Chapter 101 The Avengers Assemble (Part 1)
The night wind in New Mexico carried the smell of burnt Earth.
At the edge of the crater, the temporary Base was brightly lit. Nick Fury's face was darker than the night, one hand pressed on the table, knuckles white.
Maria Hill walked in quickly.
"Officer, the assessment is in." Her voice was tight. "Ninety percent of the Base collapsed, all data is lost. Casualties are still being tallied, it won't look good."
Fury didn't speak, staring at a red dot on the screen.
That was the last signal of the Tesseract, in Stuttgart, Germany.
"We found him." Fury's voice was heavy.
"Loki is in downtown Stuttgart, seems to be attending a dinner party." Hill's tone was absurd.
"He's not there to eat." Fury said coldly. "He's showing off, provoking. Telling us he's here, and we can't stop him."
Phil Coulson stood to the side, his face pale. He looked at Hawkeye's gray avatar on the screen.
"Clinton..." he murmured.
"He's just being controlled." Fury's tone was hard. "We'll bring him back."
He took a deep breath.
"Activate the Avengers protocol."
Hill froze: "Officer? Now? That assessment report said they were a bunch of ticking time bombs."
"Right now, we're standing on an even bigger bomb called Loki." Fury turned, his One-Eyed Man gaze sweeping over everyone present. "I don't care if they're monsters, gods, or popsicles. Right now, I need them."
He began to give orders, speaking quickly.
"Hill, track Loki, pinpoint his location, prepare for capture. I want to know what he's doing every minute of every hour."
"Yes, Officer."
"Coulson."
"Here."
"You go see Stark." Fury threw a tablet at him. "Show him the data. Tell him the party's started, and he needs to come."
Coulson caught the tablet: "What if he refuses?"
"He will." Fury said. "So, you're not going. Mr. Chen is going."
Coulson and Hill simultaneously looked to the corner.
Chu Hang had appeared there at some point, leaning against the wall, playing with a burnt metal part in his hand.
"That bastard Stark only responds to fists." Fury said. "Only Mr. Chen's fists are harder than his metal contraptions. Tell him, this is an order from the advisor."
Chu Hang tossed the part onto the table with a "clink."
"No problem." He said. "However, I have a condition."
"Speak."
"Let's just owe it for now, there's nothing I want at the moment."
Fury's eye twitched.
"Deal." He said through gritted teeth.
Chu Hang smiled, his figure fading in place, then disappearing.
Coulson and Hill were already used to it.
"Also," Fury's voice sounded again, "Natasha has already left to find Banner. As for our Captain... he needs a little motivation."
...New York, Stark Tower.
On the top floor, outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the entire Manhattan nightscape.
Tony Stark held a glass of champagne, gesturing to Pepper Potts.
"See, Pepper? This building, 100% clean energy. It generates its own power and can even supply power to the entire block. This is the future."
Pepper smiled, looking at him. This man only seemed like a child when talking about his inventions.
"Yes, Tony, that's amazing." She said. "But do you really have to put your name up so high? It's a bit... flashy."
"Flashy? No, this is called branding." Tony took a sip of wine. "I am the brand."
A voice sounded from behind them.
"The brand will go bankrupt very soon if you're still drinking champagne here."
Tony and Pepper spun around.
Chu Hang stood not far away, dressed in casual clothes, as if he had walked out of thin air.
"Jarvis?" Tony frowned. His security system was the best in the World.
"Sir, I have no record of any intrusion." Jarvis's voice came from the ceiling, with a hint of confusion. "Mr. Chen... he just appeared here."
Tony's face darkened. He hated losing control. And Chu Hang, this man, was synonymous with losing control.
"Anthony, I don't recall inviting you to my private party." Tony's tone was sharp.
"This isn't a party." Chu Hang walked up to him, took the champagne glass, drank it all in one gulp, and placed the empty glass on the table. "This is a draft notice."
He threw the tablet Coulson had given him to Tony.
Tony caught it, looking down.
On the screen were Loki's files, the Tesseract's energy fluctuation diagram, and photos of the collapsed Base.
"Asgard's little prince, holding a blue glow stick, stole S.H.I.E.L.D.'s treasure. Now he's going to open a hole on Earth and call all his alien friends over." Chu Hang said it like a joke. "Fury, that One-Eyed Man, can't handle it, so it's your turn, tin man."
Tony quickly flipped through the data, the relaxed expression on his face slowly disappearing.
gamma rays, spatial distortion... this energy model was unscientific.
The processor in his brain was running at high speed.
He threw the tablet back onto the table.
"Sounds like S.H.I.E.L.D.'s problem, not mine." He said. "They have an army, they have aircraft carriers. I'm a consultant, not a thug."
"Their best thug, Hawkeye, is now the enemy's." Chu Hang said.
"That's even worse." Tony spread his hands. "Why would I join an organization that can't even keep its own people in check? I don't want to wake up one day with something in my head that shouldn't be there."
He walked to his armor suit display cabinet, stroking the Mark 6 helmet.
"I can provide technical support. Weapon analysis, energy tracking, even lend them a few drones." Tony turned, looking at Chu Hang, his eyes filled with a businessman's shrewdness and a genius's arrogance. "But I, personally, am not making an appearance. I'm not a Soldier, I don't take orders."
Pepper watched them nervously from the side.
"Tony..." She tried to persuade him.
"Did you hear that?" Tony said to Chu Hang. "This is my company, my building, my life. I play by my rules. You Agents, stay away from me."
Chu Hang looked at him, not speaking.
His gaze was very calm, so calm it made Tony a little uneasy.
"Are you done?" Chu Hang asked.
"I'm done. You can go. The door's over there." Tonypointed to the elevator.
Chu Hang smiled.
"Stark, do you know what I dislike most about you?" He said. "You always think you have a choice."
The words had just fallen.
The entire Stark Tower, all the lights, instantly went out.
The floor-to-ceiling windows became black mirrors, reflecting only the blue light on Tony's chest.
Jarvis's voice was gone. The hum of the air conditioning was gone.
Everything stopped.
"Jarvis? Report!" Tony shouted, his heart sinking.
No response.
Pepper shrieked, grabbing Tony's arm.
"Where's the backup power? The emergency power system!" Tony yelled into the air.
Still no response.
Then, he felt it.
In his chest, the new element reactor that sustained his life, his most proud invention... its light dimmed.
