Chapter 54: Loki Returns to Earth
"Who are you? Why did you save me?"
Loki said with some caution. He did not believe that someone who could accurately state his identity would have no ulterior motives.
"Don't be nervous. I am the leader of the Chitauri. Saving you this time is indeed for a purpose, but it will not harm you; on the contrary, it will benefit you."
The Chitauri leader waved his hand and then looked at Loki with a meaningful gaze.
Loki was indeed worthy of being Asgard's God of Mischief; just from the fact that they had saved him, he had guessed that they had a purpose.
"What kind of matter? I don't think I can necessarily accomplish something that the Chitauri, one of the most powerful fighting forces in the universe, cannot."
Loki did not agree immediately; instead, he looked at the Chitauri even more vigilantly. He did not think they had any good intentions.
Besides, something the Chitauri couldn't accomplish must be difficult. How could they be sure he would be able to do it?
"Rest assured, rather than asking you for a favor, this is more of a collaboration."
"We, the Chitauri, are preparing to invade Earth. However, because Earth is protected by the Sorcerer Supreme, we cannot bring our army in directly, so we need your help."
The Chitauri leader walked up to Loki and stated his request.
"Invade Earth?"
Loki thought of that Earthling who lifted the hammer. It was all because of that lowly human that he had ended up in this state!
If Earth were invaded, he could take revenge on that human and make him beg for mercy on his knees!
Thinking of this, Loki couldn't help but relax and asked.
"What help do you need?"
"We need you to invade Earth, get the Tesseract, and open the space-time portal!"
"Let our army in. By then, the Earthlings will be a flock of lambs waiting to be slaughtered, easily controlled by us."
Seeing Loki agree, the Chitauri leader was visibly pleased and explained.
"Then what benefits do I get? I don't want to pave the way for you for nothing."
Realizing the Chitauri's plan was feasible, Loki asked again.
A simple life-saving favor was not enough to make him work for these people for free; he needed tangible benefits.
After all, he not only wanted to take revenge on the people on Earth, but he also wanted to take revenge on his father, Odin, and his brother, Thor, as well as everyone who resisted him, and make them all pay the price.
"Rest assured about that. After Earth is invaded, we only need a few things from it. Earth can be left for you to rule, and our Chitauri will be your eternal allies from then on."
The Chitauri leader knew that Loki was a greedy person, so he offered very generous terms.
Hearing these generous terms, Loki couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, revealing a look of greed.
Letting him rule Earth meant he could dispose of those Earthlings he hated as he pleased, making them unable to live and unable to die.
And with the Chitauri as allies, when he went to invade Asgard in the future, this powerful army, famous throughout the universe, would definitely be a great help.
Thinking of this, Loki couldn't help but nod and said.
"Fine, I agree. I will help you invade Earth."
"Then let's not delay. We will send you back to Earth right now."
Seeing Loki agree, the Chitauri decided on the spot and immediately ordered his subordinates to take Loki back to Earth.
...
At Jane's home.
Erik, hungover, was still sleeping when a figure flashed out from beside him; it was Loki, who had been sent back by the Chitauri.
"Since you ruined my big plans, this time, I'll start with the people around you."
Loki gave a sinister laugh. What he liked most was controlling the people close to his opponents to achieve his own goals.
Every time he saw an enemy hurt by someone they were close to, the confused expression and the painful look gave him immense pleasure, and this time was no exception.
Thinking of this, he waved his scepter, and his figure immediately dissipated, turning into a stream of magic that entered the sleeping Erik's body.
Erik, lying on the bed, immediately opened his eyes. A red light flashed in them, he gave a sinister laugh, and walked outside.
The possessed Erik came outside, stood quietly in the middle of the crowd, and looked around.
The battlefield outside had been mostly cleaned up by the agents by now, leaving only a few pits in the ground that hadn't been filled in yet.
Everyone in the field was waiting for Clark to return; after all, it was Clark who had saved them.
Lois, standing to the side, was somewhat worried, fearing that Clark might get hurt up there.
Jane also looked at the sky from time to time, waiting for Thor to return.
"Hey, Dr. Erik, you are Dr. Erik, right? I am Agent Coulson."
Looking at Fury's message, Coulson suddenly noticed that Dr. Erik was in the crowd and hurriedly went over to greet him.
"I... I am. Hello, is there something you need?"
Loki was startled, thinking he had been recognized. Seeing that Coulson didn't seem to notice, he breathed a sigh of relief and said.
"It's like this: we at S.H.I.E.L.D. have a project regarding the Tesseract and would like to invite you to participate. Do you have time?"
Coulson explained, looking at the message sent by Fury.
"The Tesseract?"
The light in the eyes of Erik, who was possessed by Loki, flashed. 'Good fellow, I haven't even gone looking for you, yet you delivered yourself to my doorstep. Since that's the case, I'll grant your wish.'
Thinking of this, Loki controlled Erik to nod and said.
"Thank you for the invitation. I am very happy to participate in this research."
"Thank you for your understanding. Then please come with us to New York later."
Coulson was somewhat surprised. He had thought he would need to spend some effort convincing him, but he didn't expect Erik to agree so quickly.
Hum!!!
As they were talking, a fluctuation suddenly came from the sky, and then a brilliant aurora fell to the ground. The aurora dissipated, and the figures of Clark and Thor appeared on the ground.
"Clark!!!"
Seeing Clark's figure, Lois rushed over and jumped into Clark's arms.
"Lois!!"
Clark hugged Lois tightly, his face full of joy.
"It's so nice."
Jane looked at the embracing couple with some envy, then looked at Thor, who was standing motionless beside her, and sighed helplessly.
"Mr. Clark, you're back. Was there anything going on up there?"
Seeing Clark return, Coulson hurried over to ask.
Lois blushed and quickly stood up when she saw Coulsonapproach.
Clark looked at Lois and smiled, then replied to Coulson.
"After Thor and I went up, the God King Odin asked me to become Thor's tester. When I determined that Thor was truly qualified to possess this hammer, I was to return it to him."
Chapter 55: Officially Joining the Avengers Initiative
"I see."
A glint flashed in Coulson's eyes; in other words, Clark's power still needed to be returned.
This was problematic; they couldn't afford to lose such a powerful superhero.
"God-King? And becoming a tester? This isn't some scam, is it? Who needs a test just to pick up a broken hammer?"
Tony suddenly chimed in. In his view, they were clearly just a group of humans with advanced technology who had the audacity to call themselves gods; it was incredibly arrogant.
"A broken hammer? This is the symbol of the Prince of Asgard, possessing supreme power over thunder. No one who hasn't been deemed worthy could ever lift it. How dare you call it a broken hammer?"
