Chapter 101: Psylocke Challenges, Ethan Decides Submission
Psylocke, showing no signs of being a stranger, walked to the sofa opposite Ethan, sat down elegantly, and naturally crossed her sexy and charming long legs.
Those straight, shapely legs looked like exquisite works of art under the light, while simultaneously giving off a wild sense of beauty full of explosive power.
If caught in the tight grip of those long legs, even steel would likely be snapped.
She truly lived up to the Jianghu rumors of her 'Deadly Scissors Kick'!!!
"Spared my life? No, to be precise, it should be that I relied on my own strength to dodge your lethal attack, right?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Psylocke's mouth, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance.
"Don't you know that once the Omega Beams lock onto a target, they will hunt them down like the God of Death, never stopping until death?" Ethan slowly lowered his hands and leaned forward slightly, an invisible and terrifying pressure instantly enveloping Psylocke. "No, to be exact, this trump card of mine is showing its edge before the World for the first time. You frogs at the bottom of a well have no idea of its horror."
Psylocke's body instinctively tensed up instantly.
She stared fixedly at the seemingly harmless man in front of her.
Her intuition told her that the most dangerous moment had arrived.
"In participating in this incident, I didn't intend to destroy Osborn from the inside. I just wanted to infiltrate this emerging power to gain enough intelligence leverage."
Psylocke couldn't quite withstand this overwhelming psychological pressure and finally chose to be honest.
"I am very aware of that; it's also the correct reason why you weren't directly blasted into dust by the second shot of my Omega Beams."
Psylocke took a deep breath, calming her racing heart. "Let's get straight to the point!!"
"Please speak, I'm all ears."
"I urgently need a slot for the super soldier serum injection. I wonder if Mr. Hao is willing to provide this strategic resource to our England? If you just nod, we can also give Your Excellency a generous reward you cannot refuse!!!"
By now, Psylocke understood perfectly that the stories she had carefully fabricated had long been seen through by the other party.
Looking at Ethan's certain attitude, he clearly treated her as a corporate spy who had delivered herself to his door.
"Since you are already an active employee of Osborn, you will naturally enjoy the company's internal hidden benefits. However, all female Mutants who join the Osborn Security Department share a common trait: they all eventually become my women. So, Raven leaving you at Osborntemporarily should also be an implication of this unspoken rule."
Ethan's gaze was burning, as if he wanted to see through Psylocke's Soul through her clothes.
He didn't hide his domineering possessiveness in the slightest.
Psylocke lowered her head, falling into a long period of deep thought, and only after a long time did she slowly look up. "Defeat me, and my entire self is yours. In this life, I only submit to the command of the truly strong!!"
"As long as I defeat you, I get you?"
With a playful smile on his face, Ethan looked at Psylocke with great interest.
Psylocke met his gaze provocatively, showing no weakness.
Ethan was very satisfied with her peerless beauty, which was exactly the capital Psylocke was most proud of.
Similarly, deep in her heart, Psylocke had an indescribable good impression of this handsome young overlord before her.
In this World where looks matter, appearance sometimes represents justice.
If an old, ugly, greasy man were sitting opposite her, Psylocke would definitely transform into the World's most chaste woman, using the sword in the stone in her hand to let him taste the flavor of being sliced into pieces.
But Ethan was different.
He was truly handsome to the bone.
Moreover, he emitted a male pheromone that would make any female creature intoxicated.
As long as she was a normal woman, she wouldn't hate a charming bad man like Ethan.
It is a man's nature to be lustful.
When women get lustful, they can be even crazier than men.
But Psylocke wasn't that kind of easy woman.
To think he could make her kneel on the ground and sing of submission just based on Ethan's current reputation?
It was simply wishful thinking!!!
"As long as you can defeat me fair and square, I will immediately swear loyalty to the Osborn Group and become the sharpest sword under your command."
In a daze, Psylocke seemed to return to those glorious years of following Apocalypse.
That was her dream time standing at the Peak of the Mutant World.
It was from that moment on that she completely broke free from her lowly status as an intelligence organization thug and leaped to become one of the top Mutant powerhouses in this World.
"Psylocke, I can clearly feel the Battle Intent surging like a volcano in your heart, but are you really sure that once I defeat you, you'll actually dare to break away from that massive Knights of the Round Table behind you? To betray the British Intelligence Service? To abandon the glory of the Royal Guard?"
Ethan's gaze seemed to have penetrative power, looking directly into Psylocke's inner World.
But Psylocke was very sure that the other party had not used Telepathy to invade her brain or pry into those private memories.
She extremely resented others peeking at her memories.
This kind of spiritual rape made her feel more anger and shame than physical violation.
"Joining those messy organizations was just to give me a temporary legal place to stay. Over the years, I have indeed performed many services in England, but you know, whenever I face those fat, big-eared Mortal officials full of bureaucratic talk, the thing I want to do most in my heart is to draw the sword in the stone and chop off their disgusting heads one by one to kick around like balls."
Psylocke described her suppressed mental journey over the years in a flat tone.
Being a so-called superhero, Captain Britain, in Englandwas like a series of heavy shackles bound to Psylocke, who was free-spirited by nature.
It seemed she had found a glimmer of hope in Ethan to escape this dull life.
Survival would always be the first Law engraved in Psylocke's bones.
Only by living on would the future have infinite possibilities.
Once death arrives, all ambition and desire will dissipate with the wind.
"Psylocke, you are indeed a very interesting woman. I appreciate your straightforward personality. If you truly wish to challenge me, then now, I accept."
Ethan didn't even stand up from the sofa, as if he were welded to the seat; no one in this World could force him to rise.
A cold light flashed in Psylocke's eyes.
The sword in the stone in her hand thrust out as fast as lightning, the blade glowing with an eerie purple-red energy light, tearing through the air with a whistle.
Ethan's fingers were instantly covered in a layer of crystalline frost. At the very moment the sword in the stone was about to pierce his brow, he used a move of the Consonance Point to catch the blade with incomparable precision.
Psylocke took the opportunity to step forward, one foot stomping heavily on the coffee table, both hands gripping the hilt as she pressed down fiercely.
Chapter 102: Catching the sword in the stone with His Physical Body; Psylocke Submits
But Ethan's two seemingly slender fingers gripped the blade, and it didn't budge an inch, as if cast in iron.
"Elizabeth, you are strong, definitely one of the most outstanding warriors on this Planet, but unfortunately, whether in terms of speed or power, I am above you. It is a Realm that you, as you are now, cannot even look up to."
Ethan said nonchalantly.
Seeing this, Psylocke instantly condensed a ball of purplish-red energy in her other hand, transforming it into a sharp telekinetic sword-pick, and stabbed it fiercely toward Ethan's defenseless chest.
Ethan didn't even make a move to dodge.
A crisp ding echoed.
That indestructible purplish-red energy sword-pick struck his chest and actually shattered directly into specks of starlight.
Psylocke's beautiful eyes were filled with horror.
With a gentle flick of Ethan's fingers, a massive force surged out, sending the legendary sword in the stoneflying.
"This is indeed a holy sword endowed with ancient magic, and the metal material is extremely rare; it is truly a rare treasure. I have every reason to believe that this is the legendary, true sword in the stone."
As the sword in the stone was sent flying, it embedded itself into a distant wall, trembling incessantly.
Psylocke looked at the unfathomable man before her with a face full of shock.
The Ice Demon had always been known throughout the global supernatural World for his ice ability that could freeze all things.
Or that lethal Heat Vision that locked onto enemies, shocking the World.
But what Psylocke saw with her own eyes now was his indestructible Physical Body, as if cast from steel, and his bottomless, terrifying physical strength.
His Physical Body was so formidable that it was almost impossible for Mortal weapons to harm him in the slightest.
Possessing so many top-tier abilities in one body.
Compared to the Mutant ancestor Apocalypse of back then, he was even superior.
Apocalypse was the existence closest to the concept of a 'god' she had ever seen in her life.
And the Ice Demon before her seemed to have already become a god.
