Loki smirked disdainfully as he made his way through the crowd.
Amidst a group of people dressed in white protective suits, scanning the area with detection instruments, he arrived at the spot where the mighty Mjolnir lay.
Gazing at the once-exclusive artifact of Thor, Loki's left hand twitched slightly. Unable to resist, he reached out and placed his hand on the hammer's handle, attempting to lift it.
However—
Just as before—
Loki's strength could not move Mjolnir in the slightest.
Unwilling to accept this, he placed his other hand on the handle as well, channeling both his magic and divine power.
Yet, even as he gritted his teeth and exerted every ounce of strength—
Mjolnir remained completely immovable.
Realizing the futility of his efforts, Loki quickly abandoned the attempt.
Heh, just as I thought. Even though I have now inherited the crown of Asgard, Mjolnir, as an Asgardian artifact, still refuses to acknowledge me.
In "their" eyes, the blood of the Frost Giants flowing through me still makes me an outsider, doesn't it?
Just wait. I will prove that, compared to Thor, I am the true and rightful heir to Asgard's throne.
Loki glanced up at the sky, adjusted his attire, and left the temporary base without hesitation.
As the rainbow bridge once again shimmered across the cosmos—
In a small two-story inn in Puente Antiguo, Joker Eren sat on the rooftop, sensing the significant increase in the chaotic energy within him. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"You say you don't believe, but your body sure is honest."
With a teasing remark, Joker Eren mused to himself, I wonder how much this little trade of mine will change things. But knowing Loki's personality, the final outcome is probably…
Shaking his head, he downed a vial of nutrient solution and sat cross-legged on the bed, emptying his mind as he began meditating on the Cosmic Mind Meditation Technique.
When it came to training, he seemed even more obsessive than his true self.
...
Meanwhile—
Chinatown, New York.
Eren had just finished his shower and was about to lie down to begin his meditation when—
A series of panicked screams erupted from downstairs, accompanied by the anguished groans of a man.
Hearing that all-too-familiar voice—
Eren's pupils shrank slightly before he vanished from sight in an instant.
First floor of Eren's house.
Covered in blood, Happy Hogan gritted his teeth as he carried Tony Stark—whose nose and mouth were dripping with blood—rushing through Eren's front door.
The moment Happy stepped inside, Pepper slammed the thick security door shut behind them with a loud bang!
Before she could even catch her breath—
Happy roughly placed Tony onto the living room sofa. Blood continued to drip from his back as he grabbed Pepper and pulled her away from the door.
"Don't stand here! That madman's whip can tear right through this security door!"
After warning her, Happy looked at Pepper with a serious expression. "Pepper, find some bandages and stop Tony's bleeding—I'll guard the door."
Though Happy was usually carefree and playful, in moments of crisis, he was surprisingly reliable.
Seeing his serious demeanor, Pepper quickly nodded. "Alright. Be careful, Happy! I already called the police—they should be here soon. We just need to hold out until they arrive."
As one of New York's most prominent billionaires, Tony Stark's safety was a top priority for the NYPD.
After all, besides being wealthy, Tony was also the department's largest private sponsor.
For a police force constantly strapped for funds, Tony was like a golden goose. They wouldn't let anything happen to him.
So when Pepper's emergency call came through—
The top brass of the NYPD was immediately alarmed.
They wasted no time dispatching units from precincts near Chinatown to handle the situation.
However—
Even with their swift response, it would still take time to locate and rescue Tony, who had barely escaped from a terrifying assailant.
"Don't worry—I know what to do."
While speaking, Happy grabbed a table lamp from the entrance and cautiously pressed himself against the wall by the door—prepared to use the lamp against any intruder that might burst in.
At the same time, he swore to himself that next time, no matter how uncomfortable it was, he would always carry The Kind Gun with him instead of leaving it in the car.
If he had brought it with him, he wouldn't be in such a dire situation now.
Pepper, seeing Happy's tense stance, whispered "Be careful." Then, she rushed toward the cabinet where she remembered Eren keeping his medical supplies.
As Eren sprinted down from the third floor—
He was greeted by the sight of Pepper frantically searching through drawers, while Happy crouched behind the door, gripping the lamp with utmost vigilance.
His gaze then shifted to Tony, lying semi-conscious on the couch—his body covered in burns and wounds, the stench of scorched flesh lingering around him.
Frowning slightly, Eren looked at Pepper and asked, "Aunt Pepper, what happened? And doesn't Tony have his Iron Man suit? How did he end up like this?"
Hearing Eren's voice, Pepper didn't answer his question. Instead, she anxiously asked, "Eren, do you remember where the first-aid kit is? I swear it was here before…"
"To your left, top cabinet, second shelf."
While responding, Eren walked toward Tony's couch. Then, he glanced at Happy—who was still holding up the lamp—and said:
"The lamp you're holding was my grandma's favorite. You should put it back. If you're looking for something to defend yourself with, check the first drawer of that cabinet. You'll find a much better option there."
