I stood next to Shuri, letting her grip my hand tightly, as T'Challa and Killmonger stood opposite one another in the cliff-side pool. Killmonger snapped off a spear's shaft with his foot and held a sword in his other hand.

"He will never beat T'Challa," Shuri said. "He should have just come to the first challenge and gotten it over with." I shared a look with Ramonda, who didn't look so sure.

We looked out at the pool as Zuri brought T'Challa the same bowl of poison to strip away his powers.

"The King will now have the strength of the Black Panther stripped away," he said. Killmonger stared T'Challa down before glancing at Zuri, recognition flashing across both of their faces before Zuri looked away.

"This is your last chance," T'Challa said to his cousin. "Throw down your weapons and we can handle this another way." Killmonger stabbed his weapons into the ground, taking off his vest.

"I lived my entire life waiting for this moment," he said. "I trained, I lied, I killed, just to get here." He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing scars that went up his arms and across his entire chest, stomach, and back. "I killed in America, Afghanistan, Iraq. I took life from my own brothers and sisters right here on this continent." He picked his blades back up and pointed the spear at T'Challa. "And all this death, just so I can kill you." T'Challa looked to Zuri and nodded.

"Let the challenge begin," the older man said reluctantly. Killmonger tore forward with expert knife work and T'Challa with skilled defense. They exchanged hits a few times before knocking each other into the water towards the edge of the waterfall. They stood up, circling each other like vultures. Killmonger lunged at T'Challa, but the king dodged and knocked the vengeful man off his feet.

"Yield!" T'Challa yelled, trying to stop any further bloodshed. Killmonger attempted another hit, but T'Challa lunged forward, slashing his blade across his cheek. Fueled by rage, Killmonger began to overpower T'Challa, slicing his thigh.

"Snap out of it, T'Challa!" Shuri yelled. I squeezed her hand, attempting to comfort her, but there wasn't much I could do. Wielding both blades, Killmonger slashed deep across T'Challa's stomach, then spun, cutting deep into his bicep. Hurt, T'Challa attempted to fight back harder, but blood leaked from his side. Killmonger dodged T'Challa's next attack, and stumbling, T'Challa was unable to avoid Killmonger's blade being thrust into his ribs. The elders gasped as Ramonda looked away and Shuri just stared. I pulled my hand out of hers, replacing it with the other and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Killmonger pulled the knife out of T'Challa's stomach, and the king could barely stand as he received a punch to the face.

"This is for my father," Killmonger growled, walking swiftly toward T'Challa to deliver the deathblow. He was stopped by Zuri knocking his blade away with his spear.

"Zuri , no," T'Challa said painfully.

"Zuri, don't!" Ramonda exclaimed.

"I am the cause of your father's death," Zuri said. "Not him. Take me." Regrouping, Killmonger grabbed Zuri's spear. T'Challa labored to get up but couldn't .

"I'll take you both, Uncle James," he said. Before anyone could do anything, he stabbed Zuri with his spear. Zuri grabbed the blade with both hands before falling into the shallow water as T'Challa watched, crawling forward.

"No!" he yelled. "Zuri no! Zuri!! Noo!" Fueled by rage, T'Challa lifted back up to his feet. He charged Killmonger, who ducked his attacks while talking to those of us being forced to watch.

"Is this your King?" he asked. "Huh?" T'Challa swung his spear, but Killmonger ducked once again. "Is this your King? The Black Panther , who's supposed to lead you into the future."

"Come on brother!" Shuri yelled, crying beside me.

"Him? He's supposed to protect you?" Killmonger ducked another attack from T'Challa and scooped him onto his shoulders. He walked towards the edge of the pool, and I tensed up, squeezing Shuri's hand harder.

"No," I muttered quietly. Killmonger heaved T'Challa off the waterfall. Staggered, everyone watched him disappear below the mist as Ramonda screamed. Shuri curled herself into me, and I rubbed her back as Killmonger looked at us again.

"Nah," he said. "I'm your King." Nakia ran over to us quietly, urging us into the caves.

"We have to go now," she whispered. "Queen mother, let's go!" I stopped at the mouth of the cave, wishing for anything that I could cry for my friend. But it was just another thing I had lost.

"Het spijt me, T'Challa."

Translation:

Het spijt me, T'Challa. - I'm sorry, T'Challa.