Shin and the others remained in Wakanda for several more days, partly because Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver had only recently acknowledged their father. Leaving immediately after such an emotional moment would have been inappropriate, especially when family bonds were just beginning to form.
Storm had already departed to return to Professor X and report on the complex situation developing in Wakanda, as well as the Brotherhood's growing involvement. Given Professor X's usual approach, he would likely voice disagreement with Magneto's methods, yet stop short of direct intervention. Charles Xavier believed in words before war, and Shin knew that even in the face of conflict, he would not order the X-Men to interfere.
Shin, on the other hand, wanted to observe Ultron's actions. His heightened senses, both super-vision and super-hearing, had already pinpointed Ultron's hidden base. He knew the artificial intelligence was preparing for an assault on Wakanda. Originally, Shin would have dealt with the matter himself, striking Ultron down with a few powerful blows.
But this time, he chose to hold back. Magneto was the father of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, and this was his opportunity to stand as their protector and hero.
If Wakanda truly evolved into a refuge for mutants, a sanctuary where they could coexist and rebuild, Shin would not oppose it. In fact, he saw potential in the idea. To him, Wakanda's existing monarchy and isolationist system were outdated, and the introduction of mutants might force the nation to adapt, bringing about long-overdue reform.
Since discovering that he had children, Magneto had become noticeably calmer. His once merciless vision of mutant supremacy had softened. He no longer spoke of wiping out humanity but instead seemed guided by Wanda and Pietro's opinions. Shin considered this a welcome change.
Though Magneto was often domineering, Shin knew that beneath the bravado was a man capable of change. In the comics, Magneto had alternated between villain and ally countless times, even joining the X-Men when the world's survival was at stake. Much of that transformation stemmed from his relationship with his children. And now, that same transformation was beginning here as well.
Days later, Wakanda mourned the death of Prince T'Challa. The nation's warriors and citizens gathered to honor him in a grand ceremony befitting a prince and protector. But before the embers of the funeral pyres had even cooled, the real storm arrived. Ultron, cold, calculating, and merciless, made his move.
Without warning, Wakanda's great protective barrier shimmered and then collapsed. Within seconds, the country's entire electronic infrastructure was compromised. The once-impenetrable shield that had kept outsiders at bay now fell silent.
Ordinarily, Wakanda's advanced vibranium-based technology would have been safe from external interference. Its network systems were completely distinct from the outside world, running on unique vibranium energy circuits instead of conventional electronics. But Ultron had a key asset, Princess Shuri. After capturing her, he quickly learned the inner workings of Wakandan technology and adapted his code to breach it. With Shuri's knowledge at his disposal, infiltrating Wakanda's digital systems was effortless.
The nation's greatest strength has now become its weakness. Because the entire country operated under a unified network, there were no independent local systems to rely on once the main grid failed. The result was catastrophic: automated defenses, stealth aircraft, and remote weaponry all went offline in an instant.
Then came the army. Thousands of Ultron drones descended upon Wakanda, their eyes glowing red through the dust and smoke. Though the number of robots seemed small, their construction made them formidable. Each was coated in a thin layer of vibranium scavenged from the border tribes.
For weeks, small thefts had been reported, missing tools, cooking pots, and knives, but amidst the national unrest, no one paid attention. The border tribes had assumed it was common banditry. In truth, Ultron's forces had been stealing vibranium in small amounts, melting it down, and coating their metallic bodies with it.
It was fortunate, Shin thought, that outsiders hadn't realized the true value of the metal. If they had, Wakanda's secrets would have been exposed long ago. Yet now, that same ignorance allowed Ultron's machines to march forward, armored in the strongest metal on Earth.
When the attack began, Wakanda's soldiers met it with courage. Warriors lined the frontlines, brandishing energy spears that glowed with power. But courage alone could not bridge the technological gap. As the first energy bolts hit the drones, the Wakandans quickly realized the horrifying truth... vibranium was ineffective against itself.
The spears' laser energy, which relied on stored vibranium power, was absorbed by the drones' own armor. The impact barely registered, and the energy was stored harmlessly within their frames. Even when the energy output exceeded the limit, the remaining force caused negligible damage.
Meanwhile, the Ultron drones retaliated with cold precision. Designed for combat, each one was a machine of death. Their aim was perfect, their reactions instantaneous. Though not as individually skilled as elite marksmen like Hawkeye or Bullseye, every drone operated with deadly efficiency.
The Wakandan warriors fought bravely, their vibranium cloaks and armor glinting in the sun. But they were still human. A single well-placed bullet or plasma shot could pierce flesh and end a life. Unlike the Black Panther's fully sealed vibranium suit, most Wakandan armor was ceremonial or partial, offering little protection against sustained assault.
Within minutes, the battlefield descended into chaos. The air filled with the sound of explosions, metallic footsteps, and the cries of the wounded. The robots' relentless advance pushed the Wakandan forces back toward the capital.
Without aircraft or artillery, both disabled by Ultron's cyber attack, the defenders were forced into direct combat. It was a hopeless fight. In close quarters, the robots held an even greater advantage. Their strength and speed far surpassed human limits.
The scene resembled a battle between men and machines out of a nightmare. It was like watching ordinary soldiers charge at a platoon of T-800 Terminators with nothing but spears and shields. Against fully armed humans with heavy weapons, a Terminator might fall to superior tactics. But against melee fighters armed with blades, the outcome was a massacre.
No matter how skilled the Wakandan warriors were, their spears could not penetrate the drones' vibranium plating. Their blows landed with sparks but no effect. The robots struck back without hesitation. One heavy punch could shatter bone or send a man flying.
Shin observed from a distance, his sharp eyes scanning the battle. He knew Wakanda's warriors were among the finest on Earth, but bravery could not overcome superior armaments. Only their sheer numbers kept the fight from ending immediately.
There were over a thousand Ultron drones in this first wave. Though each one could outfight dozens of humans, even they had limits. For every Wakandan that fell, another rose to take their place. Slowly, through sheer attrition, the drones began to falter.
But Ultron had anticipated this. The AI was not relying solely on brute force. With a sudden surge of digital interference, a series of heavy thuds echoed across the city. The drones had seized control of Wakanda's automated defense systems.
Turrets, energy cannons, and perimeter guns, once designed to protect the nation, now turned on its own people. The skies erupted with laser fire as automated weapons opened up on the Wakandan ranks.
Panic swept through the defenders. They realized too late that Ultron wasn't merely attacking with robots; he was turning Wakanda's own invention against itself. Every security system, every defense turret, every automated drone now answered to him.
It was all made possible by one cruel fact, Princess Shuri's technology had been the foundation of Wakanda's network, and now, Ultron possessed her mind and knowledge. With her algorithms at his command, he had overridden every failsafe.
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Now available - Chapter 637: The False Pope