his consciousness—the position, shape, and even the movement trajectories of those metal objects were as clear as light points on a radar.
He tried to manipulate a fist-sized metal fragment on the seabed.
The fragment shook, slowly rose, floated out of the water, and landed in his palm.
It was cold and rough, its edges bearing marks from the seawater's erosion.
"What are you looking at?" Raven leaned in. "Picking up trash?"
"This is a witness to history." Rorschach handed the fragment to her.
Raven turned it over a few times and handed it back. "Since when did you get interested in metal?"
"Just now, while watching Erik fight." Rorschach put the fragment in his pocket. "That metal torrent move of his was too cool; I want to learn it too."
Raven stared at him for three seconds. "So, did you learn it?"
Rorschach looked down at her and smiled heartlessly. "What do you think?"
Raven rolled her eyes, not bothering to ask further.
But before she leaned back against his shoulder, she whispered, "You have so many secrets."
Rorschach tightened his grip around her waist and said nothing.
The speedboat entered the shadow of the destroyer, and everyone climbed up the rope ladder.
Charles was the last to board, standing on the deck and looking toward that area of the sea.
Nothing could be seen there anymore, and the gunfire had gradually subsided.
"Charles." Rorschach walked over.
Charles turned his head. "What is it?"
"About Erik, what do you plan to do?"
Charles was silent for two seconds. "He'll come back."
"How do you know?"
"Because he's Erik." Charles's voice was soft but firm. "He hates Shaw, but he doesn't hate the World."
Rorschach nodded and didn't speak again.
But he knew—according to the original plot, Erik was really gone this time, and he would be gone for over a decade. The irreconcilable difference in their philosophies meant they could no longer work together in good faith.
Chapter 86: The Beach Melee Begins
The Cuban Sun was as scorching as a microwave, making the seawater steam.
Rorschach stood in the shadow of the Soviet warship, squinting at the yacht in the distance—that old man Shaw was hiding there, accompanied by four Hellfire thugs.
On the beach, the U.S. and Soviet fleets confronted each other like two sulking children; missiles were already upright, just waiting for someone to press the button.
Rorschach licked his lips, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield.
Sea Witch Xien had already flown into the air, his sound waves making the sea surface churn with spray; Ruin Alex's chest glowed with an eerie blue light, ready to fire a Plasma Impact at any moment.
And on the opposite side? That bastard Riptide was spinning like a top, the seawater around him being whipped into a vortex.
"Mr. Rorschach." Charles's voice echoed in his mind—a Telepathy link through which all X-Men could talk in real-time, "Erik and I will deal with Shaw; you guys stall the other Hellfire members."
"Copy that," Rorschach replied in his mind.
The next second, Riptide moved.
That guy didn't fight fair at all; his rotation speed instantly surged to a level invisible to the naked eye, and he whipped the surrounding seawater into a water tornado, charging towards the beach head-on.
Even more disgusting, during the rotation, his skin began to secrete some kind of Calcium Deposits, which were no different from bullets when flung out at high speed.
"Watch out!" Sea Witch Xien's sound wave barrier opened just in time, but it was still half a beat slow—a bloody streak was grazed onto Ruin Alex's shoulder, making him grimace in pain.
Rorschach's eyes, however, lit up.
Blood?
Blood is good.
He dodged several calcium deposit bullets with a clumsy roll, looking disheveled as he rolled to Alex's side: "Is it serious?"
"It's fine, just a graze." Alex gritted his teeth and stood up, energy beginning to condense in his chest again.
Nonsense, I know you're fine.
But your blood isn't.
Rorschach inconspicuously wiped a bit of blood from Alex's shoulder with his finger.
"Ding! Target blood detected: Alex Summers (Havok), Ability [Plasma Impact 1.0]. Can be fused with Energy Manipulation. Points +100."
Rorschach grinned, his gaze toward Riptide softening a bit—Brother, it'll be your turn in a moment.
Sea Witch Xien was currently facing Riptide head-on.
His sound waves were indeed powerful; one roar could blast a crater into the sea.
But that bastard Riptide was too slippery; in his high-speed rotation state, most of the sound waves were deflected.
Even more troublesome, that guy couldn't just spin; he could also manipulate tornadoes, and several water columns rose from the sea, smashing down relentlessly towards the X-Men.
"Alex!" Rorschach shouted.
Havok had been holding back for a long time; the blue energy in his chest instantly erupted, and a thick Plasma Impact blasted directly into the water tornado—
*Boom!*
Water vapor exploded into a sky full of white mist, making the entire beach impossible to see.
This was exactly what Rorschach was waiting for.
In the mist, he activated Super Speed, kicked off the ground, and instantly cut into Riptide's three-meter range.
That guy's reaction wasn't slow either; his rotation speed surged, and calcium fragments were flung out like a rainstorm.
Rorschach tanked a few hits—Super Defense was no joke, and the fragments only left a few white spots on his body—as he took advantage of the momentum to stumble, "accidentally" crashing into Riptide.
