Seeing T’Challa Again

Wakanda’s current territory occupied only a small part of the true Wakanda.

An Energy Shield that even the Gaia Hypothesis could not penetrate enveloped the true Wakanda. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a vast jungle.

And now, Nakia personally drove Oaks into this jungle.

"The forest’s feedback… indeed, there is a huge secret here."

Oaks was marveling at the futuristic-looking off-road vehicle. From his observation, it should have been plated with Vibranium.

He had not guessed wrong. Nakia had come quietly this time precisely to take him to the "real Wakanda."

King T’Chaka had originally intended to do so, and this time, the Queen, Shuri, and Nakia had requested his help. Wakanda’s friendship was the reward.

After entering the jungle, Oaks could clearly locate the Great Shield of Wakanda from the information relayed by the plants.

"You’ve hidden this from the entire world. I’m looking forward more and more to seeing this wondrous country you described with my own eyes."

Nakia gave a proud smile.

"You’ll definitely be satisfied, President Oaks. Wakanda possesses the most advanced technology known on this planet, but because of T’Challa’s situation, we can’t show you around for now…"

"I understand. The important matter comes first."

Oaks nodded. Recalling what Nakia had told him earlier, he slowly closed his eyes.

"T’Challa’s physical condition isn’t much of a problem, but the most important thing is his soul.

"If his body has only just died and his soul has not yet left it, then with my abilities, I can indeed revive him directly.

"If his soul has already left his body but has not had time to enter hell, then it can still be done with more time and power.

"But if his soul has already caught the attention of the Hell Lords or has even fallen into their hands, then the situation will likely be bad."

"Hell Lords?"

Nakia froze. "What are those?"

She knew nothing about magic.

"Well, you can think of it as another dimensional space, inhabited by demons that feed on human souls or emotions such as fear.

"But I don’t know which situation applies to T’Challa."

"Although I don’t think T’Challa would go to hell, he probably… wouldn’t go to Heaven either?"

Nakia’s expression turned strange, and she sounded uncertain.

"We don’t believe in God."

"But you believe in Bast, the Black Panther Goddess. So I can’t determine whether T’Challa’s soul is with Bast, in hell, or somewhere else."

Oaks rubbed his temples. Nakia had not revealed the Black Panther’s secret to him. He could hardly say that he knew T’Challa’s soul would join his ancestors after death and appear in Bast’s Ancestral Plain, could he?

And would Bast allow Oaks’s power to bring T’Challa’s soul back?

"I see!"

Nakia understood. After thinking for a moment, her expression brightened with excitement.

"If it is under Lady Bast’s protection, then there is no question that T’Challa’s soul would never go to hell!"

"We’re here, President Oaks!"

The car slowed. Oaks opened his eyes and saw Nakia slowly driving into an azure energy shield.

"Wow… what powerful energy!"

"It protects our homeland!"

Nakia was immensely proud. Once the car had completely passed through the shield, she floored the accelerator, and the off-road vehicle shot forward like an arrow.

"Sorry, President Oaks, but we must hurry… We can’t let anyone notice anything unusual!"

"Mm, it’s fine. Drive as fast as you want. Don’t mind me."

Oaks admired the scenery outside, utterly unaffected by Nakia’s sudden acceleration—

Compared to his flying speed, this was painfully slow. There was no comparison.

Presumably, if this operation had not been so secretive, Nakia or even Shuri would have come directly in a Wakandan aircraft to pick him up.

The scenery of Wakanda’s outer grasslands was breathtaking, and the natural environment here had been well protected. Just along the route they had taken, Oaks could sense pure Nature Force.

He could even sense the presence of the Bountiful Wheat and root moss he had developed.

Looks like there was never such a thing as too much food… Wakanda had already brought both inside the shield to cultivate them, and the harvest seemed quite good.

When Oaks finally saw Wakanda’s main city in the distance, he could not help opening his mouth wide.

Indeed, this was a city of the future unlike anything else on Earth.

Countless metallic towers and domed buildings were scattered across the plains beside a great river, surrounded by mist-shrouded mountains.

Vast greenery blended with the steel cityscape, complemented by rippling water and sunlight. It seemed the Wakandans understood environmental protection quite well.

Unfortunately, judging by the direction Nakia was driving, he would probably not get a close look for now.

But he would have a chance soon enough.

The off-road vehicle raced all the way to a rather hidden cave before gradually slowing down and finally driving straight inside.

The cave was pitch-black, yet Nakia did not turn on the headlights…

As if it had automatic navigation, the off-road vehicle took turn after turn through the darkness. Only after driving for more than ten minutes did it finally stop.

