"Hmph!"
The Black Panther Goddess turned her head away, no longer paying attention to the White Gorilla. She leapt into the trees and vanished. At the same time, the surrounding scenery shifted abruptly—
the endless grasslands transformed into towering mountains that pierced the clouds. At the mountain peak stood a colossal, ancient tree, upon which the White Gorilla sat steadily. Several other white gorillas surrounded the area.
T'Challa jolted awake, realizing he was buried in snow. Nakia was the only one by his side.
"T'Challa, you're finally awake!"
Nakia threw her arms around him, tears streaming down her face. For a moment, she had truly believed she had lost him—lost the love of her life.
Meanwhile, Lucas and Tony were outside, sitting by a bonfire with M'Baku, devouring roasted meat.
"The barbecue up here tastes way better than the stuff down below,"
Lucas said, eating heartily. From morning until now, he had barely had time to eat, let alone drink water.
Tony wasn't doing much better, equally focused on eating.
M'Baku remained silent. He had never been a talkative man, but the fact that he was willing to share food with Lucas and Tony already showed that he had accepted them—perhaps even accepted T'Challa as well.
---
At the same time, a similar ritual was taking place in the royal sacred grounds.
Erik consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb and was buried in the crimson sand. In a haze, he found himself back in his childhood home, facing his father, N'Jobu, seated on the sofa.
"Father…"
Erik murmured, his eyes reddening.
"My son,"
N'Jobu said with a gentle smile.
"It seems you've finally found your way home."
"I gave you that ring so that one day, you could return to Wakanda. That is where our true home is."
Erik said nothing, quietly staring at his father.
"I only feared that you would not be accepted because of me,"
N'Jobu continued softly.
"That you would be punished for my existence."
"Why, Father?"
Erik asked emotionally.
"Don't you hate them?"
"Hate?"
N'Jobu shook his head.
"No, my son. I was wrong. I should have taken you back long ago. T'Chaka was right. I was too naive."
He spoke calmly, having realized the truth at the moment of his death.
"I believed Wakanda's weapons and technology could bring equality and peace to our people. But I ignored human nature. Once people gain power beyond all limits, they become mad—cruel. They will use that power to dominate others. That darkness exists in all of humanity."
"Go, my son,"
N'Jobu said gently.
"Do not repeat my mistakes. Wakanda is still your home. Do not take the wrong path."
With that, N'Jobu faded away.
Erik awakened, gasping for fresh air just as T'Challa had once done.
The attendants pulled him from the crimson sand, helping him steady his breathing. Once calm, Erik looked toward the Heart-Shaped Herb garden.
"Are all the Heart-Shaped Herbs here?"
he asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
an attendant replied respectfully.
"When the next king is ready, they will mature."
Erik stared at the field.
"Burn them."
"Your Majesty, you cannot!"
the attendant cried out in shock.
"The Heart-Shaped Herb is required for every king's ascension. It is Wakandan tradition!"
Erik seized the attendant by the throat and lifted them off the ground.
"You will do exactly as I say,"
he snarled.
"You don't need to speak beyond that."
He tossed the attendant into the herb field and roared at the others.
"Burn it all!"
Under his oppressive presence, the attendants had no choice. Torches were lit, and flames began consuming the Heart-Shaped Herb garden. Only then did Erik nod in satisfaction.
---
Back in the palace, Erik donned ceremonial robes and strode toward the throne. He sat down, surrounded by the royal guard and W'Kabi.
T'Chaka, Queen Ramonda, and Princess Shuri were seated nearby. In Shuri's hands was a golden fang necklace—the backup Black Panther suit T'Challa had once dismissed as too flashy.
"My sister,"
Erik said, beckoning to her.
"You will personally place this necklace on me."
Shuri glared at him with hatred, but she had no choice. He was the king now.
After placing the necklace around his neck, she returned to her parents' side.
"When our people rose up across the ocean,"
Erik declared,
"they had no weapons, no resources to resist those in power—no way to fight the oppression of white rulers."
He swept his gaze across the hall, where everyone wielded vibranium weapons, yet none had lifted a finger to help their own people.
"That ends now. I know Wakanda has spies embedded across the world. We will use their methods against them."
His voice grew colder.
"Send vibranium weapons to those agents. Arm the oppressed. Let them rise up, kill those in power—their children, and every accomplice they have."
A chill swept through the hall. No one had expected that Erik intended to declare war on the entire world.
"The global order will be rebuilt,"
Erik continued.
"And this time, we will control it. Wakanda will become a new empire upon which the sun never sets!"
"The reason Wakanda has endured for so long,"
T'Chaka said gravely,
"is because we only take up arms when absolutely necessary—not to provoke war."
He looked deeply at Erik.
Erik's twisted nature was his own responsibility, and T'Chaka knew he had to guide him back before it was too late.
Before Erik could respond, W'Kabi spoke first.
"That may have been true before,"
W'Kabi said calmly,
"but times have changed. Wakanda's technological advantage is being challenged. The outside world is catching up."
He glanced around the hall.
"You all saw those two outsiders. One of them wears armor no weaker than the Black Panther suit. Soon, it will be conquer or be conquered. I refuse to be the one who is conquered."
His words stunned everyone—especially T'Chaka and Okoye. No one expected W'Kabi to openly support Erik.
"You've heard the command,"
Erik said coldly.
"Carry it out immediately."
"No!"
T'Chaka shouted, stepping forward.
"We cannot recklessly start a war. That will plunge Wakanda into flames and lead only to destruction."
His authority still outweighed Erik's, and the elders nodded in agreement.
The hall fell into a tense silence.
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