Hearing Tony's mockery, Thor spoke up angrily. This was his pride and, currently, an unattainable goal; he naturally couldn't stand it being insulted like that.
"Oh? In that case, why don't we give it a try? What if I'm the one who's worthy?"
Tony shrugged provocatively. He didn't believe in gods or ghosts, and he certainly didn't believe that he wouldn't be able to lift a small hammer with his Iron Man Suit.
"Clark, put mjolnir down and let this arrogant human have a try."
Thor was getting fired up too and spoke to Clarkimmediately.
Seeing the two of them squaring off, Clark knew persuasion was useless and could only sigh helplessly as he placed the hammer on the ground.
"It's just a broken hammer, what's the big deal?"
Tony said as he walked over to the hammer, gripped it with both hands, and pulled.
The hammer didn't budge.
"This hammer is pretty heavy."
Tony gave a couple of awkward laughs, then pulled with all his might.
Still, it didn't move an inch.
Now Tony was getting a bit anxious. He walked over to his damaged Iron Man Suit, detached an arm piece to put on, and returned confidently, using the suit's thrusters to help him pull.
The hammer still didn't move; even with the thrusters at full power, it remained completely still.
"Looks like my suit needs an upgrade; it can't even lift a tiny hammer like this."
Tony gave up and sat on the ground. He was starting to believe it now; this thing completely defied the laws of physics.
Such a small volume, yet so heavy, and yet Clark could lift it with ease. Was being 'worthy' really a requirement?
"Believe me now? You aren't worthy."
Thor chuckled. This human hadn't believed him before, but now he had no choice.
"Humph, you can't lift it either, can you? And you still dare call yourself a god?"
Tony curled his lip. This guy couldn't lift it either, so what right did he have to talk?
"Alright, that's enough games. Let's get down to business."
Coulson intervened before the two could argue further and then spoke to Clark.
"Clark, Director Fury wants to have a chat with you about your previous choice to join the Avengers. I wonder if you're still willing?"
"Sure, no problem."
Clark nodded in agreement. Since he had already promised, he had no intention of backing out.
Coulson breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Clark's attitude hadn't changed after gaining power.
With the decision made, the group didn't delay and immediately set off for New York.
...
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury was studying the Tesseract with a very focused expression. A silver-white case sat beside him.
"Boss, I've brought Clark."
Having rushed back without rest, Coulson quickly brought Clark in.
"Good work, Coulson."
Nick Fury nodded to Coulson, then looked at Clark and extended his hand.
"Hello, sir. You must be Clark. I'm Nick Fury, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Hello, Mr. Fury. I'm Clark, a reporter for the Daily Planet."
Clark shook Fury's hand and responded politely.
"Coulson has already told you that we want you to join the Avengers Initiative. The Avengers Initiative is a plan to gather superheroes into an organization to protect Earth from being destroyed by mysterious forces."
"I am here today to formally invite you to join the Avengers Initiative. Do you agree?"
Nick Fury looked at Clark with sincere eyes. Clark's immense power would undoubtedly be a great asset to the Avengers Initiative, and he truly hoped Clark would accept.
Clark gave it another serious thought. Just as he had considered before, now that he had displayed such great power, news would likely spread, bringing him a lot of trouble. Joining S.H.I.E.L.D. would provide a way to handle that. Moreover, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s philosophy aligned with his own—both aimed to protect humanity and the Earth—so he had no reason to refuse.
With that in mind, Clark nodded seriously and said,
"I agree, Mr. Fury."
"Very good. Thank you for joining us, Clark."
Fury smiled, feeling a sense of relief.
Having finished, Fury had someone see Clark out.
After Clark left, Fury looked at the silver-white case on the table, thought for a moment, and then said to Coulson.
"Dr. Erik came with you as well, right? Please bring him in, Coulson."
Coulson took the order and left, returning shortly with Erik, who was possessed by Loki.
"Hello, Dr. Erik. I am Nick Fury, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Nick Fury greeted Erik as he arrived.
"Hello, Director Fury. What can I do for you? Agent Coulson mentioned it was about the Tesseract, is that correct?"
The Loki-possessed Erik spoke with a hint of urgency. His target was the Tesseract, and knowing he could gain access to it made him impatient.
"Yes, S.H.I.E.L.D. is preparing to conduct a comprehensive study of the Tesseract and develop its energy. We hope you can join this project. What do you think?"
As Fury spoke, he opened the case on the table, revealing the glowing blue Tesseract inside.
"This..."
Seeing this, Loki swallowed hard, a flash of greed crossing his eyes. He wanted to take it right then and there, but he held back. Security was tight; even if he succeeded, there was no guarantee he could escape.
Since they were letting him study it, why not take the opportunity to steal it during the research? Besides, he could use the time to better understand the Tesseract's power.
With this in mind, Loki feigned composure, then acted as if he were reluctantly agreeing.
"Since you've put it that way, Director, I'll agree. But let's get one thing straight: I must have full charge of the research."
"Of course. Rest assured, we will provide our full cooperation."
Seeing Erik agree, Nick Fury was delighted and immediately accepted the conditions. In his eyes, if he could get a great scientist like Erik to do the research, what did a few extra conditions matter?
Loki nodded, thinking to himself, What a foolish human, so easily played in the palm of my hand.
Chapter 56: Hammer Joins Insight Project!
Inside the Congressional conference room.
Pierce stood at the head of the room, with Stern sitting to one side. A video was playing on the screen before them, showing the previous wanton destruction caused by Destroyer.
"What on earth is this robot? Its power is terrifying; even Stark's Iron Man Suit couldn't do anything against it."
Stern's face couldn't help but turn pale as he watched the footage of Tony being defeated.
Although he didn't get along with Stark, he still fully acknowledged the power of the Iron Man Suits. The fact that five Iron Man Suits couldn't defeat that robot made it almost unimaginable if such an enemy were to come after them.
"It indeed warrants our attention."
Pierce's eyes flickered as he nodded. Combat power of this level could already threaten Hydra; if they didn't take it seriously, it would surely lead to grave consequences.
At the same time, the video on the screen ended.
Stern breathed a sigh of relief and then spoke with a hint of relief.
"Fortunately, it's been dealt with. I just don't know how it was resolved."
Pierce took out a communicator, pointed to the message on it, and explained.
"According to the latest reports, a Superhuman who only recently gained his powers—a former journalist named Clark—defeated the robot. Word is, it was a total curb-stomp."
"What? A Superhuman who just gained his powers?"
Stern's eyes widened at the news. He had assumed Nick Fury had deployed a large force in advance to eliminate the robot. To be told now that it was just one person, and someone who had only recently acquired Superhumanabilities, seemed impossible.