Hearing Eren's words, Happy's face turned slightly awkward.
"Sorry—I didn't know it was a keepsake…"
Quickly, he set the old lamp back in place and followed Eren's instructions, opening the drawer.
Inside—
A silver handgun gleamed under the dim light.
"Good!"
Seeing the firearm, Happy's eyes lit up. He wasted no time in grabbing it from the drawer.
After checking the magazine, Happy swiftly snapped it back into place, chambered a round, and cautiously returned to his position behind the wall.
However—
Compared to before, now that he held a gun in his hands, there was significantly less panic in his demeanor.
Meanwhile—
By another cabinet, Pepper finally spotted the large first-aid kit she had seen in Eren's house before.
"Found it!"
A look of relief flashed across her face as she grabbed the heavy kit and rushed toward Tony, who was still groaning on the sofa.
However, just as she reached his side—
She saw something unexpected.
Eren had roughly torn away the blood-soaked fabric stuck to Tony Stark's mangled back.
Casually tossing aside the shredded, crimson-stained fabric, Eren extended his right hand, hovering it above Tony's wounds.
[Intermediate Holy Light Healing]
In the next second—
A soft, milky-white glow gathered in Eren's palm before descending upon Tony's back under the astonished gazes of Pepper and Happy.
As soon as the light—roughly the size of a soccer ball—made contact with Tony's wounds—
A dazzling burst of white light erupted from his back, instantly illuminating the entire room.
At the same time—
That brilliant flash of divine light, which momentarily bathed Eren's entire house, also caught the attention of Ivan Vanko, who had been tracking Tony and Happy's blood trail through the streets.
Holding a toothpick between his teeth, Ivan's upper body was strapped with a strange mechanical device, and his hands gripped two menacing energy whips.
A sinister grin appeared on his face.
"Found you!"
As he spoke, he flicked his wrists, cracking the energy whips in the air with a deafening snap.
Electric sparks danced along the length of the whips, radiating a dangerous aura.
Without hesitation, Ivan dragged the electrified whips along the pavement, sending a trail of sparks flying as he sprinted toward the illuminated house.
Inside Eren's house—
As the blinding white light faded—
Pepper gasped and covered her mouth in shock.
"Oh my God!"
The first-aid kit she had been carrying slipped from her fingers and thudded onto the carpeted floor.
But—
Neither she nor Happy paid any attention to it.
Their entire focus was on Tony Stark.
Just a moment ago, his back had been a gruesome mess of burns and torn flesh.
Now—
Aside from a few faint pink scars, his skin looked completely unscathed.
Moreover, the heavily injured and semi-conscious Tony had quickly regained full awareness, letting out a low groan as he woke up.
Regaining his senses, Tony instinctively reached back, running his hands over his now-healed skin.
After tracing his fingers along his back multiple times, confirming that his wounds were truly gone—
He let out a relieved sigh and turned to Pepper.
"See? I was right to come here."
Pepper, still in shock, furrowed her brows slightly.
"So this is why you insisted I bring you here after that lunatic almost killed you? You knew Eren could heal you?"
After speaking, she glanced between Tony and Eren before crossing her arms.
"You two owe me an explanation."
Tony: "..."
Eren: "..."
Still gripping his gun, Happy, who had been watching the miraculous healing unfold, suddenly felt the throbbing pain in his own back.
With a weak voice, he muttered, "Hey, uh… if it's possible, can I get a dose of that too? Tony, you know how much that damn whip hurts."
As he spoke, he deliberately straightened his posture to emphasize his own bloody and torn back.
While trying to protect Tony, Happy had been lashed by Ivan's whip, and a large chunk of flesh had been scorched away.
His injuries weren't as severe as Tony's, but they were far from minor.
The fact that he had held out until now was proof of his sheer willpower.
So when he saw Tony fully healed in an instant, he couldn't help but request the same treatment.
Hearing Happy's plea, Tony immediately turned to Eren.
"Hey, Eren, could you heal Happy too? He—"
Boom!
Before Tony could finish his sentence—
A deafening electric crackle and an explosion erupted just outside the house.
The thick, reinforced front door trembled violently from the impact, as if it had just been struck by a devastating force.
"Take cover!"
Startled by the explosion, Happy instinctively shouted while ducking behind the wall.
He tightened his grip on the gun, his eyes locked on the trembling door, ready for whatever came next.
Tony, also startled, immediately moved in front of Pepper, shielding her with his body.
Seeing this, Eren nodded slightly in approval before quickly saying—
"Tony, take Aunt Pepper and hide in the basement."
"No, I'm staying. You and Pepper should go instead."
Tony's voice was firm, but—
Hearing his response, a strange look flickered through Eren's eyes.
"You want me to hide? Are you sure?"
(End of Chapter)
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