"God, this is tacky."
Antony shook his head slowly as he stepped over shattered marble and splintered furniture.
"Pink drapes with baroque furniture? It looks like a discount honeymoon suite in Atlantic City."
He clicked his tongue.
"When Tony wakes up and sees this, he's going to sell the building out of spite."
Lorelei narrowed her eyes.
She had only been on Earth a short time, but the endless billboards, news feeds, and towering holographic ads had made one thing clear—this man ruled Midgard's spotlight.
Antony.
The most worshiped "hero" on this planet.
"So," she said smoothly, rising from her iron throne and stepping barefoot across the crimson carpet, "you are the one they call… Antony?"
She smiled—a smile that had broken kings and shattered armies.
"I have seen your likeness everywhere."
Her gaze slid over him slowly, appraising, predatory.
"You are stronger than your portraits suggest."
Her eyes lingered at his chest, his shoulders, his stance.
"So tell me… are you Midgard's strongest male?"
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"No matter how powerful you are, you are still male."
"And males are born to kneel before a queen."
She stopped five meters away.
Completely ignoring the women behind him—as if they were decorative plants.
"So," she purred, "have you come to submit?"
"Submit?"
Antony laughed.
He didn't answer her directly.
Instead, he glanced back at Jessica and Wanda.
"See?" he said casually. "I told you. Delusional confidence."
"She must've spent too long locked in a dungeon somewhere. Mold got to her brain."
Lorelei's smile froze.
No one—no one—had ever dared to call her that.
Men either worshiped her.
Or feared her.
"Impudent mortal," she said softly, though her eyes burned.
"You think your trivial strength in this fragile realm gives you the right to mock me?"
"You have no idea who stands before you."
She spread her arms wide.
Her magic surged outward—targeted, refined, devastating.
A wave of enchantment designed to collapse male will.
"Look at me… Antony."
Her voice shifted—liquid silk and whispered desire.
"Look at me."
"Love me."
"Give me your heart."
Behind him, the women stiffened.
"Antony! Don't listen!" Wanda shouted, scarlet energy flaring in her palms.
But Antony didn't move.
He stood there, hands loosely at his sides, faint smile intact.
Passive skills activated quietly beneath the surface.
Passive: Secondary Shield – Magical influence reduced by 30%.
Passive: Still Mind – Mental resistance significantly increased.
"…What?"
Lorelei frowned.
Thor had fallen instantly.
This mortal hadn't even blinked.
"Antony…" she pressed harder, increasing her output, her voice deepening with false tenderness.
"You're tired, aren't you?"
"The world takes from you. They demand perfection. They demand salvation."
"They never truly understand you."
"No one cherishes you."
"Only I…"
Her hand extended toward him.
"Come to me."
"Lay down your burdens."
"I will give you real love—"
"Ahem."
Antony cleared his throat mid-incantation.
"Finished?"
He looked at her like someone evaluating a disappointing audition.
"That's it?"
"A few cheesy lines and a bedroom voice?"
Lorelei actually stepped back.
"Impossible…"
"No man resists me."
"Resist you?" Antony tilted his head. "Why would that be difficult?"
"Do you even understand what 'charm' means?"
"You think showing thigh and whispering like you're constipated counts as charisma?"
The insult landed.
Hard.
He gave her a slow, dismissive once-over.
"Rejecting you isn't hard."
"It just requires… functioning taste."
"What did you say?!" she shrieked.
"Isn't it obvious?"
He walked to Jessica and slung an arm casually over her shoulders.
Jessica stiffened for half a second—public displays weren't really her thing—but she straightened up anyway, chin lifting.
"Look at this woman," Antony said proudly.
"This is Jessica Jones."
"She's stubborn. Drinks too much. Argues with me constantly."
Jessica shot him a look.
"But she's strong, independent, resilient. She stands her ground. When she's in the room, people feel safe."
"That's real strength."
"That's real beauty."
Jessica's cheeks warmed.
She tried not to smile.
Failed.
Special Popularity +5000 (Jessica Jones)
Antony stepped away and turned toward Wanda.
Wanda's hands folded together nervously.
"And Wanda."
"She's walked through hell. Lost family. Lost everything."
"But her eyes are still clear."
"She's powerful. Pure. Dangerous."
"She doesn't need to enchant anyone."
"She's a miracle."
Wanda's eyes shone.
Special Popularity +5000 (Wanda Maximoff)
"And Jane."
He gestured toward the newly armored Thunderer.
"Brilliant scientist. Now a warrior chosen by Mjolnir."
"Strength, intelligence, beauty—balanced."
Jane lifted her chin slightly.
"And Angelica—fire incarnate."
"And Pepper Potts—CEO of Stark Industries. Runs a corporation of over a hundred thousand employees. Grace and steel in one person."
He looked back at Lorelei.
"These women don't need mind control to validate themselves."
"They don't enslave men to feel important."
"You hide behind magic because you have nothing else."
"You don't understand real charm."
He finished calmly:
"I stand beside women like them."
"So what makes you think…"
"…I would ever choose you?"
Silence.
The air itself seemed stunned.
Behind him—
Jessica's expression softened visibly.
Wanda looked like she might cry.
Jane tightened her grip on Mjolnir.
Pepper pressed her lips together—her frustration with Tony quietly tripled.
Special Popularity +2500 (Pepper Potts)
Special Popularity +2500 (Jane Foster)
Special Popularity +2500 (Angelica)
Lorelei's face changed.
For the first time since arriving on Earth—
She wasn't confident.
She wasn't amused.
She wasn't seductive.
She was furious.
Truly furious.
"You dare," she whispered.
"You dare judge me?"
Her magic surged violently.
The red drapes tore from their rods.
Candles exploded.
The iron throne cracked under the pressure.
"I am adored across realms!"
"I am worshiped!"
"You are nothing but a fragile mortal wrapped in colored cloth!"
Her eyes burned.
"Very well."
"If charm does not sway you…"
"Then you will kneel by force."
Magic detonated outward like a shockwave.
The hall trembled.
Behind Antony, Wanda's scarlet energy flared in response.
Jane's hammer crackled with thunder.
Jessica rolled her shoulders.
Angelica ignited fully.
Antony smiled.
There it was.
No more pretending.
No more theatrics.
"Good," he said softly.
"Now we're talking."
He stepped forward.
"You wanted me to kneel?"
His eyes hardened.
"Come try."
--------------
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