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"They might not be able to figure it out, but that doesn't mean I can't..."
Loki stood indifferently at the top of Stark Tower, Loki's Scepter in his left hand and the Tesseract in his right. The two powers collided, producing a peculiar attractive force, as if some hidden power was trying to merge.
"The power of two Infinity Stones..." A flicker of fervor and regret crossed Loki's eyes. They were magnificent things, but unfortunately, they didn't belong to him.
But at the very least, he should get one of them to take back to Asgard, adding another artifact to Asgard's treasury.
High above, gusts of wind rustled his clothes. Gazing out, everything lay beneath his feet. That feeling of surveying all and dominating it gave Loki, whose heart craved recognition, a sliver of satisfaction.
He was a man of complex character, a fellow in whom cunning and treachery coexisted with stubborn devotion. But it was precisely this complexity that made him more dangerous, because you never knew which attitude he would take with you in the next moment.
Even Thor had been nearly killed by Loki more than once since childhood. The earliest incident dated back to when they were eight years old.
"From this moment on, I will forever engrave my name upon Midgard, upon Yggdrasil! Odin, Thor, I will show you that I am the true heir to Asgard! I am far superior to the brainless Thor!"
With a low growl, Loki placed the Tesseract onto a complex spatial device.
A blue light erupted like the Sun. Driven by the device, a pillar of light shot straight into the sky, covering it in blue.
Unlike the azure of the sky or sea, this was a captivating blue. Although it was just a single color, everyone who looked at it felt as if they were drawn in by a colorful new world, unable to look away.
The pillar of light surged toward the heavens, leaving a permanent mark at the edge of the world. That insignificant point would expand at an astonishing rate, eventually becoming the key to a gate, opening a portal to another world.
Countless people raised their heads, staring in astonishment at the dazzling pillar of light.
"What's going on? Is that Playboy up to some new invention again?"
"It's so beautiful... Huh, there's someone up there!"
Large crowds flooded the streets or leaned out of their windows, gazing in wonder at the rare, beautiful sight, completely mesmerized. The blue light seemed to possess an immense attraction, drawing in weaker beings and filling them with longing and desire.
This was the essential power of the Space Stone, a formidable power that could allow a mortal to ascend to godhood in a single step, the power to change fate and alter the world.
A tall young man, who was accompanying his adoptive mother to buy the latest corn seeds, suddenly stopped. His expression changed slightly as he abruptly lifted his head, his eyes widening as he instantly saw the scene a kilometer away.
The tall buildings couldn't obstruct his line of sight. Loki's figure came into view.
"...Honestly, the price of seeds has gone up again. They're nothing but a bunch of vampires! Clark, let's go home... Oh my god, what is that?"
"It's nothing, Mother. Let me take you home first." Clark retracted his gaze. His high-bridged nose and long, thick, dark brows were as strong and resolute as his heart.
This Kryptonian, however, seemed worried. His X-ray vision and super vision allowed him to see through everything with ease. He not only saw Loki but also Tony and the others rushing to the scene.
A battle was about to break out here, and it would endanger civilians.
"Oh my, Clark, look at that! It's so beautiful! I bet it's another one of that Stark fellow's new energy inventions!" His adoptive mother, Martha, was somewhat excited, clutching a bag of seeds. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes showed as she smiled.
Clark gave a helpless smile. Knowing his adoptive mother's personality all too well, he didn't show any unnecessary emotion. He took Martha's hand, led her around the nearest few corners, and when no one was looking, he immediately scooped her up and began to run at an insane speed.
A phantom-like shadow flashed by, accompanied by a fierce wind, leaving many pedestrians looking bewildered. But they quickly put it out of their minds, their gazes fixed on the sky.
Many clever people, however, realized something was wrong and quietly slipped away.
The immense blue light covered the sky. Then, before the stunned eyes of countless people, a massive vortex suddenly appeared out of thin air.
"What have you done?!" Tony fired an energy cannon blast at the device, trying to stop it, but it was neutralized by the energy emanating from the Tesseract.