Only for a moment.
Like a candle flame in the wind, it flickered gently.
Tony felt his heart being clutched by a cold hand. Not a metaphor, it was real. The reactor's energy flow was cut for a thousandth of a second, and his body's circulatory system stopped with it.
The feeling of Death, so real.
All the blood in his body ran cold.
He instinctively clutched his chest, a look of genuine fear appearing on his face for the first time.
The lights came back on.
Jarvis's voice resumed: "Sir, the power system is back to normal. The entire Tower's power suddenly disappeared just now, I..."
Tony didn't listen to what Jarvis was saying. He just stared intently at Chu Hang, breathing rapidly.
"You... what did you do?" His voice trembled.
Chu Hang still stood in place, not moving.
"Just to make you understand one thing." Chu Hang's tone was flat, but every word was like a hammer, pounding on Tony's heart. "Individual power is limited, even I don't dare to call myself invincible."
He took a step forward.
"I'm not negotiating with you, Stark. I'm informing you."
"Now, put on your armor suit and come with me. We still have many people to see."
Tony looked at him, his lips moving, unable to utter a single word.
He glanced at Pepper beside him, who was pale with fright.
Finally, he took a deep breath, as if using all his strength.
"Jarvis." He said.
"At your service, Sir."
"Prepare the Mark 6. We're going on a long trip."
Chapter 102 The Avengers Assemble (Part 2)
A black quinjet sliced through the night sky.
The cabin was stuffy.
Tony Stark sat in the corner, arms crossed, his face grimmer than the stock he'd just bought. The blue glow of the Arc Reactor on his chest was steady, but his mood was anything but.
"Jarvis," he called mentally.
"At your service, sir."
"Analyze the power outage again."
"Sir, the energy system, including all physically isolated backup lines, was simultaneously cut off within the same Planck time. There were no signs of intrusion, no energy source, and no physical contact. The conclusion is... inexplicable."
"Inexplicable." Tony muttered the four words, feeling his teeth itch.
He was a scientist, believing that everything could be measured and explained. And that man named Anthony Chen was a walking "inexplicable."
Was it some kind of high-frequency electromagnetic pulse? Or even more outlandish spatial technology?
He couldn't figure it out. This was more of a headache than solving palladium poisoning.
Coulson sat opposite him, rubbing his hands, a look of excitement on his face as if he were about to meet an idol.
"Mr. Stark, it's truly an honor to meet you. I've collected a complete set of your father's invention briefs, and all the news clippings from when you first went public with your identity."
Tony glanced at him, but said nothing.
Coulson didn't mind and continued, "We all have high hopes for you. Captain does too. Oh, by the way, I also have a set of first-edition Captain America trading cards, in perfect condition, just missing his autograph."
"Is that so?" Tony's tone was prickly. "Then you should go find him, instead of bothering me. Maybe he can even sign your little shield."
Coulson's smile stiffened slightly.
Chu Hang leaned against the cabin wall, eyes closed, as if asleep.
He suddenly spoke, "Coulson, ignore him. He was just scared by me, and now he's throwing a tantrum."
Tony's face darkened, "I am not throwing a tantrum!"
"You are." Chu Hang didn't even open his eyes. "Your mind is full of questions right now, wanting to know the principle behind my abilities, and why your Jarvis can't analyze it. Am I right?"
Tony was choked.
"This is not scientific," he finally managed after a long pause.
"When you can explain Asgard's Bifrost Bridge, then come talk to me about science," Chu Hang said, then ignored him.
The quinjet pierced through the clouds, and a massive aircraft carrier appeared below.
"That's it?" Tony looked out the window, pouting. "I thought S.H.I.E.L.D. would have something good, but it's just a bigger boat."
Coulson smiled mysteriously, "Just wait."
The quinjet landed smoothly on the deck.
As soon as Tony stepped out of the cabin, he felt a low hum from the deck beneath his feet. The entire aircraft carrier began to shake slightly. He saw four massive turbine fans slowly rise from both sides of the ship, their blades spinning, kicking up a gale that shattered the mist on the sea surface.
The salty sea breeze turned into scorching hot air.
This ship took flight.
It slowly ascended, like a waking steel Beast, disappearing into the clouds.
Tony looked up, the sarcasm on his face replaced by unconcealed surprise.
"Alright," he murmured into his communicator to Pepper, "It seems their toys aren't all junk."
...Calcutta, India.
The slum on the city's edge was dirty and crowded. The air was a mix of sweat, curry, and cheap spices.
Natasha Romanoff, dressed in inconspicuous clothes, blended into the crowd like a drop of water in the ocean, navigating the chaotic streets. A little girl with braids led the way, skillfully dodging sewage on the ground and outstretched beggars.
They entered a dilapidated house.
Inside, a man with glasses was gently wiping the forehead of a feverish patient. His movements were light and focused.
He was Dr. Bruce Banner.
He had known someone was coming long ago.
"You should have sent people to clear the area beforehand," Banner said without looking up, his voice gentle.
Natasha glanced out the window. She knew that on the rooftop across the street, at least three sniper positions were already in place.
"We just want to talk to you," she said.
"The last people who talked to me almost tore Harlemapart," Banner covered the patient with a blanket, stood up, and looked at her. His gaze was calm, but beneath that calm, a Beast ready to break free from its cage lurked.
"I know you don't want trouble, Dr.," Natasha said. "Neither do we. We've encountered a big problem and need the top expert in gamma rays to help."
She handed him a tablet with data on the Tesseract.
"The energy radiation from this thing is very similar to your research."
Banner only glanced at it before pushing it away.
"What exactly does S.H.I.E.L.D. want from me?" he asked directly. "Do you want to turn me into a weapon?"
"We want you to help us find it. That's all," Natasha said. "Director Nick Fury sent me because he trusts you can help."
"What if I refuse?"
"We will take coercive measures." Natasha's reply was equally direct.
Banner smiled, a very helpless smile. He walked to the window, looking at the noisy street outside.
"It took me a long time to find a place like this. Here, I can help people, and I can control the big guy. I don't want to turn back into that monster."
"We all know you can't control it forever, Dr.," Natasha's voice was soft but powerful. "This time, we need that monster."
Banner was silent for a long time.
The little girl who led them ran over and tugged at his sleeve. He stroked her head, a gentle expression on his face.
Finally, he turned around.
