Chapter 74. Battle Suit.
"How's that? Pretty cool, right?" T'Challa said with a grin. "Want me to let you take it for a spin?"
The Black Panther, an Oxford graduate, was well aware of how far Wakanda's technology surpassed that of the outside world. Showing off the nation's advanced aircraft gave him a rare chance to boast—and he wasn't about to waste it.
He was confident that even someone as brilliant as Tony Stark—world-renowned as Iron Man—had never built such a sophisticated manned aircraft. Of course, he wasn't counting the Iron Man suit, which was more of a one-man machine than a proper vehicle.
"Not bad," Tony replied, cocky as ever. "Give me a little time, and I'll probably come up with something even better."
Though he was clearly impressed, Tony would never admit it outright. His ego simply wouldn't allow it.
"I think it's excellent," Bruce Banner chimed in, speaking for the first time in a while. "The flight is smooth and almost silent. This might be one of the most advanced aircraft on Earth."
T'Challa turned to Banner, pleased.
"See? Someone with real taste. I'm T'Challa, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Banner gave a polite smile. "Bruce Banner. I've always wanted to visit Wakanda, and now that I'm here, I can say it's been more than worth the trip. Truly eye-opening."
Banner's tone was soft, respectful. Unlike Tony, he was mindful of people's feelings and had a high emotional intelligence. Still, his words weren't empty flattery—he meant what he said. As a scientist, he knew brilliance when he saw it.
"Guests, please board. We'll use this aircraft to reach our weapons facility," the old king said, gesturing toward the open doorway. A sleek metal ramp extended from the vehicle, touching the ground in smooth, segmented folds.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Felix replied humbly, stepping inside with the others.
Once everyone was aboard, the aircraft's doors sealed shut. A blue flame ignited beneath the engine, and the craft lifted gracefully into the air before accelerating quickly toward their destination.
The journey was short. Within minutes, the aircraft descended and touched down gently on the ground.
During the flight, they caught a breathtaking aerial view of Wakanda's capital city, Birnin Zana. It was a gleaming metropolis, far more advanced than even the most famous cities on Earth.
"Still thinking about what you said earlier?" Tony leaned toward T'Challa and whispered as they prepared to disembark. It was clear he was taken with the aircraft.
"Oh, that?" T'Challa smirked. "Yeah, I remember. But sorry, that offer's expired."
Without giving Tony a chance to reply, he walked ahead.
"Hmph. Stingy," Tony muttered. "Fine, I'll just build my own version."
As he spoke, he tapped the watch on his wrist. Lines of code and data streamed across its screen, and a sly grin appeared on his face. He wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by.
Wakanda's tech factory was located underground.
As the group entered the facility, Felix was amazed. Even though Shuri—the tech prodigy—hadn't yet taken over, the factory was already state-of-the-art.
The entire production system was automated. Trains moved raw Vibranium across the facility, where it was then processed into weapons, armor, and advanced tools—all with minimal human intervention.
Tony and Banner tried to keep their expressions neutral, but it was clear they were stunned. Everything Felix had said about Wakanda was now undeniably true.
"Sovereign Felix," the old king said proudly, "this is our laboratory. What do you think?"
Felix nodded. "Wakanda truly lives up to its reputation. Your technological capabilities are astounding."
"Good to hear," the king smiled. "Now we've arrived at the main facility. But before we begin production, you need to specify the design of your Vibranium armor. Do you have anything in mind?"
They were led into a lab with sleek, futuristic decor. Black scientists—both men and women—moved purposefully through the space, all clad in white coats. The contrast was striking, yet it only added to the lab's sense of innovation and progress.
The king called over one of the technicians and spoke to him in Wakandan. The man nodded, then activated a device on his wrist.
Buzz!
A hum filled the room as a holographic interface projected into the air. A 3D modeling system lit up, displaying a blank schematic ready to be filled.
"Oh, I didn't expect you to have virtual projections here," Tony said, raising an eyebrow. "That's my thing."
Felix, however, was already familiar with the tech. He had used similar holograms countless times in Tony's villa.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and began designing his armor directly from memory.
He had already visualized every detail in his mind, so constructing the virtual model came naturally. Still, it took nearly ten minutes—especially because he spent extra time perfecting the second set.
In total, Felix requested three sets of armor:
The first set was designed like a tight-fitting bodysuit, similar to Superman's iconic outfit. Of course, it included a flowing cape—an essential touch for his envisioned airborne image. He chose black for the suit to maintain a sleek, mysterious tone. The cape, though initially considered in gold, was ultimately colored red. While he was briefly tempted by the –luxurious look of gold, he decided it didn't suit his low-key personality. Red, he felt, was bold without being gaudy.
The other two sets were still being finalized, but one thing was certain—Felix was finally getting armor worthy of his power and reputation.
The second set of armor Felix designed was based on the image of Yang Jian—a figure deeply etched in his memory. Naturally, the weapon had to be Yang Jian's iconic three-pointed, double-edged spear, and the clothing would fully reflect that noble, heroic aesthetic. To Felix, Yang Jian was the epitome of elegance and martial grandeur.
The armor itself featured a silver base, sleek and refined, adorned with elegant engraved patterns. Coiling around the armor were golden lines, twisting like flying dragons, lending a dynamic and sacred aura. A vibrant red cape flowed from the shoulders, adding a dramatic flair to the overall silhouette.
When the virtual rendering was complete and projected into the air, everyone in the lab was stunned. Their eyes widened in amazement, reflecting both awe and curiosity.
They had never seen an armor design quite like this—majestic and absolutely commanding. It wasn't just battle gear; it was like a generals war armor. Compared to any armor style they had seen before, this one was leagues ahead in beauty and presence.