His arm brushed against the other's shoulder, catching a bit of blood.
Enough.
"Ding! Target blood detected: Riptide, Ability [Storm Control]."
Rorschach was overjoyed, but his face put on a realistic performance—clutching the area where he was hit, he had a resolute expression of "I'm hurt but I can still fight" as he scrambled back to his own side.
Sea Witch Xien quickly flew over: "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, won't die." Rorschach panted, but his eyes drifted toward the other side of the battlefield.
Red Devil Azazel had just made an appearance, using Space Jump to move Riptide's position.
That purple-skinned guy hovered in mid-air, flicking his tail with a face full of mockery.
Space Jump...
Rorschach licked his lips.
If he could get his hands on this ability, his survival rate would double.
But logic told him now was not the time.
Red Devil was too alert, and the battlefield was too chaotic; acting rashly could easily lead to disaster.
What was his core slogan again? Survival first, development second, picking up girls third, and causing trouble fourth.
Right, survival first.
He obediently huddled behind a reef, watching Bansheeand Havok team up to blast Riptide, occasionally firing two symbolic energy waves just to maintain a presence.
"Mr. Rorschach?" Charles's voice echoed in his mind again, "Are you alright? I sense your emotions are fluctuating wildly."
"Doing great," Rorschach replied in his mind, "Just a bit worried about you guys. How's it going on Shaw's side?"
"It's very difficult," Charles's tone was grave, "His helmet can block my Telepathy, and Erik's metal attacks are also ineffective against him—he can absorb all energy."
Energy Absorption...
Rorschach narrowed his eyes.
He really craved that ability. But likewise, now was not the time.
An old fox of Shaw's level had too many trump cards; throwing his life away rashly was not his style.
"Be careful, I'll come to support once I stall Riptide here." While his mouth said pretty words, his body was very honest as he continued to huddle behind the reef.
Not far away, Sea Witch Xien finally found an opportunity, and an enhanced sound wave hit Riptide head-on—that guy's rotating body suddenly stalled, and he fell directly from mid-air into the sea, splashing up a three-meter-high wave.
"Beautiful!" Alex punched the air in excitement.
Rorschach also followed suit by clapping, but in his mind, he was calculating: Riptide's blood is in hand, can I find a chance to sneak over to Red Devil's side later?
Just as he was thinking, a red figure suddenly appeared on a reef ten meters away.
Red Devil Azazel.
That guy's purple skin was particularly eye-catching in the Sun; his tail flicked gently as he stared at Rorschach with interest: "You... are very interesting."
Rorschach squeezed out a harmless smile: "Me? I'm just a nobody."
"No." Red Devil narrowed his eyes, "I just saw you take Riptide's blood. Are you collecting our blood?"
Holy shit.
Rorschach's mind spun rapidly—exposed? Should he silence him? No, this guy's Space Jump is too broken; if he can't win, he can escape, so he couldn't force it.
He spread his hands with an innocent look: "Brother, you've misunderstood. I just accidentally brushed against it during the fight, look, I even got injured." As he spoke, he pointed to the white spots on his body left by Riptideearlier.
Red Devil stared at him for three seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Interesting. I hope the next time we fight, you can give me more surprises."
With that, the purple figure flashed and disappeared.
Rorschach breathed a sigh of relief.
Crap! That was a close call.
He began to get serious—the waters of this World were deeper than imagined.
None of these people from Hellfire were pushovers.
It seemed he would have to be more careful in the future and couldn't be so reckless anymore.
In the distance, Sea Witch Xien and Havok had already suppressed Riptide and were advancing toward Shaw's yacht.
Rorschach stood up, patted the sand off his body, and slowly followed.
"Ding! System notification: Upgradeable abilities: [Diamond Form 2.0→2.1] (Costs 1000), [Super Speed 2.0→2.1] (Costs 1000). Priority suggested for defensive abilities."
No rush.
Rorschach squinted at the yacht in the distance.
This battle has only just begun; there will be plenty of opportunities to harvest later.
If he upgraded now, what if he needed points to fuse a new ability later?
In life, one must always keep a card up their sleeve.
The sea breeze blew over, carrying the scent of gunpowder smoke and blood.
Chapter 87: The Fury of "Magneto"
At the spot where the Red Devil disappeared, Rorschachreplayed the scene in his mind—did that guy see through him or not?
The purple figure performing Space Jump circled his mind three times, and his conclusion was: uncertain.
But one thing was certain: the Red Devil's gaze was definitely not a friendly greeting of "hello, brother."
In the distance, Sea Witch Xien's sonic waves still rumbled, suppressing Riptide so he couldn't lift his head.
Rorschach retreated behind a reef and began to seriously ponder life—no, to ponder strategies for survival.
"Detected a target with obtainable ability nearby: Azazel, the Red Devil (Space Jump, estimated level 2.0). Host is advised to proceed with caution."
Caution?
Rorschach chuckled.
I've survived in the World of Black Robes until now by relying on those two words: "caution."
