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Darian ignored Loki's gaze and said, "Loki, your leader Fury has already been executed. It's not too late to surrender now!"
Loki: "?"
When did Fury become my boss?
Loki snorted, "It seems that one-eyed mortal's plan ultimately failed. What a pity."
He had to admit, Fury was the most insidious and cunning mortal Loki had ever seen. Ever since he was controlled by him, Fury had actively offered him all sorts of schemes and tricks, even going so far as to destroy his own base.
Loki was astonished at the time.
Am I the God of Mischief or are you the God of Mischief? How do you come up with bad ideas one after another, even more skillfully than me?
"However, as long as the Chitauri army fully descends, all of Midgard will prostrate at my feet. No one can stop me!"
Loki raised his scepter, full of vigor.
Darian pulled out a powerful magnet, trying to attract the scepter, but found no reaction.
"Do you think I wouldn't guard against that?" Loki sneered.
He was the God of Mischief, after all. How could the same trick succeed twice?
Seeing this, Darian put away the powerful magnet: "In that case, I can only fight like a mage. Coincidentally, I've recently learned a new magic."
"You, a third-rate mage?"
Loki's face was full of disdain. He immediately raised his scepter, and the gem at its tip instantly shot out a blue energy ray.
Biu!
Darian's figure flashed, nimbly dodging the energy ray. At the same time, he suddenly lunged forward, a dazzling magic sword having materialized in his hand at some point. He rushed towards Loki at an extremely fast speed, raising the magic sword and slashing at Loki.
Loki immediately raised his scepter to block, the excessively bright light in front of him making him unconsciously narrow his eyes.
"Illumination Spell again?"
"This is a magic sword!"
Darian immediately retorted, his light sword rapidly swinging out, hacking wildly at Loki.
Loki was repeatedly forced back by the brutal force, his tiger's mouth tingling.
Darian was about to press his advantage.
Suddenly, an arrow, with a sharp whistling sound, tore through the air, heading straight for his head!
Darian quickly turned his head, and the arrow flew past his ear.
Although with his reflexes, catching the arrow barehanded would not have been difficult, having recently read DC comics, he knew one truth: don't casually catch weapons thrown by others.
Clearly, his decision was correct.
The arrow deeply embedded itself in the wall behind him, then exploded with a bang, sending out a spray of shattered rock and dust.
Darian looked up towards where the arrow came from. On the rooftop of a distant building, the long-missing Clint stood at the edge of the roof, maintaining a drawn bow posture. Clearly, that arrow had been shot by him.
Loki seized the opportunity, swinging his scepter to counterattack Darian.
His close-combat skills were not weak at all. After all, he was one of the Asgard gladiatorial arena's clearers back then, without any exaggeration.
Darian was busy fending off Loki's attacks while also having to deal with Clint's sneak arrows, finding himself a bit overwhelmed.
Deal with one person first!
Darian made a decisive decision and shouted, "Watch my ultimate move!"
Loki, hearing this, thought Darian had some trump card. He immediately widened his eyes, fully focused, ready to counter Darian's next move.
Unexpectedly, the next moment, a dazzling light suddenly flashed!
"Ah! My eyes!!"
Loki covered his eyes, falling for Darian's big trick again.
He took back what he said earlier; this guy in front of him was the most insidious and cunning mortal he had ever seen!
Darian laughed heartily, "You fell for it! Take this punch!"
The blinded Loki quickly raised his hand to protect his face, but Darian suddenly kicked him in the abdomen, sending him flying backward.
Loki: "."
First Fury, then Darian. He, the God of Mischief, looked like a rookie in front of these Earthlings.
He suddenly missed his simple-minded older brother, who never played petty tricks and always gave him a sense of intellectual superiority, providing ample emotional value.
Just then, another arrow whistled through the air, quickly unfurling mid-flight into a huge net that enveloped Darian.
Darian raised his magic sword and easily cut the net. Then he dispelled the light sword and looked at Clint in the distance, saying, "I didn't expect that after so many days, we two S.H.I.E.L.D. sharpshooters would compete again in this way."
The distance between them was too great for Clint to hear Darian's voice, but he clearly understood Darian's posture and gaze.
This was a challenge from a sharpshooter!
Even under control, Clint's pride and competitiveness as a top sharpshooter still existed. He was determined to win this competition, as it concerned the dignity and honor of a sharpshooter.
He didn't hesitate, nocking another arrow and drawing his bow, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, his entire being focused on the target.
However, he then saw Darian wave his hand, and an RPG Rocket launcher instantly appeared on his shoulder, its dark muzzle pointed directly at him.
Clint: "."
Boom!!
A missile, trailing a fiery tail, slammed into the rooftop where Clint was, and a violent explosion suddenly erupted!
When the smoke cleared, Clint was nowhere to be seen, having been blasted to who knows where.