"Alright," he said. "But if I lose control... you have to be prepared."
...Helicarrier, Bridge.
It was like a giant Hive, Agents busy at their posts, data constantly refreshing on screens.
Steve Rogers, in a new uniform, stood ramrod straight, observing everything with a touch of detachment that seemed out of place in the surroundings.
Chu Hang and Tony walked in.
"Not bad, One-Eyed Man," Tony looked around, whistling. "How much did that cost the taxpayers?"
Fury ignored him, pointing to the central holographic projection table.
"Everyone," his voice broadcast across the entire Bridge, "I think you all know why you're here. A renegade god from Asgard, Loki, has stolen the Tesseract, an object of immeasurable energy. He has killed our Agents and taken control of our people."
The screen showed surveillance footage of Loki making everyone kneel at a dinner party in Germany.
"He wants to rule Earth. The scepter in his hand can control people's minds. We don't know what he'll do with the Tesseract, but it won't be good. He also has an alien army behind him."
"The Avengers Initiative was created to counter this kind of threat," Fury looked at everyone present. "Each of you possesses power beyond that of ordinary people. Now, the World needs you to bring those powers together."
"Our mission, first, is to find Loki. Second, to retrieve the Tesseract."
After the briefing, everyone dispersed.
Chu Hang walked over to Fury, and the two went to a secluded corner.
"Phase Two," Chu Hang said directly.
Fury's One-Eyed Man narrowed, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Stop pretending, Nick," Chu Hang looked at him. "You're not just trying to get the Tesseract back. You're studying it, trying to replicate its energy to create weapons. That's the 'Phase Two' plan, isn't it?"
Fury was silent.
"Thor's appearance made you realize how vulnerable Earth is in the Universe. So you want to build stronger weapons to protect Earth," Chu Hang said. "You brought Dr. Banner here not just because he understands gamma rays, but because you want to study the Hulk, to study that uncontrolled energy."
Fury clenched his fist. Chu Hang hadn't missed a single detail.
"This World is getting more and more dangerous; we must have our own deterrent," Fury whispered.
"Deterrence, or provocation?" Chu Hang retorted. "When you're holding the nuclear button, you always want to find a place to press it. Be careful, Nick, don't play with Fire and get burned."
With that, Chu Hang turned and left, leaving Furystanding alone in the shadows.
Just then, Dr. Banner, led by Coulson, entered the Bridge. He wore an ill-fitting suit, looking reserved, like a university Professor who had stumbled into a party.
Steve politely stepped forward and extended his hand, "Dr., it's good to meet you."
Banner shook his hand, appearing a bit overwhelmed.
Tony, however, seemed to have found a new toy, his eyes lighting up as he walked straight over.
"Dr. Bruce Banner!" He enthusiastically clapped Banner's shoulder. "I'm a huge fan! Your paper on positron-electron annihilation was pure genius! How did you think of using the Dirac model to explain gamma ray pulses? My God, you're an artist!"
Banner was bewildered by his enthusiasm: "Uh... thank you."
"Don't mention it." Tony circled him, as if admiring a work of art. "So, Fury invited you, a busy man, too? He told me you're a gamma ray expert. Seriously, how do you manage not to explode at any moment? I'm very curious about your body's energy conversion rate."
"Tony!" Steve frowned, finding him too rude.
"Relax, Captain. This is a scientific exchange," Tony said, unconcerned, winking at Banner. "We're all cursed, aren't we? This thing in my chest, that big guy in your body. Except mine is cooler."
Banner looked at him, smiling for the first time. He hadn't expected this supposedly arrogant billionaire to greet him in such a way. He didn't treat him as a monster, but as a scientific phenomenon worth studying.
This made him feel... a little more at ease.
"Chen, it's good to see you again," Banner said, seeing Chu Hang nearby. "Speaking of which, I owe you one. Thanks to you, the Military has finally stopped bothering me for a while."
Chu Hang smiled slightly, "You're welcome, Dr. I never approved of the Military's actions anyway."
"Come with me, Dr.," Tony put his arm around his shoulder and led him to an instrument. "Look at this energy signal, left by the Tesseract. I think its radiation model is very unstable, don't you?"
Banner looked at the data on the screen and was immediately engrossed.
"This is truly... It's emitting neutron radiation, but it's not standard decay..."
The two genius scientists began to discuss, oblivious to their surroundings.
Steve watched them, shaking his head, completely unable to understand. He felt another invisible wall growing between himself and this era.
Chapter 103 The Number One Mage of the Nine Realms
Stuttgart, Germany.
Outside the banquet hall, the well-dressed crowd in the square was enjoying a pleasant evening.
Classical music flowed from the hall, mixing with the pop of champagne bubbles.
Suddenly, the music stopped.
A black quinjet silently sliced through the night sky, like a razor cutting velvet.
Immediately after, a figure descended from the sky, landing heavily on top of the sculpture in the center of the square.
He wore an exaggerated golden horned helmet, a green cape, and at the tip of his Mind Stone, a deep blue light flickered, like an evil eye.
It was Loki.
The conversations in the square ceased.
Dozens of eyes uniformly turned to look, filled with confusion and a hint of unease.
The next second, panic exploded like a lit fuse.
Loki savored this transformation.
He loved watching those elegant smiles freeze and turn into terrified screams.
He lightly waved his Mind Stone, and a beam of energy accurately struck a police car parked by the roadside.
Boom!
Blinding flames engulfed the police car, and the Impact of the explosion knocked over a few slow-running people.
The screams became hysterical, and the crowd, like a disturbed ant's nest, pushed, cried, and scattered in all directions.
"Kneel!"
Loki's voice was amplified by magic, carrying an undeniable majesty that overshadowed all other noise.
He gracefully stepped down from the sculpture, as if descending from his own throne.
Around him, a dozen identical phantoms appeared out of thin air, surrounding the remaining people who were too scared to move.
"You were born craving subjugation," Loki paced, his voice imbued with a condescending elegance, "You chase power, yet you fear true freedom.
Kneel, kneel for me! This is your true nature."
Most people could no longer stand; their legs gave out, and they trembled as they knelt on the cold ground.
Only one white-haired German old man remained standing.
He was very old, his body shaking uncontrollably, but there was no fear in his eyes, only anger.
"We will not kneel to the likes of you," the old man said in German, his voice not loud, but very clear.
The smile vanished from Loki's face.
