Chapter 171 Three hours? You're bragging!
In the afternoon, at Wakanda's ritual waterfall.
It was located halfway up the mountain, where a small stream extended from the mountains, rushed over a mid-mountain platform, and then plunged off a cliff.
Below was a hundred-meter-deep pool of Water; a normal person falling from here would essentially experience no difference from falling onto a concrete floor.
In the distance, the majestic mountains, blue sky, and White clouds created a captivating scene.
The River Tribe, Merchant Tribe, Mining Tribe, Border Tribe, and River Tribe were all present, their chiefs seated in their designated places.
King T'Chaka and Queen Ramonda were in the very center, while the Royal Guard was dispersed around the perimeter.
Chief M'Baku tossed his robe aside, walking bare-chested into the stream at his feet, his body covered in strange tattoos that seemed to come alive with his roar.
"Come! Let's fight to our hearts' content!"
Steve unloaded his gear, not even wearing shoes, only a single shirt.
The guards still had to conduct a body search, but fortunately, they were all women, so this was a good deal!
After the body search was completed, Steve walked into the middle of the stream, the Water cold, his feet on smooth, moss-covered pebbles.
Stepping on them, one could easily slip; to duel in such an environment, an unfamiliar person would truly suffer a great loss.
His robust physique, well-defined muscles, and handsome appearance all attracted the gaze of the women, even Queen Ramonda's eyes flickered.
Who could refuse a walking, talking Captain America? Those muscles, just by looking, exuded a sense of power and a full sense of security.
After a few casual steps, Steve was testing the slipperiness of the moss.
With the posture of a grandmaster, he clasped his fists and smiled slightly at him.
"Steve, please enlighten me!"
"Cut the pleasantries! Aren't you using a weapon?"
M'Baku picked up his one-handed hammer and shield, his expression exceptionally serious. He was somewhat annoyed because all the women present had fixed their gaze on Steve when he appeared.
What's so good about this guy! Nothing at all!
Steve assumed the starting stance of Hung Gar; he didn't like these winding maneuvers, preferring direct, straightforward punches, each one landing with solid impact!
"Stop bragging! Take this!"
M'Baku was a chief, after all, and his bravery and agility were well-known in Wakanda.
He swung the one-handed hammer fiercely, and before it even landed, he raised his left-hand shield, charging forward with a shield bash.
His retreat path was already blocked, and if he attacked, the hammer could easily strike his head.
This level of fighting skill was indeed quite good, more than enough for an average person, and quite effective.
But unfortunately, he met Steve, a man whose physique was already extraordinary!
He grabbed the incoming hammer with one hand, forcefully snatched it, and then kicked the shield.
Bang!
M'Baku flew out, landing in the stream, his shield in front of him shattered into pieces!
This was a solid wood shield, not made haphazardly! It was also excellent for defending against crossbow bolts!
But he didn't expect that just one kick would almost send him to heaven on the spot!
Steve twisted the hammer directly into a ball; the one-handed hammer, made of solid wood and steel, was like a toy in his hands. He casually tossed it to the bank, twisted his neck, and the sunlight fell on his muscles, giving him a sacred, masculine, and strong appearance!
Every woman present found her breathing quickening, her heart racing—this was the feeling of being smitten!
M'Baku grew even angrier at this; he had initially expected a evenly matched battle, or at least a sweat-soaked duel!
But you kicked me away and treated a steel hammer like cotton candy! What the hell is this! Don't I have any dignity?!
Poor M'Baku was toyed with by Steve.
"Ah! I haven't lost yet! Take that!"
In his rage, M'Baku leaped up, pouncing like a large Black bear, delivering a heavy punch in a "Black bear scoops heart" move!
Bang!
As fast as M'Baku pounced, that's how fast he flew back!
He landed on the bank, his body still twitching, his bones seemingly fractured, the pain making it impossible for him to get up.
Steve slowly walked over and lifted a large rock on the bank that would take ten people to encircle.
"Hiss! This rock weighs at least three thousand jin!"
"What is he trying to do! Is he going to kill M'Baku?"
"Yes! That's right!"
The duel rules stated that if the other party did not surrender, even the King could not intervene to stop it. But if the duel continued, there would inevitably be casualties, and if it wasn't stopped now, things would likely get even worse!
Steve threw the large rock into the air, then fiercely punched it.
Boom!
The huge rock was shattered by his punch!
The scattered rocks turned into tiny fragments; if they picked up the small stones, they would find that almost every single one was exactly the same size!
This was enough to prove Steve's terrifying control over his strength; he could achieve such even force distribution. A punch like that, delivered to a person, would be enough to make them explode!
He extended his hand to M'Baku, his smile bright and gentle.
"Are you alright? You're not my opponent; the only ones who can fight me are aliens."
When M'Baku saw the other party lift the rock, he wanted to beg for mercy, but the spread of fear made him unable to speak, and he remained frozen in place.
Seeing the other party extend his hand, he instinctively took the easy way out, grasping the hand and struggling to stand up.
"You are very strong; I am no match. I lost this duel."
After confirming the result, the shaman Zu Li walked to the center and loudly announced.
"This duel is won by Steve Rogers!"
"Roar!"
The crowd cheered along, and the Royal Guard also struck their spears against the stone slabs, celebrating the champion in their unique way.
T'Chaka's eyes flickered; perhaps some matters could be entrusted to him.
Wakanda's affairs were not something an outsider could meddle with, but if there were sufficient conditions, it wasn't impossible!
Hill's eyes shimmered; she had known her husband would win, but she hadn't expected him to deliberately show off his strength. What surprised her even more was that Wakanda seemed not to object to such things, seemingly having an inexplicable reverence for power!
At this moment, Sharon gave her a look, and Hillimmediately understood; there was something to be discussed, so she prepared to leave.
Polaris immediately followed after seeing this; she also wanted to go back and rest, having been exhausted for an hour after dinner, she was already scared.
So the two took Polaris and left together, finding a secluded place to return to the safe house.
Steve, meanwhile, was enjoying the cheers of the crowd and the prizes reserved by the chiefs.
Wild vegetables and pork were a bit low-grade, honestly, very mediocre.
However, they were good for giving away; he wouldn't eat them, and neither would his wives like Hill. With the kitchen automatically making delicious food, they really didn't care for these.
Wait, perhaps they could be used to fill the kitchen's warehouse!
"The King's Duel Ceremony will be held in three days, with royal family member Erik Killmonger challenging the current King T'Chaka."
Zu Li announced another major piece of news, which was also a confirmed matter.
And unlike this time, many Wakandan residents would witness the duel in three days.
They revered primal strength, and nothing was more captivating than hand-to-hand combat. Through such combat, the most excellent warriors were selected, and only the strongest warriors were fit to lead all of Wakanda!
None of this concerned Steve, because Adick, the chief of the Mining Tribe, walked over with a woman dressed in a Wakandan Royal Guard uniform.
A shiny bald head, lightly applied red lipstick, and a calm expression. It was evident that she exercised regularly; there was no excess fat on her body, only muscles refined through long-term training.
"Steve, this is my daughter, Ayo. As agreed, she is yours."
Adick enthusiastically beckoned his daughter over, introducing her.
Steve looked at the female guard in front of him, currently not well-known, and would only rise to prominence after the Blip. Among Black women, she was quite good; at least she looked decent and wouldn't be unappetizing.
"Adick, she's a member of the Royal Guard, isn't she? Isn't this against the rules? I want to take her, but she can't leave."
"Haha, the King has already relieved her of her duties, and she is my daughter. In Wakanda, women's marriages are decided by their parents; they have no choice.
Ayo, hurry up and greet your husband!"
Adick, who had just been all smiles, turned around and reprimanded and cursed his daughter.
Ayo felt a little wronged in her heart; although her impression of Steve was very good. But being treated as an item to be passed around still made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"Hello, Steve, my name is Ayo."
"Are you free right now?"
Steve suddenly asked a question without a clear beginning or end, his expression particularly focused and earnest.
"Yes, what's wrong? Is there something you need?"
Ayo was also confused; what did he want to do?
Without explanation, Steve pulled her aside, grabbed her, and with a few jumps, he actually flew into the air.
Adick stood rooted to the spot, watching Steve leave with his daughter, somewhat stunned.
"Are young people today really that impatient? Not even bothering with pleasantries anymore?"
M'Baku also came over, intending to thank Steve for saving his dignity. He walked over only to find that Steve was gone, only Adick standing there.
"Adick, where's Steve? I was planning to invite him to dinner; that guy's kick almost tore the stitching on my shoe!"
That sounds a bit like bragging!
"He took my daughter Ayo to play cards; you know, young people these days are just so impatient!"
Adick wasn't afraid of others knowing; he hadn't even had a chance to discuss future cooperation!
Steve had many assets outside; as a mining tribe, he needed a lot of ores and by-products.