Clearly, in this fair and just sharpshooter duel, Darian had once again emerged victorious!
After dealing with Clint, the ADC, Darian turned around and saw Loki had silently snuck up behind him at some point.
Loki gave an evil smile, thrusting his scepter forward. The gem at its tip instantly glowed with a faint blue light, striking Darian squarely in the chest.
"Foolish mortal!"
Seeing his sneak attack succeed, Loki's lips curled up, a triumphant smile on his face.
His scepter could control anyone, even someone with strong willpower like Steve. Anyone touched by his scepter would obey his commands without hesitation.
And now, Darian had clearly fallen victim, becoming a puppet he could mold at will.
Loki cleared his throat and commanded, "Now, obey my command, kneel!"
He expected the other party to kneel in response, and had even thought of his next line.
However, after waiting for a while, nothing happened. Darian remained motionless in place.
Loki frowned and shouted again, "Kneel!"
But Darian remained indifferent, as if he couldn't hear his command.
Loki said in surprise, "That's not right, why isn't it working?"
Darian blinked: "Maybe it's out of power?"
Loki: "."
He suddenly realized something was wrong, but it was too late. Darian suddenly reached out and firmly grabbed the scepter!
"Do you think I wouldn't guard against that?" Darian sneered, returning the same words to Loki.
He had long known that Loki had the ability to control others, so he had put on the Fool's Ring in advance, instantly becoming incredibly smart.
"What!?"
Loki hadn't expected Darian to be unaffected and immediately tried to snatch back the scepter.
"Illumination Spell!"
A dazzling white light burst forth from Darian's hand again. Loki was caught off guard and flashed again, allowing Darian to seize the scepter.
"Despicable mortal! Is that the only magic you know!?" Loki cursed loudly, covering his eyes.
"How could that be! Take this, Shatter!"
Darian shouted, swinging the scepter with all his might. The scepter erupted in dazzling white light, bringing with it a terrifying whooshing sound as it slammed fiercely towards Loki.
Loki, startled, hastily leaped backward. He heard a loud bang as the scepter smashed the wall beside him, sending broken rock fragments flying.
"Pierce!"
With a flash of white light, Darian immediately thrust the scepter forward like a spear.
Loki rolled away extremely clumsily, narrowly avoiding the fierce blow.
Darian grew more courageous with each attack, loudly announcing various powerful-sounding magic names. He wielded the scepter with fierce power, each attack accompanied by that characteristic dazzling white light, as if fearing someone would question the purity of his magic.
Loki could only passively dodge and weave, barely managing to avoid the attacks, feeling utterly frustrated!
What kind of magic is this!?
This was clearly Illumination Spell plus normal attacks, with all the damage coming from brute force!
Despite this, Loki was still beaten without being able to retaliate. His proud illusion magic also had no effect on Darian.
"Sleep!"
Darian seized an opening from Loki, swung the scepter, and successfully hit him in the head. Loki immediately fell to the ground!
Knowing Loki's robust physique, Darian didn't hold back, raising the scepter and delivering more than a dozen consecutive Sleep spells.
At this moment, Thor staggered in, holding his waist, and happened to see this scene. He couldn't help but say, "Darian, go easy on him, he is my brother after all."
"Your brother is causing Earth to suffer a global crisis."
"Uh, he was adopted."
Thor was a bit embarrassed, quickly distancing himself from Loki.
Darian tossed Loki, whose head was now swollen with several bumps, to Thor: "Watch your brother, don't let him run off again."
Thor nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, this time when we go back, I will discipline him strictly. I'll use your methods to properly educate Loki until he fully recognizes his mistakes."
As soon as he finished speaking, Loki's body involuntarily twitched, as if triggering some deep muscle memory.
After dealing with Loki, Darian finally had time to examine the scepter in his hand.
[Loki's Scepter]
[Description: A weapon granted to Loki by Thanos for invading Earth. Embedded at its tip is the Mind Stone, one of the Universe's Infinity Stones. Note: The wielder is highly likely to attract Thanos's gaze.]
Seeing this description, Darian immediately understood the scepter's significance.
Thanos clearly looked like the big boss behind the scenes; even Loki had to obey him.
Darian tried to put the scepter into his game inventory, and as expected, just like Mjolnir, it couldn't be stored.
But he didn't continue to study the scepter. He opened his communicator and said, "I've got Loki's scepter. How do I shut down the teleportation device?"
Steve immediately responded, "According to Dr. Selvig, you need to use the scepter to disrupt the Tesseract's energy flow."
"Understood. I'll go shut down the teleportation device now."
Darian, scepter in hand, was about to walk towards the teleportation device, which was still continuously outputting energy.
Tony's urgent voice suddenly cut in: "Wait, don't shut down the teleportation device yet! I just received a message from Hill. A nuclear missile is currently flying towards us and is estimated to reach Manhattan in less than three minutes and detonate within the city."