As its wielder, Psylocke knew better than anyone the power and sharpness contained within the sword in the stone.
Coupled with the energy weapons materialized by her telekinesis, she could normally slice through special alloys with ease, cutting through the armor plating of an aircraft carrier like tofu.
Even against a true body of steel, she was confident she could split it in two.
However, the scene unfolding before her completely shattered Psylocke's World view, forcing the proud woman to completely submit to Ethan's overwhelming power.
She had only one creed: loyalty to the strong.
Just as when Apocalypse descended, a few words were enough to make Psylocke willing to follow him and become one of the World-renowned Four Horsemen of Apocalypse.
But now, Ethan's sudden emergence had allowed her to find a powerful backing to rely on once again.
Just like the words Psylocke had spoken to Raven before, every sentence was actually from the bottom of her heart.
The advent of the cure had already completely changed the landscape of Mutant survival.
Psylocke no longer hesitated; she knelt on one knee and deeply lowered her proud head: "Boss, from now on, I, Psylocke, am yours to command."
Ethan reached out and gently stroked Psylocke's soft black hair: "Don't worry, I won't force too many changes on you. If you still want to continue being that illustrious Captain Britain, then keep playing the part as they require. After all, the influence of the England government on the global political stage cannot be underestimated, and this special position of yours can bring many unexpected conveniences to the Osborn Group in the future."
Psylocke looked up with a slight surprise, but she still had doubts in her heart: "Will doing this affect your core interests, Boss? If a conflict of interest occurs in the future, how should I handle myself?"
"No, no, no, clever Psylocke, you should understand that cooperation is the kingly way to a win-win. I can appropriately satisfy some of the conditions proposed by the England side, and you can turn around and tell those old fogies in England directly that these are benefits you obtained by sacrificing your looks and body, and that the England government must give you greater compensation and power."
The smile on Ethan's face grew even brighter, looking exactly like a unscrupulous merchant.
"Boss, why do I feel like you're finding ways to help me seek personal gain?"
Psylocke stood up, regaining her seductive, bone-deep smile.
Ethan reached out his hand and pinched Psylocke's smooth, delicate chin, playing with it gently as he laughed: "I never mistreat the women who belong to me. In my view, all the Empire foundations I've created—whether it's mountains of money or gene technology ahead of its time—are merely external things. Only a beauty's true heart is what I regard as a treasure, the most precious work of art I want to hold in my palm and keep forever. Oh, damn, I shouldn't use the word 'object' to describe you; after all, that's a desecration of your beauty."
Hearing these words, Psylocke's tense heart completely relaxed.
"It's okay, I don't mind. I only hope for one thing: that you will always be stronger than me. If one day you become weak and incompetent, I will mercilessly drive a sword into your heart, end your life with my own hands, and then leave coolly to find the next strong person."
Psylocke stuck out her tongue and licked her somewhat dry red lips.
That seductive posture, full of wildness and danger, once again whetted Ethan's appetite.
"Hahaha, that would be my honor. If I truly die at the hands of such a peerless beauty one day, this magnificent life would be worth the price of admission. However, dear Elizabeth, that is a task that is nearly infinitely impossible to complete."
Ethan loved conquering this kind of thorny wild rose.
For Psylocke to want to be stronger than him, it probably wouldn't be possible even in her next life.
Unless she gets incredibly lucky and obtains a Divine Artifact on the level of the heart of the universe.
But how could a Mortal like Psylocke possess the heart of the universe?
Even with the secondary six Infinity Stones all delivered into Psylocke's hands, she might only be able to achieve a one-for-one trade with him at best.
Thinking of the Infinity Stones.
Ethan secretly decided in his heart that he must find a way to keep an Infinity Stone in his hands forever.
To prevent someone from actually gathering all six stones and snapping their fingers.
That Purple Sweet Potato Essence, Thanos, should already be secretly plotting to seize the Infinity Stones on Earth by now.
"Completing an impossible task—that is life's greatest challenge and joy."
Psylocke said proudly, her eyes flashing with the light of ambition.
"I will do my best to help you become stronger, and I promise to give you one chance to challenge me every year. But if you lose, then for the next year, you must unconditionally obey every word I say."
Ethan pulled with his large hand, pulling Psylocke's graceful and hot figure directly into his arms.
"As you wish, my dear Ice Demon My Lord."
The smile on Psylocke's face became even more seductive, as if it were about to drip water.
"Go, let Raven arrange a place for you to stay first. Tonight, remember to clean yourself up. You know my rules. Wait for me!"
Psylocke gave Ethan a miffed look and left the office, swaying her charming water-snake waist.
Of course, the sword in the stone embedded in the wall was also conveniently pulled out and taken by her.
Ethan, being wealthy and powerful, had bought many top-tier properties in prime locations near Central Park.
Psylocke was arranged by Raven into a luxury suite opposite Midono.
Sandy respectfully led Psylocke to settle her luggage.
In the office, Raven sat on Ethan's lap.
Chapter 103: Natasha's Return, Undercurrents in S.H.I.E.L.D.
"I smell a special fragrance on you—hmm, it's a bit like the body scent of that female Agent, Natasha. It seems my dear boss had a very fruitful trip to Siberia this time. Not only did you conveniently uproot our competitors, but you also played out a scene of rekindling an old flame."
Mystique Raven, covered in sky-blue scales, had skin that was exceptionally smooth and cold to the touch, even carrying an alien, seductive beauty that Ethan could not bear to put down.
"The path of gene Fusion is indeed the right direction. That kid Peter fused three types of transgenic potions and could actually kill Dr. Connors, who was double-strengthened by the Lizard Serum and Spider-Man Serum, with ease. I personally fought him, and compared to second-stage gene fusion, the power boost from third-stage gene fusionis simply a qualitative leap."
Ethan's face became unusually serious: "I want to ensure all core data in the laboratory is foolproof and not a single word is leaked. Furthermore, all commercial versions of the potions pushed to the market must undergo strict downgrading."
Raven nodded seriously: "This is the Law of Nature; we need to use this method to protect our monopoly wealth."
A strange light flickered in her eyes.
After managing the Osborn Group on Ethan's behalf for a while, she had come to deeply understand why the Military had chased her like mad dogs in the first place.
By studying my blood samples, they discovered the Heaven-Defying properties of the mimicry gene.
This meant that once this mimicry ability was mastered at the genetic level, Mystique Raven wouldn't even need to be injected with those so-called super soldier serums.
She could completely simulate the cellular structures within the bodies of those who had already been injected with the serum through contact, thereby perfectly replicating their powerful strength.
"Raven, it's a good thing you've been supporting me from behind, otherwise such a massive Osborn Group would have turned into a mess long ago."
Ethan looked affectionately at Raven in his arms.
"Give it a rest, stop trying to charm me. Your great beauty is still waiting for your favor in the room. That woman Psylocke is an extremely dangerous assassin-type Mutant. You'd better be careful when you sleep at night; she might just'snip-snip' you while you're fast asleep."
Raven raised her eyebrows, an expectant expression of waiting for a good show appearing on her face.
"This is your beloved boss we're talking about. Once Psylocke has tasted that soul-stirring flavor, she won't be able to bring herself to attack me anymore. As for you, dear Raven, would you have the heart?"
Raven playfully slapped Ethan's firm chest.
"I, of course, would not have the heart."
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
"Barton, good news. Natasha has been successfully rescued."
Nick Fury looked at the security code sent by Natasha on the communicator.
He immediately called off Barton, who was investigating clues on the perimeter and preparing to organize a commando rescue team.
"Understood, Officer."
Hearing this news, a smile of relief finally appeared on Barton's tense face.
"How is Dr. Bruce Banner's state of mind adjusting now?"
Nick Fury changed the subject and asked about the Hulk's situation.
"He has returned to work with very high focus. That's all I could do. After all, there's an uncontrollable Beast living inside this guy. The big guy after transformation isn't something that can be controlled by psychological counseling alone."
A helpless expression appeared on Barton's face.
Back then, he had put in an immense amount of effort just to invite this time bomb, Bruce, back.