"Yes, apparently he was just a newspaper reporter before."
Pierce spoke nonchalantly, his expression unchanged.
But in his heart, his mind was racing. He couldn't imagine what kind of power a human would need to easily crush a monster like that.
"In that case, we need to win him over quickly. Someone like that must be under our control."
Stern said with some excitement. If they could harness such power, Hydra would surely reach new heights. Naturally, they had to recruit him as soon as possible and make his power their own.
"It's too late. Fury has already invited him to join that Avengers Initiative. We can't intervene anymore."
Pierce shook his head, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Nick Fury had never listened to his commands and had been making many moves in the shadows, especially with the Avengers Initiative. If it succeeded, Hydra would find it difficult to make any moves in the future.
But now, in addition to Iron Man and Captain America, that new Clark had been added. The Avengers Initiative was now certain to succeed, which infuriated him.
If Fury continues to be an obstacle, he'll have to be eliminated, Pierce thought to himself.
"What? Recruited by Fury? Honestly, that guy is always ruining things."
Stern slammed the table and spoke angrily.
He had long disliked Nick Fury. And that Avengers Initiative—not only was his rival Stark the first to be invited, but it would also pose a major obstacle to Hydra's future operations. To think Fury had snatched away the person they wanted again; it was truly infuriating.
"Why don't we just get rid of him?"
Stern suggested to Pierce with a look of resentment. An obstructive guy like Fury should be dealt with early to save them the headache.
"No, Fury can't be touched right now. Not only is he still useful, but our focus should be on Insight Project. We can't spare the resources to deal with that."
Pierce rejected Stern's suggestion without hesitation. Insight Project was underway, and any unstable factors had to be eliminated. As the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury had many trump cards and many agents loyal to him. Moving against him now would inevitably affect the implementation of Insight Project.
Furthermore, Nick Fury still didn't know their true purpose and supported the development of Insight Project. Utilizing him to complete Insight Project for them was clearly the most optimal decision at this time.
Upon hearing this, Senator Stern, though somewhat reluctant, kept his mouth shut and said no more, given that Pierce was his superior.
"Mr. Pierce, Senator Stern, sorry I'm late."
Hammer suddenly opened the door and walked in, greeting Pierce and Stern.
"Mr. Hammer, you're here. Perfect, we were just wanting to talk to you about Insight Project."
Stern warmly beckoned Hammer over. Hammer was one of the people most obedient to Hydra, and his miniature nuclear reactor technology had made an indispensable contribution to accelerating the progress of Insight Project.
"Thank you, Senator Stern."
Hammer stepped to the side, waiting for the two to begin.
"Alright, now that Hammer is here, let's discuss the progress of Insight Project. Sitwell's side was hijacked a while ago, wasn't it? What's the situation now?"
Seeing Hammer's arrival, Pierce nodded and asked about Sitwell. Not long ago, Sitwell was on a Insight Projectmission in the Yingdu Ocean when he was hijacked by pirates, causing a significant delay to Insight Project.
"Agent Sitwell hasn't sent any word for a week. We don't know the specifics of the situation right now."
Hammer stepped forward and said.
"Damn it, those rogue pirates! Do they have any idea how much they've delayed our plan? Honestly, if I weren't so busy, I'd want to go over there and wipe them all out."
Stern slammed the table in extreme anger. They had worked so hard for so long to accelerate Insight Project, only for it to be disrupted by these pirates—it was truly frustrating.
"Don't be in such a hurry. Fury sent Rogers over to rescue them recently. With Rogers' Super Soldier physique, it shouldn't be difficult to get them out."
Pierce said calmly. Although he was also anxious, with Rogers on the rescue mission, their return was only a matter of time. Worrying was useless; he might as well focus on other matters.
"That's good, then."
Stern breathed a sigh of relief at this. He knew Rogers' strength well—he was once the enemy that gave them the biggest headache. With his involvement, he believed it would surely be a success.
"By the way, Hammer, how is your Miniature Arc Reactortechnology coming along? Insight Project needs to pick up the pace now."
Pierce asked Hammer. Fury's Avengers Initiative was progressing rapidly; they couldn't afford any delays on their end either.
"My technology is almost fully deployed. Rest assured, Mr. Pierce."
Hearing the question directed at him, Hammer quickly patted his chest in assurance.
"That's good."
Pierce nodded, then looked into the distance with a meaningful gaze.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
As he was speaking, the communicator in his pocket rang.
Chapter 57: Steve Executes a Rescue Mission
Pierce saw it was a call from Sitwell, paused for a moment, and then answered directly.
"Hello, Sitwell, how are you doing?"
As soon as the call connected, Pierce asked directly.
"Mr. Pierce, we have been rescued by Captain Rogers and his men; we are on our way back now."
Sitwell's voice came through.
"That's good. Once you return, Insight Project can proceed as scheduled."
Pierce nodded with a slight smile on his face. Now that Insight Project lacked nothing, Hydra's goal would soon be achieved.
...
Half a day ago.
Night.
On the Yingdu Ocean, a massive ship sat stationary on the water. The ship was brightly lit, with armed guards patrolling everywhere, looking heavily guarded.
In a corner of the ship, Steve and Natasha, along with a group of soldiers, were lying in wait. After several days of effort, they had finally infiltrated the target vessel tonight; all that remained was to rescue the targets.
"This ship is a mobile satellite launch platform for S.H.I.E.L.D., so Agent Sitwell is also on board. We need to ensure his safety."
Natasha briefed Steve on the ship's situation.
They had to be extremely cautious on this mission; one mistake could affect the satellite launch equipment on board, thereby impacting future plans. Since Steve was unaware of the plan, she gave him an advance warning.
"Alright, I understand. No time to lose, let's move."
Steve nodded, his movements swift as he signaled the soldiers behind him and began the assault.
Receiving the order, the soldiers followed in Steve's footsteps and began the attack.
Natasha watched Steve leave but did not follow. Instead, she stealthily checked her surroundings and headed straight for the ship's archives room.
Upon reaching the deck, the soldiers split into several teams to assault the entire hull. Steve arrived at the corridor on the right side of the ship, preparing to start from there.
"Who's there? Stop! Someone come quick, we're under attack here!"
A hijacker in the corridor spotted Steve and shouted immediately. He moved quickly, raising his rifle with a fierce expression, ready to fire.
Steve took the lead, raising his shield and charging forward. He blocked a couple of bullets with the shield, then closed in on the guard and knocked him unconscious with a single blow.
Hearing the guard's shout, more guards swarmed in, firing their guns at Steve and his team.
However, the narrow passage gave Steve, who was holding his shield, a natural advantage; the bullets couldn't hit him at all. Furthermore, Steve's formidable physical strength meant the guards couldn't even last a single round against him.
