- The Next Day -
Around twenty of the Ten Rings most skilled members stood in formation within one of the secluded training rooms. A solemn and intense air filling the dimly lit space.
Each warrior wore the standard training uniform and gripped two wooden katanas.
The flickering light of ancient braziers cast shadows across the room, adding to the sense of gravity that marked their session.
Killmonger, Midnight, Death Dealer, and Xu's four newer personal disciples were among them, standing at attention.
At the front, an elderly Japanese instructor paced with his hands clasped firmly behind his back.
His gaze was sharp, holding an authority that could command even the most disciplined warriors.
"Today, we advance to the next level of nitojutsu." He declared, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. "Pair off."
As the room fell into motion, the disciples began matching up in pairs. Midnight noticed one of the new disciples approaching him. A man whose sidelong glances the previous day had already set him on edge.
Isn't that the guy who kept staring at us? He thought, his suspicions confirmed.
"I don't think we've been introduced. My name is Midnig—" M'Nai began, extending a hand in cautious friendliness.
But before he could finish, the man lunged.. His wooden katanas flashing through the air in a surprise attack.
Midnight reacted on instinct, raising his own weapons just in time to deflect the blows, though it sent him stumbling back several steps.
What the heck ?! What's he thinking? The boy wondered, bracing himself as his opponent advanced with a fierce unrelenting focus.
The man yelled as he lunged forward, unleashing a fierce barrage of strikes.
He was tall and powerfully built, his mullet and trimmed beard adding to his intimidating presence.
But it was his eyes—cold and emotionless, that told Midnight everything he needed to know. This was no ordinary sparring partner.
The boy deflected each blow, his movements precise and calm.
As the man swung down in a powerful vertical strike. Midnight sidestepped fluidly, slipping past the blades.
With a nimble leap, he jumped over the man, legs spread wide to clear the distance.
He's good, He thought confidently as he landed, but I'm better !
Spinning around smoothly, he struck with the hilt of his wooden katana, driving it hard into the man's ribs.
PAP!
The sound of the impact echoed through the training room, causing several nearby fighters to glance over.
"First point to me. Let's start aga—" Midnight began, but before he could finish, the man spun sharply, slamming his wooden sword against his hand with a powerful strike.
Again?! The 15 year old boy thought, feeling a sharp pain shoot through his hand.
Blood welled up from a fresh cut, but his opponent gave him no time to recover.
With swift precision, the man launched into a powerful Yoko Guruma—a sweeping, horizontal strike meant to destabilize his target entirely.
Hrr!
Midnight grunted as the blow landed square on his face, sending a tooth and a spatter of blood flying through the air.
KRRRASH!
The man was readying himself to charge again, when in a flash, the instructor appeared in front of him, raising a calm but commanding hand.
"Enough. Here, in my lesson, you will control yourself." The old Japanese instructor stated firmly, his voice brooking no argument. "Go to your quarters."
Without a word or flicker of emotion, the man obeyed.. Turning and walking away in silence.
"Teacher…" Midnight called out, pulling himself up from the floor, his mouth bloody. "What's his problem ? He's way too aggressive, he's—"
"Enough. To your quarters." The instructor interrupted, his unreadable gaze sweeping over the group, leaving no room for debate. His authority held everyone in silence.
Li, who had been watching the whole ordeal with a smirk on his face, suddenly turned toward Erik. A chill ran down his spine as he noticed the cold, menacing expression Erik wore.
"Huh? You alright, man?" Li asked, slapping Erik gently on the shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he studied Erik's face.
Mmh? Yeah, I'm fine." Erik responded, his voice devoid of emotion, his expression shifting to a neutral mask before he turned and walked away.
Li stood there for a moment, his gaze lingering on Erik's retreating figure. Something about the look in his eyes unsettled him, leaving him with more questions than answers.
What's going on with him? Li thought, watching Erik disappear into the distance.