Behind his helmet, Tony's expression darkened. He fired several more shots, but they had no effect. The seemingly simple barrier possessed an indestructible defense.
"It's useless, mortal. I told you I have an army! Now, receive the judgment of a god!"
Loki laughed maniacally and pointed his Scepter. A blast of energy slammed into Tony's chest, sending him flying and leaving the armor's surface covered in shattered fragments.
Mjolnir came whistling from the distance. Loki hastily used his Scepter to block it, but he too was sent flying by the terrifying power, crashing directly through a dozen walls and falling from the other side of the tower.
"Ha, my brother. Long time no see. Are you fighting for the Earthlings? You would make an enemy of me for a bunch of Earthlings?" Loki landed awkwardly on a platform, his arm still trembling slightly from the immense residual power.
"Cut the crap, Loki! Your sins are grave, and you have seriously threatened the safety and balance of the Nine Realms. I'm taking you back to Asgard!" Thor's face was grim as he said angrily, "Close the portal now! There is still a chance to fix this. If you let things from another world in, no one will be able to save you!"
"Hmph. Still with that same high-and-mighty look that I despise..." Loki sneered, a savage twist to his lips. "What do I have to fear? I'm already an exiled criminal anyway! No matter what, the end result won't be good. As for you, stop ordering me around with that sickening expression on your face. How many people have died because of you in the past? I am more suited to be king!"
"I can give you the throne!"
"Give? You say give?! How disgusting! Do you think I need your charity?!" Loki's expression turned frigid. Using his Scepter as a melee weapon, he charged fiercely at Thor.
Thor's face was grim. His simple way of thinking left him unable to handle this chaotic situation. Offering the throne was wrong, and not offering it was also wrong.
No matter how he tried to explain, it would only make Loki angrier.
Then let's fight! I'll beat Loki with my fists and drag him back!
Just as the two brothers were locked in their love-hate battle, the portal finally stabilized. A swarm of small flying vehicles poured out from within, densely packed. Their incredible speed created a piercing sound as they cut through the air, like thousands of killer bees frantically swarming from a hive.
The Chitauri have arrived.
(end of chapter)
Loki stood indifferently at the top of Stark Tower, Loki's Scepter in his left hand and the Tesseract in his right. The two powers collided, producing a peculiar attractive force, as if some hidden power was trying to merge.
"The power of two Infinity Stones..." A flicker of fervor and regret crossed Loki's eyes. They were magnificent things, but unfortunately, they didn't belong to him.
But at the very least, he should get one of them to take back to Asgard, adding another artifact to Asgard's treasury.
High above, gusts of wind rustled his clothes. Gazing out, everything lay beneath his feet. That feeling of surveying all and dominating it gave Loki, whose heart craved recognition, a sliver of satisfaction.
He was a man of complex character, a fellow in whom cunning and treachery coexisted with stubborn devotion. But it was precisely this complexity that made him more dangerous, because you never knew which attitude he would take with you in the next moment.
Even Thor had been nearly killed by Loki more than once since childhood. The earliest incident dated back to when they were eight years old.
"From this moment on, I will forever engrave my name upon Midgard, upon Yggdrasil! Odin, Thor, I will show you that I am the true heir to Asgard! I am far superior to the brainless Thor!"
With a low growl, Loki placed the Tesseract onto a complex spatial device.
A blue light erupted like the Sun. Driven by the device, a pillar of light shot straight into the sky, covering it in blue.
Unlike the azure of the sky or sea, this was a captivating blue. Although it was just a single color, everyone who looked at it felt as if they were drawn in by a colorful new world, unable to look away.
The pillar of light surged toward the heavens, leaving a permanent mark at the edge of the world. That insignificant point would expand at an astonishing rate, eventually becoming the key to a gate, opening a portal to another world.
Countless people raised their heads, staring in astonishment at the dazzling pillar of light.
"What's going on? Is that Playboy up to some new invention again?"
"It's so beautiful... Huh, there's someone up there!"
Large crowds flooded the streets or leaned out of their windows, gazing in wonder at the rare, beautiful sight, completely mesmerized. The blue light seemed to possess an immense attraction, drawing in weaker beings and filling them with longing and desire.
