(Aden's P.O.V)

Chaos had managed to grab my attention with only a few words.

I got up, deactivating the gravity panels above us. I immediately felt like I could jump and spear out of Energia, through Mars and float in outer space.

I breathed in slowly, careful not to suck out all the oxygen from the surroundings. Yeah, I had gotten to that point. My physical strength was astonishing and terrifying. A level that was above anyone I had ever faced against. Then I released the breath slowly, feeling every cell in my body ignite with chi, just ready to be used.

"I'm good now." I informed him.

"Go on."

Instead of merely talking, Chaos sent over his suspicions straight into my mind. I pinched my nose. In fury, hate, worry, sadness; a hundred negative emotions went through me in seconds.

"Are you sure?"

I questioned in a serious tone. Probably the most serious one ever, given the fact that Chaos looked to be mildly uncomfortable by my intensity.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"It makes sense. Plus, all of us are connected to you and we possess a sort of passive...sense for our kind. For example, I can sense Order better than you can. The same goes for the spirits. Yaotl can pinpoint Vaatu's exact location with no problem. Even if he tried really hard to hide."

I warped us down from the crater to the living space I had created, on top of the huge tree that was Nagini's favorite spot. The huge serpent looked up at me and blinked her eyes before hissing.

..

"Did you..."

Chaos interrupted me.

"Hear that? Yes. Yes I did."

He answered, telling me I wasn't crazy. I tried extending my mental feeler to Nagini's mind and felt the walls of her serpent mind simply open their doors for me.

A weird expression appeared in my face.

"She's...aware."

I informed Chaos, momentarily forgetting about the issue from before.

"Of course she's aware."

My dark side stated as if it were obvious.

"No, I mean, she's on her way to actually gaining true sapience. Even her mental self is in the shape of a human girl. Whether intentionally or not, she copied me."

"Oh."

Chaos muttered, similarly at a loss for words.

"Let's put this on the back burner for now. We have more pressing issues."

I settled down in a cross legged position and looked back at Chaos, who was standing behind me.

"Ok, you know what to do right?"

"Use my connection with the Earth Spirit, if it exists here to pinpoint it's location, then you will take over and use your divine sense to focus on breaking past whatever barriers there may be."

A simple plan. One that I hoped would go off without a hitch.

And so we begun, I pulled on the link Chaos and I shared and found myself floating above tall mountains that were filled with beautiful shining rocks that glowed purple. I blinked, realizing I was seeing the divine essence of the place, not the location itself.

I pulled back.

"Of course, gods are fucking involved. I should have suspected this."

I got to my feet, sending the transmission to Chaos.

"You're going to send the White Shadow right?"

I shook my head at his question.

"No. I'm going there myself."

Chaos sighed.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Are you sure that's smart?"

"I have Soul Load ready. Despite that skill being very dangerous, this is important. If you think that there's a chance my Earth Spirit is imprisoned on Earth then I can't half ass this." My fingers tightened into fists.

"I'm supposed to take care of them. What sort of Father am I, if I let them suffer for even a second longer?"

Chaos understood.

"I know, I just hope you realize that this might reveal your presence before you're ready."

He was right.

"I'm not worried about that. The timeline has already changed enough. At this point, it would be counterproductive to try and preserve it."

Equity landed on my open palm as Chaos turned into smoke. Divine Energy washed down my body and created my outfit. It wasn't time to act modest. My outfit was lined with gold and woven from thin Odium fibers. A noble's coat that went down to my knees in a deep blue color with the gold lining the edges and the sleeves. A loose white shirt was under the coat, with the half of the necklace I had given to Kori on display.

Then black pants and silver boots that subtly seemed to glow. My long hair fell down to somewhere near the small of my back. Lastly my symbol, that of the Avatar was emblazoned at the back of my coat in pure gold. I was beginning to love gold more and more.

I wanted to make an impression. Gods were fickle beings who insulted first then apologized later when things got out of hand, or they realized they couldn't really beat you. By going with my true godly stature, I could avoid Killing a few dumb idiots. This was after all a rescue mission. I didn't have time to waste on Extras. Man, I hate gods.

Master...

Before leaving Nagini called out to me. I looked at her and shrugged.

"Ah, what the hell."

(Unknown P.O.V)

A new source of Power. One that was different from anything before. It was pure, yet had the destructive capacity of demonic energy. It was ethereal yet could hold mysteries that were as complicated as magic.