He stopped, raised his Mind Stone, and the blue light aimed at the old man's chest.
"Brave old fellow," he said softly, as if pronouncing a sentence.
The energy was about to fire.
A red, white, and blue shadow descended from the sky, accompanied by the sound of wind.
Bang!
A dull, heavy thud.
Steve Rogers, with his vibranium shield, firmly blocked the deadly beam.
The Impact forced him back half a step, and fine cracks appeared in the flagstones beneath his feet.
He straightened up, his shield guarding him, like a mountain standing between the old man and Loki.
"The last time I was in Germany, I saw a guy who wanted to stand above everyone else," Steve's voice was steady, but every word carried a chill, "We ended up having a very unpleasant time."
Chu Hang landed beside him, patting dust from his body.
"He's right," Chu Hang surveyed Loki, shaking his head, "Your outfit is outdated.
This style isn't popular now; it's too flamboyant."
Loki looked at the two suddenly appearing individuals, his eyes filled with disdain and annoyance at being interrupted.
"A Soldier, and his pet," he sneered, "Do you two really think you can challenge a god?"
As soon as he spoke, all of Loki's phantoms in the square simultaneously raised their Mind Stone, blue light flickering.
Steve immediately lowered his center of gravity, guarded his front, and vigilantly scanned every possible direction of attack.
Chu Hang, however, frowned.
In his energy perception, these phantoms were just hollow energy shells, without substance or core.
"Steve, they're fake, don't be fooled."
No sooner had he spoken than the real Loki made his move.
He didn't attack them but lightly tapped the backs of several kneeling civilians with the end of his Mind Stone.
The eyes of those people instantly became vacant, and they stood up, like soulless puppets, turning to rush at Steve and Chu Hang.
"Don't hurt them!" Steve shouted.
He couldn't use heavy force, so he could only block and push with his shield, momentarily constrained and entangled by a few ordinary people.
Chu Hang's goal was clear: directly resolve the source.
He locked onto the Loki closest to him, preparing to use Space Control to directly restrain him.
But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, that Lokivanished into a wisp of green light.
At the same time, another Loki silently appeared behind him, his Mind Stone striking like a venomous snake, aiming directly at his back.
Chu Hang threw a backhand punch.
His fist passed through Loki's body, as if hitting air.
Physical attacks were ineffective.
He tried to lock on again, but his Space Control couldn't find a physical entity to attach to.
Chu Hang felt it was tricky for the first time.
All his abilities—healing, strength, Space Control—were based on solid physical laws.
But what Loki was playing with was magic.
A domain he had never encountered.
"Your power is peculiar, mortal," the real Loki stood not far away, watching him at his leisure, like a cat toying with a mouse, "But in front of true Asgardian magic, you are like a savage with a stone axe, ridiculous and ignorant."
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding scenery abruptly changed.
The tall buildings disappeared, replaced by twisted, towering ancient trees.
The ground was no longer hard flagstones but slowly flowing crimson lava.
Countless giant pythons, as thick as water barrels, emerged from the lava, opening their gaping maws, hissing and biting at the two.
"Illusion!" Steve shouted a warning.
He knew it was fake, but his senses were completely deceived, causing his instinctive movements to be a beat slower.
Chu Hang, of course, also knew it was fake.
Yet his skin could clearly feel the scorching heat, and his nasal cavity was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur.
This was not simple visual deception; it was magicdirectly attacking the mind and senses.
His [Willpower Barrier] allowed him to stay clear-headed, knowing that all of this was an illusion, but he couldn't break the illusion.
He was like an audience member who saw through all the magician's tricks but was still trapped on stage, unable to leave.
This feeling of powerlessness annoyed him greatly.
No, he must get his abilities.
Just then, a burst of energetic rock music descended from the sky; AC/DC's guitar shrieked like a chainsaw, roughly tearing apart the terrifying atmosphere created by the illusion.
A red and gold figure, trailing a long exhaust plume, descended from the sky.
Tony Stark.
He hovered in mid-air, the weapon bays on the shoulders, arms, and back of his mark vi armor all open, countless firing ports aimed at Loki below.
"Everybody clear out, party's over," Tony's voice boomed across the square through the loudspeaker, "Bambi, I advise you to surrender obediently, or my patience won't last."
He completely ignored the giant pythons and lava; Jarvisdirectly locked onto the target with the strongest energy signature.
Loki's true body.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A barrage of energy cannons and micro-missiles poured down, instantly turning the spot where Loki stood into a sea of fire.
The illusion shattered.
The square reverted to its original appearance.
Loki stumbled out of the explosion's smoke, his cape largely burned, and his helmet askew.
"Mortal tin toys!" he roared, raising his Mind Stone and firing a violent energy beam at Tony in mid-air.
Tony deftly dodged with a roll, and the rapid-fire machine guns on his shoulders began to roar, bullets raining down, forcing Loki to block with his Mind Stone, unable to lift his head.
Now!
Chu Hang's eyes lit up.
"Captain, cover me!"
Steve moved without hesitation or delay.
He threw his shield with force.
The vibranium shield cut an incredible arc through the crowd, accurately ricocheting and striking the back of the necks of the controlled individuals one after another.
They grunted and slumped to the ground, not in any life-threatening danger.
While all of Loki's attention was drawn to Tony, Chu Hang moved.
His body was like an arrow released from a bowstring, instantly covering dozens of meters, charging straight towards Loki.
Loki sensed the danger from the side, roared, and swept his Mind Stone horizontally.
Chu Hang did not dodge.
He allowed the Mind Stone, imbued with the Mind Stone's energy, to strike heavily against his chest.
The surface of the [Adaptive Armor] flashed blue, instantly recording the Mind Stone's energy pattern and attack data.
A powerful force came, but he remained motionless.
And his hand firmly grasped Loki's wrist.
Cold, hard.
In his mind, the system's data stream flashed by.
Target locked: Loki Laufeyson (Asgardian/Frost Gianthybrid)
Replicable ability list:
1. Frost Giant Bloodline (A-Rank): Gains Frost Giantphysique and ice power.
2. Mind Stone Control (S-Rank): Requires possession of the Mind Stone; can control the minds of others.
3. Talent - Ninth Realm's Greatest Mage (SSS-Rank): Gains the highest level of magical talent in the Asgardian divine realm, possessing extraordinary understanding and learning ability for all forms of energy, runes, dimensions, and psionic power.
