Space Tremors, Loki Begins His Destructive Attack

He raised a hand and tapped lightly, as though his fingertip had plucked the heartstrings of the air. The currents around him began to tremble subtly.

At that very moment, a sudden change occurred.

Lin Du abruptly sensed the space he had created quiver faintly.

Could the one who had taken the Cosmic Cube already be approaching S.H.I.E.L.D.'s territory?

His heart tightened and his brows drew together. Lin Du swiftly shifted his gaze to Nick Fury. "Nick, we need to act immediately."

"Someone has activated the Cosmic Cube, and they are very likely posing a threat to S.H.I.E.L.D."

The unexpected news startled Nick Fury as well, but he quickly composed himself and prepared to face this unforeseen danger.

Even so, he could not help explaining to Lin Du.

"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents are elite operatives I personally selected. They can handle ordinary trouble."

"Even if they can't, they can buy us enough time to get back."

After all, as far as he knew, no one could compare to Lin Du's strength.

Yet before Nick had fully prepared himself, Lin Du's voice rang clearly beside his ear.

"This time is different. From the spatial fluctuations, I can sense that the newcomer's power surpasses that of a god."

Disbelief flashed through Nick Fury's eyes.

Lin Du's perception of power far exceeded that of ordinary people, almost reaching the mystical.

At this moment, the strength Lin Du described as "beyond gods" was no different from sounding the highest-level alarm.

"Are you sure?" Nick Fury's voice was filled with tension and urgency.

Lin Du nodded lightly. "I'm sure, Nick."

Nick Fury took a deep breath. He knew that Lin Du always acted with reason and never fought an unprepared battle.

Just then, Nick's communicator suddenly rang. "Director Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. has encountered an emergency. There's a problem with the Cosmic Cube!"

Nick's brows knotted tightly as he immediately demanded, "What exactly happened?"

"The Cube released abnormal energy pulses, and unidentified individuals attacked our facility."

Nick spun sharply toward Lin Du, his eyes filled with gravity.

"Lin Du, can you investigate? Anyone capable of breaking through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s defenses is no ordinary opponent."

Lin Du nodded again in agreement.

He closed his eyes. A pale blue glow gradually gathered around him, and then he swung an arm fiercely at the empty air.

"There's a dangerous presence." Lin Du opened his eyes, grabbed Nick by the shoulder, and the two instantly became a streak of light that vanished from where they stood.

When they appeared again, they were already inside a S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier shrouded in smoke and fire.

Amid the rolling black smoke, shattered debris and agents lying on the ground, drenched in blood, formed a grim scene like the end of the world.

Lin Du's gaze turned icy. He sensed a powerful, evil energy surging from nearby.

Clearly, Loki had already learned of the Cosmic Cube's existence.

And S.H.I.E.L.D. had inadvertently released it.

Lin Du suddenly turned toward the source of that evil power.

Sure enough, it was Loki...

"The god of Asgard, Loki."

Lin Du softly spoke the name, his voice low and forceful.

"Loki!" The moment Nick heard it, he clenched his teeth and repeated the name through gritted teeth.

The weapon in his hand was already poised to strike at any moment.

Not far away, Loki gripped the Scepter and laughed wildly as he swept through the surrounding S.H.I.E.L.D. agents like a gale scattering fallen leaves.

Every strike carried overwhelming force, leaving his opponents unable even to defend themselves.

"Director Fury, you've finally shown yourself." Loki's tone was mocking and provocative, his eyes gleaming as he enjoyed the grand performance he had orchestrated.

As for Lin Du standing beside Nick, Loki did not even deem him worthy of notice.

"Loki, what exactly do you want?" Nick demanded loudly, while discreetly signaling the agents behind him to prepare to surround their enemy.

A contemptuous smile curled across Loki's lips. "You mortals are always so arrogantly self-important."

"The Cosmic Cube is power that belongs to gods. It is not something insects like you can wield."

Lin Du stood silently to one side, clearly sensing the spatial distortion energy emanating from Loki's Scepter.

It was astonishingly similar to the fluctuations released by the Cosmic Cube, yet wilder and more destructive.

"Lin Du, we can't let him get what he wants," Nick said in a lowered voice.

Lin Du smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I will never allow this evil power to continue running rampant."

Lin Du's eyes fixed on the Mind Stone, which glimmered with a ghostly light atop the Scepter in Loki's hand.

It was said to be one of the supreme treasures of the universe, containing power enough to shake the foundations of every mind in existence.

An intrigued smile formed at the corner of Lin Du's mouth as countless memories of the Marvel Universe raced through his mind.

In that universe, the Mind Stone had repeatedly become the key to the Avengers' survival in desperate circumstances.

It could not only control the human mind, but was also a mysterious key to boundless wisdom and immense power.

Now, watching Loki effortlessly wield that power and turn the fiercely loyal Hawkeye into his puppet,

the curiosity and longing in Lin Du's heart for unknown power spread like wildfire, impossible to suppress any longer.

"What an enviable power, Loki."

Lin Du murmured. Though his voice was soft, it sent ripples through the air.

He stepped forward steadily, each step making the air around him tremble faintly.

Loki, the god famed for his cunning, tilted his head slightly at those words. Surprise and wariness flashed through his emerald eyes.

With a light sweep of his Scepter, an almost imperceptible psychic ripple spread through the air.

"Nick, tell me, do you think the controlled Hawkeye will attack you?"

Lin Du's words were as cold as a winter wind, sending an instant chill down Nick Fury's spine.

He abruptly turned around and saw his once most dependable companion—Hawkeye.

His eyes were hollow now, as if he had become a puppet stripped of his will. He advanced toward Nick step by step, a terrifying sight.

Nick's heart jolted. He clearly realized that the Hawkeye before him was no longer the comrade who had once fought at his side.

He was now a cold chess piece in Loki's hand, its blade pointed directly at Nick.

He abruptly raised his weapon, fully prepared to face the coming storm.

Yet the heavy worry in his heart remained like thick storm clouds, impossible to dispel.

At that moment, Lin Du hesitated no longer and chose to fight alongside Nick.

His figure flashed like lightning, moving before Hawkeye in an instant. His right hand swept casually through the air.

Space rippled like the surface of water, enveloping Hawkeye completely.

Hawkeye's body froze in midair for a second, then he was flung far into the sky like an arrow loosed from a powerful bow.