On the other side of the world, hidden from sight by advanced cloaking technology, lay the continent of Wakanda. In the sun-drenched throne room, King T'Challa sat upon his throne, a picture of regal calm. By his side stood Erik Killmonger. In this world, their conflict had ended not in death, but in a hard-won peace treaty. Together, they had forged a stronger, more unified Wakanda, their combined perspectives creating a nation that was both powerful and just.
The tranquility was broken as Princess Shuri rushed in, her Kimoyo Beads projecting a swirling red alert into the air before her. "Your Majesty," she said, her voice urgent. "We've detected something unusual."
T'Challa leaned forward. "What is it, sister?"
"Something powerful is coming toward our solar system," she explained, manipulating the hologram to show a trajectory path. "Its energy signature is unlike anything I've ever seen. We don't know what it is."
"What the hell is going on?" Erik demanded, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his weapon.
Nakia, ever the vigilant spy, stepped out from the shadows. "Should we prepare for war?"
T'Challa raised a hand, his gaze sweeping across the seemingly empty room. "I think," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "we have a guest. You can come out now."
The air shimmered near the center of the room, and a figure resolved out of thin air. It was Tony Stark, looking perfectly relaxed. "Your Majesty," he said with a charming smile. "It's my pleasure to meet you."
Instantly, the room was a hive of defensive action. Erik's suit materialized around him in a wave of black and gold nanotechnology. Nakia drew her ring blades, their edges humming with energy. Shuri's hands glowed as she summoned a squadron of combat drones that swarmed around the intruder.
"I come as a friend," Tony said, not moving a muscle, his smile never wavering.
"Everyone, calm down," T'Challa commanded, his voice cutting through the tension. The guards lowered their weapons, though their stances remained wary. "So, how can I help you, Sorcerer Supreme? Or is it still Iron Man?"
"You can just call me Iron Supreme," Tony corrected smoothly.
"Iron Supreme," T'Challa repeated, testing the name. "How can this humble king help you?"
"Like your brilliant sister has already told you," Tony said, gesturing to the lingering hologram, "we're in a bit of a tight position. Something big and nasty is on its way. We're putting together a team to fight it."
T'Challa considered this. "And why should Wakanda involve itself? If we are in danger, we will protect ourselves."
"Yeah, true," Tony conceded. "And you might even be able to. But what if you can't? What would you do then? Sacrifice your people? This hard-earned peace you've built?"
Erik stepped forward, his helmet retracting. "Do you have any idea who you're standing in front of?" he snarled.
Tony's smile finally dropped, replaced by an icy calm. "A man whose soul I can trap in a quantum shell in one of Hell's less pleasant waiting rooms in less than a second. Do you want to test that theory?"
"Everybody, I said calm down!" T'Challa boomed, rising from his throne. "Iron Supreme, I respect your power and your legacy. But if you want Wakanda's help, you will need to do something for us in return."
"What?" Tony asked, his eyebrows raised.
"We want you to increase the protection of Wakanda. We request the aid of the world's greatest tech genius and its Sorcerer Supreme."
Tony's smile returned. "Okay. That's not a big deal. I can manage that."
He was led from the throne room to Wakanda's main research and development lab, with Shuri at his side and a still-suspicious Nakia and Killmonger following close behind. As they walked, Shuri's curiosity got the better of her.
"How did you do it?" she asked, her eyes wide with scientific wonder. "Integrate functional magic with technology? The energy signatures are incompatible by every known law of physics."
"That's the trick," Tony explained. "You don't treat magic as energy. You treat it as a programming language. The universe is the ultimate operating system. You just need to learn how to write the code."
Erik watched him, his arms crossed. "You built weapons and let the world burn. Now you build shields. That's a kind of growth I didn't expect from a Stark."
Shuri looked from Tony's complex projections to Erik's grudging expression. "My brother used to say there was no man smarter than me. I think… he may have been wrong."
"He wasn't," Tony replied without looking away from his work. "I'm just older, and slightly more reckless."
An hour later, the entire nation of Wakanda hummed with a new, vibrant energy. Tony, with Shuri's assistance, had woven mystical wards into the nation's energy shield, creating a multi-layered defense that was part technology, part impenetrable spell. The forcefield's potential skyrocketed. Everyone, even Erik, was impressed.
Back in the throne room, T'Challa gave a nod of royal approval. "Wakanda is willing to help you fight against this disaster." He gave an order, and several Wakandan guards began loading crates of pure, refined vibranium onto Tony's transport. "A gift," T'Challa explained. "A sign of our sincerity toward Mr. Stark. The Iron Supreme."
"I'm very blessed," Tony said with a genuine smile. "But I think we need to make a quick detour before we head back."
"Where?" T'Challa asked.
"Hokkaido, Japan," Tony replied.
T'Challa looked puzzled. "Who is in Japan?"