After a brief skirmish, the corridor was filled with guards lying in various states of disarray. Steve, however, was completely uninjured, only slightly out of breath.
"Mr. Rogers, we have successfully infiltrated our sector and found the hostages' location. They are on the third level of the ship. Do you have any instructions?"
The communicator at his waist suddenly chirped with Rumlow's voice.
"You start the assault; I'll be there shortly."
Steve picked up the communicator and replied, deploying the soldiers.
However, he was somewhat puzzled. Natasha wasn't over there, nor was she following him. Where exactly had she gone?
Despite his thoughts, his movements were not slow. He headed straight for the location reported by the soldiers. After all, the safety of the target officials was the most important thing right now; there was no time to dwell on anything else.
Natasha soon reached the ship's archives room. Entering the room, she walked straight to the main computer, pulled a USB drive from her person, plugged it in, and began copying the data.
Unlike what she had initially told Steve, as an ace agent, Fury had assigned her another task: to copy the data here and ensure no information leaked.
Watching the copy progress bar on the computer screen advance bit by bit, Natasha breathed a sigh of relief. With Steve keeping them busy over there, her mission here should proceed smoothly.
Meanwhile.
Steve reached the third level of the ship and regrouped with the soldiers.
"Mr. Rogers, the remaining hijackers are all there. The others have been dealt with. There are kidnapped officials inside, so it's difficult for us to enter."
Rumlow pointed toward the top deck of the ship as he reported to Steve.
"How about this: you infiltrate through the ventilation duct, then give me a signal. We'll enter together to ensure the safety of the hostages."
Steve said after a moment of thought. A direct charge would inevitably lead the enemy to use the hostages; this was the only way.
"Alright, I'm heading there now."
Rumlow nodded immediately and headed straight for the ventilation duct.
"The rest of you, follow me to the main entrance and prepare. We'll charge in as soon as we get Rumlow's signal." Tianlai Novel Network
Steve didn't delay, quickly leading the remaining soldiers over. During this time, he called Natasha several times, but there was no response. This made him even more suspicious, but he had no time for further thought.
The group arrived at the main entrance. Before long, the sound of gunfire came from inside, and Rumlow's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie.
"Captain, come quick!"
Hearing the voice, Steve immediately kicked the main door. The door was sent flying by the immense force.
"Let's go!"
With the door open, Steve gave the command and led the soldiers inside.
The hijackers inside were fighting Rumlow and didn't expect Steve and the others to burst in at that moment. They were immediately caught off guard and began to retreat in defeat.
In short order, the hijackers were nearly wiped out by Steveand his team. Only the leader of the hijackers, seeing things were going south, managed to escape; they didn't catch him.
"I told you, S.H.I.E.L.D. never negotiates."
The untied Sitwell walked over to a hijacker's corpse and spoke expressionlessly.
The other officials and staff were also untied; there were no casualties among them.
"Where is Rogers?"
Rumlow was somewhat confused, not knowing where Steve had gone. He hadn't seen a sign of Steve since the battle was won.
"Never mind that, let's get out first. He probably went out to catch the remaining ones."
Sitwell walked to the door and said to Rumlow.
The group agreed and, without further words, all walked out.
On Natasha's end, the copy progress was nearing completion. She kept working, wanting to speed up the process.
"What are you doing here?"
Steve's voice suddenly came from behind.
Natasha turned to look, only to see Steve walking over with a frown.
Steve reprimanded her in a low voice:
"Your actions have endangered the entire team. Our primary mission should have been rescuing the hostages."
After rescuing the hostages, he had started looking for Natasha, only to find her here copying data.
In his eyes, such behavior was a complete disregard for the team, putting everyone in danger.
Chapter 58: Why Do You Always Hide Things?
"That was your mission, not mine."
Natasha said nonchalantly, then unplugged the USB drive and turned to leave.
Steve frowned as he watched Natasha's departing figure, thinking about what she had just said.
Just his mission? It seemed Nick Fury had things he hadn't told him. Steve's expression soured; this sense of distrust made him feel suffocated.
It seemed he needed to have a talk with Director Furyupon his return. Steve thought this as he turned to regroup with the others and headed back to New York.
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters at this time.
Steve, frowning, strode quickly toward the Director's office.
Natasha's disregard for her teammates on the ship earlier had made him very angry. Later, her claim that her mission was different from his made him feel untrusted by Nick Fury. This prompted him to seek out Nick Fury for answers as soon as he returned.
The agents on the way saw Steve like this and looked at each other in confusion, not understanding what could have made the usually good-tempered Captain Rogers so angry.
As he walked, Clark's figure emerged from ahead, followed by Coulson, who was leading the way. He had just finished discussing the Avengers with Nick Fury and was preparing to leave.
"Mr. Rogers, you're back."
Seeing Steve, Coulson greeted him while barely containing his joy.
"Yes, mission accomplished. Sitwell is out as well. Coulson, who is this gentleman beside you?"
Steve replied to Coulson, then looked curiously at the unfamiliar face of Clark beside him. He hadn't seen Clark's face before; clearly, he wasn't someone from S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Hello, my name is Clark. I'm a newspaper reporter."
Clark greeted Steve with no significant reaction.
While Clark showed no major reaction, Su Cheng within him was deep in thought at this moment.
Rescuing Sitwell? This seemed like the plot of the ship being hijacked at the beginning of captain america 2. From the looks of it, next Fury will tell Steve about Insight Project, fully kicking off the plot of captain america 2.
"A reporter?"
Steve was a bit puzzled. What was a reporter doing here?
"Oh, Mr. Clark was invited by Director Fury to join the Avengers Initiative. He's one of us now."
Seeing Steve's confusion, Coulson quickly explained.
"Oh, I see. That's a good thing then."
Hearing this, Steve nodded, but he was still a bit confused.
Fury had told him about the Avengers Initiative long ago. He was more than supportive of such a plan to protect all of humanity.
But why would an ordinary reporter join this initiative? How could an ordinary reporter join? Everyone in it is a superhero.
However, he naturally welcomed the addition of new strength. After all, there's strength in numbers, and he believed most in the power of unity.
"Mr. Clark dealt with a powerful robot that appeared in New Mexico earlier, using power from Mjolnir."
Seeing Steve's confusion, Coulson explained.
"I see. Welcome to the Avengers Initiative."
Steve finally realized. That explains it; he's not an ordinary reporter, but a superhero as well.
"I'm also happy to join the Avengers Initiative."
Clark nodded. Steve's welcoming attitude gave him a good impression, and his view of S.H.I.E.L.D. improved slightly.
"Alright then, I have some business with Nick Fury, so I'll be going now."
