After being defeated by Erik Killmonger in the challenge and conceding, M'Baku and his tribe had returned to the mountains, resuming their secluded life, isolated from the outside world.
The arrival of Chen Mo and Erik Killmonger shattered the mountain's tranquility.
Though the Jabari Tribe had long lived apart from mainstream Wakandan society, residing high in the mountains and largely governing their own affairs, this separation stemmed from differing beliefs about tradition and lifestyle. They still considered themselves part of Wakanda, acknowledged the king's authority, and would obey his commands.
However, they typically did not participate directly in state affairs, and the previous king, T'Chaka, had largely left them to their own devices. The kingdom's technological development held little practical use for them.
These tall, robust, and formidable ape-warriors were primarily suited for combat. Yet, under Wakanda's long-standing isolationist policies, there were no external wars to fight. The task of guarding the borders and preventing outsiders from entering was capably handled by the Border Tribe.
For decades, the Jabari Tribe remained detached from Wakanda's internal matters, living their unique, primitive existence, and were gradually forgotten by the other tribes. Many of the kingdom's younger citizens had only heard of them in stories, with some even unaware they still existed.
Despite differing lifestyles and values, they never questioned their identity as Wakandans, nor did they consider leaving. They worshipped strength and yearned for power. The Black Panther, Wakanda's protector, possessed power greater than their own, and for this, they were willing to submit and follow his commands.
Previously, upon hearing that King T'Chaka had voluntarily abdicated in favor of an outsider who had appeared so suddenly, M'Baku had led his people to the challenge grounds at the waterfall to confront Erik Killmonger.
While they had sometimes disagreed with King T'Chaka's decisions in the past, they had ultimately acquiesced, recognizing him as the Black Panther, the rightful supreme ruler of Wakanda.
This new king, however, had not claimed the throne by defeating the Black Panther in combat, but through T'Chaka's voluntary surrender. This was unacceptable to M'Baku.
In M'Baku's view, only the strongest warrior was worthy of becoming king and leading Wakanda. Had Erik Killmonger defeated the Black Panther, T'Challa, in a fair duel and claimed the throne through superior strength, M'Baku would not have intervened. He would have remained in the mountains with his people, awaiting the king's orders.
As it happened, Erik Killmonger *did* prove his strength by winning the challenge, demonstrating his worthiness to become the King of Wakanda and lead the five tribes.
Yet, the arrival of Erik and Chen Mo still surprised M'Baku. It was the first time in decades a king of Wakanda had visited the Jabari Tribe. Erik Killmonger's distinctly different demeanor from T'Chaka's led M'Baku to speculate about his intentions.
In the Jabari Tribe's great hall, perched precariously on a mountain cliff, M'Baku personally received King Erik Killmonger and the mysterious Oriental, Chen Mo.
"Might I ask why the King has come to the Jabari Tribe?" M'Baku asked directly, without ceremony.
"I need your warriors to fight for me!"
Seeing M'Baku's bluntness, Erik Killmonger stated the purpose of his visit without prevarication.
"Fight?"
A flash of excitement ignited in M'Baku's eyes.
"I have a plan,"
Erik Killmoner began, speaking slowly.
...
By the time Chen Mo and Erik emerged from the Jabari Tribe, the entire tribe had been mobilized. All its elite warriors had assembled, gathered their distinctive weapons, and descended the mountain towards the Wakandan capital.
There, they would join the elite warriors of the Border Tribe, the other three tribes, and the top agents of the War Dogs, forming the force for the impending decapitation strikes.
For the Jabari, who worshipped strength and relished combat, battle was their greatest calling. Yet, due to the former king T'Chaka's isolationist policies, they had been confined to their mountain fastness, honing their skills against the land's wild beasts.
But what they truly craved was real combat. The mightiest hunter is still just a hunter; they were warriors born.
A warrior's place is fighting enemies on the battlefield, not sparring with animals in the mountains.
Erik Killmonger's plan to unify Africa had the Jabari Tribe's full-throated support; this was the life they desired.
The Jabari were undoubtedly the most formidably martial tribe in Wakanda. Their elite warriors alone matched the combined strength of the other four tribes and the War Dogs.
Nearly every adult Jabari was a formidable hunter-warrior, capable of undertaking the arduous missions of the decapitation campaign.
This operation was no simple series of assassinations. Thousands of warlords, major and minor, across the vast expanse of Africa needed to be eliminated within a short timeframe.
The sheer size of the African continent posed a significant logistical challenge, its great distances threatening to hamper the operation's swift execution. Fortunately, Wakanda possessed world-leading technology. Their fighter craft were exceptionally fast, capable of drastically reducing transit time.
However, as noted before, Wakanda's industrial base was still limited. While their aircraft technology was advanced, their numbers were few—only a few dozen across the entire kingdom, insufficient for the mission. The saving grace was that manufacturing these fighters was not overly difficult or time-consuming. Therefore, after a brief period of preparation and production, once the full fleet was operational, the decapitation strikes could officially commence.
The commander appointed to oversee this entire operation was not W'Kabi, the head of Wakanda's defenses, nor King Erik Killmonger himself, but Chen Mo—the mysterious Oriental man who had always been at the king's side and was clearly held in the highest esteem.
Many were dissatisfied that this man, who had followed Erik Killmonger since his appearance yet had remained largely silent and inactive—almost like a ghost—was now placed in command.
Among the most vocal were W'Kabi, leader of the Border Tribe, and M'Baku, leader of the Jabari Tribe!
Both men were pure warriors who believed in the principle that the strong command respect. While Chen Mo was tall and well-built, next to the ape-like M'Baku, his frame seemed almost slender. He lacked their wild, fierce bearing.
They could not accept being led by someone they perceived as weaker than themselves.