That's it.
"Replicate Talent: Ninth Realm's Greatest Mage."
An indescribably vast stream of information instantly flooded Chu Hang's mind.
It wasn't specific spells or knowledge, but the fundamental logic of energy, runes, dimensions, and psionic power.
It was as if, in an instant, he was forcibly instilled with a brand new cosmic language and became proficient in all its grammar and rules.
The World, in his eyes, had completely changed.
The entire process took less than a second.
Loki, whose wrist was grabbed, was about to summon magical energy to shake him off, but found that the other party suddenly released his hand and even took a step back.
"Game over, little prince," Chu Hang said calmly, looking at him.
A flicker of confusion crossed Loki's face, immediately turning into a sneer.
He activated his magic again, and a dozen phantoms surrounded Chu Hang.
But in Chu Hang's eyes, these once seamless illusions now looked like crude line drawings by a child, full of flaws.
He could clearly see thin green energy lines extending from Loki's true body, like puppet strings, forming the skeleton and movements of each phantom.
He could even tell that the weaving method of these energy lines was exquisite, but several nodes appeared somewhat chaotic due to the caster's uneasy mind.
"Third from the left, Steve," Chu Hang didn't even bother to turn his head, pointing at a Loki phantom trying to sneak away, "That one's real."
Steve moved at the sound, lunging forward, his shield raised high, and slammed down fiercely.
Loki was greatly alarmed; he hadn't expected his illusion to be seen through so easily.
He hurriedly raised his Mind Stone to block.
Bang!
Shield and Mind Stone collided, emitting a harsh metallic clang.
Tony's energy cannon also arrived simultaneously, precisely blasting Loki's Mind Stone.
The tremendous Impact made him unable to hold his weapon anymore, and the Mind Stone flew out of his hand.
Loki himself staggered backward.
A Shadow, like a ghost, appeared behind him.
It was Chu Hang.
He raised his hand and delivered a crisp, clean hand chop to the back of Loki's neck.
Loki's vision went black, and without even a grunt, he softly collapsed to the ground.
The battle ended.
Tony slowly descended, opening his faceplate.
"Done," he shrugged, looking relaxed, "Easier than I thought.
Alright, who's going to haul this cosplay enthusiast back?"
Steve stepped forward and picked up the Mind Stonefrom the ground.
Holding the Mind Stone, he felt a cold, evil power, and his expression became incredibly solemn.
Chu Hang, meanwhile, stood still, spreading his hands and closing his eyes.
He could feel the free-floating energy particles in the air, the current of the city's power grid, and even the energy flow of Tony's armor suit's reactor, all transforming into lines of readable text in his eyes.
Chapter 104 The Secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The atmosphere on the quinjet was tense.
Loki, wearing a specially made metal muzzle, was fastened to a seat in the corner, like a dangerous item that had been packaged.
He remained motionless, but his green eyes were busy, slowly scanning the face of everyone in the cabin, as if evaluating the quality of his prey.
Tony Stark leaned against the cold cabin wall, arms crossed over his chest, a look of displeasure on his face.
"We should have pried his mouth open in Germany," he said, breaking the silence. "A little medieval torture, and I bet he'd spill everything."
"He's a prisoner of war, Stark," Steve Rogers said, sitting opposite him, his brow furrowed. His posture was always like a Soldier's, straight and alert.
"He killed eighty people in three minutes," Tony scoffed, not backing down. "That was a terrorist attack, not a war."
"If we also use torture, then there's no difference between us and him."
"Of course there's a difference," Tony raised an eyebrow. "The difference is we won, and he lost."
Chu Hang sat with his eyes closed, leaning back in his chair, oblivious to their argument.
His mind was about to explode.
The Ninth Realm's Greatest Mage talent, like a universal decoder, was frantically analyzing everything within his body—the Tesseract's source energy, the Twin Star Form's energy, and the Godly Physique.
But now, these garbled codes were being deciphered line by line.
He saw the structure of the power within his body.
The Tesseract's energy was a three-dimensional matrix composed of countless blue runes, precise and stable, containing the Law of Space.
The Twin Star Form, on the other hand, was a pure golden ocean of energy, wild and unrestrained.
And the newly acquired Godly Physique was like a golden web of laws, encompassing and connecting everything, giving them a higher level of life.
The quinjet landed smoothly on the deck of the Helicarrier.
Nick Fury, with a team of fully armed Agents, was already waiting.
The hatch opened, and the biting high-altitude sea wind poured in.
Loki was roughly escorted away by two Agents. As he passed Chu Hang, he suddenly paused. He tilted his head slightly, his green eyes fixed on Chu Hang.
The anger and disdain from before were gone from his eyes, replaced only by a pure, inquisitive confusion.
He didn't understand why his proud illusions could be seen through so easily by a mortal.
Chu Hang slowly opened his eyes, calmly looking back at him.
Their eyes met; there were no sparks, only cold scrutiny.
Loki was locked inside a specially made glass cylinder, suspended in the vast central space of the Helicarrier. Fury explained that if he pressed a button, this "cage" would free-fall from thirty thousand feet.
Chu Hang thought the design was rather foolish; for someone of Loki's caliber, a physical fall would be meaningless.
He walked alone to the control panel of the cell.
Inside the glass cell, Loki had already removed his muzzle and was leisurely sitting on a bench, as if this were not a prison but his palace.
"You've come," Loki said when he saw him, a graceful smile on his face. "I still can't fathom how you saw through my illusions, mortal."
"I came to confirm if you were really so stupid as to get caught on purpose," Chu Hang's voice was flat, devoid of emotion.
"Caught?" Loki chuckled, standing up. "No, I merely moved to a better viewing seat. What could be more entertaining than watching a group of self-righteous heroes tear themselves apart due to suspicion and arrogance?"
He walked slowly to the glass wall, looking at Chu Hangthrough the transparent barrier.
"You are different from them," Loki's voice was very low, carrying a seductive magic, like a serpent whispering in one's ear. "You have the aura of a seeker; you crave truth, you yearn to touch the essence of the World."
He extended his hand, his pale palm gently pressing against the glass.
"Join me. I can teach you true Asgardian magic, let you see sights mortals can never reach. What do you desire? Power? Immortality? Or the mysteries of the Universe? I can give them all to you."
Chu Hang watched him quietly, as if watching a Jokerperforming strenuously.
