Chapter 54: CHAPTER 54
"Dangerous? That word doesn't seem to suit me."
With a wave of Rhodes hand, the multitude of Chitauri soldiers engaged in battle with several Avengers froze in place, then disintegrated into fine powder and scattered.
In a matter of moments, most of the Chitauri fighters in the urban area were wiped out, and even the large mechanical leviathans soaring in the sky turned to dust one by one.
The once-battlefield filled with artillery fire abruptly fell into an eerie silence, where one could hear a pin drop, except for the flames still flickering in the background.
The Avengers superheroes found themselves utterly dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.
Tony Stark opened his steel mask, staring at Rhodes with disbelief. "My God... this can't be real."
Both Black Widow and Captain America were equally stunned.
Hawkeye Barton, who had been providing updates from his vantage point, inquired, "What just happened? Where did all the enemies go?"
Iron Man struggled to find the right words to explain the situation. "Um... I'll have to think of a way to describe this."
"We had some help from someone who swatted these pests away like flies."
Hawkeye Barton fell silent for a moment. "Alright, I think I get it now."
Iron Man, still baffled, turned his attention back to Rhodes. "Sir, may I ask who you are?"
Thor's expression shifted; he had never encountered Rhodes before, but the tall woman with Rhodes was familiar.
"Hela? What brings you to Earth?"
Hela leaned against Rhodes side comfortably. "Why can't I come to Earth? You're here, after all."
"Explain your purpose for being here."
Hela gestured towards the devastation around them. "Isn't it obvious? We're here to save the world, Thor."
Captain America chimed in. "Thor, let's focus on the matter at hand and not jump to conclusions."
Persuaded by Captain America, Thor ceased his inquiries but remained vigilant, clutching his hammer.
As an Asgardian, Thor understood what Hela represented.
Rhodes, in the meantime, raised his left hand, unleashing a blazing golden beam of light about three to four meters wide. It raced towards the massive portal in the sky.
As the golden beam swept over, the Chitauri legions crowding towards the portal disintegrated into powder instantaneously. However, it didn't stop there. The beam entered the portal and struck the Chitauri Legion mothership head-on.
The Chitauri Legion's greatest vulnerability was their mothership. Once it was destroyed, the entire legion would collapse.
For Rhodes, it was child's play.
An explosion erupted from the portal, its brilliance akin to the sun's radiance. The Chitauri Legion mothership disintegrated into cosmic dust, and the shockwave even extended through the portal.
The Avengers' six members shielded their eyes from the blinding light. The display was almost too dazzling to behold.
The explosion's aftermath disintegrated the portal device atop Stark Tower, and the sky returned to its normal state. The numerous Chitauri fighters and large mechanical leviathans scattered throughout the city disintegrated into debris.
The Avengers exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting shock and awe. They marveled at the incredible power wielded by Rhodes.
Rhodes gazed at the bewildered expressions on the Avengers' faces and commented casually, "To deal with the Chitauri army, all you need to do is destroy their mothership, and they crumble. No need for unnecessary trouble; it's quite straightforward, isn't it?"
Standing amidst the destruction, Rhodes, with his elegant companion, easily eliminated the cosmic army with a mere gesture.
Iron Man rubbed his temples, Hawkeye Barton's eyes twitched, Black Widow regarded Rhodes with astonishment, and the Hulk, who had barely had a chance to unleash his fury, was swept aside effortlessly by Rhodes.
The Hulk, despite his frustration, couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy toward Rhodes and wondered if he could match Rhodes' might.
Thor, the God of Thunder, observed Rhodes closely, contemplating his next move.
Having put in so much effort, facing the relentless Chitauri Legion, only to witness Rhodes dispatch them effortlessly with a single move—this was the ultimate frustration.
Captain America approached Rhodes amicably, extending his hand. "Thank you, sir. I'm Steve Rogers, and this is Tony Stark, Iron Man."
Rhodes shook Captain America's hand, acknowledging, "I know you all—Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye, Hulk, Black Widow, and Thor..."
Captain America was taken aback. "You know us?"
"Of course, you're the superheroes safeguarding Earth. Your names are legendary."
