Chapter 175: Can’t Break Through
Loki had already effortlessly secured Dr. Heinrich Schäfer's retinal scan, allowing Hawkeye to open a vault and retrieve the item they were after.
With the first part of their plan completed, it was time to move on to the second step.
Wearing his signature antlered helmet, adorned in golden armor with a regal cape, and holding the scepter of mind control, Loki strode down the road toward the venue.
A crowd had gathered outside, and with a mere gesture, Loki conjured over twenty illusions of himself, causing panic and chaos among the people. The confused masses instinctively gathered together in fear.
"Kneel!"
The twenty Lokis shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the air, terrifying the crowd into submission as they all fell to their knees.
"See? Isn't this easy?"
"This is your true nature."
"This is the undeniable truth about humanity. You crave subjugation."
"Freedom is a lie, a gilded cage that strips away your joy, tempting you to chase after power."
"You are born to be ruled."
"In the end, you will always bow before those stronger than you."
Loki slowly walked through the crowd, his words dripping with arrogance. To him, humans were nothing but weaklings, and weaklings deserved to serve their betters.
His speech left many in the crowd—both the white and the black attendees—silent. They wanted to speak out, to protest, but Loki's display of power left them paralyzed in fear. They all knew that defiance meant certain death.
However, one elderly man, who had lived through the dark days of history, refused to submit. Determined to stand his ground, he rose to his feet, defiant.
"No matter who bends the knee, it will never be to someone like you."
The old man locked eyes with Loki, speaking with conviction.
"There has never been anyone like me," Loki sneered, amused by the old man's bravery.
"No, there have always been people like you—arrogant, drunk on a little power, thinking the world revolves around them."
Despite his age, the elder's words were sharp. He had seen men like Loki—men corrupted by power—time and time again throughout his long life.
"While I admire your resolve, earning my respect comes with a price."
With a smirk, Loki raised his scepter and fired a beam of energy directly at the old man.
In an instant, the elder's body was engulfed in flames, incinerated before he could even scream, leaving nothing but ash.
The horrific sight left the crowd utterly terrified. No one dared to raise their heads, let alone challenge Loki's authority.
"As I thought, you are all born to be ruled."
Disappointed by the crowd's silence, Loki prepared to continue, but before he could, a figure rushed forward from the side. The man held a shield and slammed it into Loki with full force.
However, the impact—strong enough to shatter a wall—merely rang out with a loud clang as Loki stood firm, unmoved. The attacker, on the other hand, was knocked back several steps by the sheer force of the recoil.
Loki turned to see the man in question: clad in a bizarre, striped suit with a large star emblazoned on his chest. The sight was laughable.
"A soldier of America. Do you think you can stand up for them?" Loki sneered, recognizing his opponent.
"The last time I was in Germany, I ran into another guy who thought he was better than everyone else."
"And I'm not alone this time."
Steve stood tall, recovering from the impact. He eyed the alien with caution, knowing the fight ahead would be no easy task. But he couldn't let fear show. The people needed hope.
From above, a sleek aircraft swooped into view, hovering behind Steve.
"Drop your weapon and surrender immediately!" the voice from the jet's speaker demanded.
Loki's response was a cold laugh. He raised his scepter and with a flick of his wrist, sent over a dozen energy beams toward the jet.
Despite the pilot's best efforts to dodge, several beams struck the aircraft's wings, sending it spiraling out of control.
Though not as powerful as his brother Thor, Loki's strength far outclassed these Earthly toys.
The pilot, Natasha Romanoff, managed to avoid a complete crash, but the jet's stability was severely compromised. Fortunately, they were flying low, and Natasha's skill ensured her safety.
Seeing the situation, Steve hurled his vibranium shield at Loki. But even a weapon capable of slicing through steel merely caused Loki's head to tilt slightly upon impact. It couldn't even scratch him.
The shield returned to Steve's hand, but the sight of Loki's indifference made his heart sink. He was the only one capable of fighting now, and there seemed to be no way to break through Loki's defenses.
Undeterred, Steve charged forward, aiming to slam the side of his shield into Loki's face.
But Loki remained unconcerned, raising his scepter and firing another energy blast.
The blast ricocheted off Steve's shield, striking Loki square in the chest and causing him to stagger back.
Steve seized the moment and threw a powerful punch—enough force to break down a wall. But as his fist connected with Loki's face, it felt as though he had punched solid steel.
Loki, recovering from his surprise, smirked. The idea that this soldier thought he could engage in hand-to-hand combat was laughable. With a swift kick, Loki sent Steve flying backward.
Though Steve had managed to block part of the blow with his shield, the remaining force felt like being hit by a speeding truck. His body hurtled through the air, landing hard on the ground.
He rolled a few times, using the momentum to soften his landing, but the tremor in his arms told him he was in trouble.
Steve's mind raced. He had known that fighting an alien wouldn't be easy, but he had underestimated Loki's physical strength. Based on Loki's appearance, he had assumed this was a magic user—a ranged fighter. But even up close, Loki's strength was staggering.
Despite using his vibranium shield, Steve had barely scratched the surface.