But caution doesn't mean being a coward—strike when you need to, the key is timing.
He squinted, looking at the battlefield.
That grandson Riptide was getting a serious beating from Sea Witch and Havok working together; his rotation speed had noticeably slowed, and the calcified fragments were not as dense as before.
Sea Witch Xien's sonic waves roared more and more fiercely, orange sound waves crashing one after another, making the sea surface boil like hot water.
Havok Alex stood on a reef, blue light flickering in his chest, a plasma Impact wave poised to strike.
"Rorschach!" Alex suddenly roared, "Cover me!"
Cover?
Rorschach's eyes darted, instantly understanding—this guy was about to unleash a big move.
Without another word, he raised his hand and sent out an energy wave; although it was just for show, he had to make it look convincing.
The energy wave grazed Riptide's tornado, getting torn apart, but it successfully attracted that grandson's attention.
Riptide turned his head and glanced at him.
That one glance was enough.
The blue energy in Alex's chest instantly erupted, a thick plasma Impact wave directly hitting the core of Riptide's tornado—"Boom!"
This time it wasn't steam; it was a real explosion.
Riptide's spinning body was blasted flying, skipping seven or eight times across the sea surface, finally crashing into a reef and lying there motionless.
He was just about to stand up and "cheer for victory" when his peripheral vision suddenly caught a red figure—the Red Devil reappeared, this time standing beside Riptide, grabbing the unconscious Riptide, and with a flick of his purple tail, both disappeared simultaneously.
"Space Jump..." Rorschach licked his lips.
He really wanted it.
But reason told him now was not the time to pursue it.
Shaw's side was the main battlefield, and an opponent of the Red Devil's caliber required a long-term plan.
Just then, Charles's voice boomed in his mind: "Everyone, attention! There's unusual activity on Shaw's yacht!"
Rorschach looked up.
The white yacht in the distance was trembling violently; on the deck, a silver figure was confronting a black figure—Erik and Shaw.
Even hundreds of meters away, Rorschach could feel the oppressive force of the magnetic field collision.
Erik's metal manipulation was at full power, countless metal fragments raining down on Shaw, but that old man Shaw was like a sponge, absorbing everything that came his way. The metal fragments would "soften" upon hitting him, and he still wore a smug smile on his face.
"Energy Absorption..." Rorschach narrowed his eyes.
He truly coveted this ability.
But the next second, he suppressed the desire—it was not the right time to confront an old fox like Shaw.
Over at the yacht, the battle suddenly escalated.
A red light wave exploded from the deck—it was HavokAlex's plasma Impact wave, which had flown over to provide support at some point.
Rorschach watched wide-eyed as the red energy hit Shaw squarely—
Then, Shaw raised his hand and caught it.
Just like catching a basketball.
That old man even grinned as the red light wave shrank in his palm, finally becoming a fist-sized energy ball.
Shaw glanced down, then suddenly shoved the energy ball into someone else's mouth nearby.
Darwin.
Rorschach's pupils constricted.
Darwin's body began to convulse wildly, his skin changing to stone one moment, then Water, then Fire—he was trying to "adapt" to the energy within him.
But Shaw's energy was too powerful, beyond his adaptation limit.
Three seconds later.
Darwin turned into a pile of ashes, scattered by the sea breeze.
"Holy crap!" Rorschach cursed, clenching his fists.
He had no particular friendship with Darwin, but seeing a living person die right before his eyes still made his heart ache.
What was even more frustrating was that he currently had no way to deal with Shaw—going up against Shaw head-on? That would be meaningless.
"Retreat!" Charles's voice rang out again, this time trembling, "Everyone retreat!"
Sea Witch Xien and Havok Alex had already begun to fall back.
Rorschach didn't say a word, turning to leave.
Preserving his life was paramount, not just empty talk.
He sprinted back to their position, and just as he crouched behind a reef, he heard a massive explosion behind him.
He looked back to see the seawater around Shaw's yacht exploding dozens of meters high, and a silver figure being blasted away—it was Erik.
Magneto tumbled several times on the water, finally steadying himself on a metal plate, his face contorted with a ferocious, man-eating expression.
"Shaw!" His roar echoed across the sea, "I'm going to kill you!"
Rorschach crouched behind the reef, silently lighting a candle for Erik in his heart—Brother, can you even win?
The answer was no, he couldn't.
In the next few minutes, Rorschach witnessed firsthand what "absolute suppression" meant.
Shaw was like a walking black hole, absorbing all energy that came his way. Erik's metal attacks, Alex's plasma Impact waves, Sea Witch's sonic waves—all were absorbed by him.
Even more disgusting, after absorbing, the old man could return them as they were, several energy waves striking back, knocking the X-Men off their feet.
Rorschach rolled over, hiding himself even more thoroughly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of a figure not far away—it was Mystique Raven, lying behind another reef, her eyes fixed on the battlefield.
"Hey," Rorschach called out in a low voice.
