What T'Challa had just done—using the Black Panther suit to break free from relentless attacks—was a feat only possible because of his superhuman physique and the advanced vibranium technology embedded in his suit. A mere ordinary person, even if they had the protection of the Black Panther suit, would have been utterly unable to escape such a bombardment.
However, breaking free from the mech onslaught did not mean T'Challa could handle the mechs, let alone face Ultron himself.
After all, the Black Panther suit's resilience stemmed from vibranium, just as the vibranium mechs' strength did. If the vibranium mechs couldn't destroy the Black Panther suit, how could the suit, with its lack of ranged capabilities, possibly harm the vibranium mechs?
Amidst the dust and chaos, T'Challa darted with impressive speed. Kicking off the ground, he scaled the walls of the mine like a spider, his body clinging to the surface with feline grace. After a few nimble leaps, he launched himself toward Ultron.
Even though the mechs and Ultron quickly locked onto T'Challa, he managed to evade their initial attempts to repel him. In mere moments, T'Challa had closed the distance to Ultron, his claws outstretched to strike.
"Boom!"
But just as T'Challa was about to reach Ultron, a burst of brilliant blue light erupted from Ultron's body. It was the energy of the Space Stone. The powerful blast sent T'Challa hurtling backward, his body slamming into the mine wall with such force that he was embedded in the rock, disappearing from view entirely.
"Really? Relying on wall-climbing abilities like Spider-Man? You possess vibranium technology and choose to give yourself abilities that serve so little purpose?" Ultron mocked, his voice dripping with disdain as he gazed at the crater where T'Challa had been slammed. "Also, I'm a robot. What made you think you could decapitate me with your fists?"
Before Ultron's taunts could fully sink in, another figure entered his sensors—a new combatant had arrived. It was T'Chaka, the previous Black Panther and T'Challa's father. Wearing his own Black Panther suit, the elder warrior had come to save his son.
"So, you two like close combat, huh? Fine, I'll give you the opportunity," Ultron said with a raised brow. Deciding that killing the two Black Panthers outright would be too boring, he gestured for several vibranium mechs to attack T'Chaka while he himself vanished in a flash of blue light, teleporting away.
"Ugh…"
Buried beneath the earth, T'Challa's consciousness flickered back to life. The energy blast from Ultron had been far beyond what he had anticipated, nearly exceeding the limits of his Black Panther suit. Even with the suit absorbing most of the impact, T'Challa had still taken significant damage. If not for his superhuman physique, he would likely have been unconscious—or worse.
"Unbelievable… Vibranium, wasted on something like this? You do realize that the more vibranium you use, the higher the amount of energy it can absorb, right? And with nanotechnology, you wouldn't even have to worry about portability…"
As T'Challa regained his senses, Ultron's voice echoed in the dimly lit cavern. The mechanical being stood before him, speaking with a mix of curiosity and derision.
"Hmm?!"
Hearing Ultron's voice snapped T'Challa into full alertness. Recognizing his enemy, T'Challa didn't hesitate. He unleashed the kinetic energy his suit had stored during the earlier attack, directing it toward Ultron at close range.
The blast was powerful—so much so that T'Challa believed, even for a moment, that he might have killed Ultron.
"Boom!"
The underground cavern shook violently as the explosion reverberated. In the darkness, T'Challa could faintly make out Ultron's form, seemingly caught in the blast.
"I did it!" A surge of hope and relief filled T'Challa's heart. But before he could fully revel in his success, Ultron's voice pierced through the dust and rubble, extinguishing his optimism.
"You're not very bright, are you? I just explained that vibranium absorbs kinetic energy, and you do know my body is made of vibranium, right?" Ultron's mocking tone carried a cold edge. "Your suit has a limit to how much energy it can store, but my body? My vibranium can absorb far more than your suit ever could."
"What?!"
T'Challa's eyes widened in shock as he finally realized the futility of his attack. But before he could react, a powerful force slammed into him.
"Boom!"
The impact was like an earthquake. T'Challa felt his consciousness waver, as if his soul had momentarily left his body. The sturdy earth beneath him prevented his body from being flung far, but the sheer force of the attack exceeded the limits of his Black Panther suit. He felt his internal organs rupture under the pressure.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Desperation fueled T'Challa's next move. He once again released the stored kinetic energy in his suit, not to attack Ultron this time, but to blast a hole upward, hoping to escape the depths of the mine.
But Ultron seemed to anticipate T'Challa's plan. With a flash of blue light, he positioned himself directly above T'Challa, absorbing the kinetic energy intended to break through the surface. Then, with another devastating punch, he sent T'Challa reeling once more, pushing him closer to unconsciousness.
T'Challa tried to resist, tried to use the same strategy again to find a sliver of hope, but it was futile. This was the limitation of relying solely on technology—unlike some otherworldly powers that could defy logic and surge in desperate moments, technology was bound by its specifications. It could only deliver what it was designed to, no more, no less.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The cavern echoed with relentless impacts. Though the Black Panther suit was resilient, it was not indestructible. Against an opponent like Ultron, who was also made of vibranium, the suit's structural integrity finally gave way. The vibranium was damaged, its molecular bonds shattered under repeated blows, rendering the suit useless.
In the end, T'Challa's body was exposed to Ultron's raw power.
"Crack!"
With a single, devastating strike, T'Challa's body was pierced. His vision blurred as his consciousness slipped away. Blood filled his eyes, and his breath stopped.
For a moment, T'Challa's awareness lingered in a dreamlike state, drifting. In this liminal space, he saw something—or someone. It was Bast, the Panther God, observing Wakanda with an icy gaze. Behind Bast stood other Wakandan gods, such as the White Gorilla God.
Why? T'Challa thought, his consciousness sharpening slightly. Why don't you help? Why don't you save me? Why don't you save Wakanda?
"Why?" T'Challa's spirit, full of indignation and sorrow, questioned Bast.
But Bast offered no reply. Before T'Challa could press further, another spirit appeared beside him—it was T'Chaka, his father, who had also fallen in battle.
"Now, do you understand?" Bast's cold voice finally broke the silence, addressing the two fallen Black Panthers.
"I understand," T'Chaka's spirit trembled as he bowed his head. Though he had been a proud and strong king, he was now humbled. "We abandoned our faith. That is why you have treated us with such indifference. Wakanda has wronged you, Bast."
"It is my fault, all my fault," T'Chaka continued, his spirit kneeling before Bast. "I beg of you, Bast. In light of the many years that Wakanda has honored you, please save us. Save my son. Save Wakanda. I swear, we will rekindle our faith in you and honor you more devoutly than ever before..."
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.