Chapter 215: Chapter 214: Ghost Rider (Part 1)
"Fortunately, this shield doesn't block spatial abilities," Daniel Davis thought as he used Apparition to bypass the protective barrier and enter Wakanda. He wasted no time admiring the futuristic city in the distance and immediately headed in the opposite direction.
Vibranium and the Heart-Shaped Herb were Wakanda's greatest secrets, and locating them wouldn't be easy. The logical approach would be to gather information in the city, but Wakanda's unique societal structure made that impractical.
Despite its advanced technology, Wakanda still operated under a tribal leadership system, where the leader's position was determined through combat. As long as one's bloodline was legitimate, even an outsider could become the king of Wakanda by winning a duel. Although this system seemed odd, it wasn't entirely unreasonable. In the vast universe, many large empires had even stranger systems. If the Celestial Dragons existed in the world of "One Piece," then Wakanda's practices were hardly surprising.
With Wakanda's technological prowess, Daniel risked being detected if he entered the city. However, approaching other tribes offered a different opportunity. Officially, Wakanda was governed by five major tribes, but in reality, the Black Panther lineage had always held the throne. The other four tribes had little chance of rising to power, and it was unrealistic to expect them to harbor no resentment.
Even within the Black Panther's lineage, T'Challa's cousin once became king with the support of one of the tribes. Daniel had no qualms with King T'Chaka, who had governed Wakanda well and had played a crucial role in defending against Thanos. However, Wakanda's isolationist policies made it impossible for Daniel to obtain Vibranium and the Heart-Shaped Herb without resorting to subterfuge. Given that Erik Killmonger, who planned to burn the Heart-Shaped Herbs, would soon emerge, Daniel felt justified in taking them himself.
Before coming to Wakanda, Daniel had captured Ulysses Klaue, the notorious smuggler of Vibranium. From Klaue, he learned valuable information about Wakanda. Klaue had initially been a talented scientist who developed a device needing Vibranium to enhance its effectiveness. After discovering Vibranium's source in Wakanda, Klaue infiltrated the country and stole a significant amount, sparking a conflict between King T'Chaka and his brother.
King T'Chaka was a traditionalist who adhered to Wakanda's isolationist policies, while his brother advocated for opening up to the world, leading to the latter's banishment. As a result, Klaue became a high-profile fugitive in Wakanda. Capturing him would yield Vibranium, but not the Heart-Shaped Herb.
Daniel planned to frame Klaue for his actions and learned from him that the British Museum housed artifacts made of Vibranium, including a legendary hoe. This artifact, a symbol rather than a practical tool, was unlikely to be closely guarded, allowing Daniel to replace it with a fake using alchemy.
Upon reaching Wakanda, Daniel found the internal structure of what appeared to be primitive huts surprisingly modern. He mused on the contrast, noting that with their resources, they could build far more luxurious homes, much like the wealthy in the Middle East.
Inside these inconspicuous huts were the stores of Vibranium and the Heart-Shaped Herb. Daniel was perplexed by how King T'Chaka could have been killed by a bomb despite having access to such powerful resources. The Wakandan tradition dictated that once a king decided to pass on the throne, he had to take a drug that nullified the effects of the Heart-Shaped Herb. This policy was intended to prevent internal strife over the herb, yet Daniel found it wasteful.
"One ton, two tons... Let's take two tons," Daniel decided. Wakanda's Vibranium mines, composed entirely of the precious metal, were vast, with enough reserves to potentially elevate the entire world into a spacefaring civilization. Yet, they remained largely untapped due to Wakanda's isolationist stance.
Daniel couldn't fault Wakanda for hoarding its resources. People were naturally inclined to protect their own interests, and altruism with valuable resources was rare. Even he, with his advanced knowledge and technology, hadn't shared his secrets freely with Earth, focusing instead on personal gain.
"Black Panther, while I've taken your Vibranium and the Heart-Shaped Herb, I've also removed a significant threat for you," Daniel thought, as he set his plan in motion with Ulysses Klaue, involving Erik Killmonger, who had been poised to challenge for the throne.
The shield protecting Wakanda, while impressive, had its vulnerabilities, as Klaue had proven by smuggling out Vibranium. The barrier wasn't a complete sphere, allowing entry from underground tunnels.
As gunfire erupted, Wakanda's tranquility was shattered. The Wakandan soldiers quickly organized a defensive line using their advanced technology, showcasing weapons and clothing with impressive capabilities, reminiscent of Asgardian technology.
The battle quickly turned against Klaue's forces, and Daniel took the opportunity to seize the Vibranium and Heart-Shaped Herbs he had targeted. The appearance of T'Challa, clad in the Black Panther suit, marked the beginning of a swift and lethal counterattack. The suit's Vibranium claws made short work of any opposition.
"Such advanced technology, yet they favor close combat. Truly fitting for the Black Panther," Daniel mused. The Black Panther suit's defensive capabilities rendered conventional weapons ineffective.
"Erik was killed instantly. Well, that was quick and clean," Daniel noted. T'Challa, with his enhanced physical abilities, easily subdued Erik, whose challenge had ended in failure.
"With enough Vibranium, I can craft a magnificent Vibranium armor. Now, what style should I choose?" Daniel pondered, imagining a suit reminiscent of the armor worn by the saints under a certain goddess.
For this, he planned to employ Wapol, an ally with the ability to combine metals, to create a new material by blending Vibranium with gold, diamonds, and modern alloys. This new alloy, though not mass-producible, would be perfect for personal use.
"Fortunately, Wapol is reliable, and I have the Op-Op Fruit ability. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare let him ingest so much material. If we gave a Vibranium mountain to the Fusion Fruit user, who knows how powerful they could become," Daniel thought, recognizing the potential of combining such abilities with scientific methods.
"Imagine if the Devour-Devour Fruit and Fusion Fruit abilities were swapped; the Navy would have a serious problem."
Back at Stark's villa, Tony Stark proudly demonstrated his new nanotech Iron Man suit, which deployed seamlessly over his body from a chest-mounted arc reactor. In a costly but efficient project, Stark had quickly developed the suit, buoyed by recent victories against HYDRA.
The nanotech suit's convenience meant Stark no longer needed to return to base or remotely summon his armor. "He's still keeping it in the chest," Daniel observed, noting that the nanotech suit could be stored in a belt for discretion. Daniel's suits, including the Ant-Man and Vibranium armors, were designed as rings, bracelets, and even earrings—though the earrings were gifts for Robin and Ada.
As Stark showcased his suit, Captain America, Carter, Banner, Natasha, and other Avengers arrived, visibly tense. Captain America, usually composed, looked particularly severe, as did the others.
"Banner," Stark addressed, retracting his armor as he noticed Banner's stern expression.
"Don't blame me. This plan can't proceed as you wish," Banner replied.
"What's going on?" Daniel inquired, curious about the commotion.
"Tony wants to create a global defense system, the Ultron program," Natasha explained.
"You can't be serious. I went through a lot to prevent Ultron from existing, and now you're doing this," Daniel exclaimed, shocked.
"This is for world peace. Relying on a few of us isn't enough to end these threats, but a surveillance system could," Stark argued.
"This is just another Insight plan. How can you ensure it won't be misused?" Captain America countered, staring sternly at Stark.
"I can guarantee it won't be," Stark insisted, undeterred despite the unanimous opposition. As a scientist, Stark relied heavily on technological solutions, believing in the potential of AI, despite the inherent risks.
The discussion ended with no resolution, and the team dispersed, leaving Stark in a sour mood.
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