Chapter 28: Proof

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Proof

"Proof?"

"That’s right."

"And how exactly are you going to prove it?" King T’Chaka asked. "What, are you planning to go to war with the world right now?"

The old king shook his head before continuing.

"I appreciate you pointing out some individuals with questionable intentions. And I welcome you to Wakanda as a guest. In fact, you will be honored guests here."

Smiling, he gestured casually with his hand.

"I’ll have rooms prepared for both of you and make sure you’re treated with the highest hospitality.

Over the next few days, feel free to explore and experience the unique wonders of Wakanda."

As for proving your strength...

"Let’s forget about that."

After a brief pause, he waved toward the guards.

"Take them to their quarters."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A member of the Dora Milaje stepped forward, and two female warriors moved to escort Carol and Daniel away.

"It’s getting late," T’Chaka said. "Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow at noon, allow me to host a proper banquet for you both."

Although he had decided not to pursue Daniel’s challenge, he still couldn’t believe that a single individual could possess power greater than the entire world.

Even so, the abilities Daniel had displayed today were enough to earn his respect.

For someone like T’Chaka, it was always better to make friends than enemies.

Showing courtesy, sharing a meal, building goodwill... those things cost little.

And perhaps one day, they might bring unexpected benefits.

"Is this an ordinary spear?"

Daniel suddenly asked after landing back on the ground.

His eyes were fixed on the weapon held by one of the Dora Milaje.

He vaguely remembered that Wakandan spears could fire energy blasts similar to lasers.

Without warning, he moved.

In a blur, the spear was already in his hand.

The warrior who had been holding it didn’t even have time to react.

"What are you doing?!"

Several guards immediately shouted.

T’Chaka frowned as well.

’This man really doesn’t know where to stop, does he?’

Daniel ignored everyone and examined the spear carefully.

A few moments later, he frowned.

There was no switch... no trigger.

Nothing.

Curious, he activated his super vision and looked through the weapon’s internal structure.

Then he fell silent.

A moment later, he looked genuinely speechless.

The thing had biometric recognition.

It actually identified its user.

What kind of madness was that?

Daniel almost wanted to complain out loud.

A spear that fired laser blasts was already ridiculous enough.

But it also had an authorization system?

Who exactly were they guarding against?

A rather dark thought surfaced in his mind.

’These people aren’t planning for foreign invasions... they’re planning for rebellions.’

The image immediately formed in his head.

A group of rebels storms into the capital.

They seize shields and spears from fallen soldiers.

Everyone is carrying identical equipment.

The rebels charge forward confidently.

Meanwhile, the Dora Milaje calmly raise their own spears.

Then...

Pew.

Pew.

Pew.

A rain of energy blasts vaporizes the rebels while their own captured weapons refuse to function.

The mental image was almost too beautiful.

"Here."

Daniel handed the spear back.

"I can’t use it anyway."

The female warrior accepted it, still confused.

Then Daniel pointed at her.

"Attack me."

The woman blinked.

"You want me to do what?"

"Attack me."

She instinctively glanced toward the king.

T’Chaka remained silent.

His silence was permission.

Daniel nodded.

"Yes. Go ahead."

"Fine."

The warrior wasn’t one to hesitate.

With a sharp battle cry, she thrust the spear directly toward Daniel’s chest.

To her credit, she held back.

She didn’t fire an energy blast.

She found Daniel annoying, sure, but not annoying enough to kill.

A small lesson would be enough.

The Vibranium spear struck Daniel.

The tip pierced through his shirt effortlessly.

Then it stopped.

Completely.

No matter how much force she put behind it, the spear couldn’t move another millimeter.

Clang!

The metallic sound echoed through the hall.

The warrior’s eyes widened.

"How is that possible?!"

The spear wasn’t designed primarily for close combat.

But it was made of Vibranium.

There were very few materials in the world capable of resisting it.

Yet Daniel’s skin had stopped it cold.

"Your spear can fire energy blasts, right?"

Daniel asked.

"Use that instead."

The woman was still processing what had happened.

"Oh... okay."

Almost instinctively, she followed his instructions.

She activated the weapon.

A bright burst of energy shot forward and struck Daniel directly.

The blast hit him head-on.

Nothing happened, not a burn, not a scratch on his skin...

Daniel stood there completely unharmed.

The hall fell silent, as everyone stared.

Then collective gasps echoed through the room.

This guy was terrifying... absolutely terrifying.

T’Chaka stared blankly.

"This... this is unbelievable..."

For the first time, he found himself wondering whether Daniel could really accomplish what he claimed.