Raven turned her head, saw it was him, and said, "How are you?"
"I'm fine, tough as nails." Rorschach grinned, moving closer to her, "Why are you hiding here?"
"Trying to see if there's an opportunity." Raven gritted her teeth, "Darwin, he..."
"I know." Rorschach interrupted her, his tone uncharacteristically serious, "But going up now is just asking to die. If you die, who will avenge him?"
Raven was silent for a few seconds, saying nothing.
In the distance, Shaw's laughter echoed like thunder: "Erik! Is that all you've got? You had the same expression when your mother died!"
Erik's roar pierced the sky.
Rorschach squinted at the silver figure, calculating in his mind—in Erik's current state, he might really have a breakthrough.
Magneto had great potential, and in anger, he was more likely to break through his limits.
Sure enough, the next second, the sea surface suddenly vibrated violently.
Rorschach's eyes widened—that Soviet submarine, that hundreds-of-meters-long nuclear submarine, was slowly rising from beneath the Water, like a giant beast awakening from slumber.
Erik spread his hands, veins bulging, forcefully lifting the submarine out of the Water.
"Holy hell," Rorschach couldn't help but curse.
This was the true Magneto.
Shaw's laughter finally stopped.
The submarine hovered in mid-air for three seconds, then Erik slammed it fiercely towards Shaw's yacht—
"Boom!"
The two ships collided, the explosion's fire illuminating half the sky.
Rorschach seized the opportunity to pull Raven back: "Let's go! This place isn't safe!"
Raven took one last look at the battlefield and retreated with him.
After running several hundred meters, they stopped behind a reef to catch their breath.
Rorschach plopped down on the ground, wiped the seawater from his face, and suddenly remembered something—where was the Red Devil?
That grandson had run off with Riptide earlier; now that Shaw's ship was wrecked, would he come back to save his master?
Rorschach suddenly looked up.
Ten meters away, on a reef, the purple figure reappeared.
Azazel, the Red Devil, stared at him, a strange smile playing on his lips: "We meet again."
Rorschach's heart tightened, but he chuckled, "What a coincidence, you're hiding here too?"
"No." The Red Devil shook his head, his tail flicking gently, "I came for you."
"For me? A dinner date?" Rorschach stood up, instinctively shielding Raven behind him.
The Red Devil stared at him for three seconds, then suddenly smiled: "You are interesting. Next time we meet, I hope you're still alive."
With that, the purple figure flashed and disappeared again.
Rorschach breathed a sigh of relief, and just as he was about to turn, his peripheral vision suddenly caught a drop of purple blood on the reef—where the Red Devil had just stood.
Blood?
Rorschach's eyes lit up.
He rushed over in a few strides, touching the blood with his finger—
"Ding! Detected target blood: Azazel (Red Devil), ability [Space Jump 2.0]."
Rorschach grinned.
Worth it.
Raven walked over, frowning at the blood: "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Rorschach wiped the blood from his finger, looking serious, "Just checking the situation."
Raven looked at him suspiciously but didn't ask further.
In the distance, the explosions continued, but Shaw's laughter could no longer be heard.
Rorschach stood up, dusted the sand off himself, and smiled as he looked at the fiery sea—
This battle was not fought in vain.
Chapter 88: Blood Sample Pursuit
Rorschach stared at the drop of purple blood on his finger, his heart brimming with joy.
That Red Devil bastard might be fast, but he couldn't avoid slipping.
Rorschach grinned, and without another word, he wanted to silently chant in his mind: Upgrade Space Jump 2.0 →?
Wait, 2.0 is enough for now. Upgrading again would cost 10,000 points for 3.0, and he was too poor.
Save it for now.
He wiped the blood off his finger and turned to look at Raven.
Mystique was staring at him with a look that said, "What exactly are you doing?"
This man had been a mystery since the first day he appeared; she was already used to it.
In the distance, the battle on the sea continued.
Shaw's yacht was smashed in half by Erik using a submarine, but the Black King himself was perfectly fine, floating on the water on a piece of deck, smiling as if he had found money.
"Erik!" His voice was clearly audible even from hundreds of meters away. "Your mother had the same expression back then—despair, anger, powerlessness!"
Magneto's roar shook the sea three times over.
Rorschach shrank his neck and pulled Raven back: "Let's go, let's go, this place is about to become the center of the battlefield."
No sooner had he spoken than a silver figure streaked overhead—Erik flew directly past, followed by countless metal fragments, like a swarm of locusts.
"Boom!"
A water column tens of meters high erupted where Shaw had been.
Rorschach took the opportunity to drag Raven and sprint, finally stopping behind a large rock at the edge of the beach, panting.
"Why are you running?" Raven shook off his hand. "It's not like I can't win."
"I know you can win." Rorschach plopped down on the ground. "But we need to talk about cost-effectiveness—going head-to-head with a pervert like Shaw, if you win, you lose a layer of skin; if you lose, you reincarnate directly. It's not worth it."
