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Chapter 340: Regretting It Now, Are You? I'm a Guardian, Not a Babysitter!
"Chitauri?! You actually colluded with this band of cosmic pirates! You've completely disgraced Asgard!" Thor was incredibly furious, his entire face contorted hideously.
What was more terrifying wasn't the Chitauri themselves, but what their presence signified.
Everyone knew that the Chitauri were Thanos's lackeys! Besides Thanos, who could command this pack of mad dogs? Yet Loki could, which was only possible if Loki had submitted to Thanos!
Loki let out a strange laugh. "You think I care?"
"Tony will never let you go! You haven't dealt with him before—he will definitely kill you! He's absolutely capable of doing something like that!" Thor grew anxious, sending Loki flying with a swing of Mjolnir as he roared.
Odin was old, and worse, Tony, the Sorcerer Supreme, had an aggressive and ruthless personality. His methods were incomparably brutal, even more cruel than the Ancient One. If Loki fell into that guy's hands...
A shiver ran through Thor, and he gritted his teeth fiercely.
No matter what, he had to capture Loki himself!
He absolutely could not let Loki fall into Tony's hands, or else Loki would truly die!
Even with Odin still alive, even with Asgard maintaining its powerful military might, it would be useless. Because if Thor couldn't capture Loki in time, Tony would possess three Infinity Stones, making him powerful enough to fight Odin!
With a wave of his hand, the entire Asgardian army would be annihilated!
And the Destroyer Armor was still in Tony's hands...
Even Thor's simple brain couldn't help but wonder if this was all part of Tony's plan from the very beginning, preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Loki's face was grim as he fought Thor without a word.
No one had time for the brothers' love-hate struggle anymore. The sudden appearance of a massive alien army had captured everyone's attention.
The crowd descended into chaos. Everyone was terrified, screaming madly. Only at this moment did these rubberneckers, who loved a good spectacle, finally feel fear.
But it was too late.
The moment the Chitauri Army appeared on Earth, as was their custom, the first thing they did was kill on sight. Each was equipped with a high-rate-of-fire, long-lasting Energy Weapon. When their barrels were aimed at civilians, it was a terrifying massacre.
A single shot would tear through a civilian's body. The unlucky ones might even be blown in two on the spot, their intestines and brains spilling across the ground.
Many police officers tried to suppress their inner terror, drawing their guns and firing, but to the Chitauri, the attacks from these weapons were utterly useless.
One police officer could even clearly see the disdain on the Chitauri's face.
A large number of Chitauri leaped from their flyers, brandishing their weapons and beginning to massacre the civilians.
In a densely populated city like New York, massacre was the main event. No matter the type of war, slaughter is always the main event.
The heroic feats of heroes soaring through the skies and the majestic sight of them felling one enemy after another were merely more eye-catching moments amidst countless corpses.
But they were, after all, a minority. In the face of a Legion-level war, without a super Powerhouse who could end it all in one blow, they could only buy time with the deaths of numerous civilians.
This is war.
This is the truest Reality.
This was also why Tony was so incredibly cruel to his enemies. If he could kill them, he wouldn't waste time talking. Compromise, exchanging benefits—it was all bullshit.
The only good enemy was a dead one, killed by his own hands.
Unfortunately, many people condemned Tony's methods as cold-blooded. It wasn't just the Asgardians who described him this way; even many Humans accused him of it.
Many people questioned: "They've already imprisoned the enemy, so they could totally squeeze them for any remaining value. Why kill them?"
It was just like when Tony had first taken over as the Sorcerer Supreme. The first thing he did was carry out a bloody purge of the Magic Prison, slaughtering all the prisoners from other dimensions inside.
No interrogations, no communication, no bullshit sentencing or conviction. He just opened the doors and started killing.
Skeletons and fresh blood established the tone and initial image of Tony, the Sorcerer Supreme.
But many people didn't understand. Only when disaster struck, when the Grim Reaper's Scythe was raised high, and when their humble, weak souls were face to face with the Grim Reaper, would they feel fear. Only then would they frantically search for someone to protect them.
It was already too late.
The civilian casualties were like an insignificant ripple in this Great War. Anyone with combat ability knew that civilians were a burden, yet many still extended a helping hand.
The Punisher, Daredevil, Spider-Man... Many of New York City's civilian heroes sprang into action, protecting the populace while striking at the enemy.
But it was foreseeable that after this battle, at least a million people would die. And this was still a low-intensity fight; the kind of being who could collapse a dozen buildings with a single punch hadn't shown up yet.
The populace was terrified, and the politicians were even more so.
"Dammit, what the hell is going on?! Where did these bizarre creatures come from?!"
"Aliens? How did they just appear directly in New York! What is S.H.I.E.L.D. doing? No, what is Tony doing?! Didn't he claim to be Earth's Guardian? Why did the enemy appear directly in New York?"
"Where the hell is Tony?!"
