Agent Ward's Fall

The police officers' sudden, unhesitating attack sent Coulson rolling across the ground in alarm. He narrowly dodged the shot, though he looked rather bedraggled.

That gunshot also ignited the entire battle.

Dozens of people on both sides immediately began exchanging fierce fire.

For a moment, the shrill crack of gunfire filled the area, accompanied by countless sparks as bullets struck cover.

Under the savage barrage, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents could only take shelter behind the cars, powerless to respond.

The other side had ample weapons and a large number of people, and they were not using tranquilizer rounds, but metal bullets with devastating killing power.

Under such heavy fire, Coulson, Ward, and the others had no way to mount an effective counterattack.

Even Sif could only stand to one side with her shield raised, blocking bullets fired at her one after another.

With Sif's body, small-caliber bullets posed no real problem.

But she could not keep taking them indefinitely. If the same spot took too many hits, it would still be wounded and bleed, and the pain would not lessen in the slightest.

So unless necessary, Sif still preferred to use her shield to block such attacks.

"What's happening?"

The violent commotion outside caught Lorelei's attention, and she spoke with some displeasure.

"Looks like we caught the attention of law enforcement," Rooster said after running to the entrance for a look.

"They're heavily armed. There's also a chick outside dressed like some medieval warrior, carrying a sword and all that."

Upon hearing Rooster's words, endless fury rose in Lorelei's eyes. "Sif!!"

She looked at the people before her. "You all said you would fight for me. Now is the time."

As soon as Lorelei finished speaking, the people around her grabbed their guns and rushed outside.

Before long, the gunfire outside grew even fiercer.

Faced with such intense firepower, even Ward was starting to struggle.

The dozens of shooters had no coordination or tactics, but the hail of bullets coming at them kept their heads down. Their few counterattacks had accomplished little.

"We're being attacked from both sides. It's hard to take aim like this," Agent Ward said to Coulson.

Coulson turned to Sif. "Lady Sif, can you give us some cover?"

The bar patrons' frenzied shooting also stirred a trace of anger in Sif.

She walked over to a large bar van nearby, planted her foot against its side, and kicked out with all her strength.

A hard-bodied coach nearly as large as a bus slid more than ten meters under that tremendous force.

It came to a stop directly between the two fiercest fronts of the battle, blocking most of the incoming fire.

This gave the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents a chance to catch their breath. They quickly adjusted and began their counterattack in earnest.

Coulson, Ward, and the others swiftly dealt with several police officers rushing out from both sides of the bar.

"The men stay outside. Let Sif capture Lorelei."

"Ward, go around back and surround the bar!"

After confirming that things were temporarily safe, Coulson shouted his orders.

Without hesitation, Sif charged into the bar with Sword and Shield in hand.

Ward lowered his body and cautiously made his way toward the bar's back entrance.

Bang!

Sif kicked the bar's front door open and walked inside.

"Lorelei, still controlling men and making them do your dirty work?"

Sif looked at Lorelei standing in the center and mocked her.

Lorelei looked at Sif, a faint smile appearing on her face.

"You're still one or two steps behind!"

"You know how this will end, Lorelei. Come with me willingly!"

Sif said bluntly.

Lorelei's expression shifted slightly. "Do you really think I'm afraid of you? I defeated you once. Have you forgotten?"

By the end, Lorelei was smiling again.

And in the span of those few words, seven or eight burly men had already gathered around Sif.

"Kill her!!"

Lorelei gave the order directly, then turned and left.

The men beside Sif did not hesitate in the slightest and began firing at her.

Unable to dodge, Sif took a shot head-on, then seized a gun and smashed its owner away with a hammer blow.

The other burly men saw this and immediately swarmed forward, trying to kill Sif without showing the slightest mercy.

Sif looked at the Earth men before her, all bewitched by Lorelei. She did not choose to kill them with her blade; with just a few punches and kicks, she knocked them all unconscious.

But by then, Lorelei had already left the bar.

Ward had circled around to the back entrance of the bar. As one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most Elite Agents, he was naturally confident when dealing with these small-time thugs.

The moment he reached the back entrance, Rooster, who had been hiding in the shadows, launched a sneak attack.

He swung a massive metal chain in his hand with all his strength.

Ward dodged with his body, but the Sweet Dream Gun in his hand was knocked away.

Rooster gave Ward no chance to recover, continuing to swing the thick metal chain at him.

Perhaps the chain was too cumbersome, while Ward was nimble. After dodging one strike, he drove a fist into Rooster's face.

Rooster continued to furiously swing the chain.

But Ward still dodged nimbly and swiftly launched effective counterattacks.

Even in a contest of strength, Ward surpassed Rooster. He grabbed the chain, yanked it hard, and landed a brutal blow on Rooster's face.

Rooster was knocked unconscious instantly. Ward immediately picked up the Sweet Dream Gun from the ground.

Ward did not realize that Lorelei, standing atop the awning, had clearly watched his entire fight with Rooster.

Yet seeing her subordinate Rooster knocked unconscious did not affect Lorelei in the slightest. If anything, she felt a hint of excitement.

With a light leap, she landed behind Ward.

As Ward picked up the gun, he sensed something wrong. He rolled on the ground, dropped into a half-kneeling position, and aimed the gun behind him at Lorelei.

"You are an excellent warrior," Lorelei praised.

"That's right. Put your hands behind your back and kneel!"

Ward steadily raised his gun and aimed it at her head.

Lorelei revealed a disdainful smile. "Men are the ones who kneel before me. I will not submit to them."

As she spoke, she walked toward Ward step by step.

Yet Ward, who should have fired, hesitated.

Lorelei's voice was like intoxicating wine, making Ward reluctant to pull the trigger.

"I need backup here!" The last of Ward's reason made him call for help over the comms.

Lorelei reached out and lightly held Ward's arm.

The next moment, the gun fell from Ward's hand. He stared unblinkingly at Lorelei, his eyes rapidly filling with boundless love.

The two had been enemies just moments ago, but in the next instant, Ward began worrying about Lorelei.

Soon afterward, Ward drove Lorelei away on his motorcycle. Everyone else was nothing more than disposable tools she could cast aside at any time.

"Take me somewhere luxurious, a place worthy of a ruler, worthy of a queen."

Lorelei whispered into Ward's ear.

Ward smiled faintly. "Understood, my Queen."