The Wakandans stiffened when Hong Fei called their king by name, spears snapping up in unison. Their glares burned with fury, poised to skewer him where he stood. Even T'Chaka's composed expression faltered, his brow furrowing slightly.
While Wakandan custom didn't strictly forbid using the king's name, Hong Fei's casual tone grated. To a monarchical society, it bordered on disrespect. But Hong Fei had no patience for formalities. A name was meant to be spoken, wasn't it? T'Chaka wasn't his elder, nor his superior. Why shouldn't he address him directly?
"Your Majesty" stuck in his throat, and "King T'Chaka" felt equally absurd. They were about to clash—what use were titles now? It was all posturing, maneuvering for advantage.
T'Chaka stepped forward, the energy shield parting to let him pass.
"I know you," he said, his voice grave. "The outsiders call you Dragon King."
Hong Fei grinned.
"Just a nickname. Unlike you—a true king, ruling a nation."
"State your purpose."
"Vibranium."
"Impossible."
T'Chaka's refusal was instant, his tone unyielding.
"Then I'll have to make my intentions clear," Hong Fei said. He gestured toward the two figures suspended in midair.
"Care to choose one?"
The Wakandans recognized T'Challa immediately—their prince, their future king. But Erik's face drew blank stares. Only T'Chaka and Zuri reacted, their eyes flickering with unease.
"Seems they don't know him," Hong Fei said, his smile widening. "Shall I introduce him?"
"That won't be necessary," T'Chaka snapped.
"Fine. You pick, then."
"You're provoking war."
"What else?"
Hong Fei's voice turned icy.
"Did you think we came for a picnic?"
The air thickened with tension. After a long silence, T'Chaka exhaled.
"Release them, and I'll forget this ever happened."
"You can't be serious."
"You underestimate Wakanda's strength."
"Maybe. But I trust my own. Take a look up."
T'Chaka's gaze lifted to the sky, where quinjets circled ominously.
"See those bombs beneath them?"
Hong Fei's smile took on a razor edge.
"Don't rush to judge. Have your people analyze them first."
T'Chaka's breath hitched. He turned sharply and retreated, his mind racing.
Xu Wenwu frowned.
"Why not just attack?"
Matt stepped in.
"If we do, it'll be a bloodbath. Everyone here, and that city in the distance—gone."
"So?"
Xu Wenwu's tone was dismissive.
Matt hesitated, his voice dropping.
"Too many deaths. They'll brand us terrorists."
Big Head shrugged.
"We don't care."
"Fine," Matt conceded. "But think about it—killing them versus letting them live. The latter has more advantages."
"There's no need to discuss this further."
For Hong Fei, slaughter would be simplest. Nothing fueled his power faster than death. But he wasn't alone now. Even without considering the fallout, he had to weigh his actions carefully. T'Challa was a factor, yes, but in the end, the choice to spare them was his own.
If he indulged his desires too much, it would inevitably lead to terrible consequences. For Hong Fei, such consequences could be devastating. He was indeed a bad person sometimes, and he didn't mind killing, but he was definitely not a serial killer. Not in the past, not now, and not in the future. Before long, the old Black Panther, T'Chaka, returned.
His eyes held a hint of inexplicable irritability, and his tone became even more impolite: "You're a madman. Do you know what the consequences of doing this will be?"
Hong Fei said firmly, "I don't care about the consequences, I just want the result I want!"
"Let's fight! Let's decide by challenge."
He suddenly said to the old Black Panther, "This is the solution your son told me. Otherwise, we can only go to war today, and I believe I can bathe all of Wakanda in blood, even if it comes at a cost."
T'Chaka's gaze was focused, full of ruthlessness. Hong Fei continued as if he hadn't noticed, "The nuke in the sky should be able to open your energy shield, and the rocket launchers in the distance can then clear the first wave. And I, with this group of people around me, will kill our way step by step from your feet all the way to that city in the distance."
T'Chaka gritted his teeth in anger.
"I've seen your information and I know your strength is indeed very strong, but if you think that's enough..."
He was only halfway through his sentence when Hong Fei suddenly took a step forward, his fist slamming hard against the energy shield, and his tone became unprecedentedly cold.
"Old Black Panther, don't test my patience! I've been preparing for this for a long time. I'm not interested in continuing to negotiate, and I certainly don't have the patience to look at your faces and listen to you repeatedly tell me it's impossible. You should thank your son, otherwise I wouldn't waste my breath on a dying old man. I've come all this way today, so please don't test my resolve anymore. I don't care what method you use, just make those useless Tribal Leaders behind you obedient. The best way to end everything today is with a challenge. You may not believe it, but if you choose to go to war, I guarantee that today, at any cost, I will leave no living thing in Wakanda! Not a blade of grass will grow!!"
An unprecedentedly violent aura suddenly surged from Hong Fei's body, and the Dragon Power leaping on him roasted the surrounding air like a raging flame, causing it to shimmer. Behind him, Xu Wenwu and the others immediately took up attack stances, and after their nano armor covered their bodies, they all soared into the sky. In the sky, the quinjets roared as they lowered their altitude.