They mined Vibranium ore, but most of it was still ordinary ore. They needed many machines, and their tribe was destined to have a hard time contending for the throne, so they naturally needed allies.
M'Baku was also taken aback by this remark; he gave Adick a strange look.
"I guess he'll definitely look for you tonight. How about we have dinner together? It's been a long time since I saw your wife; I really miss her dumplings."
"Get out of here! Tonight, we're coming to your house for dumplings!"
--
In the evening, Steve arrived for his appointment, feeling refreshed.
In the room, Ayo stared blankly at the ceiling, her eyes devoid of expression. Who was she? Where was she? What was she supposed to do?
Her daze didn't last more than five minutes before a strong wave of drowsiness overcame her.
Hill and the others hadn't returned; they were discussing some matters, though it was unclear what they were talking about.
It sounded like it had something to do with Wakanda; anything Steve needed to know, they would certainly tell him. As for things they didn't say, knowing them wouldn't have any meaning.
They arrived at a snow-capped mountain; having a snow-capped mountain in Africa was an incredible thing.
In a region constantly in the tropical latitudes, let alone a snow-capped mountain, even snow was a very funny and impossible thing.
In fact, as long as a mountain's altitude is high enough, exceeding a thousand meters and continuing upwards, the temperature will gradually decrease.
Starting at two thousand meters, the temperature is no different from Zero degrees.
Therefore, as long as the altitude is high enough, the Water vapor in the air will condense into ice. Coupled with the influence of the tropical climate, it becomes accumulated snow.
M'Baku was the first to come out and greet him; the beating he received in the afternoon hadn't turned him into an enemy; on the contrary, he greatly admired Steve.
"I thought you wouldn't have time tonight!"
"I thought so too, but unfortunately, Ayo couldn't handle it; she gave out after only three hours."
Steve shook his head with some regret; her stamina was truly a bit poor.
At this remark, M'Baku's expression froze in place. What the hell? Three hours? Are you even human?!
"Are you bragging? I have a rhinoceros here!"
When it concerned a man's dignity, how could he believe such nonsense? You say three hours, I say three days and three nights!
"It's perfectly normal; I took the Super Soldier Serum, and the original version had this effect!"
Steve's expression was very serious; he had said this many times, but each time, others didn't believe him. Alas, was sincerity between people really that difficult?
Cough, cough!
Adick came out. Seeing the two arguing, he could only go over to mediate.
"Perhaps, it should be, alright, stop arguing. The lamb has just been cooked; come and try it together."
One doesn't visit a temple for no reason; giving away a daughter for free certainly implied a request.
"Adick, just tell me what you need directly. It's not too late to eat after you've said it."
Steve didn't really have any need for this kind of food; if he wanted to eat, it would be airlifted in; he wouldn't eat here.
It was still the same old saying: his palate had been spoiled too much, and he looked down on food of this caliber.
Adick nervously rubbed his hands, his face also showing a hint of embarrassment.
"Um, if there are any Chitauri remains, could you give me ten tons? We plan to modify our mining machines."
"Sure, when do you need them?"
Steve knew things weren't that simple. Since the other party had spoken, he would treat it as a transaction.
"The sooner the better. I can give you a hundred jin of Vibranium, but don't secretly tell anyone."
Give and take, a fair exchange. That's how business is done, that's how cooperation works.
Chapter 172 Public places are more exciting
After the business was settled, it was time for celebration.
Wakanda, as a reclusive nation, wasn't truly backward; at least their bonfire parties were quite impressive.
T'Challa arrived shortly after the party began, bringing a woman with him, a Black woman.
"This is Nakia, from the River Tribe, and she's also my friend."
Steve looked at the fit Black woman in front of him, then at T'Challa, and handed him a drink.
"I don't think it's just a simple friendship, is it? When can I drink your wedding wine?"
His words carried a hint of teasing; such was the banter between friends. Some things were hard for the people involved to say, but as an observer, it didn't matter.
"Haha, there will be a chance."
T'Challa took the glass, his eyes furtively glancing at Nakia, as if seeking her response.
But from start to finish, Nakia remained expressionless. She didn't even show a ripple of emotion, simply standing behind T'Challa.
"What a shame, T'Challa, you have to step up for the duel in three days.
I'm worried the old King will lose. Your cousin doesn't seem like a good person. He keeps talking about raising the status of Negroes in the U.S. What do the people there have to do with us in Wakanda?!"
Adik, a bit tipsy, walked over, his tone full of disdain. As an observer, he could speak his mind directly, without worrying about repercussions.
The entire Wakanda depended on him for gold mining; this was a unique tribal right.
Even the King couldn't veto it. The only way was to find a mole within the tribe, a puppet willing to help the King, and then eliminate the chief to take power.
If it were T'Chaka and T'Challa, Adik wouldn't be worried. Their character was evident, and their family had been King for a long time, doing a good job. Everyone thought highly of them, so they trusted them.
As for that Killmonger Erik Killmonger, what was he? Who knew if he was a bastard!
Adik noticed the other person's incessant chatter, always saying that with Wakanda's technology, they should expand outwards. The outside World was vast, resources abundant, and no match for Wakanda.
For the chiefs accustomed to living in peace, they were naturally unwilling and didn't want to expand outwards.
Plus, the reasons weren't good: Negroes, Negroes, dead Black people! Don't try to claim a connection!
Everyone could see that Killmonger intended to kill. There would be no mercy. A single mistake in a fight between ordinary humans would mean certain defeat.
He didn't have much faith in T'Chaka; if he were killed, Killmonger could legitimately inherit the throne and become the King of Wakanda.
At that point, if they had to resort to force, the chiefs wouldn't have much room for negotiation.
They couldn't manage internal tribal affairs, but for external wars, they couldn't just slack off, could they?
Once Killmonger succeeded, T'Challa, as the son, would have to step forward to challenge Killmonger and, by extension, become King.
In Wakanda, there weren't so many twists and turns, only directness.
Steve just watched the show, purely watching. What happened to Wakanda had nothing to do with him.
Even if they expanded outwards and tried to reach the U.S., there was still an Atlantic Ocean in between! The best approach would probably be to go north, conquer Europe first, and then turn to attack the U.S.
After all, the U.S.'s strength was still considerable, plus there were countless super-powered individuals and various black technology equipment.
In long-distance assault operations, it was truly hard to say who would win or lose.
Moreover, Steve's reputation was well-established. If they really wanted to attack, they would have to weigh whether they had the strength and the qualifications.
A dozen lightly dressed Black women were dancing hand-in-hand around the bonfire. Accompanied by strange and unique folk songs, it had a distinct flavor.
After a period of rest, hearing them talk about the duel, Steve found an excuse to leave.
"Steve, don't go! There's still a good show to come!"
Adik saw his son-in-law trying to leave and quickly called out to him.
"No time, I'm really fired up right now and need to go find Ayo to resolve something."
Steve left without looking back. This understanding was truly unreserved.
T'Challa's expression was strange, even a little amused.
Only Nakia's calm expression finally changed. It was one of disgust and aversion. Couldn't such things be done in private? Did he have to say it out loud? Was it pleasant to hear?
Poor Ayo, just regaining some strength, was once again knocked out by Steve's return.
Just then, the phone rang, and Steve had just finished.
"What is it?"
"Steve, I need your help. I've encountered a group of very strong people, and their modification plan is a significant hidden danger."
Tony's voice was a bit hurried. He had only made this call at Bucky's request.
Just like asking War Machine for help, they were both good friends, so it wasn't embarrassing if others knew.
"Alright, I'll be there soon."
Steve called the Ancient One to open a portal, first returning to the safe house, and then teleporting from the safe house to Tennessee, Unicoi County.
This secluded small town was still quite lively at night, and it was almost Christmas, which for Westerners was similar to the Spring Festival for Easterners.
Fluffy White snow was falling from the sky, and the streets were covered with a layer of White frost.
Tony's location was a bar. Looking at the sign, which had pink neon lights, it seemed like a place for young men and women to have fun.
But pushing the door open, he found it was a quiet bar!
A quiet bar was a place without dancing, only tables and chairs, where you could order simple food.
There was a TV in the main hall, usually showing football or basketball games.
A few friends would sit together, drink, chat, and watch the game. The atmosphere lacked the heavy metal chaos; this was a quiet bar.
A clear and clean bar!
As Steve entered the bar, he saw a short-haired beauty approaching Tony to strike up a conversation. He focused his gaze, and information popped up before his eyes.
"Extremis Warrior, Ms. El."
He saw Tony and Bucky sitting at the bar, so he walked over and naturally put his arm around her.
"Hi, miss, you're very charming, and that short hair suits you. I'm Steve, may I buy you a drink?"
El was just thinking of melting the dog man's paw with scorching heat! She turned her head and saw a handsome and charming man. This seemed to be someone!
The turbulent rage was suppressed, replaced by a seductive smile, but her left eye had dense, spiderweb-like scars, making her look particularly fierce.