This was the essential power of the Space Stone, a formidable power that could allow a mortal to ascend to godhood in a single step, the power to change fate and alter the world.
A tall young man, who was accompanying his adoptive mother to buy the latest corn seeds, suddenly stopped. His expression changed slightly as he abruptly lifted his head, his eyes widening as he instantly saw the scene a kilometer away.
The tall buildings couldn't obstruct his line of sight. Loki's figure came into view.
"...Honestly, the price of seeds has gone up again. They're nothing but a bunch of vampires! Clark, let's go home... Oh my god, what is that?"
"It's nothing, Mother. Let me take you home first." Clark retracted his gaze. His high-bridged nose and long, thick, dark brows were as strong and resolute as his heart.
This Kryptonian, however, seemed worried. His X-ray vision and super vision allowed him to see through everything with ease. He not only saw Loki but also Tony and the others rushing to the scene.
A battle was about to break out here, and it would endanger civilians.
"Oh my, Clark, look at that! It's so beautiful! I bet it's another one of that Stark fellow's new energy inventions!" His adoptive mother, Martha, was somewhat excited, clutching a bag of seeds. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes showed as she smiled.
Clark gave a helpless smile. Knowing his adoptive mother's personality all too well, he didn't show any unnecessary emotion. He took Martha's hand, led her around the nearest few corners, and when no one was looking, he immediately scooped her up and began to run at an insane speed.
A phantom-like shadow flashed by, accompanied by a fierce wind, leaving many pedestrians looking bewildered. But they quickly put it out of their minds, their gazes fixed on the sky.
Many clever people, however, realized something was wrong and quietly slipped away.
The immense blue light covered the sky. Then, before the stunned eyes of countless people, a massive vortex suddenly appeared out of thin air.
"What have you done?!" Tony fired an energy cannon blast at the device, trying to stop it, but it was neutralized by the energy emanating from the Tesseract.
Behind his helmet, Tony's expression darkened. He fired several more shots, but they had no effect. The seemingly simple barrier possessed an indestructible defense.
"It's useless, mortal. I told you I have an army! Now, receive the judgment of a god!"
Loki laughed maniacally and pointed his Scepter. A blast of energy slammed into Tony's chest, sending him flying and leaving the armor's surface covered in shattered fragments.
Mjolnir came whistling from the distance. Loki hastily used his Scepter to block it, but he too was sent flying by the terrifying power, crashing directly through a dozen walls and falling from the other side of the tower.
"Ha, my brother. Long time no see. Are you fighting for the Earthlings? You would make an enemy of me for a bunch of Earthlings?" Loki landed awkwardly on a platform, his arm still trembling slightly from the immense residual power.
"Cut the crap, Loki! Your sins are grave, and you have seriously threatened the safety and balance of the Nine Realms. I'm taking you back to Asgard!" Thor's face was grim as he said angrily, "Close the portal now! There is still a chance to fix this. If you let things from another world in, no one will be able to save you!"
"Hmph. Still with that same high-and-mighty look that I despise..." Loki sneered, a savage twist to his lips. "What do I have to fear? I'm already an exiled criminal anyway! No matter what, the end result won't be good. As for you, stop ordering me around with that sickening expression on your face. How many people have died because of you in the past? I am more suited to be king!"
"I can give you the throne!"
"Give? You say give?! How disgusting! Do you think I need your charity?!" Loki's expression turned frigid. Using his Scepter as a melee weapon, he charged fiercely at Thor.
Thor's face was grim. His simple way of thinking left him unable to handle this chaotic situation. Offering the throne was wrong, and not offering it was also wrong.
No matter how he tried to explain, it would only make Loki angrier.
Then let's fight! I'll beat Loki with my fists and drag him back!
Just as the two brothers were locked in their love-hate battle, the portal finally stabilized. A swarm of small flying vehicles poured out from within, densely packed. Their incredible speed created a piercing sound as they cut through the air, like thousands of killer bees frantically swarming from a hive.
The Chitauri have arrived.
(end of chapter)
