The Black Queen gazed directly at Eric with obvious knowing familiarity and spoke to him with an almost playful tone. "Long time indeed without seeing you, Eric. The last time we encountered one another, you were still operating as the Black King, but now we appear to be positioned on entirely opposite sides."
At this very moment, Eric raised his right index finger very slightly in deliberate gesture, and the steel rebar embedded within the concrete and building materials immediately shattered and pierced through. Four separate bars of steel shot forth and pierced toward the Black Queen simultaneously from four distinctly different angles and directions. However, the subtle and faint smile that remained on the Black Queen's face indicated that these attacks had caused her absolutely no damage or concern whatsoever.
"Eric, have you truly forgotten the complete extent of my abilities?" the Black Queen asked with obvious amusement. "Such a small and insignificant trick will never accomplish anything against me."
Perceiving that Eric's abilities had proven completely ineffective against her, Charles immediately reached up and pressed his index and middle fingers against his temple with concentration. He began directing his considerable telepathic power, attempting to search for and locate the Black Queen's true physical form. However, Charles discovered no useful clues or coherent information in his mental search.
"Haha, the famous and renowned Professor X," the Black Queen said with obvious satisfaction. "How could I possibly fail to account for your abilities and anticipate your methods? Although my telepathic ability is considerably and significantly inferior to your own superior powers, I can still shield and protect myself from your mental intrusions. Besides, I am not currently present in this physical space at all, so it will not be quite so simple or easy for you to locate and find me."
Taking a deliberate step forward, Eric subtly positioned himself and moved to protect Charles behind him, speaking in a low and measured whisper. "Black Queen, does this Essex Company maintain any direct relationship or connection to the Hellfire Club itself?"
The Black Queen shook her head slowly and deliberately in response. "The Hellfire Club maintains absolutely nothing to do with this particular location and operation. As for my own presence here, it stems only from my personal relationship and interest, so you need not harbor any concern whatsoever about the Hellfire Club's direct involvement."
"Then your presence here," Eric continued carefully, "are you attempting to stop us and prevent our rescue operation?"
"No, no, no, that is definitely not my purpose," the Black Queen responded with seeming candor. "No matter how powerful I may be, I could easily become targeted and opposed by your entire group. Besides, I harbor absolutely no genuine intention of fighting you or your allies. It is simply that Essex is my chosen partner and personal choice. Since you have come here to cause him trouble, then I must at minimum contribute some degree of strength and assistance to his situation. So my purpose here is nothing more than to separate your group into smaller, more manageable divisions. Everything else truly has nothing to do with me or my intentions."
As the Black Queen completed her explanation and statement, a massive surge of black shadow suddenly erupted all around everyone present, completely engulfing and surrounding them.
Every member immediately deployed their respective abilities and powers to resist the shadowy assault, or they pressed together closely to avoid being separated from their allies.
But then, just at that crucial moment, all of the newly formed black shadows suddenly dissipated and dispersed into nothing.
When the shadows had completely vanished and dispersed, everyone finally realized the full scope of what had transpired. The group had been successfully separated. All eighteen individuals in total, previously united together, were now divided and split into various smaller groups of two or three individuals.
Sebastian looked around carefully at the empty and unfamiliar area surrounding him. He had been standing a small distance away from the others, but he had never anticipated being separated so completely and utterly alone. However, to Sebastian, this circumstance mattered very little and caused him no concern. He only had to open and create a portal, and everyone would be reunited together again.
Just as Sebastian was preparing to open the portal for this purpose, the Black Queen's distinctive voice suddenly echoed from directly behind him.
"You are the one with the ability to open portals, correct? The legendary magician from elsewhere?"
Turning to observe the Black Queen who had appeared suddenly behind him, Sebastian smiled with clear confidence. "If we are discussing magicians, are you not also one yourself?"
Indeed, the Black Queen, much like Wanda Maximoff, was not merely a mutant. She was also an extraordinarily powerful magician and sorcerer. Sebastian's own magical prowess was absolutely comparable to her own demonstrated abilities, but she did not serve as a true source of magic and did not possess the fundamental characteristics of a demon god. In a genuine magical battle, Sebastian felt confident he could outlast and overcome even her through sustained and methodical effort.
Naturally, facing the Black Queen in direct and isolated combat, Sebastian harbored no genuine fear or significant alarm whatsoever.
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