The Red Devil had disappeared earlier, but given that bastard's personality, he would definitely reappear.
Just as he was thinking, a spatial distortion suddenly emanated from behind him.
Rorschach suddenly turned around—
Three meters away, a purple figure appeared out of thin air.
The Red Devil Azazel floated in mid-air, his tail gently swaying, a playful smile on his face: "We meet again."
Rorschach's heart tightened, but a smile spread across his face: "What a coincidence, are you also hiding here?"
"No." The Red Devil shook his head. "I came looking for you."
"Looking for me? For a meal?" Rorschach stood up, instinctively shielding Raven behind him.
This action was purely instinctive—even though Ravendidn't need his protection, as a man, he had to stand in front at critical moments.
The Red Devil stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled: "You... are very interesting. I smell something special."
Rorschach's heart skipped a beat.
That bastard's nose is that keen?
But his face remained smiling: "Brother, your hobby is a bit peculiar. Smell? I thought you only played with Space Jump."
The Red Devil didn't respond, his gaze sweeping over Rorschach's finger—the one that had been stained with blood.
"You collect our blood." He spoke slowly, his tone not a question, but an affirmation.
Rorschach knew he couldn't hide it anymore.
He spread his hands, looking innocent: "Collecting isn't quite right, I just have a bit of a collecting habit."
Raven listened, utterly confused: "What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing." Rorschach patted her shoulder. "Adults are talking, kids shouldn't interrupt."
Raven slapped his hand away: "You're the kid!"
The Red Devil watched them bicker, his smile deepening: "Interesting. I've seen many Mutants, but you're the first of your kind."
He paused, then suddenly flicked his tail, and space began to distort: "Next time we meet, I will personally experience your 'collection'."
Before his words finished, the purple figure began to dissipate.
Raven walked over, finally unable to hold back: "What exactly are you doing collecting blood?"
Rorschach looked up, innocent: "If I told you I was researching the biological basis of Space Jump, would you believe me?"
Raven slapped him on the back of the head, "Tell me the truth!"
Rorschach rubbed the back of his head, sighing: "Alright, I am indeed collecting abilities. But it's not stealing, it's just... borrowing. The kind I'll return when I'm done."
"Borrowing?" Raven's eyes widened. "Do you take me for a three-year-old?"
"Really." Rorschach looked sincere. "Look, I borrowed your Shapeshifting Ability, and I haven't returned it, right? But have you become weaker?"
Raven was stunned for a moment.
It seemed... she really hadn't.
She checked her body; her Shapeshifting Ability was still there, exactly the same as before.
"So how exactly do you do it?" she frowned.
Rorschach spread his hands: "Just think of me as a walking ability photocopier. After I make a copy, the original is still there."
Raven stared at him for a long time, then finally sighed: "Forget it, I'm too lazy to ask. As long as you don't mean me any harm."
"Of course." Rorschach grinned. "You're my first friend in this World."
Raven rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
Chapter 89: Psychic Immunity Attack and Defense
Rorschach huddled behind the reef, watching the golden figure in the distance draw closer and closer.
Shaw hadn't run far—after absorbing the kinetic energy from the crashing aircraft carrier, the old bastard simply circled around at sea and came charging back.
"Damn it! Will this ever end?" Rorschach cursed, pulling Raven back with him.
Raven shook off his hand. "Why are you backing up? Charles and the others are up front!"
"Exactly because they're up front, that's why I'm backing up," Rorschach said with a serious face. "This is called tactical conservation of strength."
In the distance, Charles stood on the wreckage of a warship, hands pressed to his temples, veins bulging on his forehead.
He was trying to use Telepathy to control Shaw.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Shaw continued flying forward as if nothing was wrong, that infuriating smile still plastered on his face.
"Charles?" Erik's voice came through the comms. "What's wrong?"
"I... I can't get in," Charles's voice was uncharacteristically panicked. "His mind is blocked by something!"
Shaw landed on a piece of wreckage about twenty meters from Charles. He tapped the metal helmet on his head, his smile widening. "Charles Xavier, right? Emma's mentioned you. Young, talented, but too naive."
He pointed at the helmet. "A gift from the Soviet Union. Specifically designed to deal with you 'telepaths'."
Charles gritted his teeth and tried again—
Still no good.
Shaw's mind was tightly shielded by an invisible metal dome. Charles's Psychic Power slammed into it like an egg hitting a rock, and the recoil left his own head spinning.
Rorschach licked his lips.
That helmet... a nice piece of gear.
Shaw clearly had no intention of giving Charles a chance to catch his breath.
He pushed off with his feet, shooting toward Charles like a cannonball, his right fist clenched, carrying a terrifying surge of energy—
"Boom!"
A metal wall suddenly rose from the sea, blocking the path between Shaw and Charles.
Shaw's punch shattered the wall into fragments, but Charles was yanked back over a dozen meters by Erik's magnetism, narrowly avoiding the lethal blow.
Erik flew in from the other side, positioning himself in front of Charles. "What's with the helmet?"
