Everyone stood frozen including T'Challa.
A moment ago, Bast, the Panther Goddess, was effortlessly handling a team of enhanced beings: Abomination, Red Hulk, Electro, and even Sandman. One swipe here, one blast there. They hadn't stood a chance.
She wasn't just winning she was dominating.
She had crushed nukes into light spheres. She had batted aside the most brutal brawlers like children. She was, to all appearances, a true deity.
And yet… the moment Nolan appeared, she began negotiating.
Even though Nolan was widely regarded as the most powerful known superhuman, he was still technically a man. A mortal.
So why was a goddess like Bast backing down?
Those who understood the stakes like Tony Stark had a far more concerned reaction. He knew this wasn't just about Nolan.
It was about who stood behind him.
"That wizard he keeps referencing… just how dangerous is he?" Tony whispered, Friday already compiling every shred of mystical data she could find.
Bast's caution was a clue. If she was hesitant to fight because of the Sorcerer Supreme's legacy, then the being behind Nolan wasn't just powerful. It was feared.
Nolan floated with his hands behind his back, smiling.
"Fifty years of vibranium co-development."
That was what Max had demanded earlier. With Oscorp's tech, fifty years was enough to strip Wakanda bare.
T'Challa immediately opened a telepathic link with Bast.
"My goddess. If you give them that deal, there will be no vibranium left. Oscorp doesn't build they plunder."
Vibranium wasn't just power. It was faith. Without it, Wakanda would weaken. And if Wakanda fell, her worship would die with it.
"No deal," Bast said aloud, her voice cold.
Nolan nodded, as if expecting the answer.
He turned to Wanda. "Hold the others off. I'll handle the goddess."
Wanda's red aura pulsed like wildfire. "On it."
"Wanda!" Erik shouted. "He's attacking your people! You can't stand by him!"
But Wanda didn't flinch.
"Max. Marko. Alexei. Anyone interferes, take them down."
"Yes, ma'am," Max replied, cracking his knuckles as electricity danced between his palms.
Behind her, Oscorp's entire superhuman strike force began emerging from their dropships floating mid-air, poised for war. Stark's jaw tightened.
And then Nolan vanished.
He reappeared in front of Bast, energy already swirling around his fists.
Dragon Force. Psionic Force. Vishanti Force.
All layered together into one earth-shattering punch.
Bast raised a claw to block but she was caught off guard.
The impact launched her backward, claws dragging deep trenches into the earth as she fought to stabilize.
"That's… not a wizard's strength…"
But Nolan was already in her face again.
"What's wrong? Too long in your golden palace, goddess?"
He swung downward like an axe. His boot crashed into her skull like a meteor.
The earth shuddered. Dust exploded outward.
"You're a god, right?" Nolan called down. "Prove it."
"I was holding back. But since you attacked first, I now have justification."
She slashed the air, her claws glowing with pure god-force, creating a pressure field that collapsed inwards on Nolan.
But her claw passed through him like slicing smoke.
She barely had time to react.
From behind her, Nolan's eyes glowed red.
"Your claws are sharp."
"Let's see how they hold up… against the sun."
Two beams of solar heat vision erupted from his eyes, blazing with heat comparable to the sun's surface.
Bast countered with a burst of violet divine energy, the two attacks colliding mid-air in a spectacular fusion of red and purple light.
The resulting explosion cracked the sky.
"I'm not just a bruiser," Nolan said calmly, raising his hands. "I'm still a mage."
He formed a spell with quick, precise gestures.
"Vishanti: Crimson Shatter."
The orange runes wrapped around his beams amplifying their shape until the purple beam shattered like glass, turning into dozens of violet paper cranes.
They flew in all directions burning, exploding on contact.
Bast was hit directly.
She hit the ground hard.
From the dust, Bast rose again fur scorched, eyes gleaming.
"You… really are the successor of...."
"Let's keep going," Nolan smiled. "I want to see what you're really made of."
~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
(Just remove the - hyphen to access normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!