The next day.
Whoosh—
On the open land, water flowed over the rocky ground, rushing down into a bottomless abyss.
This was the cliff waterfall where Wakanda had always held its sacred challenge rituals.
Representatives from the four major tribes gathered, with suspended cameras broadcasting live from a distance. People across the entire nation stood before projection screens in the cities, anxious yet excited, watching intently.
"I heard about the process for this challenge ritual. Can our benefactor really do it?"
"He saved our nation! The research department said that his speed that night approached dozens of times the speed of sound, and his skin was so tough that even Vibranium claws couldn't scratch it."
"Gods above, it sounds like he's almost a God walking among men."
Countless eyes watched, and various discussions broke out across the city. Some were optimistic, others were not, more confident in their own technology.
"But he's challenging Wakanda's most advanced weapons… I don't think he can last until the end."
"I hope he stops in time and isn't severely injured or killed by our weapons, otherwise Wakanda will be burdened with the sin of killing its benefactor."
Unlike ancient sacred challenges, where no technological elements were allowed near, this time was different.
This was an extraordinary sacred challenge.
It wasn't one warrior against another, but one person challenging an entire nation!
If he could win, an unprecedented new King would be born, becoming the leader of Earth's most technologically advanced nation!
"Respected Ron, you are Wakanda's benefactor.
If you feel any discomfort, please speak immediately."
The gentle River Tribe Chief kindly reminded him.
Standing in the flowing water that reached his ankles, Ron was shirtless, revealing a perfect physique like an ancient Greek sculpture. He smiled but said nothing.
"Huh-ha, huh-ha!…"
The priest was about to announce the start of the ceremony.
From deep within a cave in the rock wall, seven or eight strong men emerged, their bodies painted with White war paint. A tall, muscular man, built like a gorilla, walked in front, his wild, contemptuous gaze sweeping over everyone, finally settling challengingly on Ron.
Ron looked at him with an indifferent expression.
"Mbaku of the White Ape Tribe, we are choosing a King for Wakanda. Why are you here?" the new priest asked with a frown.
Millions of years ago, a massive Vibranium meteorite fell in East Africa, later discovered by five East African tribes who settled around the impact site, calling it Wakanda. However, the five tribes did not live in harmony and were constantly warring.
It wasn't until a warrior named Bashenga, guided by the Black Panther goddess Bast, found the Heart-Shaped Herb, which awakened his potential and granted him a powerful physique, that he unified Wakanda and became the first Black Panther.
The Merchant, Frontier, Mining, and River Tribes submitted to the Black Panther, but only the White Ape Tribe refused his rule and left, living in isolation among Wakanda's high mountain snow peaks.
"I heard you're giving the throne to an outsider and handing over all your advanced technology to him. Wakanda isn't just your place; our tribe has lived here for generations too."
"I cannot stand by and watch disaster and war descend upon this place."
Mbaku stared at Ron with a challenging gaze, like he was eyeing prey, and shouted loudly.
These were words meant to undermine Ron, implying that an outsider becoming King would bring disaster to Wakanda.
"Are you implying you want to challenge our benefactor?"
Frontier Tribe Chief W'Kabi said coldly.
"Precisely." He admitted it without hesitation.
"It seems you and your tribe have been in the snowy mountains for too long; your information is outdated."
With a meaningful sneer, Frontier Tribe Chief W'Kabi said, "I hope you can still say that after our benefactor finishes his challenge."
Everyone cast strange glances at them, including the three tribe chiefs who opposed Ron becoming King; their expressions were also peculiar.
Though their eyes were dim, they could still tell who would win a struggle between an ant and a lion on the savanna.
"Begin!"
The priest shouted.
A King's Guard, armed with a weapon, stepped forward, nodded respectfully, and aimed a Vibranium spear at Ron, its tip glowing with an energy arc.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
Mbaku felt something was wrong; this wasn't the sacred challenge procedure.
But no one answered him.
Buzz!
The Vibranium spear began to charge, then unleashed a powerful strike.
A laser bullet struck Ron's tall, slender body, illuminated by the Sun.
The light blue energy laser, powerful enough to pierce a one-centimeter-thick steel plate, couldn't even leave a red mark.
"Are you insane?
How did he do that?"
Mbaku shouted in astonishment. The White Ape Tribe members stared at each other, stunned. They hadn't come down from the mountains in so long. Had Wakanda's King-selection ceremony become this brutal?
It wasn't cold weapon combat anymore; it had turned into a contest of enduring lasers?
How did this handsome, tall young man do it?
"A Vibranium spear that can fire lasers, it looks very high-tech."
Looking at the spear, Ron's eyes showed a hint of helplessness.
But it was too slow; on a battlefield, it wouldn't cause as much damage as an assault rifle.
During the Wakanda war when Thanos's forces attacked, in a high-tech nation decades ahead of the rest of Earth, it was War Machine, wearing an outdated version of Iron Man's armor, who caused the most casualties.
It was, undeniably, a great irony.
"Next."
Another bald, fierce-looking Black female King's Guard stepped forward, carrying a short spear with a spearhead more than twice its size.