"It blocks my ability," Charles gasped for breath. "I can't control him."
Erik narrowed his eyes, staring at the helmet on Shaw's head.
Metal.
He could manipulate metal.
He raised his hand, fingers curling as if grasping—the helmet didn't budge.
Shaw chuckled. "You think I didn't consider that? The helmet's inner lining is a specially treated material, and the outer layer is coated with a non-metallic ceramic. Your Mutant ability is useless against it."
Erik refused to believe it, increasing the force.
Shaw's head tilted slightly, but the helmet remained firmly in place.
"Damn it!" Erik swore.
Rorschach watched with great interest from afar.
This scene was like two top-tier players fighting a boss, only to find the boss decked out in full steel armor.
Charles's psychic attacks were nullified, Erik's metal manipulation was countered by special materials—the X-Men's two strongest offensive powers were effectively halved.
Shaw clearly realized this too.
He spread his arms, the golden light around him growing brighter and brighter—he hadn't used up all the kinetic energy absorbed from the carrier, and now he was converting it all into offensive power.
"Since you're done, it's my turn."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he thrust his hands forward, blasting a thick golden energy wave toward Charles and Erik—
The two instantly split apart. The energy wave grazed past them, directly cleaving a warship wreck behind them in two.
"Damn," Rorschach ducked his head. "That's some explosive firepower..."
Raven tugged at him. "Let's retreat. We can't win this."
"Wait a bit longer," Rorschach said, squinting as he focused on Shaw's helmet.
He was memorizing.
Memorizing the helmet's structure, Shaw's movement patterns, when the old bastard might expose an opening.
Every ability had its weakness. Shaw's Energy Absorptionrequired contact. The helmet could block Telepathy, but wearing it for too long would cause fatigue. The special material probably couldn't withstand sustained assault either.
An opportunity would come eventually.
In the distance, Charles and Erik began coordinating.
Erik manipulated metal fragments to harass Shaw, while Charles redirected his Psychic Power toward Riptide and the Red Devil—if he couldn't control Shaw, could he not control you lot?
Riptide, who had been spinning like a top, suddenly froze mid-air and plummeted into the sea.
The Red Devil, having just landed from a Space Jump, felt dizzy and nearly face-planted.
"Nice work!" Erik roared. Seizing the moment of Shaw's distraction, he sent a massive metal plate slamming toward him—
Shaw raised his hand to block it. The plate was absorbed, but the impact still forced him half a step back.
Just that half-step.
Charles's Psychic Power instantly locked onto the exposed gap—the seam between the helmet's edge and Shaw's neck.
Even if he couldn't penetrate, he could still interfere!
Shaw's movements suddenly slowed by half a beat.
Erik seized the chance, sending a downpour of metal fragments crashing down, forcing Shaw to protect his head with both hands and retreat repeatedly.
"It's working!" Charles's voice was excited. "He's not completely immune! The helmet's protection has blind spots!"
Rorschach's eyes lit up.
Blind spots. The neck. The eyes. The mouth.
As long as it wasn't 360-degree protection, there was a chance.
Shaw clearly realized the danger too.
He deflected the last wave of metal fragments, pushed off with his feet, and shot back dozens of meters, landing on the sea's surface.
He stared at Charles and Erik, the smile finally gone from his face.
"Interesting," he said, touching his helmet. "You're more troublesome than I expected."
Erik sneered. "Scared?"
"Scared?" Shaw shook his head. "I just think there's no need to waste time with you."
He raised his hand, firing a golden energy beam into the sky—a signal.
The next second, the sea surface shook violently.
In the distance, the Soviet submarine that hadn't fully sunk yet suddenly exploded from within.
Several figures burst from the flames—the Red Devilcarrying Riptide, the White Queen Emma Frost stepping on broken ice, followed by several unfamiliar Mutants.
Hellfire was retreating in full force.
Erik wanted to pursue, but Charles stopped him. "Don't chase. Our people have casualties too."
Sea Witch Xien lay panting on some wreckage. Havok Alex's shoulder wound was still bleeding. Angel Salvadorhad one wing broken, sweating from the pain.
Erik gritted his teeth, watching Shaw's retreating figure, before finally punching the metal plate beside him in frustration.
Charles landed next to him and patted his shoulder. "Next time. Next time we won't let him get away."
Erik didn't respond, turning to fly back.
Rorschach peeked out from behind the reef. After confirming it was safe, he pulled Raven to her feet.
"Is it over?" Raven asked.
"It's over," Rorschach said, brushing sand off himself. "Shaw ran, we're injured, temporary ceasefire."
Raven stared at him. "You really didn't lift a finger back there."
"I did," Rorschach said with a straight face. "I supported them spiritually."
Raven rolled her eyes.
As the two walked back, passing by Charles, Rorschachstopped. "That helmet, where's it from?"
Charles rubbed his temples, clearly drained. "Shaw said it was a gift from the Soviet Union. Specifically designed to block Telepathy."
"How long can it block for?"
