Chapter 432 The Mind Stone!

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As the others looked on in astonishment, Caesar remained calm, even finding their surprise somewhat expected. After all, the original Kyle had already mastered these skills and knowledge through his rapid learning ability, and Caesar, as his clone, naturally had to keep up.

In the past three years, Caesar not only focused on controlling Superman's powers and various awakened abilities but also used his superhuman intellect to master all the knowledge and skills available on Earth. 

For a Kryptonian, having an eidetic memory was an understatement. Their brains functioned like supercomputers, processing knowledge and skills at a speed that matched their absorption of natural energy.

Moreover, studying and furthering his education helped Caesar to find ways to manage the immense energy and power within him.

"Creating a large enough interstellar portal?" Dr. Banner's understanding of the subject was swift. He immediately grasped the implication, exclaiming, "So, Loki wants to activate the Tesseract to bring his alien army to Earth?"

Thor nodded solemnly. "That's very likely. It's exactly the kind of plan Loki would devise."

"What did you just say?" Steve and Natasha, still bewildered by the scientific jargon, only picked up on Loki's intention to build a portal.

"Captain," Dr. Banner addressed Steve seriously, "Agent Barton, under Loki's control, just needs a high-density power source to activate the Tesseract and tear open a portal in space. This could spell an apocalypse for Earth."

"We're running out of time, then," Steve said, frowning and spreading his hands in frustration. "But I have one more question. Where could Loki find such a high-density power source?"

The heroes, feeling out of their depth, fell silent and turned their attention to Dr. Banner and the four-year-old Caesar.

"High-density power source..." Dr. Banner murmured, suddenly struck by a realization. He looked urgently at Caesar on the workbench. "Stark Industries?"

"You're right, Dr. Banner," Caesar responded with a smile. "Stark Industries' new headquarters is powered by a new type of Arc Reactor. If it operates at full capacity, it can sustain the entire city of New York."

This explanation made everything clear to the others.

"I'll go inform Director Fury that Loki might target Stark Tower," Natasha said, standing up and heading for the door. Just then, the door opened from the outside. "No need; I've heard everything," said Director Fury as he entered the lab.

He glanced at everyone and then activated his communicator, instructing the main cockpit hall staff, "Adjust the Helicarrier's course to New York City, heading for Stark Tower."

Natasha relaxed a bit, smiling. "Great, we've identified Barton's next target. Now we just need to figure out why Loki allowed himself to be captured."

Fury's expression turned serious. "That man is incredibly cunning. It's tough to extract information from him through conventional means."

"Interrogation is my specialty. I'll handle Loki," Natasha said with a sly smile, flipping her short red hair before sauntering out of the lab with graceful, cat-like steps.

"She's a real rose with thorns. Let's hope Loki doesn't end up with bloody hands," Eddie muttered, shrinking back slightly.

For some reason, Eddie felt a sense of unease. Since Loki's capture, Venom had been unusually quiet, not gossiping or clamoring for live seafood. Feeling restless, Eddie scratched his head and couldn't help but shout, "Is there any live seafood around? I need some, or else the master inside me might go crazy like the green monster!"

This comment acted like a spark to a fuse.

Dr. Banner's expression shifted from mild-mannered to icy cold as he looked up from his screen. His eyes lost their previous warmth, and he stared at Eddie. "Are you trying to provoke me by constantly mentioning the Hulk? Do you have a problem with me?"

Steve stood up, feeling inexplicably compelled to join the conversation. In a cold voice, he said, "Eddie, you've been eating non-stop since we got here. Can you settle down?"

"What are you talking about?" Eddie, visibly annoyed, walked up to Steve and snapped, "Capturing Loki was my and Master's achievement. You, you old relic, are always late to the party!"

"Your habit of threatening to bite people's heads off hardly counts as heroism," Steve quickly retorted.

Eddie chuckled derisively. "Oh yeah? How about you grab your shield, and we settle this outside?"

As the two argued, the rest of the room's occupants did nothing to intervene. Instead, they joined the increasingly heated discussion.

Thor picked up Mjolnir, thumping his solid chest. "You want to fight? I haven't even spoken, yet you mere mortals are already so presumptuous. Do you want to have a go?"

Fury, cutting in abruptly, said, "I don't care if you're God or not. As long as you're in a SHIELD temporary base, you need to watch your actions. Your brother's killing spree of over seventy people on Earth hasn't been fully accounted for."

"Fine, let's settle it now!" Thor, unfazed, raised Mjolnir, clearly ready for a confrontation.

Hill, sensing the tension, discreetly reached for her gun.

"Have you all said enough?" Dr. Banner removed his glasses, his emotions starting to fray as he began breathing heavily.

In just ten seconds, the lab's atmosphere turned explosive, with everyone at each other's throats.

The only one not participating in the chaos was the golden-haired boy sitting silently on the workbench, watching them.

"So, it's finally happening, Loki."

Caesar seemed to see through everything, ignoring the bickering heroes and SHIELD personnel. He glanced sideways at the crystal magic staff on the table beside him.

Caesar could clearly sense that the magic staff had been activated. It wasn't releasing tangible energy but was instead emitting a subtle, mind-manipulating influence.

This psychic interference was almost undetectable, forcibly drawing out negative emotions from everyone in the room, causing the inexplicable argument.

Only one item could achieve this, regardless of the lifeform's strength.

An Infinity Stone, specifically, the Mind Stone.

"Oh?"

Caesar suddenly looked up at the lab's ceiling. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see through the layers of the Helicarrier's iron structure, noticing a jet closing in from a kilometer away. Leading the jet was none other than the mind-controlled Agent Hawkeye.

Yet, inside the lab, the others were still engrossed in their disputes, oblivious to the approaching enemy and the imminent danger.

"Without me, you guys really can't handle things, can you?"

Caesar sighed, shaking his head in resignation. He decided not to remain a passive observer. Reaching out his small, fair hand toward the magic staff, he didn't grasp the staff itself but instead pinched the purple-blue glowing crystal atop it.

With a slight increase in pressure from his fingers, there was a sharp crack. Caesar's expression remained serene as his right hand crushed the magic staff's crystal, shattering it into pieces.

(End of Chapter)

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