Chapter 188: The Unchanging Nature

"Loki, do you have an accurate timeline?"

After hearing Banner's words, Steve turned to Loki, hoping for the most precise answer.

In war, having detailed and accurate intelligence was crucial.

"Soldier, even if your strength isn't impressive, the fact that you're willing to confront me shows you have a death wish," Loki replied, a smirk on his face. "That's slightly more appealing than some certain dark figures I know."

"I can at most delay things for ten days."

"Any longer, and it'll raise their suspicions. If they figure out I'm playing both sides…"

"You might find that you're facing more than just the Chitauri."

When Loki realized Steve was the one calling him, he chuckled.

"What do you mean by 'more than just the Chitauri'?"

"Loki, are you withholding information?"

The others felt a heaviness in their hearts at Loki's words. Before they could ask further, Thor spoke up, looking intently at Loki.

"I can't say too much, but powerful figures are backing the Chitauri," Loki replied, grinning. "Do you think I would dare to stir up trouble on Earth without some leverage?"

Loki knew that Thanos had more than just the Chitauri at his disposal; he was aware of the Black Order.

Each member of the Black Order was a formidable warrior, and if they decided to join the fray, Earth would undoubtedly be in grave danger.

"That's just your word; how can we trust what you say is true?" Nick Fury interjected, feeling the weight of the situation.

Loki shot a glance at Fury, dismissing him entirely.

"I believe you all know about the Destroyer," Loki continued. "While I enjoy chaos, the fact that Harvey destroyed the Destroyer means the cautious would think twice before causing trouble on Earth."

"Now that they're here, it means they believe someone can handle Harvey."

"Best to set our timeline for a week, with perhaps a few days added if necessary."

Thor gave Loki a piercing look, surveying the room.

He knew that his brother, as a prince of Asgard, was inherently proud.

Getting Loki to acknowledge a powerful figure was no easy feat.

"You understand me well, brother," Loki said, a smile spreading across his handsome face.

Fury felt he was now almost convinced.

It was likely the Chitauri were here for the Tesseract, which contained boundless energy and had the power to connect to any point in the universe.

This power could transport not just one person, but if utilized correctly, could maintain a portal indefinitely.

The unnamed powerful figure Loki spoke of just so happened to be in league with the Chitauri.

If they acquired the Tesseract, it wouldn't just be a disaster for Earth; other planets would face peril as well.

Of course, Fury didn't care about the safety of other planets; his focus was solely on Earth.

But he understood that even the most powerful figures in the universe would be tempted by the Tesseract's power.

"Did Tony mention what kind of help he's looking for?"

Steve asked, feeling increasingly uneasy.

"He didn't go into specifics, but Tony did mention he'd be calling on friends from the universe," Banner replied, shaking his head.

"Let's hope his friends can actually help and don't cause chaos on Earth instead," Fury remarked, shaken by the thought of allies from space.

Loki rolled his eyes at Fury's words.

With Tony's abilities, he was more than capable of defending himself during an all-out Chitauri assault.

If worse came to worst, Tony could always relocate to space.

Tony Stark could have taken the easy route, but he was determined to protect Earth.

This proved that while Tony was arrogant, he was also fiercely dedicated to humanity's safety.

While Tony claimed to be looking for help from the universe, even if he had good relations with those allies, it didn't guarantee their assistance.

Those individuals weren't Asgardians, after all; expecting people from other planets to protect a world that had nothing to do with them was unreasonable.

Even if they agreed to help, Tony would be indebted to them.

There was a reason why debts of gratitude were among the hardest to repay.

However, since Tony Stark was willing to incur such a debt, it was a sign that he would bring back some formidable allies.

Fury's reaction stemmed from his jealousy and personal bias, making his words sound increasingly irritating.

It was precisely this backstabbing nature of humanity that made Loki disdain them, especially this arrogant man who seemed to possess no skills.

Thor noticed Loki rolling his eyes, indicating that he was irritated. He placed a hand on Loki's shoulder, signaling him to keep his comments to himself.

Feeling his brother's meaning, Loki fell silent.

"Let's take some time to understand each other," Thor suggested.

"I am Thor, the God of Thunder. You should have heard my name by now."

"While the books may not portray me accurately, I can indeed command thunder, possess an indestructible body and strength, and fly swiftly, with no clear weaknesses."

"I'd love to demonstrate my abilities, but without a target, I have nothing to show."

"However, when the war begins, if you face formidable foes or need assistance, feel free to call on me."

As he spoke, Thor looked at the others, introducing himself.

"I'm Captain America, Steve Rogers," Steve said. "I've reached the pinnacle of human capabilities, possessing an average strength of five tons and the ability to unleash ten tons in combat."

"I can break through walls and have excellent endurance, able to fight for a full day."

Banner also chimed in, explaining his abilities along with Black Widow, who mentioned Hawkeye Barton. Although their physical prowess wasn't overwhelming, Black Widow excelled in firearms and hand-to-hand combat, while Hawkeye specialized in archery, providing ranged support.

Note: If you are interested, read up to chapter 238 at patreon.com/MythicForge11.