Captain America wiped away blood and dust from his face. "No, you're the one protecting Earth. Unfortunately, our abilities seem limited."
"Don't sell yourselves short; your potential is enormous."
"I'd like to ask your name."
"Asgardian warrior, Rhodes, but fundamentally, I'm an Earthling."
"An Earthling?"
Rhodes' identity bewildered the Avengers superheroes, as they hadn't been aware of such a formidable figure on Earth. It was almost unbelievable.
Rhodes chuckled. "I've been in Asgard for a very long time, but it's been two thousand years since I last visited Earth. Don't be too surprised."
The explanation seemed to put the Avengers at ease. After all, with lifespans spanning decades or centuries, they couldn't compare to Rhodes' age. Even Thor could barely be considered Rhodes' contemporary.
"Now is not the time for idle chatter; there's someone missing."
As Rhodes glanced in the direction, he immediately spotted Loki.
Loki, however, appeared horrified. The Chitauri Legion he had declared would conquer Earth had vanished in an instant?
Loki swiftly reached for the Mind Scepter and attempted to escape.
But Rhodes wasn't about to let Loki slip away that easily.
Rhodes raised his hand, and Loki was drawn towards him, his body seemingly under the influence of a powerful gravitational force. Loki's body shot toward Rhodes in a straight line, much like being drawn into a black hole.
In the process, there were still several buildings between Loki and Rhodes.
Loki crashed through multiple buildings along the way, reducing them to rubble, bricks, and dust. Loki's once fierce expression gave way to a comical sight, as he even smashed through two restrooms, leaving him drenched in toilet water.
"Uh... uh... uh..."
Loki whimpered as he slid across the ground before coming to a halt.
Rhodes, standing above Loki, immobilized him.
Rhodes gazed down at the defenseless Loki. "If you attempt to flee, I'll tear your head off."
Terrified, Loki dared not make any sudden moves. "I won't, I won't flee."
Rhodes seized the opportunity to retrieve the Mind Gem from the Mind Scepter. He held the exquisite gemstone, radiating with light, and nodded in satisfaction.
As Loki watched the Soul Gem fall into Rhodes' possession, he bowed his head in utter despair.
At this moment, the Cosmic Cube was propelled into the sky by the destroyed portal device due to the annihilation of the Chitauri Legion. Thor, however, couldn't remain idle; he couldn't allow Rhodes and Hela to obtain the Cosmic Cube, which might lead to trouble for Asgard.
Recalling Heimdall's words, Thor recognized that he might need the Cosmic Cube's power to confront Rhodes. He hurled his Thor's Hammer toward the Cosmic Cube, aiming to seize it before Rhodes and Hela.
Rhodes, witnessing Thor's actions, sneered inwardly. This, however, wouldn't pose any challenge—snatching the Cosmic Cube from Thor's grasp was child's play.
Thor flew over quickly, grasping the Cosmic Cube, but despite his attempts, he couldn't tap into the Cube's energy. He couldn't figure out how Loki had managed it when he couldn't.
"What... what's happening? Why won't this thing work? How did Loki use it, and I can't?"
Thor looked baffled as he held the Cosmic Cube.
Meanwhile, Rhodes watched with a smirk. "If you can't use it, there's no point in wasting it."
With a simple gesture of his left hand, Rhodes drew Thor toward him. Just like Loki before him, Thor found himself helpless, unable to access his thunderous powers. He smashed face-first into the ground, creating a sizable crater.
Rhodes had no intention of letting Thor utilize the Cosmic Cube's energy.
Captain America and Iron Man, though puzzled by the situation, recognized that this was a matter involving Asgardians and opted not to intervene. They had no means to do so anyway.
Their thoughts echoed a common sentiment: Rhodes' might was overwhelming, as evident in his effortless annihilation of the Chitauri Legion, and now, his control over the Cosmic Cube.
With Thor incapacitated, Rhodes turned his attention back to Loki, who was still immobilized beneath him.
Loki, utterly defeated, looked up at Rhodes.
"If you continue to run, I'll twist your head off."
Loki had no choice but to remain still.
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