Chapter 175: Black Panther
Suddenly, a wave of sound came from behind as a fighter jet, agile as a falcon, wove through the high-rise buildings. It skimmed low over the crowd before tilting back to hover and land in an open space.
The clamor of the crowd gradually died down, their gazes focusing on the fighter jet's hatch.
The rear hatch of the jet opened, the ramp extending to the ground. A man wearing a full suit of black Vibranium battle armor walked down the ramp.
He wore a panther-shaped helmet and walked down the ramp quickly without making a sound. Behind him came a rhythmic clicking sound as Valkyrie Okoye, the Captain of the King's Guard, stepped down.
Cheers immediately erupted in the square before the palace, from soldiers and ministers alike.
The primary object of worship in Wakanda's religious cult is the Black Panther Goddess. The Black Panther Goddesshas extended a helping hand many times when Wakandafell into suffering, becoming a symbol of national unity.
Although T'Challa had not yet consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb to become the true Black Panther, he was already Wakanda's most heroic warrior.
At this critical juncture for Wakanda, T'Challa's appearance was undoubtedly an inspiring encouragement.
"Arthur, are you declaring war on Wakanda?" T'Challasaid as he walked toward Arthur.
Black Panther T'Chaka wore a helmet, making his expression unreadable, but the anger and ferocity on Okoye's face behind him were completely unconcealed. She raised her hand, and sharp spearheads extended from both ends of a short rod. Okoye held the spear, her eyes locked onto Arthur.
Arthur looked at T'Challa and said, "Have I not made myself clear enough? Hand over half of Wakanda's Vibranium..."
"Absolutely impossible!" T'Chaka interrupted Arthurdirectly. "Arthur, it is impossible for Wakanda to give any Vibranium, not even a single gram!"
"I hate it most when people interrupt me," Arthur said, looking at T'Challa with an unfriendly gaze. "Because of your foolish actions, I will bring suffering upon everyone in Wakanda. I hope you won't regret it."
Saying this, Arthur raised his hand and activated the Dragon Talisman, firing a blast of explosive flames directly at T'Challa!
The explosion slammed into T'Challa's Vibranium suit but caused no damage; it was even absorbed by the suit. T'Challa stumbled for a moment, then instantly aimed his chest at Arthur in the sky. Guided by T'Challa, the energy absorbed by the Vibranium suit surged out and shot toward Arthur.
Arthur reached out and held up an energy shield to cancel out his own attack. "Vibranium... it really is good stuff."
"Fire!" Okoye roared, instantly hurling the Vibranium spear in her hand toward Arthur!
The rest of the soldiers immediately launched their attack upon receiving the order. Defensive weapons hidden in the buildings were also activated, as beams of lasers pierced the sky, shooting toward Arthur.
Arthur shook his head, holding up his energy defense shield to block. However, the Vibranium spear thrown by Okoye broke through the energy shield. With a gentle wave of Arthur's hand, the high-speed spear shifted slightly in direction. It brushed past Arthur and shot backward, pinning a female guard next to King T'Chaka to the ground.
The female guards rushed forward to block the King. In the chaos, T'Chaka looked through the crowd at the female guard whose chest had been pierced, his eyes full of rage.
"Laser weapons are ineffective against him! Everyone, switch to Vibranium weapons!" Black Panther T'Challadiscovered this instantly and roared, "Wakanda forever!"
"Wakanda forever!" all the soldiers shouted in unison, their fighting spirit surging.
Okoye stepped forward and pulled out another Vibraniumspear.
"Warriors of Wakanda, charge! He is only one person!"
In the air, Arthur frowned slightly at the earth-shaking roar, but he smiled after hearing Okoye's words.
"If you hadn't said it, I would have forgotten..."
Arthur brought his hands together, and several circular black phantoms immediately emerged in the air beside him. Those circular emblems began to rotate around him.
The patterns on the emblems were also different: ninjas carrying twin blades, trolls with bared fangs, crossed katanas, terrifying-looking aliens, shadows that could devour everything, and mantis claws.
These corresponded to the remaining six Shadowkhanlegions: the Ninja Corps, the Troll Corps, the Samurai Corps, the Alien Corps, the Shadow-Eater Corps, and the Mantis Corps.
Ghost Shadow Soldiers of various forms crawled out from the shadows of Wakanda, instantly surrounding the square in front of the palace.
The soldiers who had been attacking vigorously just a moment ago were suddenly flustered. They turned and pointed their Vibranium spears at the monsters crawling out of the dark shadows. Most terrifyingly, they could see the shadow monsters crawling out from the shadows behind their comrades... The battlefield fell into chaos in an instant. Even though the Wakandan army was well-trained, they seemed somewhat overwhelmed when facing the Shadowkhan.
The attacks of those Ghost Shadow Soldiers were very powerful. Although Vibranium weapons could easily kill them, the Ghost Shadow Soldiers crawling out from the shadows would immediately fill the gaps, as if they were infinite.
Arthur waved one hand, and the immense force of the Rooster Talisman descended instantly, sending the soldiers on both sides flying.
Arthur landed on the ground and walked toward T'Challain his Vibranium suit. Okoye, as the Captain of the Guard, launched a charge at him, and Black Panther T'Challa also extended his claws from both hands, running toward Arthur.
Arthur activated the Rooster Talisman, and a sudden surge of force descended upon Okoye, sending her flying sideways into the crowd.
T'Challa met him head-on. Arthur dodged his claws and slammed a punch into his chest! Despite the defense of the Vibranium suit, T'Challa was knocked back.
