In Magneto's eyes, T'Challa, who was clad in a vibranium suit, was nothing more than fish on a chopping board to be kneaded and shaped entirely at his whim...
If not for the possibility that Wakanda might have developed anti-magnetic technology, Magneto could probably single-handedly crush the entire nation without breaking a sweat. After all, vibranium was ubiquitous in Wakandan daily life, making it the perfect playground for Magneto.
With enough power, he could even extract the massive vibranium meteorite buried deep underground.
Invisible magnetic force lines pinned the Wakandan prince in a crucifixion pose midair. The young and valiant T'Challa's face twisted with fury, veins bulging on his skin. His indestructible vibranium suit which meant to protect him now felt like an unbreakable prison.
As the heir to the throne and the Black Panther, protector of the nation, T'Challa had never suffered such humiliation. The shameful display in front of the woman he loved burned in his chest.
He glared at the white-haired old man in purple robes, his eyes practically spitting fire!
"Still not willing to accept defeat?" Magneto gave him a sidelong glance before pressing his palm downward.
T'Challa slammed into a jeep with a crash, steel bars twisting like living things to bind his limbs.
As for the prince's love interest, Nakia, she had long been subdued by the mutant squad. As the River Tribe's strongest warrior and a high-ranking operative in Wakanda's intelligence network, she might prove unexpectedly useful.
Ulysses Klaue stepped out of the car, his earlier anxiety now replaced by arrogance after witnessing Magneto's overwhelming power. As a veteran among mutants, Magneto's abilities held immense potential, especially in modern warfare, where they could cause unimaginable devastation.
It was worth noting that human governments had once gone so far as to build plastic prisons, resin shields, and polymer weapons just to counter this Brotherhood leader. If not for losing his helmet (which shielded him from psychic attacks) and learning that Umbrella had developed a mutant-suppressing serum, Magneto might not have been so compliant.
"And here comes the straggler." Magneto looked up, disdain flashing in his eyes as a vibranium aircraft emerged from the thick clouds, its cannons trained on the ground below.
"Release the prince! You colonizers have disturbed Wakanda's peace!" Okoye, the fierce bald warrior piloting the aircraft, said coldly.
This formidable woman was a member of the Dora Milaje, the all-female royal guard tasked with protecting the royal family. Each member was a handpicked elite warrior from Wakanda's tribes.
Okoye had never imagined that the prince who was empowered by the heart-shaped herb and clad in vibranium armor would be utterly helpless against the old man. She hadn't even had time to intervene.
The aircraft's targeting system locked onto each person below. If they refused to cooperate, Okoye, as captain of the royal guard, wouldn't hesitate to slaughter them all.
Wakanda had always adhered to a policy of secrecy. Over the centuries, countless explorers and smugglers had stumbled into its borders, and without exception, none had left unscathed. Except for that bastard, Ulysses Klaue!
Wakandans held no fondness for outsiders, often referring to them as 'colonizers'. Africa had suffered a long and painful history of colonization by European powers, sparking fierce debate within Wakanda at the time.
Elders from the Border Tribe had urged Wakanda to stand up and become the savior of Africa and its brethren. With their technological prowess, they had no reason to fear anyone.
But the royal family, led by the Panther Tribe, rejected the proposal. It was then that Wakanda established the 'War Dogs', an intelligence network akin to the CIA, with operatives embedded worldwide to gather intel and ensure national security.
Nakia, T'Challa's unforgettable ex-girlfriend, was a high-ranking member of this covert group.
"Damn colonizers!" Receiving no response, Okoye immediately contacted the Border Tribe.
These were Wakanda's gatekeepers who lived along the borders. They disguised themselves as farmers and hunters to deceive outsiders.
W'Kabi, elder of the Border Tribe, served as Wakanda's military commander and was tasked with defending the homeland.
The aircraft descended, its rotary cannons unleashing a torrent of fire like a dragon's breath. John and Bobby stood quietly behind Magneto, content to let the veteran take the spotlight.
Magneto scoffed at the paltry display. Back during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he had lifted submarines with his bare hands and faced down hundreds of cruise missiles without flinching.
The aircraft's Gatling guns spun relentlessly, spewing thousands of rounds per minute in a deafening roar. The old man casually raised his hand, and space froze like a mirror. The 30mm bullets hung motionless, unable to advance even an inch despite their tremendous kinetic energy.
With a flick of his wrist, the metal storm reversed course and pelted the aircraft like a tempest. Sparks erupted as the engines erupted in flames, thick smoke billowing out.
Seeing the aircraft spiral out of control, Okoye gripped a vibranium spear and leaped from the crashing vessel, lunging straight at Magneto!
The sharp spear hummed as it split the air like silver lightning. It was a single breath away from piercing the old man's skull!
Okoye lived up to her reputation as Wakanda's finest warrior. Even in dire straits, she sought to turn the tables by eliminating the greatest threat first before rescuing the prince.
A wall of frost materialized midair, blocking the warrior's deadly strike. Magneto snorted, and the indestructible vibranium spear melted like wax under heat, collapsing into a puddle of silvery liquid.
"I expected more from Wakanda," the old man sneered.
He was beginning to think he didn't even need the mutant squad's help. He could flatten the third-world nation single-handedly.
Bobby didn't argue. Magneto's abilities indeed held limitless potential; manipulating Earth's magnetic field to trigger volcanic eruptions, raising islands from the sea, moving mountains, or even creating electromagnetic pulses to black out entire continents.
In theory, the elderly mutant could even master unified field theory, manipulating gravity itself like a god!
Unfortunately, achieving such feats required not only a deep understanding of physics, but also years of meticulous training. Magneto had missed his prime, leaving him with only macro-level control.
Once things got down to the microscopic level, he fell short... making him far less terrifying than imagined.
For instance, Tony Stark had specifically designed an anti-magnetic suit using carbon nanotubes to counter this mutant who otherwise hard-countered him.
The Raft also had reserved a special cell just for Magneto.
Bobby, of course, kept these thoughts to himself. He merely smiled as Colossus hauled T'Challa up, while Nakia and Okoye were tossed into a truck under mutant guard.
The Wakandan prince was their first bargaining chip. Now, it was time to notify their boss; the war eagle was ready to roll...