"What are you barking at, Alioth?!"
Thor looked at the big guy, who was like a stubborn plaster, showing up whenever he sensed energy fluctuations.
He couldn't be bothered wasting words on him. It definitely wasn't because Alioth couldn't understand him.
He raised a hand and began casting magic, emerald-green light bursting from his palm.
It was Sylvie's exclusive possession magic, which he had secretly learned and even enhanced.
In a single encounter, Alioth, the most terrifying big boss in Knowhere, had become an obedient little hajimi, circling quietly above Thor and the others without a trace of ferocity.
Thor's effortless defeat of Alioth didn't shock anyone except the Hydra Squad.
"Steve, Bucky, Ophelia, are you going to keep wandering, or will you join me?"
He had seen the three Hydra members helping prevent the Mutants from escaping. Did he even need to guess what they were planning?
As for Hydra, it wasn't even worth mentioning. The only one with any real combat power was that parasitic Inhuman, Hive, and Thor didn't even know if he could withstand one of his basic attacks.
With these three added to the mix, there was Hydra Captain, who needed no introduction: a standard measure of combat power. Winter Soldier belonged at the same table as Hydra Captain, and Madame Hydra wasn't much different.
What he didn't quite understand was why this woman liked dressing in green from head to toe. Was that Hydra's sense of style?
Thor's gaze swept over Ophelia. She noticed him looking her over and didn't mind in the least.
She thrust out her chest, showing off her fine figure, and looked at Thor with a teasing, seductive gaze.
The sight sent a shiver straight through Thor.
Although he hadn't read many comics, he still remembered the descriptions of Madame Hydra very clearly.
To put it bluntly, this green woman standing before him really was poisonous from head to toe. Her lipstick, her teeth, and possibly even her skin were toxic.
On top of that, she was naturally immune to toxins, viruses, and radiation. She was a walking bundle of poison!
Even though his current body had nothing to fear from those toxins, just hearing about them was off-putting. Thor genuinely admired anyone willing to get intimate with her. They were risking their lives to get frisky.
Emma Frost and Betsy had also watched Thor look Madame Hydra over from beginning to end. At first, they thought nothing of it, until Thor shuddered and his face began to turn green.
This woman can scare Thor?
The same thought occurred to both of them at once. They froze for a moment, then exchanged a glance. They hadn't expected this lecherous Thor to be so afraid of a woman.
The three Hydra members noticed Thor's reaction too. Ophelia now understood why Steve had made that decision. Thor clearly recognized her and most likely knew about her abilities as well.
Looking at this rather interesting Thor, Ophelia stepped toward him.
"Stop! Don't come over here! Stay away from me!"
Seeing her move, Thor hurriedly jumped back behind Classic Loki, lightning already coiling around his palm. His stance made it clear that if she came one step closer, he would blast her.
"Thor, was it? You seem to know me quite well, but not quite well enough."
Ophelia stopped and looked at Thor. Only moments ago, he had been like a world-ending catastrophe, yet simply approaching him had scared him this badly. She found it rather amusing.
"When doing intimate things, I can control my toxins. Want to try, Thor?"
"Don't! Stay away from me. Don't come messing with me. Go mess with Steve instead!"
Ophelia froze for a moment, then covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Her laugh was so seductive and alluring that the hearts of the people beside her trembled.
She leisurely smoothed the hem of her dark-green outfit and glanced sidelong at Thor, who was hiding behind Classic Loki. Her voice was part teasing, part challenge:
"Go mess with Steve? Dear Thor, are you underestimating me, or overestimating him?"
"What kind of man haven't I, Ophelia, seen? I happen to be more interested in a god as powerful and interesting as you."
As she spoke, she deliberately took another light step forward and curled a fingertip. A wisp of pale-green poisonous mist swirled around it, then vanished in an instant.
"Don't worry. I won't lay a finger on you until you agree."
"But... the more you hide, the more interested I become."
She paused, the corners of her lips curving into a dangerous yet captivating smile, like a venomous snake's.
"Sooner or later, you'll come to me of your own accord."
"Bullshit! Keep dreaming! Even if the day comes when I, Thor, can't lift my hammer, I still won't have anything to do with you!"
Classic Loki's brow twitched at that. The oath this Thor had made was a little too cruel, at least for an ordinary Thor.
A normal Thor in the multiverse treated his hammer like his wife.
"Then let's wait and see. I'm quite confident in my charms."
"Hmph, don't even think about it in this lifetime, Ophelia. I'd fall for Emma Frost before I'd fall for you!"
Thor remained hidden behind Classic Loki, but as soon as he finished speaking, he felt an icy gaze lock firmly onto him.
Uh-oh!
Emma Frost was going to give him trouble again.
"We'll join you."
Seeing that the atmosphere had taken a bad turn, Hydra Captain hurriedly agreed.
"Steve, I knew you still cared about me!"
Thor clasped Steve's hand gratefully, his face full of sincerity.
"No, Steve just wants to see a more interesting plot unfold."
Winter Soldier Bucky suddenly chimed in.
Thor turned and glared fiercely at Bucky, but the latter still looked unconcerned and shrugged, though the desire to watch the show was written all over his face.
"Ahem... Thor, Bucky was only joking, trying to lighten the mood."
Hydra Captain Steve had to step in to smooth things over, afraid that Thor would strike his friend down with a bolt of lightning and leave nothing behind.
"Thor, what are you planning to do next?"
Classic Loki asked.
"Once I've fully comprehended these two Infinity Stones, we'll go to the Prime Universe."
"The Prime Universe? What does that mean? Are all our universes just add-ons?"
Gambit Remy had never heard it put that way before and asked out of curiosity.
"How should I put it? It's complicated. Let Loki explain it to you. I can't explain this stuff."
Thor scratched his head and scooped up little Groot, who was dancing on the ground, decisively tossing the question to Classic Loki. A good younger brother should always help his older brother. Nothing wrong with that.
"Groot, quick, make me a treehouse. I need to comprehend the stones!"
"I am Groot?!"
(Can't you do it yourself?!)
Groot pursed his lips in displeasure.
"Come on, Groot, think of it this way. Using those abilities costs me divine power. Look, I just fought a big battle, and I'm completely spent. Besides, the sooner I finish comprehending them, the sooner we can go save your teammates, right?"
"I am Groot."
(I think you're just fooling me.)
Groot grumbled a few times, but decided to get to work anyway. He couldn't be sure how much longer his teammates could hold out.
Groot plunged both hands into the ground, and countless thick vines burst rapidly from the earth, one after another. In just ten minutes, a small wooden house had sprung up on the spot.
"I am Groot."
(Remember what you said, you heartless Thor.)