Wakandan soldiers surrounded him. Every punch Arthurthrew took out a group of soldiers. Soon, an empty space appeared around him. Those soldiers holding spears had trembling hands, yet no one dared to step forward anymore.
Arthur beckoned with his finger. As the Prince of Wakanda, honor accompanied T'Challa's entire life; he simply could not tolerate such a provocation.
T'Challa attacked again, but since he had not yet consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb, his combat power was only at the limit of an ordinary human. He was far too weak in front of Arthur.
Arthur grabbed his wrist with one hand and slammed a punch into his head. Struck by the heavy blow, T'Challabecame dazed.
Arthur, endowed with immense strength by the Ox Talisman, slowly applied pressure. T'Challa let out a scream as his hand began to deform; even Vibranium could not stop Arthur's strength.
A fighter jet fired its chain guns at Arthur. Those armor-piercing shells only shredded Arthur's clothes and could not cause him any harm.
Arthur turned his head and activated the Pig Talisman. A bolt of electric light shot from his eyes, piercing the jet's engine. It immediately lost balance, flipping and plunging downward, resulting in a spectacular explosion upon hitting the ground.
Okoye lunged at Arthur with her spear. Having activated the Rabbit Talisman, Arthur's reaction was lightning-fast. He caught the Vibranium spear with one hand, kicked Okoye away with a back-kick, and then threw the Vibranium spear back.
Chapter 176: Catastrophe
Okoye was still flying through the air when a suddenly fired Vibranium spear pierced her abdomen. The immense force brought her to a violent halt; half of the spearhead embedded itself into the floor, pinning her dead to the ground.
"No!" Although T'Challa's mind was somewhat hazy, he couldn't help but roar in anger upon seeing this scene.
T'Challa swung his other claw toward Arthur's throat, but Arthur easily blocked it and delivered a powerful punch to T'Challa's chest!
T'Challa flew backward and slammed heavily onto the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop. The nearby soldiers immediately tried to help the prince up... Realizing the danger, T'Challa quickly pushed the soldiers away, but he was one step too late. The Vibranium suit, which had just absorbed a massive amount of punch force from Arthur, released it all instantly at that moment.
Boom!
A violent explosion occurred. The Wakandan soldiers and Ghost Shadow Soldiers in that area were killed instantly, and a large crater was blasted into the ground.
T'Challa lay in a pool of blood, his Vibranium suit covered in a dense network of cracks.
This scene was exactly as Arthur expected; Vibraniumwas not indestructible. Just as Thanos could shatter Captain America's Vibranium shield with a single blade, or how Corvus Glaive, a subordinate of Thanos, could pierce through Vision's Vibranium body with one strike.
The battle had only lasted a few minutes, but the situation was already clear. Arthur had crushed the Wakandan army in an overwhelming fashion, something no one had expected... The faces of the Wakandans were now filled with fear, a stark contrast to the passionate excitement they had displayed just minutes ago.
"Enough!" King T'Chaka commanded, "Stand down!"
T'Chaka naturally understood the current situation. Although Wakanda still had the support of the five major tribal warriors, in the face of absolute strength, numbers were of no use.
The soldiers slowly retreated; the massive gap in combat power and the one-sided situation had left them nearly broken.
Arthur waved his hand, and all the Ghost Shadow Soldiers vanished into the dark shadows. The scene immediately fell silent.
At this moment, the plaza in front of the royal palace was littered with corpses, most of them soldiers of the Dora Milaje, along with the wreckage of aircraft and fighter jets.
It was hard to imagine that the nation with the World's strongest military power could be devastated by a single person. All the Wakandans' eyes were focused on Arthur. Only now did they clearly realize that Arthur's words about destroying Wakanda were not a joke; he truly possessed that power... Arthur slowly flew closer to King T'Chaka and smiled, "What, have you had a change of heart?"
As Arthur approached, the Wakandan ministers subconsciously backed away, trembling in fear. No one knew what Arthur would do next—whether he was willing to negotiate with Wakanda or if he would truly bring destruction to this ancient kingdom as he had said... But the King of Wakanda, T'Chaka, did not retreat a single step. He stood his ground with his somewhat stout frame, his resolute gaze staring directly at Arthur. The female guards also stood firmly by T'Chaka's side, their eyes showing no trace of fear, only anger and ferocity.
"Arthur, I admit you are a powerful Bandit," T'Chaka said resentfully.
"Thank you for the compliment."
As Arthur spoke, he reached out his hand. Several Vibranium spears on the ground floated up and were shot out under his control!
Puchi!
The extremely sharp Vibranium spears easily pierced through human bodies. In an instant, they skewered several female guards around King T'Chaka before passing through the area where the ministers were; human flesh was defenseless before them. Finally, these Vibraniumspears embedded themselves into the palace walls and stopped. The tails of the spears vibrated violently, spraying countless droplets of blood into the air.
Those who were killed instantly were the lucky ones; the unlucky ones could only clutch their wounds and scream in agony.
T'Chaka was unharmed, but one of the female guards beside him fell, and blood splattered across his face.
T'Chaka calmly removed his glasses and pulled out the white cloth from his chest to wipe the blood off the lenses, but he couldn't get them clean. He eventually gave up.
Looking at the blurred figure, T'Chaka said calmly, "Are you angry? Because of your shameful banditry! Am I wrong?"
Arthur merely smiled. He raised his hand again, and instantly all the Vibranium spears in the plaza floated up. They flew toward Arthur and lined up behind him in a neat array.