"As long as he's wearing it, I can't get in," Charles said with a bitter smile. "Unless he takes it off himself, or someone helps him take it off."
Rorschach nodded and didn't ask further.
In the distance, the sounds of battle gradually faded.
Shaw's yacht had completely sunk. Erik's figure disappeared over the sea on the other side.
Rorschach stood up, patted the sand off his clothes. "Let's go, time to report back."
Raven nodded, and the two walked back side by side.
Sea Witch Xien and Havok Alex were also withdrawing, both injured but alive.
The Sun began to set in the west, casting golden light on the beach, stretching their shadows long.
In the distance, the figures of Charles and Erik were faintly visible—one standing, one sitting, separated by dozens of meters, neither speaking.
Just as Charles had said before, Magneto had returned to the battlefield, but their relationship wasn't quite the same as before.
Looking at that scene, Rorschach sighed inwardly.
Those two would inevitably part ways sooner or later.
But that had nothing to do with him. He just needed to secure as many benefits as possible before the split.
"System Notification: Upgradable Ability: [Space Jump2.0 → 3.0] (Cost: 10,000 points)..."
Rorschach glanced at it and decisively chose not to upgrade for now.
Better to save the points in case there were better abilities later. He'd use them when he truly needed to.
Space Jump 2.0 was sufficient for now—good enough for survival.
Chapter 90: The White Queen's Kiss
The battlefield was a total mess.
Shaw had escaped, and the Red Devil had vanished along with Riptide, leaving only the wreckage of sunken ships and scattered flames on the sea's surface.
Rorschach crouched behind a reef, preparing to call Ravento retreat, when he suddenly heard a strange sound: Zzz-zzz—
The sound of an electric current.
He poked his head out and saw Beast Hank standing on the wreckage of a warship, holding a bizarre-looking device in his hands, with two wires connected to a figure not far away.
The White Queen, Emma.
The Diamond Form on her body hadn't completely faded yet, but it had started to flicker unsteadily, like a lightbulb with a poor connection.
Hank's device was releasing a high-intensity current. Although diamonds were insulators, they couldn't withstand high-voltage current—Emma's body began to tremble, and fine cracks appeared on the diamond surface.
"Holy crap."
"That nerd Hank is actually using piezoelectric resonance frequency to impact the diamond's molecular bonds? No wonder Emma's defense is shattering like glass hit by a tuning fork..."
Emma knelt on one knee as her Diamond Form finally failed to hold, shattering into a sky full of starlight with a "crash," revealing her true form—a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, cold and elegant beauty. Her white bodysuit was soaked with sweat, clinging to her body and outlining her perfect curves.
At the moment Emma's diamond shattered, a system prompt suddenly flashed before Rorschach's eyes:
[Recommendation: Contact High-Level Mutant: Emma Frost]
Rorschach licked his lips.
She really is top-tier.
Hank approached Emma with the device: "Don't move! You're under arrest!"
Emma panted heavily, but her eyes remained cold.
She stared at Hank and laughed mockingly, "You think you can catch me like this?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly raised her hand—a telepathic blast slammed into Hank.
Unable to dodge in time, Hank was sent flying, and the device shattered into pieces.
Emma stood up unsteadily, but just as she was about to leave, her legs gave out and she knelt down again.
That last strike had exhausted her final bit of Psychic Power.
Rorschach saw it clearly—this woman was now in a truly weakened state.
Her Diamond Form was broken, her Psychic Poweroverdrawn, and there was no support from her teammates around.
This is the chance.
He patted Raven's shoulder: "Wait here, I'm going to play the hero saving the beauty."
Raven grabbed him: "Are you crazy? She's an enemy!"
"She is now, but maybe not in a bit." Rorschach broke free from her hand with a righteous look, "My greatest virtue is being helpful, regardless of whether someone is a friend or foe."
Raven: "...You just want to hit on her."
Rorschach had already rushed out.
He ran to Emma's side and supported her: "Are you okay?"
Emma looked up and saw a strange man's face—he wasn't from the X-Men, nor from the Hellfire Club.
Her eyes were wary: "Who are you?"
"A passerby." Rorschach looked sincere, "I just happened to be passing by, saw you were injured, and decided to lend a hand."
Emma sneered: "Do you know who I am?"
"I know." Rorschach nodded, "The White Queen, a core member of the Hellfire Club, Sebastian Shaw's right-hand woman." He paused, "But that doesn't stop me from saving someone."
Emma stared at him for three seconds and suddenly smiled: "Interesting."
In the distance, Hank scrambled up, clutching his head and shouting: "Rorschach! What are you doing! She's an enemy!"
"I know." Rorschach didn't look back, "But she's no longer a threat. Don't we X-Men value humanitarianism? We can't just leave someone to die."
Hank was speechless.
These were the words he usually preached, and now that Rorschach was using them against him, he really couldn't argue.
Emma leaned against Rorschach, panting as she said: "Your name is Rorschach?"
"Yes."