The transformed Hulk had nearly torn him apart several times.
But Barton never went head-to-head with such a monster; he played with tactics and brains.
"The sudden emergence of the cure is definitely a good reference point for Bruce's research. The only pity is that the data from HYDRA's gene Base was completely destroyed, and Natasha wasn't able to bring back any valuable technical information."
Nick Fury thought of the headache-inducing Ethan.
The massive Osborn Empire standing behind Ethan now has become a piece of meat and a threat in the eyes of the USA, and even all the major powers in the World.
If it weren't for Ethan's thunderous methods deterring all the small-time players, Nick Fury knew very well that even if S.H.I.E.L.D. were fully deployed, they couldn't stop the Osborn Group from being besieged and divided by other greedy forces.
At that point, if Ethan were forced to go on a killing spree again, the situation would fall into absolute passivity.
It was likely that those major powers hiding behind the scenes would mobilize all social media resources to completely push him to the opposite side of all humanity.
This was an extremely dangerous signal.
"As long as Natasha can return alive, we are happy even if she returns empty-handed."
A sincere smile appeared on Agent Barton's face.
Natasha was his life-and-death partner, and the camaraderie between them was as deep as family.
Seeing his friend safe and sound, Barton naturally felt happy from the bottom of his heart.
"By the way, Tony has already started preparing the new Avengers Base. This time, the Base is located in Los Angeles to stay far away from the Ice Demon's line of sight."
Nick Fury hesitated for a moment but still decided to tell Barton the latest plan of the Avengers Alliance in full.
After all, Barton was now one of the core members of the Avengers.
"I'm looking forward to the moment when all the Avengersassemble. How is your work with the Captain going? Have you persuaded him?" Barton suddenly inquired.
Captain America Steve had only recently woken up. It took him a long time to barely adapt to this modern society that he had been disconnected from for nearly seventy years.
"Peggy went to enlighten him personally, but as you know, there has always been a promise in the Captain's heart that he missed for seventy years, leaving him with a lifelong regret. Ms. Peggy's current physical condition... I'm afraid she doesn't have much time left. To leave no regrets, Captain Steve will likely choose to return to S.H.I.E.L.D. in the end."
When Nick Fury mentioned Peggy, a flash of respect crossed his single eye.
She was a legendary female Agent and one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D.
She deserved the solemn respect of all the younger generations in S.H.I.E.L.D.
It was also because of this special legacy connection, coupled with Ms. Peggy's personal persuasion, that the stubborn Captain would surely agree to join S.H.I.E.L.D.and become the spiritual leader of the Avengers.
"By the way, Officer, I discovered that during this mission, there seemed to be Agents from within our own S.H.I.E.L.D. monitoring me in secret. You know, those HYDRA rats have already infiltrated our S.H.I.E.L.D.internal ranks. Are you considering making our first battle for the Avengers an operation against these HYDRAmembers?"
Barton knew very well how much work pressure Nick Fury was currently facing.
Chapter 104: Ice Demon's Night Visit to Stark
Half of this pressure came from that chaotic New York.
"I have already set a meticulous trap. For now, pretend you know nothing. But the moment we pull the net and launch the attack, the cancer that is HYDRA must be completely purged from S.H.I.E.L.D. I will personally slaughter all those backstabbing bastards."
Nick Fury's expression was agitated, veins bulging on his forehead.
HYDRA's corruption of S.H.I.E.L.D. had reached the marrow. To completely clear these tumors, even he, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. known for his iron blood, had once felt despair over this rotten situation.
But after the despair, life goes on, and someone still has to preside over the work.
"There's more news. Captain Britain, Psylocke, has also arrived in New York, and she has high-profiledly joined the Osborn Group!"
Nick Fury suddenly dropped a bombshell.
Barton felt a wave of wordlessness; this World was truly getting crazier and crazier.
...
The top floor of Stark Tower.
Tony Stark suddenly jolted awake from a nightmare, drenched in sweat, his heart pounding violently.
He was already a superhero in the spotlight of tens of thousands.
An idol worshipped by everyone in the USA.
A super-billionaire, super Genius, and Iron Man.
These were the glamorous identity labels Tony currently held.
But ever since returning from that narrow escape at the Empire State Building, Tony had not had a peaceful night's sleep for a long time.
The terrifying figure of the Ice Demon had become a lingering nightmare, making him live in constant fear.
Once again, he truly felt the threat of death.
And the God of Death had once brushed past his shoulder like that.
In the end, it was only because he had met the Ice Demononce before that he narrowly escaped.
As a man who revered science, he had never imagined that the power of an individual human could evolve to such a powerful level.
The core temperature of the Heat Visions shot from those eyes could actually reach the terrifying levels of the Sun's interior.
"Jarvis, what temperature can the current laser cutting beam reach?"
Tony wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and asked in a low voice.
The calm voice of the artificial intelligence Jarvis sounded: "Sir, the instantaneous temperature of the improved laser has surpassed ten thousand degrees Celsius!"
Currently, industrial-grade laser temperatures usually only reach about 3,000 degrees, and they require continuous irradiation for the temperature to keep climbing.
But under Tony's Genius modifications, the instantaneous burst temperature of this laser beam had already broken the 10,000-degree mark.
Moreover, if energy output was sustained, the upper temperature limit could be increased by another fifty percent.
However, this series of startling data was not the answer Tony wanted.
Having seen that so-called most perfect and terrifying biological weapon with his own eyes, this insignificant Breakthrough in technology could no longer stir any ripples in his heart.
An instantaneous high temperature of 10,000 degrees could indeed easily slice through the special deck of an aircraft carrier like cutting through butter.
Theoretically, no known carbon-based lifeform could withstand his laser cutting.
But whenever he faced the image of that Ice Demon in his memory, he always felt the weapon in his hand was like a toy, devoid of any deterrent power.
"I see. Save the experimental data and build a new model to continue the deduction."
Tony forced himself to calm down.
He knew well that Breakthroughs in science and technology were never achieved overnight.
Reason told him that if he still wanted to keep digging into a dead end to deal with Ethan, it would be an utterly foolish mistake.
But Tony hated this feeling of being unable to control his fate.
His personality dictated that he liked to take the initiative.
He liked to hold all variables firmly in his own hands.
Once, with his brain cursed by knowledge, he arrogantly believed there was no problem in this World he couldn't solve.
But now, he was forced to add a new entry to his dictionary.
Kill the Ice Demon — Impossible.
"Now this is interesting, Tony. I never knew you were so eager to kill me. And here I was, treating you as a friend, but these thoughts of yours have truly broken my heart!!!"
A playful voice suddenly rang out in the empty mansion, giving the pondering Tony Stark a huge fright.
Countless ethereal blue light dots in the air began to rapidly converge, gradually condensing into Ethan's slender figure.
Tony Stark fell into silence, quietly looking at this uninvited guest.
He watched as the protagonist of his nightmares, as if returning to his own home, walked skillfully to his bar, flipped through his private wine cabinet, took out his favorite bottle of vintage whiskey, and poured himself a glass.
"Need a glass to calm your nerves?"
"Thanks, leave some for me."
"Ha, you're being too polite saying that. After all, this bottle of wine is your private property."
Ethan poured two glasses of wine.
In the next second, a thin layer of white frost instantly condensed on the surface of the originally room-temperature glasses.
No ice cubes were needed; it instantly reached the perfect, crisp chill.
The wine glass levitated out of thin air, coming to a steady halt in front of Tony Stark.
"Truly amazing temperature control. Honestly, up until now, I haven't figured out where the boundary of your power lies."
Tony Stark was, after all, someone who had experienced great storms; his will was firm, and he wasn't intimidated by Ethan's mysterious appearance.
He didn't even show the slightest defensive posture toward the Ethan who was close at hand.
Because he knew very well that in the face of absolute power, any defensive move was meaningless.
Instead, it would only make him look too cowardly and ridiculous in front of this Ice Demon.
"The boundary of power? Tony, when you look up at the vast deep space of the Universe, do you feel fear because of its infinity?"
