Arc Eight. Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Four. Death Becomes Him

Peter had slipped out of his symbskin clothing and had been redressed in ceremonial garb for the fight.

When he looked around the area he felt out of place. Even Fisk, who was dressed the same as he was, with simple sandals, wrapped to below the knee and simple shorts tied with twine, looked like a giant caveman, ready for battle, and not some skinny white kid trying his best not to be accused of black face at a pep rally.

Zuri, who Peter knew was the High Priest of Bast, and Keeper of the Purple Heart flower was painted with white dots along the lines of his mouth and wore a bright purple robe. He could sense the same power emanating from it that the herb gave off, and he figured that it was dyed with its juice.

"We are here today, to settle a dispute between M'Baku, leader of the White Gorilla tribe, and Peter Parker. Outsider." The man definitely was used to speaking publicly as his booming voice echoed around the chamber. "Both combatants have been chosen. Wilson Fisk, Champion of the White Gorilla will face, Venom, the devourer and enemy of Wakanda." and Peter scowled,

The devourer was just some bullshit legend, and even with access to the files, he got to the truth. A Symbiote had escaped from the same ship Apocalypse found, and killed a few people. Starving and confused it had fled, where Black Panther and his royal guard cornered and killed it, declaring it a hostile invader. It was all 18th century propaganda, and while he wasn't helping by refusing to give them medical data on the Symbiotes, anyone with a brain knew it was all crap.

"In this fight, Wilson will decline to use the blessings of the Gorilla, and Peter will be stripped of his own abominable power." and as a servant came forwards with two glasses on a tray Fisk took one and drank while Peter hesitantly took the other and eyed it,

"If you do not drink, you forfeit, and will be taken to one of our facilities," Zuri admitted, Peter was shocked, neither Shuri nor T'Challa had mentioned if he refused this fight that he was going to jail and a surge of anger rushed through him. Glaring at Zuri he took the vial and drank it. If Wakanda was unwilling to play fair, then neither would he. And the liquid was wrapped in a symbskin coating and stored within his stomach. He would give Gwen that sample later.

"Then it is agreed. To conclude the bad blood between Fisk and Parker, they will fight. If Wilson Fisk is victorious, Peter will relinquish his right to marry and be held at our discretion. If Peter wins, then he is free to pursue a relationship with Shuri." and as Zuri stepped back, T'Challa, Ramonda, and an incredibly guilty looking Shuri stepped forwards,

"We give this fight our blessing, and may Bast favour you."

Fisk bowed to M'Baku while Peter stood still, glaring at Fisk.

Fisk snorted as he saw the angry look on Peter's face, "yeah, this is gonna be fun." and as he darted forwards he struck out at Peter.

Peter moved to one side, grabbed Fisk's wrist and brought his other arm up, pushing violently against his elbow and snapping it backwards. Fisk's scream was cut short as Peter let go of his arm and spun behind him, kicking at the side of his knee and snapping it at an angle. He then struck down, hitting Fisk at the small of his back and Fisk dropped to the ground as Peter's blow snapped and twisted his spine.

Moving to one side, Peter then lay a kick into Fisk's side, and he coughed up blood as his ribs caved. Flipping him over, Peter lept and drove his elbow into Fisk's sternum, and he coughed up blood once more as it cracked and splintered under the heavy blow.

Standing he glared at M'Baku who was shaking with rage, but Erik didn't seem too phased by this development.

Zuri looked over at T'Challa who coughed and nodded at the pair, "Peter Parker is the winner, and with this, the debt is settled."

M'Baku yelled, "he cheated, he used his devourer. Fisk had been training with us, no mere boy could defeat him." but Peter shook his head,

"I don't have one." and he shrugged,

M'Baku stared at him, "what!"