Arthur curled his fingers one by one, and those Vibraniumspears flew out at extreme speeds... "Enough!" Watching his guards fall one after another, T'Chaka roared in anger, but it had no effect.
"Wakanda is willing to give up half of its Vibranium..." After saying this, he seemed to lose all his energy, and his posture slumped.
Arthur finally stopped, and the Vibranium spears that lost their control crashed onto the floor with a crisp sound.
Arthur floated in the air, his cold voice echoing throughout the plaza.
"Kneel!"
The crowd looked at each other. At this moment, whether they were soldiers or ministers, they had lost the honor they usually possessed; they were just ordinary people facing the God of Death.
It was unclear who knelt first, but it quickly spread. Soon, everyone still alive in the plaza had knelt down... except for King T'Chaka and the few remaining female guards beside him.
"You kneel too."
Arthur pointed at him and said indifferently. A Vibraniumspear slowly flew toward T'Chaka, as if it would accelerate and pierce through him at any moment.
"No!" T'Chaka waved his hand to dismiss the female guard blocking him, "I am the King."
Everyone else could kneel, but he could not. As he said, he was the King of Wakanda, representing the honor of Wakanda. He could die, but he could not kneel.
"Wow! I really like stubborn people..." Arthur praised. He opened his hand, and the Vibranium spear instantly exploded into countless fragments. "I'll give you a second choice: watch with your own eyes as Wakanda is destroyed."
T'Chaka clenched his teeth, but without much hesitation, he slowly knelt down. Since the King had knelt, the female guards didn't dare to remain standing.
"Sigh, I am such a peace-loving person. Why did you have to make a move against me..." Arthur said, looking at the mess on the ground. He looked down at T'Chaka and asked, "The Vibranium I want?"
"Wakanda's Vibranium reserves are no longer that large... We need time," T'Chaka said, suppressing his anger.
"If there isn't enough, then melt down all these blades and spears. You can also strip it from the fighter jets and buildings," Arthur suggested. "Five hours."
With that, Arthur turned around, and with a flash of blue light, he vanished from the spot.
As Arthur departed, various sounds erupted in the silent plaza. Medical teams had already entered, and the scene was a chaotic mess.
T'Chaka stood up with the help of the female guards, waving away the approaching medical staff.
T'Chaka turned and surveyed the scene, his face expressionless.
He had ruled Wakanda for decades, and this was the first time he had encountered such a catastrophe...
Chapter 177 Wanda: I Want the Devil
Inside the secret manor, undetectable from the outside, a blue light flashed. Arthur appeared by the swimming pool. Activating the power of the demon mask, his tattered clothes instantly transformed into a brand-new casual suit.
But Wanda still clearly saw this scene. Her attention had been focused on Arthur the moment the blue light flashed.
"Are you hurt?" Wanda rose from the sofa and walked towards Arthur.
However, her tone was merely inquisitive, lacking much concern. In Wanda's subconscious mind, a demon could not be injured, and no one on Earth could harm a demon.
As expected, Arthur shook his head. Under the lights, Arthur stretched and lay down on a beach chair, dispelling his post-battle mental fatigue.
Wanda came to Arthur's side, and seeing that he made no move to embrace her, she sat sideways on the edge of the beach chair.
"Who was it? Who fought you and had the ability to ruin your clothes?" Wanda tilted her head and asked Arthursoftly.
"Not a person, but a country," Arthur said with his eyes closed. "Wakanda, a country in East Africa. Have you heard of it?"
Wanda nodded slightly: "A poor and backward agricultural nation, but Baron Strucker took them very seriously and said it was a mysterious country with the most advanced scientific technology in the World."
"I forgot that the villainous organization 'HYDRA' still exists on Earth..." Arthur said indifferently.
"All villains look dim in comparison to the demon," Wandasaid seriously.
Arthur smiled faintly, unsure whether he was feeling smug or mocking the other villains for not being worthy of comparison to him.
Wanda waved her hand slightly, and the fruit platter on the open living room table flew over. She picked up a piece of mango and fed it to Arthur.
"Wakanda," Wanda continued to ask, "What kind of country is it?"
"Wakanda has the strongest military on Earth, and as HYDRA understands, their technology is very advanced," Arthur said after chewing. "Its core is a metal called Vibranium. Steve Rogers' shield is made of Vibranium, and they have many other metals like it."
"Does that mean they are very powerful? If they use Vibranium to create a large number of weapons, could they conquer the World?" Wanda asked curiously.
"Perhaps. Only things that have been done have answers, but they are a bunch of primitives with no ambition," Arthur said dismissively. "As for whether they are strong or not, it is relative. They could easily wipe out the U.S. military's Pacific carrier fleet, but in front of me, they are nothing..."
Wanda said without hesitation: "Because you are the strongest..."
"No, there's also you, my Scarlet Witch," Arthur said, wrapping his arms around Wanda's waist. He pulled Wanda into his embrace. "Once you grow stronger, the entirety of Wakanda will be nothing before you. You'll be able to destroy them with a wave of your hand."
"But I felt it. You used the power of the Shadowkhan..." Wanda said suddenly.
The Shadow World is inherently interconnected, without limitations of space or distance.
"It was just to make the fight less boring," Arthur said casually. "I could have killed them with one punch and taken all the Vibranium, but I prefer to resolve things peacefully."
"That might expose your identity," Wanda said, looking up at Arthur. Her calm eyes hid a certain emotion: "During the Battle of New York, they saw me use the Shadowkhan. Although the Shadowkhan differ from each other, they will all know that they are the same type of creature..."
