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After entering the Wakandan royal palace with T'Challa, T'Challa led the Wakandan contingent in a friendly and close discussion with the representatives from Kentar. Both sides established an allied relationship of mutual cooperation. All that remained was for T'Challa to hold his coronation ceremony, officially become the King of Wakanda, and then sign the cooperation agreement to formally seal their alliance.
Following the discussions, Wakanda hosted a banquet for them according to the highest standards. Because T'Challa and Ororo were soon to be married, this connection made the atmosphere of the banquet exceptionally harmonious.
After the banquet, T'Challa and Ororo had to continue preparing for the next day's wedding, so they temporarily bid farewell to Mike and the others. T'Challa then pushed his younger sister, Shuri, forward to lead Mike and his group on a tour of Wakanda's capital.
Shuri was an extremely lively girl, her words brimming with pride for her country.
Wakanda's capital was unique, featuring both the towering skyscrapers of a major city and the characteristic architecture of native Africa. The two styles merged here, presenting a strangely harmonious scene.
They saw the Wakandan royal palace, the capital's market, and Shuri's research institute, which was located deep underground within the vibranium mine...
Standing in her own laboratory, Shuri proudly displayed some of her research achievements to Mike and the others.
Wakanda possessed a vast amount of vibranium and had developed an entire technology base centered around it. Daily life, medicine, weapons... They had pushed the utility of vibranium to its absolute limit.
As Shuri introduced some of the gadgets she had developed, she watched the group's expressions. Seeing many of the X-Men looking amazed, she felt immensely proud. However, when she noticed the few people from the Kent family, and saw they didn't have the expressions she anticipated, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.
She glanced at Clark, and a look of realization dawned. This was the Son of Krypton; he might very well have mastered all of Krypton's technology. Compared to the entirety of Kryptonian technology, her creations were probably just little gadgets. Shuri felt a pang of disappointment.
"Very impressive things. You are a genius." Just then, Erik, the head of Future Technologies, offered his praise, his eyes filled with genuine admiration for Shuri.
Shuri broke into a smile. "You certainly have a good eye. I'm very much looking forward to cooperating with your Future Technologies."
Erik nodded and asked, "May I look around?"
"Of course!" Shuri responded generously. "But please, don't touch certain things."
"Thank you." Erik replied and began to look around curiously. Noticing Hela was still standing in place, he pulled her along.
The rest of the group also began to move about freely, their curiosity piqued by Wakanda's technology.
Mike walked up to the lab's glass window, observing the levitating tracks transporting vibranium outside, and the maglev trains zipping back and forth. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Mining vibranium like this was certainly laborious. If Erik were to lend a hand... Thinking of that image, Mike couldn't help but chuckle.
"Are you thinking about what would happen if Erik used his powers to mine all this vibranium?" Raven looked at Mike, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Mike: "..." He reached out and gently pinched Raven's nose. "You're practically the roundworm in my stomach."
"Please mind your image. Don't display your affection in public, lest you become a bad influence." Gwen floated over like a ghost, delivered her line, and then drifted away just as lightly.
Mike and Raven: "..."
"Pfft!" Raven couldn't help but burst out laughing, and Mike shook his head, exasperated.
Glancing back at their reactions, Gwen sighed. She then looked over at her three older brothers, only to see them also holding the hands of their girlfriends or future girlfriends. She sighed heavily once more. They were all guys who completely forgot their sister the moment they found a woman.
Her gaze shifted to the X-Men. Seeing they all had friends, partners, or lovers, she suddenly thought of her own little group of friends, and, unconsciously, her mind drifted to Peter. "That idiot." Remembering the last time when he'd brought her a weapon while she was fighting the giant beast, Gwen cursed quietly under her breath, but a smile bloomed on her face.
"Hi, Gwen." Shuri smiled and walked over to the solitary Gwen. "Want me to show you something exciting?" As she spoke, Shuri gave Gwen a conspiratorial wink.
Gwen paused for a moment. "Okay!" She was feeling bored being alone anyway.
