Chapter 182

[1500PS REACHED!!! Next Goal: 2000!]

Another unexpected event?

Captain America and the others grew alert, assuming it was more reinforcements for the Chitauri.

However, what they didn't realize was that the Chitauri commander and his troops were just as bewildered.

The commander instinctively glanced at Loki, but Loki shook his head, indicating they weren't his people.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, the portal sparkled with flames, revealing a large opening.

At this moment, both Captain America and the Chitauri commander could clearly see what was on the other side of the portal.

"A portal?"

Black Widow, who had just closed the space portal, instinctively glanced at the scepter in her hand and then at the equipment nearby. After confirming that the device had not been activated, she couldn't help but feel astonished.

Someone had managed to open a space portal without the use of the Tesseract?

Who could it be?

What were they planning?

Soon, the figures became clear.

A middle-aged man with blond hair tied in a small ponytail, wearing a yellow robe, led a group of similarly dressed individuals out of the portal.

It was Kaecilius and the other sorcerers.

Having confirmed their intention to seize both the Tesseract and the scepter to offer them to the great demon, they had decisively acted, casually opening a portal to Stark Tower to steal the two relics.

"Who are these guys, more theater actors?"

Looking at their attire, Tony couldn't help but quip in surprise.

How many times had it been now? Once again, people wearing strange outfits had shown up.

Of course, despite his sarcastic comment, Stark's guard was fully up, perhaps even more so than usual.

After all, people dressed in bizarre outfits were typically trouble, like Loki and Thor. Tony had learned his lesson by now.

As soon as they stepped out of the portal, Kaecilius and his followers made a beeline for the device housing the Tesseract.

Noticing their movements, both Captain America's group and the Chitauri commander's forces were shocked.

"Stop! No one is allowed to approach!"

Natasha was quick to react. Holding the scepter in one hand, she pulled a black handgun from her waist with the other, aiming it directly at the approaching sorcerers as she warned them, hoping to drive them away.

However, Kaecilius and his followers only halted briefly at her warning before their eyes shifted toward her.

Kaecilius' gaze sharpened, focusing on the black handgun in her hand. The next second, something unexpected happened.

Two of Kaecilius' followers, acting on his signal, raised their hands simultaneously. Two yellow energy whips materialized, instantly wrapping around Natasha's scepter and handgun.

In the blink of an eye, both items were snatched from Natasha's unprepared hands.

One of the sorcerers quickly opened a portal and threw the handgun into it. Meanwhile, Perry, another follower, handed the scepter to Kaecilius.

"What a marvelous artifact, the great demon will surely be pleased," Kaecilius marveled.

While stroking the golden shaft of the scepter, he felt the immense energy emanating from the gem at its tip, his eyes filled with awe and excitement.

At this moment, the other sorcerers were also thrilled, their eyes full of anticipation for the rewards they would receive from the great demon after offering this powerful relic.

While they were eagerly waiting, Captain America and the others, who had witnessed the entire scene, were stunned.

What was that?

Yellow whips coming from their hands?

Superpowers?

From a distance, Loki narrowed his eyes and muttered, "Sorcerers of Midgard?"

"Hmm?" The Chitauri commander beside him looked at him in confusion.

At that moment.

Seeing that they had taken the scepter, Captain America glanced at Iron Man and said, "Stark, get me up there."

Tony nodded and grabbed Hawkeye, flying them both to the top of Stark Tower.

Thor, seeing this, also swung his hammer and flew up.

As for the Hulk, he leaped from one building to another until he too landed on the rooftop of Stark Tower with a heavy thud.

Even Loki and the Chitauri commander made their way to the rooftop.

Noticing their movements, Kaecilius and his followers turned to face them.

"Put down the scepter!"

"Who are you people?"

Captain America, holding his vibranium shield, stepped forward and demanded.

At that moment, Loki spoke up.

"It's you lot?" Loki recognized them as the group he had encountered while raiding S.H.I.E.L.D. for the Tesseract.

What had caught his attention back then were the strange phrases they had used.

Now, seeing them here again, he realized their goal was the Tesseract and the scepter all along.

"Loki, do you know them?" Thor asked warily. "Are they your people? Are you still not giving up at this point?"

Loki's expression darkened briefly but then he smiled, as if enjoying the show, and replied, "No, no, no. They're not my people. If I'm not mistaken, they should be sorcerers of Midgard."

He paused for a moment as everyone looked at him in surprise, then turned his gaze to Kaecilius and his group.

"Am I right? Sorcerers who invoke their 'Master'?"

As Loki spoke, he recalled something the lead sorcerer had said during their previous encounter—a sentence that had both confused and alarmed him.

"As our Master foretold, everything is about to begin."

The more Loki thought about it, the stronger his sense of unease grew.

At this point, Hawkeye glanced at Loki and, surprisingly, defended him, "This time, Loki's not lying. They've only crossed paths once before, and I was there too."

Hearing this, Captain America, Iron Man, and the others looked at Hawkeye in astonishment.

They knew Hawkeye was referring to the time he had been under the scepter's mind control.

This group had appeared that early?

What were their intentions?

Had they been lurking in the shadows all this time, waiting for this moment?

Were they after the Tesseract and the scepter?

And what had Loki just said? Sorcerers?

"These people are sorcerers? That yellow whip was magic?" Tony Stark asked, incredulous.

(End of Chapter)