"I was having too much fun then and didn't think too much about it... But it doesn't matter. Even if they, or the whole World, knew I was a demon, so what? They're just a bunch of weaklings," Arthur said carelessly. "Moreover, Wakanda is a country closed off from external information. They won't publicize this matter. If the whole World knew that Wakanda possessed something capable of attracting Arthur, no one would sympathize with them; instead, they would surround them like hungry wolves..."
Suddenly, Arthur reached out and grabbed Wanda's neck, pinning her beneath him.
"Identity exposed? What identity?" Arthur looked into Wanda's eyes and asked, "Do you know who I am?"
Arthur's hand tightened slightly, and Wanda's face flushed, yet there was not a trace of fear toward the demon or dread of death in her eyes.
"You are the demon, you are Arthur..." Wanda did not struggle at all. "Arthur is the demon."
Arthur smiled faintly, pulling Wanda back into his embrace.
"So clever, my darling. You are the first person to confirm my identity... Oh wait, there's also an old Sorcerer, but she cheated," Arthur whispered into Wanda's ear. "How does this feel? The person who saved Earth above New York is actually the one who brings disaster to Earth... Didn't you find that idea somewhat unbelievable when you confirmed it?"
Wanda hugged Arthur, burying her face in his chest.
"At first, it did feel a bit crazy, but madness is a demon's specialty..." Wanda said. "So I'm not surprised, no matter who you are."
Arthur shook his head and said, "I'm not satisfied with that answer..."
Wanda stopped speaking. She leaned in and kissed Arthur's neck, but Arthur gently pushed her away.
Arthur looked at Wanda's seductive expression, smiled, and shook his head. He stood up and scooped Wanda into his arms. Despite Wanda's height of 1.7 meters, she seemed somewhat petite in his embrace.
Arthur carried Wanda across the living room, placed her down by the sofa, and then pounced on her.
The television was broadcasting news. The Anti-Demon Alliance had started a press conference regarding a terrorist attack in Ohio, and a promotional video recorded by Spider-Woman was currently playing... Arthur, lying on top of Wanda, waved his hand backward. The television's plug was pulled out, and the image of Spider-Womaninstantly vanished, leaving the screen black.
Wanda's hands, wrapped around Arthur, also began to move, swirling with crimson Chaos Magic. The plug was reinserted, and Gwen's processed voice rang out in the living room once more:
"Here, we appeal to all citizens..."
Suddenly, Gwen's voice cut off abruptly, replaced by a grating, teeth-jarring sound.
The television in the living room was instantly compressed into a soccer-ball-sized mass of material, and the remaining wires on the TV wall intermittently shot out sparks.
"You're being a little naughty..." Arthur supported himself on the sofa, looking down at Wanda.
"I apologize..." Wanda said, closing her eyes.
Arthur's other hand stroked Wanda's face, then slid down past her snow-white, delicate neck, like that of a white swan, resting at her neckline.
As Arthur undid Wanda's clothes, a thought flashed through his mind, and the demon mask vanished from his face, revealing his original appearance.
Arthur leaned down. Wanda held his head, but suddenly, the mentally powerful Wanda sensed something abnormal... She reached out and touched Arthur's face, yet she found nothing unusual, as the demon mask felt exactly like human skin.
But the feeling was too strong... Suddenly, Wanda opened her eyes, calmly glanced at Arthur's face, then closed them again, covering her eyes with both hands.
"Please put the mask on..." Wanda's voice trembled slightly. "I want the demon... my demon."
"They are all me, whether it's the demon or Arthur," Arthur said, grabbing Wanda's wrist.
Wanda slowly removed her hands and slowly opened her eyes.
Arthur picked her up horizontally and walked up the spiral staircase... Far away in East Africa, Wakanda's capital, Birnin Zana, was in chaos. The armies of the five major tribes had just arrived in the suburbs but were ordered by King T'Chaka to return to their respective tribal garrisons.
The entire capital seemed to be undergoing demolition, with Vibranium being stripped from many buildings simply to gather half the required amount.
Wakanda possessed nearly ten thousand tons of Vibranium, meaning they had to surrender five thousand tons. However, over the thousands of years since Wakanda's founding, most of the Vibranium had already been used in architecture, weapons, or research equipment, leaving the reserves far short of half... The news that the King had yielded to Arthur immediately sparked dissatisfaction among the leaders of the five major tribes. As they expected, King T'Chaka notified every tribe to transport their corresponding share of Vibranium to the capital within the stipulated time.
Dissent rarely appeared among Wakanda's leadership, but now many believed they should not agree to Arthur's demands, as half the Vibranium was enough to cripple Wakanda.
The tribal armies who had not witnessed Arthur's power firsthand denounced the weakness of the King's Guard, but no matter how much dissent they had, they could only follow orders.
Because in Wakanda, T'Challa was the national leader who unified military, political, and religious power, and he was also the current Black Panther. Every citizen and tribe had to obey his command.
The only way to legally oppose the King was through the Elder Tribal Council, but most of the Elder Tribal Council members had witnessed the battle on the palace square... Inside the palace, it was silent. T'Chaka stood before a giant 3D screen, his figure looking somewhat hunched.
A few meters behind him, Prince T'Challa, whose injuries had been treated, stood silently. T'Challa looked at his father's back without speaking.
"How is Okoye?" T'Chaka asked indifferently.
"She has been saved, but she will never be able to return to the battlefield..." T'Challa said with some sadness.
