Having made up his mind, Rowan sat down in the depths of the jungle and began cultivating his genetic energy.
Time slipped away, and soon evening arrived.
The moonlight spread over Wakanda, its gleaming city lights shimmering against the surrounding natural beauty. Combined with Wakanda's unique architecture, the place radiated the aura of a hidden paradise.
Rowan opened his eyes in the dark. Without a sound, he rose into the air and drifted silently toward the city.
He avoided the brightly lit streets, gliding deeper and deeper inside until he spotted a grand complex of buildings, far more imposing than the rest.
The structure was dominated by two towering spires, linked by a floating bridge. It stood as the tallest construction in all of Wakanda.
Beside it stretched a vast aerial platform, where a uniquely designed, disc-shaped aircraft rested quietly.
Rowan immediately guessed this was the royal palace, the home of Wakanda's king. After all, aside from the royal family, who else could possess such advanced vibranium aircraft?
He shifted his focus and flew toward the palace.
"Shuri, why do you think the king refuses to reach out to the outside world? With our advanced technology, we could easily save so many people suffering out there. Yet we always turn away. Do only we Wakandans deserve happiness, while others who share our skin live in disease, hunger, and despair?"
"My father has his reasons, Nakia. He cannot go against Wakanda's traditions of secrecy…"
On the floating bridge, a tall, fit woman with short hair was speaking passionately with a slender girl whose hair was tied in two buns.
Rowan, who had been studying the palace's structure, suddenly noticed them.
"Shuri and Nakia?"
His sharp hearing had caught their names.
A smile tugged at his lips.
The daughter of the king and the prince's girlfriend perfect leverage.
Two throwing knives glided silently behind them. The two young women, caught up in their heated discussion, never noticed the blades creeping up to the back of their necks.
With a sharp crack, Rowan flipped the knives and struck both on the nape with the flat of the blades.
They stiffened, then collapsed unconscious.
Rowan floated down to the bridge, lifting both of them with ease.
"Beep! Beep! Beep!"
Suddenly, the bracelet on Shuri's wrist flared with red light, its beaded surface flashing urgently.
In the palace, the king, queen, and general Okoye all glanced at their own Kimoyo beads, which vibrated in alarm.
"Something's happened to Shuri!"
The king and queen shot to their feet, alarm spreading across their faces.
Shuri was the heir to Wakanda's technological legacy. The moment her life signs spiked, the Kimoyo beads triggered an alert.
"Your Majesty, the beads show Princess Shuri is on the floating bridge!" Okoye reported quickly.
"Okoye, go at once!" the king ordered, his voice heavy with worry.
Earlier that day, the entrance barrier had sounded an alarm. He had sent W'Kabi to investigate, but the man had reported no injured animals and no signs of intrusion. The king had been uneasy ever since.
And now, Shuri was in danger.
"Ramonda, I must put on the suit."
The queen clutched his arm, startled. "Beloved, why? Let Okoye handle it."
"I sense something is wrong. Stay here. I must go."
Without further explanation, he rushed to don the Black Panther suit.
High above, Rowan stared at the flashing beads on Shuri's wrist, his face calm and unreadable.
The alarm meant nothing. He had the hostages. Now it was time to break Wakanda's will.
After all, only the king possessed extraordinary power. The rest were ordinary warriors. None could threaten him.
Rowan carried the two unconscious women toward the landing platform below.
Okoye, armed with her vibranium spear, arrived with a squad of royal guards just in time to see him descending with Shuri and Nakia in his grip.
"Put Princess Shuri down!" Okoye shouted, rage mixing with shock at the sight of a man flying through the air.
Rowan merely smirked and ignored her.
The palace erupted into light, followed by the entire city. In moments, the quiet night turned into blazing daylight.
Dozens of female warriors in red armor with shaved heads rushed in from all sides, spears raised.
From the outskirts, cloaked border tribe warriors gathered as well.
With a boom, a black figure dropped from above, landing before Rowan. The ground cracked beneath his impact.
Rowan's gaze shifted. Dressed in a sleek black suit with a panther mask, the guardian of Wakanda had arrived.
The Black Panther.
"Invader, release Shuri and Nakia at once!" the king demanded, voice heavy with fury.
He had not expected anyone to penetrate Wakanda's defenses, much less take his daughter hostage. The memory of thirty years ago, when Ulysses Klaue had scarred Wakanda, burned fresh in his mind.
Rowan glanced at him briefly, then chuckled.
"Release them? Fine."
He dropped the women unceremoniously.
But with a flick of his fingers, two vibranium chains snapped forward like serpents, coiling around their bodies and winding up to their throats.
"What are you doing!"
The king roared and lunged, claws flashing from his suit, aiming for Rowan's neck.
Rowan laughed coldly and waved his hand.
The king was hurled back as if struck by an invisible giant's palm, tumbling across the ground before catching himself on one knee.
Gasps filled the courtyard.
Even the king's heart shook with dread. He had seen it the enemy had merely waved a hand, and he was thrown aside.
What kind of power was this?
Rowan let the chains lift Shuri and Nakia upright, suspending them helplessly.
"Do you see this? With a single thought, I could crush their throats."
"You…"
The king seethed with rage but did not dare to act. Shuri's value to Wakanda, as the future of their technology, was too great. If she died, the kingdom's progress would be set back generations.
"What do you want, invader?" the king asked through gritted teeth.
"You should ask what I demand."
Rowan's voice was calm, yet it brooked no refusal.
"What do you demand?" the king growled.
"I want Wakanda to bow before me."
The words struck like thunder.
The king laughed coldly, his fury barely contained. Around him, Okoye, W'Kabi, and the warriors were all enraged.
For centuries, Wakanda had hidden in strength and pride. Though they never sought to dominate others, they had always seen themselves as above the outside world.
And now, this intruder dared to order them to surrender.
Rowan looked at their faces, unmoved.
He had come to Wakanda with two plans.
If they surrendered, he would simply take their vibranium and technology, sparing bloodshed.
If they resisted, then he would kill and keep killing until fear broke their will.
And if they all chose to die rather than yield?
Then he would slaughter them all.
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