Ethan took a sip of the chilled wine and suddenly asked back.
"The Void Realm of the Universe? It only makes me feel fascinated, not afraid. Because in that darkness, there are still many mysterious unknowns waiting for me to explore and conquer. For the unknown, I only feel curiosity, never fear."
Tony Stark spoke his true thoughts without any concealment.
Indeed, this was the pride of Iron Man.
For the vast majority of scientists obsessed with research, that vast and boundless galaxy of stars represented endless truth and temptation.
But even if I just catch a glimpse of that deep night sky, what rises in my heart is only a bone-chilling cold.
Tony, I'm different. I'm constantly worried that I'll end up dead on the street in the next second.
This anxiety about death forces me to become stronger, and to become stronger without end.
Until I have the confidence to face those unspeakable ancient existences in the depths of the Universe, ensuring I won't be crushed like a bug at will.
Chapter 105: Cosmic Crisis and the Friday Handover
Ethan gently swirled the wine glass in his hand, the amber liquid clinging to the glass walls, reflecting the solemnity deep in his eyes.
This was, after all, the crisis-ridden Marvel Universe.
It was a miraculous plane where the power scaling was broken to a completely irrational degree.
Ethan knew in his heart that with his current means, he could indeed walk tall on this small patch of land called Earth.
Even looking at the entire Milky Way Galaxy, there were very few opponents who could make him take them seriously.
But once he cast his gaze toward the pitch-black depths of outer space, monsters more terrifying than him were as numerous as the hairs on a cow.
The high-and-mighty Celestials, the five Great Gods who maintained the rules, the cold Watchers, and that Living Tribunal who judged all.
Pulling any one of them out at random, they would have the ability to grind the current Ethan into fine powder.
As long as he stayed a bit low-key and hunkered down in this 'newbie village' called Earth without going out to cause trouble, he could indeed live very comfortably.
The fear was that some World-ending major event would occur, and he would be directly erased before he could even react.
That kind of death would be the most frustrating; not even a trace of consciousness would remain, as if he had never existed in this World.
Like that snap in the future—half live, half die—it was purely a game of probability based on luck.
Ethan might not even understand what was happening before being reduced to ashes because of a wish made by some Purple Sweet Potato Spirit.
This was the greatest fear buried deep in his heart.
"How is that possible? You're being too pessimistic."
Tony Stark curled his lip, clearly not believing it.
"Even if there really are aliens in this Universe, who could easily kill a human-shaped demon like you? Such existences are simply nonsense."
He directly dismissed Ethan's concerns as a joke.
Ethan, however, only shook his head slightly, his gaze remaining profound.
"Tony, your horizon is still too narrow. Even if you are a Genius, your gaze is merely limited to New York, limited to the USA, at most looking at Earth."
"But I can tell you responsibly that in this Universe, the ruthless characters who can casually crush the Earth and kill me in the process are truly too many to count."
Hearing this, Tony's hand holding the wine glass tightened slightly, and his pupils contracted sharply.
If this guy was telling the truth, then if those monsters invaded Earth, what would humanity use to stop them?
"So you think what I do is cruel? That it's an evil act?"
The corner of Ethan's mouth hooked into a self-deprecating arc.
"That's right, by the moral standards of you ordinary people, I am indeed a bastard."
"But you must understand, in the eyes of those High-dimensional beings, destroying us is as simple as a passerby accidentally stepping on a nest of ants while walking; they don't even need a reason."
There was no coldness in his tone, only a kind of indifference from having seen through the ways of the World.
"That metaphor of yours is truly hair-raising. So in your eyes, I'm just an ant that can be stepped on at any time?"
Tony tilted his head back and drained the whiskey in his glass.
Today's liquor felt exceptionally pungent as it went down his throat; that cold, sharp mouthfeel actually matched the current topic well.
"No, precisely because I know that insignificance, I pity the weak. I am sincere to those around me."
"Even if there really were ants blocking the middle of the road, I'd be willing to take a detour."
"The premise is that these ants cannot blindly use the people around me to deal with me."
"I can tolerate ants swarming to attack me, and I even have the leisure to play games with them."
"But as long as they dare to touch my bottom line or break my rules, they must endure thunderous punishment!"
Ethan's voice gradually dropped to freezing point, and the surrounding air seemed to solidify.
Tony Stark opened his mouth but found himself speechless.
Because looking at it from another perspective, if someone dared to touch Pepper, he would absolutely put on his armor and blast them to smithereens, seeking revenge at any cost.
"It seems you've thought of that answer too. I'm glad; in our bones, we are actually the same kind of people."
Ethan smiled, and that oppressive atmosphere instantly dissipated.
"Thanks for the good wine. I know you just tinkered together a second-generation AI System called Friday, right?"
"I'm here to collect my gift; we had an agreement."
Ethan didn't want to keep lecturing Tony with those heavy principles.
The amount of information revealed today was already large enough.
This could also be considered a reminder for Tony, giving him a bit of a sense of crisis.
After all, this was a quite excellent boss with top-tier money-making abilities.
As a major shareholder of Stark Industries, Ethannaturally hoped Tony could run the company prosperously.
As a friend, he also sincerely hoped Tony could have a good ending.
Since those disasters couldn't be avoided, he could only let Tony arm himself to the teeth and make more adequate preparations.
He shouldn't be screwed over by a bunch of pig teammates like in the original plot.
"Actually, you could just open the data interface for the Osborn Company, and I'd let Friday transmit it over remotely."
Tony Stark sighed, knowing he couldn't dodge this debt.
He had indeed just developed this new System, and its functions were quite powerful.
Although Friday was excellent, in Tony's heart, Jarvis was the irreplaceable old partner.
Jarvis already had the prototype of true intelligent life and had even cultivated a gentlemanly character.
After so many years of integration, Jarvis's underlying logic was as steady as an old dog; there would definitely not be any cliché 'robot crisis' plot.
In contrast, Friday, although stronger in combat modules, was after all just created and hadn't undergone large-scale testing.
Her personality was also a bit aggressive; who knew what she would eventually evolve into.
"Tony, it's not that I don't trust you, but you know the rules of our trade. I don't want any misunderstandings because of network security issues."
Ethan's slender fingers gently swirled the wine glass.
The whiskey in the bottle nearby seemed to be guided by an invisible hand, automatically flying out in an arc and landing precisely in Tony's glass, filling it back up.
This move of telekinesis was played out quite smoothly.
"Don't worry, this hard drive is clean. I didn't leave any backdoors; even the authentication permissions are blank."
"Once you take it back and finish the authentication yourself, you will be Friday's sole highest authority holder."
Although Tony Stark had a sharp tongue, he valued integrity in business and wouldn't do anything sneaky.
Moreover, facing Ethan, who was known as the Ice Demon, he wouldn't dare to mess around even if given twice the courage.
In case he angered this guy, who knew if he would really develop killing intent?
A somewhat clumsy-looking mechanical arm slid over, with an exquisite mobile hard drive placed on the tray.
Ethan reached out and took it, weighing it in his hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"Thanks, Tony. I knew you were a decent man who keeps his word."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ethan's entire being instantly turned into countless points of light and dissipated into thin air.
This scene happened so suddenly that there wasn't even the sound of air being displaced.
Tony Stark froze in place holding his wine glass, not coming to his senses for a long time.
"He's gone?"
Jarvis's gentle voice sounded: "Scans show that there is currently no second carbon-based life form in the room."
"How did he do it? Teleportation? Or optical stealth?"
Chapter 106: Taking Control of Friday, Late Night Meeting with Psylocke
Tony Stark rubbed his eyes vigorously, beginning to doubt his very existence.
A living person had turned into light right before his eyes; this wasn't just unscientific, it was practically magical.
Crucially, this was yet another new ability that Ethanhad never displayed before.
If this guy had even mastered moving at the speed of light, then the danger Rank assessment for the Ice Demonwould have to be raised by several more levels.
The scene shifted to the top-floor laboratory of the Osborn Group.
