When Killmonger blows a hole in the side of the CIA Black Site, Ross dives on top of Nakia, taking a bullet in his spine. After using a Kimoyo Bead to stabilize the wound, T'Challa decides to take Ross back to Wakanda to heal him, despite the country's strong attitudes toward outsiders.

Killmonger kills Klaue and delivers the body to W'Kabi in order to gain his support.

When T'Chaka attempted to arrest N'Jobu for helping Klaue steal vibranium from Wakanda, N'Jobu attacked Zuri who had been spying on him. Forced to kill his own brother, T'Chaka then left N'Jobu's son (Killmonger) behind in America.

As the son of a Wakandan Prince, N'Jadaka demands the right to challenge T'Challa for the mantle of King and of the Black Panther.

When Killmonger is about to deal T'Challa a killing blow, Zuri intervenes, offering his own life as atonement for N'Jobu's death. Killmonger furiously impales Zuri who falls to the ground dead, then hurls T'Challa over the waterfall to his presumed death.

After ingesting the heart-shaped herb to gain the powers of the Black Panther, Killmonger orders the rest incinerated so that there can never be another king. Fortunately, Nakia is able to steal one of the last herbs before they are burned.

Nakia, Shuri, Ross, and T'Challa's mother Ramonda flee to seek the aid of the Jabari or Mountain Tribe and learn that M'Baku's men are caring for the comatose T'Challa, whom they have rescued in repayment for sparing M'Baku's life.

During the Battle of Mount Bashenga, W'Kabi calls for the Border Tribe's war rhinoceroses. Thanks to these reinforcements, the Border Tribe gains the upper hand against the Dora Milaje until Okoye stands in front of a charging rhino and saves M'Baku's life.

After T'Challa impales Killmonger, he shows mercy and offers to heal him. "Why?" Killmonger asks. "So you can just lock me up? Nah. Just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from the ships 'cause they knew death was better than bondage."

Rejecting the isolationism of past Wakandan kings, T'Challa purchases the apartment complex where N'Jobu was murdered and turns it into the first Wakandan International Outreach Center. "Nakia will oversee the social outreach," he tells Shuri, "and you will spearhead the science and information exchange."