"A pity. She was the most suitable person to be your head guard." T'Chaka suddenly changed the subject. "Having personally experienced today's battle, what are your feelings?"
"Shame!" T'Challa could not suppress his anger. "I will surely repay him..."
"No, you will never be able to defeat Arthur," T'Chaka said with profound calmness. "In all likelihood, Wakanda will never be able to defeat Arthur, or by the time we possess that kind of power, he will already be dead."
"Father..."
"This World has quietly changed, but Wakanda has failed to keep up with the changes in the World..." T'Chaka said suddenly. "Some tribal leaders suggested publicizing this matter, or finding the 'Anti-Demon Alliance' to use external forces to resist Arthur, but these are all unrealistic. The Ministry of Defense analyzed today's combat data, but they still cannot estimate Arthur's true fighting power."
"Can he just do whatever he wants on Earth?" T'Challasaid angrily. "He is practically a second demon!"
"Anger is meaningless. As the future King of Wakanda, you need to remain calm at all times," T'Chaka said.
"Father? You are the King..."
"You need to become the true Black Panther, to possess power, and to protect Wakanda," T'Chaka said, turning around. "The Black Panther is the King of Wakanda, and only the King is qualified to consume the Heart-Shaped Herb."
As the ruler of Wakanda, one must ingest a heart-shaped herb to establish a spiritual connection with the Black Panther God, Bast. Upon becoming the true Black Panther, they gain the protection of the Black Panther God, acquiring extremely sharp five senses, superhuman strength, speed, endurance, reflexes, and resistance to magic.
It is similar to how Steve Rogers became Captain Americaafter being injected with the "Super Soldier Serum," but the Heart-Shaped Herb, a purely natural substance, is much stronger and more stable and safe than the serum.
"Father, you are the King," T'Challa said, shaking his head. "Even if I become the true Black Panther, I cannot defeat Arthur..."
"I never hoped you would defeat anyone, but Wakandaneeds its own Superhero. This beautiful place needs protection," T'Chaka said loudly. "I am old, and the effects of the Heart-Shaped Herb have almost worn off. This power varies from person to person; perhaps you will receive more favor from the Black Panther God."
"I have decided. Once I handle this last matter, I will abdicate..."
T'Challa was shocked by this sudden news: "Father..."
"You are not the King yet!" T'Chaka interrupted. "You still need to defeat the challengers from the other tribes before you are qualified to consume the Heart-Shaped Herb and become the true Black Panther!"
"Go now. You will be responsible for handing the Vibranium over to Arthur," T'Chaka said, waving his hand. "Learn to control your emotions, and also, what happened in Wakanda today must absolutely not leak out."
"Yes." T'Challa bowed reluctantly and turned to leave the palace.
Inside the transparent viewing elevator, T'Challa looked down at the capital. His gaze passed over the city's central axis and fell upon the busy figures in the square.
Countless amounts of Vibranium were piled up in the square, glittering brightly under the sunlight. That Vibranium was the strong foundation of Wakanda, but now, to protect itself, Wakanda could only destroy its own foundation by surrendering half of the Vibranium... Every citizen would remember this heavy day when Arthurinvaded Wakanda.
Seeing Prince T'Challa appear in the square, many soldiers saluted respectfully, but some were staring blankly at the mountain of Vibranium, not noticing T'Challa's arrival... Even Wakandans were astonished by such a large quantity of Vibranium.
The price of Vibranium is roughly ten thousand U.S. dollars per gram. Wakanda's half-share of the reserves amounted to five thousand tons, with a market value of fifty trillion U.S. dollars, already half of the World's GDP... T'Challachecked his wristband. The five hours stipulated by Arthurhad passed, but there was still no sign of him.
"Where is Arthur causing destruction now?" T'Challa couldn't help but wonder.
Chapter 178 The Devil's Secret
Inside the secret manor, undetectable from the outside, silence reigned. Scarlet magic energy surrounded the entire Villa.
Suddenly, everything in the manor began to float: chairs, lawnmowers, flowerpots... including the wooden bridge spanning the stream. The points where the bridge connected to the ground were shattered, and the entire structure was suspended.
Even the entire Villa was shaking, dust falling, and tiny cracks appearing on the walls and floors... In the hazy night, the manor was far from peaceful, as if some kind of extraordinary energy was brewing.
Arthur was awakened from his sleep by the powerful energy fluctuation. He rolled over and embraced Wanda.
The sound of breaking glass rang out as a sharp stone shattered the window and floated into the room.
"Stop it," Arthur whispered into Wanda's ear, the mental power of the Sheep Talisman circulating.
Wanda instantly awoke, the red in her eyes slowly fading... Loud crashes continuously sounded from outside the Villaas the objects floating in the sky plummeted.
Restored to consciousness, Wanda looked completely lost. She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling violently. Suddenly, she lunged toward Arthur, hugging him tightly.
Wanda's physical strength was not great; she used almost all her might when hugging Arthur, which showed how panicked she had been in her previous state.
"Had a nightmare?" Arthur asked, stroking Wanda's hair. "Sleeping next to the Demon, what do you still fear?"
Wanda remained silent, only continuous gasping sounds escaping her lips. After a while, she slowly spoke: "It wasn't a nightmare... I don't know what just happened. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
"It must be the Chaos Magic inside you going out of control... You have nothing to apologize for, Wanda." Arthur didn't dwell on it.
Lying on the bed, he raised his hand. The power of the Horse Talisman surged, and instantly the entire manor returned to its original state; all the destruction was repaired.
"Alright, now let's go back to sleep!" Arthur said, withdrawing his hand.