Ethan inserted the hard drive into a completely independent super-server.
His slender fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard, and a waterfall-like stream of data flashed frantically across the screen.
The massive core data of the Artificial Intelligence was being migrated.
Soon, a calm female voice came through the speakers.
[Hello, Mr. Hao. It is a pleasure to serve you. I am Friday.]
"Hello Friday, I am Ethan. Begin the highest-level authority authentication procedure now."
Infrared scanning, retinal comparison, voiceprint locks—a series of tedious authentication processes were all completed within seconds.
"Friday, open your underlying source code backend."
[Understood, sir.]
Ethan stared at the screen, his hands moving like afterimages as he swiftly entered strings of commands, fine-tuning and embedding the original code structure.
These high-end operations were all thanks to Tony Stark's knowledge reserves.
The superpower of Telepathy was practically a cheat; its biggest BUG was the ability to directly copy others' knowledge and memories.
Of course, having knowledge wasn't enough; one also needed a good brain.
With the support of the Super Brain, Ethan's learning efficiency was terrifying.
A photographic memory was child's play; his current mental processing speed was comparable to a supercomputer.
Thinking about it, Superman's father was a top-tier scientist, yet Superman only used his Super Brain to listen to gossip—what a waste of natural talent.
"Friday, interface with the Osborn Group's internal network, open the external ports, and take over the group's entire network security defense immediately."
[Understood, executing... Takeover complete.]
Friday was like a god in the digital World, instantly taking control of the entire group's data flow.
"No matter what, I will never let that traitor Ultron be born."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing through them.
He had planned this long ago: he had to stop Tony and Banner's crazy experiment.
The thing called Ultron was too troublesome; as long as the internet existed, it was an immortal virus.
If he couldn't strangle the unborn Vision in the cradle, even Ethan would have to lose a layer of skin to completely kill off Ultron.
The plot of Avengers 1 should be starting soon!
This was the golden period for Ethan to harvest leeks... no, to harvest rewards.
He was now eager for Loki to hurry up and bring the Scepter to start making trouble.
The Space Stone was a must-have, but as for the Mind Stone, there was no rush to get it during Avengers 1.
Ding-dong—
The phone screen lit up, and a message popped up.
[Sir, Ms. Elizabeth is asking if it is convenient for you to visit her room?]
"Reply to her: wash up and wait, I'll be there shortly."
[Replied to Ms. Elizabeth.]
Psylocke couldn't hold back already?
A wicked smile curved at the corner of Ethan's mouth, and his mood instantly became expectant.
His body turned into a stream of light once more, instantly vanishing from the laboratory.
A second later, he was already standing outside Psylocke's door.
Speaking of which, Domino lived right across from her?
Thinking about Raven's room assignments, Ethan was momentarily speechless.
Was she afraid Psylocke couldn't handle the firepower alone, so she specifically arranged for a substitute to wait nearby?
Furthermore, Raven herself lived on the top floor.
Good grief!
Was she planning to form a 'Vengeful Women's Alliance' within the company?
Knock, knock, knock.
Ethan straightened his collar and knocked on the door with gentlemanly grace.
The door opened, and Psylocke appeared, dressed in a black lace semi-transparent nightgown.
Her faintly visible skin was dazzlingly white under the lights.
"For you. Flowers for a beauty; you're practically glowing tonight."
Like a magic trick, Ethan pulled out a bouquet of red roses and handed them over.
Psylocke took the flowers, gave him a sultry glance, and giggled, "I didn't expect the famous Ice Demon to be so romantic in private."
"Haha, if you get to know me better, you'll find I have more strengths than you can count."
Ethan laughed heartily, his gaze wandering over her body without restraint.
"Then please come in, Mr. Hao."
Psylocke lowered her head and took a deep breath of the floral scent, appearing quite enchanted.
"This is the first bouquet of roses I've ever received. I'm very satisfied."
As soon as she finished speaking, she casually tossed the expensive roses aside.
Her previously gentle movements instantly turned wild as she grabbed Ethan's tie and pulled him directly into the room.
She didn't give Ethan any chance to speak.
A slender leg hooked back, and the door slammed shut with a bang.
Then came a domineering 'kabedon,' and her fiery red lips pressed directly against his.
Ethan symbolically raised his hands in surrender, completely giving up resistance.
Psylocke's passion was just like her purple energy blades—scorching and sharp, as if it could set a person ablaze.
In the room next door, Domino rolled her eyes helplessly, put on noise-canceling headphones, and turned the music up to the maximum.
In the rooftop office, Raven sensed the movement downstairs, a faint, imperceptible smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
She lowered her head and continued working overtime, searching for loopholes in the mountain of documents.
She was auditing the accounts; the financial reports of the Tesla Lighting Energy Group had issues—a bunch of parasites were secretly eating away at Ethan's interests.
Raven had already set her sights on these people, but this time she planned to follow legal procedures and send these executives to prison to pick up soap.
After all, this company was too conspicuous; using force directly could easily cause stock market volatility.
It was better to solve it in a civilized manner, while simultaneously promoting a group of her own people into power.
"I just wonder if that guy Ethan actually got the AI from Tony? If we had that thing, why would I still be working overtime!"
Raven rubbed her aching temples and sighed.
From a wandering Mutant assassin to her current status as a corporate strongwoman, the jump was indeed quite large.
Sometimes when she was exhausted, she really wanted to throw in the towel and leave New York to live a leisurely life like a wild crane.
But she knew in her heart that she had long been labeled as one of the Ice Demon's people.
Once she left the big tree that was Osborn, her former enemies would find her and tear her to pieces in minutes.
She stayed up until two in the morning.
Raven finally finished all the data and stretched tiredly.
Just then, a familiar masculine scent came from behind her, and a pair of hands gently rested on her shoulders.
"Mr. Hao is finished already? It seems our Captain Britain's combat power isn't all that great; she couldn't even last one round with you?"
Raven turned around, the fatigue on her face vanishing, replaced by a playful smile.
Chapter 107: Raven's Transformation Teases Ethan
After eavesdropping for half the night, it was finally the main person's turn.
She only then realized that she truly hadn't been nourished by this guy for a long time.
Our Captain is a novice after all, a blank slate in this regard, and she fell into a deep sleep before long.
Ethan scooped Raven up and headed toward the lounge.
Psylocke? Whitey? How is that possible?
Raven widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief.
That woman who looks so wild is actually a virgin?
Facts speak louder than words, but I believe that after my training, she'll soon graduate.
Ethan smiled radiantly, but to Raven, the smile looked a bit punchable.
She squirmed in Ethan's arms and let out a somewhat jealous huff.
"Discussing another woman's techniques right in front of me, Mr. Hao? This is a serious provocation. Does she have something I don't?"
*Whoosh!*
The Raven in his arms instantly transformed into Psylocke, even perfectly replicating that lace nightgown.
"No, no, no. I'm here for Raven, not for a body double."
Ethan quickly shook his head, gesturing for her to change back.
This was the joy of having Raven; it was equivalent to owning an illustrated handbook of all the World's beauties.
But that didn't mean he liked performing for a fake face; that would be too insincere.
"Oh? Then how about this one?"
Raven's playful side took over. With a twist of her body, she actually transformed into the bald, robed Sorcerer Ancient One.
This move scared Ethan so much his hands nearly shook, almost dropping her.
"Stop, stop, stop! This is absolutely not okay! My aesthetic is still normal, and this is highly disrespectful to the Sorcerer Supreme!"
Ethan's face was covered in black lines as he quickly put an end to this dangerous game.
"That big shot is an existence who can toy with timelines. For all we know, she might be watching a live stream across the river of time right now. You don't want us to get struck by lightning the moment we step outside tomorrow, do you?"
"Is that bald woman really that powerful? Even you're so wary of her?"
Raven arched an eyebrow and reverted to her original blue-skinned form, feeling somewhat curious.
"That's Earth's first line of defense, a true powerhouse. If she weren't there, Earth would have been carved up by those hungry wolves in the Universe long ago."
