"I came for the life of my father and the convoy, for the people of Wakanda, and I hope you will not make a move on Wakanda."
Prince T'Challa's voice was steady, though his expression was tight with worry. His eyes fixed on Kurogai , who stood with one hand pressed against the wall of the Vibranium mine. Behind T'Challa, his father, King T'Chaka, lay weakened and the Royal Guard lay frozen, subdued without resistance.
T'Challa knew the truth all too well. Though he had trained for years and mastered advanced combat skills, he was not yet a king, nor had he taken the heart-shaped herb that granted the Black Panther's full might. His strength did not compare to his father's—yet even King T'Chaka had fallen swiftly before this man. Against Kurogai, T'Challa had no real chance of victory.
That was why he spoke, not fought. He understood the wisdom: when strength could not prevail, reason must.
"I'm not here to shame them," Kurogai said, his lips curving into a faint smile. "So tell me, what can you give? What can Wakanda offer me?"
His tone carried no urgency, only curiosity. He wanted to see how the future king would respond.
T'Challa drew a quiet breath. "Your purpose should be Vibranium. After all, this is a Vibranium mine. What you see here are only raw deposits—difficult to refine, limited in yield, and often impure. But Wakanda possesses the full refining technology. We can give you a portion of refined Vibranium and grant you access to some of the raw material."
It was as much as he dared to offer. No outsider was permitted Wakanda's sacred metal. Yet if this man sought only power, perhaps he could be bargained with.
Kurogai's eyes sharpened. "Vibranium is indeed my purpose. But what I want," he said, his voice slow and deliberate, "is the entire Vibranium mine."
The words struck like a blow.
T'Challa's composure cracked. "You… you go too far!" His anger flared, though fear tempered it. He had approached with sincerity, offering what Wakanda had never offered any outsider. But this man—this stranger—asked not for a share, but for everything.
For Vibranium was not only wealth. It was the heart of Wakanda, their foundation, their secret, their legacy.
"It seems," Kurogai said lightly, his smile unshaken, "that we have nothing more to discuss. Leave, while I still permit it. Otherwise, you and your people will remain here forever."
T'Challa clenched his fists, rage boiling in his chest. He wanted to strike, but the memory of his father lying unconscious, the weight of his people's safety, held him back. He swallowed the fury, turned, and withdrew from the mine. For now, retreat was the only choice.
Outside the mine, the Queen and several elders surrounded him. Their faces were grim, their voices low.
"Is it truly this dire?" one elder asked.
T'Challa's silence was answer enough. They had all seen the exchange through the surveillance feeds. They had seen Kurogai's power, his refusal to compromise.
"The situation is far worse than we expected," another elder murmured. "If words will not move him, then we may need to resort to force."
"But the king is still inside!" the Queen countered, her voice sharp with fear. "If we storm the mine recklessly, T'Chaka's life will be in danger. I will not allow it."
For a moment, the council wavered, torn between desperate options. Then a new voice crackled over the communicator.
"Mother," Princess Shuri's voice came, urgent yet confident. "I've been listening. I developed a compound recently—a specialized sedative. Even a small dose can drop a rhinoceros. We can load it into smoke grenades. If we release it inside, the intruder may fall unconscious long enough to rescue Father."
The Queen hesitated. Shuri was brilliant, but this was no ordinary opponent. Still, with the elders pressing, the decision was forced.
"Very well," she whispered, though unease shadowed her eyes.
Preparations began at once. Shuri's sedatives were rushed to the rescue squad, while T'Challa himself assembled and led the team. Despite his mother's protests, he would not stand idle.
Meanwhile, deep in the mine, Kurogai paid no attention to Wakanda's frantic planning. His focus was wholly upon the wall before him. With his hand pressed to the stone, he absorbed the Vibranium at an astonishing rate. The energy coursed through him, feeding the strange rings within his eyes—the Pupil Rings, the very foundation of his power.
A deep pulse surged inside him.
[The sixth Pupil Ring has reached saturation. Upgrade available. Proceed?]
Kurogai's lips curved into a thin, satisfied smile.
_____ ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novelFɪre.net
Milestone,
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter