Meanwhile, within the Hand, chaos had erupted.
Several senior members were desperately trying to hold Stick back.
Stick struggled violently, trying to break free.
But the other elders refused to let him go.
Even without satellites, the entire world had witnessed the battle between Karl and the mysterious cosmic woman in the sky.
The shockwaves alone had illuminated the atmosphere.
And yet—
Matthew had actually gone to challenge that monster.
The information they had gathered was terrifying.
The woman who fought Karl had already been defeated.
She now lay on the battlefield, covered in blood.
Nick Fury, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., had been killed.
Steve Rogers had been crippled and taken away after enormous sacrifice.
If they allowed Stick to go now—
He would simply be walking to his death.
No one in the Hand was foolish enough to allow that.
Yes, many of them had connections with Matt Murdock.
But the survival of the Hand came first.
The organization had existed for centuries.
They would not throw away everything just because of one man.
Even Iron Fist, the legendary enemy of the Hand, would hesitate before challenging a power like Karl.
Karl's battle had taken place in outer space.
How could anyone in the Hand possibly fight someone like that?
No matter how much they valued Matthew—
They could not sacrifice the entire organization for him.
Back at the battlefield—
Daredevil, Matt Murdock, stood silently in front of Karl.
He said nothing.
Karl merely chuckled softly.
The next moment—
Matt Murdock's body suddenly exploded.
He died instantly.
Karl's gaze then shifted to the next person.
Black Panther.
T'Challa stood there wearing his vibranium suit.
Karl looked down at him calmly.
He had not expected Wakanda to dare send someone to attack him.
But since they had chosen that path—
They would bear the consequences.
"You must be T'Challa," Karl said slowly.
"Your father T'Chaka didn't dare attack me again."
"And now you appear."
Karl's voice remained calm, but the meaning behind it was terrifying.
"Congratulations."
"You have successfully dragged Wakanda into hell."
"Don't worry."
"You will not be alone."
"Your hundreds of thousands of Wakandan citizens will soon join you."
Tony and the others were stunned when they heard Karl's words.
Destroy Wakanda?
Karl had clearly made up his mind.
T'Challa immediately removed his helmet.
"No!"
"You can't do this!"
"I came here on my own!"
"You cannot punish Wakanda for my actions!"
"You can kill me!"
"I only beg you not to harm my people!"
With those words—
The King of Wakanda knelt.
Both knees touched the ground.
He bowed his head in humiliation.
All for the sake of his nation.
Karl sneered coldly.
"You think that's possible?"
"Did you forget what I said before?"
"If Wakanda provokes me again…"
"Wakanda will be destroyed."
Karl's eyes were cold.
"The King of Wakanda attacked me."
"And now you claim you only represent yourself?"
"Are you stupid?"
Tony and the others exchanged confused looks.
They had not known Karl had already given Wakanda a warning before.
Suddenly—
A loud sonic boom echoed through the sky.
A Wakandan vibranium aircraft flew in at incredible speed.
It descended directly onto the battlefield.
The cockpit opened.
A middle-aged man stepped out.
It was T'Chaka, the former King of Wakanda.
"Mr. Karl."
"If you wish to vent your anger…"
"Then kill me."
"I am willing to offer the vibranium mines of Wakanda and my life."
"In exchange for mercy toward Wakanda's people."
Karl looked at him.
Then he spoke two simple words.
"Not enough."
Vibranium meant little to Karl now.
And the life of a former king meant even less.
T'Chaka had come here hoping to save Wakanda.
But Karl was not easily satisfied.
T'Chaka closed his eyes.
Pain flashed across his face.
Then—
He made a decision.
Slash—!
In one swift motion, T'Chaka removed T'Challa's vibranium armor.
Then he drew a blade.
And severed his son's right arm.
Blood splashed across the ground.
"Wakanda…"
"…is willing to submit to Mr. Karl."
"We will serve you."
T'Chaka knelt.
Holding his son's severed arm in silence.
Offering the allegiance of Wakanda.
T'Challa did not scream.
Not even once.
He understood what his father was doing.
T'Chaka was saving him.
Saving Wakanda.
If they resisted—
Karl would annihilate their entire nation.
T'Challa felt overwhelming regret.
He remembered his father's warnings.
But he had ignored them.
Now—
The price had been paid in blood.
Karl watched the scene quietly.
Then he spoke again.
"But I don't want to hear any resistance from Wakanda."
"Handle it yourself."
"When everything is finished…"
"I will honor your offer."
"I prefer not to dirty my own hands."
Karl had to admit—
He respected T'Chaka's ruthlessness.
The man had even severed his own son's arm.
Few rulers possessed such resolve.
And more importantly—
T'Chaka understood exactly what Karl valued.
There was another reason Karl accepted the deal.
Shuri.
T'Challa's younger sister.
A genius scientist whose intelligence rivaled Tony Stark.
If she could be brought under his control—
She would be extremely useful.
And if she refused?
Then she could meet Mephisto.
"T'Chaka greets his master."
"I understand your command."
"I will complete everything within three days."
"After that…"
"I will end my life in Wakanda."
After saying that, T'Chaka helped his son stand.
T'Challa's severed arm remained on the ground.
They did not pick it up.
Soon, the Wakandan aircraft took off.
It flew back toward Wakanda.
Though perhaps—
It could no longer truly be called their country.
Now—
It belonged to Karl.
Whether Wakanda's people accepted that reality—
Was no longer Karl's concern.
That was T'Chaka's problem.
If they refused to submit—
Then T'Chaka would teach them with blood.
After all—
Karl certainly had no intention of mining vibranium himself.
Karl's gaze slowly shifted again.
Toward the person standing beside him.
Loki.
Loki forced an awkward smile.
He understood very well what kind of being Karl had become.
A Skyfather-level powerhouse.
Even Loki's usual arrogance vanished in front of such power.
"Loki," Karl said slowly.
"Although you intervened this time because of your agreement with Thor…"
"One day you will realize how fortunate you were to make that choice."
"This time…"
"You will save the person you respect the most."
Loki frowned slightly.
The person he respected most?
After thinking for a moment—
One name surfaced in his mind.
Frigga.
His mother.
But Frigga was the Queen of Asgard.
Protected by Odin himself.
How could she possibly be in danger?
"I am honored to have helped you," Loki replied politely.
"Although I do not fully understand your words…"
"But I thank you."
Then Loki performed a formal mage's salute.
He treated Karl with the respect owed to a superior sorcerer.
After all—
The words of someone this powerful were never meaningless.
Karl then turned toward Thor.
"Thor."
"Thank you for your support."
"If you ever need help…"
"Just say the word."
Thor could clearly sense Karl's power.
He and Loki had grown up around Odin.
They knew exactly what the aura of a Skyfather-level being felt like.
And yet—
Thor had still chosen to stand beside Karl.
Even convincing Loki to help.
Thor laughed loudly.
"Hahaha!"
"No need to thank me!"
"You've helped me many times before."
"One day you must come to Asgard."
"We will drink together properly!"
Far away in Asgard, Odin watched the scene unfold.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
But soon—
His expression turned thoughtful.
Because Karl's earlier words to Loki…
Made Odin uneasy.
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