After saying that, Steve turned and left.
Seeing this, Clark and the other also departed.
Director's Office.
Nick Fury was sitting alone in the office.
Nick Fury had just seen off Erik and was planning the next steps by himself.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sound of knocking echoed.
"Come in."
Nick Fury looked up and said.
The door opened, and Steve walked straight up to Nick Fury.
"Mission complete, Rogers?"
Seeing it was Steve, Nick Fury put down the documents in his hand and asked.
"Yes, everyone's out. Agent Sitwell is back too."
Steve nodded.
"That's good."
Nick Fury nodded. With this matter resolved, Insight Project could proceed.
"Did anything happen here while I was away, Director?"
Steve thought of Clark just now and couldn't help but ask.
"You just saw Clark, didn't you, Captain?"
Seeing Steve's expression, Nick Fury knew he must have seen Clark leaving.
"Yes. I didn't expect another person to join the Avengers Initiative. It looks like it's about to be a success."
Steve nodded and said.
"Indeed. Clark's strength is nothing to scoff at. While you were away, there was some trouble in New Mexico. Tonytook five Iron Man Suits and Clint over there, but they couldn't solve it. It was Clark who easily resolved the trouble using his newly acquired Power of Thor. Otherwise, I'm afraid the losses would have been heavy."
Fury said with some emotion. Clark had indeed helped him solve a major problem this time and agreed to join the Avengers Initiative, which made him quite grateful.
"He solved what Tony couldn't?"
Steve was a bit surprised. Coulson had mentioned Clarkdefeating a robot earlier, but he didn't know how powerful it was. He hadn't expected it to be a robot that even Starkcouldn't handle.
Although he and Tony didn't get along, he still fully acknowledged the combat power of Tony's Iron Man Suits. If five Iron Man Suits couldn't win, that trouble was definitely terrifying. He hadn't expected that such a thing was solved by the seemingly ordinary Clark he saw earlier.
"Yes, Clark's strength is indeed very formidable."
Fury nodded. Clark's combat power was obvious to all. From the video sent back, he had completely crushed that robot; he was very powerful.
"Then he will indeed be a great asset to the Avengers Initiative."
Steve nodded, feeling no jealousy toward Clark for being stronger than him, only delight. In his view, having powerful help join the Avengers Initiative meant the safety of the country and its people would have a stronger guarantee, which is a very good thing.
"Indeed."
Nick Fury also nodded. Clark's joining undoubtedly gave him more confidence in the successful implementation of the Avengers Initiative.
After saying this, the two fell silent.
Nick Fury looked at Steve quietly, knowing that Stevehadn't come just for this.
"Why do you always have to hide things?"
Steve was silent for a moment before asking aloud.
He naturally hadn't forgotten his original purpose, which was to address the matter of Nick Fury hiding Natasha's mission.
"We should be united to achieve more."
Chapter 59: Fury Reveals Insight Project
Nick Fury stood up and looked Steve straight in the eye, then spoke earnestly.
"You've misjudged me, Rogers. I'm still quite willing to share some information with you."
After saying this, Nick Fury stood up, gestured for Steve to follow, and turned to leave the office.
Steve was somewhat puzzled, but he followed anyway.
Fury led Steve through several turns before entering a hidden elevator.
The elevator descended rapidly, reaching the deep underground in no time.
When the elevator doors opened, a vast and spacious area came into view. Not far away, three massive Helicarriers were docked.
"This is..."
Steve was taken aback. He hadn't expected S.H.I.E.L.D. to have such a place beneath it. He couldn't help but look at Nick Fury with a questioning gaze.
Fury didn't answer immediately. Instead, he led Steve to a large glass window and then explained.
"This is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s latest initiative, named Insight Project."
"Insight Project uses these three Helicarriers linked to orbital satellites. They will stay permanently in sub-orbit, using micro-surveillance to detect all threats and eliminate them from the sky."
Nick Fury finished speaking and looked at Steve, quietly waiting for his reaction. He told Steve because, first, Stevehad already noticed something was up, and second, the project would inevitably require Steve's assistance later, so it was better to tell him early. He believed Steve could understand.
Steve fell silent for a moment upon hearing this. Wasn't this just using weapons to threaten all of humanity? What was the difference between this and Hydra?
Thinking of this, he looked at Fury with a serious expression.
"This isn't protection; it's controlling all of humanity through fear, Director Fury."
With that, he turned and left without looking back, leaving Fury standing there alone and dejected, silent for a long time.
...
Fury took Natasha's flash drive, plugged it into his computer, and entered his password, preparing to view the intelligence inside.
But after a few seconds...
A few words appeared on the screen: 'Insufficient Clearance. Access Denied.'
Nick Fury stared at the words on the screen, stunned, and then fell into deep thought.
He was the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. If he didn't have clearance, who did? No, there was definitely something wrong here.
For a problem to arise now, it definitely had to be related to the upcoming Insight Project. If that was the case, Insight Project absolutely could not be launched like this. Realizing this, Fury's expression changed, and he hurried out of the room toward Pierce's office.
In Pierce's office.
"Gentlemen of the Council, please rest assured. Steve has already brought Sitwell back."
Pierce was currently on a video call with the council members discussing the Yingdu Ocean incident. He suggested ignoring those matters for now to focus on completing Insight Project, after which handling such things would be much more convenient.
"Mr. Pierce, Mr. Nick Fury is outside looking for you on urgent business."
A female employee walked in and whispered into Pierce's ear.
"My apologies, Councilors. We'll have to continue this discussion next time."
Pierce knew Nick Fury wouldn't look for him unless it was something major, so he excused himself to the councilors and left the office.
Nick Fury was waiting for Pierce in another room, his expression grave, as if deep in thought.
"Director Fury, it's been a while since you've come by."
Pierce smiled and shook Nick Fury's hand.
"Mr. Pierce, I've come because I need your help with something."
Nick Fury spoke with a serious expression.
Seeing Nick Fury's expression, Pierce knew he wasn't joking and turned serious as well. However, he was still confused—what could it be? Hadn't the Yingdu Oceanmatter been resolved?
"I need you to organize a vote. Insight Project needs to be delayed."
Nick Fury said solemnly. He had just discovered that his access to information was blocked, and combined with what Steve had said earlier, he decided to postpone Insight Project before making a final decision.
"This is no small matter, Fury. This requires a lengthy deliberation. What if there's no problem?"
Pierce's expression flickered as he spoke seriously. Furyhad originally supported their plan; had he heard some news? Why the sudden delay?
"And what if there is a problem, Mr. Pierce? Then we will be incredibly grateful that we didn't send those Helicarriers into the sky."
