Bab 61: Battling Thor!

The dust had finally begun to settle in the plaza. The various civilians had safely evacuated behind the Cosmic Divide to the police services whom had arrived to protect them.

Soon, the shimmering Cosmic Barrier Maxim had conjured faded. Loki sat on the ground, his scepter far from his grasp while his face was bloodied and bruised, twisted with frustration and disdain at his defeat.

Steve adjusted his stance, lowering his shield but keeping it ready. Maxim stood still, his glowing visor fixed on Loki, unreadable and imposing before he turned around, sensing something coming in quick in the distance.

The distant hum of an approaching engine grew louder until the familiar silhouette of Iron Man descended from the sky. With a dramatic landing that kicked up a small cloud of debris, Tony Stark's voice broke the silence.

"Looks like I was late to the party," he quipped, his helmet retracting to reveal his smirking face. He looked around at the destruction, then at Loki, who was glaring daggers at him. "Let me guess, horns over there didn't RSVP?"

Steve shook his head, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "Nice of you to show up, Stark. We had it handled."

Maxim's tone was calm, almost bored, "It wasn't much of a challenge."

Tony turned to Maxim, his brows raising slightly as he studied the mysterious figure. "And you must be the new guy. You don't look like you're with S.H.I.E.L.D."

Maxim didn't respond, his visor glinting faintly in the fading sunlight. Tony shrugged, looking back at Steve, "Well, as much as I'd love to stick around for introductions, I'm guessing we've got a prisoner to escort. Shall we?"

The trio moved toward the waiting Quinjet, with Loki reluctantly in tow. He sneered but didn't resist, his arrogance tempered by the bruises and the clear superiority of his captors.

Once aboard, Loki was seated and restrained, his scepter locked away securely.

As the Quinjet lifted off, Tony and Steve fell into conversation, their banter light but carrying an undercurrent of tension.

Maxim kept his Combat Gear on, remaining silent as he looked out of the window, thinking about what will lay ahead.

'That wasn't a real fight,' he mused in his head, thinking back to the battle.

'Steve made it too easy. Loki's not weak, but this… this was nothing.' He thought, In that battle, Maxim was barely able to stretch his legs before Loki was already defeated. For an Asgardian, he was quite weak at the current moment.

'Let's see how good Thor does,' Maxim thought, looking back to Loki and seeing that the Asgardian had regained his emotional control, not with a deadpan expression on his face as he sat quietly.

The Quinjet hummed steadily as it soared through the darkening sky. Then, suddenly, the tranquil hum of the Quinjet was interrupted by the distant rumble of thunder.

Maxim's head snapped up, his visor narrowing slightly as he looked toward the storm clouds gathering on the horizon.

Steve noticed the change in atmosphere and turned to Loki, who seemed to have a rather uncomfortable reaction, "What's the matter?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "You scared of a little lightning?"

Loki chuckled darkly, leaning back in his seat with an air of smugness, "I'm not overly fond of what follows," he replied, his tone calm.

As if on cue, a blinding flash of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. The Quinjet shuddered slightly as turbulence rippled through the air.

Before anyone could react, a sudden impact shook the jet, and the echo of a figure landing on its roof rippled across the environment. Loki's smirk grew wider, while Maxim just chuckled internally.

Steve and Tony rushed to their gear, Steve picking up his shield and looking up to see Tony already having placed his headgear on, moving to the exit and opening the Quinjet's entrance.

"What are you doing?" Steve inquired, but Tony didn't listen.

~CLANG~

The echo of Thor landing on the ramp was noticeable, but Maxim stayed behind, just relaxing as he allowed things to play out as they did in the movie, both to keep things more consistent, and to get some serious battle training with Thor.

Tony tried to use his blasters, but Thor threw Mjolnir to Tony, sending him crashing into Steve and leaving them both tumbling onto the ground. The God of Thunder didn't waste words, grabbing Loki by the collar with a growl and flying off into the distance.

Maxim walked towards the edge of the open hatch, staring into the flaring thunderstorm that begun to dissipate.

