Almost everyone who watched Avengers: Infinity War remembered Wakanda and Black Panther vividly.
Even within the MCU's world-building, Wakanda was renowned as a nation with technology said to be a thousand years ahead of the rest of the planet.
Its land became the primary battlefield in the war against the Outriders.
T'Challa's younger sister Shuri possessed a mind even more brilliant than Dr. Banner's.
Although Wakanda ultimately fell during that war, its technological prowess had been proven beyond question.
But…
The real Wakanda was more than just vibranium-based super-technology. It was also a land steeped in mysticism and gods.
The Panther God, Bast, worshipped as Wakanda's protector, was none other than the feline goddess from the Egyptian pantheon—also revered as a goddess of war.
Those who consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb could form a spiritual contract with Bast and inherit a fragment of her divine legacy.
For generations, Wakanda's kings had gained wisdom and strength through this herb, passing down the mantle of "Black Panther" from one ruler to the next.
Senju Haruto gazed at the Heart-Shaped Herb his system had just granted him.
By now, he had gathered far more of it than Wakanda itself possessed.
Yet for him personally, its effect was minimal—so negligible it was almost nonexistent.
As for magic, Haruto had long since mastered every spell and arcane record from Kamar-Taj's library.
Beyond the conventional practices of white magic and black magic, he was a triple cultivator of ice, fire, and arcane arts, and had even grasped chaotic magic.
Compared to that, the powers Bast could grant were insignificant.
After all, Bast was but one deity among the Egyptian pantheon.
Even if all of Egypt's gods joined forces, Haruto doubted they could defeat him.
His determination to claim Wakanda's territory was absolute.
With that thought, he casually rotated his fingers and opened a miniature portal—just large enough for a single hand—to the New York Sanctum.
Through it, he retrieved the tools he needed.
The sight left General Ross both curious and startled.
In his eyes, Haruto was without question a formidable sorcerer. Whatever he was about to do, it was no trick.
Even Soldier One's gaze was drawn toward Haruto, utterly confused by what he was seeing.
But due to the serum's damage to his brain, Soldier One had lost certain human faculties—like surprise.
Otherwise, he would've frozen in shock at the display of magic.
Haruto said nothing as he worked, following the precise method and sequence to brew the Heart-Shaped Herb into a potion.
For him now, the process was almost trivial.
"What is that?" Ross couldn't restrain his curiosity any longer.
"This is the Heart-Shaped Herb," Haruto explained. "It has effects similar to the super-soldier serum—it enhances the body."
Once the brew was ready, Haruto gave the bowl a light push, gesturing for Ross to have Soldier One drink it.
Ross stared at the bubbling liquid, conflicted.
If anyone else had presented such a thing, no matter the explanation, he would never have considered trying it.
But Haruto's word was absolute.
At last, Ross gave a curt nod and gestured for Soldier One to drink.
Soldier One obeyed without hesitation.
He was no longer a man with doubts or feelings—only a machine built to follow orders.
He grabbed the bowl, tipped it back, and drained every last drop.
Not a trace remained.
Immediately, excruciating pain wracked his entire body.
His throat swelled until he could no longer breathe.
Hands clutched at his own neck, desperate to vomit the liquid out—yet he couldn't.
With a heavy thud, Soldier One collapsed to his knees, features twisted in agony.
He toppled sideways, curling into himself, trembling uncontrollably.
Foam bubbled at his lips.
To the untrained eye, he looked dead.
Ross's eyes widened in horror, utterly lost.
He had just finished explaining how rare Soldier One was, how invaluable these enhanced soldiers were—even too precious to risk on the Hulk.
And now, in the blink of an eye…
Had Haruto poisoned him?
"What the hell is going on?" Ross demanded.
"This is normal," Haruto replied without so much as a glance.
Anyone who consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb first slipped into a death-like state.
Their consciousness and soul entered Bast's spiritual realm, where they would face the Panther God and receive her power.
That was precisely why Haruto had no interest in using the herb himself.
But that didn't make it useless.
He could use it to strengthen others, turning warriors like Soldier One into his pawns—soldiers who could secure Wakanda for him.
"If he can't pass this test," Haruto said calmly, "then it only proves he was never worth much to begin with."
In truth, Haruto wasn't entirely certain of the outcome.
He couldn't remember if the Heart-Shaped Herb carried a high mortality rate or if surviving the death state was all that mattered.
After all, in the Black Panther film, everyone who consumed it emerged stronger.
Seconds ticked by in silence.
Sweat gathered on Ross's brow.
Though Haruto had already rewritten his will with Kotoamatsukami, Ross's core nature as Thunderbolt—the general who cared deeply for his men—remained intact.
And Soldier One wasn't just any soldier—he was irreplaceable.
Losing him so suddenly was not something Ross could easily accept.
Thankfully…
Soldier One's eyes finally flickered open.
They gleamed brighter than before, his entire presence radiating newfound power.
He pushed himself up from the cold floor with one hand, straightening to his full height.
He glanced around, then gave Ross a respectful salute as always.
Only when Haruto deliberately reminded him did Ross remember to test Soldier One's strength.
Soldier One didn't hesitate.
He turned toward another section of steel wall, sprinted forward, and unleashed a punch.
BOOM!
This time, his fist didn't just dent the wall—it blasted straight through it.
Ross's jaw dropped.
He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
Once again, he was left in awe of Haruto's unfathomable abilities.
Just who in the world is this man?
Ross's throat worked as he swallowed hard, shock giving way to exhilaration.
This mission to Wakanda…
It seemed nothing could stop them now.
He even thought to himself—if Maverick saw this, he would be screaming with excitement.
...
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