- Later That Day -
The night had fallen, and Erik sat cross-legged on the cliff, gazing out at the vast horizon. The silence of the evening surrounded him, a rare moment of solitude.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the quiet from behind. "Well, if it isn't the bad boy of the Ten Rings." Li said with a smirk, his usual mask absent showing his burned face.
"Very funny." Erik responded, glancing over his shoulder.
Li walked over and sat beside him. "What are you doing out here?"
"Becoming." Erik replied calmly, his eyes fixed on the distance.
Li chuckled. "You no longer need to 'become'. You are. You're the Heir to the man who's going to save the world." He said, an over-dramatic edge in his tone.
Erik's gaze remained steady. "Xu Wenwu has lived a long time. He should know that saving the world is a never-ending task."
"Are you worried about those other 'four houses champions'?" Li asked, curiosity in his voice.
"I'm not wrong, right? Something's off about them." Erik said calmly.
Li shrugged. "You're not wrong. But who cares?" He replied bluntly. "We're here for one reason, and that's to learn. Which is what we're doing. Master Xu could be harvesting their organs for all I care." He added coldly, glancing up at the stars.
Erik turned to face him, a hint of intrigue in his eyes. "Then why are you doing all this, Li? You once told me that you wanted to be the best so you could stop crime."
Li's expression hardened into a smirk as he pondered his answer. "I'm doing this because stopping crime is harder than committing it. It's… a more interesting, more artful goal." He said with an almost detached pride.
Erik listened silently, his face unreadable, his thoughts concealed behind a mask of calm.
"You're almost done here, Erik." Li continued, his tone shifting. "You've almost learned everything Xu can teach you. What do you plan to do?"
Erik repeated the question to himself, his mind drifting into the unknown. What do I plan to do?
- Three Weeks Later - 1996 -
For a thousand years, Xu Wenwu had chased money, power and glory. Battling his way to conquer lands and enemies alike.
Yet even with all his victories, satisfaction eluded him. He craved something deeper, something to reignite the spark within him..And now, he felt he had found it.
In his dimly lit office, Wenwu sat engrossed in an ancient book of scrolls and ink drawings, each depicting mystical creatures and legends of forgotten realms.
Before him, Chancellor Hui watched intently as Wenwu absorbed the contents of the tome, his curiosity piqued.
Abruptly, Wenwu closed the book, setting it aside. "Have you heard the legend of Ta Lo?" He asked, his voice calm but filled with a strange, vibrant energy.
Without waiting for an answer. He placed an ancient scroll on the desk between them. "It's a hidden village, said to be inhabited by mythical creatures and guarded by ancient magic. The people there practice a martial art bestowed by the gods themselves."
Hui leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the scroll, captivated by the possibility of such a place.
"I want to find it." Wenwu said, leaning back in his chair with a hint of enthusiasm that was rare for the hardened warlord.
"Of course." Hui replied promptly. "I'll send scouts to explore the area, bring back what they can find."
But Wenwu leaned forward, hands flat on the desk. His piercing gaze meeting Hui's. "I want to go now."
Taken aback by the urgency, Hui hesitated. "O-of course!" He stammered, straightening. "I'll make the preparations immediately."
"Good." Wenwu said, his voice returning to calm authority. "And take Killmonger with us."
Hui's expression faltered, momentarily unsure. "Killmonger is... currently on a mission in Russia. If we could postpone—"
Wenwu waved off the suggestion impatiently. "Forget about him, then. Just make the preparations."
Without another word, Wenwu returned to his book, his mind already in the mythical world of Ta Lo, while Hui hastened from the room to carry out his master's orders.
- Around The Same Time in Russia Moscow -
It was around 10 PM and the cold Moscow night had fully settled in.
The temperature hovered at a brisk 2.2°C (36°F), with a light wind cutting through the city streets.
The Ten Rings squad lay in wait around a lavish hotel, their positions carefully chosen for optimal observation.
Killmonger, Midnight, and Death Dealer were among the team, alongside four senior operatives.
Each of them remained quiet, their breath visible in the chilly air, as the target's movements were tracked.