With the Ninth Realm's Greatest Mage talent, Loki's little trick of mental manipulation seemed transparently ridiculous in his eyes. He could clearly see Loki mobilizing a faint mental energy, like an invisible thread, attempting to penetrate his mind and plant a seed of doubt in his deepest consciousness.
"Your magic talent is indeed not bad," Chu Hang suddenly said.
Loki's smile froze on his face.
"Unfortunately, you're using it in the wrong place," Chu Hang shook his head, a hint of regret in his tone. "You treat it as a trick to deceive people, not a key to explore truth."
"What did you say?"
"You should spend more time studying the internal structure of runes, rather than being obsessed with scaring ordinary people with illusions," Chu Hangcontinued.
He raised his right hand, his five fingers slowly spreading apart.
A small patch of space in his palm began to twist, compress, and fold. The surrounding light was sucked in, and eventually, that patch of space became a singularity, smaller than a marble, emitting a faint blue glow.
This was his most basic application of the Tesseract's energy, a pure manifestation of the Law of Space.
Loki's pupils suddenly constricted to a pinpoint.
He understood.
He understood what it was. It was the Law of Space, pure to the extreme, a realm that he, Odin, and all the Gods of Asgard dreamed of touching. Yet this mortal before him could wield it effortlessly.
This completely overturned his understanding.
"You..." For the first time, Loki's voice carried an undisguised confusion: "Who exactly are you?"
"A passing The Collector."
Chu Hang said flatly, then closed his five fingers, and the blue singularity vanished silently.
He turned and left, leaving Loki standing dumbfounded behind the glass wall, his arrogance and elegance completely gone.
Chu Hang returned to his assigned room, closed the door, and sat cross-legged on the floor.
He needed to be alone to digest the new things in his mind.
He drew a wisp of pure Tesseract energy from within his body, letting it swirl around his fingertip. In the past, this energy was like a wildfire in his hand; he could only crudely throw it out, creating a crater.
Now, he could see its interior. It was an incredibly complex three-dimensional matrix composed of countless tiny blue runes. Each rune represented an aspect of the Law of Space... Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Helicarrier.
Fury was facing Loki on the main screen; the interrogation had reached a stalemate.
"Who is behind you? What do they want?"
Loki merely wore his signature smile, saying nothing.
On a side screen, Natasha's avatar popped up.
"Officer, he's stalling for time," Black Widow's voice was calm and professional. "He's observing us, analyzing each of us, looking for our weaknesses."
Fury's single eye flashed with a cold light... In the laboratory on the lower deck of the Helicarrier.
Tony and Dr. Banner were tracking the Tesseract's gamma rays signal.
"The energy radiation pattern is very strange," Dr. Bannersaid, pointing to a regular pulse waveform on the screen. "It doesn't look like natural decay; it looks more like... a designed signal."
"Exactly," Tony's fingers danced across the virtual keyboard, bringing up another encrypted window. "And S.H.I.E.L.D. has been secretly downloading its data. Look at this, the folder is named 'Phase Two.'"
He clicked on the folder without hesitation.
Inside were all weapon designs. Handheld energy guns, directed energy cannons, and even a super bomb with the Tesseract as its core.
"Son of a bitch," Tony muttered.
He understood everything instantly. Fury hadn't called them to form the Avengers at all; he just wanted to use them to retrieve the Tesseract and continue his illicit weapon research.
"He wants to use the Tesseract's energy to create weapons of mass destruction," Tony turned to Banner, his voice full of sarcasm.
Just then, the laboratory door opened, and Steve walked in.
"Creating weapons?" Steve's face instantly darkened. "Stark, what are you talking about?"
Tony didn't bother to explain, turning the main screen directly to him.
"See for yourself, Captain," Tony said, pointing at the menacing weapon designs on the screen. "This is what Fury has been doing behind our backs. He wants to revive HYDRA's old dream, only this time with a different name."
Steve's gaze fell on the screen. The familiar blueprints for blue energy weapons instantly transported him back to the battlefield seventy years ago.
He remembered Red Skull, and his comrades who had been reduced to ashes by energy weapons.
His eyes grew cold.
Chapter 105 Hulk Goes Rampage
In Chu Hang's room, the energy runes floating in the air suddenly became chaotic.
He opened his eyes and looked up.
A surge of energy pierced through the atmosphere.
It was the Bifrost Bridge.
Thor had arrived.
The communicator on his wrist rang; it was Natasha.
"Mr. Chen, we have a situation," her voice was calm. "Radar detected strong spatio-temporal fluctuations, similar to the one in New Mexico. Fury wants your help to go there."
"Understood," Chu Hang hung up the call and stood up.
He pushed open the door, just as Tony and Banner came out of the laboratory, both looking very grim.
"What's wrong?" Chu Hang asked.
"Fury is deceiving us," Tony said. "He wants to use the Tesseract to create weapons."
"I know."
Chu Hang's answer surprised Tony.
"You know?"
"Otherwise, why do you think I'm on this ship? As a mascot?" Chu Hang patted his shoulder. "Go enjoy the show; Captain has already gone to settle accounts with him."
With that, he walked straight to the deck.
In the Bridge Command Center.
Steve Rogers heavily placed a black metal box on the central holographic projection table.
Bang!
The muffled thud drew everyone's attention.
He opened the box; inside was an energy rifle, with the crimson HYDRA emblem printed on its body.
"Phase Two," Steve's voice was like ice. "This is your plan, isn't it?"
He stared at Nick Fury's single eye.
Fury's expression darkened.
"Captain Rogers, this is not for you to question."
"Why shouldn't I question it?" Steve took a step forward, his presence strong. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is here to protect the World, not to threaten the World with the enemy's weapons!"
Just then, Tony and Dr. Banner also walked in.
"I'll answer for him," Tony said, hands in his pockets, walking around the table with a mocking expression. "Because he never trusted us in the first place. He only wants to use Dr. Banner's gamma rays knowledge to stabilize the Tesseract, so he can mass-produce these killing toys."
Banner pushed up his glasses, his face pale. He looked at the HYDRA weapon, his breathing becoming rapid.
"Fury, you lied to me," his voice trembled.
"I didn't lie to you," Fury's gaze swept over everyone. "I just didn't tell you everything. Loki's appearance proves that we are not the only intelligent life in the Universe, and we are pitifully weak. We need deterrence, we need weapons!"
