Tony Stark and Pepper's whispered conversation had not gone unnoticed by the Avengers and their families, but no one teased them too much. Everyone understood that Tony had been under immense pressure for far too long. If focusing on something more personal and uplifting could help him relax, then it was undoubtedly a good thing.
After all, Tony Stark had arguably contributed the most to the Avengers over the years. From the team's finances in its early days—entirely funded by Stark Industries—to the technological innovations that made the team's operations possible, Tony had been the backbone of the Avengers' growth. Without him, the Avengers could never have reached their former heights.
"Alright then," Robert said with a faint smile. "Why don't you all visit the Primal Island first? When you've had enough, you can head to New Earth. If that gets dull, you could even try space travel. With the Space Stone, or even a little help from Kamar-Taj opening portals, anything is possible."
Robert had no objections to the Avengers taking some time off to explore Primal Island. In fact, their new hidden base wasn't far from the island, making it a convenient destination.
For the Avengers, Primal Island would offer a refreshing escape from the relentless public scrutiny and media harassment.
As for whether Primal Island posed any danger to them, the thought hadn't even crossed Robert's mind. A few dinosaurs were hardly a threat to the current Avengers. The only creatures on the island that could even pose a slight challenge were the massive Tyrannosaurus and King Kong, both of whom were friendly to Robert's team.
The only real question was whether Hulk might pick another fight with Kong. Although Kong's size continued to grow, Hulk's strength had skyrocketed too quickly to ignore.
Truth be told, the gap between different power levels—even within the "Sub-Skyfather" category—was massive. Destroying planets might not be a big deal for someone at the Sub-Skyfather level, but creatures that thrived on a single planet, no matter how large, were ultimately limited by their environmental confines.
With the Avengers having gone entirely off the grid, reactions across the world varied.
Government agencies, while outwardly relieved to be rid of the Avengers' interference, were privately unsettled. After all, the Avengers' disappearance left a gaping hole in the world's defense against superpowered threats.
Organizations like the public-facing The Seven under Vought International, or shadowy, self-serving entities hidden in the darkness, felt no such unease. They believed the Avengers' absence created an opportunity to further their own agendas.
But there was one person who wasn't celebrating the Avengers' disappearance: Princess Shuri of Wakanda.
Shuri had harbored a deep grudge against the Avengers for years. Her anger stemmed not just from their role in unleashing Ultron, but also from her personal losses. Both her father, King T'Chaka, and her brother, King T'Challa, had been killed by Ultron's machinations.
While Shuri had grudgingly obeyed the command of the Wakandan panther god, Bast, to share Wakanda's central control system with the Avengers, she had never forgiven them.
Despite their numerous attempts to make amends, Shuri had refused every offer. Wakanda didn't need financial compensation, as its vibranium reserves remained abundant despite Ultron's thefts. Nor did Wakanda require technological aid, being a global leader in innovation. To Shuri, no amount of material reparations could balance the scales.
In her mind, the only acceptable compensation was justice, an eye for an eye—something the Avengers were, of course, unwilling to grant. Even if they wanted to, the death toll caused by Ultron was so vast that the Avengers collectively dying wouldn't suffice as penance.
Left with no means to appease her, the Avengers had chosen to remain silent in the face of Wakanda's increasingly vocal condemnations. They hoped that allowing Shuri to vent her anger publicly might help her move on.
But when Lex Luthor revealed the location of the Avengers' base and Shuri was preparing to confront them with her newfound momentum, the Avengers vanished. Their disappearance left Shuri simmering with frustration.
"Spineless cowards!" Shuri growled, her eyes burning with fury. "Do you think you can just disappear? You invaded Wakanda's systems once. Did you really think I wouldn't leave a trace of your data in my backups? Somewhere in this world's networks, there must be a sign of you!"
Shuri's obsession was growing. Her drive for revenge had become increasingly irrational.
Meanwhile, in Wakanda's divine realm, Bast, the panther god, watched her with a mix of pity and exasperation.
Bast had no intention of letting Shuri act recklessly. While she had allowed Shuri to express her frustrations against the Avengers in the past, the god had no desire to see a direct conflict reignited. Bast remembered well the threat Robert posed; the Saiyan's overwhelming power had left an indelible mark.
"Boss, are you really going to intervene personally?" the crocodile god asked cautiously, watching as Bast conjured a shimmering image of Shuri.
Bast let out a huff, her tone dripping with disdain. "Do you really think I need to dirty my hands for this? The Wakandan royal bloodline was never as unique as they liked to think. The so-called 'kings' are nothing more than humans slightly enhanced by the Heart-Shaped Herb. There are plenty of others in Wakanda capable of taking the throne."
"You're going to back another tribe?" The white gorilla god's eyes lit up with excitement. Although the age of pure faith had long passed, meaning Bast's divine authority far outstripped their own, elevating one of their tribes to power would still be a source of pride.
"No," Bast said calmly. "The royal line has distant branches scattered throughout the world. One of them carries enough potential to rival Shuri. It's time to revive an ancient Wakandan tradition: the King's Trial. Let the throne be decided through combat, as it was meant to be."
In a remote region of Central Asia, Erik Killmonger bolted awake, his body drenched in sweat.
Moments earlier, he had dreamt of a black panther standing before him, its golden eyes piercing into his soul.
As he sat up, Erik realized his body felt... different. His muscles thrummed with power, his senses sharper than ever before.
"What... what's happening to me?" he whispered hoarsely.
Before he could make sense of the transformation, several of his militia members burst into the room.
"Boss! Are you alright? We heard you shouting," one of them asked nervously.
Erik glanced at them, his confusion melting into a smug grin. "I'm fine. In fact... I've never felt better."
To prove his point, Erik stomped his foot into the ground, leaving a deep crater in the floor. His men stared, wide-eyed, their jaws practically hitting the floor.
"Boss... did you mutate or something?" one of them asked hesitantly.
Erik chuckled. "Mutate? No. I've been blessed. The panther god, Bast, has chosen me as Wakanda's rightful king."
He balled his fists, marveling at the raw power coursing through his veins. "It's time to go home. The throne is mine by divine right. Shuri doesn't stand a chance."
While Erik Killmonger began his journey back to Wakanda, similar events unfolded among the tribes within the nation. Bast extended her blessings to various individuals, empowering them to compete in the King's Trial.
When Shuri received word of these challenges, her rage boiled over.
"How dare they!" she shouted, slamming her fists against her desk. "This throne belongs to our family! It's our legacy! How could they betray us like this?"
"This is tradition," her mother, Queen Ramonda, replied softly. "Your brother had no challengers during his trial, which is why he ascended unopposed. But now that the throne is vacant, others are within their rights to compete."
Shuri clenched her fists, her voice trembling with emotion. "Fine. Let them come. I'll defeat them all, just like I'll defeat anyone who threatens Wakanda."
Her mother hesitated. "You know the trial forbids technology, right? You'll have to face them without any of your inventions."
"What? That's ridiculous!" Shuri exclaimed. "Why shouldn't I use the tools I've created? They're an extension of my intellect!"
"The tribes won't accept it," Ramonda said gently. "But don't worry. With the Heart-Shaped Herb, you'll gain the strength your brother once had."
Shuri's gaze hardened. "I don't just want to match him. I'll surpass him. I'll surpass everyone. No one will stop me from protecting Wakanda!"
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