28 The Black Panther

The first stop on my quest for a new weapon was Africa, there had been my best chance to get two materials at once, which would make my journey a bit faster. When I first set out, I thought to only find a single metal to use. But then I had another thought. What if I combined them all? Adamantiums indestructibility, Vibraniums ability to absorb kinetic energy, and Arctic vibraniums ability to weaken a targets weapon, all together just sounded like an amazing combination.

It had taken me quite a long time to swim from Greece to the southern continents. However, now that I'm here, I have to say that I do appreciate it more. But that's not the point of all of this.

" Athena gave me a map, but all it does is tell me the general location. It doesn't give me anything exact. I guess there are some places even her eyes cannot perceive." I spoke. I continued walking through the thick forested area that I was in until I hit a wall. It parted like a portal when I touched.

" Hmm, this must be it. The panther clans secret, cloaking magic." Athena made notes of many of the panther clans secrets, including their ability to hide their nation from the outside world with their vibranium. I have to admit, I'm actually getting excited.

As I passed through the portal, the world around me changed and I saw structures unlike any other in Greece.

This place is different than anything I'm used to. I need to be careful.

I continued venturing through the thick woods when I saw a creature of some kind. It wasn't like anything I'd seen before. It was dark as night and had sharp teeth. It stood on two legs as if it were a man. And in its mouth was a woman, dressed in red.

" I don't know what you are creature, but if you aren't careful you might end up dead." I told the beast. It wasn't an animal. I had seen four legged monsters before, but not one on two legs.

The beast looked at me and dropped the woman in its mouth and started growling. It charged me with foam coming from its mouth.

I didn't want to raise suspicion of my being in the country, so I had to delegate myself to using simple weapons and hand to hand combat. No powers.

I raised my shield as the creature lunged at me and used it to throw it away from me. The creature was surprisingly strong and fast.

The creature got to its feet and charged me again. This time, I raised my arms and caught the creature by its neck. I slammed it on the ground and twisted its neck around. I watched as it dropped to the floor dead.

I made sure its breathing had stopped before turning my eyes away from it, I have heard of many creatures capable of feigning death only to catch their opponents off guard.

Once I was sure the creature was dead, I made my way over to the woman. She had on red and silver armor and was bald. Her body was covered in wounds, claw and teeth marks could be seen all over her.

I leaned down and placed my fingers on her neck.

" Dead."

" Yes, as you will be." I looked up to see a man in a black suit with panther teeth and claws lunging at me.

I caught the man in the air and tossed him into a nearby tree.

" Argh! You bastard. You will pay for your crimes." The man spoke.

" I don't know what you're talking about. I just got here. The one who killed the woman was that thing over there." I pointed to the black creature lying on the ground before us.

The man in the panther suit seemed to be intrigued by the creature as the moment he laid eyes on it he made his way to it.

" A Black devil. You killed one? How?" The man asked.

I didn't know what a black devil was but whatever it was it seemed to spook the man.

" I twisted its neck all the way around." I replied.

" Yes, i can see that. But how?" He asked again.

" Well, I grabbed it by the throat and quickly just snapped my hands in the opposite direction." I explained.

" No, I mean... How could you have the strength to do such a thing? Even with the powers of the panther I cannot kill a black devil so easily. Who are you?" The man asked.

" Isn't it proper manners to introduce yourself first?" I asked.

" Isn't it proper manners to bow before a king?" He replied.

" Heh. Right. My name is Timaeus. Timaeus of Sparta." I gave the man my name. I was an invader in his kingdom standing over one of his dead people after all.

" D'Racka, King of Wakanda. And the Black Panther. Why are you in Wakanda?" The man asked.

" Well, I see no reason to lie to you great king. I need to find two metals." I told the man.

" What metals could a Greek need that aren't found in Greece?" he asked.

" I think we both know that answer. Vibranium and Adamantium. I need them both." I told the man.

" Vibranium and Adamantium. Now why on earth would you need or even know of such metals?" D'Racka asked.

" I need to fashion a weapon capable of killing a god." I explained.

" A god? What are you talking about?" D'Racka asked. He was surprised by my easy admission and wondered why he

" My father is Poseidon, the god of the seas. And he... Had my family killed. My son and my wife both. And he kidnapped my daughter. I have to get her back and I'll do whatever it takes to do it. Even if I must kill my father. But I can't do anything if I do not have a weapon capable of fighting him." I explained to the man.

D'Racka listened closely as I explained to him my reason for needing the materials. And I could see by the look on his face that he was troubled.

" Hmmmm. I see. I am sorry. I cannot simply give you the Adamantium or the Vibranium." He spoke.

My eyes shifted down to his hands. And I slowly inched towards my blade. I was prepared to kill this man and make an enemy out of this entire nation if necessary.

" But... you can earn it." He spoke up. I froze in my place. I didn't want to do anything to risk possibly getting the metals.

" Help me and my people deal with the Black Devils, and I will gladly give you the metals you are looking for. What do you say?" D'Racka asked.

" That sounds more than fair, D'Racka. Thank you." I replied.

" Excellent. Follow me. We will take the back way. I cannot show you to my people or they will be frightened. But there are other ways to enter Wakanda. Come. Let us make haste." D'Racka explained.

I nodded and followed the man through the jungle.