144

Chapter 144: The Force Field

A Stormbreaker capable of withstanding even Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet blasts did not disappoint.

"Click..."

The moment the shield shattered, Erik knew it was over.

Without this large shield, even T'Challa alone was more than enough to defeat him.

T'Challa stepped forward slowly and said in a deep voice, "Surrender, Erik. You will receive a fair trial."

Erik stared blankly at the scene before him and suddenly shouted, "No! I haven't lost!"

He quickly produced a remote control and pressed a button.

"Boom——"

The ground cracked open, and a billowing cloud of smoke obscured everyone's view. A Vibranium fighter jet emerged from beneath the ground, carrying Erik and soaring into the sky.

Stark raised his hand and fired a laser at maximum power, but the fighter jet only swayed slightly and remained unharmed.

"This is the latest fighter jet, equipped with the most advanced weapons. There is only one model of the Wakanda 07. Its armor can even withstand nuclear blasts!"

T'Challa said urgently, "I must return to the control room immediately and contact the authorities. Otherwise, the destructive power of this fighter jet could rival that of an entire army!"

Stark turned to Thor, knowing he must have a solution.

Thor didn't act; it was Jean Grey who took charge.

She extended a hand, and the fighter jet in the air immediately began to tremble. Despite its maximum power, it couldn't move.

Thor nodded slightly.

The Vibranium fighter jet started to retreat slowly. As Jean's power intensified, with a sound of "whoosh," the fighter was pulled back and crashed upside down into the ground.

"Crack..." With another motion from Jean, the seemingly indestructible Vibranium fuselage was torn apart, and several metal lines transformed into spears to restrain Erik, who was still dazed.

"I'm sorry, this is my first attempt, and I didn't want to disappoint him," Jean said with a faint smile, raising her hand as if an invisible force had pulled Erik out and dropped him at Thor's feet.

Thor crouched down and looked at him, whispering, "From the beginning, you had no chance."

Erik looked up at him and suddenly laughed maniacally, "Hahaha! You're right, I lost from the start. No amount of mortal strength can stop a god. But I don't regret it!"

"I just wanted to make those who oppressed us pay for their actions. I'm only seeking revenge!"

"But most of your attacks were aimed at innocent civilians!" T'Challa said sternly.

"Our people are equally innocent!"

Thor didn't bother with the argument between the two.

Arguing about this was pointless; no one could convince anyone otherwise.

Are the civilians of the United States innocent? In fact, most of them are descendants of exiles and colonialisers, and their ancestors' actions are beyond justification. Look at what was done to the Native Americans.

Are Black people innocent? Thor acknowledges that the history of enslavement is tragic, but that's no reason to transfer one's suffering onto others.

Erik's initial attack included Hong Kong.

Had he not encountered Dormammu and had to cancel that part of the plan, the war would not be limited to West but turn true World War.

Thor, however, was not in a position to claim moral superiority. Asgard's history is also not entirely glorious. As Hela said, the resplendent Asgard was built on the blood and tears of the Nine Realms.

...

Unlike the original story, this was no longer a dispute over the throne of Wakanda, but a global catastrophe.

Even T'Challa was not in a position to offer Erik leniency; he would face a court-martial.

The death penalty was not certain, but life imprisonment was the most likely outcome.

However, Erik had no intention of being captured.

"I will not be a prisoner. Bury me at sea, like those ancestors who chose death over captivity. They understood: Give me freedom or give me death."

He drew a Vibranium dagger and plunged it into his heart.

The end of a hero.

Thor sighed and led everyone away from the scene, giving T'Challa space.

In all fairness, as a villain, Erik was one of the more sympathetic ones.

Both T'Challa and Erik deeply cared for Wakanda, and even had profound feelings for their race.

The conflict was no longer black and white but more like an extended debate between conservatives and radicals in today's political arena.

T'Challa hoped for Wakanda's continued prosperity and peace, while also wishing for Wakanda to engage more with the world, taking on global responsibilities and helping those who had suffered injustice. Yet, he hesitated.

Erik also wanted Wakanda to thrive and wished for better conditions for Black people worldwide. He used extreme measures and violence to achieve his goals, mirroring the oppression he had suffered.

Erik's defeat was not due to some simplistic notion that justice must prevail over evil but rather because he was on the wrong side.