Nick Fury was resolute. He was a very cautious man; no matter how big the situation, if something felt even slightly off, he would investigate thoroughly. Moreover, this was a matter concerning the entire global population.
Seeing Nick Fury's determination, Pierce became increasingly convinced that Fury had caught wind of their plan. However, if he refused again, it would only make him more suspicious. Thinking of this, Pierce gave a light chuckle, extended his right hand, and spoke to Fury with a feigned sense of helplessness.
"Alright, I'll handle it. But you have to get Iron Man to attend my niece's birthday party."
"Of course. Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Pierce."
Seeing Pierce agree, Fury couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there were reasonable officials like Mr. Pierce to ensure their work could proceed smoothly.
"Alright, Mr. Pierce, I'll go start the deployment then."
With the business concluded, Fury didn't say more and turned to leave. He just didn't notice the cold look in Pierce's eyes behind him.
As Fury left, a sharp glint flashed in Pierce's eyes. Since Fury had already sensed something, he couldn't be allowed to keep investigating. Sorry, Fury.
Thinking of this, Pierce pulled out a communicator and made a call.
"Hello! Rumlow, I have a mission for you. Kill S.H.I.E.L.D.Director Nick Fury. Do it cleanly, leave no traces."
With that, Pierce hung up and looked into the distance with a meaningful gaze. Fury, this is on you. You're just a bit too smart.
A few minutes later.
A sedan was driving along the streets of DC. The driver was none other than the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury.
In the car, Fury stared straight ahead, his mind racing. Investigating the issues surrounding Insight Project was clearly going to be a massive undertaking. Currently, besides Coulson, his subordinates were people like Tonyand the other superheroes. Those people were fine for combat, but clearly not suited for investigation. It seemed he needed to call some people back.
Thinking of this, Fury seemed to make up his mind. While driving, he dialed Agent Hill's number.
"Hill, it's me. There's an emergency here. Get back to DC immediately."
Nick Fury ordered solemnly. That's right, he chose Hill. As his long-time subordinate, her capabilities gave him the most peace of mind. For this kind of matter, she was clearly the best choice.
On the other end, Hill thought for a moment and was just about to respond.
Suddenly, a police car swerved out from the side.
BANG!!!
The police car slammed straight into Fury's car, sending it flying!
Chapter 60: Thor Comes to the Daily Planet
At Clark's home.
"Thor, I'm going to the office in a bit. Wait for me at home. If you're hungry, you can call for takeout."
Clark said to Thor behind him while tidying his clothes.
"That won't do. Father said I should follow you for my trial, so I cannot leave your side."
Behind him, Thor shook his head, unwilling to leave Clark's side.
"I'm going to work. How can I take you with me? You'd better wait at home."
Clark said with some difficulty. If Thor followed him and said something strange, everything would be a mess.
"Don't worry, I won't interfere with your work. Just trust me."
Thor patted his chest and guaranteed. In his view, as the Prince of Asgard, the affairs of the human world were a piece of cake for him. He might even be able to help Clarkout.
Hearing this, Clark felt a bit conflicted. Since Thor had put it that way, refusing again would be disrespectful. Besides, he wasn't entirely comfortable leaving an Asgardian like Thor here alone.
Thinking of this, Clark nodded and said reluctantly.
"Fine, you can come with me, but you must listen to me and not wander off."
"Alright, don't you worry."
Thor nodded repeatedly, patting his chest in assurance.
Clark looked at Thor with some doubt, but didn't say much more. Seeing that he was about to be late, he quickly packed his things and left with Thor.
Both had excellent physical fitness and were quite fast. Since the office was close to Clark's home, they soon arrived at the Daily Planet building.
Entering the editorial department, colleagues along the way looked curiously at Thor, who was behaving strangely behind Clark, wondering why Clark had brought him.
Faced with those looks, Clark could only smile awkwardly and hurry away with Thor.
"Hey, Clark, who's that with you? Don't you know outsiders aren't allowed in the editorial department?"
A familiar colleague saw Thor beside Clark and asked curiously.
"This is..."
Clark was about to answer.
"I am Thor, Prince of Asgard. Clark is my proctor."
Thor spoke first, hiding nothing and telling the whole truth.
"Oh no."
Clark helplessly covered his eyes, as if unwilling to watch what would happen next.
"Prince of Asgard? Why haven't I heard of a country called Asgard?"
The colleague looked at Thor strangely. As someone working for a newspaper, he was certain there was no country called Asgard in the world. What was going on?
"Mortals wouldn't know, of course. Asgard is the Realm of Gods."
Just as Clark was about to explain, Thor beat him to it again, speaking with pride as if it were an honor for the colleague to even know about it.
Now the colleague understood completely. This wasn't a prince; he was just a chuunibyou youth. He didn't expect such a grown man to be so prone to delusions.
"This... Clark, where did you find this chuunibyou guy? I thought he was a real prince, but it turns out it's just his imagination."
The colleague couldn't help but complain.
"What? You dare insult the Prince of Asgard? I will make you pay the price."
Hearing this, Thor grew angry, grabbed the colleague by the collar, and was about to strike.
"Thor, stop! Didn't I tell you to listen to me?"
Clark quickly pulled the colleague away and scolded Thor.
At the same time, he felt helpless. Although he knew Thor coming along would be trouble, he didn't expect it to be this much trouble.
"But he provoked me first."
Thor was a bit defiant, but since Clark was his proctor, he calmed down.
"I'm sorry, he's a relative of mine. He's a bit... not all there. Please understand."
Clark stepped aside and whispered an explanation to his colleague.
"Oh, I see. You should have said so earlier. You had me thinking he was a real prince. Don't worry, I won't take it to heart."
The colleague realized. That explained it. Most of the anger from being grabbed dissipated.
He's just a fool; there's no need to lower myself to his level. Thinking this, the colleague felt much more relaxed.
After saying this, Clark brought the colleague back to Thor.
"What were you two just talking about?"
Thor asked, puzzled.
"Nothing..."
Clark was about to explain.
"Apologies, O Great Prince of Asgard. I apologize for my behavior just now. Please forgive me."
To Clark's surprise, the colleague made an exaggerated bowing gesture and spoke to Thor. Since he knew Thor was simple-minded, he figured he might as well play along and humor him.
"It is fine. I have felt your sincerity. You may rise."
Thor nodded with satisfaction. Although he didn't know why the man's attitude had suddenly improved, as the Prince of Asgard, he was magnanimous enough not to hold a grudge against a mortal.
"Alright, alright, let's get to work. We shouldn't delay."
Knowing what his colleague was up to, Clark felt incredibly embarrassed. Fearing Thor would catch on, he quickly pulled him away.
"Thor, didn't I tell you not to speak recklessly? Luckily they didn't believe you. What if they had?"
