Due to the presence of the force field and Wakanda's internal operational system, which had ample energy, there was no need to worry about the shield shutting down due to insufficient power. Wakanda could sustain itself through its own cyclical system, eliminating the need to risk venturing outside the shield.
Despite the large number of zombies gathered at the edge of the force field, they were generally docile and calm on a daily basis. Their most frequent activity was to huddle together in small groups, gnawing on each other's rotting flesh to satisfy their hunger. Only a small fraction of the zombies closest to the force field would attempt to attack it.
Therefore, there was no need to be concerned about the force field being breached.
Even with the area outside swarming with zombies, Wakanda continued to operate smoothly, with its people living their peaceful, isolated lives. At most, a few small teams would patrol the perimeter of the force field periodically to ensure no unforeseen incidents occurred.
However, this peaceful existence was shattered a few days prior.
For reasons unknown, the zombies outside had gone berserk. Three days ago, they began to violently assault and gnaw at the force field. Today, a group of alien zombies had also fallen from the sky. These accumulating changes caused Shuri, who was in the command center, to feel a sense of unease.
"You, come here."
Upon hearing Shuri's call, her assistant hurried over.
"My lady, what is your command?"
Shuri paused for a moment and said, "I've been feeling uneasy lately. Go inform the patrol teams to be extra cautious and thorough in their duties, and not to overlook any potential danger."
"Yes, my lady. I'll go immediately."
"Come back."
As the assistant was about to relay Shuri's orders, he was called back after only a few steps.
"Here's what you do: state that it's my command. Deploy half of the Royal Guard to reinforce the patrol teams. Report any unusual activity to me immediately."
After the assistant left, Shuri followed shortly after, heading to her laboratory to continue her experiments.
Shuri had complete trust in her assistant; they had been close friends since childhood, and their bond was exceptionally strong. However, she was unaware that her childhood friend had already betrayed her.
As soon as the assistant left the command center and Shuri was out of sight, he did not immediately relay her orders. Instead, he turned and ran to a secluded corner, pulled out his communicator, and began to inform a council elder.
While the council elder was somewhat rigid and conservative, he was reasonable in certain matters, especially after the previous incident where their decisions had led to the deaths of many Wakandan warriors.
He raised no objections to Shuri's order to strengthen the patrol teams, allowing the assistant to proceed with relaying the command.
However, before the order could be fully implemented and the Royal Guard deployed, disaster struck at the force field.
Seeing that his incompetent subordinates were unable to breach the force field before them for an extended period, the impatient Zombie Thanos decided to take matters into his own hands.
If nothing else, with the four Infinity Stones he currently possessed, even a single one could easily shatter the force field.
Zombie Thanos approached the force field, lightly tapped it with his hand, and then removed the Power Stone from his gauntlet, holding it in his grasp.
Instantly, purple energy surged through his touch, spreading from his palm towards his body.
One of the benefits of becoming a zombie was the absence of pain. Currently, directly utilizing the Power Stone's energy would inflict immense strain and agony on the user's body, but Thanos, now a zombie, felt no such physical burden or suffering.
Zombie Thanos clenched his right fist, which held the Power Stone, and after a brief backward swing, he unleashed a powerful punch at the force field.
*Crack!*
As expected, empowered by the Power Stone, Thanos's punch successfully created a hole in the force field. Subsequently, spiderweb-like cracks spread rapidly from the breach in all directions. In the next moment, the force field shattered like snowflakes in winter and fell away.
With the force field gone, the waiting zombie horde surged forward, rushing towards Wakanda.
As for Zombie Thanos, he did not rush to join the charge. Instead, he carefully reinserted the Power Stone, which he had just removed, back into his gauntlet. After checking his right hand to ensure everything was fine, he picked up his Tyrant's Cleaver and strode towards Wakanda.
On the Wakandan side, no one had anticipated that their supposedly impenetrable force field would be breached by zombies, and so suddenly, without any time for preparation.
Facing the tsunami-like charge of the zombie horde were the limited numbers of the patrol teams, who were the first to engage.
With such a massive zombie force, the patrol teams stood no chance in terms of equipment or numbers. Even if they turned and fled, their chances of survival were slim.
In this dire situation, the patrol team captain made a remarkable decision. He chose not to flee but to face the zombie horde head-on. He drew the spear from his back, activated the blue energy shield on his left arm, and charged into the zombie ranks, shield in one hand, spear in the other.
He knew that behind him lay Wakanda, his home. Facing such a horde, retreat was impossible. The only option was to charge, to expend all his strength, and even if he could slow the zombie advance by a single second, it would give Wakanda more time to prepare.
Perhaps inspired by their captain's bravery, the remaining twenty Wakandan warriors, after a brief silence, also took up their weapons and followed the path their captain had blazed, charging into the zombie horde.
The courage and resolve of these twenty-one Wakandan warriors to face death were commendable. However, in the face of absolute power, courage and determination could not be the key to their victory against overwhelming odds.
These twenty-one Wakandan warriors were instantly swallowed by the zombie horde. Despite their utmost efforts, they were like a tiny ripple in the vast ocean of the horde, unable to even slightly impede its progress.
By this time, Shuri had already received the news of the force field's destruction and the zombie invasion of Wakanda.
"My lady, we..."
The assistant, now panicking and filled with dread, frantically asked Shuri what they should do. However, before he could finish speaking, Shuri interrupted him. She pushed the assistant aside and quickly rushed into her laboratory.
Several researchers were still engrossed in their work within the laboratory. The quiet environment meant they were unaware of the impending disaster. Annoyed by the sudden intrusion that interrupted their experiments, an elderly researcher was about to scold the newcomer. But upon seeing that it was Shuri, the words caught in his throat.