After finalizing the plans to rescue Princess Shuri, the group turned its attention to the bizarre Ultron robots that had appeared in Wakanda.
Even though the Wakandans prided themselves on their mastery of vibranium technology, the sight of Ultron robots capable of growing, shrinking, and even manipulating minds filled them with fear. These machines were unlike anything their nation had ever faced.
Wakanda's people, already possessing a deep-rooted sense of vigilance, couldn't help but suspect that the outside world had discovered their hidden supply of vibranium and was planning an invasion.
Mystique, however, didn't share their paranoia. Having long been exposed to the advanced technology of the outside world, she knew that this level of robotics could only belong to a few secretive and powerful organizations—or a handful of top-tier scientists.
Even the Sentinels developed under the Weapon X program, which the Brotherhood had fought against before, were vastly inferior to these Ultrons. To her, this meant that whoever created them wasn't a nation, but a highly advanced, covert force that had somehow stumbled upon Wakanda.
If it had been a nation-state, Wakanda would already be surrounded by armies. Despite the nation's impressive defenses, its territory was small, and its isolationist policies meant it had no diplomatic leverage.
In truth, given Wakanda's limited political presence, even if a rogue state launched a neutron bomb at it, the international community might not even notice. To the world, it would simply appear as an explosion in an empty field somewhere in Africa. At most, there would be a few small protests and nothing more.
Mystique's assessment wasn't far from reality. Ultron, as a self-aware artificial intelligence, was indeed a hidden global power. But she chose to keep her deductions to herself.
After all, the metal-bodied Ultrons were natural prey for Magneto. With him around, she could afford to remain calm. In fact, this crisis was an opportunity to turn Magneto into a hero of Wakanda.
She also didn't want Wakanda to be exposed to the outside world. The Brotherhood still saw it as a potential sanctuary, a fortified stronghold where mutants could thrive.
Wakanda's isolationist stance and advanced technology made it an ideal refuge. Its people didn't discriminate against mutants, either. To be precise, none of the African leaders seemed to hold prejudice against mutants. Otherwise, Storm wouldn't have been revered as a Living Goddess of Kenya.
Moreover, most Wakandans had long accepted their monarchy's rule and traditions. To Mystique, this meant that infiltration and control were entirely possible. If the Brotherhood could manipulate the royal hierarchy, they could integrate Wakanda into their cause without open conflict.
While these thoughts brewed among the group, Shin stood quietly at the edge of the lab, pondering what he had just witnessed.
"It seems the Panther God really hasn't appeared," he murmured to himself. "Could it be that there's no Panther God in this Wakanda? Or perhaps the deity simply refuses to intervene in worldly affairs?"
The Panther God, a totemic deity worshipped by Wakandans, was different from the Vishanti revered by the Sorcerer Supreme. Wherever there was Kamar-Taj, the Trinity Vishanti existed. But the Panther God wasn't bound by geography or faith, it might appear in one reality and be absent in another.
In some worlds, the heart-shaped herb granted users a direct link to the Panther God's higher dimension. In others, it was nothing more than a biological enhancer. Everything depended on the world's spiritual structure and metaphysical laws.
Now, it appeared that in this particular reality, the Panther God either didn't exist or had long abandoned Wakanda altogether.
As Shin continued to reflect, the heavy doors behind him swung open.
Magneto emerged, followed closely by Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
Before Shin could speak, Storm stepped forward. "How did it go? Are the results in?" she asked anxiously.
Magneto gave a curt nod. "The DNA test confirms it. They're my children."
Although his tone was controlled, a storm of emotions flashed across his eyes. Wanda and Pietro exchanged uncertain glances.
Magneto's life had been filled with hardship and persecution. From his youth, he had been hunted for his mutant powers. His family's disappearance, perhaps even their destruction, had once felt like a twisted mercy.
Each time he tried to build a family, tragedy followed. The hatred and fear directed at mutants had robbed him of peace. The women who had loved him, and the children he'd tried to protect, were all lost to the chaos his powers attracted.
For years, the Brotherhood had been his substitute family. Those who followed him were the only ones he could trust. His inability to protect his real family had fueled his rage toward humanity and strengthened his conviction that coexistence was impossible.
Ironically, it was that same loss that made him deeply protective of Wanda and Pietro even before knowing the truth.
For their part, Wanda and Pietro were torn. The family that had raised them had been loving and kind, and the trauma they carried stemmed not from Magneto, but from the missile that had destroyed their home, one built by Tony Stark's company.
To them, Magneto wasn't just a stranger; he was a figure both feared and misunderstood, a man labeled a terrorist by the world. They didn't hate him, but they couldn't easily embrace him either.
Still, something had changed. Blood had confirmed what instinct had always whispered. The tension between them softened, replaced by something fragile yet genuine, a bond that could finally grow.
Storm watched this reunion quietly, her heart conflicted. She knew Wanda and Pietro weren't villains, but she also feared Magneto's influence. He had the power to twist their loyalty, to turn hope into hatred. Yet she couldn't bring herself to interfere. Family matters, she knew, were not hers to judge.
Shin, on the other hand, wasn't sentimental about it. He turned to the group and spoke plainly. "We have bigger problems. Wakanda has just suffered a major attack. The crown prince, T'Challa, and the queen are dead. Princess Shuri has been kidnapped."
The words dropped like a hammer.
Storm's eyes widened. "What? How do you know that?" she demanded. "You've been here this whole time!"
It was a fair question. From her perspective, Shin hadn't left the lab for even a moment.
He hesitated, unsure how to explain without sounding boastful. But before he could reply, Wanda stepped in. "Shin has super vision and super hearing. He can see and hear across all of Wakanda. He must have witnessed the attack himself."
Storm fell silent, processing the revelation. Then her gaze hardened as she turned toward Magneto. The timing of the attack was far too coincidental, it had occurred right after the Brotherhood entered Wakanda.
To her, the connection was obvious. "This doesn't look good, Erik," she said coldly.
Magneto frowned. "You think I had something to do with it?"
Storm didn't answer, but the suspicion in her eyes said enough.
In truth, Magneto had been absorbed in studying Wakanda's vibranium-based systems and analyzing ancient data left behind by Apocalypse. His recent obsession had been building a device capable of evolving ordinary humans into mutants. The attack had taken him as much by surprise as anyone else.
He stared back at Storm, his voice steady but filled with restrained anger. "I've spent my life fighting for mutantkind, not murdering royalty for sport. Whatever this is... It's not my doing."
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Now available - Chapter 634: Battle of Taurus