Shuri grabbed Gwen's hand and led her to an open space. "This is my invention: the remote driving system." As she spoke, Shuri tapped her Kimoyo Bead bracelet, and a car constructed from purple energy materialized in front of them.
"Wow!" Gwen let out a gasp of amazement.
"This way, you can participate in thrilling, high-stakes missions without any danger to your own life. Isn't that great?" Shuri explained excitedly, beckoning to Gwen. "Let me show you the experience." With that, she and Gwen got into the car. Simultaneously, a real car that she had positioned outside the lab quietly activated and drove out of its garage.
"Get ready!" Shuri gripped the steering wheel, her eyes flashing with excitement as she started the vehicle.
In the next second, a simulated, real-world view appeared outside the car windows. The laboratory around them vanished, replaced by the bustling street scene outside. "Here we go!" Shuri slammed her foot on the accelerator. As the car sped up, the scenery rushed past them at high speed.
Gwen watched in astonishment. Doesn't this mean you can see what's really happening outside while sitting at home? But... She reached out her hand. Apart from the visual stimulation, there were no other sensations. It lacked a degree of realism. While it looked exciting, the absence of stimulation for her other senses made it feel artificial to Gwen. Compared to this, she much preferred the feeling of enchanting a vehicle with hellfire and charging forward recklessly, unstoppable. Now that was true excitement.
The enthusiastic Shuri glanced at Gwen, only to see her calm expression, even letting out a small yawn. Shuri felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her. The excitement drained from her face, and she brought the car to a stop.
In the next instant, the energy-construct car dematerialized. The seats under Gwen and Shuri vanished, and the two of them landed with a soft thud on the mats below.
Shuri sat on the floor, looking at Gwen with a puzzled expression. "How can you be so calm?"
Gwen blinked. Her placid face quickly contorted into one of over-the-top excitement. "That was so terrifying, so thrilling!"
Shuri: "..." She felt deeply insulted. However, she reasoned, this was one of the Kents. The kind of excitement she had witnessed was probably on a completely different level compared to this remote-control simulation. Thinking about it that way, Shuri found it easier to accept.
"Could you try to make your acting any faker, Miss Gwen!" Shuri looked at Gwen, exasperated, before she couldn't help but break into laughter.
Gwen grinned. After the laughter subsided, she spoke to Shuri with a serious expression. "My powers... I can use them to control vehicles. If I get the chance, I'll show you. Then you'll understand why I was so calm."
At these words, Shuri's heart felt like a kitten was pawing at it, instantly filling her with curiosity.
"What are you two talking about?" Mike walked over, asked in a low voice, and gave Shuri a polite nod.
"Nothing." Gwen said with a cheerful smile. "Shuri was just about to show me some other cool things."
Shuri nodded in agreement, but she couldn't stop herself from turning to Mike. "Mr. Kent, can I ask you a question?" After Mike nodded, Shuri asked, a little nervously, "Kentar... how did you bring it back? That's an entire planet!" Her eyes were shining as she looked at Mike, filled with an intense thirst for knowledge.
"It was already a living planet. I brought it back using space-jump technology."
"Space-jump technology? Wait, a living planet?" Shuri's eyes widened. She had thought hearing the answer would resolve her question, but now she had even more.
"Yes, a living planet." Mike said with a smile, giving her a wink. "That was one very exciting trip."
"Quick! Tell me about it!" Shuri was practically vibrating with excitement. Although she loved scientific research and was a genius girl, at heart, she was also an adventurer. If her brother T'Challa didn't forbid her from leaving, she would have already taken her self-invented weapons and equipment and gone adventuring in the outside world.
"Gwen went with me. You can let her tell you about it." Mike said, turning to meet Raven's gaze and walking over to her with a smile. Shuri immediately pulled Gwen over to a corner, and Gwen began to recount her adventure.
Half the day passed by quickly. That evening, they were all accommodated in guest rooms within the Wakandan royal palace.
Early the next morning, everyone changed into brand-new formal attire and emerged from their respective rooms. The men were mostly in suits, while the women wore beautiful, elegant gowns. As everyone in the group was quite attractive, they made for a very pleasing sight standing together, drawing many appreciative glances.
