The next morning.
Aboard S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier, the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel had spent an anxious night riddled with conflict.
In Norse mythology, Loki was the God of Mischief. Even after surrendering without resistance, he had nearly driven the already discordant Avengers apart with just a few words.
Yet that was only the beginning of the nightmare. Early that morning, Bruce Banner had gone berserk because of Loki and the Mind Scepter. Hawkeye, controlled by Loki, had seized the chance to launch a surprise attack on the Helicarrier, nearly causing the entire vessel to crash.
Although Tony Stark had desperately managed to prevent the crash, Loki was rescued in the process, leaving the entire Helicarrier in chaos.
"Sorry, Director. He got away."
Nick Fury hurried to the place where Loki had been held, only to find Phil Coulson slumped against the wall, barely clinging to life.
Coulson had originally been holding an experimental S.H.I.E.L.D. energy weapon, intending to stop Loki from escaping. But Loki had easily deceived him with an illusion before stabbing him through the chest from behind. By now, his consciousness was already fading.
"Stay awake. Look at me."
As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director and the king of Agents, Nick Fury had long been accustomed to life and death. Yet upon seeing Phil Coulson, he could not help but reveal his emotions.
"No... I'm clocking out..."
"No!"
"It's okay, Director..."
Phil Coulson breathed weakly, actually trying to comfort Nick Fury instead.
But halfway through speaking, he suddenly remembered something. After a moment of blankness, he said, "Wait, Director. I think I can still be saved."
"That's right. You'll be saved immediately."
Nick Fury bent down grimly, preparing to pick Phil Coulson up.
"No, I mean... I have Regeneration Serum Lee Stein gave me in my pocket."
Having already lost too much