Chapter 3: Challenge Day
Challenge Day had arrived in no time. The 4 tribes of Wakanda were all arriving on the river. They were all dancing and celebrating in preparation. Tyson watched as he wore his own ceremonial outfit, made from the white lion's skin. He wore it like the skin of the Nemean Lion from the Greek myths. "Onward!" Okoye, the Dora Milaje and royal guards shouted in Xhosa as they tapped their spears. Suddenly, the vibrations caused a device to be activated under the water and drained most of the water, revealing canyon walls where the challenge would take place. Just then, the Royal Talon arrived and let out T'Challa, all prepared for the challenge. The tribes were all singing his name Xhosa.
"I, Zuri, son of Badu, give to you Prince T'Challa, the Black Panther." Zuri, the royal advisor, introduced. The crowd cheered as T'Challa took a knee before they saluted him. "The prince will now have the strength of the Black Panther stripped away." Zuri said, presenting T'Challa with a liquid that would strip away his power. As he drank it, T'Challa's veins went black and his eyes red as his powers were being taken. The tribes all danced before T'Challa recovered. "Praise the ancestors!" Zuri shouted in Xhosa. "Praise the ancestors!" Everyone shouted. "Victory in ritual combat comes by yield or death. If any tribe wishes to put forth a warrior, I now offer a path to the throne." Zuri offered. The Merchant Tribe all shouted. "The Merchant Tribe will not challenge today." The Merchant Tribe elder declared. W'Kabi, T'Challa's childhood friend, and the Border Tribe all shouted. "The Border Tribe will not challenge today." M'Kathu, leader of the Border Tribe, declared. Nakia and the River Tribe all shouted. "The River Tribe will not challenge today." The River Tribe elder declared. The Mining Tribe all shouted. "The Mining Tribe will not challenge today." The Mining Tribe elder declared. "Is there any member of a royal blood who wishes to challenge for the throne?" Zuri asked. Suddenly, Shuri raised her hand, causing the stunned crowd to murmur. "Oh no." Tyson moaned. "This corset is really uncomfortable, so could we all just wrap it up and go home?" Shuri asked. Ramonda gave Shuri a scolding look. "Mother." Shuri groaned as T'Challa smiled at his sister's amusement.
Suddenly, shouting started coming from a nearby cave. Just then, several men emerged from the cave. W'Kabi was about to draw his sword, but M'Kathu stopped him. "Are they Jabari?" Shuri asked. "Yes." Ramonda said with worry. Tyson glared at the isolated tribe, having heard stories about them from T'Chaka. As the Jabari finished shouting, one of them approached T'Challa and removed his ape mask, revealing himself to me M'Baku, the leader of the Jabari Tribe. "M'Baku, what are you doing here?" Zuri asked. "It's Challenge Day." M'Baku said. T'Challa knew M'Baku couldn't pass up this opportunity. "We have watched and listened from the mountains! We have watched with disgust as your technological advancements have been overseen by a child!" M'Baku shouted, walking up to Shuri, but was blocked by the Dora Millage. "Who scoffs at tradition! You also allow a white demon to walk among us after your late king took pity on him and train him to become a warrior for Wakanda!" M'Baku exclaimed, turning his glare on Tyson, who was ready to draw his Sais. "And now, you want to hand the nation over to this prince who could not keep his own father safe." He said, turning back to T'Challa. "Mmm? We will not have it. I said we will not have it, oh! I, M'Baku, leader of the Jabari-" "I accept your challenge, M'Baku." T'Challa said. "Glory to Hanuman." M'Baku said with a grin.
As drums started playing, Zuri placed a panther mask on T'Challa as M'Baku put his ape mask back on. "Jabari!" M'Baku shouted, assembling his warriors. "Dora Milaje! Onward!" T'Challa shouted in Xhosa. Okoye tapped her spear, assembling several Dora Milaje to join in. Both sides circled the fighters, pointing their weapons. "Let the Challenge begin!" Zuri announced, tapping his spear. M'Baku stared swinging his club. T'Challa blocked and dodged a few swings, but got knocked down by the last one. Ramonda, Nakia, Shuri and Tyson looked on with worry. The Dora Milaje and Jabari slowly moved closer. "Get up!" M'Baku exclaimed. T'Challa got up, swung his sword at M'Baku and kicked him down. W'Kabi nodded in approval as the Dora Milaje and Jabari moved a little closer. M'Baku yelled as he stood back up. "Come!" He exclaimed. T'Challa continued to dodge and block M'Baku's swings, but he got knocked down again, losing his mask. Ramonda, Shuri, Okoye and Tyson looked on with concern. T'Challa recovered, but backed away from the Jabari's spears as he turned back to M'Baku. "Where is your God now?" M'Baku asked tauntingly. He tried to stab T'Challa, but he grabbed the club and kicked him. As the Dora Milaje and the Jabari closed in, M'Baku tried to strike T'Challa, but T'Challa dodged and gave M'Baku a few quick punches, knocking him down again. "Yes!" Nakia exclaimed as the crowd cheered. But then, M'Baku spun his club behind T'Challa's back and put him in a death grip, squeezing him tightly. He then started headbutting T'Challa repeatedly as he spoke. "No powers! No claws! No special suit, oh! Just a boy not fit to lead!" He exclaimed.
T'Challa leaned his head back in a daze, staring at his family. "Show him who you are!" Ramonda exclaimed. T'Challa yelled as he started hitting M'Baku back, breaking his mask and cutting his forehead. But then, M'Baku stabbed T'Challa in his left shoulder. Everyone looked on with worry. "Come on, brother." Tyson mubbled with hope. But T'Challa yelled as he endured the pain. "I am Prince T'Challa, son of King T'Chaka!" He exclaimed. "You can do this, T'Challa!" Shuri called. "Show him the true power of a king!" Tyson called. T'Challa pushed the sharp end out of his shoulder. But as M'Baku was about to strike again, T'Challa blocked him, disarmed him, kicked him and wrapped his leg around M'Baku's neck. As the Dora Milaje and the Jabari move closer, T'Challa strangled M'Baku, threatening to kill him. "Yes!" Shuri cheered. "Come on!" Nakia called. "You got it!" Tyson exclaimed. "Yield! Don't make me kill you!" T'Challa exclaimed. "I would rather die!" M'Baku exclaimed. T'Challa squeezed M'Baku's neck harder as they leaned close to the edge of the waterfall. Everyone started chanting T'Challa's name. "You have fought with honor! Now yield! Your people need you." T'Challa said. M'Baku looked at his warriors. "Yield, man!" T'Challa shouted. Realizing T'Challa was right, that his people needed him, M'Baku tapped T'Challa's knee 3 times, yielding the match. With that, T'Challa released M'Baku. Everyone cheered for T'Challa as he raised his fist in victory before standing up. The Jabari helped their leader up and supported him.
"I now present to you King T'Challa, the Black Panther." Zuri announced, placing the necklace of the king around T'Challa's neck. T'Challa hugged Zuri. "Zuri." He said. "My King." Zuri said with a smile. After breaking the hug, T'Challa looked upon his people with a big smile. "Wakanda forever!" He shouted. "Wakanda forever!" Everyone shouted back.