Karl used telekinesis with extreme precision.
He slowly lifted Extreme Speed's quantum data core from its original chassis. The core — a compact, luminous processor sphere suspended in synthetic coolant — disengaged from its housing.
The moment it cleared the old frame, Karl shifted it instantly.
In one fluid motion — under two seconds — he inserted the core into the cranial chamber of the newly constructed vibranium body.
The cranial plates sealed automatically.
Vibranium nanolattice clamps locked the core into position.
Power conduits activated.
The eyes of the massive vibranium body ignited with blue light.
The nine-meter-tall form straightened slowly.
"Boss," Extreme Speed's voice resonated, deeper and clearer than before. "Transfer successful. Vibranium structural integration complete. Energy absorption threshold vastly increased."
He flexed his new arm.
The vibranium plating shifted smoothly, redistributing internal kinetic force.
"I can now transform into high-speed aerial configuration. Estimated maximum velocity exceeds Mach 10 under sustained propulsion. Weapon systems upgraded to vibranium-hardened output."
There was unmistakable excitement in his tone.
"Thank you, boss."
Karl exhaled slowly.
He had not realized how tense he had been.
"As long as it worked," he said calmly.
He glanced at the old body.
"What about your previous chassis?"
Extreme Speed paused briefly.
"Please retain it in secure storage. Cybertronian hybrid architecture could destabilize global arms balance if reverse-engineered."
Karl nodded.
He placed a hand on the old frame.
It vanished into system space.
"Let's go," Karl said.
"It's time to visit Wakanda."
He showed no remorse.
In his view, vibranium was not born Wakandan — it was extraterrestrial. Wakanda had simply been fortunate enough to build upon it.
And they had responded to his taking sixty tons by flying a cloaked vibranium aircraft over his manor.
That was provocation.
As for Bast — the Panther Goddess — Karl knew the truth from the comics:
Bast was an actual deity tied to Wakandan spiritual tradition, a member of the Orisha pantheon, and connected to the ancestral plane accessed through the Heart-Shaped Herb. She was not Asgardian, nor Egyptian in origin, though later cosmic depictions placed her among Earth's god-aspects.
But gods in Marvel were simply higher-order beings.
Juggernaut served Cyttorak — a far older and more destructive entity.
Karl was cautious.
But not afraid.
He brought:
Raven
Juggernaut
Extreme Speed
The two captured Wakandan operatives
They entered the Shadow World.
Raven came specifically for electromagnetic dominance — Wakandan infrastructure relied heavily on vibranium conduction systems. She could disrupt their battlefield cohesion.
One hour later—
They emerged outside the Royal Palace of Wakanda.
Immediate response.
Dora Milaje units surrounded them.
Royal Guard aerial skimmers activated overhead.
Vibranium energy spears locked onto targets.
Raven lifted her hand.
She did not simply "wave."
She focused.
Electromagnetic fields bent sharply.
The metal components of the guards' weapons — not pure vibranium, but alloyed tech — were forcibly disarmed. Several guards were thrown backward by redirected kinetic force.
But vibranium armor did not simply tear apart — it resisted.
Wakandan battle gear was designed specifically to counter kinetic manipulation.
Even so, chaos spread.
Inside the palace, T'Chaka was informed immediately.
The vibranium thief had returned.
And had brought force.
He exited personally.
Prince T'Challa followed at his side, already in Panther ceremonial armor.
T'Chaka wore the Black Panther mantle — enhanced by the Heart-Shaped Herb, granting superhuman strength, speed, senses, and reflexes.
When they stepped forward, they saw:
A nine-meter vibranium giant
A massive muscular brute radiating mystical force
A blue-eyed man standing calmly at the center
A woman radiating electromagnetic distortion
Karl raised his hand.
Shadow portals opened.
Thousands.
Tens of thousands.
Shadow Ninjas emerged and knelt in unison.
T'Chaka's pupils narrowed.
This was no small incursion.
Prince T'Challa instinctively assessed positioning, flanking angles, energy signatures.
"Outsider," T'Chaka said evenly, voice carrying across the courtyard.
"You steal sixty tons of vibranium. You invade our capital. What do you seek? War?"
Karl sneered faintly.
"Vibranium fell from the sky. Wakanda developed around it. That does not make it sacred property."
He extended his arm slightly.
"Since you flew a stealth craft over my home, I assumed you desired confrontation."
His voice sharpened.
"So let's try it."
"War."
Juggernaut roared immediately.
"Finally!"
He charged.
When Cain Marko runs, very little stops him.
The Crimson Bands of Cyttorak shimmered faintly around his body — mystical momentum anchoring his movement. Once in motion, Juggernaut becomes exponentially harder to halt.
He smashed into aerial skimmers.
Even vibranium hulls dented under repeated mystical-force impact — not because vibranium was weak, but because Juggernaut's power was not purely kinetic. It was empowered by Cyttorak's extradimensional energy.
Explosions erupted.
Royal Guard formations shattered.
Wakandan sonic cannons fired.
Energy pulses struck Juggernaut —
—and were absorbed or deflected by the crimson aura surrounding him.
He laughed.
Meanwhile, Shadow Ninjas surged forward.
Wakandan soldiers fought back fiercely. They were not untrained militia — they were one of the most advanced standing militaries on Earth.
But most wore vibranium weave armor, not full vibranium plate.
Gaps existed.
Shadow Ninjas exploited exposed areas — joints, neck gaps, uncovered limbs.
Wakandan sonic disruptors destroyed many Shadow Ninjas instantly.
This was not one-sided slaughter.
It was violent and chaotic.
Overhead, Wakandan aircraft regrouped.
T'Chaka signaled full defensive mobilization.
He did not yet commit the entire Golden City shield.
He wanted to assess.
Prince T'Challa stepped forward cautiously, eyes fixed on Karl.
The battle had begun.
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