"Nuclear weapons are deterrence!" Steve retorted.
"During that alien invasion, ask Mr. Chen, were nuclear weapons useful?" Fury countered.
The argument grew louder, and the atmosphere on the Bridge was like a string stretched to its limit.
No one noticed that in the surveillance footage of the cell, Loki watched everything with keen interest, a slight smile on his lips.
Even fewer noticed that the blue gem on the Mind Stoneon the table glowed faintly.
An invisible malice, like a catalyst, amplified the suspicion and anger in everyone's hearts.
Dr. Banner's forehead was covered in cold sweat.
His heart was racing, his blood felt like it was burning. The World before his eyes began to distort, and the sounds of argument became distant.
"Dr.?" Natasha noticed his unusual state.
"I'm fine," Banner gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles white.
He tried to control it, but the green monster in his head roared, trying to break free from its cage.
"All of you are like a bunch of Beast trapped in a cage," Loki's voice echoed through the entire Bridge via the broadcast from the monitor. "And I am merely here to open the cage door for you."
Banner suddenly looked up, his eyes glowing green.
"Banner, calm down!" Steve shouted.
It was too late.
"Roar—!"
A roar not belonging to a human exploded from Banner's throat.
His body swelled like a balloon, his shirt ripped by his muscles, his skin rapidly turning green.
Hulk.
He punched the control panel, sparks flying. Then he turned and swatted Natasha, who tried to approach, sending her flying.
A piercing alarm blared throughout the entire Helicarrier.
On the deck.
Chu Hang had just stepped out when he saw a seven-colored beam of light descend from the sky, striking the center of the deck.
As the light dissipated, Thor stood there, wielding Mjolnir.
"Where is Loki?" He saw Chu Hang and asked directly.
"Don't worry, he can't escape," Chu Hang pointed in the direction of the Bridge. "But your brother seems to have gotten into a bit of trouble."
No sooner had he spoken than a huge crash came from below the Bridge.
A large hole was violently torn in the sturdy alloy deck, and a massive green behemoth leaped out from within.
It was Hulk.
He saw Thor on the deck, his eyes filled with rage locking onto his target.
"Another God?" Hulk growled, his voice like thunder.
"You big fellow, you need to calm down," Thor spun his hammer, confidently stepping forward to meet him.
"Thor, don't..." Chu Hang tried to stop him, but it was too late.
Thor leaped into the air, Mjolnir smashing towards Hulk's head.
Hulk didn't dodge, raising his arm to block.
Bang!
A huge crash. Thor felt as if he had struck a mountain, the immense recoil numbing his arm.
Hulk merely shook his head.
He bared his teeth, revealing a cruel smile, then threw a punch.
The fist was so fast it was just a green Shadow.
Thor only had time to bring his hammer horizontally across his chest.
Boom!
He was sent flying, crashing through the Helicarrier's side railing, and disappeared into the clouds.
One punch.
Thor was gone just like that.
Chu Hang shook his head.
Brute.
Hulk finished with one and then turned his gaze to Chu Hang. He pounded his chest, letting out an earth-shattering roar, like an out-of-control heavy truck, and charged fiercely.
Chu Hang stood still, unmoving.
The Limitless Rage ability within him was ignited by Hulk's pure Fury.
An equally wild power awakened within him.
He didn't use spatial abilities, nor did he use lightning.
The second before Hulk's fist was about to smash into his face, his own fist also shot out.
Two fists, completely disproportionate in size, collided in mid-air.
There was no explosion.
Only an extremely dull, colossal thud, like two mountains crashing into each other.
A white shockwave suddenly exploded, and the entire Helicarrier shook violently.
The furious expression on Hulk's face froze.
He felt an irresistible force, purer and wilder than his own strength, coming from the opponent's small fist, destroying his momentum.
His huge green body, for the first time, slid backward uncontrollably.
His feet plowed two deep furrows into the deck.
"Strange, Hulk's strength is much greater than last time. Is it the Mind Stone's influence increasing his rage?"
Thinking this, Chu Hang slowly lowered his fist and took a step forward.
"Roar!"
Hulk roared and charged again.
Chu Hang advanced instead of retreating.
Fist against fist, foot against foot.
No technique, no dodging, only the most primal clash of strength.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each collision made the entire Helicarrier tremble. The deck was covered with dents and cracks from their footsteps.
But everyone could see that Hulk was at a disadvantage.
Every one of his attacks was forcefully pushed back by that seemingly tiny figure. The man was like a steel nail hammered into the deck, unmoving.
"Just anger isn't enough. I haven't even used my full strength yet."
Chu Hang thought to himself. After acquiring the Godly Physique, his strength had further increased. Currently, he just wanted to see what level Hulk's strength could reach under the influence of the Mind Stone.
He saw through Hulk's attack pattern. Only rage, no method.
Finally, after another exchange of punches, Chu Hanggrabbed Hulk's wrist.
"No time to play for too long. It looks like you have about fifty percent of my current strength. You can rest now, Hulk."
Hulk struggled wildly, his tank-flipping strength unable to budge the other's hand in the slightest.
Chu Hang's other hand also grabbed Hulk's shoulder, and his knee naturally met his chest.
He let out a low growl, engaging his core.
A clean, crisp over-the-shoulder throw.
Boom!
Hulk's massive body was, for the first time, completely swung up, then slammed heavily onto the deck.
The entire Helicarrier dipped downwards.
Hulk lay on the ground, seemingly stunned. The wildness in his eyes slowly receded, replaced by a hint of confusion.
Just then, Natasha climbed up through the breach.
She didn't look at Chu Hang, but slowly walked towards Hulk, extending her hand.
"Hulk, they didn't mean to hurt you. Rest now," her voice was soft and gentle.
Hulk looked at her, breathing heavily.
Chapter 106 The Death of Coulson
Natasha's hand rested on Hulk's arm.
Hulk panted heavily, the madness in his eyes receding as he transformed back into Dr. Banner. He curled up on the cold deck, like a frightened child.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
But the relief was short-lived.
Boom!
A loud explosion came from the rear left of the helicarrier. The entire ship suddenly tilted to one side, the deck beneath their feet almost vertical. The screeching sound of twisting metal made their scalps tingle, and red alarm lights flashed in every corner.
"Engine number three exploded! We're losing power! We're falling!"
