Repeated setbacks caused Charles's long-held convictions to begin to crumble.
Thinking of the images in Raven's mind of their fellow mutants being tortured, he hated his own powerlessness and, at the same time, felt a surge of hatred towards those humans.
For a moment, he wanted to disregard everything and use his powers to make those who had harmed his people pay the price. But could mutual slaughter really resolve the conflict between the two sides?
Saiki Kusuo wasn't good with words and didn't know what to say to comfort him. Besides, he had no intention of comforting Charles. His mind was entirely focused on how to rescue Kitty and then severely curse Trask, who didn't even spare minors, so he could never 'function' again.
He impatiently urged Charles, "There's no time for your sentimentality. If we don't hurry, Raven will kill Trask, and then Logan and I will have come back for nothing."
Charles choked, swallowing the emotional outburst that was about to escape.
He knew it. He shouldn't have expected anything from this guy.
Although some time had been wasted, Trask and the inner circle of politicians' event was still ongoing.
Raven casually knocked out a passing attendant and disguised herself as him. She was about to approach several politicians with a tray of drinks when Erik stopped her.
Under Raven's puzzled gaze, Erik explained, "Once you get close to Trask, don't rush to attack. Capture him first, and then we'll figure out what to do."
With Raven's explosive temper, if he didn't warn her beforehand, she'd kill Trask the instant she got close. Then, if that brat's curse came true, he'd be torn to pieces by the human army.
Raven looked at him as if he were joking. "Don't tell me you've been persuaded by Charles, Erik. This place is surrounded by soldiers. If anything happens to Trask, it'll be immediately locked down. We'll be trapped, and taking a hostage is just asking for death."
"If I let you kill him, I'm the one who's asking for death!" Erik said seriously. "Please, Raven. Trask can't die. Not just him, none of the politicians here can die."
He paused, and under Raven's increasingly menacing gaze, added an explanation, "At least, not before Saiki gets here."
"What does that kid have to do with anything?" Raven began to suspect that Erik had been brainwashed by that kid. From Charles's description, that Japanese kid named Saiki Kusuo had even stronger telepathic powers than Charles.
Seeing Raven's expression that said, 'If you don't give me a reasonable explanation, I'm going to kill Trask right now', Erik let out an annoyed 'Tch'. He told Raven everything about Saiki Kusuo's threat, including his own curse.
"So?" Raven asked coldly after listening. "What does that have to do with me?" It wasn't her who was cursed.
Faced with Raven's question, Erik felt deeply hurt. "Come on, we've known each other for over ten years. Are you just going to stand by and watch me die?"
"Erik," Raven put a hand on his shoulder and said earnestly, "Didn't you tell me that to save our fellow mutants, even sacrificing your own life is worth it?"
Erik: "..."
Raven continued, "Kitty and other mutants are still suffering. This is our best chance to kill Trask. Erik, sacrificing you to save countless mutants' lives... I think you should be very willing."
He was not willing, not at all!
"Raven, don't be rash!" Erik tried to stop Raven. He regretted immensely not having retrieved his helmet. Without it, he was like a cripple.
He couldn't stop Raven at all. Instead, his repeated attempts to block her enraged her. She unceremoniously pressed a knife to his throat, threatening him in a low voice.
"Get in my way again, and I'll make you like Charles—unable to 'function'."
Erik's first thought was, 'Holy crap, so it's true, Charles can't 'function' anymore?' His second thought was, 'My life is about to end, who cares about being able to 'function'?'
He ignored Raven's threat, took a deep breath, and then shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Help! Someone is trying to assassinate the politicians!"
Raven: "..."
Using his powers, Erik's voice spread throughout the entire event venue. Immediately, the soldiers hidden around the perimeter surrounded the area.
Stunned by Erik's shamelessness, Raven's hand trembled, and she accidentally cut Erik.
Trask was already being protected by his men. With her plan ruined, Raven initially wanted to tie Erik up and hand him over to Trask, so Trask could use him as a lab rat and brainwash him. But in the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She said, "You got lucky," and, grabbing Erik by the back of his collar, tried to escape during the chaos.
But she didn't expect that this event was specifically organized by Trask to showcase his Sentinel robots, to attract more investors.
The robot being displayed scanned them with its infrared sensors. An electronic voice announced, "Mutant activity detected. Initiating extermination protocol."
"Boom!"
A laser beam shot out from the Sentinel robot's eyes towards the fleeing pair. They easily dodged it.
The current Sentinel robots were still just prototypes. Besides being able to detect and attack mutants, they had no other capabilities.
Raven and Erik darted through the crowd. The Sentinel robot began firing indiscriminately, hitting many of the attendees, including some important figures.
The host of the event, Trask, was heartbroken to see this. He immediately ordered his subordinates to shut down the Sentinel robot.
Erik was also distressed, especially when a politician was accidentally knocked down and was about to be trampled by the fleeing crowd. Erik quickly used his powers to save the man.
He'd lived for decades and had always been the one doing the killing. He'd never been this frustrated.
He couldn't let this robot continue its rampage. Erik used his powers to control it.
Because Trask was worried about mutants taking control of the Sentinel robots, he had made some modifications. It took Erik considerable effort to successfully gain control.
The chaos subsided, but Erik and Raven were exposed.
With a command from Trask, his men surrounded the pair, their weapons raised.
He looked Raven and Erik up and down, then snorted, seemingly mocking their foolishness for coming alone. Then he ordered his men.
"Capture them. Be careful not to kill them. I want them alive."
As the men slowly approached Raven and Erik, the important figure who had almost been trampled earlier stood up with the help of his subordinates. He shouted at Trask's men.
"Hold it!"
Immediately, all the men stopped, awaiting his instructions.
Trask was displeased by the important figure's interruption, but the man was his superior, so he had to patiently wait for his instructions.
"Mr. Smith..."
Before Trask could finish speaking, Smith suddenly slapped him across the face.
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