"I don't have one, the devourer," and he nodded at T'Challa, "You know about Cindy and Flash, yes?" and T'Challa looked confused but nodded,

"The Symbiotes, your so called devourer. I don't have one. The one I was host to is now with another person. This is my own power. And if you put me through any more of this stupid bullshit, you'll see the rest of it," and as he motioned down at Fisk, who was being given medical attention, "this, this was nothing." and as he stopped forwards he roared at M'Baku, letting loose a flood of fear enhanced pheromone as well as a blast of telepathic energy,

"YOU ARE NOTHING!"

M'Baku skidded back, falling on his ass and scrambling away, and Peter was slightly impressed he hadn't pissed himself, but right now he was too angry to give it more than a passing thought.

"I have read your scrolls, and will obey your rules. I will make Shuri my wife. I will take any and all challenges to my marriage, and you will be nothing before me."

Peter let the clothing he had been wearing slip down and rather than expose himself to the queen, he donned a ceremonial garb of Wakanda, a simple black robe, with a white spider motif on its front, moving towards T'Challa,

"King T'Challa. I formally wish to approach the Royal Family with intentions of marrying Shuri of the Golden Tribe. I ask your permission, and I ask yours as well, Mother in Law."

T'Challa looked at the red faced Shuri and the fluster that had appeared on his mother's face as well. As he laughed he stepped forwards and clapped Peter on the shoulder, "yes yes I accept," and as he pulled in closer to Peter, "although, I would still like to know more about the Symbiotes, even if you are unwilling to create one for us."

Peter shook his head and patted T'Challa on the shoulder before moving, bending and taking Romanda hand, and kissing the back of it, "Mother, I am sorry for such a barbaric display. I will endeavour to make myself more agreeable in future," and she smiled and shook her head, pulling him into a hug,

"You are still taking my daughter. Do not think you are forgiven." and he smiled and nodded,

"Princess Shuri, do you accept?" but before Shuri could speak,

"Uh, I hate to break up this touching moment but I think there is another matter first," Erik said, stepping forwards.

Holding up a scroll, "My name is Erik Stevens, but my true name is N'Jadak, son of N'Jobu. And I challenge T'Challa for the throne." and tossing the scroll over, T'Challa caught and unfurled it.

Furrowing his brow "Cousin?" and Erik nodded, "this is most irregular, we must-" but a voice from the background interrupted him,

"No T'Challa, We have already verified the information. A challenge has been issued, do you accept?" Zuri asked, a small smile on his face.

Peter tilted his head and frowned, scanning both men. He could feel a sense of smug satisfaction coming from both Zuri and Erik, they must have planned this, and they were expecting Peter to lose. M'Baku would have announced his intentions for Shuri and together they would have taken the throne, the right of succession and he guessed the head of the council as well. Until Peter beat Fisk within an inch of his life.

"We must accept. But, it is improper protocol to leave unfinished business. Shuri?" and as Erik stepped forwards Zuri shook his head,

"Of Course T'Challa. Princess Shuri, your answer?"

"Of course I accept. Did you not just see that?" and Peter smiled, shook his head and resisted the urge to laugh. "Now, I believe I am owed a response, and then a kiss." and as Peter sped forwards he took her hand, kissed it and then took Shuri in her arms, kissing her properly. As she moaned softly in his embrace her eyes suddenly snapped open and as they broke apart she bit her lip and nodded.

"With Shuri engaged to Peter Parker, I accept the challenge, and we shall settle this two weeks from now. Once all other business has been taken care of," but Erik shook his head,

"Nah, that's stalling. I got the right to pick the date, and I choose now." As Erik stripped off his jacket and shirt, Peter could see the dots covering his body, and Erik saw him staring, "Yeah, one for each kill." and he stepped into the ring, shooing Peter out.

T'Challa entered the ring, stripping off his robe and throwing it to Shuri, "cousin, you do not need to do this. Wakanda is only weakened by-" but Erik, tired of talk, simply attacked.

