Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Surrender Already?
Loki sneered as he watched Captain America struggle back to his feet, his hands trembling from exertion.
"I…"
Steve tried to respond, but before he could, Loki summoned multiple illusions that encircled him.
These projections weren't much use against his brother Thor, who could easily overpower them, but against Steve—someone who was just slightly above average in strength—Loki's illusions were more than enough.
More than twenty projections surrounded Steve, forcing him into a relentless battle. He managed to take down a few, but each one he destroyed was quickly replaced by another. Soon, Steve found himself overwhelmed and on the defensive, losing ground with every step.
A sense of helplessness crept into Steve's heart. It wasn't that he didn't want to save his country or protect its people. But the physical strength and combat skills he had always relied on seemed woefully inadequate in the face of a being with powers beyond human comprehension. How could he hope to stop someone like this?
As Loki toyed with him, a sudden blast of energy shot down from the sky, targeting the trickster god.
Though the blast didn't hurt Loki, the force of the impact sent him flying backward. At the same time, beams of light lit up the sky like fireworks, raining down and instantly dispersing Loki's illusions, freeing Steve from his precarious position.
A burst of flames from thrusters painted a streak in the sky as Iron Man descended, landing in a hero's pose with one knee to the ground before rising to his full height.
"That old man couldn't be saved anyway," Tony quipped. "Let him rant a little longer. What's the harm? As long as no one pisses him off, he'll probably behave."
Tony's helmet folded back, revealing his face. "But no, you had to go and jump into the fight, putting yourself at risk."
"He's strong… and he uses magic. Be careful," Steve cautioned, his voice carrying the weight of the battle he'd just endured.
Tony, surprised that Steve wasn't firing back with his usual stubborn pride, softened a bit. It was clear the fight had taken a toll on the soldier.
"Come on, Bambi," Tony called out, directing his taunt at Loki, who was already back on his feet.
Tony's confidence was evident. His power had grown considerably, and unless he faced something as monstrous as the Destroyer, he felt confident he could hold his own.
Loki, on the other hand, was irritated by the nickname. He knew Tony's strength from prior encounters and wasn't keen on a direct fight. With a calculated grin, Loki withdrew his magic, returning to his usual form, and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
Though Tony's taunt stung, Loki had a plan. If he could get close enough to the Avengers, perhaps even control Tony with the Mind Stone, their side's strength would drastically increase.
"Surrender already?" Tony raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "So, you know me, then?"
Tony found it odd that Loki, who had just taken a hit without a scratch, would surrender so easily. If it were Tony in Loki's shoes, he would've at least fought a bit more before considering a way out.
Loki didn't respond, merely placing the scepter on the ground, signaling his surrender.
Though Tony felt a twinge of doubt, he didn't say anything, picking up the scepter. Moments later, a SHIELD aircraft—dispatched after Natasha's original jet was damaged—landed near them, and they were quickly on board.
"Still looking as deadly as ever, Romanoff," Tony quipped with a smirk, settling into the jet.
"Thanks to you," Natasha replied, her tone carrying a hint of gratitude.
She knew that Tony had some sway with Harvey, the devil who had once shown mercy. Harvey sparing her life had, in some way, been influenced by Tony's plea.
"You should thank Coulson," Tony shot back with a grin. "He's the only guy in SHIELD that Harvey likes."
"As for me, back then, I just didn't want a mess. Blood on the floor wouldn't have gone over well with Pepper."
"Back then?" Natasha raised an eyebrow, catching the implication. "So, you're saying if it happened now, you wouldn't vouch for me?"
"Look, Romanoff, you're beautiful—no question about that. But beauty doesn't always provide protection," Tony replied coolly. "Humility and caution are your best shields, and for that matter, the best shields for anyone working with me. I'm willing to collaborate to protect Earth, but don't think I'm eager to work with arrogant, ignorant weaklings."
Natasha's heart skipped a beat at his cold words. Tony's usual flirtatious charm was nowhere to be seen. She realized that her looks wouldn't win her any favors here, and she quickly adjusted her tone.
"Thank you for the advice, Mr. Stark. I'll take it to heart—and I'll make sure others know as well," she said respectfully.
Tony didn't respond, satisfied that Natasha wasn't playing coy anymore.
"You two know each other?" Steve asked, puzzled. "How come Fury never mentioned that?"
"This isn't our first rodeo," Tony shrugged. "But you've been on ice for so long there's a lot you don't know."
Steve frowned. His briefing had only mentioned that Natasha and Hawkeye had worked together before. As far as he knew, this was supposed to be the first time he, Tony, and Banner were teaming up.
"You might not be the best fighter, Cap, but for dealing with terrorists and helping SHIELD run errands, you'll do just fine," Tony said with a dismissive wave. "As for cosmic threats and stronger enemies, there are others on this planet—including me—who will handle that."
"Others?" Steve zeroed in on Tony's wording. "You mean there are others on your level?"
"You've seen the footage," Tony said with a smirk. "Do I need to spell it out for you?"
Steve recalled the videos he'd watched—the ones showing that blonde guy and Harvey, both of whom had demonstrated powers even beyond Tony's.
Tony wasn't shy about admitting that there were stronger individuals out there, and Steve found himself at a loss for words.
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