Marvel: Starting from the Snap

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**Wakanda**.

A fictional, isolated nation within the Marvel universe.

Wakanda is a land brimming with both advanced technology and mysticism. It is home to various tribes of Wakandans and the domain of divine powers.

The history of Wakanda before its establishment is lost to time, but two extraordinary forces cannot be overlooked: vibranium, derived from a meteorite, and the Panther God, Bast.

Vibranium brought immeasurable wealth and technological advancements to Wakanda. With vibranium-based creations, Wakanda's technological level rivals the most advanced in the universe.

Bast, on the other hand, serves as the guiding force for Wakanda's warriors, leading them to discover the Heart-Shaped Herb and granting them superhuman abilities. This divine influence empowered Wakanda's king, the Black Panther, to protect his homeland.

This is the origin of the Black Panther and Wakanda itself.

While Wakanda is one of the strongest nations on Earth, its current state is far from ideal.

Luke opened the folder handed to him. The first things that caught his eye were photographs of the battlefield—grim, haunting images of fallen soldiers and mutilated Outriders.

The devastating sight of Wakandan warriors lying amidst carnage made Luke's brows furrow deeply.

And this was just the aftermath of battle. Many more lives had vanished in *The Blip*, and the exact toll was immeasurable. Even from the still photographs, Luke could vividly imagine the chaos and horrors of the battlefield.

It was hard to fathom the courage of those who charged into battle against colossal alien invaders.

"Wakanda's situation is complicated," said the woman. "We've lost too many people, and the Avengers are in no better state. Luke, I need you to head over there and establish a connection with our Wakandan counterparts. We need to ensure proper post-war protocols are followed."

The woman's gaze lingered on Luke, who was studying the photographs intently. Her sigh was barely audible, but the weight of it was palpable.

After dismissing the guards accompanying them, the woman—identified as Karina—placed a firm hand on Luke's shoulder and led him aside.

"To be honest, this wasn't supposed to be your mission. However, most of our field agents are missing in action, and we need every hand we can spare."

"I understand," Luke responded, closing the folder.

"Good. Pack your things; you'll leave shortly." Karina gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "And don't let this weigh you down too much."

The subtle pressure on his shoulder made Luke instinctively uncomfortable. Something about Karina's behavior struck him as odd, but he kept his unease hidden, maintaining the appearance of a weary man burdened by the recent crisis.

Skimming through the folder's contents, Luke couldn't help but question the urgency of this assignment. Surely there were more qualified personnel for a mission in Wakanda.

After a brief pause, he asked, "This mission… It's not just about establishing contact, is it?"

"No, it's not."

Karina didn't deny it. Instead, she nodded solemnly and pulled out her phone. With a swipe, she displayed a photograph on the screen for Luke to see.

The image was of a gray-skinned humanoid figure. It looked eerily lifeless, like a corpse. However, its smooth skin and the gaping wound on its forehead set it apart.

Unlike flesh and blood, the wound revealed intricate circuits and delicate wiring.

"Vision?" Luke recognized it instantly.

The figure was none other than Vision, the synthetic superhero born of the Mind Stone and the battle against Ultron.

Something felt off.

Luke scrutinized the photo intently, his eyes narrowing. The pixels on the screen seemed to shimmer and distort, as if some unseen force was trying to manifest itself but couldn't fully materialize.

This strange phenomenon was eerily reminiscent of when blood-red text had appeared before him.

Could it be that Vision's corpse had become an *artifact*, imbued with the heroic will of its former self?

Because Luke wasn't physically near Vision's body and could only view it through an image, the artifact's presence seemed to waver, unable to fully reveal itself.

The mere thought made Luke's heart race.

If Fury's small pager held such immense power as an artifact, what kind of abilities would Vision's body grant if obtained?

"Luke, are you listening?" Karina's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Yes, I'm listening," Luke replied quickly, recovering his composure. "So my mission is to secure Vision's body and ensure its safe return to the base, correct?"

Karina pressed her lips together before responding.

"That's the ideal outcome. Wakandans are notoriously protective of their own. Gaining their trust won't be easy. If we can recover Vision's body before the military gets involved, it will benefit everyone."

Luke's brow furrowed. "The military? They're moving this quickly after such a catastrophic event?"

"Never underestimate our esteemed Secretary of State. That man's ambition knows no bounds. Mark my words—he has the skills and cunning to run for president one day."

Karina chuckled, but the humor in her tone was laced with meaning.

Without dwelling on the topic further, she gave Luke another pat on the shoulder.

"Wakanda isn't New York. Be cautious when you get there. Also, I'll be taking over your file personally. From now on, you'll report directly to me.

The chain of command has become… unstable since Fury and Hill were lost. Some people are growing restless."

(End of Chapter)