On the bridge, Agent Hill's shouts echoed throughout the helicarrier via the public channel.
"Altitude dropping a hundred feet per second!"
"It's over!" a young Agent cried out in despair.
"Shut up!" Fury's roar drowned out all other noise, "Activate auxiliary power! All ground crew, report to engine three area immediately!"
On the deck, Chu Hang grabbed the weakened Bannerand tossed him to Natasha, who had run over.
"Take him to the medical bay."
He looked up; the huge turbine engine was spewing black smoke and electrical sparks. The blades were deformed, jammed in their mounts. The entire ship, having lost its balance, began to spin and fall through the air.
"I need my armor suit," Tony's voice rang out in the communicator. He was running from the bridge towards his temporary workshop.
"Captain, you take care of the deck, don't let them descend into chaos," Chu Hang said into the communicator. "Tony, you handle the outside, straighten those big guy's blades for me. I'll fix the core inside."
"You? Fix the engine?" Tony's voice was full of doubt. "Do you know how complex that thing's structure is? That's..."
"It's not much more complex than your tin can," Chu Hanginterrupted him. "Do as I say."
As soon as he finished speaking, a sonic boom came from the direction of Tony's workshop. The red and gold mark vi armor soared into the sky, arcing through the air, heading straight for the out-of-control engine.
Steve had already begun using internal communications to direct the scrambling Agents on the deck to safety. His voice was calm and strong, quickly stabilizing the panic.
Chu Hang took a breath, his figure flickered, and he vanished from the deck.
The next second, he appeared in the core power cabin of engine number three.
It was like hell here.
The explosion had destroyed everything. Energy pipes as thick as bowls on the ceiling were severed, blue electrical arcs darting around like snakes. The ground was covered in charred debris and coolant, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of ozone and melting metal.
The main energy regulator was half-blown off, countless broken cables dangled, spewing sparks.
"Shoddy work," Chu Hang couldn't help but curse.
In his mind, the engineering knowledge he had copied from Tony and Ivan began to operate. Countless blueprints, energy circuits, and mechanical structures flashed rapidly.
In two seconds, he found the root of the problem - the main energy diversion valve.
For any other engineer, this would be an impossible task. Just clearing the messy debris would take several hours.
But Chu Hang was no ordinary engineer.
He extended his right hand, fingers spread.
Spatial Cutting
An invisible force field swept through. The twisted and deformed metal debris was instantly cut cleanly, falling like building blocks, revealing the core pipe interface.
Then, he looked at a relatively intact spare alloy plate nearby.
Spatial Shaping
The several-ton alloy plate, under his mental control, began to automatically twist, fold, and stretch like a piece of playdough. Within seconds, a brand new, more precisely structured main energy diversion valve formed out of thin air.
He controlled the new valve, precisely connecting it to the severed pipe interface.
"Just one last step, energy calibration."
He closed his eyes. The Ninth Realm's Greatest Magetalent made him incredibly sensitive to the flow of energy. He could "see" countless torrents of wild energy raging through the pipes.
He extended both hands, pressing them virtually against the pipes.
The power of the Protoss and the Tesseract's source energy activated simultaneously.
He used his own power as a guide, meticulously re-weaving and reordering the chaotic energy flows, guiding them back on track... Outside the helicarrier.
Tony was fretting over the huge turbine blade.
"No, this thing is too heavy, the thruster power isn't enough!" he shouted into the communicator. "I need more thrust!"
"I'm organizing people to manually unlock the jammed bearings!" Steve's voice came through. "Hold on, Tony!"
Tony gritted his teeth, pushed his armor suit's energy output to maximum, and strained with all his might against the metal blade, trying to push it back into place.
The armor suit emitted an overloaded warning sound.
Just as he was about to give out, the huge turbine blade suddenly vibrated.
Hum—
A low rumble came from inside the engine.
Immediately after, the jammed blade began to slowly, inch by inch, rotate. Though slow, it was indeed moving.
"He succeeded!" Tony was both surprised and delighted.
The engine restarted, generating immense thrust, and the helicarrier's descent was halted.
The tilted hull, with the cooperation of the other three engines, slowly began to stabilize.
The crisis was averted... Inside the core power cabin.
Chu Hang released his hands, letting out a long breath.
He looked at the engine, which was now running smoothly again, with no expression on his face.
Just then, he suddenly felt a familiar energy fluctuation.
It was the Mind Stone.
The energy flashed and disappeared, its direction... Loki's cell.
No!
Chu Hang's heart sank, and his figure vanished again.
When he appeared on the floor where the cell was located, it was too late.
Loki's glass cell was empty, leaving only an identical illusion of him, smiling at the monitor.
At the end of the corridor, Phil Coulson lay in a pool of blood. His chest was pierced by a scepter, Loki's weapon.
Loki's figure had already disappeared into an activated teleportation device.
"Coulson!"
Chu Hang flashed beside him, squatting down.
Coulson's life was rapidly fading. He saw Chu Hang, but a smile still tugged at his face.
"He... he's going to Stark Tower..." Coulson coughed blood, speaking with difficulty, "He said... that's the best vantage point... He's going to open a door... to let his army... in..."
"Don't talk anymore." Chu Hang wanted to use energy to help stabilize his injuries, but the power of the Mind Stone was furiously destroying his vitality, making it useless.
"Tell Captain... my card... he hasn't signed it yet..." Coulson's eyes began to glaze over. "Also... don't let Fury... use my death... to motivate them... that's too cliché..."
His hand fell limply.
Chu Hang stood there in silence, looking at Coulson's lifeless eyes.
He slowly stood up, clenching his fists.
A cold rage rose from the depths of his heart.
He wasn't sad about Coulson's death; they weren't that close.
He was angry because that bastard Loki had played him right under his nose.
Just then, a whooshing sound came from overhead.
Thor crashed through the ceiling, landing beside him, looking somewhat disheveled.
"I saw you knock him down." Thor looked at Coulson's body, his face grim. "Where's Loki?"
"He ran away," Chu Hang's voice was cold. "To New York, preparing to open a portal on top of Stark Tower to let an alien army invade Earth."
Tony and Steve also ran over from the other end. Seeing Coulson's body, both of them froze.
"He killed Coulson." Steve's voice was laced with suppressed anger.
"He'll pay for it." Tony looked at his friend's body, took off his helmet, his eyes icy.
The four of them stood silently beside Coulson's body.