"Do you still think I'm beautiful now?"
"Beautiful! Very alluring! Bartender, two whiskeys, make them strong!
Madam, you are very charming. To be honest, seeing your back, I felt an impulse. Now seeing your front, and these scars, I am even more excited!"
Steve deliberately flirted, even reaching out to gently caress her cheek. If he wasn't mistaken, this was Killian's subordinate, and one of the few Extremis Warriors successfully integrated with the Extremis!
Extremis! A very unscientific virus, but still incomplete. If this virus could be perfected, it would create many super-powered individuals!
El was a bit confused. She still recognized that the man in front of her was Captain America.
As a national idol, hailed as the embodiment of integrity, justice, and courage, which American didn't know him? Even if not American, they had heard of his great name!
She had once admired him greatly, but her injuries had filled her with hatred for the U.S. and the Military.
Seeing her idol flirting with her, striking up a conversation. Knowing full well she had scars on her face, yet still flirting with her—was he crazy? Or did he have a different aesthetic?
"Are you sure?"
El took a sip of her drink, looking at him with some uncertainty and disbelief. She had once lost her confidence and the right to pursue love.
The man in front of her was her idol, but what she had to do was contrary to the beliefs her idol always upheld.
"Of course, I'm sure. Come with me, I can prove it to you."
Steve seemed very eager, almost impatiently taking her to the restroom.
Seeing them leave, Tony looked at Bucky, a bit speechless.
"Your old friend seems to have changed."
"Frozen for seventy years, if you saw a sow, you'd think it was almost like Audrey Hepburn."
Bucky explained with a poker face. This explanation was quite reasonable, apt, and very thorough.
As good friends, how could one speak ill of a good friend? Even if a good friend made a mistake, one should still firmly believe in them.
Hearing this, Tony fell silent for a moment, then tilted his head back and drained his glass.
"You two are really close."
"Isn't your friend Rhodes the same?"
Bucky retorted. Who didn't have a good buddy! It was normal to get along well. You could have many friends, but a few close brothers were enough.
"Alright, you're right. Why isn't that guy Rhodes here yet?!"
Tony remembered he was here to investigate Killian's assistant. After he fell into the sea, it was Bucky who rescued him.
The two had hidden after the attack, which was perfect for a secret investigation.
But Killian's people seemed to have noticed something, acting very cautiously. Tony could bet that the other party definitely had countless ties to the terrorist leader Mandarin.
Daring to blow up his Villa, this was already a mortal feud that had to be brought to justice, and they needed to be severely whipped a few times!
Especially Killian. Regarding being stood up over a decade ago, Tony didn't feel he had done anything wrong.
Although he admitted to being a bit hot-headed at the time, a small-time character wanting him to invest, asking for favors should come with rules and sincerity, right?
Now he was powerful and wanted to take revenge on him. That was his skill. At most, they could set up a proper confrontation, face-to-face. But now, sneaking around with sneak attacks? That's not honorable!
"Don't talk about that yet. What are you planning to do next?"
Bucky didn't want to talk about Steve. He could feel that his old friend had changed a lot, so much so that he almost didn't recognize him.
The shy young man he once knew now had ten wives by his side, even more impressive than Wei Xiaobao!
"Wait, wait for them to come for the exchange. I need to get their virus samples, then reverse-engineer them to find out their weaknesses."
Tony's goal was clear, and he also had an idea: to test just how powerful this Extremis was!
On the other side, Killian's assistant, Savin, looked at the time and felt something was off.
His companion, El, who came with him, hadn't responded yet. She was supposed to be making a deal, so why had she lost contact?
Thinking this, he no longer bothered to hide himself, pushing open the door and entering the bar.
He immediately saw the contact person waiting for the exchange. This exchange wasn't for money, but to test the virus.
Killian was simultaneously refining the virus and using the U.S. Medical Center's database to screen for suitable candidates. Not many people were suitable gene carriers for the Extremis.
Furthermore, they needed to further filter out low-status homeless people or disabled individuals. These people all wanted to turn their lives around, gain superpowers, and become superior.
They were the easiest to incite and the easiest to bribe.
As for disabled individuals, it goes without saying that if given a chance to heal their disabilities, they would undoubtedly give their lives without hesitation.
He scanned the bar, but found no trace of El.
Savin felt something was wrong. He continued to scan the bar, meticulously looking around, but still found no trace of her.
He called her, but she didn't answer.
He kept calling, and she kept ending the call.
Finally, she answered, and before he could question her, urgent heavy breathing and a suggestive, lingering sound came from the other end.
"I'm busy right now, on a date. Come to the restroom, and I'll give you the stuff.
Oh, darling, gently."
Savin's head buzzed. This woman was crazy! On a mission, and she was on a date?
Arriving at the restroom, El opened the stall door, threw the box to him, and without even looking at him, quickly closed the stall door.
Seeing this, Savin couldn't help but complain.
"Dude, there's a hotel right next door. You don't have to be so cheap!"
"Hey, buddy, sometimes public places are more exciting."
Steve replied while still busy. This was a good spot to watch the show. If a fight broke out later, he could assess the situation and provide support.
This sentence made Savin somewhat silent, and the next words almost made him explode.
"I'd say you're not a single dog, are you? It's normal, I don't think you'd understand this kind of atmosphere."
"Darling, don't talk to him. He's just a single dog. He doesn't understand as much as you do. Oh, darling, I truly love you."
El's teasing followed. This was not helping a teammate; it was clearly striking at a friendly force!
Chapter 173 Where's the Captain? He's picking up girls
Women are truly more likely to ruin things than to accomplish them!"
Savin took a damage of ten thousand points of critical hit. He picked up the box and left, cursing.
A few minutes later, Steve helped El leave, and they really did go to the hotel next door to finish their unfinished business.
Tony, on the other hand, watched Savin deal with a disabled man, and personally saw them exchange a test tube containing the Extremis!
"Attack!"
Winter Soldier charged out first, kicking Savin, sending him flying over ten meters from the bar and landing in the snow.
He snatched the virus from the disabled homeless man's hand, walked back expressionlessly, and handed the virus to Tony.
Outside, gunshots rang out, and the bar's patrons instantly fell, shot, into pools of blood, the crimson blood incredibly dazzling.
Tony quickly put away the virus, took out a simple palm cannon, and blasted the Terrorists firing outside.
Bucky rushed out like a War God, a flying headbutt instantly bursting the heart of one of the assailants.
He snatched the assailant's submachine gun, turned, aimed, and shot them one by one.
Even though he had been whitewashed, his combat memories and skills were not lost.
There was no such thing as being weakened by whitewashing; he was still the same as always.
The surroundings were in chaos, passersby screamed and ran, not knowing what was happening, but their instincts told them that if they didn't run, they'd be eating bullets!
Tony was also badly beaten by another Extremis Warrior, and if it weren't for the miniature bombs in his hand that blew the Warrior away, he might have died!
Before he could catch his breath, the Extremis Warrior, who was only half a body after the explosion, began to crawl up again.
Under high temperatures, the flesh began to slowly repair, regrowing at a visible rate.
He grinned at Tony; this ability of limb regeneration was already countless times stronger than the Super Soldier Serum!
Seeing the bizarre scene before him, Tony immediately ran backward, into the back kitchen, and conveniently turned on all the gas stoves and cooktops.
Suddenly, the entire kitchen was filled with a pungent gas smell; at this point, only a spark was needed to cause a violent explosion!
The Extremis Warrior chased him in, just seeing Tonyleave through the back door, and was about to pursue him.
The alarm clock nearby suddenly rang! The slight, insignificant spark caused by the vibration, at this moment, ignited the dense gas filling the kitchen!
Boom!
The entire restaurant was blown up. Bucky was entangled with Savin, fighting somewhat cautiously.
The opponent's body temperature had already reached a thousand degrees, and besides counterattacking with his mechanical arm, there was no other way to fight.
At a critical moment, intense machine gun fire came from the sky, and the buzzing high-speed machine gun instantly unleashed a large number of bullets.
Savin was also instantly riddled with bullets. His limb regeneration continued, and every time he regenerated, bullets would continue to pour down.
Injured! Repaired! Injured again! Repaired again!
The overly frequent trauma caused his entire body to start uncontrollably heating up, visibly turning red hot!
That's right, red hot!
Once the temperature reached a certain level, it would manifest as red hot.
The repeated back and forth caused the virus to finally start losing control.
Savin's face was also full of terror; he could no longer control the rising temperature, and if this continued, he would become a human bomb!
Bucky saw that the situation was not right and immediately ran backward; if he didn't run now, he would be blown up!
War Machine also immediately ascended to prevent being injured by the explosion. Wearing armor, he couldn't avoid the high heat, so he still had to dodge.
It is said that a car is a man's second wife, so a machine can definitely be ranked before a car. Rhodes cherished this suit of armor very much, even more than his own wife.