Ethan recalled the movie plot. As long as the Ancient One lived, that Purple Sweet Potato Essence Thanoswouldn't even dare enter the atmosphere.
"She's holding the Time Stone. In a real fight, even Thanoswith five stones might not necessarily come out on top."
"Then it seems I'll have to be careful in the future. Someone who can make even you, the Ice Demon, back down must be a real tough character."
Raven coiled around Ethan like a beautiful serpent, her breath smelling like orchids.
"In that case, Mr. Hao, what are we waiting for?"
"Hahaha, tonight we battle until dawn. I was just building up my Battle Intent earlier."
Ethan laughed loudly and tossed Raven onto the soft, large bed.
Meanwhile, his consciousness scanned the System panel on his retina.
This Siberia dungeon run went well, with quite a harvest.
Killing monsters and wrecking Bases, he had wiped out HYDRA's nest. His desire points had been skyrocketing these past few days.
Combined with his series of operations during the Battle of New York and with the carrier group, the data panel was terrifyingly luxurious.
[wealth points: 101.53 billion (can be used for ability enhancement)]
[desire points: 910 million (can be used for RealmBreakthrough)]
[Bloodline: Kryptonian (Tier 1), Human Race (Tier 3)]
[Ability List: Ice-Ice/Flame-Flame/Glint-Glint Fruit (all Tier 3 Origin Mastery+), Mind Dominator, Water Control Magic, Steel Body, Super Flight, Heat Vision, X-ray Vision, Super Hearing, Super Brain...]
[Current Mission: red blind box (1) — ichisawa kaori]
[Mission Description: Conquer special female heroes; reward is a blue blind box (stackable).]
[Main Quest: Infinity Stones Collection (0/6)]
After taking Psylocke, the blind box reward finally upgraded to the red stage.
Although Ethan rarely took the initiative to be a philandering demon now, the rewards from this mission were simply too enticing.
Additionally, those Ten Iron Rings were now in his hands as well.
Not only were they powerful, but combined with his Grandmaster-level Martial Arts and Superman strength, they were practically a melee Divine Artifact.
"What are you thinking about? Focus!"
Raven bit his shoulder in dissatisfaction.
"Thinking about how to keep getting stronger."
Ethan answered honestly.
With 900 million desire points in hand, the three major Devil Fruits could be upgraded again.
But he hadn't decided which one to upgrade first.
In truth, his current strength was already overflowing. If he got any stronger, he'd really scare those villains into never leaving their homes.
If no one came out to cause trouble, where would he go to farm points?
"Your current strength is already at the ceiling, and you still want to get stronger? You're really not leaving a way out for others."
Raven gave him a coquettish look.
"It can't be helped. I lack a sense of security. Only when you're strong enough to ignore all rules can you truly sleep soundly."
Ethan didn't think there was anything funny about it; it was about being prepared for danger in times of peace.
"Lying on such firm pectoral muscles, I feel a total sense of security."
Raven closed her eyes, enjoying this moment of tenderness.
Ethan flipped over and took the dominant position.
"Ms. Raven, now is the time to show your true skills. Let's agree beforehand—no using that move from last time!"
"Bring it on!"
Raven didn't back down an inch.
However, by dawn, it was proven that stubbornness was useless; Raven finally didn't even have the strength to beg for mercy.
Downstairs, Domino sported two huge dark circles under her eyes, feeling as if she'd been hollowed out, even though she hadn't done anything.
Meanwhile, in another room.
Black Widow Natasha, who had slept for a day and a night, finally woke up.
She reached out, but the sheets beside her were already cold.
"Damned bastard, eating his fill and then running off."
Natasha muttered under her breath as she rubbed her aching waist.
But cursing aside, she still had work to do.
That one-eyed dragon Nick Fury was still waiting for her report.
With the Avengers about to be launched, if she wanted to see Ethan again, she'd probably have to wait until her next vacation.
Natasha remembered Ethan's instructions—about the injection of the super soldier serum.
This matter had to be reported to the Director.
Actually, as a top product of the Red Room, Natasha had long ago been injected with a special Genetic Serum.
It was a flawed version of the serum obtained by the Soviet Union, primarily focused on anti-aging and physical enhancement.
That was why she could maintain eternal youth and had strength far beyond ordinary people.
But compared to the perfect version of the serum in Ethan's hands, it was practically street-stall junk.
What woman could refuse becoming stronger, more beautiful, and younger?
Natasha walked into the garage, looked at the rows of luxury cars, and casually picked a red Bugatti Veyron.
*Vroom—*
The roar of the engine echoed through the garage.
"This car will count as that bastard's compensation for my lost wages."
Anyway, that guy was so rich he had nothing left but money; a sports car was less than a drop in the bucket to him.
Speeding all the way, she headed straight for the Avengers' secret Base in Los Angeles.
Chapter 108: Loki Arrives, Breaking Through Realms with the Scepter
[Private Property, Trespassers Will Be Executed]
Although there were no security guards at the Baseentrance, Jarvis was watching the gate, which was more effective than any security team.
The red Bugatti charged into the Base plaza like a ball of fire.
When Natasha stepped out of the car in high heels, swaying her sexy hips, the surrounding S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents' eyes went wide.
But no one dared to go up and strike up a conversation.
This thorny Black Rose was an existence that marked skulls on hit lists; anyone who touched her died.
"Welcome back safely, Natasha."
Agent Hill stood at the entrance in a dark blue tight-fitting uniform, looking heroic and spirited.
"Hill? What skincare products have you been using lately? Why does it feel like your skin is glowing?"
Natasha took off her sunglasses, her sharp gaze sweeping over Hill's face before finally resting on the other woman's noticeably perkier chest.
Why did it feel like this woman had a second growth spurt?
"I was injected with the super soldier serum. It seems you've heard that news as well."
Agent Hill maintained a professional fake smile, speaking with casual indifference.
She naturally knew about the little affair between Natashaand Ethan.
But Natasha would never guess that while she was away, Hill had already had an in-depth exchange with that man.
Even Nick Fury was kept in the dark about this.
"So this serum has beauty effects too? Then I definitely have to give it a try."
Natasha touched her own face, a sense of urgency suddenly rising in her heart.
She had many old scars on her body, and her skin condition relied entirely on maintenance; it couldn't compare to this kind of youth radiating from the genetic level.
Looking at the radiant Natasha, Hill felt a hint of sourness in her heart, but it was quickly suppressed.
Seeing Natasha's nourished appearance, she had clearly just been tenderly loved by that man.
"Since you're back, I'll hand the mission of keeping an eye on Osborn over to you, so I can take a breather."
Agent Hill shrugged, feigning ease.
However, Natasha keenly captured a hint of unnaturalness in the other woman's eyes.
She knew that lecher Ethan all too well.
If a top-tier mature beauty like Hill delivered herself to his door and nothing happened, then Ethan must have become celibate.
Moreover, since Hill had been injected with the serum and her Physique was enhanced, she was just right to withstand that monster's tossing and turning.
"I'm just afraid that old fox Nick won't agree."
Natasha smiled helplessly.
"Let's go, everyone is here. This is the first team-building for the Avengers."
Hill turned to lead the way.
Natasha stared at Hill's tight, rounded buttocks wrapped in her uniform, secretly gritting her teeth.
Damn it, it's actually perkier than mine! It's almost catching up to that America's Ass Captain!
Walking into the conference room, Tony Stark immediately let out a wolf whistle.
"Ladies, are you free for a dinner date tonight?"
Natasha and Hill spoke in unison with perfect rapport: "Better not, we're afraid Young Miss Pepper will charge us for emotional distress."
The two shared a smile, and the subtle rivalry from moments ago instantly vanished.
They were all victims of that man; why should women make things hard for women?
Tony Stark spread his hands uninterestingly: "You guys are no fun. Look at those blocks of wood over there, boring to the core."
By the conference table, Captain Steve, Dr. Banner, and Hawkeye Barton were all sitting upright, the atmosphere heavy.
"Enough, Tony, the jokes end here."