While T'Challa had been trained by the finest warriors in all of Wakanda, he was no match for the brutality of the American Special Forces training Erik had received. Mixing in several styles Erik was relentless in his assault and T'Challa soon faltered and Erik mimicked Peter in his brutality.

As he shattered T'Challa's knee with a swift kick, he followed it by bringing his leg up and round housing T'Challa across the face. Sending him flying, as he stumbled across the sand, Erik leapt and drove a knee into T'Challa's stomach, causing him to fall, as Erik grabbed him by the hair and drove his fist repeatedly into his face.

Bloody, broken and barely conscious, Erik lifted him up and drove him down onto his knee before lifting him and throwing him from the ring. Shuri screamed and as medical personnel brought out a stretcher, they lifted the unconscious T'Challa onto a stretcher.

"Yeah, now Wakanda is under my rule. Now you all do as I say," and Erik thudded a fist against his chest.

Crying and watching the medics work on T'Challa, Shuri shouted, "no. You will pay for this, you will pay," and Erik laughed,

"Yeah, you and your little pet are gonna find out just what-"

"No!" Shuri shouted, interrupting him, "I challenge you, Right now," and Erik laughed

"After that, after all that, sure, I don't mind," and Shuri tugged at her robe, pulling it free and leaving her in her underwear.

Erik nodded in appreciation, "I might enjoy this, Cuz" but Shuri shook her head,

"Not as much as you think." and as she took a stance her clothing rippled, "We are Jhalia, and you owe us a debt of blood," and darting forwards Erik was forced to roll backwards as a clawed hand swiped where his throat was seconds ago. Shuri was clad in a black and brown outfit, tight leather pants with a small brown cloth panel that covered her legs at the back and a small strip down her front. Her arms were bare and two heavy plates covered her shoulders, coming across to meet at her black mask, styled as the image of Bast every Black Panther wore. She was stylish and as her fingers grew into sharp talons, deadly as well.

Zuri shouted, "stop, the use of powers is forbidden" but Romanda put a hand on his chest,

"Only if agreed beforehand. It was once common for both to become the Black Panther, and the victor to keep the mantle." and as she gripped his shoulder tighter, "plus, we will be investigating your part in this Zuri, and if he falls, you will suffer the same fate." As Zuri gulped, the fight continued.

Erik was the better combatant, but as Shuri and Jhalia bonded, her fighting became more fluid. Peter had made sure that she received everything from him, not just memories but all his moves and any simple chemical formulas he had memorised and could make. He knew Shuri would fight. Erik was too full of confidence, too full of himself to bet on anyone other than himself. He knew he would win, and now Peter knew Shuri would too.

Erik hadn't been granted to strengthening Purple Heart formula usually given to the Golden Tribe, he only had the training, and Shuri was beginning to toy with him. He already had several scores across his chest, and she was clawing and scratching out the ceremonial scarring over his chest

Shuri, stop, don't play unless you are sure you can win. End it and then gloat.

Peter had learned that lesson the hard way. Too many fights were lost by stopping to monologue or make stupid comments. Neutralise your opponent, then gloat when you are one hundred percent sure it was over.

Shuri swatted Erik with a flat palm, sending him hurtling out of the arena and into the ceremonial pond,

"Shuri wins," Romanda announced, as Zuri was surrounded by Dora Milaje. "Erik and Zuri will be taken into custody, to determine their guilt," but as Jhalia changed back into Shuri's robe she approached and touched Zuri on the cheek,

"He was promised power within a new Wakandan Empire, and," Shuri tilted her head, "Erik," and Shuri snarled and grabbed Zuris chin. "You bastards. Erik helped Klaue kill father. It was his DNA at the scene." and she slapped Zuri,

"As my right, I claim the throne of Wakanda, until such times as my brother recovers. Take them both to jail, and summon the council." and Shuri strode from the arena

I am sorry Peter, but the wedding is off. Until I stabilise the situation and root out the traitorous bastards that helped them, I must remain free of distractions.