Wanda pressed closer, looking as if she lacked a sense of security.
Arthur helplessly hugged her tightly, closing his eyes.
"Did I forget something I needed to do? Forget it, I'll worry about it when I wake up..."
... Wakanda. The Sun hung high at noon until it set in the glow of the twilight.
Night fell, and Wakanda had prepared five thousand tons of Vibranium on the square in front of the palace. The five hours Arthur had mentioned had long passed, but Arthurwas nowhere to be seen.
In the darkness, T'Challa sat on a chair. He had changed into a brand-new Vibranium suit. He closed his eyes and focused, seeming as if he were asleep, but he was constantly observing the changes around him, waiting for Arthur's arrival.
No matter how confused T'Challa was, he could only wait in place until Arthur appeared and he could complete the mission assigned to him by King T'Chaka.
Suddenly, T'Challa focused his attention on his tactical wristband, which projected a 3D hologram.
They were two combat videos. The first was the battle that took place in Wakanda this morning, where Arthursummoned monsters from the Shadow to fight against the Wakandan army. The second was video footage of the Battle of New York, where an anti-hero appeared. She also summoned the same Shadow monsters to fight the Anti-Demon Alliance, and later attacked the Chitauri... Wakanda's database showed that the anti-hero was Scarlet Witch, who was previously active on HYDRA's European battlefields, and later, for unknown reasons, defected to the Demon.
T'Challa's eyes narrowed. No wonder he felt something unusual when he saw those black Shadow monsters today... Based on this suspicion, combined with many previous cases, Wakanda's Ministry of Defense reached a terrifying conclusion: Arthur might be the Demon!
After seeing this conclusion, T'Challa momentarily doubted if he had read it correctly!
Although both Arthur and the Demon possessed astonishing strength—one being an anti-hero who once saved New York and the other a villain who launched "Demon Project" globally—T'Challa wouldn't be surprised if they were enemies. But the information he now held indicated they were very likely the same person, which was somewhat unbelievable to T'Challa...
"If the Demon's secret were known, what would happen?" Suddenly, a voice sounded behind T'Challa.
T'Challa woke up abruptly. He agilely jumped up, performed a front flip, landed, and widened the distance, looking warily at the suddenly appearing Arthur.
Arthur just watched him coldly, arms crossed. "Answer my question, Your Highness... If the Demon's secret were known, what would happen?"
"No... I don't know," T'Challa said, retreating slightly. His black face was somewhat pale; he seemed to have thought of something very bad.
"No, you've already thought of it," Arthur said, smiling. "It would be, of course... killing everyone who knows his secret."
T'Challa did not hesitate at all. The Vibranium helmet covered his head, and he leaped toward Arthur, swinging his sharp claws.
Suddenly, T'Challa's rapidly flying figure stopped in mid-air. He couldn't even move his arm, as if the space around him had been halted.
"I was just joking, do you need to be so tense?" Arthurstretched out his hand and touched T'Challa's Vibraniumsuit on the chest. "Of course, I can't guarantee that this joke won't become reality..."
Arthur exerted slight force, and T'Challa flew out at extreme speed, like an arrow released from a bowstring. He smashed the statue of the king in front of the square fountain and fell into the Water... The next second, a violent explosion occurred as the Vibranium suit released its absorbed energy, sending Water splashing over a hundred meters high.
The guards also reacted, raising their Vibranium spears and firearms toward Arthur, but no one dared to initiate an attack.
Arthur walked toward the mountain of piled Vibranium. Soldiers and guards immediately cleared a path. Even though Arthur had just attacked their Prince, no one dared to block his way now.
Arthur looked up at the piled Vibranium. His body slowly floated up. Just then, his phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID showed Gwen.
"Hello! Good evening," Arthur said after answering.
"Uh... you're not on Earth again?" Gwen's voice came from the other end of the line. "The Sun is very bright in New York right now."
"I'm in Africa right now. The World here is pitch black, and if you look up, there's a vast starry sky." Arthur said.
"What are you doing in Africa? Well, that's not important..." Gwen muttered to herself. "I called to tell you that the Anti-Demon Alliance is going to Londontomorrow for a mission!"
"Oh oh!" Arthur laughed. "Is Spider-Woman holding a fan meeting in London?"
"It's a mission, a secret operation!" Gwen said. "Are you interested in joining? We could go travel in Northern Europe afterward."
"No interest. Who would be stupid enough to work White labor for the Anti-Demon Alliance?"
"Uh... alright!"
Chapter 179 Hela's Betrayal
"Until next time, Wakanda..."
A brilliant blue light instantly illuminated the entire city-state, making it bright as day. When the blue light faded, Arthur's figure had vanished, and along with him, the massive quantity of Vibranium had also left Wakanda.
Inside Asgard's Victory Square, Arthur and the Vibraniumappeared together. Unfortunately, Asgard was currently a ghost town, and only one person was there to witness such a spectacular sight.
"Is this your true appearance? Demon..."
Frigga, the former Queen of Asgard, said coldly.
She stood at the palace entrance, dressed in magnificent attire, her hands clasped at her waist. Even as a prisoner, she did not appear defeated.
Hela was currently taking the first step on her campaign, conquering the Nine Realms. With the help of the Bifrost Bridge, she completed this step very smoothly; her army of the dead was invincible in every realm.
"Sigh, if this continues, the entire Universe will know my alternate identity..." Arthur sighed, putting on the demon mask again.
