"You… "
Seeing more and more tribal leaders choosing to observe, Queen Ramonda looked at King T'Chaka with some urgency, unable to help but urge:
"T'Chaka, say something, what should we do next?"
King T'Chaka on the Vibranium Throne stared at the young and vigorous Erik Stevens for a moment, as if he had made a decision in his heart, and spoke in a deep voice:
"Alright, since you want to avenge N'Jobu, then I have decided to accept your challenge…"
"Wait a minute."
Seeing that his father was about to fall for Erik Stevens' trap, Prince T'Challa quickly spoke to stop him, saying with firm resolve:
"My Lord Father, if possible, I would like to accept his challenge on your behalf!!"
A hint of relief appeared in King T'Chaka's eyes. He knew his son was thinking of his safety, which was why he proposed such an overstepping plan at this moment.
But the other party was, after all, only a Prince, not a King, so even if he ultimately defeated Erik Stevens, it would be useless.
"My child, I am very pleased to see you possess such courage, but he is challenging the Black Panther, so let me do it…"
"Isn't it just finding someone to fight on your behalf? I agree."
Who would have thought that at this moment, Erik Stevens suddenly spoke unexpectedly: "If it's him, it's not impossible…"
He raised his hand and pointed at King T'Chaka on the Vibranium Throne, sneering provocatively:
"However, you must make a promise in front of all the tribal leaders. Once I defeat your son in battle, you must immediately abdicate and hand over the throne to me… Otherwise, you will be scorned by the Black Panther Goddess, and your soul will not be able to return to the 'Ancestral Plane' after death!!"
Erik Stevens' decision was not made out of arrogance.
On the contrary, this was a choice he made after careful consideration.
Although he truly wanted to tear King T'Chaka apart directly.
But considering that after he defeated the other party, Prince T'Challa could still exercise the same challenge right to challenge him…
By then, with the extreme anger, the other party would surely fight to the death.
This situation was clearly more disadvantageous for him.
Therefore, it would be better to fully eliminate the young and vigorous Prince T'Challa now…
This way, there would only be an old man left, who, in Erik Stevens' eyes, couldn't stir up any trouble at all.
In addition, he had promised Albert Wesker that he would deal with Prince T'Challa for him, and then he could exchange the head for Albert Wesker to clear the parasites from his body.
This way, he could kill two birds with one stone.
It was due to all the above considerations that Erik Stevens finally changed his previous idea.
"Good."
King T'Chaka let out a long, weary sigh, then looked at Erik Stevens and Prince T'Challa and said:
"Since that is the case, then for this next challenge, my son T'Challa will fight on my behalf…"
"Here, I swear to the great Black Panther Goddess Bast, if my son T'Challa achieves final victory, then I will directly pass on the throne and the title of Black Panther to him…"
"If T'Challa loses to N'Jobu's son, N'Jadaka, then I will also, according to the agreement, pass on the throne and the title of Black Panther to the other party… If I violate this oath, my soul will never be able to enter the 'Ancestral Plane'!!"
In Wakanda, an oath made in the name of the Black Panther Goddess Bast could be said to be the highest level of oath.
So Erik Stevens did not doubt it.
On the contrary, Prince T'Challa clenched his fists tightly and said with conviction: "My Lord Father, please rest assured, I will definitely win this battle!!"
…
More than half an hour later.
Erik Stevens and Prince T'Challa were led to a cliff waterfall, which was the place where successive Black Panthers accepted challenges.
However, compared to the grand scale of previous times, there were only a handful of spectators for this challenge, almost all of whom were tribal leaders from the palace earlier, and King T'Chaka's family.
"My Lord Mother, please don't worry, that guy is definitely no match for Big Brother…"
Princess Shuri held Queen Ramonda's cold, dark hand and softly comforted her: "I bet this challenge won't even take five minutes to end!"
Queen Ramonda remained silent, but her palms were already covered in sweat.
She was worried about her son, and also worried about her husband's throne.
Queen Ramonda cast a slightly resentful glance at King T'Chaka, who was silent beside her, and a feeling of regret welled up in her heart.
She hated herself for not insisting on her opinion back then, and secretly sending people to kill N'Jobu's offspring behind King T'Chaka's back.
If she had, today's scene would not have happened.
However, it was too late to say anything now. She could only secretly pray to the Black Panther Goddess in her heart, hoping that her son would achieve final victory.
In front of the cliff, Erik Stevens and Prince T'Challa stood on opposite sides, each holding their respective weapons.
Erik Stevens held a short knife in his right hand and a Vibranium spear in his left, but then he kicked off the wooden grip at the bottom of the Vibranium spear, leaving only a section similar in length to the short knife.
This way, he could use the spear as a dagger.
A short knife paired with a dagger could maximize the power of the assassination techniques he had learned.
He now had at least a 60% chance of defeating Prince T'Challa and achieving final victory… and this was without relying on the parasites Albert Wesker left in his body to provide additional power boosts.
"Hey, this is your only chance…"
Before the battle, Prince T'Challa, shirtless and holding a sharp short spear and shield, looked at Erik Stevens with gloomy eyes and said:
"If you can put down your weapons now and apologize to my father, then there is still room for discussion… At least I will give you a dignified end befitting a royal member."
"Apologize?"
Erik Stevens' eyes narrowed slightly, and he let out a sinister, cold laugh: "What kind of international joke are you playing? Do you know how long I've waited for this day?"
"To reclaim the throne from your father, I have continuously honed my will and killing techniques in countless battles of life and death…"
"I've killed many people in the first half of my life, so many that even I can't count them, and all of this was for today… just to personally slaughter you and your father in front of everyone!!"
"Alright then, let's settle it with strength!" A murderous glint flashed in Prince T'Challa's eyes as he launched the first attack, his short spear thrusting like lightning towards a vital spot on Erik Stevens' chest.