"Another Asgardian?" Natasha asked from the Pilot's seat.

"Doesn't matter, if he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract is gone." Stark said, standing back up, his tone more cold than before.

As he finished speaking, Maxim's visor turned toward him, the faint purple glow intensifying, "I'll handle the new guy. You and Cap take care of Loki."

Before Steve could protest, Maxim's form flickered, dissolving into a swirl of shadows. He disappeared into the night, leaving only the faint scent of ozone in his wake.

Tony walked up beside Steve, "Did he just Batman his way out of here?"

Steve sighed, shaking his head. "Something like that."

*************************

Thor and Loki were confronting each-other, rage in Thor's eyes as he gripped his Hammer, ready to attack while Loki spoke,

"You need the cube to bring me home, but I've sent it off I know not where." Loki said, his arrogant smirk returning as he confronted Thor.

"You listen well brother~"

~THUD~

Before Thor could react, Maxim burst out of the Shadows, spearing Thor off the cliff and down to the ground below in a brutal fall.

Maxim stood up, his eerie visor staring directly to Thor who had stumbled to his feet angrily, "Do not touch me again!"

An eerie, cold laugh echoed from Maxim as he spoke, "Then don't take my stuff."

"You have no idea what you're dealing with." Thor said as he affirmed his footing, staring directly at Maxim.

"Uh, Shakespeare in the Park? Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?" Maxim said, chuckling in his head as he just copied all of what Tony had said in the movie, cackling at the jokes internally.

Thor meanwhile, ignored the quip as he grew more serious, "This is beyond you, Shadow Man. Loki will face Asgardian justice."

"He give up the Cube he's all yours, until then....Stay out of the way." Maxim said with a chuckle.

Thor's glare darkened as he raised Mjolnir, his grip tightening. "You are bold, mortal, but your arrogance blinds you. Stand down, or I will lay you low."

Maxim's eerie, distorted laugh echoed through the clearing as he crossed his arms, "Go ahead, Thunder Boy. Throw your toy. Let's see what happens."

Thor wasted no time, hurling Mjolnir with all his might. The enchanted hammer shot forward like a lightning bolt, its roar splitting the air.

But Maxim merely stood still, his shadowy form flickering as the hammer passed straight through his chest, hitting a boulder behind him and shattering the boulder to pieces.

Thor's eyes widened in disbelief, "An illusion?"

Maxim tilted his head, the glow of his visor flaring brighter. "Not quite."

Before Thor could react, Maxim's twin pistols, Ebony and Ivory, materialized in his hands. With a flick of his wrists, he unloaded two precise shots, each round glowing faintly with demonic energy.

They struck Thor's arm, forcing him to drop his guard as he roared in pain, crimson streaks marking where the bullets grazed his skin.

Thor glared at his opponent, his voice a deep growl, "You dare to wound the Prince of Asgard?"

Maxim spun his pistols theatrically before holstering them at his sides, "Oh, I dare. But don't worry; I'll patch you up when we're done."

Thor lunged forward, summoning Mjolnir back into his hand. As the hammer soared through the air, Maxim sidestepped, disappearing into a burst of shadows. Thor swung wildly at the flickering afterimages left behind, only to hit nothing but air.

"Gotta say," Maxim's voice echoed from above, "you're not as fast as I thought you'd be. Maybe lay off the wine?"

Thor snarled and launched a bolt of lightning from Mjolnir, illuminating the forest. The blast struck one of Maxim's afterimages, scattering shadows everywhere that turned into stationary clones, disorienting Thor as he looked around for the real one.

Suddenly, Maxim reappeared behind Thor, his katana, Yamato, gleaming with otherworldly energy. With a single, swift stroke, he struck, the blade cutting through the air with a high-pitched ring.

Thor barely turned in time, raising Mjolnir to block, but the sheer force of the strike sent him skidding back.

"Not bad. I almost had to try with that one." Maxim said, trying to trigger Thor even more and make the Asgardian more reckless in his approach.

