The Battle of Ta Lo was the final conflict of the Expedition to Ta Lo, including the Ta Lo villagers and their allies, the Ten Rings and the Soul Eaters. At first, it started as a skirmish against the Ten Rings led by Xu Wenwu, in an attempt to stop him from liberating the Dweller-in-Darkness, but later escalated into a battle against the Soul Eaters, as Ta Lo villagers joined forces with the Ten Rings to stop the Dweller from escaping into the earthly realm.
Background[]
Xu Wenwu sought out revenge against the Iron Gang for the death of Ying Li, and located them at their secret parlor. Wenwu brought his son Shang-Chi with him as part of his training and continued to train his children for the years to come.
Wenwu managed to track down both of his children, Shang-Chi and Xu Xialing, at the Golden Daggers Club, sending his warriors, led by the Death Dealer, to attack the club and steal their pendants. Shang-Chi was close to killing the Death Dealer, but was stopped by Wenwu as he seemed happy to reunite with his children after many years. They went to the Ten Rings Headquarters, where Wenwu talked about his mission to free his wife from the Dark Gate at Ta Lo, using the pendants to display a safe gateway through the forest maze. As Shang-Chi denied him, Wenwu imprisoned his children and Katy Chen.
As Shang-Chi, Xialing, and Chen planned their escape, they met Trevor Slattery, who told them everything about his past as well as his current conditions, introducing Morris. Xialing managed to find a weak spot within the walls, breaking it and creating a small pathway out. They went to the base's underground garage and stole Razor Fist's Car in order to escape, successfully escaping the base.
The group followed Morris' directions and successfully made it through the forest maze, going through the gateway into Ta Lo. They were approached by the villagers, led by Guang Bo, who told them to turn back. However, Ying Nan told them to stand down, realizing who they were. Shang-Chi told her that Wenwu was coming as the villagers began preparing to defend the village. During this time, Ying explained the ancient history of the village: the villagers lived in peace until the Dweller-in-Darkness attacked. They grouped their greatest warriors, though they were no match for the Dweller. Fortunately, the Great Protector helped them drive back the Dweller.
Ying brought Shang-Chi and Xialing to their mother's memorial, where she presented them the armor their mother had prepared for them. As they finished preparing, the group went to the front of the village, awaiting Wenwu's arrival.[1]
Battle[]
Wenwu's Arrival[]
Wenwu arrives at the Ancient Village
As Shang-Chi, Katy Chen, Xu Xialing, Ying Nan and the village of Ta Lo prepared at the entrance to the Ancient Village, Xu Wenwu arrived with the Ten Rings led by Razor Fist and the Death Dealer. As Wenwu confronted the villagers, Ying told him that his wife was not behind the Dark Gate as he was being lured by the Soul Eaters. Wenwu tried to persuade Shang-Chi, but Guang Bo ordered him to leave the village. Wenwu demanded that he gain passage to the Dark Gate, but instead, the villagers readied themselves for battle. Seeing no other option, Wenwu ordered his warriors to burn the village down.
Xu Xialing battling the Razor Fist
The two sides collided as Wenwu made his way through the battlefield. During the brief battle, Ying began fighting the Death Dealer while Xialing began fighting Razor Fist. Shang-Chi noticed Wenwu walking away from the battle towards his wife's memorial, giving chase to him while fighting off several warriors. However, Razor Fist blocked Shang-Chi's path, swiping at him with his blade until Xialing kicked him aside.
As Shang-Chi found his father, he approached him as they confronted each other. Wenwu threatened Shang-Chi, but Shang-Chi told him he wasn't afraid. Pushing him aside, Wenwu taunted him as the two fought, eventually kicking Shang-Chi to the ground. Wenwu reprimanded him for his inactions to save Ying Li as Wenwu pushed Shang-Chi outside of the memorial. The two continued battling each other until Shang-Chi gained the upper hand, accusing Wenwu of choosing the rings over his mother. Knocking Wenwu down, Shang-Chi told him that his family needed him, but Wenwu struck his son into the water. Believing his son to be dead, Wenwu traveled to the Dark Gate in hopes of breaking it down and freeing his wife. However, this caused a Soul Eater to escape as it flew to the village.
Death Dealer is killed by a Soul Eater
Back at the village, Ying, Xialing, and Razor spotted the Soul Eater. Xialing tried to persuade Razor Fist into allying with each other, but he declared that the Ten Rings would be able to take the Soul Eaters down without the villagers' help. Unfortunately, the Soul Eater grabbed the Death Dealer, lifting him up in the air as the warriors tried to shoot it down. The Soul Eater took the Death Dealer's soul as another Soul Eater flew at Razor Fist. He tried to kill the creature, but Ying was able to put it down with her staff. Rethinking their predicament, Razor Fist ordered the Ten Rings to stop and help the villagers instead, as the two sides became temporary allies.[1]
The Great Protector Rises[]
The Ten Rings and the Ta Lo villagers began preparing for the Soul Eater invasion that was to come. As Katy Chen equipped her bow and quiver, she met Xu Xialing outside and asked where Shang-Chi was. Not knowing his location, the two worried for his safety. In the waters, Shang-Chi had not regained consciousness as he floated to the darkness below. Wenwu continued to attack the Dark Gate as more Soul Eaters were released. As they came closer to the village, Chen and the archers readied themselves for battle.
Shang-Chi bonds with the Great Protector
Floating slowly to the bottom, Shang-Chi remembered what his mother told him, regaining consciousness and nearly drowning. However, the Great Protector lifted Shang-Chi, staring deeply into his eyes as the two made a bond. Eventually, the Great Protector, alongside Shang-Chi, launched out of the water and ate some of the Soul Eaters as the villagers watched. However, the Soul Eaters were still headed to the village. On Guang Bo's command, the archers fired, beginning the battle with the Soul Eaters.