Whoosh—

The lights flared to life. Oaks saw a row of fierce bald women standing beside the vehicle, holding metal spears and dressed in combat uniforms and skirts. They shouted a slogan in unison.

"&*&…()!"

"…What did they say?"

Aliens spoke English, but you people still spoke in dialect?

"We’ve arrived, President Oaks—they spoke Wakandan. They were welcoming our honored guest."

Nakia smiled as she opened the car door and stepped out. When the fierce women saw the smile on her face, their expressions immediately turned to delighted surprise.

"They are T’Challa’s guard unit. When T’Challa ascends the throne, they will become his personal guard.

"Captain Okoye was originally coming as well, but she, the Queen, and Princess Shuri must stay by His Majesty’s side and distract him, allowing us to move T’Challa’s body here."

Nakia explained this to Oaks as he got out of the car. He nodded in understanding. No wonder only they were guarding this place, and no wonder they knew the objective of this operation.

"Where is T’Challa?"

Unable to sense T’Challa’s life force, Oaks frowned. It seemed T’Challa truly had not a trace of vitality left.

But he had met T’Challa before. Even if he was dead, Oaks should have been able to sense some lingering aura.

"Please follow me."

Nakia nodded and led the way. Oaks followed, while the guards protected them from behind with their spears in hand.

Those spears were all Vibranium…

They had not looked like much in the movie, but only after arriving in Wakanda did Oaks understand just how extravagant this was.

An entire mountain of Vibranium…

Well, Vibranium was of little use to him. He still preferred Uru.

When he got the chance, he had to show off to Tony. An entire mountain of Vibranium—Tony would probably go crazy.

Especially once he learned that someone could crush the financial power he was so proud of.

All right, that could wait. After passing through several doors that required identity verification, Oaks finally saw T’Challa lying quietly inside a protective barrier in a highly technological room.

"An Energy Shield… no wonder I couldn’t sense his aura."

Although T’Challa’s body had already been treated with Wakandan technology, many injuries were still visible—more than half the bones in his body had been broken.

And now that T’Challa had lost his life, no matter how advanced Wakanda’s technology was, it could not make him heal himself.

However, they were still using machines to maintain his blood circulation, saving Oaks quite a bit of effort.

Emerald Light flickered around his hands as Oaks directly cast a Healing Spell.

Although T’Challa’s soul was not in his body, the life force of nature could still help repair it.

After a long while, amid the stunned looks of the guards, T’Challa’s body was fully restored—

The instrument readings showed that his bodily functions were just as they had been when he was alive.

The only difference was that his heart was not beating, and none of his organs showed any vitality.

Oaks slowly nodded and glanced around.

"Too much metal… I need a place close to nature to cast the spell. A forest would be best. If that isn’t convenient, an ordinary cave will do, but preferably without metal blocking it."

"Oh?"

Nakia froze at his words, but she asked no questions and immediately nodded.

"It’ll be ready right away!"

Very soon, T’Challa’s remains were placed deeper within the cave, in an untouched natural cavern.

The protective barrier was also removed and replaced with a freshly dug earthen pit.

"It is Wakandan tradition. Such an earthen pit brings a person closer to the souls of their ancestors."

Nakia no longer hid anything from Oaks, because there was no point anymore.

"Our Wakandan leader is called the ‘Black Panther,’ a powerful warrior blessed by Bast, the Black Panther Goddess—

"Our kings throughout the generations have all been ‘Black Panthers,’ and Prince T’Challa received Lady Bast’s blessing years ago, becoming the ‘Black Panther.’"

She looked at T’Challa lying silently in the earthen pit. Her lips moved, but she suppressed her excitement and continued.

"And just as you said, President Oaks, Lady Bast’s blessing does indeed cause the souls of every generation of Black Panthers to remain in the Ancestral Plain—

"Whenever a Black Panther receives the blessing, he sees the souls of his ancestors. Therefore, Prince T’Challa’s soul definitely has not gone to hell!"

"I see… no wonder you were so certain."

Oaks put on a belatedly enlightened expression, then frowned again.

"Then it remains unknown whether Bast will stop me from bringing T’Challa’s soul back. After all, as you know, this violates the laws of nature.

"Gods are generally guardians of the laws of nature. Something like that could very well happen…

"Never mind. Let me first confirm whether I can sense T’Challa’s soul."

Oaks did not know whether Bast was a Nature Demigod or truly a god from Egyptian mythology, but at the very least, she should not bear any ill intent.

"A Soul Realm… I’m really looking forward to it!"