A group of politicians frequently wiped away their sweat, trying to hide their loss of composure. Many of them only now remembered that Tony seemed to have mentioned to them a long time ago that this Universe was very dangerous...
Although they had been quietly developing their military forces, to an Interstellar civilization, it was as laughable as a child's toy...
No matter how powerful their firearms were, could they compare to an Energy Weapon?
An entire arsenal of them, no less!
Many people panicked. Watching the images on the screen, the terrifying number of them gushing out of the tunnel like a geyser, they broke out in a cold sweat.
The Chitauri were experts at slaughter because that was their job. Killing was an instinct and a required course for every Chitauri Warrior.
They had conquered too many planets; they were very good at this sort of thing.
"Find a way to contact Tony! Get him to lead the Mages into battle!"
A high-ranking official calmly gave the order and then, at the urging of his aide, "reluctantly" stood up and headed for the safety of the Nuclear Bunker.
"No need. I'm already here." Tony emerged abruptly from a Portal, a cold sneer on his face as he surveyed the chaotic office.
His timing was perfect.
"Tony! Tony, what are you doing here? You should be on the front lines!" the high-ranking official said, his head covered in sweat, a hint of panic in his voice.
"I think you're the one who should be on the front lines. As a high-ranking national leader appearing at the very forefront of the battlefield, you'll surely inspire the soldiers to fight tooth and nail to protect your political achievements and reputation. Don't worry, I'll even equip you with a small handgun. You might even get a chance to shoot down some flyers."
Tony coldly reached out and grabbed the official's tie, sizing up the man's severely out-of-shape, pot-bellied figure. He clicked his tongue in mock admiration. "Truly remarkable. You could probably take two more shots from the enemy than an ordinary human. You might even save a few soldiers."
"No, I'm a leader! Without me, who would command and coordinate?"
"That's why I came for you, and not the President or the Secretary of State! I remember you were the one leading the charge to vehemently oppose releasing information about the Universe," Tony said, holding him like a pig. "Your soldiers are dying for you. They're paying the price for your conservatism, using laughably outdated weapons to protect your political achievements and power with their lives."
"Oh, and the civilians are also buying you time. And you, fat and content, spouting whatever rhetoric nets you the most political chips—you're the best kind of politician. Your leadership and political acumen are top-tier. Now let's see if an Interstellar-level enemy will show you any special favor just because you're such an excellent politician."
"I'll say it again. I'm a Guardian, here to protect a planet's progress, not a babysitter who takes care of your every little need! The things you should have done but didn't, I'll do them my way! And I'll start with your worthless life!"
(end of chapter)
"Chitauri?! You actually colluded with this band of cosmic pirates! You've completely disgraced Asgard!" Thor was incredibly furious, his entire face contorted hideously.
What was more terrifying wasn't the Chitauri themselves, but what their presence signified.
Everyone knew that the Chitauri were Thanos's lackeys! Besides Thanos, who could command this pack of mad dogs? Yet Loki could, which was only possible if Loki had submitted to Thanos!
Loki let out a strange laugh. "You think I care?"
"Tony will never let you go! You haven't dealt with him before—he will definitely kill you! He's absolutely capable of doing something like that!" Thor grew anxious, sending Loki flying with a swing of Mjolnir as he roared.
Odin was old, and worse, Tony, the Sorcerer Supreme, had an aggressive and ruthless personality. His methods were incomparably brutal, even more cruel than the Ancient One. If Loki fell into that guy's hands...
A shiver ran through Thor, and he gritted his teeth fiercely.
No matter what, he had to capture Loki himself!
He absolutely could not let Loki fall into Tony's hands, or else Loki would truly die!
Even with Odin still alive, even with Asgard maintaining its powerful military might, it would be useless. Because if Thor couldn't capture Loki in time, Tony would possess three Infinity Stones, making him powerful enough to fight Odin!
With a wave of his hand, the entire Asgardian army would be annihilated!
And the Destroyer Armor was still in Tony's hands...
Even Thor's simple brain couldn't help but wonder if this was all part of Tony's plan from the very beginning, preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Loki's face was grim as he fought Thor without a word.
No one had time for the brothers' love-hate struggle anymore. The sudden appearance of a massive alien army had captured everyone's attention.
The crowd descended into chaos. Everyone was terrified, screaming madly. Only at this moment did these rubberneckers, who loved a good spectacle, finally feel fear.
But it was too late.
The moment the Chitauri Army appeared on Earth, as was their custom, the first thing they did was kill on sight. Each was equipped with a high-rate-of-fire, long-lasting Energy Weapon. When their barrels were aimed at civilians, it was a terrifying massacre.
A single shot would tear through a civilian's body. The unlucky ones might even be blown in two on the spot, their intestines and brains spilling across the ground.
Many police officers tried to suppress their inner terror, drawing their guns and firing, but to the Chitauri, the attacks from these weapons were utterly useless.
One police officer could even clearly see the disdain on the Chitauri's face.
