— Wakanda, Outskirts of the Capital
The sky was calm, the air peaceful.
Fluffy clouds, as soft as silk, floated lazily across the endless blue expanse.
For centuries, Wakanda—this ancient and mysterious nation—had rarely been troubled by outside threats.
Setting aside their incredible technological prowess, the city's true shield was the Sky Dome: an unbreakable, ever-present energy barrier that blanketed the entire capital, offering its citizens unparalleled security.
'Zzzzt—!'
At that moment, a massive tear split across the Sky Dome, the Wakandans' pride and joy.
A blinding blue light burst forth, engulfing a vast portion of the sky, so intense it seemed as if a second sun had appeared.
"Alert! Alert! The Sky Dome is under attack! Source unknown!"
"Shield energy stable! No signs of a direct assault! Run a diagnostic—find out what's happening!"
"Reporting in—The barrier has been breached!"
"Breached?! Impossible! The Sky Dome can withstand any human-made weapon! Even that so-called Iron Man couldn't break through—it's impossible!"
"The shield wasn't pierced... it was neutralized!"
"What?! Neutralized? That's impossible! No one on Earth should have the technology to neutralize an energy shield!"
"Royal Guards, Code Red! I repeat: Royal Guards, Code Red! Wakanda is under attack! I repeat: Wakanda is under attack!"
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If Kagura knew that just crossing Wakanda's Sky Dome would throw the entire nation into a full-blown crisis, almost prompting them to mobilize their entire army—
she probably would've taken the time to politely "knock" first.
But time was running out.
Ultron could launch an attack against Wakanda at any moment, and Kagura had to deliver this crucial intel to the Wakandan king as fast as possible.
No matter how powerful Wakanda was, and no matter what kind of assault they were about to face, if Ultron seized full control of Wakanda, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Beyond Wakanda's technological and industrial strength, the true treasure at its heart was the world's largest—and only—natural deposit of vibranium.
Vibranium, one of the strongest metals in the universe.
An extraordinary material: virtually indestructible, packed with properties so fantastical that it could even bond with organic tissue to form nano-scale composites.
Thanks to extensive research, Rhodes Island Industries had managed to artificially synthesize vibranium to some extent.
But due to its extremely complex molecular structure, production remained extremely limited.
Wakanda, however, was different.
They had massive, naturally occurring vibranium reserves, enough to supply the country for several millennia.
If Ultron gained control of Wakanda, he would forge a mechanical army clad entirely in vibranium.
At that point, it wouldn't be about whether a single robot could match Captain America in a fair fight—
it would be about whether the entire Avengers team could handle even a squad of Ultron's vibranium warriors.
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"Master, we've successfully bypassed both the Sky Dome and the outer holographic camouflage,"
Cortana reported as she piloted the "Halo" transport, flying to Wakanda's capital under full optical camouflage.
"I must admit, my previous assumptions were wrong. This nation truly possesses an astonishing level of technological advancement."
Before them, nestled among the mountains, was a breathtaking, ultra-modern city.
Towering skyscrapers.
Green urban ecosystems.
Advanced magnetic-levitation transport lines.
The city blended traditional African heritage with sleek postmodern design,
harmoniously woven into nature without the slightest trace of environmental destruction.
Thanks to its mastery of vibranium technology, Wakanda had long since surpassed the traditional industrial era.
In terms of development, there was no city on Earth that could match this hidden paradise.
"I told you, didn't I?" Kagura said proudly.
"This place is said to be a thousand years ahead of the rest of the world in technology!
Wakanda isn't just Africa's hidden utopia—it's one of Earth's secret guardians."
"And most importantly... it holds vast, unimaginable reserves of vibranium!"
"Vibranium?" Cortana's eyes widened.
"No wonder you were in such a rush to get here. If Ultron seizes this place... it could spell disaster for the entire world."
"Exactly. I'm glad you understand, Cortana." Kagura nodded, then said seriously, "Now... the real challenge: figuring out how to deliver the warning about Ultron's attack to the Wakandan king!"
To show they meant no harm, Kagura ordered the "Halo" to deactivate its optical camouflage, then carefully landed the ship on the grassy plains just outside Wakanda's capital.
"Hmm... This looks like the battlefield for Infinity War..." Kagura murmured as she gazed out over the endless, pristine grasslands.
"But it's still early... There are three more years until that decisive battle comes."
"Master? Did you say something?"
"No, nothing important."
Kagura shook her head.
"Hey, Cortana, have you ever studied any diplomacy?"
Cortana tilted her head playfully, almost like she was posing cutely.
"Master, all my knowledge comes from Rhodes Island Industries' databases and the internet."
"Diplomacy wasn't a primary focus, but I believe my business negotiation protocols should be quite useful here."
"Perfect! I'm counting on you!" Kagura stuck out her tongue mischievously.
"Because if we mess this up even a little bit, they'll probably think we're spies, thieves, or invaders... and then it's off to prison, or worse, to be tortured for information!"
"Master, I won't allow anything like that to happen," Cortana said with unwavering confidence.
"Please trust in my ability to negotiate."
"Of course I trust you!" Kagura stood on tiptoes and gave Cortana's head a few playful pats. "Let's do this!"
Together, they descended the transport's ramp— and immediately found themselves facing Wakanda's rapid response forces.
The Wakandan warriors wore a combination of robes and armor, and wielded long spears.
At first glance, they seemed primitive and archaic.
Of course, this was Wakanda.
The real primitive ones were the "modern soldiers" who clung to their outdated rifles.
Kagura took a deep breath.
"Alright... Let the negotiations begin!"