Darian asked suspiciously, "Who launched it?"
"It's those bastards from the World Council, a decision made personally by the United States."
"Alright."
Darian was speechless.
When it came to unreliability, the U.S. high-ups never disappointed, with various incredible maneuvers emerging endlessly.
Throwing a nuclear bomb at their own city was truly something else.
Tony then said, "I plan to push this nuclear bomb into the portal; it absolutely cannot explode in the city."
In a crucial moment, Tony proved quite reliable, even disregarding his own safety, preparing to personally guide the nuclear bomb into the portal.
But Darian had no intention of letting him succeed.
If the nuclear bomb was sent into the portal and detonated by Tony, wouldn't the credit for annihilating the Chitauri army on the other side all go to Tony?
Looking through the portal, the scale of the Chitauri army on the other side far exceeded the vanguard forces on Earth; perhaps not even one percent had flown through yet.
Once the nuclear bomb exploded over there, Tony's kill count would instantly skyrocket, allowing him to easily surpass Darian and claim the top spot on the leaderboard.
The evil Tony Stark.
Grinding points with money was one thing, but trying to exploit game mechanics to farm monsters?
"BT, what's your situation?"
Without a word, Darian immediately connected with BT.
BT immediately replied, "Following your command, dealing with the enemies attracted by Peter Parker."
Following the map's guidance, Darian quickly pinpointed BT's location.
From a distance, Peter was being frantically chased by a massive metal leviathan, while BT had leaped onto the leviathan's back, hacking at it with the Titan Greatsword.
Did Peter come with an area-of-effect taunt aura? He could even attract such a huge creature.
"Never mind him for now, come to me immediately."
"Understood."
Upon receiving Darian's command, BT decisively abandoned Peter, who was still frantically fleeing, leaped off the metal leviathan's back, and sped towards Darian's location at full throttle.
Peter: "???"
Soon, BT's tall figure appeared at the top of Stark Tower.
He lowered his head, his blue electronic eyes fixed on Darian, awaiting the next command.
BT: [.]
Darian: (o゜゜)o
"Remember to crouch whenever you see me from now on."
Darian's mouth twitched; this perspective was truly exhausting.
After BT lowered his height, Darian handed Loki's scepter to BT: "Hold this. Wait for my command, then use it to shut down the portal device."
"Understood."
On the other side, Tony had already locked onto the nuclear bomb based on the information provided by Hill.
"Jarvis, divert all power to the thrusters!"
At Tony's command, the Iron Man Suit's speed surged, quickly catching up to the whistling nuclear bomb.
Just as he adjusted his posture, preparing to guide the nuclear bomb, a familiar voice came through the communicator.
"Tony, catch me!"
Tony: "?"
Before he could react, he saw Darian, piloting another unknown aircraft snatched from some unlucky Chitauri soldier, charging straight towards him, then once again precisely jumping onto the back of his Iron Man Suit.
Once again, successfully capturing his mount, Tony Stark!
"What are you doing?" Tony said, exasperated.
"I'm here to help you! I'll control the warhead, and you focus on navigation and steering!"
"Alright! Hold on tight!"
With little time left on the countdown, Tony had no time to argue and immediately approached the nuclear bomb with Darian.
Darian extended his hands to brace the nuclear bomb, while Tony focused on adjusting the optimal trajectory, simultaneously activating all attack systems to clear any approaching Chitauri soldiers along the way, ensuring the nuclear bomb wouldn't be impacted and detonate prematurely.
The two, braving a hail of gunfire, pushed the destructive weapon across the New York sky, rapidly approaching the top of Stark Tower.
"Prepare to arrive directly beneath the portal!" Tony's voice came through.
"Okay!"
The GANTZ Enhanced Suit on Darian instantly activated, his muscles bulging as he forcefully pushed the nuclear bomb in his hands.
Beneath him, Tony simultaneously maximized the output of his Iron Man Suit's thrusters. The two worked in tandem, forcibly redirecting the heavy nuclear bomb, aiming it vertically at the portal above and surging towards it!
The moment the nuclear bomb was about to plunge into the portal's vortex, Darian stomped his feet!
"You!"
Tony immediately felt himself lose control, deviating from his original flight path!
"BT, shut down the portal device!"
Receiving the command, the waiting BT didn't hesitate for a moment, plunging the scepter in his hand into the Tesseract's energy device!
Buzz—!
The Mind Stone at the tip of the scepter violently clashed with the Tesseract's energy, and the massive blue light pillar maintaining the portal instantly flickered intensely, then abruptly vanished as if its power had been cut!
Deprived of a continuous energy supply, the gigantic spatial portal began to rapidly shrink at a visible speed.
"No one is going to steal my kills!"
