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Chapter 194: Black Panther, Who Continues to Expand Its Influence and Embraces the God of Magic
🕑 Added 2025-03-24 13:38:38 +0000 UTC“What happened?”
“Where did the enemy come from?”
The sudden attack shattered the tranquility of Wakanda.
T'Chaka hurried to the window and gazed into the distance, his brow furrowed deeply.
Wakanda hadn’t seen a war in a long time. With their advanced technology, it was usually others who avoided trouble with them, not the other way around. If anyone dared to approach Wakanda, their secret sentries would detect them well before they arrived and expel them.
Even ten years ago, when his younger brother Nejob sought to share Wakanda's technology and Vibranium with other African nations, he had contacted Ulysses, an outsider arms dealer, to steal Vibranium—a small-scale disturbance that didn’t qualify as an invasion.
But this time, the enemy had come right to their doorstep. It was too strange. Who had the audacity to target Wakanda? How could they even know about its existence?
“The enemy has moved through the frontier tribes and is now deep within our heartland, very close to our position. They’re closing in at breakneck speed,” Su Rui reported, her voice tense as she scanned the defense network.
Su Rui opened the defensive system and looked nervously at the red dots blinking on the Wakanda network. “I’ve activated the protective shield. It should hold for a while. With our defense team, we’ll definitely be able to take down these invaders.”
At that moment, hundreds of spaceships launched, racing toward the enemy’s direction. Protective shields rose in the sky, blocking the targeted area.
But as Su Rui finished speaking, a bolt of lightning struck the shield. The strike fizzled out, and the enemy suddenly disappeared, only to reappear on the other side of the shield.
“How can this be? Could it be that the intruder has mastered the ability to teleport through space?” Su Rui asked urgently, sending data to analyze the opponent’s trajectory.
“A mastery of space manipulation?” T'Chaka mused. “An enemy capable of wielding the power of space? Who could it be?”
Okoye, captain of the Royal Guard of Black Panther, had already summoned all his team members and sealed off the palace. He stood close by King T'Chaka and Queen Ramanda, ensuring their protection, as well as that of the heir, T'Challa, and Princess Shu Rui.
When T'Chaka realized the severity of the situation, he ordered that the Black Panther battle suit be brought to him. As the king of Wakanda, he was also the current Black Panther, bearing the duty to protect the nation—a role passed down for generations. The Black Panther was blessed by the gods, bestowed with the heart-shaped herb and the battle suit, a symbol of authority and unity.
Though T'Chaka’s physique had grown rounder with age, his strength remained formidable. After donning the Black Panther suit, he prepared for battle.
A heavy-set Black Panther, but still resolute.
As T'Chaka donned his suit, he nodded to those around him and set out with part of the guard. He would fight to defend Wakanda.
“Do you think Father will be alright?” T'Challa asked, worried as he watched his father suit up. He wished to fight in his place, but as the heir, he wasn’t yet a Black Panther. He hadn’t consumed the heart-shaped herb or received the blessing of the Black Panther gods. Without the full battle suit or the divine approval, he could not fight.
“It should be fine,” Su Rui reassured him. “Though the enemy is strong, we have the blessing of the Black Panther god. No one can defeat Wakanda under his protection. And, we still have plenty of troops.”
T'Challa felt a bit more at ease, but he was still concerned. The strength of Wakanda’s technology was enough to crush the world, yet an unknown enemy who had mastered space manipulation was causing them trouble. It seemed impossible for such an intruder to bring Wakanda to its knees.
“Can we determine who this intruder is?” T'Challa asked.
“I’m checking now,” Su Rui responded. Moments later, she found the information. “The intruder is Max, the Electro-Optical Man who caused multiple terrorist attacks in the United States a few days ago. He’s an electrician from Stark Industries... It appears he’s also connected to the magic network, gaining power through his abilities.”
Su Rui paused. “Now, Orolo, the deputy director of the U.S. Magic Bureau, is leading the X-Men in a manhunt for him.”
T'Challa clenched his fists. “Damn it! He’s a mage! We don’t know enough about magic to deal with someone like him.”
