The moment my boots touched the polished vibranium streets of Wakanda, the silence shattered.
The first shockwave rippled across the city—an alarm unlike any used by surface‑level nations. It was deeper, resonant, vibrating through the bones like a living pulse. Lights flickered from blue to red. Holographic displays snapped awake with complex Wakandan script:
INTRUDER ALERT — CITYWIDE LOCKDOWN INITIATED
Sentinel muttered through my comms, "They're adapting faster than expected. Impressive."
"How long until the Kimoyo net reboots?" I asked.
"Estimated: thirty‑two seconds until partial connectivity. Ninety seconds until full."
Which meant Wakanda's brilliant scientific minds had just seconds before they regained their technological coordination.
And they weren't wasting a single heartbeat.
A squad of Dora Milaje burst into view from the nearest corridor—six elite warriors sprinting with flawless synchronization, their vibranium spears sparking with blue energy. The death troopers immediately formed a shield wall, rifles raised.
"Non‑lethal," I reminded them. "For now."
The Dora attacked first—one leaping high, spear arcing toward my head. I shifted a single molecule layer of tungsten from the ground and formed a plate in front of me. Her spear cracked against it, humming with enough force to tear through a tank.
She landed gracefully, eyes narrowing behind her red war paint.
"Who are you?" she spat.
Before I could answer, a death trooper fired a stun bolt. It hit her center‑mass and dropped her instantly.
The remaining five Dora surged forward.
Orochimaru stepped in.
Snakes—six of them, alchemically engineered with vibranium‑layered fangs—shot from his sleeves, coiling around the Dora's arms and legs. Their muscles seized. Their weapons clattered to the floor.
Orochimaru's tongue flicked out with satisfaction. "Such remarkable physiology. Wakandan genetics will be… informative."
"No harvesting until I say so," I warned.
Bright raised his hand. "Can I harvest their tech, though? That's different from—"
"No."
He sighed dramatically. "Dictator."
Behind us, the marching column of death troopers pushed deeper into the city.
Then Wakanda began to truly fight back.
A wave of energy flickered across the sky—hexagonal shields forming above the towers in a honeycomb pattern. The entire Golden City shimmered with a lattice of blue light as automated turrets unfolded from hidden alcoves.
Sentinel's voice sharpened."Incoming."
The turrets opened fire.
Blue‑white beams of concentrated vibranium energy rained down, slamming into the front rows. My death troopers raised kinetic barriers, hex fields blooming to life. Energy splashed across them in dazzling arcs, but several troopers staggered back as their armor overheated.
Orochimaru smirked and pointed. "My turn."
Three colossal serpents burst from the ground—bio‑engineered monsters of metal‑tissue fusion. Their screens hissed as they reared up, absorbing turret fire along their bullet‑proof scales. In a single coordinated strike, they smashed the first ring of turrets, tearing them from their housings like toys.
But Wakanda wasn't done.
Kimoyo Beads rebooted.
A large holographic projection flickered above the central monorail tower.It displayed Shuri—younger, furious, alive with tactical brilliance.
"All Wakandan units, converge on the eastern plaza! Do not let the invaders reach the palace!"
Bright whistled. "Oh good, we woke the princess. This is going to get messy."
The monorails shrieked into motion, diverting through emergency lanes. Warriors leapt from platforms in midair, landing with controlled rolls. The air filled with sonic suppressors, vibranium daggers, and kinetic shockwaves detonating against my troops.
Sentinel's voice cut through the chaos."They are adapting faster than any human nation I've observed."
"They're Wakanda," I said. "Adaptation is their birthright."
I raised my hand.
The periodic elements obeyed.
A wave of super‑dense air compacted at my command, compressing nitrogen into a hard invisible barrier. Wakandan spears bounced harmlessly off the pressurized shield. I swept my arm again—this time reshaping vibranium deposits beneath the streets into thick restraints that shot upward like metal vines, wrapping around attacking warriors.
Dozens were immobilized instantly.
Bright pointed deeper into the city. "We've got bigger problems!"
And we did.
War rhinos—massive beasts armored in vibranium plating—charged around a corner, their horns glowing with kinetic energy. Behind them ran dozens of Border Tribe warriors, shouting war cries as they prepared to intercept our advancing troops.
A death trooper unit switched tactics immediately, adjusting formation."HV‑EMP rounds," I ordered.The troopers complied.
They fired.
The rhinos staggered—their armor momentarily disrupted—but kinetic energy built faster than the EMP could drain it.
"Not enough," Bright muttered. "We need something heavier."
He looked at me.
I gave a curt nod.
He grinned like a maniac.
Bright sprinted forward, unhooking SCP‑963 from his neck. "Out of my way!"
He leapt onto the lead rhino's back, slapped the amulet onto its armor, and let SCP‑963 activate. The rhino convulsed violently as Bright forcibly hijacked its nervous system. The beast slowed, eyes flickering with a strange intelligence.
Bright's voice came from its maw."Oh this is AWESOME—"
The rhino pivoted, now under his control, and slammed head‑first into the other charging beasts, scattering the entire formation.
Orochimaru laughed sharply. "Bright, you truly have no shame."
"You say that like it's new," Bright replied through the rhino's distorted voice.
Meanwhile, Wakandan airships descended overhead—sleek, silent, and deadly. Their cannons powered up.
Sentinel whispered, "Recommend counterattack."
"Already on it."
I inhaled.
Then snapped my fingers.
Hydrogen molecules above us rearranged into a thin explosive layer—then combusted in a controlled burst. A ring of fire erupted upward, slamming into the Wakandan airships with enough force to destabilize their lift systems. They spun, crashed, and sent shockwaves across the city.
The death troopers surged forward, seizing intersections and pushing toward the golden palace at the heart of Wakanda.
The city burned with blue and gold light.
Wakanda was fighting harder than almost any nation we'd ever faced.
But the Foundation was relentless.
And I was leading them personally.
"Advance," I ordered. "We take the palace next."
Sentinel chimed:"Palace shield at 63%. Falling rapidly."
Good.
Phase three was about to begin.
Wakanda had shown its teeth.
Now we would show ours.