As for the third set, Felix requested a casual outfit—a basic recreation of what he was currently wearing. It was straightforward, with no special modifications. After all, he couldn't go around in superhero armor all the time. He had to blend in occasionally, or else risk looking like someone suffering from a serious case of "main character syndrome."
Of course, designing the armor was only the first step. For the suits to fit properly and be comfortable during combat, Felix's body data had to be scanned. Using that information, the Vibranium armor would be custom-molded to his physique.
"How long will it take to finish the armor?" Felix asked eagerly once the scanning and blueprints were complete. He could barely contain his excitement—especially for the silver set. He couldn't wait to see himself in it.
The researcher overseeing the process, a stern-looking Wakandan man in a white coat, answered in fluent English.
"It will take approximately five to six hours. The second armor set you designed is... intricate. We've never attempted a style like this before, so production will take extra care and time."
"Thank you," Felix said sincerely. "I'll leave the armor in your hands."
"There's no need to thank me. I'm simply following the king's orders," the man replied coolly, his face expressionless. There wasn't even a hint of a smile. He was professional—perhaps too professional.
"…Wow. That was cold," Felix muttered under his breath, caught off guard by the researcher's lack of warmth. Was that really necessary?
The researcher turned back to the king.
"Your Majesty, with the blueprints now complete, I'll begin production immediately."
With the king's nod of approval, the man exited briskly—without sparing another glance at Felix or his companions.
"Dear guests," the old king spoke once the researcher had gone, "as you heard, the armor will take some time to complete. So, I would like to make a proposal."
He smiled warmly and continued, "While you wait, why not allow my son T'Challa to give you a tour of Wakanda? Experience our culture, our traditions. And please—stay for lunch. We have prepared a rich feast for your visit."
"I hope this arrangement is agreeable?"
Felix responded with a polite smile.
"We'll gladly follow Your Majesty's arrangements. We have no objections."
After all, as the saying goes: "Don't refuse free food or free favors."
The old king had just promised to deliver three Vibranium armors and now extended hospitality and food. His goodwill had been evident from the start. So naturally, Felix and the others had no reason to refuse.
Besides, Felix wasn't worried about tricks or hidden motives. With his current strength, there was nothing Wakanda could do that would pose a real threat—even on their own territory. Let them try.
"Since you agree, then I won't walk with you," the old king said with a hearty laugh. "After all, I'm not that young anymore—I can't handle too much excitement! Haha! I hope you don't mind!"
Felix smiled politely, but of course, he didn't believe the king's words entirely. Although the old king looked elderly, with grey hair and beard, anyone who had consumed the heart-shaped herb—as he had—possessed physical strength far beyond that of ordinary men.
Turning to his son, the old king gave clear instructions, "T'Challa, take our honored guests around Wakanda. Show them everything. You have full authority—there's no need to report back to me."
It was obvious that the old king wanted T'Challa to build a relationship with Felix. This tour was a perfect opportunity for them to bond.
"Yes, Father!" T'Challa responded promptly, clearly pleased with the task. Being of similar age to Felix, he seemed eager to engage and connect.
Soon, T'Challa led Felix and the others onto a specially-designed aircraft, and they arrived at the most prosperous street in Wakanda's capital. The city was bustling, clean, and filled entirely with Black citizens. There were no other races in sight.
As soon as Felix, Tony, and their group stepped onto the street, they drew curious glances from all directions. Their presence was unusual—but with T'Challa walking alongside them, no one dared approach or cause trouble.
Felix, however, wasn't particularly interested in window shopping. He was merely killing time until his armor was ready. In the back of his mind, all he could think about was testing out the thrill of flying with his new battle suit.
Ever since gaining superpowers, especially the ability to fly, he hadn't really taken the time to enjoy it freely. Most of his flying had been during battles, under stress. He had once dreamed of soaring through the skies like Superman or Iron Man, yet he had never truly indulged in that fantasy.
"Once that armor's done," he thought, "I'm going to take off and experience that rush of speed and freedom for real. That's how I'll celebrate –finally becoming a true superhero."
"This is boring! Just walking around like this?" Tony groaned. "Why don't we do something a bit more fun?"
Felix came out of his daydream and turned to him.
"Oh? And what do you have in mind?"
"I don't know, man," Tony said with a shrug. "But just walking and looking at stalls isn't doing it for me. Let's go for a drive or something exciting."
A mischievous grin crept onto Felix's face. "How about something better? A sparring match—no Iron Man suit."
Tony gave him a sharp look.
"Sure, I'm a bit bored, and a spar sounds fun—but not with you! That's not sparring; that's suicide. I'm not here to get smashed into the ground, thank you."
He shook his head vigorously, still traumatized by how easily Felix had flattened the Hulk the day before.
Just then, another voice chimed in.
"How about sparring with me?"
They turned to see T'Challa, smiling calmly behind them.
Tony's eyes lit up like a kid who had just seen a trailer for an epic showdown.
"Oh-ho! This is gonna be good," he muttered, clearly thrilled.
He hadn't expected T'Challa to step up to the plate. Maybe the prince didn't know how strong Felix truly was. Still, Tony was eager to watch the action unfold.
"You sure about this?" Felix asked, half-smiling. He wasn't trying to intimidate T'Challa, but he also knew his strength was far from normal.
"I'm sure," T'Challa replied confidently. "I've always wanted to test my abilities against someone like you. What better opportunity than now?"
"Alright then," Felix said with a grin. "Let's not waste time. Let's find a place and get started."
Tension filled the air as everyone braced for what promised to be an electrifying match.
......….
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