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*****
Loki was sent flying as if struck by a cannonball. His face swelled at a visible rate, a testament to the staggering force behind the blow.
Fini followed up instantly. In his "Breathing Style" state, the power and speed he could unleash far exceeded his own expectations. Through rhythmic breathing, his blood frantically absorbed oxygen from the surroundings, supercharging his bodily functions.
At this moment, Fini felt that even if he had to go toe-to-toe with an enraged Hulk, he wouldn't back down an inch.
That explosive burst of speed allowed him to reach Loki before the god even touched the ground. He delivered a crushing punch to Loki's head, slamming him hard into the rooftop pavement.
Fini didn't give Loki a second to breathe. Pinning him to the floor, he straddled the god and rained down punch after punch, hitting him so fast that Loki couldn't even utter a plea for mercy.
"This is for looking for Thanos!"
Fini smashed a fist into Loki's left cheek.
"This is for invading Earth!"
A punch to the right cheek.
"This is for brainwashing the Hulk!"
Left cheek again.
"And this is for ambushing me!"
Right cheek.
"And this..."
Fini paused for a split second, momentarily running out of reasons, but his hands didn't stop. He landed another heavy blow on the left side and continued: "...is for being so damn ugly!"
The agonizingly pained Loki was having a mental breakdown. While he wasn't as popular as Thor in Asgard, he was still the beloved Second Prince, okay?!
"Sto—"
Loki was genuinely terrified. He couldn't fathom why Fini had suddenly become so overpowered, as if he'd taken a massive dose of stimulants. His strength was worlds apart from their first skirmish just two days ago.
How can a Midgardian be this strong?!
He tried to beg for his life, but before his mouth could fully open, Fini's fist came crashing down again.
CRACK!
Two teeth went flying.
At this point, Loki was beaten so badly that even if Odin himself descended, he might not recognize his son. His face was entirely purple and bloated, his eyes squeezed shut by the swelling.
If not for the robust physiology of a Frost Giant, Thor would likely be planning a funeral by the time he got back. But even with that legendary resilience, if Fini kept this up, Loki was going to die.
The fear of death made Loki bitterly regret his choices. Why did he have to choose Earth? Wouldn't any of the other Nine Realms have been better? The Light Elves of Alfheim definitely wouldn't be this violent.
Loki frantically tried to think of a way out, but Fini's fists felt like red-hot irons, each strike bringing a fresh wave of agony that caused his consciousness to fade.
Seeing Loki's condition, Fini's movements finally slowed.
The beating had vented most of his anger. He briefly toyed with the idea of finishing Loki off right here—a kill like this would surely net a massive amount of experience.
But he thought of Thor, and he thought of Odin, who was still very much alive in Asgard. Fini hesitated and ultimately stayed his hand.
Even if Loki had committed countless crimes in Asgard, Fini couldn't be certain that Odin or Frigga would be indifferent to his death. Based on the fact that Odin sent Thor the moment Heimdall spotted Loki, it was clear they still cared.
Otherwise, while others might not know Earth's true military potential, could Odin really be ignorant? Sending Thor to Earth might have been called "support," but the real reason was likely to save Loki.
Just then, Fini felt a massive surge of spatial energy. He looked back to see a pillar of brilliant blue light erupting from the ground, piercing the sky.
Fini's expression changed. Because he had been so focused on maintaining his "Breathing Style" and beating Loki, he had actually forgotten to destroy the portal device first.
However, he didn't panic. He spotted the Scepter lying on the ground where Loki had dropped it. With a flicker of movement, he snatched it up.
Feeling the power humming within the Scepter, Fini poked Dr. Erik Selvig—who was currently cheering and shouting about their success—instantly breaking Loki's mind control.
"I... I... what have I done?!"
Selvig returned to his senses, his face turning pale instantly. His excitement vanished, replaced by horror as he stared at the opening portal.
"Stop talking. This thing should be able to shut that down, right?"
Fini could feel the energy shield that had formed around the Tesseract. Breaking it with raw force was virtually impossible for him right now, but he remembered from the original plot that the Scepter could pierce it.
"Yes, yes!" Selvig snapped out of his daze and nodded hurriedly. "The Scepter and the Cube share the same type of power. It can stop the portal from staying open."
But just as Fini was about to thrust the Scepter into the Tesseract, he looked up at the spatial rift slowly expanding in the sky.
"Actually... those are all experience points!"
A thought flashed through Fini's mind. Since the portal was already open, why not take the opportunity to harvest some XP before closing it?
He'd spared Loki; he couldn't very well let the Chitauri off the hook too. There was no chance of reconciliation between him and Thanos anyway.
Looking at the half-dead Loki lying on the ground, Fini used "Ars Magna" to command him into a deep sleep. After ensuring there were no other immediate threats, he handed the Scepter back to Selvig.
"Here, hold this. Watch me, and when I give the signal, shut the portal down."
Selvig froze, asking in bewilderment, "What are you planning to do?"
"Just saying hello to the aliens!"
Fini exhaled, held out his hand, and summoned his card.
"It's my turn! Come forth, Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
The massive dragon manifested atop Stark Tower. Aside from nearly giving Selvig a heart attack, it caused the crowd of New York citizens below to erupt in cheers.
"A dragon! Oh my god, I'm actually seeing a dragon!"
"It's the Knight of Divine Punishment! I see him!"
"What's he doing? Is he going to destroy the world?!"
"What's that hole in the sky? Something's coming out!"
"Divine Punishment Knight? No, Divine Punishment Dragon Knight! I knew it, I knew he had a mount!"
With his physical stats enhanced, Fini's hearing had reached an incredible limit. Even from the top of the skyscraper, he could hear the shocked cries of the citizens.
Unfortunately, none of those titles were what he wanted. Things were definitely heading in the most undesirable direction.
I'm a mage!
Fini wanted to lean over the edge and scream it, but seeing the first Chitauri scouts peeking through the portal, he didn't dare hesitate. He leaped onto the back of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon and prepared to ascend.
He gave Selvig one last instruction: "Remember, the moment I come back through that portal, shut it down immediately!"
Selvig seemed to realize what Fini was about to do. His eyes filled with disbelief as he muttered, "This is insane!"
Fini rode the dragon straight toward the rift!
This was perhaps why Fini felt he would never truly be a "superhero." If any other hero were in his shoes, they would likely close the portal the very first second to prioritize the city's safety.
But he was selfish and impulsive enough to want to grind a wave of XP first, even if it meant risking an accident or more casualties.
As he flew, Fini saw a few impatient Chitauri soldiers squeezing through the rift. Without a word, he blasted them with "Explosion Magic," ending their lives before they could even get a good look at Earth's scenery.
The three-star Blue-Eyes White Dragon was incredibly fast, especially in a straight line. In the blink of an eye, Fini was at the mouth of the portal. However, the rift wasn't yet wide enough for the dragon's massive frame to pass through.
Fini wasn't in a hurry. Through the blue glow of the portal, he could see the Chitauri Mothership—a vessel many times larger than S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier.
"Head up! Aim straight ahead! Burst Stream of Destruction!"
Blocking the entrance so no Chitauri could pass, Fini issued the command to his dragon.
On the other side, the Chitauri legion was preparing to launch their ships into the portal when they suddenly saw a brilliant, blinding white light gathering at the threshold.
"What on earth is that?!"
The Chitauri soldiers poked their heads out curiously to look.
It was like staring into the abyss!
(End of Chapter)