A large number of Chitauri leaped from their flyers, brandishing their weapons and beginning to massacre the civilians.
In a densely populated city like New York, massacre was the main event. No matter the type of war, slaughter is always the main event.
The heroic feats of heroes soaring through the skies and the majestic sight of them felling one enemy after another were merely more eye-catching moments amidst countless corpses.
But they were, after all, a minority. In the face of a Legion-level war, without a super Powerhouse who could end it all in one blow, they could only buy time with the deaths of numerous civilians.
This is war.
This is the truest Reality.
This was also why Tony was so incredibly cruel to his enemies. If he could kill them, he wouldn't waste time talking. Compromise, exchanging benefits—it was all bullshit.
The only good enemy was a dead one, killed by his own hands.
Unfortunately, many people condemned Tony's methods as cold-blooded. It wasn't just the Asgardians who described him this way; even many Humans accused him of it.
Many people questioned: "They've already imprisoned the enemy, so they could totally squeeze them for any remaining value. Why kill them?"
It was just like when Tony had first taken over as the Sorcerer Supreme. The first thing he did was carry out a bloody purge of the Magic Prison, slaughtering all the prisoners from other dimensions inside.
No interrogations, no communication, no bullshit sentencing or conviction. He just opened the doors and started killing.
Skeletons and fresh blood established the tone and initial image of Tony, the Sorcerer Supreme.
But many people didn't understand. Only when disaster struck, when the Grim Reaper's Scythe was raised high, and when their humble, weak souls were face to face with the Grim Reaper, would they feel fear. Only then would they frantically search for someone to protect them.
It was already too late.
The civilian casualties were like an insignificant ripple in this Great War. Anyone with combat ability knew that civilians were a burden, yet many still extended a helping hand.
The Punisher, Daredevil, Spider-Man... Many of New York City's civilian heroes sprang into action, protecting the populace while striking at the enemy.
But it was foreseeable that after this battle, at least a million people would die. And this was still a low-intensity fight; the kind of being who could collapse a dozen buildings with a single punch hadn't shown up yet.
The populace was terrified, and the politicians were even more so.
"Dammit, what the hell is going on?! Where did these bizarre creatures come from?!"
"Aliens? How did they just appear directly in New York! What is S.H.I.E.L.D. doing? No, what is Tony doing?! Didn't he claim to be Earth's Guardian? Why did the enemy appear directly in New York?"
"Where the hell is Tony?!"
A group of politicians frequently wiped away their sweat, trying to hide their loss of composure. Many of them only now remembered that Tony seemed to have mentioned to them a long time ago that this Universe was very dangerous...
Although they had been quietly developing their military forces, to an Interstellar civilization, it was as laughable as a child's toy...
No matter how powerful their firearms were, could they compare to an Energy Weapon?
An entire arsenal of them, no less!
Many people panicked. Watching the images on the screen, the terrifying number of them gushing out of the tunnel like a geyser, they broke out in a cold sweat.
The Chitauri were experts at slaughter because that was their job. Killing was an instinct and a required course for every Chitauri Warrior.
They had conquered too many planets; they were very good at this sort of thing.
"Find a way to contact Tony! Get him to lead the Mages into battle!"
A high-ranking official calmly gave the order and then, at the urging of his aide, "reluctantly" stood up and headed for the safety of the Nuclear Bunker.
"No need. I'm already here." Tony emerged abruptly from a Portal, a cold sneer on his face as he surveyed the chaotic office.
His timing was perfect.
"Tony! Tony, what are you doing here? You should be on the front lines!" the high-ranking official said, his head covered in sweat, a hint of panic in his voice.
"I think you're the one who should be on the front lines. As a high-ranking national leader appearing at the very forefront of the battlefield, you'll surely inspire the soldiers to fight tooth and nail to protect your political achievements and reputation. Don't worry, I'll even equip you with a small handgun. You might even get a chance to shoot down some flyers."
Tony coldly reached out and grabbed the official's tie, sizing up the man's severely out-of-shape, pot-bellied figure. He clicked his tongue in mock admiration. "Truly remarkable. You could probably take two more shots from the enemy than an ordinary human. You might even save a few soldiers."
"No, I'm a leader! Without me, who would command and coordinate?"
"That's why I came for you, and not the President or the Secretary of State! I remember you were the one leading the charge to vehemently oppose releasing information about the Universe," Tony said, holding him like a pig. "Your soldiers are dying for you. They're paying the price for your conservatism, using laughably outdated weapons to protect your political achievements and power with their lives."
"Oh, and the civilians are also buying you time. And you, fat and content, spouting whatever rhetoric nets you the most political chips—you're the best kind of politician. Your leadership and political acumen are top-tier. Now let's see if an Interstellar-level enemy will show you any special favor just because you're such an excellent politician."
"I'll say it again. I'm a Guardian, here to protect a planet's progress, not a babysitter who takes care of your every little need! The things you should have done but didn't, I'll do them my way! And I'll start with your worthless life!"
(end of chapter)