"Ah! Ah! Hahaha!"
Boom!
Savin was instantly vaporized in an uncontrollable explosion, leaving only a dark Shadow on the ground, an indelible mark.
The traces after vaporization had already penetrated into the concrete, forming a complementary molecular structure with the concrete, naturally making them impossible to wash away.
The explosion also startled Steve, who then called it quits, still somewhat unsatisfied.
El, however, was already exhausted, breathing more out than in.
At this moment, she looked at Steve with alluring eyes, full of satisfaction and adoration; the fan effect was produced again.
She already had a good impression of Steve and was his fan, especially after their in-depth interaction, her feelings reached their peak. Now, turning her against him would be as easy as pie, and it wouldn't be impossible to make her die for him.
"Captain, I want to have your child."
"Have them, one is not enough, at least ten!"
Steve was very happy for women to have his children; this was about spreading his lineage, and what could be more fulfilling than seeing a woman willing to have his children?
If it wasn't coercion or inducement, then it could only be love. Infatuation is also a feeling, and it's also a moment to show one's charm.
El got up, took out a test tube from her body, and handed it over, explaining everything without being asked.
"This is the Extremis. I work for a Dr. Killian. I used to be a taxi soldier in the Third Fleet stationed abroad. After an operation, my right eye and one arm were blown off, and then I retired.
The Military retirement office only gave me two thousand U.S. dollars, with no other subsidies. I couldn't even afford to see a doctor. One time, I received a mysterious call saying they could offer me a chance for repair, asking if I was willing to try.
That period was my saddest time; my husband abandoned me, the fleet forced me to retire, and I had nothing. So I tried, and that's how I became who I am now."
This sounded like there was no problem, because the treatment of low-ranking U.S. Military personnel was not good to begin with.
This is also why taxi soldiers in foreign fleets like to act recklessly, committing all sorts of atrocities like burning, killing, and looting.
They are already poor, and if they don't seize this opportunity to make more money and enjoy themselves, they won't have the chance once they are injured or disabled.
Essentially, this is corruption from the top down.
"From now on, you'll follow me. Don't worry about other things tonight. Let them fight their battles, and we'll do ours."
Steve glanced around, saw that Tony and Bucky were fine, and even War Machine had arrived, so he didn't need to step in.
"You still have energy?"
El's face turned pale; she thought that was her limit, but she didn't expect that he was just warming up.
After one night.
Tony's trio detected the source of the Terrorists' signal. A video had just been released, again from the Terrorist organization Mandarin.
This time, the video signal covered the entire United States signal, except for the Daily Bugle television station.
"Mr. President, we meet again. It's class time now. You have one more class. After this class, you can graduate."
The Mandarin in the video was heavily bearded, with sinister eyes, and his right hand, adorned with rings, held a gun pointed at a White man in a suit on the ground.
"This is the accountant for Carson Oil Company. He gave me a big surprise regarding your U.S. Military fleet's bills.
Tsk tsk tsk, stealing oil, stealing wheat, killing innocents for Achievements, burning, killing, looting, human trafficking, committing all sorts of evil.
Do you want him alive? The table is my phone, and it has already been sent to your mobile phone.
Within half a minute, I want to hear the phone ring, otherwise, he dies, and the ledger will also be transmitted.
Think carefully, Mr. President, this bill will have a big surprise!"
The Mandarin looked at the camera with sinister eyes throughout the entire video, a gaze that sent chills down one's spine. His strange cultist attire looked very eerie no matter how you looked at it.
Steve was also watching the video, pressing El's head down.
"Continue your work, let me finish watching first."
At this moment, the President was on a plane, surrounded by his busy staff. They were planning to visit Europe for talks and cooperation, taking advantage of the emergence of super-powered individuals to harvest a wave of European money.
Who made them no longer have decent heavy industry, without a mature industrial chain, they couldn't produce weapons, equipment, tanks, and planes.
The President was discussing whether to make the call; half a minute was very urgent.
"Mr. President, Wall Street requests to call and save Thomas."
The President was just a puppet; the financial conglomerates behind him were the real power holders. Why not be President directly? Because many things require the President to take the blame, and not being President means not having to take the blame!
Obama had no choice but to pick up the phone and dial. This time, he had to find a way to seize power! Being President wasn't for being a puppet, and of course, he couldn't be like Emperor Mele, so happy he didn't know what to do; that would be a huge joke!
To survive, you have to do it secretly, preferably by stirring up the situation into a mess, and then secretly planning for your own benefit!
The whole World was live-streaming this farce. Amidst the public's gossip and curiosity, many people still harbored fantasies and longed for the United States to be great again.
The phone rang, some were surprised, some breathed a sigh of relief.
The most obvious was the old White man collapsed on the ground, facing the camera, he let out a long sigh of relief. The phone rang, indicating he could live!
Just when everyone thought the matter was over, and the next step would be a global manhunt for this so-called Mandarin, to bring him back to the lighthouse for trial and proudly display the lighthouse's power.
Bang!
After a gunshot, the old White man's face stiffened, and a pool of blood spread across the floor.
The President who made the call was startled. Seeing the hostage dead and his call useless, he felt completely humiliated!
"Mr. President, your lesson is over. Next will be your graduation ceremony. Please look forward to it."
The video ended there, leaving the viewers in a state of confusion.
They said they wouldn't kill him if he called, but they still killed him! A faithless beast! Shameless!
"Mr. President, we have located the video source, it's in the Middle East."
"Immediately dispatch War Machine. Rhodes, you must bring that person back!"
The President gritted his teeth; this time, he had been completely humiliated. He made a call, but the person wasn't saved. He was already in this state, why did they still have to slap his face?
Whether it was a slap in the face or not, it was definitely embarrassing.
Steve's expression was thoughtful as he watched. According to the upcoming plot, it should be setting a trap for Rhodes, then seizing the Patriot armor, and kidnapping the President, right?
"Don't get involved in this matter. Tell me what you know, and let Iron Man and them handle it. I don't plan to participate either."
He was a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, not under Militaryjurisdiction, and he couldn't command them.
El nodded hurriedly, she was truly scared. Because her high temperature had no effect on Steve, instead, she herself almost entered an explosive state due to sustained high temperature.
It was Steve who intervened and stabilized her condition. Now, she had no room for arrogance or swagger; only infatuation, worship, and a hint of fear remained.
--
On Tony's side, the three of them watched the live video and remained silent for a long time.
Rhodes received a call from the Military. After responding, he turned to Tony and said,
"Tony, the Military has located the target in the Middle East. I have to go there. You be careful. Oh, and if Steveis done, tell him to come help too. He definitely has good ideas."
"Don't even mention that animal. I asked him to help, but he ended up tricking a female member into going to a hotel."
Whenever it was brought up, Tony would get angry. He had barely escaped death last night. But Steve? He came for a short while, took a rather hot chick, and went to a hotel. Is that helping?
How long had it been since he had seen a woman? He said he was helping, but in reality, he was just slacking off.
No sooner said than done.
Steve appeared in the hotel room without warning, with lipstick marks still on his neck.
"I think I heard you talking bad about me! Tony, you've wronged me. That woman injected with the Extremisalmost cooked me alive."
"That just cut off your source of evil, so you don't go corrupting other women."
Tony cursed with a smile. Grumbling aside, as long as he was here, and there was some moral support, it was a good thing.
"Sorry to disappoint you, I extinguished her flames. I also found out some information that I hope will be useful to you."
Steve handed over a file containing information about Killian's Advanced Idea Mechanics company.
It clearly showed expenses, indicating they were using disabled people and homeless individuals for experiments, constantly refining their virus.
The three of them looked at the file together, and when they saw Dr. Maya's information, their expressions were all a bit strange.
"Wow, you can even stomach a woman who's slept with a hundred men! Tony, you have a really good appetite!"
Rhodes immediately saw Dr. Maya's information, and when he saw the
Chapter 174 Su Rui can also be taken
What do you mean I flirt with girls? Don't be ridiculous, I'm a pure and innocent boy!"
Tony said this without an ounce of shame!
Even Rhodes was looking at him with disdain, almost disgusted.
"Buddy, bragging is fine, but a mental breakdown isn't. If you're a pure and innocent boy, then aren't I the perfect man? Don't joke, you can fool yourself, but you can't fool others!"
Bucky chuckled to himself, these two clowns were really interesting!
Steve checked the time; it was almost time to go to Wakanda.
"I still need to make a trip to Wakanda, so I won't be playing with you guys. Oh, right, if you can improve the Extremis, it'll be easier to deal with things in the future."
Taking the serum or not is one thing, and it doesn't affect normal life, including marriage and having children. But the Extremis, that's another story. If it can't be cured, it's quite troublesome.
"Wakanda, that African agricultural country you mentioned that's fifty years ahead of us in technology?"
