Hawkeye's arrival confirmed that Loki's operation would begin tonight. His goal was twofold—first, to draw S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention with a bold strike, and second, to infiltrate the superhero ranks and stir up internal conflict. That way, when the real fight began, they wouldn't be able to unite in time.
The planned attack on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier wasn't just about theatrics. That flying fortress carried Earth's most powerful nuclear arsenal. If it remained active during Loki's entire operation, even he might not make it through unscathed. It had to be destroyed before the main plan unfolded—or everything would fall apart.
But none of that was Daniel's concern. Loki might have strength and cunning, but to Daniel, he was just a tragic pawn. The real threat was the one behind the curtain—Thanos. He was the one Daniel truly feared.
Right now, though, Daniel's focus was on the thick steel door in front of him—one even Hawkeye needed an external method to open. And with only two minutes before Hawkeye reached this level, Daniel had to act fast.
Behind the door was the metal iridium—vital to opening the portal to space. Daniel needed to get in, secure the material, and set his trap—all before Hawkeye arrived.
This door, which required a retina scan to unlock, wasn't actually difficult for someone like Daniel. If he used the Mjolnir, he could blow it open in seconds. But that would immediately alert Loki and Hawkeye that someone had gotten there first and stolen the very thing they needed.
And Daniel had no intention of revealing himself just yet. Magicians like him didn't operate in the open. They preferred to manipulate events from the shadows—letting others clash while they watched, calculated, and struck only when it was worth it.
If Loki ever decided to abandon S.H.I.E.L.D. and come after Daniel directly, it wouldn't be a fair fight. Daniel had the Mjolnir, yes—but Loki had the scepter, imbued with the Mind Stone. And Daniel suspected Thanos hadn't given Loki that weapon freely. There was more at play. Always more.
With time running out, Daniel pressed both his palms against either side of the security panel. Sparks of blue lightning danced from his fingers, slithering into the steel.
A moment later, the door creaked and began to slide open.
For someone like Daniel, overriding modern security systems was child's play—at least when electricity was involved. Most mechanisms in the world ultimately relied on completing a circuit. Feed it the right current, simulate the right signal, and you could trick the system into thinking the proper credentials were used.
That said, it wasn't easy. He had to see the hidden circuits behind layers of steel, connect his energy with precision, and balance the output so the system wouldn't detect anything unusual. It required more than just power—it demanded skill and absolute control.
The door opened. Daniel stepped through—and the door automatically slid shut again.
By then, Hawkeye had entered the underground level. The museum guards had already gone into a frenzy, ducking for cover, opening fire in desperation.
It didn't matter.
They were facing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top assassin. Hawkeye eliminated them all in less than thirty seconds. Moments later, he stood in front of the same steel door Daniel had just slipped through. Now, he just had to wait. Within a few minutes, Loki would obtain the necessary retina and transmit the data, allowing Hawkeye to access the vault.
Inside, Daniel stood silently before the object he came for.
The metal iridium sat under reinforced glass, glowing with a faint silver hue. Its jagged roots made it look almost organic. It wasn't of this world—it had come from space, mined from a meteorite. Its true properties were a mystery to most, but once Dr. Selvig's mind was enhanced by the Mind Stone, he had grasped its hidden purpose.
Iridium wasn't easy to shape or cut. Even among extraterrestrial metals, it was notoriously tough. But Daniel had no time to chip away at it.
Worse, removing the protective glass would instantly trigger the alarm. But to Daniel, that was a minor inconvenience.
Above him, the Mjolnir hovered, crackling with power. The air shimmered as streaks of lightning lit the dark chamber.
Luckily, the surveillance systems were already destroyed—courtesy of Hawkeye. Had that not happened, Daniel's presence would've been exposed already.
In the flicker of blue and white light, a massive golden magic circle began to form, glowing above the floor. The circle dissolved into a hexagram, then began to spin.
Daniel raised both hands. Thunder surged through the air and flowed into the spinning seal. He stretched one arm forward, fingers piercing what looked like thin air—and when he pulled back, a small silver sphere appeared in his palm.
This wasn't just a chunk of iridium. It was the core, no bigger than a marble.
Then, in his other hand, another silver sphere appeared—identical in shape and size. Nearly indistinguishable to the naked eye.
Daniel carefully replaced the real one with the duplicate, just as the steel door behind him clicked and began to open.
The golden circle pulsed and vanished, absorbing into the fake orb, concealing the switch.
When Hawkeye stepped inside, he paused. The air carried a faint scent of ozone—burned energy. He looked around, frowning, but saw nothing out of place.
Still, he didn't linger. He collected the iridium, turned, and left with his team, the sirens wailing in the background.
Only after they were gone did Daniel emerge from the shadows.
The replacement orb he left behind was a magic-infused mithril sphere, forged through alchemy and infused with arcane energy. This tiny artifact would act as a hidden backdoor, giving Daniel subtle control over the space gate Loki was about to open.
It wouldn't let him stop the portal entirely, but it would allow him to alter its size or duration, which was enough.
And the best part? It wouldn't trigger any alerts. Not even Selvig would notice.
The Mind Stone had enhanced Selvig's intellect, not by teaching him something new, but by expanding his capacity to grasp what he already knew. His knowledge of space physics, once theoretical, had suddenly become intuitive. That's how he managed to create a stable gate to another world.
The same applied to Hawkeye. His abilities had grown as well, though Daniel wasn't sure exactly how. Still, the fact that a relatively minor agent had risen to a respected spot on the Avengers said enough.
Daniel had to admit—it was tempting.
The Mind Stone granted more than control. It unlocked potential. Daniel had long been seeking a breakthrough—his path to the divine had stalled, no matter how far he reached. Even after everything he had gained from Alexandra, the results were uncertain.
If only he had more time. If only Loki hadn't moved so soon.
But now, it was done. The iridium was in Hawkeye's hands. Loki would soon complete his mission. The S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier was likely already circling the Atlantic.
Daniel hadn't returned to Berlin without a reason.
He had something else to take care of. And this time, it truly was about his future