Darian shouted, his Whiplash Armor instantly covering his entire body, and the thrusters on his legs and back spewed dazzling tail flames, giving him one last powerful thrust.
He tightly embraced the nuclear bomb, plunging headfirst and without hesitation into the rapidly closing portal vortex!
The very next second after Darian's figure disappeared, the portal vanished simultaneously, and the sky returned to its original color, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Darian!"
Tony stabilized himself, hovering in the air, gazing in disbelief at the empty sky.
He never would have imagined that at the last moment, Darian would choose to sacrifice himself, taking the nuclear bomb completely away from Earth.
As for the words Darian shouted before rushing into the portal, Tony completely dismissed them as a hero's joke, uttered in his final moments to mask the tragedy.
At the same time, all the Chitauri soldiers on Earth collapsed to the ground as if collectively powered down, losing all signs of life.
Even the metal leviathan that had chased Peter for several blocks crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Clearly, this battle for Earth was a victory for Earth's side!
But Tony and the others felt no joy from it, only a heavy sense of shock and sadness, for only they knew that this victory came at the cost of a comrade's self-sacrifice.
The communication channel of the 'Kick Nick Fury Alliance' was silent for a long time, filled with a suppressed atmosphere.
Finally, it was Steve who spoke first, his voice low and full of respect: "Darian, my friend, he was a true hero."
"Although this person usually had no proper demeanor and was annoying to talk to, he was unexpectedly reliable at critical moments," Natasha said with a complex tone.
"Hoo hoo!"
Hulk's muffled growl came through the communicator.
"Hulk is right."
Tony agreed, his voice carrying a rare heaviness: "Darian, that guy, he doesn't look like a good person, uh, his style of doing things is even less like a good person, but I must admit, deep down, he's a good person."
"What! You're saying Darian sacrificed himself!?"
Suddenly, a young, unfamiliar voice cut into the communicator.
Tony was startled, asking in surprise, "Who are you?"
"Hello, Mr. Stark, I'm a new member Darian pulled in not long ago. My name is Spider-Man."
After Peter joined the team, Darian gave him the team's exclusive communicator.
He just didn't expect there to be so many big shots in the group, and even his idol, Captain America, was among them. As a little newbie who had just joined, Peter trembled and dared not speak, always lurking and eavesdropping on the big shots' conversations.
It wasn't until he heard of Darian's sacrifice that he couldn't help but speak up.
Tony took a deep breath, confirming gravely: "I'm afraid so. Darian just now took a nuclear bomb and rushed into the portal. He can't come back now."
"No, that's impossible, Darian is so amazing, how could he have sacrificed himself!" Peter said, somewhat disbelieving.
"It's true, kid."
Steve recognized Peter's voice; it was the little hater—oh no, little fan—he had met at the Captain America Memorial Museum earlier.
He spoke to comfort him: "Darian chose to sacrifice himself to protect Earth. He is everyone's hero."
Tony said, "Agreed. Darian is handsome, kind, humble in speech, and very reliable. These are qualities we should emulate."
Natasha echoed: "Tony is right, so I propose that Darian be the Captain of the Avengers."
"Hoo hoo hoo!" Hulk expressed his agreement.
Steve: "Darian is the one everyone wants!"
Peter: "."
Wait, is this Darian you're talking about the same person I know?
At this moment, Steve's voice rang out again: "That voice just now wasn't me!"
Natasha also immediately clarified: "Nor was it me."
Tony said furiously: "Damn it! Someone's imitating our voices. Let me see which bastard it is. Hey, Darian?"
Tony was instantly dumbfounded; he found that all these voices were actually coming from Darian's channel!
Which meant—
"So you weren't dead after all!" Tony gritted his teeth.
Darian chuckled: "I never said I was dead."
"Then why didn't you say anything earlier?"
"I saw you all chatting so intensely, I didn't have the heart to interrupt. You guys keep praising me, don't stop. I'm a very tolerant person; I accept all compliments, but I'll delete bad comments."
Tony: "."
The others: "."
The team channel was silent for a moment, then Tony spoke: "I know there's an Shawarma place nearby. I don't know how it tastes, but I want to try it. Anyone in?"
The team members responded one after another.
Peter, who had just joined the group, also followed suit, joining the team exploring the Shawarma shop.
No matter how Darian called out in the channel, no one spoke. In less than a minute, he, the hero who had just sacrificed himself, was completely forgotten, with no more topics for discussion.
Truly, the World is degenerating, and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be!
Darian lamented the bleakness of society, putting away the bow-shaped voice changer in his hand.
After he sent the nuclear bomb into the portal, he immediately opened the map and furiously pressed the teleport button, teleporting directly back to Earth just as the nuclear explosion occurred.
At the same time, he also unlocked a new achievement.
[Congratulations, Player, you have unlocked the achievement: Nuclear Peace Envoy (Wearing this title can increase the Player's deterrent power against nations)]