As soon as Tony heard 'Africa,' a spontaneous sense of disdain arose in his heart. It wasn't exactly disdain, just amusement.
Discrimination against black people had always existed; people just didn't say it out loud, but deep down, it was still there, business as usual.
"Ah, yes, yes, yes, you'll have a chance to see it in the future. Sigh, I'm really busy lately. Thor also wants me to go to Asgard.
You know, I took his hammer, and that guy has been bothering me ever since.
Sigh, I wonder if there will be any new beauties to try out on this trip to Asgard."
Looking at Steve's bragging expression, he really deserved a beating! Others couldn't go, only he could! And not only could he go, he had to show off!
It made those who weren't qualified feel truly humiliated! And he called them friends! Got it! Friends are just for showing off!
"Get lost! Just get lost! You make me angry just looking at you! You bastard, you'll die at a woman's hands sooner or later!"
Tony waved his hand impatiently, truly infuriated. How could there be such a Captain? It was unbelievable; a perfectly good Captain, how did he end up like this!
Steve laughed heartily and left. After bidding farewell to Bucky, he teleported back to the safe house.
Aunt Mei, with her big belly, was teaching her daughters to speak and read in the living room. The faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes filled her with a sacred maternal aura.
Upon seeing Steve, she even playfully winked. Perhaps she herself hadn't expected that at such an age, she could still experience being a mother!
During all the time she lived with her ex-husband, she never had children. She didn't know whose problem it was, but now it seemed, it was mostly her ex-husband's.
"How has Peter been doing lately?"
Steve wasn't in a hurry to go back; the duel wouldn't start until the afternoon, so he could just go watch the show later. He nodded to Sif and propped his feet on the coffee table.
The Asgardian warrior, who had just become pregnant, obediently sat over and began to massage him, highlighting her docility.
"I haven't contacted him in a long time, but he should be doing well. After I give birth, I'll find some time to go see him, okay? Husband."
Aunt Mei smiled as she brought over coffee. When she announced the end of class, the little ones had already crawled over, all wanting to play with him.
Playing 'lift me up' and 'hide-and-seek,' even though they were very childish games, the little ones played with great enjoyment.
For them, everything was new and exciting, and being able to play with their father was more joyful than anything else.
After an hour of playing, the little ones were tired and clamored for food.
Aunt Mei, ever the diligent wife, brought out all the dishes. She prepared gooey rice porridge for each little one; they couldn't eat solid rice yet and had to transition with these liquid foods.
At that moment, the room door opened, and Hill and Sharon slowly emerged, their high-heeled sandals clacking.
Without Steve staying overnight at home, they rested exceptionally well, sometimes wishing for more such days.
"Oh, husband, you're back? Did you have fun?"
Hill proactively moved to sit beside him. She was the first woman to be with Steve and the first to get pregnant. She naturally held a legitimate status, and with her calm demeanor and steady handling of affairs, she was more than capable of being the lady of the house; everyone respected her.
"It was alright. Have someone research this virus later; it's the Ten Rings Gang's Extremis. Also, this person, you can contact her too. Her name is El. I just convinced her to turn over a new leaf last night."
Steve handed over the collected virus. He just needed to start things, to open up the situation, and then he wouldn't need to worry about the rest.
Like with this virus research, to see if it's compatible, if there are subsequent Improvements formulas, and so on. His time is precious, mostly spent on women. He truly has no talent for scientific research.
Hill took the virus and put it away. Her beautiful face wore a smile, and her toes wiggled gently.
"I understand. In a week, Sif said Asgard will send someone over. It seems they want your help with something. Remember to set aside time; have a good time in Wakanda these next few days.
Betty and Hailun were wondering if there's a way to bring Su Rui into our research; her talent would be very useful to us.
You'll need to spend more time. She's a young girl and she admires you a lot, so put in some effort."
There had only ever been wives going to catch their husbands cheating, but never had anyone heard of a wife telling her husband to find a mistress.
Was it love to the extreme, or was she overwhelmed? Perhaps it was both.
"That sounds a bit challenging, but I'll take on this task. Phew, finished eating, time to go."
No sooner had Steve finished speaking than Polarisemerged from the room, yawning. This nap had fully replenished her energy. Such a life was truly heavenly.
"Oh, husband, why are you back? Don't come over! Ah! Jean Grey, save me! Raven, save me!"
Polaris cried out for help. With that shout, Jean Greyand Mystique Raven couldn't pretend to be deaf anymore. They rolled their eyes in exasperation. Was she going to drag them down with her in her suffering?
"Should we go help?"
Raven hesitated, she could only look at Jean Grey, who had arrived earlier than her.
"We're sisters, how can we just stand by and watch her suffer? At most, it's just lying down for a day; it's not like we haven't tried it before!"
Jean Grey gritted her teeth, quickly finished her meal, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open, entering in her high heels. Her good sister was in trouble; she couldn't just stand by and do nothing!
Mystique blinked. Who should she transform into this time? She didn't mind using her shapeshifting abilities for such things; she even found it quite amusing.
--
When Steve returned to Wakanda, Ayo had already tidied everything, even washing the bedsheets.
Dressed in civilian clothes, Ayo wore no makeup, her appearance ordinary, but there was still a hint of defiance in her expression, much like Polaris's untamed spirit, which gave one an urge to tame her.
"Ayo, let's go to the duel site. Have you eaten?"
Steve raised an eyebrow. There wasn't enough time to deal with her now, but he would definitely make her regret it tonight.
"I have, Master. I'll take you there now."
Ayo dared not meet Steve's gaze, avoiding his eyes. She called him Master with some humiliation; she had never imagined she would be given away by her father.
This was also a helpless situation; the status of women in Wakanda was not high. Unless they joined the Royal Guard, their status would significantly increase.
They would also have many opportunities to meet chiefs from other tribes, and if they could marry one and become a chief's wife, their status would be even higher.
If they were ordinary commoners, their status was actually very low. They had to busy themselves with housework every day, or have and raise children.
There was nothing wrong with that; living an ordinary, simple life was also good. It was just that becoming a member of the Royal Guard offered them a much broader horizon.
The two got into a special hovercraft. This type of transport vehicle appeared in Avengers 3, used to transport soldiers to the front lines for battle.
On the way, Steve asked a question that had been on his mind for a long time.
"Ayo, Wakanda's technology is so advanced, why do you still fight with spears and shields?"
This question had indeed puzzled him for some time. If laser cannons and energy cannons could be used, it would undoubtedly greatly enhance combat effectiveness.
Yet, on the battlefield, they were still clashing with scimitars and spears, which seemed too primitive. If it was just for cinematic effect, then it could be excused.
After all, close-quarters melee, with flashing blades and fists meeting flesh, was indeed very captivating. But in terms of efficiency, modern people had already abandoned this primitive tradition. It wasn't that tradition was bad, but that high technology offered a better cost-benefit ratio.
"The Royal Guard must adhere to tradition. We can use other technologies, but generally, we still primarily use spears.
Wakanda also has cannons; our fighter jets are equipped with energy cannons. Those weapons have greater destructive power and are difficult to control. Unless it's an external war, we won't deploy fighter jets and high-tech weapons.
Sometimes the enemies we have to deal with are just neighboring tribes. Hunting them with primitive weapons further sharpens our will.
This prevents us from becoming useless people without a martial spirit under the influence of technology."
Ayo's explanation was very clear, meaning they used them according to the situation. If high-tech weapons were needed, they would use them. Usually, they weren't necessary; some battles were just minor skirmishes.
"Alright, that explanation is barely acceptable. By the way, have you thought about having children?"
"I've taken my medicine."
Ayo rolled her eyes. She wasn't willing to follow Stevefor no reason and then, for no reason, become a mother without any preparation.
"Don't take it anymore, you'll have to give birth sooner or later anyway."
Steve raised an eyebrow. His interest was in having many children and many blessings. With children, everything would seem more real.
Without children, he always felt something was missing.
Either be single from beginning to end and not have children, or it would be better to be single from the start.
Ayo neither refuted nor agreed. As for what she was thinking, only she knew.
Soon, the two arrived at the scene.
The site was already surrounded by many commoners, and the chiefs of various tribes had taken their seats. Under their witness, the selection of the king began again.
Killmonger was already standing in the stream, without any weapons, his dark skin covered with tiny embedded particles. It was said that these were cut into his skin, with a certain type of stone embedded for each person he killed.
The dense particles indicated that he had killed many people. Serving in the U.S. Navy fleet and specializing in special operations as a Navy SEAL, he must have killed quite a few.
America's style was to support adversaries and confront local warlords, extracting benefits for themselves. Many times, the organizations they supported would turn into their enemies, at which point they would need to dispatch the Marines for harvesting and decapitation.
King T'Chaka also appeared. Both were only wearing loincloths, arriving in the middle of the arena.
One was an old man with graying hair and beard, the other a strong man in his prime. By all appearances, the strong man had a much better chance of winning!