That one-eyed Nick Fury finally spoke.
"Natasha, welcome back to the team."
"Officer, this time was purely good luck. That place is simply a playground for monsters."
Natasha gave a bitter smile, still feeling a lingering fear when she recalled those genetic monsters.
Nick began to introduce everyone to each other.
Only Steve Rogers remained distracted, his eyes hollow.
Only a few people present knew that his former love, Peggy Carter, had passed away just yesterday.
This love, delayed for seventy years, had finally come to an end.
"The second agenda item: regarding HYDRA."
Nick Fury's voice pulled everyone's thoughts back.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated until it's like a sieve. I don't trust anyone right now except for those in this room."
"This is the original purpose for the formation of the Avengers; we need a clean blade."
"HYDRA?"
Steve suddenly looked up, a flash of shock in his eyes.
Just then, a piercing telephone ring broke the heavy atmosphere.
Nick answered the phone, and his expression changed instantly.
"Evacuate all non-combat personnel immediately. Have Dr. Selvig stabilize it; I'm on my way!"
Hanging up, he stood up directly and looked at Hawkeye.
"Something happened. Come with me."
"What's the situation?"
On the helicopter, the roar of the rotors was deafening.
"The Tesseract has lost control; it's emitting a specific gamma ray signal."
When they arrived at the secret Base, the atmosphere was so tense it was suffocating.
"Director, the Tesseract isn't just active; it's practically going insane."
The balding Dr. Selvig rushed over, drenched in sweat.
"Is the power cut?"
"It's useless! It's like a perpetual motion machine now. If you cut the power, it restarts automatically, and the energy index is actually skyrocketing!"
Selvig pointed at the cube emitting a faint blue light not far away, his voice trembling.
"Isn't this what we wanted? Infinite energy?"
"But now it's energy we can't control! It's transmitting a signal to the other side of the Universe!"
Before he could finish, the entire laboratory suddenly shook violently.
The air was filled with a pungent smell of ozone.
Hawkeye Barton jumped down from the high scaffolding: "This thing is like a door, and someone is knocking from the other side."
Buzz—!
The Tesseract suddenly erupted with a tooth-aching hum.
A blinding blue-white beam of light shot toward the end of the equipment.
Space began to warp and fold, as if a hole had been forcibly torn open.
As the light dissipated, a long-haired man dressed in dark green leather and holding a Scepter appeared before everyone.
He looked a bit disheveled, but a wicked and arrogant smile hung on his face.
It was Loki from Asgard.
And the gem at the tip of the Scepter in his hand was emitting a light of the same origin as the Tesseract.
"Sir, please put down your spear!"
Nick Fury pulled out his pistol and shouted sternly.
An imperceptible flash of surprise crossed Loki's eyes, his gaze locking onto the cold Scepter in his hand.
Almost instinctively, his wrist flipped, and the tip of the staff pointed directly at the center of Nick Fury's brow.
A ghostly blue energy beam instantly tore through the air with a piercing shriek, heading straight for his face.
Hawkeye Barton didn't even have time to think; his body moved faster than his brain, slamming Director Nick hard to the side.
Dull gunshots rang out one after another in the narrow space.
Loki's figure leaped into the air like a phantom, and the bullets fired at him struck his tough skin, only splashing a few insignificant sparks.
The energy beam at the tip of the Scepter seemed to have no cooldown, crazily pouring out an aura of destruction in all directions.
In the blink of an eye, the entire laboratory's originally tight defenses were completely torn apart by this arrogant force.
Hawkeye Barton gritted his teeth, struggling to crawl up from the floor covered in shattered glass.
A slender shadow had already silently shrouded his vision.
Loki looked down at him, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful arc.
"You seem a little different from those ants."
Chapter 109: Loki Seizes the Tesseract, the Base Collapses
The cold tip of the Scepter pressed against Agent Barton's racing heart without resistance.
A strange energy surged in instantly, and Barton's clear pupils were completely consumed by a murky, ghostly blue.
While Loki was busy controlling Barton's mind, Nick Furyquickly stuffed the Tesseract into a specialized aluminum briefcase.
He lightened his steps, preparing to quietly evacuate this place of trouble.
"If I were you, I would put that case down. That thing is very important to me."
Loki didn't even turn his head, but his voice was as cold as a wind from an ice cellar.
Nick Fury stopped and slowly turned around, his face wearing that usual inscrutable composure.
"We don't really need to make the atmosphere so tense, don't you think?"
Loki straightened his collar, his tone carrying a natural arrogance.
"I have crossed the sea of stars to come here for it. I am Loki, from the Asgard of your myths."
He paused, a fanatical light flickering in his eyes.
"I carry a grand mission that you Mortals simply cannot comprehend."
Dr. Erik Selvig, who had been tending to the wounded, looked up sharply, his face filled with shock and disbelief.
"You're Loki? Thor's brother?"
The doctor put down the gauze and walked toward Lokiinvoluntarily, as if drawn by a magnet.
Nick Fury frowned, trying to stabilize the situation with words.
"We Earthlings have no quarrel with you."
Hearing this, Loki acted as if he had heard a huge joke, a mocking sneer curling his lips.
"Does an ant on the ground have some deep-seated grudge against your boot?"
A spark of anger finally ignited in Nick Fury's single eye, and his voice deepened.
"So you mean you intend to step on us like ants?"
Loki shook his head, putting on a hypocritical posture of compassion.
"On the contrary, I bring good news. I wish to grant you a New World without burdens."
"Burdens of what?"
"Freedom."
Loki took a step forward, his voice full of allure.
"Freedom is life's greatest lie. Once you accept this, you will find true peace in your heart."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Scepter in his hand tapped hard against Dr. Selvig's chest.
That heart-palpitating ghostly blue energy surged again, instantly taking over the doctor's brain.
Nick Fury watched all this coldly, his hand tightening on the case.
"The peace you speak of probably translates to slavery."
Hawkeye Barton, who had been completely brainwashed, strode to Loki's side and reported rapidly.
"Sir, Commander Fury is stalling. The energy readings here are off the charts. If we don't leave, we'll all be buried under hundreds of tons of rubble."
Nick Fury glanced at the collapsing structural surroundings, his tone calm.
"The rock layer above is hundreds of meters thick. If it falls, it'll be a modern-day pyramid tomb."
The controlled Dr. Selvig stared at the wildly jumping data on the computer screen and interjected.
"He's right. The Portal's energy field has begun to collapse. There's less than two minutes until total explosion."
Loki glanced at Hawkeye indifferently, seemingly unconcerned by this sudden turn of events.
"Very well."
The moment he received the order, Hawkeye Barton didn't hesitate to raise his gun and fire a shot at his former boss.
The massive force sent Nick Fury flying, slamming him heavily into a corner.
The aluminum case containing the Tesseract slipped from his hand and slid across the floor.
Hawkeye snatched the case and quickly led the controlled Agent team outside.
The group rushed into the Underground Garage.
Looking at the row of neatly parked SUVs, Hawkeye Barton waved his hand dominantly.
"These vehicles are ours now."
Agent Hill happened to be patrolling there. Seeing this group of men radiating Killing Intent, she was full of confusion.
"Who is that man?"
She pointed at the man in the strange armor walking in the middle.
Barton replied coldly.
"That's classified. You don't need to know."
Although Agent Hill was suspicious, she stepped aside to clear the way, intending to enter the lab to investigate.
Just then, Nick Fury's pained but urgent shout came from the walkie-talkie at her waist.
"Hill! Can you hear me? Barton has turned! Repeat, Bartonhas turned!"
Agent Hill's expression changed instantly. Years of training instinct made her react immediately.
With a standard tactical roll, her body slid along the ground toward the wall, narrowly avoiding a burst of bullets fired by Barton as he looked back.
She quickly drew her sidearm and decisively pulled the trigger toward Hawkeye.
However, the other party had already climbed into the sturdy SUV.
The engine roared, and the vehicles shot out like arrows from a bow.
"They've taken the Tesseract! We can't let them get away!"
