As Raven recounted what had happened the night before, Eric's expression grew darker and darker—anger laced with unease. Shaw absorbing all the energy alone, that pitch-black anomaly, the sudden appearance of an overwhelmingly powerful mutant, the red-armored brute who had taken Pietro…
Each detail was enough to leave anyone feeling powerless—and yet they had all appeared at once.
Charles went to tend to the injured children, with Renzo assisting him. Only Eric and Raven remained outside, helping the investigators recover the bodies.
"You came here with Pietro, didn't you?"
Charles smiled warmly at Renzo.
"Eric has a temper. Shaw… is his sworn enemy. That's why he acted the way he did toward you. I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Renzo replied. He rubbed his forehead and added with a sigh, "I only planned to come alone to complete a task. I didn't expect Pietro to follow me here."
"He's a good kid. A very good Avenger."
Charles spoke sincerely. Quicksilver's abilities had already reached an impressive level, and his personality was just as admirable. Charles genuinely liked the straightforward young man.
The smile faded from Charles's face. He looked at Renzo seriously, lowering his voice.
"I need you to tell me everything you know. It may determine whether mutants and humans can ever coexist. That man who appeared last night… and what happened to my brother, Cain."
Renzo paused.
He had already traced the source of the dark magic, but facing Apocalypse alone was beyond him—let alone confronting the Four Horsemen. The red-armored giant was likely already one of them, and when Apocalypse took Shaw and Pietro, it was probably with the intention of turning them as well.
He couldn't fight this alone.
If he could bring this group of mutants to his side, even if their abilities were still unrefined, they could become a crucial force with proper training.
After a moment's thought, Renzo spoke. He told Charles everything he knew—except for details about his original world. He also mentioned the existence of the Watchers, making it clear, in his own way, that he wasn't without backing.
Charles was stunned. The idea that there were universes beyond their own was difficult to grasp. In this era, the concept of a multiverse was still vague, and his understanding was limited.
"The universe is like an egg," Renzo explained. "Self-contained within, with a shell separating it from everything else."
He handed food to the children as he continued, "Your brother, Cain… he's become one of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen."
"That's… unfortunate," Charles said quietly, shaking his head. His feelings toward his brother were complicated. Even if they weren't close, he still cared.
"We need to go to Cairo and bring our people back," Renzo said. "Apocalypse and Shaw both believe in mutant supremacy. Together, they'll accelerate the hunt for mutants. Anyone who refuses to follow them… won't survive."
He trailed off.
In the future, Charles would establish a school for gifted youngsters—but many of those students would be forced into war, and almost none would return. Only Alex would survive.
That memory weighed heavily on him.
The two talked long into the night beneath the moonlight, like old friends reunited after years apart—though each harbored their own thoughts.
A week later—
"Didn't you eat? You're exhausted already?" Renzo stood before a line of mutant youths. Each carried a sandbag—thirty kilograms for the boys, twenty for the girls. Lift, squat, stand, repeat.
He watched them struggle, barely able to continue.
Their physical conditioning was far too poor. They weren't even on par with ordinary soldiers, let alone ready to develop their abilities properly.
Most of them had spent their lives hiding their powers, afraid of being discovered. They had never trained—some had barely even used their abilities.
Sean had the weakest control. Raven was the most adept at using hers.
And Hank…
Renzo sighed. His ability had a clear upper limit. It wasn't useless—but without the right catalyst, it had little combat value.
Whether he would become something more… that depended on fate. Renzo couldn't force him to change.
"What are you thinking about?"
Charles approached, having just finished guiding Eric on how to control his powers without relying solely on anger.
"Apocalypse," Renzo answered. "I'm trying to figure out where they are."
The lack of technology in this era made it difficult. The network infrastructure was primitive—some regions didn't even have access. Tracking someone like Apocalypse through conventional means was nearly impossible.
"Wasn't he resurrected in Cairo?" Charles said. "I can go there and use my telepathy to search. As long as they're not too far away, I should be able to find them."
"Shaw wanted the missile codes," Renzo said with a faint smile. "I reinforced the system. Now even the head of state doesn't know the launch codes."
"In a way," he added lightly, "you could say I helped save the world."
Charles chuckled softly, but the smile soon faded.
"I wonder… when mutants and humans will finally be able to live together in peace."
Renzo looked away.
He couldn't bring himself to tell Charles the truth—that such peace might never come. Not unless humanity itself changed completely.
In most futures, mutants were either hunted, controlled, or wiped out. They existed apart from humanity, and that separation made acceptance nearly impossible.
Charles was too idealistic.
Eric's vision was closer to reality—but far too extreme.
Renzo leaned toward a different path: separation. A place where mutants could live on their own terms, away from human conflict.
"I hope so," Renzo said at last.
Charles brushed the dust from his clothes, gave him a small wave, and went to check on the training again.
Renzo remained where he was, staring up at the sky in silence, a faint glow flickering at his forehead.
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