Desecrator, How Dare You Act So Brazenly Before the Black Panther God

"Azzuri, I’ll tear you apart in front of everyone!" Elder White Ape roared, raising his elbows before his chest as he charged straight at Azzuri.

Azzuri frowned, tapped the ground with his toe, and kicked up a shield fragment straight at Elder White Ape’s face.

Elder White Ape instinctively turned his head aside, his movement inevitably stalling. Azzuri seized the chance to rush forward, springing high off both feet and driving a flying knee brutally into Elder White Ape’s face.

A muffled thud rang out, like a drumhead covered in animal hide. Azzuri flipped behind Elder White Ape and, upon landing, swung out a side kick that struck him squarely in the middle of the back.

Two heavy blows, each one potentially fatal. Cheers immediately erupted from the four major tribes, but Azzuri’s expression changed as he discreetly stepped back two paces.

"Heh heh heh…"

Elder White Ape chuckled coldly and turned to face Azzuri. Blood sprayed from his brow, staining half his face red and making him look even more vicious.

Elder White Ape wiped the blood from the corner of his eye and licked his fingers. "Azzuri, I never thought you’d be this weak. If I’d known, I would’ve challenged you long ago."

Azzuri’s face darkened, his cold expression revealing none of his thoughts. He quickly glanced at the spear on the ground, then suddenly charged at Elder White Ape.

Elder White Ape tilted his head and spotted the spear as well. With a cold smile, he swung his fist at Azzuri.

Azzuri accelerated and kicked out. Fist and foot collided in midair, separating at the first touch. The next second, their fists crashed together. Azzuri dodged left and right with agile movements, exploiting openings to counterattack, while Elder White Ape ignored defense entirely and hammered down blow after blow with arms like pile drivers.

Azzuri’s attacks were strange and ever-changing, each move brimming with killing intent and aimed straight for vital points. Every strike was lethal. Elder White Ape had an entirely different style: broad, forceful movements. Though slightly slower, his attacks were thunderous, and his fists carried both brutality and cruelty.

At last, after one clash, Azzuri was forced into a direct confrontation with Elder White Ape. His waist, legs, and arms exerted force simultaneously as he threw a punch containing all his strength.

His fist tore through the air, leaving an afterimage behind. It was unbelievably fast.

Elder White Ape shouted furiously. Blood ran from his brow and flooded his eye socket red. Muscles bulged across his body, his right arm swelling as he grinned savagely and threw a punch.

Bang!!

Their fists collided, and both men staggered back. Elder White Ape’s feet plowed two long furrows into the ground, while Azzuri rolled several times to disperse the force before swiftly getting back up.

How could this guy be so strong?

When he had first seen Elder White Ape fight, Azzuri had merely been surprised and given it little thought. He had assumed Elder White Ape might have taken the Heart-shaped herb. Though Elder White Ape’s physical abilities were astonishing, his combat technique was crude. He had clearly only recently acquired this power and had not yet adapted to it.

But as the fight continued, Azzuri discovered that Elder White Ape was far stronger than he was, with reactions no worse than his own, only slightly less agile. His especially tough, thick-skinned defense was absolutely not an effect of the Heart-shaped herb. Elder White Ape had definitely used some other means of enhancement.

"Look into it later. Elder White Ape isn’t that simple. Find out where his strength came from," Russell said quietly to Natasha, his eyes lighting up as he watched from the side.

Elder White Ape had only recently gained his power and had not fully mastered it yet. It was not only Azzuri who had noticed; Russell had too. Based on what he knew of Wakanda, only the Heart-shaped herb could enhance the human body. But judging from the current situation, there was another possibility.

"Azzuri, you’re finished!"

Elder White Ape laughed wildly. After their probing exchange, he had already firmly suppressed Azzuri. Once today was over, no one would be able to challenge his throne again.

Azzuri snorted coldly and kicked off the ground, arriving beside Elder White Ape in an instant. He dodged the two large hands pressing down at him, then rolled forward, snatched up the spear, and held it in his hands.