Thor charged again, his strikes relentless and furious. Each swing of Mjolnir created shockwaves that shook the forest, uprooting trees and sending debris flying.

However, Maxim danced around every attack, his movements fluid and almost mocking.

At one point, Thor brought Mjolnir down with the force of a meteor, aiming to crush Maxim. Instead, Maxim caught the hammer mid-swing with his bare hand, his incorporeal abilities making his grip ghostly yet unyielding.

Thor's jaw tightened, "Impossible."

"Nothing's impossible," Maxim quipped, kicking Thor in the chest and sending him hurtling back.

Thor rolled to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury, but he couldn't react to a Demonic Bullet crashing into his chest, sending him crashing through a multitude of trees and onto the ground.

"Damn Mortal." Thor growled as he slowly stood up, lightning crackled around him as he raised Mjolnir to the sky. The heavens answered his call, sending a colossal bolt of lightning directly toward Maxim.

Maxim didn't flinch. Instead, he thrust Yamato upward, the blade absorbing the lightning into its shimmering edge. He grinned behind his visor, "Thanks for the charge."

With a flick of his wrist, Maxim released the stored energy in a devastating slash of pure power. The shockwave struck Thor head-on, sending him sprawling across the ground.

Thor groaned, struggling to rise. His armor was scorched, his hair disheveled, and his breathing labored. Yet his determination remained unwavering.

Maxim walked toward him slowly, his steps deliberate. "You're tough, I'll give you that. But this isn't a fight you can win. Go back to Asgard, Thunder Boy. Loki's fate isn't in your hands anymore."

Thor clenched his fists, Mjolnir sparking in his grip, "I will not yield to the likes of you." He said, raising Mjolnir once more as the sky turned to a roar of thunder and lightning.

Maxim's tone turned cold, his amusement fading, "Suit yourself." He said, his visor glowing ominously as his hand flicked toward the ground.

A shimmering sphere of purple energy, a Nebula, brimming with cosmic energy, appeared beneath Thor's feet. The Asgardian barely had time to react before the Nebula detonated in a blinding explosion, the force hurling Thor backward like a ragdoll.

He crashed into a massive tree, snapping it in half as he hit the ground with a resounding thud. Groaning, Thor struggled to push himself to his feet, Mjolnir slipping slightly in his grip.

His vision swam as he looked up, watching Maxim step closer, his silhouette wreathed in shadowy tendrils.

"Give it up," Maxim said, his voice calm but firm. "You've got heart, but this fight? It's over."

Thor grit his teeth, forcing himself upright despite the pain, his muscles screaming in protest. His pride wouldn't allow him to surrender, not yet.

"Thor!" a commanding voice echoed through the clearing, sharp and resolute. "Stand down!"

Thor's head snapped toward the source, finding Captain America striding into the fray with his shield at the ready. Behind him, Tony Stark hovered in his Iron Man suit, thrusters whining as he descended, and Loki followed reluctantly, restrained and glaring.

"Enough," Steve continued, his eyes fixed on Thor, "Judging from your words, we're all on the same side here. Loki's been captured. We can do this together."

Thor's chest heaved with labored breaths, his gaze shifting from Steve to Loki, then to Maxim, who stood motionless, watching the exchange with quiet intensity. The tension in the air crackled like static electricity.

Finally, Thor lowered Mjolnir, the storm above dissipating as he let out a frustrated growl. "Very well," he said, his voice tight with suppressed anger. "But know this—Asgard does not forget such insults."

Maxim chuckled softly, the glow of his visor dimming as he turned away. "Noted. Let's move."

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Bab 62: The Avengers ( Part 4 )

Soon, the group arrived back on the Helicarrier in the Quinjet, disembarking in relative silence as Loki was shackled and escorted by S.H.I.E.L.D agents under the watchful gazes of everyone.

Thor's eyes never left his brother as Loki was escorted to his prison cell, while Maxim trailed behind the group, already having changed out of his SuperSuit as he relaxed in casual clothing, scouting the scene.

As they entered the Helicarrier's command deck, Fury was waiting, his one eye scanning the team with a mix of approval and wariness.