Pulling Thor to his desk, Clark spoke earnestly.
"What? You mean he was tricking me just now? He didn't truly respect me?"
Thor realized belatedly and immediately wanted to go back for revenge.
"No! Stay right here. If you're this impulsive again, you'll never be able to lift that Hammer in your life. Don't forget, I'm your proctor."
Clark pulled Thor back and threatened him with the Hammer. Since Thor was being so disobedient, he had to use his status as the proctor.
"Fine, I won't go. I won't say another word."
The mention of the Hammer hit Thor's weak spot, and his temper vanished instantly. He could give up anything else, but he truly wanted that Hammer. Since Clark was his proctor, he had to obey.
Seeing Thor compromise, Clark nodded. He hadn't expected the titles of proctor and Hammer to be so effective. It seemed that if Thor was disobedient in the future, he could just use this.
"Hi, Clark. Oh, Thor, why are you here too?"
Lois's voice came from nearby, and Clark turned to look.
He saw Lois walking over with Jane. Jane was clearly delighted when she saw Thor.
"Lois, you're here. Why is Jane here too?"
Clark first greeted Lois warmly, then pointed to Jane behind her and asked. Jane's home was back in New Mexico; why was she here? Could she be looking for Thor?
Chapter 61: The Avengers Receive the News!
"I came with Professor Erik. It seems Director Nick Fury has some business with him."
Jane explained, her eyes looking at Thor expectantly.
She hoped to see some joy in Thor's eyes, but unfortunately, Thor had no reaction.
"I see. Since you're here, we can properly host you."
Clark nodded, showing no particular emotion.
Su Cheng, inside his body, was lost in thought. Nick Furylooking for Erik should be the plotline for the Tesseract. Could it be that Loki has arrived on Earth and the events of the first Avengers movie are starting? Su Cheng was a bit uncertain.
Clark was talking to Thor at his desk, while Lois and Jane chimed in occasionally. The atmosphere was incredibly relaxed and pleasant.
At that moment, a staff member ran out in a hurry and shouted.
"News! There's been a major car accident in the next block, and it seems there was a shooting involved. Who wants to go check it out?"
Hearing this, Su Cheng, inside Clark's mind, became thoughtful.
A car accident and a shooting... connecting it to this timeframe, this seemed like the event where Nick Fury was attacked in captain america 2.
This meant S.H.I.E.L.D. had already begun Insight Project. This was a great opportunity for Clark to enter Hydra's radar. Now that Clark had the Power of Thor and was a member of S.H.I.E.L.D., there was no way he wouldn't intervene in Fury's situation if he went there. When Hydra's plan was interfered with, they would surely find a way to retaliate against Clark, providing another great opportunity to push Clark toward darkness.
Thinking of this, Su Cheng made a decision and immediately sent a suggestion into Clark's mind to go to the scene.
Clark, who was sitting there chatting with Lois, hadn't intended to pay attention to this news. However, he suddenly realized that because the news from New Mexicohad been suppressed by S.H.I.E.L.D., the two of them hadn't completed their task, leading to poor performance results this month. Now with the burden of Thor, they were even shorter on money. This news might be a good chance to boost his performance.
With that thought, Clark made his decision.
"Lois, I want to go investigate this news."
Clark informed Lois first.
"Hmm? I see. You go ahead. I need to get back to work anyway."
Seeing Clark's expression, Lois knew he wanted to boost his performance and nodded immediately.
"Alright, let's go, Thor."
Clark called out to Thor. Knowing Thor would follow him anyway once he found out, Clark simply pulled him along.
"Huh? Where are we going?"
Thor hadn't reacted yet. Having never been exposed to the human world, he didn't understand the conversation at all.
"Checking the news."
Without hesitation, Clark pulled Thor over to a colleague, picked up the accident location information, and turned to leave the editorial department.
Stepping out of the Daily Planet building, Clark checked the map and frowned.
"This place is a bit far. If we head over now, it might be too late."
The accident site was quite far from the Daily Planet. By the time they got there, the police would likely have cordoned it off, leaving no time for photos. Although he could fly there, he couldn't expose his identity as Superman with Thor around.
"Far?"
Thor paused, then smiled at Clark.
"Then let's just fly there."
"Huh? Fly there? How?"
Clark was a bit confused. Wait, Thor couldn't have recognized him as Superman, could he?
"mjolnir can fly. As long as you, who possesses the Power of Thor, think about it a little, you can fly. Impressive, right?"
Thor said with some pride. At the same time, he felt a bit superior; although Clark was good at fighting with the hammer, Thor had used the Power of Thor for so many years. In other aspects, he was much more proficient than Clark. Clark still had a long way to go.
"I see. That's great then."
Thinking of this, Clark quickly walked to a corner, took out Mjolnir, grabbed Thor, and flew into the sky.
However, as they flew, Thor looked at Clark's calm expression and proficient flight posture with some confusion. Something wasn't right. As a human flying on his own for the first time, why wasn't Clark excited at all? He remembered being incredibly excited during his own first flight. For a human like Clark to be this calm was truly strange.
...
Inside the hospital.
Steve arrived at the hospital to visit Peggy, who was lying in the hospital bed.
"I don't know what's wrong, Peggy. I thought as long as I stayed the way I was, nothing would change, but everything has changed."
Steve looked at Peggy with a lost gaze. Nick Fury's lack of trust and the shock of Insight Project had left him feeling incredibly troubled, so he had no choice but to come to Peggy to vent.
"You're still as sentimental as ever, Rogers."
Peggy teased Steve, her eyes filled with nostalgia as she looked at him.
Steve smiled helplessly, then saw Peggy shed a tear as she shook her head and spoke to him.
"It's been too long. I've waited for you for too long."
Steve froze, feeling a pang of pain in his heart, but he still comforted her gently.
"I won't leave my favorite girl, because she still owes me a dance."
As they were talking, Peggy's granddaughter hurried in.
"Steve, something's happened."
Sharon spoke to Steve with a grave expression.
Steve knew they wouldn't look for him unless it was something important. He immediately gave Peggy an apologetic look. Seeing Peggy wave him off in understanding, Steve turned and followed Sharon out of the room.
"What is it, Sharon?"
Once outside the room, Steve's expression became serious as well.
"News came in a few minutes ago. Director Nick Fury was attacked. The opposing firepower is very strong, and the Director's life is in danger."
Sharon quickly relayed the information to Steve, then stopped talking, waiting for his response.
Steve's expression changed. Although he and Nick Furyhad just had an argument not long ago, Fury was definitely a good director who worked for the country and its people. Such a person could not be allowed to come to harm.
With that thought, Steve quickly said to Sharon.