Although he lacked the various enhancements of the Black Panther suit at the moment, he was still confident in defeating his opponent with his own strength.
Because he was King T'Chaka's son, the top combat force of Wakanda, and also the future Guardian of Wakanda who was about to take over as Black Panther.
If he couldn't even defeat a mere outsider, what face would he have to take over the throne?
Clang—
The sound of metal clashing rang out repeatedly. Erik Stevens used the short knife in his hand to block Prince T'Challa's attack, while his left hand's sharp short spear thrust directly at the opponent's face.
Seeing this, Prince T'Challa pushed his left arm's round shield forward, directly blocking the fierce blow. However, before he could react further, Erik Stevens on the opposite side had already spun around and kicked the surface of the round shield.
Prince T'Challa felt a huge force on his arm, and his feet couldn't help but retreat. "Damn it, why is his strength so great?"
"What, is this all you've got?"
Erik Stevens pursued him while constantly taunting.
He wanted to use this method to severely humiliate King T'Chaka's family, thereby making them lose face in front of all the tribal leaders.
Clang, clang, clang—
Erik Stevens brought his hands together, swinging both weapons down hard onto Prince T'Challa's round shield, which was held in front of him.
The heavy force nearly made Prince T'Challa drop his weapon, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.
This battle not only concerned his father's honor but also the future of all Wakanda, so he could not lose, and could not afford to lose.
Whoosh—
Prince T'Challa seized an opening, and in the instant when Erik Stevens' old strength was gone and new strength had not yet emerged, he suddenly rushed forward, thrusting his short spear fiercely towards the opponent's face.
Although the opponent successfully dodged by turning his head, failing to injure a vital spot, it still left a long bloody mark on the opponent's side of the face.
"You… apologize to my father!!"
"You should be the ones apologizing." Erik Stevens seemed to be completely roused to savagery, immediately pouncing on Prince T'Challa without regard for his own life, his short knife and short spear wildly dancing like a whirlwind sweeping fallen leaves, every move a life-for-a-life style of fighting.
Facing such a fierce fighting style, Prince T'Challa immediately felt immense pressure. Most importantly, he clearly felt the opponent's strength continuously increasing, as if a huge mountain was crashing down on him, full of oppressive force.
Before long, Prince T'Challa felt somewhat unable to cope, gradually shifting from active offense to passive defense in a desperate struggle.
Such a huge change caught King T'Chaka, Queen Ramonda, and others watching from the sidelines completely by surprise, and their expressions changed drastically as they became worried.
Even Okoye, who was responsible for maintaining order, and the members of the Dora Milaje, felt somewhat incredulous after seeing this scene.
One must know that Prince T'Challa's combat power was already considered top-notch in Wakanda.
Except for Okoye, the Captain who held the title of'Strongest Warrior', the elite warriors from the other 18 tribes were simply no match for him.
Yet, at this moment, the other party was being suppressed by that 'outsider'.
"Cheer up, T'Challa!!"
"Big Brother, come on, defeat this imposter…"
A series of shouts of encouragement immediately rang out from all around, but such encouragement was completely useless to Prince T'Challa.
With a slight distraction, several bloody wounds appeared on his body.
Pfft—
Erik Stevens feigned a move with the short knife in his right hand, and the short spear in his left hand successfully pierced Prince T'Challa's abdomen, blood immediately gushing from the wound.
Bang, bang—
Erik Stevens kicked twice in succession, sending Prince T'Challa's weapon and shield flying, then he gripped the end of the short spear with his left hand and twisted it forcefully.
"Ugh ah…"
Prince T'Challa immediately let out a mournful scream, completely losing his combat ability, and collapsing miserably to the ground.
"That last one was for my father!!"
Erik Stevens released his grip with a sinister grin, but he clearly had no intention of letting Prince T'Challa go. Instead, it was for the final execution.
"This next one is for myself…"
As he spoke, Erik Stevens fiercely snatched up the short knife with his right hand and brought it down towards Prince T'Challa's neck, who was heavily wounded and lying on the ground.
"Stop!!"
King T'Chaka, who had originally been standing on the outer perimeter watching, now moved like a swift Black Panther, crossing a distance of over ten meters in the blink of an eye, using the short spear that T'Challa had just dropped to barely block Erik Stevens' fatal blow.
However, his body staggered sideways at the moment of weapon collision due to the immense force from the opponent's weapon, nearly falling to the ground.
So much strength?
A look of surprise appeared on King T'Chaka's face.
Although he was already in his twilight years, he still had the Black Panther's power boosting him. He shouldn't be unable to even take a single blow from an ordinary person.
But the force that came from Erik Stevens' knife just now had clearly far exceeded the upper limit that an ordinary person could reach.
He had actually noticed this earlier when he was watching the fight.
However, now was clearly not the time to dwell on that.
"T'Chaka, no…"
"Father, no…"
Queen Ramonda and Princess Shuri behind him had already guessed King T'Chaka's intention and immediately cried out in panic, trying to stop him.
However, King T'Chaka paid no heed, looking at Erik Stevens with a resolute gaze and saying:
"My child, your father was killed by my own hands, it has nothing to do with my son… If you want to seek revenge, then kill me!!"
"Alright."
Erik Stevens did not hesitate at all, plunging the short knife directly into King T'Chaka's heart, and said with a savage expression:
"Then die, Uncle T'Chaka!!"
Pfft—
The short knife was pulled out, blood gushed, and King T'Chaka's aging body slowly fell, not even having time to say goodbye to his son until the moment death arrived.
"No, no, no…"
Prince T'Challa on the ground, and Queen Ramonda and others behind him, immediately burst into tears upon seeing this sudden scene.