"I see movement." Erik said calmly, his sharp eyes fixed on the scene unfolding below. "The target's coming out. Two cars—he's in the sedan with a driver and flanked by two women. Four other guards in the SUV following behind."
"Seems like the intel checks out." Nikolai muttered, his deep, gravelly voice betraying years of experience. The Russian native adjusted his grip on the rifle, his steely gaze locked on the convoy.
"Yeah." Li interjected with a crooked grin, his enthusiasm cutting through the tension. "We've got two widows to keep us entertained." His eyes gleamed with anticipation, betraying a dangerous eagerness for the impending confrontation.
Erik didn't respond, his focus unbroken as he analyzed the convoy's formation. "Let's go" He said while walking towards the cars.
"They're heading to Domodedovo International Airport." Erik said, his tone calm but decisive. He stopped mid-stride, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the car keys. The soft jingle broke the quiet tension as he glanced at the team.
"Let's move. We need to intercept them before they make it to the airport." Erik continued, unlocking his truck parked discreetly in the shadows.
Nikolai climbed into it followed by Midnight, his composed but alert expression hidden under his mask.
Li and the others filed into the second vehicle, readying themselves for the pursuit.
"How far is it?" Li asked over the comms as the convoy began to roll out, Erik taking the lead.
"About 40 minutes." Nikolai replied, his voice steady through the phone.
Erik's grip tightened on the steering wheel as he sped through the dimly lit streets of Moscow, the cold night air brushing against the windows.
After several minutes, Erik found himself trailing behind the convoy, keeping a careful distance.
He glanced at Nikolai, who sat silently next to him his eyes sharp and focused. "Now Nikolai…" Erik's voice was low, steady, yet commanding.
Without hesitation, Nikolai pulled a phone from his pocket and quickly dialed the 02 numbers. A few seconds passed before a voice on the other end answered in Russian.
"Police, how can I help you?"
"I'm transporting a friend to Vnukovo Airport.." Nikolai began smoothly, his tone calm but deliberate. "I see a car Swearving in and out of the lanes. I got close to him and… I hate to be that guy, but I'm pretty sure he flashed a gun at me." He continued in a perfect russian. " A dark SUV, license plate A123BC 77. Hurry up, I'm really scared."
Nikolai's voice trembled slightly, feigned concern in his every word. After giving the officer the road details and directions, he hung up swiftly.
Erik leaned back slightly, watching as the convoy continued on. The tension hung thick in the air.
After a few miles, Erik noticed that half of the road ahead was blocked off by a police barricade.
As the convoy approached, the officers spotted the SUV and immediately began reacting.
Sirens blared from the patrol cars, cutting through the night's stillness, and the officers stepped out of their vehicles, their hands raised signaling for the car to pull to the side.
As the SUV was forced to slow down and pull to the side by the police blockade.. The sedan carrying the target, a man named Igor Amvrosiy continued on its path.
Ten minutes passed, and the vehicle weaved closer to the airport terminal. Inside the car, Igor, a well-built man with a confident air, scratched his head in irritation before turning to his driver.
"Why does it take so much time to get rid of the police ?" He muttered in russian, his voice edged with stress.
The driver, calm and collected, offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Mr. Amvrosiy. I'll get you to the gate."
But just as the car approached the airport. A sudden flash of light caught Igor's attention.
He glanced out of the window, only to catch a fleeting glimpse of a Pick up truck headlights blaring—slamming into the side of his vehicle.
The impact was brutal, sending the sedan careening sideways, smashing it into another parked car. Metal screeched, glass shattered and the car was pinned between the two. Leaving Igor dazed, his mind spinning in confusion and pain.
"What is going on?" Igor groaned, his voice thick with confusion as he touched his forehead. His fingers came away slick with blood. The throbbing pain in his head only worsened as reality began to sink in.
Before he could gather his thoughts
—POP! POP! POP!—
Three deafening gunshots echoed through the crumpled vehicle. His chauffeur's head jerked forward, blood spraying across the windshield in a macabre pattern. Igor froze, his breath hitching in his throat as panic took hold.