As soon as Steve arrived, Su Rui called him over.
She was with Betty and Zhao Hailun, with Queen Ramonda also seated nearby. That position was right in the middle, an excellent viewing spot.
"Steve, you're finally here. I thought you weren't coming."
Su Rui was just making small talk. After tasting the food at the safe house, she had developed a taste for it. If she hadn't gotten another free meal today, she probably would have rather starved than eat Wakandan food.
She handed him a box of chocolates, which had a heart shape on it.
"A gift for you, made in our own home."
Steve winked at Su Rui. It didn't matter if she wasn't beautiful, her youth was her advantage. He was a good man and a good husband, always obliging.
Since Hill, his main wife, had spoken, telling him to win over Su Rui, he certainly had to give face.
As for the reason, it was clearly about complementarity again.
Steve had more resources and a better laboratory. Su Rui had a clever mind and a high IQ. The two could be said to complement each other.
Plus, with her identity as a Wakandan royal princess, she could lead future collaborations and trade with Wakanda.
Although she had only briefly surveyed Wakanda, Hillalready felt that this place was indeed very good.
Aside from the scarce Vibranium resources, the other minerals and resources here, as well as the high-tech developments, were all excellent.
S.H.I.E.L.D. needed to be cleaned up, and after that, they could begin a comprehensive upgrade of military equipment and technology.
Because she was busy with strategic planning, Hillnaturally had no time to fulfill her duties and responsibilities as a wife. These matters would be left to the other sisters to handle.
"Thank you, you truly are a thoughtful man."
Su Rui giggled as she took the chocolates. She could feel him tickle her palm.
This startled her, and she immediately looked down, glancing left and right to avoid being seen. Seeing that Betty and Zhao Hailun, her two newly acquainted friends, hadn't noticed, she subtly hooked her finger with Steve's.
Was this a sign of something brewing?
Chapter 175 This mission reward cannot be refused
The two people's small actions couldn't escape Betty's notice, but they didn't examine them, nor did they expose them. There was no point; they, too, sincerely hoped Su Rui would join them.
As for whether she was pretty or not, that wasn't a problem. As long as they were prettier than her, that was enough.
Women also have a competitive streak; who doesn't like their best friend to be uglier than them?
That way, when they go shopping, men's eyes and attention will be focused on them, not on their best friend. This satisfies their vanity; it's something to be understood but not spoken aloud.
While they were still sneaking around here, the other side was already preparing to begin.
Both sides were choosing weapons. Walking into the stream earlier was also to show that they hadn't hidden any tools or weapons.
Neither T'Chaka nor Killmonger wanted to leave any leverage in someone else's hands. In the most sacred and solemn traditional ceremony, watched by so many eyes, they couldn't resort to tricks.
Presenting themselves with an image of abundant martial virtue would make it easier to inform Wakanda.
Killmonger took two scimitars, not choosing a shield. In his creed and special forces career, there was only offense, continuous offense, using relentless attacks to crush the enemy.
A shield? That was the act of a coward! Did he think it was fun to swing a shield around all day?
Captain America: You're a jerk. If you've got the guts, give me your ID!
T'Chaka chose a scimitar and a shield, balancing offense and defense; this was the standard equipment for a Wakandan warrior.
Seeing that the duel was about to begin, Su Rui also reined in her flirtatious thoughts. She didn't know why she was doing this; it was as if the moment she saw Steve, she lost her ability to think, subconsciously believing that if she didn't seize this opportunity, she would regret it for the rest of her life!
She wouldn't regret it if she hadn't met Steve, but having met Steve, she should prepare for bad luck!
A smart girl like Su Rui, if she didn't have ten or eight children, it would be a disservice to her. Because she didn't want to use it often, getting pregnant would legitimately avoid it.
Only what's useful will be kept; this principle certainly wouldn't be spoken.
Our gaze returns to the dueling arena.
As the Elder, Zu Li dared not look at Killmonger. He had worked for Killmonger's father, actually as the King's spy.
Killmonger's father was betrayed by him. Precisely because he was a traitor, he felt particularly guilty. He was also a very cowardly person; if he had been a little bolder and directly killed Killmonger, it would have been over. But he lacked the guts, so it can only be said that his death was not unjust.
"Before the duel, it must be stated that if either party surrenders, the other party cannot continue to attack, otherwise it will be considered a defeat.
If there is no surrender, attacks can continue, regardless of life or death.
If both parties have no objections, the duel officially begins now!"
As soon as Zu Li finished speaking, he retreated to the side. He truly dared not look at Killmonger's murderous gaze, as if he wanted to tear him apart.
The words had barely fallen when Killmonger directly launched a jumping slash. The two-meter distance and sudden attack caught T'Chaka off guard.
The turbulent stream, carrying gravel, rushed down. The splashes of Water T'Chaka kicked up as he stumbled backward refracted into tiny blood beads in the sunlight.
The seventy-three-year-old King's chest heaved violently, the edge of his left arm's shield deeply serrated.
On the opposite bank, Killmonger shook the Water from his twin blades, the Vibranium armor on his neck gleaming like obsidian as his muscles contracted.
The young challenger's guttural voice overpowered the sound of the Water, and his blade tip flicked away the golden ring binding T'Chaka's hair.
The surrounding crowd gasped in astonishment, and the Border Tribe Elder on the east bank of the river clenched her leopard tooth necklace. This one-sided battle made her feel a little anxious.
T'Challa's lips were tightly pursed. He could feel that his father had tried his best, but even with all his might, he couldn't defeat Killmonger!
The heart-shaped herb could indeed enhance physical fitness, but it was still a bit inferior compared to the Super Soldier Serum. At least the Super Soldier Serumcould still exert considerable strength in old age, as demonstrated by the black Super Soldier in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'.
The old King suddenly roared and leaped, a shield bash knocking his opponent away, followed closely by his scimitar.
Clang! Scimitar met scimitar, and sparks flew.
The twenty-year-old challenger twisted his waist and kicked back. The dull thud of T'Chaka hitting a large rock in the stream erupted in cheers from the west bank of the river!
There stood three tribal representatives who had sworn allegiance to Killmonger in advance.
Su Rui nervously clasped Steve's hand, watching Killmonger's twin blades scrape blue sparks like a meteor shower across her father's shield.
The old King's defensive rhythm began to falter. The moment his shield was flicked away, the wails of the Border Tribe female warriors and the gasps from the east bank of the river intertwined into a net.
When Killmonger's left-hand blade pierced T'Chaka's right shoulder, a warm mist of blood sprayed onto his face.
As the blood-stained shield sank to the riverbed, the old King used his last strength to hurl his scimitar at the challenger's throat, but Killmonger tilted his head and bit the back of the blade. This move, learned during his Marine Corps training, sparked thunderous stomping and cheers from the west bank of the river.
"Wakanda doesn't need an aging Guardian! Pay with your life for my father!"
"No!"
T'Challa, filled with grief and indignation, wanted to rush out, but his mother, Ramonda, held him back firmly.
The duel was sacred. If T'Challa rushed in, he would lose his right to challenge. For her own sake, and for her son's sake, she had to hold him back firmly, not letting him do anything foolish!
When Killmonger's twin blades crossed and slashed down, the Border Tribe Elder's leopard tooth necklace suddenly snapped.
The moment T'Chaka's head hit the shallows, Su Rui, after a moment of stunned silence, let out a heart-wrenchwrenching scream, while the cheers from the west bank of the river had already become unified.
"Long live Wakanda!"
"Long live Wakanda!"
"Long live Wakanda!"
When the headless body was kicked down the waterfall by Killmonger, the bloodstains on the scimitars stretched into crimson ribbons across the hundred-meter drop.
Winning the duel meant that Killmonger was about to become the new King! Stepping on T'Chaka's rolling head, he let out a long roar to the sky. In the Water mist rising from the waterfall behind him, a new era was symbolized!
T'Challa's fingernails dug into his palms, and his eyes, for the first time, looked at Killmonger with hatred. He wanted to kill this cousin!
Before, he still harbored fantasies, hoping that the other party would change his mind, and that the two brothers could work together to make Wakanda even better.
Now, all of that had vanished with the death of his father, T'Chaka. No one could forgive such betrayal, forgive such a thing from happening.
Killmonger raised both hands, his twin scimitars letting out a roar.
"A new era for Wakanda is coming. I will lead you to expand our territory and liberate more of our black-skinned brethren!
This World will tremble under our feet, the name of Wakanda will be famous throughout the World, and all lands will bear the flag of Wakanda!
Cheer! Rejoice! All of this is ours!"
Apparently, his strategy from the beginning was to seize control of Wakanda. The King could declare War, and even other tribes could only obey. This was not about tribal internal affairs; this was a strategy for all of Wakanda, and everyone had to obey the King's orders!
"You are not King yet!"
