World's Second vs. World's Second

Loki had to admit that Earth's strength far exceeded his expectations. In such a short time, so many troublesome people had appeared.

Still, it was within his control.

"Mjolnir..."

Remaining invisible, Loki calmly walked up to the hammer and gave it a pull. When it would not budge, his face darkened with anger, but he quickly composed himself.

"I don't meet Father's standards? As long as my foolish brother doesn't meet them either, that's enough." Loki sneered and glanced once more at the fiercely raging battlefield around him.

After giving Thor one last deep look, Loki turned and left. There was no point in staying any longer. Having confirmed Thor's safety, he decided to watch from afar and look for a chance to reveal himself and deceive Thor.

He wanted Thor to remain on Earth forever, as a mortal.

But recalling Odin's words, Loki hesitated. Keeping Thor on Earth was full of danger. What if he died?

As he walked, Loki pondered the matter and sank into indecision.

"Hm? This one is rather strange."

But just after leaving the camp, Loki spotted a huge Xenomorph hiding exceptionally well. Its skull-like head was crowned by a carapace resembling a crown, making him take a few extra looks as he considered whether to capture one. But after some thought, he decided there was no need to expose himself before completing his scheme to deceive/protect Thor.

He found a taller rock, dispelled his invisibility, and sat down. A wicked smile curled across his lips as he struck a pose to enjoy the show.

Whoosh! A Golden Portal appeared not far away. Clearly, someone else had had the same idea.

Loki froze, staring in surprise at the figure who emerged from the portal.

The newcomer had terrifyingly dark circles under his eyes and radiated the intense aura of a Liver Emperor. He cast an eerie, watchful gaze at Loki.

Who the hell is this? x2

"You're a magician from this world?" Sensing the surging magical power around the other man—primarily Black Magic, mixed with White Magic, a complete mess—Loki asked with interest.

If this strange dark-circled magician had any sense, Loki would not be opposed to taking him as a subordinate.

"You're not from Earth—an outsider?" The instant Kaecilius saw Loki, he sneered in understanding. "Looks like someone else, like me, has their eye on the Xenomorphs."

"Xenomorphs... So that's what you're after."

"You aren't? Don't tell me you came for Thor instead. It seems God-King Odin is very worried about his offspring and specially arranged a bodyguard." A cold curve lifted at Kaecilius's lips.

The smile on Loki's face slowly faded. What he hated most was people belittling him just to praise brainless Thor.

"Midgardian, it seems you know nothing of the power of gods. You dare offend me? No one can save you." Loki appeared directly in front of Kaecilius and advanced step by step.

Kaecilius's expression grew increasingly cruel. "Asgardian, don't really think you're a god. You might fool ordinary people, but fool me? You so-called gods die when killed. What kind of god does that make you? Once I slaughter you, I will surely please the great Dormammu and clear away an obstacle to obtaining the Xenomorphs."

If I kill an Asgardian and send him to the Dark Dimension, Lord Dormammu will surely be pleased, right? Kaecilius thought.

Besides, Dormammu was not afraid of Odin.

The two closed in on one another. When only a few meters remained between them, they moved almost simultaneously.

"Let me show you the strength of Earth's second-ranked magician!" A vicious gleam appeared in Kaecilius's eyes as he abruptly drew out a staff and smashed it down at Loki.

"Hmph, mortal, you have no idea how terrifying the Nine Realms' second-ranked magician is!"

Terrifying power surged around Loki. He deftly drew a dagger and thrust it toward Kaecilius's abdomen.

The two Great Magicians, each claiming to be second in the world, were filled with killing intent as they launched into a fierce close-quarters battle.

Clang! Clang! Bang!

The staff and dagger collided countless times. Like two elite masters of technique, both displayed superb weapon skills, pushing their weapons to the utmost, every strike aimed to kill.

Seizing an opening, Kaecilius drove his knee into Loki's stomach. Yet Loki did not move an inch. Instead, he watched Kaecilius with a sinister smile, as if mocking his incompetence.

Kaecilius's expression did not change; he had clearly expected this. Using the recoil, he smoothly retreated half a step, then swung his staff at top speed and smashed Loki's neck apart.

"Is that all you've got, weak god?" Kaecilius spoke as the tension in his body visibly eased.

At that very instant, as though he had anticipated something all along, he spun around and raised his staff before him, precisely blocking the dagger that appeared from thin air and stabbed toward him.

Loki revealed himself, staring at Kaecilius in astonishment. "You Midgardian, you're actually this underhanded? You deliberately exposed a flaw to lure me into ambushing you?"

"Do you hear yourself?"

After their brief exchange, the two Old Sixes simultaneously turned serious. They realized that the other was an exceptionally treacherous fellow who had to be treated with utmost caution.

Loki laughed darkly and charged again with his dagger. After only a few moves, he completely suppressed Kaecilius.

In terms of weapon skill, Loki was no stronger than Kaecilius. But Loki possessed an overwhelmingly powerful physique—he was the offspring of the Frost Giant king! Even relying on brute strength alone, he could force Kaecilius, with his mortal body, into a miserable state. Completely outmatched, Kaecilius could only retreat again and again to protect himself.

"Too weak, mortal. Let me guess, you were Ancient One's disciple? But then you defected to Dormammu. Is this all you learned from those two?" Loki bared his teeth viciously. "Surrender. I will spare your life and permit you to become my follower."

"What a joke. Arrogant fool, now it is time for a contest of magic."

They began using magic in succession. Clearly, they were getting serious.

The clash between the two Great Magicians had its own strengths and weaknesses, thick with the scent of gunpowder. Powerful magical energy and rays of every color shot into the sky. Abundant magic collided head-on, while countless magical particles scattered in every direction amid rolling booms.

The commotion was enormous and was captured by satellites in the sky.

When Coulson saw the two Great Magicians tearing into each other like madmen, he felt exhausted.

"Where did these two come from now? One is Kaecilius, the notorious leader of the Black Magic Users. Who is the other? Those old-fashioned clothes... an Asgardian?"

Coulson could not help looking at Duva on the screen.

Did this have something to do with Duva? Coulson had developed a conditioned reflex by now; he always felt that every unexpected development that appeared was Duva's doing.