T'Challa felt a surge of frustration. “How is it possible that someone who’s only recently connected to the magic network is able to cause so much trouble for Wakanda? Moreover, he's being hunted by the United States, yet still dares to invade Wakanda. Who gave him the courage?”
Queen Ramanda spoke, her voice tight with worry. “He should not know about Wakanda’s existence. Why would he break into our territory?”
“No,” T'Challa said, shaking his head. “After this battle, we must speed up our research into the magic network. We cannot remain so passive.”
“I’ll support you, T'Challa,” Queen Ramanda said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “But we must act quickly.”
The sky above Wakanda was filled with thunder as Max continued to wreak havoc, using his powers to destroy Wakandan spaceships one after another. No one could stop him.
Meanwhile, T'Chaka led the charge with the Wakandan army, but even with Vibranium technology protecting them, they were no match for magic.
Although Wakanda possessed vast quantities of Vibranium, they did not have the same advantage as Asgard, where soldiers were equipped with full-body armor and weapons made of Uru metal. Only Black Panther wore full Vibranium gear.
Max, though new to the magic network, wielded enough power to easily deal with the Wakandan forces. In the heart of Wakanda, with access to the city’s energy, his magic only grew stronger.
At this point, it was clear that taking down Wakanda would not be an easy task for Max.
However, Eric’s intentions were never to destroy Wakanda.
Seeing the portly figure of the Black Panther in the midst of the battle, Max realized his objective: to defeat the current Black Panther and claim the title for himself. If he succeeded, he would become the new king, gaining access to Wakanda’s technology to enhance his own power. With that strength, he could conquer Africa and challenge both the Avengers and the Magic Bureau.
Eric moved forward to face T'Challa, confident that he could defeat the heir to the throne.
Max knew the rules—if he could defeat the Black Panther in combat, he would become the new king.
With that goal in mind, Max prepared for the duel.
After the battle, the Black Panther was defeated, and only his lifeless body returned to Wakanda. A mysterious lord from Vakhan claimed responsibility for taking down the Black Panther, raising suspicions that he had connections to the invaders.
Though doubts lingered, it soon became clear that only magic could stand against magic. Eric, now in control, began to challenge T'Challa for the throne, asserting his right to rule.
Eric’s rise to power was swift, but not without opposition. Many Wakandans could not accept the idea of Eric as their king, someone they had never known.
Yet, according to tradition, Eric’s victory in battle made him the rightful ruler.
But Eric had not forgotten the assassination of T'Chaka. His next task was to find and bring the murderer to justice.
“Before we search for him, have you thought about one thing?” Eric questioned. “Do you think that if we surround and capture him, we can kill him to avenge King T'Chaka?”
Su Rui, who was overseeing Wakanda’s technological advancements, was adamant. “Our technology is more than enough to deal a fatal blow to anyone, even someone connected to the magic network.”
Eric shook his head, looking unconcerned. “I don’t intend to discredit Wakanda’s technology, but you must understand that the enemy has been blessed by the God of Magic. We can’t simply overpower him with technology alone.”
“Then what do you suggest we do?” Su Rui asked, her frustration evident.
Eric’s eyes hardened. “We need more power, greater energy. I propose we build multiple energy stations to supply my magic. As the chosen of the God of Magic, I will soon surpass Max and defeat him.”
A silence fell over the room as the others considered his words. Su Rui, though reluctant, agreed. Wakanda’s survival depended on confronting Max, and Eric’s proposal seemed the only way forward.
“We need the help of the God of Black Panther,” Eric continued.
Elsewhere, on Xandar, Gamora and the others were connecting to the magic network, their powers growing stronger. However, Nebula was unable to participate due to her mechanical body, which could not channel magic.
“We should go to the God of Magic,” Gamora suggested. “If he can restore your body, we will have the power to challenge Max.”
Nebula was moved by the idea. Who would want to remain a machine when they could be whole again?
But just as they prepared to leave, Star-Lord's father, Ego, arrived on the scene, complicating their plans.