One man against the world.

Maybe it wasn’t entirely impossible.

"Wait here."

Daniel suddenly said.

"I’ll be right back."

Then he vanished.

Literally vanished.

One moment he was standing there.

The next moment he was gone.

The people inside the hall exchanged confused looks.

Nobody knew what had just happened.

After several awkward seconds, T’Chaka turned toward Carol.

"Miss Carol, correct?"

"Yes..."

"Do you know where he went?"

Carol shrugged.

"I’ve got no idea."

The room fell silent again.

Nobody knew what to say.

Less than two minutes later...

A gust of icy wind swept through the hall.

Daniel was back.

Cold air rolled off his body.

His clothes which were already damaged from earlier attack were now nearly shredded, hanging from him in tatters.

Only the important areas remained covered.

That wasn’t because the clothes were durable.

It was because Daniel had deliberately protected those sections.

Otherwise, he would have returned completely naked.

In his hand was a small animal.

A polar bear cub.

"I brought you a gift."

Daniel lifted the cub slightly.

"This is for Wakanda."

Everyone stared.

"A gift?"

"Yeah."

"I just took a quick trip to the Arctic."

Daniel spoke as though he had merely stepped outside for a walk.

"I saw this little guy alone, scared without it’s mother and decided to bring it back."

The cub looked miserable.

It was small enough for Daniel to shield during the journey, but even then, traveling at such absurd speed had clearly frightened it.

Its white fur was slightly ruffled.

Its tiny body trembled.

Its eyes were wide with pure terror.

The poor creature stared at everyone in the room as though it had just experienced the most traumatic event of its life.

"Yip... yip..."

The soft cry finally snapped everyone out of their daze.

T’Chaka looked at Daniel.

Then at the cub.

Then back at Daniel.

His face was filled with disbelief.

"That was... less than two minutes ago, wasn’t it?"

"I think so."

Daniel nodded.

"Actually, if I hadn’t been protecting this little guy."

He lifted the cub.

"I could’ve done it in under 10 seconds."

"How is that possible?"

T’Chaka felt like he’d said those words more times today than during the rest of his entire life combined.

"This is Africa!"

He couldn’t help raising his voice.

"Southern Africa!"

"And you’re telling me you flew from here to the Arctic and back in under two minutes?!"

The king finally lost his composure and swore.

Today’s events had shattered his understanding of reality.

This man was terrifying.

Daniel simply shrugged.

"As you can see."

Then he glanced down at his ruined clothing.

"Could someone find me a new outfit?"

He raised the cub again.

"And I assume you can take care of him?"

"Oh!"

T’Chaka finally snapped back to reality.

"Yes, of course."

He immediately turned toward his attendants.

"Bring a change of clothes for..."

The king paused, then naturally finished the sentence.

"...For Superman."

Without realizing it, he’d started calling Daniel by the title Daniel had given himself.

Before long, fresh clothes were brought over.

Daniel inspected them carefully.

Thankfully, they weren’t traditional Wakandan ceremonial garments.

They looked fairly similar to modern clothing from the outside world.

Good.

Because there was absolutely no way he was wearing those outfits as no matter how people may see it, he didn’t like it very much and more importantly... they would ruin his handsome image.

Even worse, Carol would probably laugh at him for months.

While Daniel changed clothes, T’Chaka ordered several attendants to care for the cub.

"Treat it well."

The king looked at the small animal.

"It represents the friendship between Wakanda and Daniel."

His attitude had changed.

Earlier, it had been respect, now it was reverence.

Just a different word, yet the difference was enormous.

When Daniel returned wearing fresh clothes, T’Chaka greeted him with a warm smile.

"Now I believe everything you’ve said."

The king’s tone was sincere.

"You are the most powerful man I have ever met."

Daniel simply smiled.

He didn’t bother responding.

T’Chaka continued.

"Then let us put aside our earlier misunderstandings."

His expression became serious.

"Tell me."

"Where does Wakanda’s future lie?"

The king’s attitude was exceptionally friendly now.

And why wouldn’t it be?

Based on the speed Daniel had just demonstrated, T’Chaka couldn’t think of anyone on Earth capable of stopping him.

How could any weapon hit someone that fast?

And speed like that required an equally absurd body to withstand it.

The more he thought about it, the more frightening Daniel became.

"It’s simple."

Daniel smiled.

"Very simple."

He held up two fingers, leaving only a tiny gap between them.

"You only need to give up a very small amount."

The gap narrowed even further.

"A tiny, tiny amount."

His grin widened.

"And in return..."

"You gain my friendship."