"I have memorized your appearance, and I will relay it to Hela. Hela is being controlled by you, and her hatred for you is unimaginable," Frigga said calmly. "Only the dead can keep secrets. Consider whether you need to kill me to silence me."
"I apologize, Queen, but I never need to consider killing someone," Arthur said with a smile. "What does it matter if Hela knows my appearance? Even without the demon mask, I am still her Master."
"Her submission to you is only temporary. She is about to completely reclaim the Nine Realms. Compared to that day, Hela's strength has increased tenfold or more. Now, even Surtur, bathed in the Eternal Flame, cannot defeat her. Along with her strength, her ambition has also grown..." Frigga smiled. "I have a premonition that the day Helareturns to Asgard will be the day she draws her sword against you. I hope you possess the ability to resolve the trouble you created."
Surprisingly, Arthur applauded after hearing Frigga's words.
"You are like a mortal now. Just as Odin stripped Hela of her divine power, Hela has also stripped you of yours," Arthur said, shaking his head. "Truly worthy of being the Queen, you are quite skilled at sowing discord..."
"This is not sowing discord," Frigga said. "You know what I said is the truth!"
Arthur smiled as he walked toward the palace. "I also said that I have always been looking forward to that day... I look forward to Hela's betrayal."
Arthur waved his hand, and the palace's massive doors parted, allowing him to walk inside.
Frigga watched Arthur's retreating figure, filled with confusion. Hela's power was connected to Asgard, so Frigga could feel Hela growing stronger, but she did not know where Arthur's confidence came from... Frigga also entered the palace, lagging a long distance behind Arthur.
arthurwalked through the center of the palace, passing massive columns and ascending the steps to the dais... "No!" Frigga suddenly cried out to stop him. "That is the Throne of Asgard! You are not worthy to sit on it!"
Frigga, who was raised by a Witch, saw through Arthur's intention and shouted in extreme anger. She hadn't even reacted this strongly when Hela had sat in that position.
"I'm sorry, but the true Asgard no longer exists. I destroyed it personally..."
arthursaid with a smile as he sat upon the throne in the palace. This visually impactful scene shocked Frigga, who was the sole audience and witness.
"Come on, why such a massive reaction?" Arthur said, displeased. "It's just a throne. I will ascend various thrones in the future. Asgard is just the first step, and this is Asgard's honor."
"Relying on what you brought back? That mysterious metal?" Frigga pointed outside the palace doors. "That metal is only valuable on Earth; even Hela can break through it."
"No, no, no..." Arthur smiled. "You know nothing of true power!"
... Muspelheim, the Realm of Fire.
This realm of flames quickly fell into chaos after losing its leader, Surtur. All basic order vanished, leaving only the natural law of the Beast.
But today, a powerful force descended upon Muspelheim. The Bifrost Bridge appeared from the sky, bringing a woman covered in dark green blades, a giant wicked wolf, and an army of the undead.
Hela led her army like a sharp blade directly into Muspelheim. The remaining tribes were slaughtered, and Hela successfully took control of this realm of Fire. She only needed to clear out the powerful creatures that might cause trouble, and Muspelheim would never escape her grasp again.
At this point, she would completely control the Nine Realms. The growth of Asgard would once again elevate her power to an unimaginable height... "Foolish Odin, your benevolence caused Muspelheim to be plagued by war for a thousand years," Hela said calmly, as several blades pierced the mountain beneath her feet.
In the distance, the spectral wolf Fenrir was chasing a flying dragon-like Beast, which was engulfed in Fire.
The fire dragon skimmed low over the ground, flying very fast, but Fenrir was never shaken off and remained close behind it.
Suddenly, the fire dragon twisted its body and opened its mouth, spitting flames directly at Fenrir. Fenrir did not even dodge; it leaped through the flames, reached the fire dragon —which had slowed down due to the attack—and bit its neck.
The chase ended instantly. The two giant Beasts rolled across the ground repeatedly, finally stopping when they crashed into a massive mountain.
The fire dragon struggled with all its might, spitting its final flames at Fenrir.
But these attacks were nothing more than an itch to Fenrir. It clamped down on the fire dragon's throat until the creature stopped moving, and green blood flowed from its sharp fangs... Fenrir began eating the fire dragon's corpse, and Hela watched the scene with a faint smile.
The final battle was also about to conclude. Her undead legion appeared exceptionally brave. With this, she would fully hold the Nine Realms in her hands, becoming the next ruler of the Nine Realms after Odin.
"Stop, Fenrir!" Hela called out.
Although Fenrir was reluctant, it returned to Hela's side. Hela jumped onto Fenrir's massive wolf head and gathered all her soldiers.
"The return journey has begun..."
A colossal seven-colored beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping everyone.
Traveling through the spatial passage created by the Bifrost Bridge, Hela was extremely calm. She closed her eyes and wore a wanton smile... Her power was connected to Asgard, and Hela could feel that the demon had returned to Asgard...
Chapter 180: The Queen
When the Bifrost Bridge operated, it generated powerful energy fluctuations.
"She's back..." Frigga turned toward the palace gates and said, "Are you ready for a great battle?"
Hela stepped out of the Observatory, followed closely by Fenrir and the Army of the Undead. Fresh from the battlefields of Muspelheim, they were still stained with blood and wounds, their murderous aura reaching the heavens.
Walking upon the Bifrost Bridge, Hela opened her arms as if embracing all of Asgard. Her face was full of delight, and her smile was irrepressible.
Now that she had reclaimed the Nine Realms, the energy surging into her body upon returning to Asgard was even more massive. This feeling of power fascinated her.