Led by a female member of the Royal Guard, the group finished a breakfast filled with Wakandan specialties. After a brief rest, they were escorted to the great hall where the ceremony was to take place.
In Wakanda, the kingship was hereditary. However, before ascending the throne, the heir must face challenges from the other tribes. Only by passing these challenges and earning the recognition of the tribes could one truly become the King of Wakanda. T'Challa, however, had already undergone these challenges prior to this day and was already the King of Wakanda. Today's coronation ceremony was merely a formality.
There weren't as many people in attendance as one might have imagined, nor was the ceremony as complex as one might expect. Aside from the chiefs of the four great tribes who brought key members with them, the only others present were the Wakandan Royal Guard, T'Challa's mother and sister, and Mike's group from Kentar. This was the very first time in Wakanda's history that outsiders were permitted to witness a king's coronation.
As the Kentar group curiously observed the members of the other Wakandan tribes, the people in the hall were also sizing them up. More than half of the Wakandans' gazes were fixed on Mike, studying him cautiously. They weren't some primitive tribe, cut off from information and ignorant of fear. They had, of course, heard of Mike's deeds; they had even seen videos of his battles. This man—who had brought back a planet, who could inflict punishment on any corner of the globe at a whim, who held sway over nearly every nation, and who had safely delivered most of the world's mutants to Kentar—had already become a legend.
Mike let his gaze drift over those watching him. Seeing them quickly avert their eyes, he raised an eyebrow. Was I really that scary?
Just then, the great doors of the hall were pulled open. T'Challa entered, flanked by his Royal Guard. He nodded to the assembly and walked toward the throne situated in the center. On either side of the throne were seats for the chiefs of Wakanda's four great tribes. The people they had brought with them stood respectfully behind their chiefs. As guests, Mike and his group were given seats along one side.
Under the watchful eyes of all, T'Challa sat upon the throne.
"The River Tribe pledges loyalty and bountiful food and produce to the noble King T'Challa." "The Mining Tribe pledges loyalty and abundant minerals to the noble King T'Challa." "The Merchant Tribe pledges loyalty and wealth to the noble King T'Challa."
As the three tribal chiefs spoke, members of their tribes rose, expressing their respect to T'Challa with Wakanda's traditional gesture. Then, the three tribes all turned to look at the final tribe: the Border Tribe. The Border Tribe usually disguised themselves as simple herdsmen, but in reality, they were all highly-trained soldiers who formed Wakanda's first and most formidable line of defense. Their allegiance was, therefore, crucial. But now...
Seeing the Border Tribe remaining perfectly still, the other onlookers frowned. At that moment, the Border Tribe's chief, W'Kabi, stood up. His expression was cold as he addressed T'Challa. "We will, naturally, pledge our allegiance... but only after this challenge."
"What challenge? Weren't the challenges already concluded?" the River Tribe chief asked, confused.
No sooner had he spoken than two Border Tribe soldiers entered, escorting another man. This man was powerfully built, his face grim and sinister. The moment he saw T'Challa, his entire aura became dangerous. He was like a hyena baring its fangs, ready to tear the Black Panther from his throne.
"He is Erik Stevens, an American black-ops agent. He captured the body of Ulysses Klaue." Ulysses Klaue! Upon hearing that name, the Wakandans were shocked, and their gazes toward the new man changed instantly. Ulysses Klaue was a traitor to Wakanda. He had not only stolen their vibranium but had also harmed their people, and he had always eluded their capture.
W'Kabi continued, "Of course, that is not his real name." As he spoke, he looked at Erik Stevens. T'Challa's expression flickered slightly.
Erik Stevens spoke, his face impassive. "I am N'Jadaka, son of Prince N'Jobu!"
The crowd gasped in shock. But before they had time to doubt his claim, he produced proof of his identity. He tore a necklace from his neck, revealing a ring. He held it up for all to see, his eyes fixed coldly on T'Challa. "I am exercising the right granted to me by my bloodline. I am challenging you for the mantle of King and Black Panther!"
(End of this chapter)