"Well, I see everyone's made friends," Fury said dryly, gesturing for Loki to be taken to the secure glass cell.

Soon, the group sat around and Thor told everyone what Loki's plans would be. How he planned to open a portal to unleash the Chitauri force to Earth. Maxim had already known this, so he skipped the meeting, relaxing while the others discussed the implications of Loki's plans.

*****************

~In the Room Loki was imprisoned~

"What will you do if I vow to spare him?" Loki asked as he stood in the cage, looking towards Natasha with a curious glint in his eyes.

Natasha was standing in front of the reinforced glass as she responded without letting her emotions show, "Not letting you out."

"Ah, no." Loki continued, "But I like this. Your world in the balance, and you bargain for one man?"

"Regimes fall every day. I tend not to weep over that. I'm Russian…or was." She laughed a little at her joke as she stared at Loki intently.

"What is it you want?" Loki asked Natasha, and she reluctantly answered, "It's really not that complicated. I've got red in my ledger, and I'd like to wipe it out."

"Can you? Can you wipe out that much red? Drakov's daughter? Sao Paulo? The Hospital fire?" Loki walked closer towards Natasha, his expression growing more ferocious as he spoke, "Barton told me everything. Your ledger is dripping, it's gushing red, and you think saving a man no more virtuous than yourself will change anything?"

"This is the basest sentimentality." He snarled, "This is a child at prayer. Pathetic."

"I won't touch Barton. Not until I make him kill you! Slowly. Intimately." Loki's said viciously as he leaned on the glass, his face almost touching the cold surface, "In every way, he knows you fear! And when he'll wake just long enough to see his good work, and when he screams, I'll split his skull! This is my bargain, you mewling quim!"

"You're a monster," Natasha responded as she turned away from Loki, not daring to into his eyes.

Loki had a wide grin on his face now, admiring his work, "No, you brought the monster."

"So, Banner. That's your play," Romanoff recovered from her facade and faced Loki.

In bewilderment, he muttered, "What?"

Romanoff called into her radio and relayed, "Loki means to unleash the Hulk. Keep Banner in the lab, I'm on my way. Send Thor as well. Maxim's presence would help too."

Once she finished speaking, she gave Loki one last look and chuckled as she gave him parting words, "Thank you for your cooperation." She walked quickly out of the room with her task accomplished.

*********************

Meanwhile, in the lab, Tony and Bruce had been working on understanding the Scepter as they waited for the Tesseract's location to be revealed.

As they were working, Nick Fury hurriedly walked into the room and directed towards Tony, "What are you doing, Mr. Stark?"

"Kind of been wondering the same thing about you," Tony mused while staring the man directly into his eyes, not shying away whatsoever/

"You're supposed to be locating the Tesseract." There was a clear annoyance in Fury's voice. One of his subordinates told him there was a breach in their server and Fury immediately knew who it was.

"We are. The model's locked and we're sweeping for the signature now. When we get a hit, we'll have the location within half a mile." Banner spoke.

"And you'll get your cube back, no muss, no fuss. What is PHASE 2?" Tony asked.

~CLANG~

"PHASE 2 is SHIELD uses the cube to make weapons," Steve answered, the door closing behind him as he walked into the room.

He placed a Hydra weapon he found in SHIELD's storage room when he was snooping around on the table. His head turned to Stark, "Sorry, the computer was moving a little slow for me."

Fury immediately realized he was on the back foot, and tried to spin the story, "Rogers, we gathered everything related to the Tesseract. This does not mean that we're…."

"I'm sorry, Nick," Stark cut in before the director could finish. He turned the monitor around so the others could see what was clearly on display, a SHIELD missile blueprint made using energy collected from the Tesseract. Stark grinned, "What were you lying?"

"I was wrong, director. The world hasn't changed a bit." Steve said in clear disappointment.

As this was happening, Natasha and Thor entered the room, hearing the words of Steve, while Maxim spawned from the shadows without most of them noticing, safe for Natasha who was always on top of her senses.

