Loki was sent flying backwards.
His body crashed through the edge of the deep pit, rolled 3600 degrees along the ice surface, slid nearly a kilometer, and finally slammed into a distant iceberg.
A large section of solid ice collapsed downwards, instantly burying him.
On the other side, the Anti-Chen Mo Armor remained in a fist-pumping posture.
Tony was one step ahead in the end.
Before the Casket of Ancient Winters could fully erupt, the mechanical fist wreathed in golden energy slammed heavily into Loki's face.
However, it was only one step ahead.
The counterattack of the deep blue frost followed closely, and the steel behemoth was swallowed whole by the frost. Dark blue ice spikes spread wildly along the gaps in the armor, and the energy core was extinguished in an instant.
The Anti-Chen Mo Armor froze in place instantly.
Inside the visor, red warning lights flashed continuously.
"Warning: The main power transmission line has been interrupted."
"Neural connectivity module has become unresponsive."
"Report! The external armor temperature is below the detection limit."
JARVIS's voice came and went, eventually fading away completely.
Tony stared at the blacked-out interface for two seconds in silence.
JARVIS?
There was no response.
"Stop playing dead, I haven't given you your year-end bonus yet."
The interior of the armor remained quiet.
Tony tried to access backup power, but he couldn't even lift a single mechanical finger.
In order to withstand Chen Mo's physical attacks, this armor was equipped with various independent components, but it lacked a protective module against this extreme cold.
After all, when Chen Mo beats someone up, he usually doesn't freeze them into an ice pop first.
Tony gritted his teeth and reconnected the emergency line.
"Backup power activated! But that didn't work either?"
" JARVIS! Ignite the thrusters!"
"Please, give me some face..."
Click.
A wisp of flame appeared from the thruster behind the armor, which then went out immediately.
Tony closed his eyes.
"Okay, at least my pride is still useful."
Inside the S.H.I.E.L.D.. fighter jet, Fury watched the images transmitted back from the satellite, his face extremely grim.
"It seems Stark has lost his ability to move."
Hill quickly pulled up the detection data. "Sir, the life signals we detected are very stable, but the temperature inside the armor is still dropping. If this continues, he might freeze to death inside his own armor."
Fury looked out over the ice field.
The strength of the Anti-Chen Mo Armor actually surpasses all of S.H.I.E.L.D..'s existing conventional weapons. Yet even so, it only managed to injure Loki.
Meanwhile, the Casket of Ancient Winters in Loki's hand continued to release energy.
This is not a target that Earth's existing military forces can handle.
"Get the rescue team ready."
"Chief, we can't get close."
You must do everything in your power!
Fury's tone remained unchanged. "Since Loki is back, he'll definitely deal with Stark first. Our chance will come when he gets close to the armor."
Hill glanced at him.
Use Tony as bait.
This decision is cold-blooded, but it's the only option right now.
On the icy plains, Tony reached the same conclusion. He struggled to pull his wrist out, revealing his watch.
"Calling the Iron Legion."
His voice came through the backup communication. "Coordinates sent, all armored vehicles in maximum combat mode."
"Faster!"
The orbiting satellites and Stark Tower responded simultaneously.
Dozens of armored vehicles detached from their fixed platforms, their thrusters activated at full power, and they flew at high speed toward the Arctic.
But they will need at least a few more minutes.
The ice ahead had already cracked.
A hand emerges from the shattered ice.
Loki pushed aside the solid ice pressing down on him and slowly walked out, carrying his scepter.
His royal robes were completely shattered, a section of his chest was caved in, and half of his face was smashed to pieces by mechanical fists.
It looks terrible.
But his steps became increasingly steady, and his aura continued to rise.
Loki looked down at his palm, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
"What's this?"
His injuries are healing.
Moreover, the power within the Casket of Ancient Winters continued to flow into his body. The icy energy coursed through his blood and bones, making his mind clearer than ever before.
Even their strength is growing rapidly.
This feeling is very unfamiliar.
Yet it also made him instinctively feel a sense of familiarity.
Loki didn't have time to delve deeper.
He looked up at the frozen steel behemoth, and a smile returned to his face.
"Mortal, you have lost in the end."
Tony listened to the sound coming from the external radio and couldn't help but sigh.
" JARVIS's not here, so nobody's even recording my trash talk."
Loki walked up to the armor, the tip of his scepter glowing with a ghostly blue light, and stabbed it fiercely into the chest.
Bang!
The scepter was deflected by its Vibranium casing.
Loki's arm went numb, and his smile froze for a moment.
He swung his scepter again, striking the armored head repeatedly.
The dull thuds of impact continued to ring out.
The ice layer was shaken open with large cracks, but the armor surface didn't even have a dent.
Tony, sitting in the cockpit, commented seriously, "Not bad strength. I suggest another two thousand strokes. Maybe it can help me break off the surface ice."
Loki's expression gradually twisted.
He gripped the scepter with both hands, preparing to continue his attack, when suddenly a whooshing sound came from behind him.
A round shield spun and struck his back.
Loki staggered two steps, then turned around abruptly.
Steve had already rushed up to him.
He caught the rebounding shield and slammed it into Loki's face. The edge of the shield struck his chin, and just as Loki looked up, Steve's shoulder was already embedded in his chest.
The two rushed into the snowstorm at the same time.
" Stark, are you still alive?"
"Thanks to you, I'm still alive for now."
Tony paused for a moment. "Captain, be careful, he seems to have taken some kind of superpower."
Steve did not respond.
The shield slammed down repeatedly, each attack aimed directly at Loki's head and joints. Loki initially retreated, but within seconds he managed to regain his balance, his strength, depleted from his fierce battle with Tony, rapidly returning.
The shield fell again.
Loki raised his left hand and gripped the edge of the shield head-on.
Steve's pupils contracted slightly.
He immediately turned around and used the power of his exoskeleton to twist the shield, trying to break free of control.
But the shield remained completely still.
Loki looked down at his left hand, a look of surprise flashing across his face.
The Casket of Ancient Winters continues to alter his body.
Why?
Could it be that his father has been hiding his true bloodline all along?
The thought flashed through Loki's mind, and then Steve kicked him in the chest.
"A frail mortal"
Loki smiled dismissively, and instead of being kicked back, he took a step forward, his shoulder slamming heavily into Steve.
The exoskeleton armor shattered instantly.
Steve was sent flying more than ten meters, his body crashing into the snow. Before he could even get up, Loki was already in front of him.
The scepter pierced down.
Steve immediately raised his shield.
Bang!
The scepter struck the center of the shield, and the immense force traveled through his arms and throughout his body, causing the ice beneath Steve to cave in.
Loki gripped the scepter with one hand and pressed it down further.
Steve braced his hands against the shield, his arms trembling uncontrollably.
"Is this all the power of Midgard?"
Loki looked down at him, his gaze returning to its arrogant tone. "A slightly stronger mortal dares to challenge the King of Gods?"
Steve gritted his teeth, but his shield continued to sink little by little.
Inside the fighter jet, Fury watched this scene, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
The legend who once charged to the forefront, destroyed Hydra Base, and changed the outcome of a war, is now being pressed into the ice by Loki with one hand.
Times have changed.
Today's enemies can freeze the oceans, destroy cities, and even wipe out entire civilizations.
Steve's will remains unbreakable.
But willpower alone was no longer enough for him to stay at the forefront.
On the battlefields to come, he may only become a spiritual icon.
Fury paused for a moment, then turned to look at the man behind the hatch.
Banner stood there, his hands clenched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead.
" Dr. Banner, are you ready?"