Elder White Ape lunged back at him, and the two once again fell into fierce combat. Azzuri wielded the spear, repeatedly mixing feints with real attacks. Using the weapon’s advantage, he made Elder White Ape suffer several setbacks and prevented him from approaching carelessly.

Without question, Azzuri was slightly inferior in physical ability, but he had been enhanced longer, had fought countless battles, and possessed far more combat experience. In terms of technique, Elder White Ape could never compare.

With exquisite combat techniques and strange, flexible movements, Azzuri gradually suppressed Elder White Ape. The latter had nothing but brute strength, yet he was held at bay and unable to act. He roared repeatedly, his face flushing red with rage.

Finally, Elder White Ape’s fury erupted. He strode forward and took the spear directly through his chest, then exerted both arms to wrench it away.

"What other tricks do you have? Bring them all out!"

Elder White Ape howled as he pulled the spear from his chest. Ignoring the blood spraying everywhere, he hurled it at Azzuri with all his strength. His entire body was dyed red, and his murderous aura made hearts tremble.

Azzuri dodged the spear, with no time to retrieve it. He kicked aside Elder White Ape’s incoming punch, but the force threw him off balance, and he had to roll several times before regaining his footing.

Elder White Ape picked up the broken spear and threw it far away, crushing Azzuri’s hopes. Then he strode toward him, the fist raised high midway turning into a cannonball launched from its barrel, carrying a shrieking gust of wind.

With nowhere to retreat, Azzuri straightened and met him head-on. He still focused on counterattacks, using his agile body to weave around him. Their figures overlapped, and Azzuri’s fists and kicks flowed together, his body moving as fast as an afterimage. To outsiders, it looked as if he were toying with Elder White Ape.

Only Azzuri knew that Elder White Ape possessed limitless strength, and every blow required his full power to withstand. He had lasted this long only because he had more combat experience. Once his opponent adapted to his speed, he would truly have no answer.

Boom!

The tide of battle shifted dramatically.

Elder White Ape punched the ground, then scooped up dirt and flung it into the air. Gravel and dust shot outward, blinding Azzuri’s eyes.

"King!" Cries of alarm rang out from all around.

Azzuri possessed beast-like instincts and dodged Elder White Ape’s attacks twice in succession, but he was still struck in the face by an elbow. His body was flung high into the air, and before he could land, Elder White Ape slammed into him, sending him flying more than ten meters away.

Azzuri struggled to rise, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Tears washed away the dirt, and his vision finally began to clear.

"Azzuri, wasn’t it good enough to live outside as a stray dog? Why come running back to die?" Elder White Ape’s fists cracked as he clenched them. He strode forward, grabbed Azzuri by the neck, and lifted him up.

Azzuri kicked Elder White Ape in the chest, every kick landing on the wound above and sending blood spraying.

Elder White Ape paid it no mind, completely unconcerned by such pain. He bared his teeth in a savage grin, the whites of his bloodshot eyes filled with madness. "Azzuri, you’re too weak. How can someone this weak protect Wakanda?"

As he spoke, Elder White Ape grabbed one of Azzuri’s kicking legs. Under Azzuri’s terrified gaze, he swung him down and smashed him into the ground, then brought down his huge foot and snapped that leg.

"Ugh, ahhh!!"

Watching Azzuri cry out in pain, Elder White Ape was immensely pleased with himself. He stomped on Azzuri again and again, in no rush to kill him. He wanted to humiliate Azzuri viciously before everyone, then kill him in the end.

"My king!!"

On the side of the four major tribes, the crowd surged. Bound by tribal rules, they could only weep silently, lowering their heads and unable to bear watching.

"Boss, this doesn’t match our plan. Azzuri is about to be beaten to death."

"Wait a little longer…" Russell frowned, thinking that Azzuri had been far too overconfident. If he had worn the Black Panther’s gear and issued a challenge through faith, pitting the Black Panther God against the White Ape God, he certainly would not have ended up like this.

Still, though the situation was urgent, Russell had no intention of intervening. At times like this, some righteous companion would always make a dazzling entrance. He only needed to stand by and watch the show.