The combined forces of the Ta Lo villagers and the Ten Rings warriors fought hard against the Soul Eaters with the help of the Great Protector. Ying Nan told Shang-Chi that he needed to stop his father, who he spotted at the Dark Gate. Riding the Great Protector, Shang-Chi made his way through the Soul Eater army and kicked Wenwu aside.[1]
Confrontation at the Dark Gate[]
As Shang-Chi confronted his father once more, he told him that his wife was not behind the Dark Gate, but Wenwu ordered him to stand down. The two readied themselves as they began to fight each other as Shang-Chi used what Ying Nan taught him before the battle. Meanwhile, the Great Protector aided the Ta Lo villagers and bonded with Xialing and Morris reunited with Trevor Slattery.
Continuing their fight, Wenwu flung half of his rings at Shang-Chi, though Shang-Chi caught them and managed to gain control of them. Realizing what he did, he used his newfound skills to better control the rings and use them against his father. Wenwu and Shang-Chi continued to fight with their own half of the rings until Wenwu shook the ground with a punch and launched Shang-Chi in the air, directing a heavy blow towards him. However, Wenwu saw Shang-Chi in the smoke, gaining control of all of the rings. Shang-Chi began to charge a powerful attack with the rings, until he decided to set them aside, sparing his father. Unfortunately, Wenwu still believed his wife was alive. Shang-Chi tried to reason with him, but the voice of the Dweller broke down the Dark Gate. Soon enough, the Dweller was unleashed.[1]
Dweller Unleashed[]
The Dweller-in-Darkness is freed from its imprisonment
- "I'm hanging on to the Great Protector with my sister at this point, trying not to get eaten by the Mega Soul Sucker."
- ―Shang-Chi to Soo and John[src]
With the Dweller-in-Darkness unleashed, it flew towards Shang-Chi and Xu Wenwu. At the last second, Wenwu flung Shang-Chi with him, saving him as the Dweller grabbed Wenwu and absorbed his soul. Shang-Chi watched his father die, remembering his past. As his final act, Wenwu gave Shang-Chi the Ten Rings before his body dropped to the ground. The Dweller was about to attack Shang-Chi once again, but he was stopped by Xialing, who rode the Great Protector and speared the Dweller into the Dark Gate. The two creatures howled at each other until the Dweller began flying to the village. With the Dark Gate broken, the rest of the Soul Eaters began invading Ta Lo.
The Dweller-in-Darkness sucking the soul of the Great Protector
As Shang-Chi and Xialing returned to the village on the Great Protector, the Great Protector gathered its power and attacked the Dweller. Although the Great Protector created a whirlpool to stop it from attacking, the Soul Eaters fed the Dweller with their collected souls, empowering it and stopping the Great Protector. The two creatures collided, though it almost caused Shang-Chi and Xialing to fall off. The Dweller grabbed onto the Great Protector's mouth and began absorbing its soul.
Back at the village, Guang Bo found the Dweller's weak spot and told Katy Chen, though he was killed by a Soul Eater as Chen watched. As Shang-Chi tried to pull Xialing back to him, Chen shot an arrow at the Dweller's throat, weakening it. The Great Protector began heading towards the water with the Dweller following closely. The Great Protector began to trap it once more as Shang-Chi and Xialing attacked it. Using his rings to push the Dweller deeper into the water, Shang-Chi pushed the rings deeper into the Dweller, causing it to explode.[1]
Aftermath[]
Tribute to the Fallen[]
The Great Protector took Shang-Chi and Xu Xialing back to the Ancient Village, where many villagers and warriors had died to the Dweller-in-Darkness and its Soul Eaters, while many more were injured. As Katy Chen walked onto the field, she saw Shang-Chi, dropping her weapon and running to hug him. Xu and Ying Nan exchanged looks of thankfulness. Nearby, Trevor Slattery was happy to see Morris again as Slattery hugged him.
Ying led the villagers in a lantern ceremony, detailing how those who have died will always be with them in spirit. As the villagers placed their lanterns by the water one by one, Chen rested on Shang-Chi's shoulders as he looked towards the lights. The Great Protector flew out of the water and into the night sky.[1]
Ten Rings Beacon[]
Shang-Chi and Katy Chen meeting with Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner
Shang-Chi's use of the rings triggered a beacon that was detected by the Masters of the Mystic Arts, who sent Wong to bring Shang-Chi and Katy Chen to Kamar-Taj where the rings were examined. With Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner communicating via holograms, they were unable to determine the origin of the rings, as there was nothing about them in Kamar-Taj's codex nor did they resemble any alien technology Captain Marvel had encountered. Once awareness of the rings' beacon was brought to attention, Captain Marvel had to opt out to respond to an alert, and Banner signed off soon after, welcoming Shang-Chi and Chen to their world of heroes. Wong then encouraged the pair to return home and rest and prepare for whatever happens next.[1]
Ten Rings Takeover[]
- "Let's get started. We have a lot of work to do."
- ―Xu Xialing to Jon Jon[src]
Once she left Ta Lo, Xialing had promptly returned to the Ten Rings Headquarters and became the organization's new leader, whilst pretending to shut it down to her brother, Shang-Chi. She brought about an upheaval of reforms to the Ten Rings, introducing a female unit to train alongside the men in the courtyard, in addition to dismantling a number of its other operations.
.png){kind=link}
Xialing takes over the Ten Rings
While sorting through artwork plastered in her room, she discovered a sketch of her late mother, taking a moment to remember her. Razor Fist then approached Xialing to inform her that her new subordinates were waiting for her orders. With Razor Fist and Jon Jon at her side, Xialing took her seat on the throne her father once held, and announced that the Ten Rings have a lot to work on.[1]