"Are you an X-Man?"
"Off-staff." Rorschach supported her as they backed away, "Part-time handyman."
Emma laughed again.
This time the smile wasn't so cold; it carried a hint of playfulness: "You're very interesting. Much more interesting than those fools who constantly talk about justice."
Rorschach felt a stir in his heart.
Hearing this, there's a chance.
In the distance, Hank was still shouting: "Rorschach! Bring her over here!"
"Wait a moment!" Rorschach shouted back, "Her injuries are too severe, she can't move!"
He helped Emma retreat behind a reef, out of Hank's line of sight.
Emma sat down against the reef and took a few deep breaths, her complexion recovering slightly.
"Why save me?" she asked.
Rorschach shrugged: "I said I was just passing by—"
"Cut it out." Emma interrupted him, "I saw your eyes clearly just now. You weren't passing by; you came specifically for me."
Rorschach was silent for two seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Alright, you saw through me." He sat down next to Emma, "I did come for you—but not to capture you."
"Then for what?"
Rorschach turned his head to look at her, his eyes so sincere they could practically drip water: "If I said it was love at first sight, would you believe me?"
Emma was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Do you take me for a three-year-old?"
"Really." Rorschach looked serious, "The first time I saw you was in the Hellfire Club's archives. At the time, I thought, this woman is truly charming. Seeing you in person today, I realized the photos didn't capture even half of your beauty."
Emma stared at him for a long time before finally sighing: "How many women have you deceived with that mouth of yours?"
"Not many." Rorschach counted on his fingers... "Just a few. But they all said I was sincere."
Emma rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
Emma looked at him and suddenly asked: "Aren't you afraid that once I recover, the first thing I'll do is kill you?"
"I am." Rorschach nodded, "But I'm betting you won't."
"Why?"
Rorschach turned to look at her: "Because the way you look at me is different from how you look at the other X-Men."
Emma fell silent.
This man was right. She did see him differently—not because of affection, but because she couldn't see through him.
Although her Telepathy was weak, it hadn't completely disappeared.
She had just tried to read Rorschach's thoughts, only to find a complete blank.
It wasn't a shield, it was... nothing at all.
There were only two possibilities: either this man was an idiot, or his psychic strength was stronger than hers.
Looking at his eyes, he didn't seem like an idiot.
"Who exactly are you?" she asked.
Rorschach waved his hand, "Just consider me a passing traveler who happens to be staying here for a while."
Emma stared at him, suddenly feeling an indescribable attraction to this man.
It wasn't a superficial handsomeness, but a kind of... aura.
Emma leaned back against the reef and closed her eyes: "Let me rest for a bit."
Rorschach nodded and didn't speak again.
Ten minutes later, Emma opened her eyes, her face having recovered some color.
She stood up, stretched her limbs, and looked at Rorschach: "You don't regret it?"
"Regret what?"
"Letting me go." A smile quirked on Emma's lips, "Once I go back, I'll still be your enemy."
Rorschach also stood up and brushed the sand off himself: "An enemy is an enemy; it doesn't mean I can't like you."
Emma stared at him for a long time, then suddenly took a step forward and kissed him on the cheek.
"This is my thanks." She stepped back, a hint of a smile in her eyes, "Next time we meet, I won't show any mercy."
Rorschach touched his face and smiled: "Neither will I."
When Emma's lips touched his cheek, a cool stream of psychic energy seeped through his skin and into his marrow.
An illusion of diamond facets suddenly appeared before Rorschach's eyes, and a system prompt sounded in his ear.
Emma turned and left.
After a few steps, she suddenly turned back: "What you said earlier about love at first sight, was it true or false?"
Rorschach thought seriously for a moment: "Half-true, half-false."
"Which half is true?"
"The part about you being beautiful is true." Rorschachgrinned, "The love at first sight part is false—I'm a slow-burner."
Emma laughed out loud, a genuine laugh this time.
She waved her hand, and her figure vanished into the night.
Rorschach stood where he was, savoring the moment for three seconds while touching his face, then checked the system prompt—
"System Prompt: Detected intimate contact trigger with target Emma Frost (White Queen). Abilities acquired: [Diamond Form 2.0 → 2.1] fusion, slight increase in Psychic Power (acquired partial Telepathy). points +1000, current total 11,400."
Rorschach was delighted. This was a good harvest.
Raven had snuck over at some point and smacked the back of his head: "Satisfied?"
Rorschach rubbed the back of his head with a serious expression: "What do you mean satisfied? I was executing an infiltration mission."
"Infiltrating onto your face?" Raven sneered, "You looked like you were enjoying it quite a bit."
"That was a tactical contact." Rorschach put his arm around her shoulder as they walked back, "Let's go. Shaw isn't dead; this battle isn't over yet."
Raven threw off his hand, but followed him anyway.
After walking a few steps, Rorschach looked back in the direction Emma had disappeared, a smile playing on his lips—
The White Queen, huh?
Next time we meet, let's have a good "chat."