"Asgard, your Queen has returned."
Hela spoke with a smile. From being exiled to Earth and imprisoned in Éljúðnir to now reconquering the Nine Realms, Hela had ruled Asgard for a while, but she had never truly been its Queen... In Asgard's previous history, Hela's identity was either the daughter of Odin or an Executioner. Now, she held the title of Queen, but was merely a servant to a Devil.
The triumphant legion arrived at Victory Square. Helalooked at the massive quantity of Vibranium with some confusion. She beckoned a piece of Vibranium to her hand and immediately discovered the metal's unusual nature.
Hela gripped a piece of Vibranium and channeled her power. Soon, a look of astonishment appeared on her face; this metal actually didn't shatter or melt under her formidable strength.
A moment later, the Vibranium released the absorbed energy, creating a powerful explosion in Hela's hand.
Hela's dark green hair was blown back as she said calmly, "A truly valuable treasure. The Devil always brings surprises..."
Hela dropped the Vibranium and set off again, traveling from the city's central axis to the Royal Palace.
Standing before the towering Royal Palace, Hela waved her hand to open the heavy double doors. She glanced slightly to the side, and Fenrir consciously waited outside the palace.
Hela first saw Frigga, then continued searching for Arthurwithin the palace until a voice from atop the throne snapped her to attention.
"Congratulations on your triumphant return... and what are you looking for?"
Hela looked at the figure on the throne and smiled, her eyes flickering with an anger hidden deep within that she could barely suppress.
That was her throne!
"You, of course, my respected Master," Hela said, bowing. "Under your guidance, we have finally reclaimed the Nine Realms once more. Today, history is being rewritten by Asgard."
arthur began to clap. "The Nine Realms are just the beginning. I believe you can conquer the entire Universe."
arthur looked at the dark green figure and said with a smile, "I must say, entrusting the rule of Asgard to you was a wise choice."
"I am honored," Hela said, walking toward the throne.
To one side of the hall, Frigga stood behind a massive pillar, watching it all—watching the two of them perform their false play.
Hela reached the high platform and climbed the steps one by one, her dark green cape fluttering. "Are you sitting in the wrong seat, my Master...?"
arthur leaned forward slightly and looked at Hela. "You should be kneeling when you ask that."
"No," Hela shook her head. "The Queen of Asgard should not kneel to anyone."
"But you used to be very obedient. Just a few days ago, you were here groveling and pleasing your Master, hoping for his mercy to gain the chance to rule Asgard..." arthur said indifferently. "Has the Asgard that reclaimed the Nine Realms given you this courage?"
"So, what am I here for now?" Hela stood at the edge of the high platform, instantly shifting into a combat state. Her loose dark green hair fanned out like spider legs. "To wash away the humiliation I've suffered, of course. You have the Space Stone and can come and go as you please, but within Asgard, I am invincible... Don't worry, I won't kill you, provided you kneel before me and submit."
Hela drew a longsword from her cape, enveloped in brilliant green arcs of light, and flew forward to stab Arthur!
The Dragon Talisman was activated, and a massive burst of energy exploded from within Arthur. The green arcs were shredded, the tip of the sword trembled violently, and Hela's form momentarily stiffened as a blast of high-temperature energy shot directly toward her chest!
The center of the explosion produced incredible light and heat. A green figure was sent flying backward at extreme speed, crashing through the massive palace gates!
The entire Royal Palace shook, with debris and dust falling from the ceiling. The sole spectator, Frigga, hid behind a massive pillar.
Arthur slowly rose from the throne. Using the power of the Rooster Talisman, he began to fly at a moderate pace.
Suddenly, a massive figure leaped out to block the gate. Fenrir, the Ghost Wolf, looked at Arthur with fierce eyes, its long, sharp fangs exposed and stained with blood and shredded meat.
Fenrir had been beaten by Arthur on the very first day it saw the light of day again. It held a grudge and had now locked onto the flying Arthur.
Fenrir's massive claws tore up the palace floor tiles as it paced back and forth. Suddenly, it lunged forward, its body moving as fast as a bolt of grey lightning!
Mid-flight, Arthur calmly reached out his hand, and Fenrir's form was instantly halted. It howled in terror, the wolf's cry echoing throughout all of Asgard.
Arthur spread his five fingers. Fenrir's howling stopped instantly as its eyes widened and its body rapidly expanded like a balloon being continuously inflated.
The next moment, Fenrir exploded. Flesh and blood splattered across the entire Royal Palace, leaving the floor, pillars, and ceiling a mess. Even Frigga in the corner was not spared; she calmly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the foul-smelling blood from her face.
A roar of fury came from outside the palace—it was Hela's voice... The last time Fenrir was executed by Odin, its physical body remained, allowing it to be resurrected with the Eternal Flame. But this time, it was pulverized by Arthur, meaning the Ghost Wolf that had accompanied Helain battle for many years was completely dead, with no possibility of resurrection.
Inside the bloody and ruined Royal Palace, not a single stain touched Arthur's body. The blood mist permeating the palace parted to form a path as Arthur flew out composedly, arriving before the collapsed palace gates.
Far off on the Bifrost Bridge, a dark green storm was gathering, continuously drawing energy from Asgard.
Having activated the Dragon Talisman, Arthur was more sensitive to energy. He could feel the terrifying nature of that power; no wonder Hela had the confidence to move against him after reclaiming the Nine Realms... Hela stood at the center of the storm, with countless dark green blades erupting from the ground around her, those sharp blades seemingly capable of piercing the very heavens.