"Respected benefactor, be careful.
This is a supersonic handheld energy cannon; one shot is enough to shatter a main battle tank outside."
The power gap between this and the Vibranium spear was enormous. Everyone's eyes showed tension, worried if Ron could withstand it.
Ron didn't know why a cold weapon-like object was called a cannon, but he remained expressionless and unconcerned.
Bang! The air boomed deafeningly.
The energy cannon, barely visible to the naked eye, struck him, but he didn't even take a step back; only the surrounding Water waves were stirred up by the energy.
The nearby tribe representatives covered their ears in discomfort.
"This…"
Mbaku's mouth hung open, his eyes wide and fixed.
He understood now why those people had looked at him that way earlier.
If Ron stood there and let him attack, he probably wouldn't even be able to break Ron's skin.
He looked around guiltily, unsure what to do.
Next, even more powerful weapons.
But they still maintained the form of cold weapons, like a wide blade with an even stronger energy laser.
If they were made into gun shapes, their power and speed would greatly increase. Unfortunately, these Wakandans stubbornly pursued cold weapon forms.
"Sacrificing power and speed for shape… what a foolish thing. After I take office, all of these must be changed."
Otherwise, Wakanda would probably be mocked as high-tech savages, and he would be the savage chief.
After individual handheld weapons, came energy cannons mounted on fighter jets, and finally, the main weapons of spaceships, their Wakanda's strongest weapons!
"Fall back, everyone fall back!"
At the open cliff, all tribe representatives moved away, retreating nearly a mile.
A massive, falcon-shaped spaceship, nearly dozens of meters in size, hovered in mid-air, its belly emitting energy flames.
The River Tribe Chief's voice was extremely unsteady, even trembling, as he spoke through the broadcast microphone, unable to help himself.
"Respected benefactor, the weapon mounted on the spaceship is the pinnacle of Wakanda's technology—the Plasma Railgun."
"The plasma ball it emits can reach millions of degrees Celsius and can shatter a small mountain.
Please be extremely careful."
Ron floated up, standing in the void like a God, and nodded faintly.
The entire populace of Wakanda couldn't help but cover their mouths and hold their breath. The vast nation became so silent that a pin drop could be heard.
All of Wakanda's technology was built on Vibranium. They had no nuclear bombs; all their weapons were energy-based.
But nuclear bombs were always weapons of mass destruction. Their plasma railgun, in terms of single-target lethality, was no weaker than, or even stronger than, the center of a nuclear explosion!
"If he withstands this attack, it means all of Wakanda's offensive methods are useless; he is too powerful for Wakanda to resist."
"He also saved our entire nation, so it's only logical for him to become our King."
"But… can he withstand it?"
Mbaku and his men looked guilty, wanting to find an opening to slip away; this was simply not something a human could defeat.
Buzz!
The Plasma Railgun began to charge, its muzzle glowing, and terrifyingly hot plasma condensed.
Ron's gaze was calm, as if he were facing only a glowing hairdryer.
Boom!
Earth-shattering high temperatures erupted, and a blinding light, like the Sun, filled everyone's vision, causing them to instinctively shield their eyes.
Rumble, the ground trembled.
Under the energy aftershock, the entire waterfall instantly evaporated, filling the sky with Water vapor.
The steep, hundred-meter-high mountain wall vanished as if a black hole had taken a bite, leaving a spherical indentation.
When Ron reappeared from the light, everyone was stunned, as if seeing a God. He was completely unharmed, not even a single hair out of place.
"King, King!"
The Wakandan citizens, wide-mouthed in utter shock, recovered themselves and shouted with excited reverence, as if seeing a God, their voices echoing throughout the entire nation.
With such a powerful leader, their Wakanda would no longer have to worry about any danger.
"Respected King of Wakanda, the White Ape Tribe is willing to surrender to you and pledge our loyalty."
Mbaku led his tribe, their expressions reverent, kneeling on one knee with hands over their chests. They were shocked and awed by this man's power.
On the first day of the new King's reign, Wakanda was unified, something no previous King had managed to achieve. Everyone was even more delighted and excited.
Above the sky, Ron's expression was calm and majestic, looking down at the nation that once again cheered for him.
This time, it wasn't his name, but a respectful address as King.
From now on, he was the Lord of Wakanda.
In the future, the most technologically advanced nation on Earth would follow his will as its standard!
Whoosh!
At this moment, outside Wakanda's invisible, deep blue energy defense dome, a graceful figure easily passed through.
The girl was tall, with exquisite and beautiful features. Long, smooth, shiny black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her curvaceous body was clad in a purple dress. On her head was a peculiar, high-horned purple helmet, giving her a look that was both majestic and slightly lively and playful.
Her beautiful eyes, like flawless purple gemstones, stared directly at Ron, as if seeing an irresistible culinary temptation. Drool almost dripped from the corners of her mouth.
"So much… so much I want to eat…"
"Hmm, someone?"
Suddenly, Ron vaguely sensed something, frowned, and turned to look at a certain point in the void.