Inside the cabin, Charles was as pale as paper, fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his temples.
An overwhelming psychic torrent crushed his consciousness. The White Queen's mental suppression was like an ocean ten thousand fathoms deep, imprisoning him completely.
His heart was filled with incredulous confusion and shock. He could not comprehend how much her abilities had surged.
During their last encounter, the White Queen's psychic abilities had only been slightly superior to his, and he had still barely been able to contend with her and keep her in check.
But now, her mental power had increased several times over-domineering, concentrated, and immense. They were no longer remotely on the same level.
Compound V!
That was the only answer that instantly sprang into Charles's mind.
Apart from this drug, which could forcibly raise the genetic ceiling of mutants, nothing in the world could bring about such a terrifying transformation in a top-tier mutant's abilities in so short a time.
Yet one enormous question lingered stubbornly in his mind, refusing to leave.
The White Queen, Shaw, Riptide-these core Hellfire members had no means of obtaining Compound V.
Had they stolen the drug in secret, or had all of this been ordered by Vought?
At that thought, a bone-deep chill raced up Charles's spine.
He abruptly realized that this earth-shaking clash between mutants, this world-war crisis on the brink of destruction, had never been their game at all.
Whether it was him, Erik, or the rapidly ascendant Shaw and White Queen, they were all merely pawns being manipulated.
High above, a pair of invisible hands had been quietly controlling the entire situation all along, while cold, merciless eyes silently looked down on this farcical slaughter.
Vought's boss behind the scenes was terrifying enough to inspire despair!
Just as Charles reeled