Marvel: I am Iron Man

The border of Lion Mountain, a mining area.

This area was once a gold mining site, and the abandoned mines created a labyrinthine underground passageway. On the surface are collapsed ore processing plants and rusted conveyor belt systems.

If someone is looking for a discreet place to conduct a transaction, this remote suburb is the perfect choice.

Victor Marcus lit a cigarette, leaned against the rusted fence, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled smoke rings.

He was one of Ulysses Crow's closest confidants. Crow entrusted him with many important tasks, including today's deal.

Almost exactly two in the morning, a vehicle drove up across the wilderness ahead. Several fully armed mercenaries got out of the car.

The leader was two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a straight back. His muscles were as rugged as the rock formations of the African savanna, but his upper body appeared particularly thick due to his long-term wearing of bulletproof vests.

Marcus threw down his cigarette, stubbed it out with his shoe, and stepped forward to ask, "Jacob Ndeló? The Lion of the African Theater?"

"That's a title I got from the underworld brothers out of respect. As you can see, I'm just a mercenary. I do what I'm paid for."

The man named Jacob spoke dryly, glancing around and frowning with displeasure.

"I thought I was doing business with Ulysses Crow," Jacob said.

Marcus said, "Crow had an urgent matter to attend to."

Jacob said curtly, "So you mean Mr. Crow doesn't think we're important enough to warrant his personal reception...or that he doesn't trust us?"

“Mr. Crow often entrusts me with important matters. Don’t worry, sir, I guarantee I can handle this deal.” Marcus gestured for me to proceed. “You just want to make sure what you’re buying is genuine, and I can guarantee that. Why don’t we take a look at the goods first?”

Jacob stared into his eyes for a few seconds, then let out a sneer.

"Okay, let's take a look then," Jacob said. "I heard you sell some very special things, and that they're exclusive to your company?"

Marcus grinned confidently and gestured to the people behind him: "Of course, it's one of a kind. You'll see for yourself."

Someone had already brought out a metal box. They unlocked the box, opened the lid, and inside lay a long, oval-shaped jar. Through the transparent shell, they could see some kind of liquid-like substance inside, quietly emitting a shimmering, deep blue light.

Jacob frowned. "We paid a hefty price for this deal. And all we get is this tiny tube..."

"This tiny tube is enough to change everything," Jacob said with a smile. "I guarantee you'll understand once you realize what this thing can do..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a sharp explosion.

That was the sound of shattering glass. Almost simultaneously, the lights around them blazed on with a loud crash, and all the car lights went out. A silent darkness engulfed the mining area.

Both parties in the transaction were people who lived on the edge, and everyone immediately drew their guns and became alert.

"Who!?" Jacob shouted sharply.

Marcus hurriedly drew his gun, but in complete darkness, he had no idea where to point it. He simply moved the gun around haphazardly to mask his unease.

"Edelus? Is Edlos there? Report the situation!" Marcus shouted.

Edros was the subordinate on lookout duty. But after he called out several times, Edros finally responded, not through communication, but by falling directly from the sky, as if he had been thrown out of the darkness by a great force.

With a crash, the sentry named Edros slammed heavily against the windshield of the car that Jacob and his mercenaries had brought. The glass cracked radially as if struck by a meteor hammer, and Edros, covered in blood, slid down the hood and rolled to the group's feet.

A second later, a mercenary standing on the outer edge suddenly let out a scream.

Everyone turned their guns in response to the sound, only to see the mercenary fall to the ground, gun still clutched in his hand, without even a chance to fire. A black blur swept past him.

"Fire! Fire!"

Marcus shouted in alarm. But without his command, everyone unleashed their firepower on the dark figure.

But that thing was too fast. Bullets chased after the dark figure, exploding on the ground, but they couldn't catch him at all.

Moreover, it was too dark here. All the lights were off, and the thick darkness swallowed everything. The only source of light was the orange-red flashes from the muzzles of the guns fired in a panic by the smugglers and mercenaries.

The flashes of gunfire flickered like will-o'-the-wisps in the darkness, but seemed to miss the agile shadow entirely—or perhaps they hit it but were completely ineffective, as it was impossible to discern in the darkness.

Marcus watched in horror as the thing lunged at his subordinate, Nkosi, in the darkness. He couldn't see what it was at all, and he guessed Nkosi probably couldn't either. In any case, after being pounced on, Nkosi quickly stopped firing and collapsed like a broken puppet.

Next, Kamara was tackled. Marcus seemed to see Kamara's throat being slit, screaming as she fell. Then, the shadowy figure seemed to use the momentum of Kamara's falling body to kick her, gracefully leaping into the air and delivering a powerful punch to Javah...

Gunshots, metallic curses, mercenaries' curses and screams mingled together, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and metal.

Their bullets had no effect on the fast-moving shadow; nothing could stop its reaping spree. Like a fleeting grim reaper, it appeared above everyone's heads, wielding its scythe, and with a swish, a head fell to the ground. Then it would continue flying to the next person, without pausing for a moment.

Soon, everyone alive present fell to the ground. Except for Marcus.

Marcus retreated in terror, struggling to grip his gun with trembling hands and point it at the dark figure. At that moment, the shadowy thing finally stopped moving and slowly but steadily approached Marcus.

Marcus felt as if his heart was being heavily pounded with every step that thing took.

"Aaaaaah!"

Marcus screamed and frantically pulled the trigger. Bullets kept hitting the dark figure, sparks flying from its black body, but they couldn't harm it in the slightest, or even cause the slightest hindrance.

The other party seemed to be completely oblivious to the bullets, as if the impact of the bullets had vanished into the boundless sea, causing not even the slightest obstruction.

"I warned you, I warned Klaue. Stay away from vibranium, or you will pay the price."

"That's what the dark figure said indifferently."

"But you ignored me. So, now I'm here."

Marcus emptied the magazine, pulled the trigger a few times in vain, and finally, in despair, threw the empty gun at his opponent.

"What are you?!" Marcus shouted.

The black thing walked up to him, raised its hand, and sharp claws emerged from its five fingers.

"I am Black Panther."

With a swipe of its claw, it tore open Marcus's throat, leaving a trail of blood in an arc.

Marcus's eyes widened, fear frozen on his face, and he fell backward.