The strongest?
Rorschach didn't feel even a hint of pride at Raven's praise. He knew full well that he was nowhere near that level.
Forget the global threats capable of leveling cities or destroying the planet—for now, even among mutants alone, Rorschach wasn't the strongest.
Take Shaw, the Black Emperor, for example. Rorschach had just fought him and still couldn't take him down.
And in the future, when Charles fully realizes his potential, even he will become a major threat to Rorschach.
That's not even considering the Phoenix—that level of power would render Rorschach a mere speck.
And then there's Apocalypse, still sleeping somewhere out there…
Rorschach still had a long road ahead.
"Raven, I'm not strong enough."
He shook his head seriously. "If I were, then it wouldn't have been me running from Shaw last night—it would've been him."
"Rorschach, you did amazing," Raven protested. "You stood up to Shaw. You protected everyone! And us?"
She laughed bitterly. "All we did was cower like scared little rabbits."
Meanwhile, at Kamar-Taj…
In the dim light of the Sanctum's Supreme Hall, the Ancient One sat calmly, watching the scene unfold within a floating mirror of golden magic.
The mirror reflected Rorschach in Charles's yard, unleashing a pair of blazing heat rays.
The Ancient One's eyes narrowed slightly in intrigue.
"You can shoot lasers from your eyes?" she murmured. "How many secrets are you still hiding, little one?"
She watched a few seconds longer, then, with a gentle flick of her fingers, the mirror dissolved like mist in the sun.
It was as if nothing had ever been there.
Of course, there was no way Rorschach could sense her observation.
Not now. And even if he somehow survived the test of time and became as strong as the Homelander… he still wouldn't match that ancient sorceress.
"Raven, let's head back," Rorschach said, snapping back to the present.
He glanced at the shattered boulder nearby and shrugged. "Oh, and uh—sorry about the stone."
"I'm sure Charles wouldn't mind," Raven replied with a smirk. "If he knew what it was broken for, he'd probably be proud."
Back in his room, Rorschach lay down and, for the first time in what felt like ages, fell asleep with no distractions.
The next morning...
"Ahhh... new day!"
Rorschach stretched lazily, cracking his joints as he got out of bed.
He opened the curtains, and soft sunlight poured into the room. Outside, the lawn shimmered green, and the flower garden bloomed with color.
It looked like something straight out of a Li Ziqi video.
After a quick wash, he headed downstairs.
The living room was already filled with everyone—Raven, Beast (Hank), Darwin, Angel, Alex (the Havok), and the Kraken.
The atmosphere was… grim.
"Rorschach, man, how the hell did you sleep through all this?" Alex said, half-joking.
Then again, considering how Rorschach had faced down Shaw like it was nothing…
Yeah, Alex felt a little small in comparison.
"What's going on?" Rorschach asked, settling into a chair.
"We're thinking of sending someone out to gather intel," Angel said, uncrossing his legs.
Sure, they'd escaped Shaw's grasp for now and had a peaceful night here—but who knew if Shaw had tracked them down again? The thought was terrifying.
Still, they couldn't just hide here forever either. They needed information.
"I'll go," Raven suddenly offered. "I know this area better than anyone. I'll be careful."
"Raven!" Hank blurted out, clearly worried.
The two had been close ever since Raven arrived at the CIA base—not that Hank knew she'd "cheated" last night…
"It's too risky," Hank insisted.
But Raven shook her head. "I know this place. You and I both know I'm the best choice for this."
She sounded resolute. Whatever had happened last night clearly helped her grow a little stronger.
"You don't need to do it alone," said Alex, frowning. "We can't just leave this all to you."
"Actually," Darwin interjected calmly, "she is the best choice. We have to be smart."
"I'll go with her," Rorschach said, standing up.
No point sitting around waiting for something to happen—if he wanted to trigger the next step of this journey, he had to move.
"Rorschach going with her? Perfect." Kraken chuckled, slapping his thigh.
Everyone nodded. That was the best option they had.
Without wasting time, Rorschach and Raven got ready.
Raven used her shapeshifting to become a middle-aged man.
As for Rorschach? He threw on a hat.
It didn't do much, so he added one of Charles's old trench coats for good measure.
"Wow, Rorschach," Raven said, admiring his outfit. "Didn't think Charles's clothes would fit you so well. You look great."
"Yeah?" Rorschach raised a brow. "So who's more handsome—me, or Charles?"
Raven winked. "You, obviously."
"…Raven, with the way you look right now—you're kinda a pervert."
"..."
----------------------
To Read chapter in Advance patreon.com/ihatesakura