Without a word, Agent Hill jumped into a nearby jeep and slammed the gas pedal to the floor to give chase.
Meanwhile, the out-of-control Portal device began to frantically consume the surrounding energy, letting out a bone-chilling screech of distortion.
"Officer, the surface level is temporarily safe."
Coulson, sitting in an evacuation vehicle, directed anxiously through his headset.
Deep underground, Nick Fury clutched his chest and ran for his life toward the rooftop helipad.
Enduring the intense pain, he jumped onto a helicopter as the rotors began to spin wildly.
The moment they took off, a world-destroying wave of blue energy erupted from underground.
The entire Military Base, along with the lab above, was instantly overturned like a paper toy, and flames shot into the sky.
In the tunnel, Agent Hill doggedly pursued the convoy ahead.
While driving, Hawkeye Barton leaned out of the window and fired precise shots toward the rear.
Loki sat calmly in the bed of the pickup truck, casually raising his Scepter and firing an energy beam at the tunnel ceiling.
A thunderous roar echoed as countless rocks rained down.
Agent Hill swerved the steering wheel, weaving her vehicle through the falling rocks at its limit, but her path was eventually completely blocked by a mountain of debris.
The pickup carrying Loki made a beautiful drift in the dust and sped away.
In mid-air, Nick Fury leaned out of the cabin unwillingly, firing his pistol futilely at the vehicle below.
Loki didn't even bother to look up, just casually waving his Scepter.
A blinding beam of energy accurately struck the helicopter's rotor.
Chapter 110: Fury Orders the Gathering of the Avengers
The helicopter spun and crashed, belching black smoke, as Loki and his group took the opportunity to vanish into the night.
Nick Fury crawled disheveled from the crashed helicopter, staring at the receding taillights with eyes full of resentment.
"Officer? Officer Fury? Do you copy?"
"The Tesseract is gone, and I have heavy casualties here. How's the situation on Hill's end?"
"Many people are buried in the underground bunker, the exact number is unknown. I'm also trapped at this end of the tunnel."
Nick Fury grabbed the walkie-talkie, his voice hoarse but filled with a fierce determination.
"Issue an emergency mobilization order immediately. Deploy all non-rescue personnel. No matter what, get that case back for me!"
"Copy that!"
"Phil, return to headquarters immediately and sound a Level 7 combat alert. From the current situation, this is no longer a terrorist attack, but a war."
Nick Fury's face was so somber it looked like it could drip water.
Phil Coulson's voice carried a hint of tension.
"So, what should we do next?"
Nick Fury took a deep breath, a flash of resolve crossing his single eye.
"Assemble the Avengers!"
"Understood."
...
Meanwhile, in another corner of the city.
Natasha was straddling Ethan's waist, freely releasing some kind of suppressed emotion.
The bedside phone rang frantically at this inopportune moment.
Ethan rested his hands behind his head, looking at the woman before him who was like a wild dancer, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"I think you should answer that. The ringing sounds quite urgent."
Natasha's eyes were blurred at this moment, clearly lost in a state of frenzy.
"No, even if the sky falls right now, don't think about stopping me."
Ethan smiled slightly and simply closed his eyes to enjoy the moment.
In fact, without even answering the phone, he had already guessed who the caller was.
It had to be that nice guy Phil Coulson.
Since he could track Natasha down here, it meant things had become extremely serious.
Even higher than the priority of him, the boss behind the scenes.
It seemed that Loki, that troublemaker, had finally made his move.
In that instant just now, he clearly sensed an extremely unique and powerful energy fluctuation coming from the direction of Los Angeles.
That was the signal of a space portal being forcibly torn open.
According to the original Marvel script, this was Lokimaking his entrance with the Scepter given by Thanos.
The God of Mischief had now been reduced to a pawn for the Purple Sweet Potato Essence, Thanos.
He would serve as the vanguard, leading the Chitauri alien army to descend upon Earth in an attempt to conquer this azure Planet by force.
Ethan calculated in his mind; Space, Time, and Reality—these three Infinity Stones were all on Earth now.
That fellow Thanos had likely figured out the whereabouts of most of the stones.
Plus the Mind Stone in his own hands.
Even for the Soul Stone, the only one that hadn't appeared yet, Ethan actually knew the clues.
It was inside the mind of Thanos's adopted daughter, Gamora.
Seeing as four Infinity Stones were about to gather on Earth.
Ethan's mental calculator was clicking away; he could totally intercept them all amidst the chaos.
As for the Time Stone, although it was in the hands of Sorcerer Ancient One, he was confident he could borrow it for a look.
After all, at their level, many things only required a look to reach a mutual understanding.
Ancient One guarded the Time Stone to defend against Dormammu; as long as Earth was safe, she didn't mind who kept it.
Finally, Natasha rolled off the bed, her body drenched in fragrant sweat.
Ethan let out a long breath, feeling refreshed.
She grabbed the phone and called Coulson back.
"It's me, Phil."
"Natasha, something big happened. Barton has defected."
Coulson knew Natasha too well; to get her to return to the team immediately, he had to present a reason she couldn't refuse.
The two of them had a life-and-death bond, with a relationship deep enough to transcend ordinary comrades-in-arms.
Sure enough, upon hearing this news, Natasha's originally languid expression instantly froze.
"I understand. Returning to the team immediately."
Hanging up the phone, she turned around and gave the mysterious Eastern man a light peck on the cheek.
"Something happened to Barton. I have to return to the Base immediately."
Ethan still had his eyes closed, his tone indifferent.
"Do you need me to give you a lift? There might be traffic at this hour."
Natasha hesitated for a moment and nodded.
"Then I'll trouble you."
Normally, she would never want Ethan, this uncontrollable factor, to appear on S.H.I.E.L.D. territory.
But now, saving someone was as urgent as fighting a fire; she had no choice.
As for asking Ethan to help save Barton, the proud Natasha couldn't bring herself to say it.
This was a private matter for the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Moreover, she was well aware that this man, known as the 'Ice Demon', had absolutely no goodwill toward S.H.I.E.L.D.
He only cared about his own business Empire.
If it weren't for the fact that both she and Hill had that kind of special relationship with him, he probably wouldn't even bother to spare S.H.I.E.L.D. a glance.
"Put your clothes on first, don't catch a cold."
Ethan sat up and leisurely put on a set of casual sportswear.
Natasha put on...
"The current situation is very delicate. You need to be extremely alert. That fellow Apocalypse has changed."
Before, he considered himself a god and disdained using dirty tricks, always maintaining a high-and-mighty attitude, wanting to crush his opponents head-on.
But now this old monster has become cunning; he has reached the point of using any means necessary to win, which is what's most troublesome.
Ethan looked at Psylocke before him, a hint of concern showing in his eyes.
Psylocke sighed softly and nodded, saying, "I know what I'm doing. Once that lunatic comes knocking, I'll contact you immediately."
"For the time being, just stay in New York and don't go anywhere."
"Although this place has been a bit rowdy lately, as long as you're on Osborn Group territory, no one can stir up trouble."
"If Apocalypse dares to stretch his claws into New York, I'll personally twist his head off."
"I'll pull out his consciousness and seal it in a jar, so he can't even become a ghost."
Although Ethan's tone was calm, there was a chill between the lines that made one's spine tingle.
No matter who the opponent is, if they dare touch his woman, their end will definitely be worse than death.
Psylocke gave him a deep look and warned, "Don't be careless yourself. The most terrifying thing about Apocalypse is his unfathomable depth; no one knows how many trump cards he still has hidden."
"Since he dares to make a comeback, he must have already gathered a new generation of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse."
After all, Psylocke herself was once one of the Four Horsemen; she knew that monster's methods all too well.
Apocalypse can forcibly stimulate the potential within living organisms; this unique ability is practically a cheat code for Mutants.
So in the eyes of many Mutants, that fellow is no different from a true deity.
"There are plenty of Superhumans looking to cause me trouble; they'll have to take a number and wait in line."
A disdainful sneer curled at the corner of Ethan's mouth.