T'Challa stepped forward, pointing at Killmonger's nose, his expression gradually becoming ferocious.
"I, T'Challa, a member of the royal family, declare a challenge to you!"
"Haha! Then come on! Right now! You trash, you don't deserve to be King, just like your useless old man. I will personally cut off your head! Haha!"
Killmonger's expression grew increasingly mad. He didn't care at all. His scimitar pointed at T'Challa, looking arrogant and dismissive, but in reality, he was bold and meticulous.
If T'Challa were given time, he might acquire some black technology. But if they fought now, it was clear that the other party had no preparations, and although he had just fought intensely, overall, he had the advantage!
Having honed his combat skills for so many years in the SEALs, and with countless killing experiences, Killmonger was confident he could twist his cousin's neck!
Queen Ramonda still wanted to stop him, but T'Challawas already blinded by rage, breaking free from her grasp and walking towards the stream.
The surrounding chiefs were also shocked beyond words by this scene; it was so brutal!
"He actually cut off His Majesty the King's head!"
"It's too brutal. If such a person becomes King, it's not our choice!"
"What can we do then? If you're so capable, you go up!"
Only W'Kabi, the chief of the Border Tribe, had flickering eyes. He was a militant and favored offense. Over the years, he had grown tired of the endless poachers.
Always knowing only how to cower in defense, they should proactively attack and mercilessly stomp the heads of those outsiders underfoot! Make them fear! Make them tremble, hearing the name of Wakandawould trigger a terror that reached their very souls!
Otherwise, with so much technology, yet cowering in a corner, what's the difference from a timid turtle? Don't call them Black Panther, call them Black Turtle!
Steve comforted Su Rui in his arms, not surprised by T'Chaka's death. From the moment he stepped into the arena, his death was inevitable.
Clearly knowing Killmonger had ill intentions, yet still thinking he could be redeemed. Utterly foolish. No matter the enemy's identity, one must go all out!
Looking at Su Rui, who was almost fainting from crying, Steve was considering whether to take advantage of the situation or to slowly win her over.
But no matter which method, the ultimate outcome was for Su Rui to become his woman.
If there's a shortcut, don't go for emotions. The more shortcuts you take, the deeper the emotions naturally become!
This was his realization since transmigrating: no matter what the other party thought or planned, as long as he could win them over, after a long time, with children, could they still defy the heavens?
"Ding, idle time accumulated, triggering a quest: Steal Wakanda."
"Steal Wakanda: Please make Princess Su Rui and Queen Ramonda wholeheartedly convinced by you. Reward: Estate expansion, laboratory upgrade."
Oh! This quest is interesting, no wonder it's called 'steal'!
How could he, the dignified Captain America, the embodiment of justice, the symbol of bravery, do such sneaky things!
Outrageous! It's an insult to his character, an insult to his reputation!
Oh, the reward, it's so tempting!
If it were other rewards, it would be just passable.
But to expand the estate and upgrade the laboratory? This reward is undeniably enticing and reliable.
While he was still thinking about the follow-up plan here, the fight had already begun there.
Both sides started with wide, open clashes. T'Challa, enraged by witnessing his father's head being cut off, aimed every move at taking a life.
Killmonger, however, defended skillfully. With his feet planted on the smooth stone slab, he couldn't retreat while fighting, so he could only go all out in a direct clash. If anyone moved their feet and accidentally slipped, they would die!
The drummers beside them struck their scepters, and the ancient duel drumbeats shook the Vibranium ore on the cliff edge, causing it to fall in a shower.
"What your father took, I will reclaim twofold today!"
Killmonger suddenly threw a scimitar. As T'Challadodged sideways, the blade grazed his ear and plunged into the totem pole behind him. It was the leopard head T'Chaka had carved himself thirty years ago during his coronation!
Before T'Challa could react, he rushed forward and punched him hard. Caught off guard, T'Challastaggered, and even the scimitar in his hand was knocked away.
With only one scimitar left in his hand, T'Challa spun and slashed, the blade's gleam startling seven hornbills. Killmonger, however, crouched low like a hunting leopard, letting the blade slice off a few of his dreadlocks.
As T'Challa leaned forward from inertia, the challenger suddenly exploded, headbutting his nose bridge. Splashing blood painted a radial pattern on the rock face.
"The throne is built with bones! This position belongs to me! You coward, you don't deserve it!"
Killmonger roared, pushing T'Challa towards the edge of the cliff. The gravel they kicked up during their struggle echoed continuously in the hundred-meter-deep canyon. Nakia, the female warrior of the River Tribe, suddenly stomped her foot. She noticed that T'Challa's lower back was not tied with a deadly weapon, but with the crocodile tooth necklace that Killmonger's father had left for his infant nephew years ago.
T'Challa suddenly let go of his blade, abandoning it, and locked Killmonger's elbow joint with a grappling technique. He remembered his father's dying wish, hoping that he and his brother would fight together to make Wakanda even better.
"Look at the children on the riverbank holding your portraits!"
Below the cliff, more than twenty orphans held wooden signs with drawings of schools and bakeries. Killmonger's pupils contracted violently. He recognized the scar on a girl's forehead; it was the little girl he had saved from a Vibranium trafficker's blade a year ago.
"You think giving out some bread can atone for your sins?"
Killmonger's blade, however, trembled. T'Challa seized the opportunity to kick his scimitar away with his knee. As Black Panther's dagger pressed against the challenger's Adam's apple, the Border Elder's golden scepter suddenly broke.
Is this a draw?
Just as T'Challa released his grip, abandoning the hatred in his heart, he didn't want to kill Killmongernow; that would only make him a slave to revenge.
But the other party didn't think so. Strike while the iron is hot!
Another headbutt knocked T'Challa unconscious, followed by a devastating kick to his groin that almost made him lose consciousness.
Only then did he brutally lift T'Challa and, in full view of everyone, throw him over the hundred-meter waterfall nearby!
"I am the true King!"
Chapter 176: Capture Princess Su Rui
"Ah!"
When Su Rui saw her brother T'Challa thrown off the cliff, she couldn't help but let out a scream! She fainted, and if Steve hadn't been supporting her, she would have fallen directly to the ground.
Queen Ramonda also felt dizzy; it had been a tumultuous day. Her husband was dead, and her son had been thrown off a cliff, his fate unknown. It seemed her time as Queen was over!
Killmonger continued to roar, basking in the cheers of the Wakandan civilians!
For this moment, he had endured humiliation, and to avenge his father, he had bided his time. Now, he had personally avenged his enemy and successfully claimed the throne!
"I am the King! Announce me as King immediately!"
Killmonger walked towards Zu Li, feeling disgusted by the large, palm-sized ring embedded in the other man's chin!
Furthermore, Zu Li was a traitor! He had worked under Killmonger's father but had leaked information about Vibranium smuggling to T'Chaka, which led to his father's death!
Now, his enemy was right in front of him. He grabbed the other man's neck and roared with the most ferocious tone and twisted expression.
"Announce me as King immediately! You traitor, you'd best kill yourself, don't wait for me to do it!"
Watching Killmonger's crude behavior, the tribal chiefs frowned. With such a brutal man becoming King, who knew what Wakanda would become!
Zu Li was trembling with fear, unable to speak coherently. He stammered, unable to utter a single word for a long time.
"According to custom, the announcement can only be made three days from now. You are merely the victor; you still need to follow the procedures and pass the final test before you are qualified to be King."
Chief M'Baku snorted. He had been defeated by Stevejust yesterday. His injuries hadn't healed yet; otherwise, he would have stepped forward to challenge Killmonger.
Killmonger threw the terrified Zu Li aside and turned to look at M'Baku.
"What? You're not convinced? Come challenge me!"
"You're crazy! My injuries haven't healed yet! Young man, don't get too carried away. Even if you are King, you have no right to speak to me like that!
The King's duty is to lead Wakanda to become stronger. You may be a good fighter, but governing a country has nothing to do with fighting."
M'Baku wasn't afraid of him. What, was Killmongergoing to kill him?
Killing an opponent in a duel, while unethical, couldn't be criticized. That was the rule; if one was not as skilled, there was nothing to say.
But to kill someone outside of a duel, for no reason, would be a much more serious matter.
Killmonger stared intently at M'Baku, who met his gaze without flinching. After a long moment, Killmongersneered.
"Bring out whatever tricks you have! I will reclaim the throne my father lost.
M'Baku, right? You will know in the future that I am the most correct!"
Turning to look at Steve, who was holding Su Rui, Killmonger's expression was one of disgust. Captain America, he hated Americans the most!
"Hey! You're Steve, right! This is Wakanda, and outsiders are not welcome here. Get out!"
"Damn you! Say that again! See if I don't beat you to death!
Damn you, what, are you mute! You damn stupid dog, bark bark bark, what are you barking for!"
Steve wasn't going to humor him. He was just an innocent bystander, and suddenly the fire was directed at him. Did they really think he was a pushover just because he hadn't shown his temper?