Banner glared at Natasha, an angry expression on his face, "Did you know about this?"

"You might want to think about removing yourself from this environment, doctor?" Natasha responded calmly.

"I was in Calcutta. I was pretty well removed," Banner's said, frustrated.

"Loki is manipulating you," She said.

"And you've been doing what exactly? I'm not leaving because suddenly you get a little twitchy. I'd like to know why SHIELD is using the Tesseract to build weapons of mass destruction." Bruce had his hands firmly holding onto the table.

"Because of him," Fury said, pointing at Thor.

"Me?" Thor asked, clearly confused at the situation.

"Last year, Earth had a visitor from another planet who had a grudge match that leveled a small town.We learned that not only are we not alone, but we are hopelessly, hilariously, outgunned."

"My people want nothing but peace with your planet," Thor added in.

"Really, because I could've sworn that robot that you fought was Asgardian technolgy. Millions in infrastructure, dusted away because of your people. And besides, you're not the only people out there, are you? And, you're not the only threat. The world's filling up with people who can't be matched, they can't be controlled."

As Fury spoke, he looked towards Banner, and then Maxim, before his gaze returned to Tony who had folded his arms.

"Like you controlled the cube?" Steve said.

"Your work with the Tesseract is what drew Loki to it, and Loki's allies. It is the signal to all the realms that the Earth is ready for a higher form of war."

"A higher form?" Steve asked with worries.

"You forced our hand! We had to come up with some…." Fury turned his ire to Thor.

"Nuclear deterrent! Cause that will calm everything right down." Stark interjected with his sarcasm.

"Remind me again how you made your fortune, Stark?" Fury said.

"I thought humans were more evolved than this." Thor scoffed as he looked around, spotting Maxim and slowly shifting away nervously, remembering the beating he took from him.

"Excuse me? Did we come to yo planet and blow stuff up?" Fury said as he turned around to face Thor.

The group devolved into a senseless argument, with Maxim remaining out of it, blocking the Mind Stone's influence from affecting him too. He was just leaning on the wall, watching the situation and silently laughing at the jokes, especially the "Genius Billionaire Playboy Philanthropist."

Time ticked by as he waited when suddenly, an almost imperceptible shift occurred, and Maxim's posture straightened, recognizing it as the attack on the helicarrier. His perception flared like a warning bell, and only Natasha realized his change.

"What's wrong?" She asked, drawing the other's attention to Maxim.

Maxim's voice cut through the silence like a blade.,"Everyone, get down!"

Before anyone could fully process his command, Maxim raised a hand, his fingertips crackling with astral energy. With a sharp motion, he summoned a translucent, shimmering barrier of cosmic energy, its surface swirling with constellations and faintly glowing glyphs.

~BOOM!~

The explosion erupted just outside the command deck. Fire and shrapnel slammed into Maxim's barrier, the force of the blast rippling through the astral shield but stopping short of harming those inside. The windows shattered into harmless fragments, but the structure of the Helicarrier held firm.

Tony stumbled but caught himself, "What the hell was that?"

Bruce Banner, who had been gripping the table in mounting frustration, froze. His breathing was heavy, but he hadn't transformed. The barrier had absorbed the shockwave, sparing him the trigger he feared most.

Natasha was already on her feet, her pistol drawn, "An attack, gotta be Loki," she muttered, her voice low and grim.

Maxim's barrier shimmered and dissipated as he turned to Thor, his expression cold and commanding. "Thor, check on Loki. Now."

Thor hesitated for a moment, still rattled by the sudden attack, but Maxim's tone left no room for argument. The Asgardian nodded and sprinted out of the room, Mjolnir in hand.

Maxim turned to the rest of the group, "Assess the damage and secure the perimeter. This isn't over."

Steve Rogers recovered quickly, his military instincts kicking in. "Natasha, with me. Stark, get eyes on the situation outside. Fury, coordinate with your agents. Banner…" Steve paused, glancing at the still-tense scientist,

"Stay here and focus on keeping yourself calm."

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