No one, not even Tony, had expected Wakanda to hide a literal goddess.
Sure, they'd met Thor before. But Bast wasn't an alien from Asgard.
She was divine. Indigenous. Ancient.
And she had just neutralized tactical nukes mid-detonation with a flick of her paw.
Tony's jaw clenched. This was the most devastating strike the U.S. military could muster without invoking global extinction protocols.
Unless they fired strategic nukes, the attack had failed.
"Looks like they're safe… for now."
He muttered. Vibranium prices would skyrocket. With access to those mines, T'Challa might become the wealthiest person on Earth if he weren't already.
And that wasn't just local wealth. Vibranium was a universal currency, prized even beyond Earth's borders.
Tony had once believed Wakanda's defenses could be overwhelmed. Now, seeing Bast hovering above in shimmering black-gold armor, he wasn't so sure anymore.
In the sky, Bast narrowed her glowing eyes, surveying the military base on the coast and the distant battleships offshore.
She hadn't wanted to intervene. She'd been content within the spiritual realm built by Wakandan faith a pocket dimension fueled by belief.
Centuries ago, most gods were destroyed in ancient divine wars or banished by the emergence of supreme sorcerers. Those who remained on Earth like her kept a low profile, bound by an ancient pact:
No divine interference in mortal affairs.
But she had found vibranium.
Not just a powerful metal but a sacred gift. She led the Wakandans to it, helped them build a kingdom, and offered power through the Heart-Shaped Herb. In return, they gave her something even more precious:
Faith was power. For a natural god, it was the only path to ascension.
But now… her people were nearly erased in a single act of arrogance.
If the nukes had landed, they might have survived but the devastation would have left their population broken and scattered.
And without believers, she would fade.
That was something she could not allow.
"Leave this land. Do not return."
Her voice was soft, but the sky itself seemed to tremble.
A colossal panther-shaped energy claw materialized, crashing down on the sky-bound Sentinels like a falling star.
Dozens of units previously immune to lasers and impact force were swatted from the sky like flies, their frames shattered and their AI cores reduced to slag.
She turned, extended her palm, and slammed it toward the nearby empty outpost.
A second energy paw, the size of a mountain, crashed into the compound.
A full quarter of the base was instantly leveled.
Suddenly, a blur of red launched from the earth.
Fueled by desperation and fury, Ross leaped through the air, cracking the ground beneath him with sheer launch force. His punch rocketed toward Bast, trailing shockwaves behind it.
This was his last chance.
The military wouldn't care that a goddess showed up. They'd blame the failure on him. He'd be court-martialed, imprisoned, or worse.
His only option: win.
If he went down fighting a god, maybe he'd be remembered as a warrior, not a failure.
Bast raised a single hand. A panther-claw formed and met Ross's fist mid-air.
The two forces collided, sending shockwaves rippling through the clouds.
Ross was flung backward, but landed on his feet, skidding across the battlefield. Despite the clash, he grinned.
"Not so invincible, are you?"
He'd felt it. She was strong but not untouchable.
Bast, surprised by the resistance, turned toward T'Challa.
"Who… is that creature?"
"Red Hulk," T'Challa answered silently. "An enhanced superhuman."
"A 'transcendent' mortal…" she muttered. "Interesting."
Bast disappeared in a blink reappearing in front of Ross.
Without words, she swiped at him again, claws slicing the air. Ross roared, unleashing a wave of crimson flame and fury. His fist met her paw once more.
The sky cracked with force. The ground split beneath them.
Ross was thrown again, his body now smoking but still moving. He wasn't mindless. Not yet. He knew this deity wasn't just strong she had layers of power, likely magical.
Then came the ambush.
Another massive figure barreled through the debris with a guttural scream.
"GODS?! I HATE GODS!"
He launched a haymaker aimed straight at Bast's head.
She turned, surprised by the presence of a second titan.
Her claw met his fist. Sparks flew.
"You're not even close to his level," she said coldly.
Her other hand struck.
Three deep, bleeding gashes tore across Abomination's chest.
He screamed as he was blasted backward, skidding across the land for nearly a kilometer.
As the dust settled, Bast hovered calmly in the air, unmoved.
The battlefield was hers.
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