"Give me the location of the incident and arrange a car for me. I'm going there immediately."
Sharon nodded, then quickly pulled out her communicator and issued the orders.
...
"Damn it."
Inside the car, Fury moved his body with difficulty, his expression grim. A car accident at this time didn't seem normal at all. He looked outside.
Sure enough, four or five more police cars appeared around the street, directly surrounding Fury's car. Immediately after, several armed police officers stepped out of each vehicle.
After getting out, the police officers' target was very clear. They all raised their guns and aimed at Nick Fury's car, then began firing without hesitation. Bullets poured toward Nick Fury, instantly engulfing the car.
Chapter 62: Fury Under Attack!
Crack! Crack!
The S.H.I.E.L.D. specialized vehicle's glass was incredibly strong, holding up under the rain of bullets, but dense cracks began to spread across it; it was clearly about to fail.
"Damn it!!"
Seeing the glass failing, Fury cursed under his breath. Knowing there was no more time for hesitation, he quickly pulled a machine gun from under his seat and aimed it outside.
At the same time, the glass shattered with a bang.
Nick Fury didn't hesitate, pulling the trigger and returning fire with several times the intensity of the attackers.
The people outside didn't have time to react; caught off guard by Nick Fury's assault, they all dove to the ground.
Inside the car, Fury saw this and knew he couldn't stay long—more people were bound to come. He quickly started the engine and slammed his foot onto the gas pedal.
The car suddenly surged forward. The people trying to block him couldn't stop it in time and could only watch as he drove away.
Seeing this, Fury breathed a sigh of relief.
But just then, a masked You-Know-Who with a mechanical right arm appeared in front of the car, blocking its path.
Seeing the You-Know-Who standing there, Fury's expression changed. Since he appeared with the attackers, this man clearly came with ill intent. Thinking of this, Furygritted his teeth and floored the accelerator, intending to send the man flying.
Facing Fury's charging car, the You-Know-Who merely gave a cold look before pulling out a strange firearm and firing a shot.
The bullet from that gun was very strange; it stuck to the car upon impact and then exploded, flipping Fury's car over until it lay upside down on the ground.
"Damn it!!"
Feeling the pain all over his body, Fury cursed inwardly. These people were clearly prepared, even accounting for his escape. Fighting head-on was definitely not an option, but fortunately, he had his own preparations.
With that thought, Nick Fury pulled a Laser Rod from his pocket, preparing to cut through the ground and escape through the sewers.
But just then, the footsteps of the You-Know-Whoapproached.
"Damn it all."
Fury felt a sense of despair. The speed of cutting the ground wouldn't be enough to escape the You-Know-Who's pursuit. Was he really going to die here?
Just then.
"Hey, masked fellow! The Prince of Asgard commands you to stop!"
An incredibly arrogant voice rang out from the side, causing the You-Know-Who's footsteps to pause.
"Hmm? Asgard?"
Inside the car, Fury was stunned. What Asgard? He thought it was S.H.I.E.L.D. reinforcements, but the voice didn't sound like it.
However, it had at least stalled the You-Know-Who and bought him time to escape. Thinking of this, Nick Furydidn't hesitate further and accelerated the cutting. Soon, he had cut a large hole.
'I don't know who you are, but thank you. I can barely save myself, so I have to leave you behind,' Nick Fury apologized in his heart before escaping without hesitation.
Outside, the You-Know-Who stopped, turned his head, and looked coldly toward the source of the voice.
Two people were standing there. One held a hammer with a somewhat helpless expression, while the other stood tall and arrogant, his face full of disdain. They were Thor and Clark, who had just flown over.
"Thor, didn't I tell you not to talk nonsense when we're out?"
Clark was a bit helpless regarding Thor, who still hadn't stepped out of his role as the Prince of Asgard. At the same time, he looked warily at the You-Know-Whoopposite them.
'Hmm, he must be the one who flipped the car. And that cold aura, plus that mechanical right arm that's clearly not ordinary... this guy isn't simple,' Clark thought, feeling inwardly alert.
After all, he couldn't use his Superman powers in public right now and could only rely on the unfamiliar Mjolnir. He might fail if he encountered a true powerhouse, so he didn't plan to hold back; he would go all out against the enemy.
Thor, meanwhile, frowned in displeasure. The mortal before him had no reaction after hearing the great name of the Prince of Asgard; it was simply too rude.
Just then, the You-Know-Who moved, charging forward aggressively. It seemed he didn't intend to go easy on Clarkand Thor for interfering.
"Thor, move aside."
Clark yanked the blocking Thor away. Thor wanted to say something, but when he saw Clark lift the hammer and give him a warning look, he remembered that Clark was his proctor and immediately backed down.
Simultaneously, the You-Know-Who had already reached Clark, swinging his mechanical right arm with a force so great that the surrounding air vibrated, creating a whistling sound.
Faced with this attack, Clark's expression remained unchanged as he raised the hammer to meet it.
Bang!!!
The You-Know-Who felt a massive force and a hint of numbness radiating from his arm. His expression changed as he retreated several steps. In contrast, Clark didn't budge, as if he hadn't been hit at all.
Since the first strike failed, the You-Know-Who's expression grew even colder as he prepared to attack again.
But Clark obviously wouldn't give him the chance. Lightning flashed from Mjolnir in Clark's hand as he suddenly lunged toward the You-Know-Who and swung the hammer.
Crack!!!
The hammer, carrying thick bolts of lightning, slammed directly into the You-Know-Who's blocking arm, knocking him to the ground. Clark didn't stop there, raining blow after blow down upon the You-Know-Who.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Before long, the You-Know-Who was beaten and bruised, unable to move. His mask had been knocked off at some point, revealing a rather handsome face underneath.
"See that? This is the power of the Prince of Asgard!"
Thor walked over and looked at the You-Know-Who on the ground with pride. This man had ignored him earlier; now he had finally witnessed the power of the Prince of Asgard. Even though he hadn't done it himself, Clark's use of it was the same, right?
Looking at the incapacitated You-Know-Who on the ground, Clark felt a bit confused. Was he this weak? He thought the man was very powerful; it seemed he had used too much strength again.
"Bucky!!!"
Suddenly, Steve's shout came from behind.
Clark looked over in confusion to see Steve running toward them from a distance, looking very anxious about the man under his feet.
'I didn't hit the wrong person, did I?' Clark looked at the hammer in his hand with some doubt. Steve was with S.H.I.E.L.D.; if he was this worried about the man, he must be an ally. Could he have made a mistake?
At that moment, taking advantage of Clark's distraction, Bucky quickly got up, gave Steve a distant look, and then turned to leave rapidly.
Clark couldn't figure out the situation yet, so he didn't stop him for the time being.