Throughout the ages, numerous outsiders had stumbled into Wakanda.
These intruders were either imprisoned until death or killed outright, all to safeguard the secret of vibranium.
Wakanda could be described as a highly conservative and traditional society, deeply wary of outsiders.
This was understandable; guarding a mountain of vibranium was a treasure that could move any nation to covetousness.
Had they failed to keep their secret, Wakanda might have been wiped out long ago, vanishing into the annals of history!
As times changed, Wakanda kept pace with the times, and through its vibranium resources, it developed into one of the world's most advanced nations, boasting cutting-edge technology and medical care.
Han Shaoqing and Eric arrived uninvited and were quickly discovered by the Wakandans.
They made no attempt to hide, flying openly through the air where anyone with eyes could see them.
In an instant, energy cannons hidden among the mountain ranges began locking onto the intruders.
These energy weapons had been developed within the last twenty years.
"Looks like they're not exactly friendly!" Eric said, turning to Han Shaoqing. "Want to go say hello?"
Han Shaoqing shook his head. "We're not here as guests, and I doubt they'll hand over vibranium willingly."
As they spoke, T'Chaka, the current King of Wakanda, donned the Black Panther helmet and ascended the high platform, his gaze fixed on Han Shaoqing and Eric hovering in the air.
T'Chaka was not merely the King of Wakanda; he had also consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb, forging a spiritual connection with Bastet, the Panther God. This granted him the deity's protection, exceptionally keen senses, and superhuman strength, speed, endurance, reflexes, and resistance to magic.
His upbringing within the royal family and his subsequent studies abroad had shaped T'Chaka into an exceptional warrior. He later earned a Ph.D. in physics from Oxford University, becoming both a brilliant inventor and a renowned scientist.
It was precisely the knowledge T'Chaka acquired in the outside world that enabled him to transform Wakanda into a nation with formidable military power, using vibranium.
The energy cannons were his own invention, a testament to his resourcefulness.
Wearing the Black Panther Suit, T'Chaka crossed his arms over his chest and addressed Han Shaoqing and Eric: "Outsiders, you have trespassed upon Wakandan territory. Land immediately and surrender, or we will resort to force."
Eric chuckled. "He wants us to come down."
"Then I'll go first."
With that, Han Shaoqing soared downward, streaking directly toward T'Chaka in his Black Panther Suit.
"Insolent!"
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Realizing Han Shaoqing's hostile intentions, dozens of energy turrets turned their sights on him and opened fire.
Unfortunately, the turrets couldn't lock onto Han Shaoqing's rapid movements. Even under the barrage of fire, any energy blasts that struck him were deflected by *Vector Manipulation*.
Not only did he remain unharmed, but some of the Wakandan guards were even blown away by the reflected energy blasts.
"Damn it!"
Seeing his people injured, T'Chaka flew into a rage. As Han Shaoqing descended, he leaped upward, revealing razor-sharp metallic claws at his fingertips.
*Gravity Control!*
Without any visible movement from Han Shaoqing, a sudden force of gravity yanked T'Chaka's body downward. His previously agile leap ended in a humiliating face-plant, and the gravitational pull pinned him to the ground, utterly immobile.
"How is this possible?!"
The Black Panther Suit possessed numerous advanced features: cloaking technology, kinetic energy absorption, and near-indestructible armor. Combined with the enhanced strength granted by the *Heart-Shaped Herb*, T'Chaka had become a formidable warrior, a trusted ally of Captain America during World War II, and a ruler who had rarely known defeat.
Yet now, he could only watch helplessly as Han Shaoqing raised his foot and placed it on his head, utterly powerless to resist.
An unprecedented sense of humiliation surged through him.
"Emperor T'Chaka!"
"How dare you desecrate the King?!"
"Kill him!"
Every Wakandan king is protected by the Dora Milaje, an all-female guard corps skilled in various weapons.
These royal guards are selected from the most outstanding female warriors of Wakanda's five major tribes.
Since a member of the royal guard could potentially become queen, their selection was not solely about loyalty to the king.
It also served as a marriage competition among the major tribes to solidify their political alliances.
Though women, they were exceptionally fierce. All were bald, their dark skin gleaming, clad in red tunics and black trousers. Some wore metal bracers, and metal collars encircled their necks. Their primary weapons were vibranium spears, capable of both close combat and long-range energy cannon attacks.
In Han Shaoqing's eyes, these bald female warriors all looked remarkably similar.
"Almighty Push!"
Seeing the formidable women charging with their spears, Han Shaoqing raised his hand and unleashed a repulsive force, shouting with a touch of dramatic flair that lent him an air of imposing authority.
An invisible repulsive force spread out, sending over a dozen royal guards flying backward before they could even get close. They crashed into walls and pillars, losing the ability to fight.
For Han Shaoqing now, they were simply too weak.
Ding! The host is currently positioned above Black Panther T'Chaka, meeting the check-in conditions. Do you wish to check in?
Hearing the System's prompt, Han Shaoqing silently thought, "Check in."
Checking in... Countdown: 10 seconds. 10, 9, 8... 3, 2, 1. Check-in successful! Congratulations, host, on obtaining—Catwoman from the DC Universe.
Catwoman: Real name Selina Kyle, a master thief who targets jewelry, artifacts, and other precious works of art. Her thieving skills are world-class, allowing her to steal from even the most heavily guarded environments. She possesses cat-like speed and reflexes, exceptional balance, and outstanding combat abilities.
Claim?
Catwoman?
Is this a freebie?
First Artoria, then Mera, and now Catwoman. Han Shaoqing felt his check-in system was getting a little... unconventional.
*But I like it.*
Now wasn't the right time to claim the reward, so Han Shaoqing didn't immediately do so.
Beneath his feet, T'Chaka roared, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Outlaw Zhang San," Han Shaoqing replied casually, using a false name. "I'm here for vibranium. All of it."
"Vibranium belongs to Wakanda! You'll never get it!"
T'Chaka wasn't surprised by the mention of vibranium. After all, it was Wakanda's most valuable asset. He desperately tried to rise, but the ground clung to him like a massive magnet, pinning him down so tightly he couldn't even wiggle a finger.
"We'll see," Han Shaoqing said, ignoring the non-threatening T'Chaka. He nodded to Eric, signaling him to act.
(End of Chapter)