It was...a path. And anyone who blocked this path would answer to him in pain and suffering. Rivers of blood would run down the soils of the Earth. He was just bidding his time. Bidding his time until he managed to suck all the juicy power away.

(General P.O.V)

Inside the palace, a lot of crazy activities were going on. Tonight was the birthday of the youngest child of King T'Chaka and Queen Ramona. The young princess was only three years old but already sick of the festivities.

Everyone was looking for her. Fortunately, T'Challa her brother was the one who found her first, hiding behind their Father's enormous throne. She liked it there. The stone that had constructed the throne was centuries old. A sign of the Wakandan legacy, just like the Black Panther.

She always felt connected to it. Not to mention her best friend could usually only speak to her when she was in contact with it or the shiny stone talisman she had in her possession. T'Challa had gotten it for her, after a recent cave-in unearthed a new vent full of the Vibranium Ore. Inside the purple cave recently discovered, the small stone roughly the size of an egg was the only thing that seemed to suck in the light given off by the Vibranium.

Given that it was the only one of it's kind, king T'Chaka had allowed his son to give the stone to the little but curious Shuri. She might have only been 3 years old but her genius was already showing. She could talk fluently and play the Djembe, a percussion instrument. Which was played mostly by men.

This and other signs of independence caused Shuri to embody the concepts of free thinking and forming her own opinions. She thought that the coolest thing to ever exist was the Black Panther, second only to her secret friend.

"Stay here."

T'Challa whispered to her.

"I give you 10 minutes before the Dora Milaje find you under Mother's orders."

He smiled when she held onto his wrist.

"Distract them for 10 more minutes, brother. Please! She wants to dress me up in colorful clothing and parade me around the palace like a princess!"

She begged, looking scandalized at the notion.

T'Chaka rolled his eyes.

"You are a princess, dummy."

He poked her on the chest.

"Stop that. And no, I'm not a princess, I'm the warrior girl Princess Black panther!" She proudly declared.

"Even Geb agrees!!"

She added showing him the same stone he'd given her as a gift.

"Geb? What happened to Obatala? Or Toughy? It seems like you always change his name every time you bring up your imaginary friend."

T'Challa asked in confusion. It was Shuri's turn to roll her eyes.

"He's not imaginary! And the new name is because none of the others worked. He likes Geb. It rolls off the tongue and it's the god of Earth. Geb loves rocks and stones and sand."

She explained in a logical tone. T'Challa found himself hard pressed to actually counter it.

"Besides, it's just something to go by until his dad gives him a name."

Shuri concluded.

T'Challa always marvelled at his little sister's imagination. It was expansive and creative for sure. He rubbed her hair before getting up.

"Ok, only 10 minutes and then you're coming out okay?"

She frowned at that, blowing out her cheeks.

"Fine."

T'Challa smiled, getting up.

Of course at that time, everything changed. It started with a cargo hover craft crashing through the entrance of the Palace, stone and metal were sent flying across the throne room.

T'Challa did not even think, he scrambled towards Shuri and grabbed her.

"Hold on!"

The dust settled just as the Dora Milaje poured inside the room.

"T'Challa! Shuri! Are you both okay?"

The king, in his Black Panther suit paid little attention to the possible enemy attack. Instead he jumped almost halfway across the room and ran over towards his kids. T'Challa got to his feet while slightly coughing. He had used his body to cover Shuri.

"My King! Please take the Prince and Princess to safety. We shall handle things here."

Okoye spoke up, out of line. The Black Panther was the protector of Wakanda, any other time a request from his followers to retreat would be an insult but as a Father, he was thankful.

However that suggestion was no longer viable. His claws came out with a sharp sound. The enemy had revealed themselves.

"No, Okoye. Take your warriors and escort them to somewhere secure. I shall be the one to handle this."

"Oh really?"

A deep voice that reverberated across the room with sheer presence sounded out, from the hole in the palace entrance. The man who floated in had the warrior women all gasping in shock.

He was beautiful.

Long black hair, framing a chiseled face with red and green eyes. His lips were set in a slightly arrogant smirk. His clothes were of the finest silk they had ever laid their eyes on and the black katana strapped to his hip glowed with an aura of power.

"Run along little cat." Aden stated.

"I'm not here for you."

He pointed a finger behind the Black Panther.

"I'm here for her."

They followed his line of sight and saw who he was talking about. Shuri.