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I stood next to the queen and Shuri as we watched T'Challa getting his face painted. My nerves ran high. Something about this particular challenge has me scared to my core. I watched Killmonger as he snapped his spear. "He'll never beat T'Challa, he should've just come to the first challenge and gotten it over with," Shuri said though her confidence didn't waver my fear. Zuri poured the herbs into his mouth.
"The king will now have the power of the black panther stripped away," I watched him writhe in pain we crossed our arms over our chests bouncing slightly before T'Challa stood.
"This is your last chance. Throw down your weapons, and we can handle this another way," T'Challa offers though we all know it is useless against the estranged cousin. Killmonger stabs his weapon into the ground before looking over to T'Challa
"I lived my entire life waiting for this moment," He speaks "I trained, I lied, I killed," He starts taking off his clothing "Just to get here, I killed in America, Afganistan, Iraq. I took life from my own brothers and sisters right here on this continent. And all this death, just so I could kill you," The scars covered his body in tiny dots. He picks up his weapon pointing it at T'Challa.
"Let the challenge begin," Zuri yells moving out of the way. Killmonger advances first. He strikes his weapons onto T'Challa's shield, they move like this for a while. T'Challa knocks Killmonger off balance pointing his weapon in his face.
"Yield," T'Challa yells, I grab Shuri's hand holding it for dear life as I watched. Killmonger rolls and stands going after T'Challa again he blocks it before using his weapon to slice Killmongers cheek. Killmonger goes again kicking T'Challa back going for him, T'Challa left his legs open, Killmonger obviously seeing this used his blade to cut his thigh, the blood spurts out causing me to become more fearsome, Killmonger keeps striking his shield.
"Snap out of it T'Challa!" Shuri yells for her brother but when T'Challa stands up higher Killmonger slices his side. When T'Challa moves to strike he blocks it had anticipated the move slices his bicep open he goes to strike once more but Killmonger stabs him in the stomach. I let out a scream my knees going weak as I watch the fear surround T'Challa's eyes. The knife gets pulled out, Killmonger tried to stab him again but T'Challa blocks it. I prayed to the gods, any god who could be listening to get him through this.
"Come here," Killmonger antagonizes before punching him across the cheek. "This is for my father," He raised the blade ready to kill him. I gripped Shuri's arm trying to stay upright as I watched. Before he could strike Zuri put his spear out blocking him.
"Erik!" Zuri yells out at the man T'Challa mumbles weakly "Stop," He knocks the blade from Killmonger's hands it falling in the water. Everyone yelled for him to stop "I am the cause for your fathers death, not him, take me," Zuri offers I yell out to him but he doesn't listen. Killmonger pauses for a second.
"I'll take you both Uncle James," He yells out before stabbing him in the chest. T'Challa screams out in loss of the man he held close, almost like another father. The tears ran down my face as I watch this. T'Challa picks up the blade going to strike once more but Killmonger steps out of the way. "Is this your king? huh?" T'Challa swings the blade once more but Killmonger ducks it yelling again "Is this your king?" He goes to stab again but Killmonger catches his wrist punching him in the chest before kneeing him in the face. Shuri leans into me as the tears overtake her. "The black panther, whos supposed to lead you into the future," Shuri yells out for T'Challa I hear one of the Dora Miljae ask what could be done but I knew Okoye would never betray who ever sat on the throne. No matter how much she hates them. "Him?" I bury my face in Shuri's back as she sobs trying to hide from the view of T'Challa like this. "He's supposed to protect you," T'Challa gets up and goes again but Killmonger picks him up over his shoulder and throws him off the cliff. I scream out in anguish watching the man I love fall to certain death. I let go of Shuri falling to my knees. "Nah, I'm your king," The queen pulled me upholding the both of us close as we cried. Nakia grabs us trying to get us to leave. I fought but once I watched them fasten the necklace around his throat I gave up allowing her to guide me away.