Killmonger was taken aback by the highly abusive language and couldn't react for a while. Was this guy crazy?! Was he sick?!
Captain America, who embodied humility, bravery, and integrity, and possessed the finest human qualities, actually swore! His small mouth was coated with honey, and the insults made veins pop out on Killmonger's forehead, almost pushing him to the brink of rage.
Steve sneered at him, almost hoping the other man would make a move. That way, he could justifiably teach this arrogant, disrespectful brat a lesson.
Perhaps he was wary of Steve's strength, or perhaps the series of battles had exhausted almost all his energy. Killmonger thought it over and decided to hold back!
"I'll endure! Endure! When I become King, the first thing I'll do is raze S.H.I.E.L.D. to the ground! Bastard!"
Killmonger dared not say these words aloud, only cursing inwardly, feeling a sense of impotent rage.
People are like that; they bully the weak and fear the strong. If you act aggressively, the other party will, on the contrary, not dare to push their luck.
Reason cannot be explained. From ancient times to the present, only a powerful fist, thoroughly beating the opponent down, will make them understand what it means to win people over with virtue and reason!
Barbarians are barbarians; their minds have no concept of etiquette, morality, or shame.
The weapon of criticism cannot replace the criticism of weapons; only what hits the body will hurt. They will immediately kneel, beg for mercy, without dignity, only attaching themselves to the strong and submitting to them.
--
Returning to the palace with Su Rui, the guards there were all worried.
In just a few days, the monarchy had changed, the King had died tragically, and a murderer had become King.
There was a quiet before the storm, and they didn't know what to do next.
Compared to their concerns, Steve had fewer worries. While Su Rui was unconscious, he took her back to her room and took advantage of the situation.
First, make the raw rice cooked, and then slowly consider other things. It was purely out of completing a task, just to satisfy his collecting habit.
After all, she was the second-generation Black Panther, so this was not a loss!
Queen Ramonda rushed to gather all the chiefs to discuss countermeasures. If things became unmanageable, she would have no choice but to take her daughter and leave the palace to stay in the tribe.
Shortly after the duel ended, the Royal Guard immediately went down to the cliff to search for someone.
The old King was dead, but Prince T'Challa's fate was unknown.
They needed to find him, dead or alive. It was always better to find the person first.
As long as he wasn't dead, then it was still acceptable. At least they could say the duel hadn't been resolved, and it wasn't stated that falling off a cliff necessarily meant losing.
After much discussion, they couldn't come up with a good solution. After all, this was a legitimate duel conducted according to procedure, and it was witnessed by so many people: Killmonger challenging the old King and the Prince in succession, ultimately achieving victory.
Although the victory was not honorable, a win was a win. At most, it was a moral criticism, but what good was that?
Rules were rules and could not be broken.
Once the rules were broken, chaos would surely ensue, and the entire Wakanda would no longer be united, only becoming each tribe fighting for itself.
The exhausted Queen Ramonda ended the meeting and returned to her private chambers.
"Okoye, has T'Challa been found?"
Okoye, the Captain of the Royal Guard, had a large bald head that reflected a dazzling glare in the light. This was the classic look for every guard member: no hair, no dreadlocks, but a shaved head.
"Your Highness, he has not been found yet, and the Prince's fate is still uncertain. Nakia is still searching. Please wait patiently; there will be results."
At this point, there was no other good option but to continue waiting.
They also didn't know where T'Challa had been washed away. Wakanda was vast, and the pool below the waterfall was Wakanda's main river. It would later split into many streams, so logically, he should be found.
Even if a person died, they would float due to gravity; there was no situation where they would sink to the riverbed.
Queen Ramonda remained silent. She felt more at ease with her son's ex-girlfriend searching. Even now, she hadn't considered asking Steve for help.
It would be inappropriate to ask an outsider for help with Wakanda's internal affairs.
The next day, Su Rui struggled to get up, feeling as if her entire body had been torn apart.
Steve happened to return, bringing a table full of food. As he laid out the dishes, the fragrant food alone made one's appetite stir.
"I made a pot of ginseng stewed fish. Drink more; it's very good for your wound recovery. There are also shrimp dumplings, siomai, and jianbing guozi."
These Eastern dishes and snacks appearing in Wakandafelt somewhat out of place. They didn't have such refined food there; it was often just roasted, with a little salt or spices, and then eaten.
There weren't so many elaborate customs, nor would anyone study culinary arts. Compared to food, improving personal strength and technology was clearly more important.
But humans are born with a need to eat; the desire for food is something no one can avoid. Why else would there be a saying, to conquer a person's heart, you start by conquering their stomach.
This saying applies equally to both men and women!
Su Rui had initially been somewhat resentful, having been taken advantage of in such a muddled way. It was completely unexpected, and taking advantage of someone was not something an upright man should do.
But with the delicious food before her, combined with Steve's sunny and cheerful smile, she felt a little embarrassed to scold him. Given the situation, what else could she do? Eat first! Only when she was full would she have the energy to think.
Steve, for once, stayed to eat a meal with her, and his speed was also not slow. The spoils of war obtained yesterday were directly confiscated to replenish kitchen supplies; without raw materials, the kitchen couldn't make decent food.
Sometimes, earning money also has reasons to be spent. Buying large quantities of food raw materials. It looked like they were going to enter the food processing industry, which also led the consortiums that wanted to target Nissa in business by the nose.
They had just managed to spend a lot of money to negotiate a monopoly with upstream and downstream suppliers, but Nissa feigned a move, and after acquiring the goods, there was no further activity.
If it weren't for the fact that a lot of raw materials had indeed been acquired, they would have thought it was an illusion!
Even if they were eating, they couldn't possibly consume tens of tons of rice, beans, and vegetables, could they? That was ridiculous! Which household kitchen buys tens of tons at once?
But Nissa truly was just making purchases, regardless of category or price. Fish, vegetables, meat, side dishes, wheat, rice—all purchased in large batches, starting at fifty tons at a time. The main thing was the sheer quantity!
Wife earns money, husband spends money—this is good!
"You don't need to worry about your brother's situation; what's meant to happen will happen. The key now is to transfer all your technology so Killmonger's schemes don't succeed.
You and your mother will definitely have to leave, temporarily, to avoid his aggression. Take whatever you need to take.
I have other matters later, and I will arrange for someone to protect you. If anything comes up, I'd like to talk to your mother. Please call her over for me."
Steve began making arrangements, not asking for Su Rui's opinion, nor needing to. This forceful approach, coupled with their intimate relationship, naturally gave Su Rui a misconception, a misconception of obediently following her husband's instructions!
Her eating habits were completely unrefined as she patted her round stomach. This kind of delicious food really made her uncomfortable if she missed even one meal. It was so delicious, how could there be such delicious food in this World!
Oh my God, if she couldn't eat it in the future, she would probably starve to death!
"Steve, what are we?"
"When you're ready, we can get married. Then we'll have ten or eight children, how does that sound?"
Steve's smile carried a mischievous hint. Just like cars, some cars need to be taken care of, while others don't; just drive them hard, and the car will repair its own damage.
Su Rui's face flushed, and she stammered, unable to speak. Facing a man she liked, even depended on, and who was also her revered idol, she couldn't utter a single harsh word.
"Ten or eight, that's too many!"
She let go of the high-strung tension in her heart. Her biggest fear was Steve leaving after he had his fill, which would make her look like a Joker.
Now that marriage was possible, that was naturally the best outcome. She wasn't opposed to having many children; in fact, she secretly looked forward to it. After all, having children and a blood connection would deepen their relationship.
Using children to tie down a man is a common tactic for many manipulative women, and it's usually very effective. If they can use it, why can't Steve?
"It's not too many. Go call your mother over, then you can go to the laboratory. Betty and Hailun will assist you, and Sand Dust Angel will be your bodyguard."
Steve only used female bodyguards. Bodyguards didn't necessarily have to be beautiful, but they had to be strong enough, with exaggerated muscles that would make men feel ashamed.
"Okay, Steve, I'll listen to you. I'll go find my mother now."
Su Rui took out her phone and called her mother, explaining the situation and expressing the idea of temporarily avoiding the conflict.
"My mother will be here soon. I'll go to the laboratory to pack things first. Steve, you won't abandon me, right?"
Su Rui looked at Steve piteously. He was the only man she could rely on now.
Her father was dead, and her brother's fate was unknown, his whereabouts uncertain. The two pillars of her family had suddenly collapsed, leaving Su Rui, who had been well-protected since childhood, feeling lost and helpless.
"I'm not a scumbag; I don't have the habit of taking advantage and leaving. Just listen to my instructions, and you'll be fine. Go, don't leave any technology for Killmonger.
Isn't he very arrogant? Then let him be arrogant slowly. To destroy him, you must first make him mad.
I promise you and your mother will both be very safe. Don't worry, it's fine."