Hong Fei's voice suddenly rose, intentionally allowing people in the distance to hear him.
"The challenge is simple. If you win, I will do nothing today, immediately withdraw with all the people and weapons behind me, and afterwards, I will not only publicly apologize to you and Wakanda, but also actively help you continue to hide Wakanda's tracks. But! If I win, then from now on, I will have a share of Wakanda's Vibranium. I don't need too much, just ten percent, and in the end, I might not even take ten percent, because the amount I need is pitifully small compared to the entire Vibranium mine."
Upon hearing this, there was a commotion in the Wakandan camp.
Some shouted words of refusal like 'impossible,' while others remained silent with solemn expressions. Hong Fei raised his index finger: "You only have one minute."
The old Black Panther showed neither anger nor relief; his expression remained calm as an ancient well, but as he turned, his old eyes churned like a roaring ocean.
At this moment, two Wakandan aircraft suddenly broke formation, passing through the energy shield and coming outside. One of them flew straight into the sky, while the other quickly adjusted its posture, instantly aiming its belly weapons at the armored vehicles and black-clad soldiers behind it.
Whooshing sounds suddenly erupted, and beams of blue light, rich with energy, rapidly shot towards the ground. Hong Fei watched with cold eyes. Xu Wenwu donned his armor and ascended, his Ten Rings dancing. First, he intercepted the energy attacks one by one, then quickly counterattacked, a single swing of the Ten Rings as a chain directly blowing up the aircraft.
Big Head rose into the air, his Psychic Power instantly controlling the pilot inside the aircraft. In a flash, the aircraft changed direction and plunged towards the ground, turning into a ball of fire in no time. The entire process took only a single breath. Inside the energy shield, the agitated aircraft quieted down, and the Wakandans were all furious.
It wasn't until Zuri let out a roar that the crowd finally fell silent. T'Chaka returned and soon took four people aside.
"You all heard the terms of the challenge," T'Chaka said indifferently. "He's dreaming!"
"We cannot accept such a challenge!"
"This is blatant robbery!"
All responses were rebuttals. T'Chaka: "There's a nuke in the sky."
Immediately, the surrounding voices ceased.
T'Chaka slowly said, "Their weapons are nothing, but the nuke's attack could very likely destroy the energy shield, and what's more dangerous is that nuclear radiation would completely destroy the surrounding living environment. Also, you must not underestimate the strength of this group of people. Each of them carries a dangerous aura; none of them are ordinary people, especially the leader. You should have all seen his information by now."
"So what? He's just one person!"
"Precisely because he is one person, he is even more terrifying."
"Let's fight! We're not afraid of war!" someone shouted angrily. T'Chaka met his gaze coldly: "You may not be afraid to die, but you cannot take your tribe with you to their deaths."
"I don't believe they can destroy Wakanda."
Someone was relatively calm, but still maintained an opposing view.
"T'Chaka, you are not his match. Accepting the challenge means you accept his terms."
T'Chaka nodded: "I know, and I understand your thoughts, but you should know who I am. I am the King, I am the Black Panther, I am Wakanda's Guardian. Even if I die, I will not betray Wakanda."
Upon hearing this, several people's expressions shifted. T'Chaka slowly said, "I'm certainly not his match in a head-on fight, so I will propose a prerequisite to him."
"What if he fulfills your condition?"
"Then I can only fight him."
The others frowned tightly again. Before they could speak, T'Chaka's eyes narrowed, gleaming brightly: "I have a plan. But the prerequisite is that you must trust me."
After a deadly silence, the few people struggled for a moment, then nodded in succession. A moment later, T'Chaka returned.
"I can accept the challenge, but there's a condition."
Hong Fei was stern: "Speak."
"If you can shatter the Vibranium energy shield with the power of just one person, without using nukes or those rocket launchers, then I will accept your challenge."
Xu Wenwu's brow twitched, and Big Head and the others also reacted. Hong Fei suddenly raised his hand to stop them, and looking at T'Chaka, he slowly asked, "Are you sure that's all your demands?"
T'Chaka's eye twitched almost imperceptibly, then he nodded: "That's right."
"Good!"
Hong Fei readily agreed, then added, "What if I complete the condition later, but you go back on your word?"
"Wakandans don't go back on their word."
"I don't believe it."
The group behind T'Chaka stirred again. Hong Fei ignored them and said, "Don't give me that flowery nonsense. Be practical. If I find out later that you've caused me other trouble, then I..."
T'Chaka suddenly cut him off: "Then from now on, half of the Vibranium belongs to you."
Xu Wenwu, standing behind Hong Fei, couldn't help but sneer. Big Head directly mocked, "Are these the Wakandans who don't go back on their word?"
T'Chaka showed no reaction.
Hong Fei studied his opponent for a long moment before his smile returned.
"Alright, I accept!"
What else could T'Chaka possibly throw at him? Beyond the Black Panther goddess Bast, nothing came to mind. Sure, Wakanda's tribes worshipped different gods, but only the Panther deity had ever manifested in this universe. Trouble—no question about it.
But Hong Fei also saw an opportunity. Kill a god, and what kind of loot would drop?