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Chapter 120: Black Panther

Loki's concern is not unfounded.

Thor has put the Jötuns in a state of disarray.

On the second day, Stark arrived. Although his high-tech weapons were not as effective against the Jötuns as against humans, they still had some impact.

By the third day, Steve's body had nearly recovered, and he joined the fight with his invincible shield.

The Jötuns, who had only sought to conquer Earth, found themselves trapped on an island, akin to a group of captive beasts.

Meanwhile, Sif, Karla, and others in the manor were also summoned by Thor to join in the effort against the Jötuns.

Sif, being an Asgardian warrior, volunteered to fight the Jötuns.

Karla had been captured...

Training a female superhero into a full-fledged hero is no easy task!

Originally, Thor wanted to call Hela, whose dart-like weapons were highly effective. Unfortunately, Thor couldn't control her...

In addition to these familiar faces, many others joined the fight, including top agents from S.H.I.E.L.D like Hawkeye, Clint Barton, Falcon, Sam Wilson, and War Machine, James Rhodes.

These capable individuals had been transferred by Nick Fury.

Although the Jötuns appeared to be trapped and furious on the island, Nick Fury was aware of their combat capabilities. If they had managed to escape to the mainland, the consequences would have been catastrophic.

Even the future King of Wakanda, upon hearing about the situation, couldn't resist his sister's request and came to assist.

"Brother, if possible, let's capture one of these monsters. Their skin seems incredibly tough. I want to study it to see if it can enhance our battle suits."

Princess Shuri of Wakanda eyed the strange-looking Jötuns with interest.

T'Challa, who had not yet become the Black Panther, smiled wryly and shook his head. "Is it necessary? No matter how tough their skin is, it can't compare to Vibranium!"

He observed Steve in battle, noting how the Vibranium shield struck the Jötuns with precision.

"I'm not referring to its defensive qualities, but rather its temprature regulation. The comfort of the battle suit is also crucial!"

T'Challa:

According to Wakanda's discreet principles, T'Challa should not have been involved in this conflict.

However, concerned about the potential havoc these monsters could wreak on the world, he joined the fight, using Shuri's request as an excuse...

And with a helmet on, his identity remained concealed!

The sudden appearance of a Black Panther on the battlefield drew everyone's attention.

After all, exoskeleton battle suits were still rare, and the Black Panther suit was a unique sight.

Stark's armor relied primarily on thermal weapons like lasers and missiles. The current Mark VI lacked the melee enhancements that would come in the future.

War Machine Rhodes' suit was similar.

The Black Panther suit, however, was different. After consuming the heart-shaped herb, Black Panther's senses, physical abilities, speed, and endurance were significantly enhanced.

In a way, it served as a neutral ground between Captain America and Iron Man.

Nearly all of Black Panther's abilities were suited for close combat, except for the occasional energy rebound. His main offensive capability was his claws!

Stark was particularly impressed by the Vibranium suit.

"Man, this Black Panther is incredibly wealthy!"

As night fell, the battle wound down, and everyone rested aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier.

"Let me introduce you," Thor said, patting Stark on the shoulder. "This is Prince T'Challa of Wakanda, the second richest person in the world, with a Vibranium mine of his own! And this is Princess Shuri, the richest woman in the world! Her battle suit designs are on par with yours!"

Thor's introduction, delivered with a tone of nouveau riche enthusiasm, left T'Challa and Shuri unimpressed.

Interestingly, Steve and T'Challa hit it off well. They spent time comparing the strength of Black Panther's claws to Captain America's shield, much to their mutual enjoyment.

Meanwhile, Stark and Princess Shuri found common ground, exchanging ideas on armor design. Stark considered adding melee weapons to his suit, while Shuri thought about equipping the Black Panther suit with heavy artillery, as relying solely on hand-to-hand combat seemed inadequate.

Shuri eventually designed a variety of long-range weapons, the best of which was a pair of hand cannons. However, T'Challa insisted on continuing with hand-to-hand combat, so Shuri retained the hand cannons for herself.

"I heard from Princess Shuri that your armor is made of a special metal, the same as that 'popsicle' shield?" Stark asked, glancing at Shuri.

"Indeed," Stark confirmed, straightening his face. "I have an idea…"

T'Challa quickly shook his head. "Sorry, but it's not for sale."

Stark's expression soured.

T'Challa felt helpless; Vibranium was the cornerstone of Wakanda. Even as a king, he could not provide it in large quantities. The elders would never allow it.

A small piece, about the size of a fist, might be possible for Shuri's research, but producing an entire suit was out of the question.

The shield Captain America wields already consumed most of the Vibranium available.

Wakanda might have plenty of Vibranium, but they were selective about its use.

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