Everyone passed through the portal crackling with golden sparks one after another.
Thor went last, turning around for a look.
Homelander remained where he was.
The portal was still open, sparks scattering through the air.
"What's wrong, Anthony?" Thor asked. "Is someone else coming?"
No sooner had he spoken than a green figure hurriedly darted through the portal.
"Surprise!" Loki greeted everyone, trying to ease the tension.
But when he saw everyone's cold stares, an awkward yet polite smile immediately appeared on his face.
"You're such a coward!" Drax the Destroyer hated this sort of behavior most, and he was the first to condemn him. "You actually abandoned your brother in the middle of a battle!"
"It's called tactical concealment, barbarian," Loki retorted righteously. "I was merely observing the situation from a broader perspective."
Rocket let out a disdainful sneer. "Ha! Look at you. I bet you found a junk pile and buried yourself in it."
Hearing everyone's words, Thor's face darkened, as though Loki had disgraced Asgard before them all.
He strode forward, grabbed Loki by the collar, and lifted him off the ground.
"You coward who ran from battle, I'm utterly ashamed of you!"
"Calm down, Thor. I was preserving our strength..." Loki argued.
"Shut up." Thor raised his fist.
Just then, Homelander reached out and pressed down Thor's wrist.
"Let him go, Thor. Loki did nothing wrong."
Thor frowned. "He betrayed us!"
"Every one of us has our own role." Homelander shook his head. "Loki is injured. Blindly fighting would be no different from throwing his life away."
"And Loki knew how to assess the situation and didn't hold everyone back. That was the greatest contribution he could make to the team."
"Good job, Loki!"
Hearing that, Loki looked at Homelander in surprise, clearly not expecting to