The Black Queen could observe Sebastian's condition and demeanor quite clearly, and combined with Sebastian's open revelation that he too possessed magical capabilities, she immediately elevated her estimation of his overall capabilities and threat level considerably.
"Magician from a parallel universe, I find myself genuinely curious about you," the Black Queen said with obvious interest.
When recruiting students for his school in this particular universe, Sebastian had made absolutely no secret of his origins and nature. It was quite easy for someone with sufficient cunning and ulterior motives to discover and determine his identity, but truly becoming his enemy was not nearly so simple or achievable. As the Black Queen and member of the Hellfire Club, she naturally possessed both the necessary qualifications and the capability to make such determinations.
"I have no time for excessive conversation and discussion," Sebastian replied directly, his tone becoming sharp and businesslike. "I am present here to resolve the Phoenix Force matter and deal permanently with a few damned people who merit elimination. So I ask you directly—are you here to prevent and stop me?"
"Let Eric and Charles manage and handle everything else that occurs here," the Black Queen responded smoothly. "As for you personally, it would be best if you remained here and engaged in pleasant conversation with me. What do you honestly think of this proposal?"
"I believe... not very much at all," Sebastian replied flatly.
As he completed his statement, Sebastian's eyes flickered briefly with a faint and distinctive glow of Hellfire. In an instantaneous surge, Hellfire ignited explosively across the Black Queen's form, spreading rapidly and completely engulfing her entire body and presence. However, the supposedly invincible Hellfire proved completely ineffective and incapable against the Black Queen's nature.
Looking at the playful and unharmed Black Queen before him, Sebastian narrowed his eyes slightly with sudden understanding and recognition. "So it was merely an illusion all along. Which means your true form is..."
Hearing Sebastian's analysis and conclusion, the Black Queen understood that he had successfully seen through her deception, yet she remained completely unfazed. "Knowing my true situation will accomplish nothing for you unless you can actually locate and find me. Otherwise... wait, what in the name of all that is holy is this!"
Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly let out a sharp cry of surprise and alarm.
The illusory Black Queen that had been before Sebastian vanished swiftly and completely.
Sebastian, having observed the disappearing Black Queen with keen attention, seemed to sense something genuinely intriguing. He immediately transformed into a twisted vortex of magical energy, vanishing from his location entirely, and pursued her with single-minded determination.
This particular intriguing magic only served to intensify his considerable curiosity about her true nature.
Without excessive effort or strain, Sebastian slipped directly into the dimensional warp and arrived swiftly before the Black Queen's true physical form.
At this very moment, the Black Queen was slowly shedding and burning away the Hellfire that had ensnared her form, gradually liberating herself from its supernatural grip. She then observed Sebastian, who had reached her actual location and true form before her. The playful expression that had previously decorated her face immediately vanished completely, replaced by a solemn and distinctly chilling expression.
"I am genuinely surprised that you managed to come this far and find me!" she declared.
Wisps of black shadow emanated and pulsed from the Black Queen's form itself. This particular subspace she inhabited resembled a perfect mirror-world and reflected space, both existing in similarity to the physical world outside. It was remarkably similar to the reality beyond in almost every detail, yet not entirely identical in nature. Unless one possessed sufficient power to instantly shatter and destroy the entire subspace, whatever occurred and happened within this realm would have absolutely no impact whatsoever on the external world.
As the shadows emanating from the Black Queen gradually began to merge and integrate with the surrounding environment, she gained increasing control and dominion over the terrain and landscape within the subspace.
With a sudden and dramatic wave of her hand, the building within the Warp that resembled the Essex Building outside was suddenly ripped violently into numerous pieces like soft marshmallows, suspended dramatically in mid-air. The Black Queen herself, suspended effortlessly in mid-air at the center of this scene, let out a roar of laughter and raised both her hands high. The shadows that her form cast rapidly distorted and warped the buildings within the Warp space, and the buildings themselves distorted in perfect response. Over ten colossal structures transformed into enormous grasping hands, one after another. They reached out and grasped downward toward Sebastian, who also floated suspended in mid-air.
What was this sensation he perceived? Was this the fundamental force of shadows, or perhaps a power resembling a complete dimension itself?
She was indeed worthy of her reputation as a being who had survived and outlived even Apocalypse himself. She possessed abilities that were completely unmatched by any ordinary humans or even most mutants.
Technically speaking, the Black Queen was the first mutant ever to appear in the entire history of this particular parallel universe, but unlike Apocalypse, she refused to remain as high-profile or as obviously dominant in her actions. Her abilities were demonstrably far greater in many respects. At this particular point in time, Sebastian had to admit he was not entirely certain of his ability to capture or definitively defeat the Black Queen in direct combat.
With a decisive squeeze of his right hand, a wand materialized suddenly into existence.
Sebastian gently waved his wand, and the massive hands reaching toward him—transformed from countless buildings in the Warp—instantly converted into countless brilliant blue-green butterflies. They fluttered in beautiful profusion in all directions, disappearing completely around both the Black Queen and Sebastian alike. Simultaneously, Sebastian waved his wand once more, and a stream of silvery-white luminous mist shot out and streamed forth from the wand's tip. It split and divided into more than a dozen silvery-white binding ropes that rapidly entangled and ensnared the Black Queen.
Facing an enemy clearly belonging to the Shadow and Dark side of existence, the most genuinely effective and powerful magic was the Patronus Charm itself.
Sebastian had cast a carefully crafted variation of the Patronus Charm—a sophisticated fusion of Transfiguration magic and the fundamental Patronus Charm—sufficient to handle most dangerous situations and adversaries.
Observing the silvery-white binding ropes drawing ever closer and advancing toward her, the Black Queen's face took on an expression of genuine seriousness and alarm. She could sense the silvery-white mist's supreme and unparalleled restraint and binding force exerted against her shadow nature. She could no longer afford to hold back her true power.
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