Chapter 21 – Loki
Intricate golden patterns stretched across every inch of the armor's surface, while a massive greatsword forged from an unknown alloy was mounted on his back. With that alone, Tony Stark looked less like a billionaire genius and more like an arrogant king—radiating majesty, authority, and an overwhelming sense of dominance.
This fusion of technology and magic hadn't even revealed its true power yet, but just from appearances alone, everyone in the room couldn't help but stare at him with envy and awe.
Captain America stood to the side, absently rubbing the surface of his shield. A bitter thought slipped through his mind.
This mid-lane mage's gear is way too overpowered… They say Vibranium sells for a ridiculous price on the market. If I sold this old shield of mine, could I ask that expert to design a full set of equipment for me too?
Black Widow, the team's support, sighed inwardly.
"I'm just a normal human too, you know… Could I get armor like that as well? Though knowing Nick Fury, that guy is way too stingy to buy top-tier gear for a support like me."
Hawkeye, the long-range damage dealer, smirked confidently.
"Well, I've still got my high-tech bow. As the team's ADC operating from the backline, I don't need flashy armor. Mobility is my best defense. I'm full damage… unbeatable!!"
Bruce Banner, assigned to the defensive lane, stared quietly—while inside his head, the Hulk muttered darkly.
Wearing magic gear that flimsy is pointless… I could smash you with a simple one-two-three combo. And you still owe me two thousand HP.
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At the moment, Tony—fully equipped in his brand-new armor—was strutting around in front of everyone like a proud ostrich, chin lifted high, basking in his own grandeur.
Even Captain America, usually the embodiment of patience and virtue, was barely holding back the urge to fling his shield straight into Tony's face and knock him flat on the floor.
Fortunately, Nick Fury—the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.—appeared at just the right moment, stopping a potential clash between these so-called heroes before it could erupt.
Soon after, Fury began introducing everyone in the room and launched into a brief speech about the founding of the Avengers Initiative.
Throughout it all, Blake Thorne merely wore a faint smile, quietly observing the various expressions on the faces of the superheroes before him. He didn't interrupt even once.
After talking for quite some time without receiving any response from Blake, Nick Fury finally decided to take the initiative himself.
"Mr. Blake, do you have any thoughts or suggestions regarding the Avengers project?" Fury asked in a friendly tone, looking at Blake with clear anticipation.
Blake shook his head lightly and set down the wine glass he had just emptied. His voice was calm and unhurried as he replied.
"The Avengers are an excellent organization. Your vision is grand and forward-thinking. I believe that as long as the Avengers stand guard over Earth, any evil force that dares target this planet will be completely eradicated."
The moment he heard that, Nick Fury's single visible eye lit up, and he hurriedly followed up.
"In that case, Mr. Blake… would you be willing to join the Avengers and become one of us? Together, we could protect Earth."
As soon as the question was asked, all eyes turned toward Blake, waiting for his answer.
Of course they would. Who wouldn't want to recruit someone capable of enhancing armor to such an absurd degree?
Captain America subconsciously gripped his shield again. Hawkeye tightened his hold on his composite bow. Natasha… well, Natasha still didn't have any special equipment at all.
Banner, meanwhile, looked at Blake with deep suspicion. In his mind, Hulk whispered softly, Hulk hates that human…
Faced with their expectant gazes, Blake simply shook his head and replied firmly.
"Joining the Avengers? Unfortunately, that won't be possible. I'm not used to taking orders from others, and I don't like being in the spotlight. Joining you would increase my exposure, and that would interfere with the peaceful life I've been living."
"Besides, don't you already have all of you here? Relax. If a truly massive threat ever appears… believe me, that enemy won't even live long enough to set foot on Earth."
After saying that, Blake stood up and walked toward Nick Fury.
"Director Fury, could you hand the Tesseract over to me?"
Blake's request stunned Nick Fury.
In that instant, Fury realized something deeply unsettling—there was a spy inside S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Otherwise, how could Blake possibly know about the Tesseract?
— — —
If Blake had known what Nick Fury was thinking at that moment, he would've burst out laughing.
You're only realizing now that S.H.I.E.L.D. is riddled with infiltrators?
HYDRA has already seeped into your organization like water through a sieve, alright?!
Besides, the reason Blake knew about the Tesseract had nothing to do with HYDRA leaks. He knew because… well, he'd already watched The Avengers movie.
And indeed, the current point in the timeline had already reached the very beginning of the Avengers 1 plot.
Next, following the events of Thor, Loki—drifting helplessly through space—would be discovered by the Chitauri and granted their support.
He would then return to Earth wielding the Mind Stone, concealed within a scepter, and use the power of the Tesseract to open a portal—one that would allow the Chitauri army to invade Earth and attempt to conquer it.
Along the way, Thor, upon learning that his younger brother was still alive, would descend from Asgard and join the Avengers to stop Loki's plan.
A massive war would erupt in New York, pitting the Avengers against Loki and the alien Chitauri forces…
And yes, New York would be reduced to near-total ruin. The death toll and property damage would be immeasurable.
— — —
The scepter carried by Loki housed the Mind Stone, while the Tesseract itself was the container for the Space Stone.
In other words, as long as Blake remained in New York, he could obtain two Infinity Stones at once—without even needing to travel far.
— — —
"What's this Tesseract you're talking about? Oh… Blake, I honestly have no idea what you mean," Nick Fury replied cautiously, staring at Blake without blinking.
If they had been speaking privately, Fury might have already given up and handed over the Tesseract on the spot.
But right now, five superheroes stood beside him, and their presence gave him a bit of extra courage.
Even if the five of them together might not be able to defeat Blake, Fury was confident that Blake wouldn't cause a scene in front of them.
And that assumption proved correct. Realizing that Nick was adamant about denying it, Blake merely shrugged and said nothing more.
The reason he had asked for the Tesseract early wasn't out of personal greed, but to resolve the Loki problem before it even began.
Since Fury refused, so be it. When Loki inevitably stole the Tesseract later, Blake would simply take it back.
As for Loki, that spoiled brat? Hm… just beat him up, then hand him over to Thor to take home.
After all, Loki in the future would become a figure not to be underestimated.
He would come to preside over the entire Marvel timeline and act as the guardian of all parallel realities within the Marvel universe.
Every branching timeline would create a parallel world, each with its own version of Loki, Thanos, and countless other characters.
Loki's power here couldn't compare to the greater multiverse beyond Marvel, but even so, his role within Marvel's own cosmic order was undeniably crucial.
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Author's Note:
This is my personal interpretation of "Loki, the Ruler of Time." His authority is limited strictly to the Marvel universe and all parallel worlds within it, not the broader, cross-dimensional multiverse.
Each timeline branch forms a new world. As a result, there are many Lokis, Thanoses, and other characters spread across countless Marvel worlds. However, in worlds outside of Marvel, these figures do not exist.
Additionally, Loki does not independently comprehend or fully control the laws of time on his own. Rather, he obtained that position through a system or organization responsible for managing time within the Marvel universe.
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