"Roar roar roar—"

The righteous companion did not appear. Instead, the black panther lying at Russell’s feet let out a roar. It rose on all fours, its long tail swaying slightly behind it. Its lowered head revealed only a pair of golden eyes, while its half-open mouth continued to growl.

Its presence was intimidating, but Russell and the others who knew the truth all understood that this thing was only putting on an act!

Elder White Ape was viciously beating Azzuri, pinning him beneath him and raining down fists and kicks. Suddenly hearing the beast’s roar, he turned and saw the black panther, along with Russell’s group.

Elder White Ape froze, then suddenly grinned. "Azzuri, you said I kidnapped and humiliated you, but what’s with those people? A few of them look very familiar!"

"Just watch. I’ll expose your lies in front of everyone. You won’t become a hero. You’re Wakanda’s sinner, and you always will be."

Elder White Ape grabbed Azzuri and walked toward Russell’s group. "Listen carefully, all of you. Azzuri deceived you just now. He has colluded with outsiders plotting to steal Vibranium. He is unworthy of being king."

Azzuri hung in midair. When he saw Russell, he inwardly cursed his bad luck. The next second, the world spun before his eyes as Elder White Ape brutally threw him toward Russell, who stood at the front.

"Your Majesty, watch out!"

Russell cried out and shoved Yelena aside. Only after Azzuri landed flat on his back did he say guiltily, "I didn’t hit you… cough cough, sorry I didn’t catch you. You’re not hurt, are you?"

Azzuri: "…"

Russell crouched beside him and whispered into Azzuri’s ear, "About expanding that plot of land by one circle, do you think that can work?"

"…"

Azzuri opened his mouth but said nothing. His neck tilted to one side, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Damn it, at a time like this, you’re still bargaining for your life? Russell was speechless. Fine, you win. We can discuss the Vibranium land later, but you have to let me photograph the Heart-shaped herb. Deal?

Azzuri grabbed Russell’s pant leg and spat out another mouthful of blood. "Deal!"

Russell nodded heavily, kicked away the hand gripping his pant leg, then stood up and pointed fiercely at Elder White Ape as he approached. "Hey! You native called Elder White Ape, how dare you behave so brazenly before Black Panther God Bast!"

Elder White Ape froze, then flew into a rage. "I’m not called Elder White Ape! My name is…"

"I don’t care what you’re called. Black Panther God Bast has descended; what right do you have to speak? Get on your knees already." As Russell spoke, he secretly stepped on the black panther’s paw.

"Roar roar roar—"

The black panther immediately threw back its head and roared. It turned viciously toward Russell, but upon discovering that Russell’s gaze was even fiercer than its own, it promptly turned back to Elder White Ape, anger rising in its golden eyes.

"Roar roar roar—"

Elder White Ape: "…"

I saw you step on its paw!

"You’re saying this beast is the Black Panther God?" Elder White Ape laughed in fury. "Not to mention that I worship the White Ape God, who is irreconcilably opposed to the Black Panther God. Even this black panther you found looks far too stupid. Who would believe it’s impersonating the Black Panther God?"

Upon hearing the name Black Panther God, the soldiers of the four major tribes began whispering among themselves. Even the Golden Tribe, who all worshiped the Black Panther God, was doubtful. This black panther looked no different from any other black panther. If there was anything unusual about it, it was probably its bloated body, covered in fat.

That was nothing unusual either. Due to their faith, black panthers were numerous around Wakanda. Tribespeople made offerings to them, so they never lacked food or drink. Being a little fat was perfectly normal.

"What Black Panther God? You dare play god before me? Watch me skin it alive." Elder White Ape sneered and reached for the black panther.

"Desecrator, how dare you act so brazenly before the Black Panther God?"

Russell looked terrified and shoved the black panther to the ground. At the instant he fell, electric arcs flickered behind him. A blue-white giant cat formed from lightning burst forth, baring its fangs and claws as it pounced on Elder White Ape.

Crackle!