Loki knelt on the freezing floor. The thought of utilizing Thanos to eliminate Peter had barely surfaced in his mind when, in the very next split second, a cascade of highly inconvenient images flooded his consciousness.
Every single one of his meticulously calculated schemes had been effortlessly dismantled by Peter in a manner bordering on absolute humiliation.
And then... there was the wretched demise of Laufey, and... his father's face.
"It was my fault."
His father's apology echoed clearly beside his ears.
Following that was Thor—the agonizing, grief-stricken expression on that idiot's face as he lunged forward, desperately trying to catch Loki's cape the exact instant he plummeted into the void.
Loki's Adam's apple bobbed up and down. A deeply conflicted expression surfaced on his face.
It was true that he could align himself with Thanos and have him lead a massive armada to invade Earth. But what would happen after that?
Setting aside whether Thanos could actually handle that monster of an Earthling, even if Thanos truly emerged victorious, so what? Would his father and brother look up to him because of it?
Delving even deeper, his father was already exceptionally ancient. If he guided the Chitauri armada to Midgard now, wouldn't these insatiable conquerors eventually look toward Asgard next?
The more Loki pondered it, the more he lacked the courage to open his mouth.
Thanos naturally detected his hesitation. However, the Titan sovereign did not flare into a rage. He merely reached out at a deliberate pace, picking up the Mind Scepter resting beside the armrest of his throne.
The gem embedded at the apex of the scepter radiated a faint, ethereal blue shimmer. A single glance at it was enough to make one feel a bizarre, hypnotic pull.
"I know what it is you fear."
"But what I wish to tell you is that before Thanos, the things you fear are fundamentally not worth mentioning."
"I can grant you power."
Thanos casually tossed the Mind Scepter right in front of Loki, the metallic clang echoing sharply throughout the cavernous hall.
"I can grant you an army."
"I can grant you every single piece of leverage required to achieve your vengeance."
"But if, under such circumstances, you still cannot summon the courage of a warrior—"
"Then my Titan star shall no longer welcome you!"
Those final words were the absolute killing blow. Loki understood perfectly well what it would signify if he was no longer welcome on Titan.
During this past period, he had drifted from place to place, fully tasting the bitter coldness of the universe. If he were exiled from Titan, branded by two cosmic sovereigns consecutively as lacking the worth to survive on their planets, his future days would only become infinitely more miserable!
At this thought, he instinctively extended his hand, his fingertips making contact with the Mind Scepter.
The exact instant his fingertips touched the scepter's surface, a freezing current shot up his arm and lunged straight into his brain. The very emotions he had been desperately trying to suppress just a moment ago were instantaneously magnified tenfold, a hundredfold.
Fury.
Resentment.
Jealousy.
And a bone-deep sense of absolute inferiority.
Deep within Loki's pupils, a flash of ethereal blue light darted past. He gripped the scepter tightly and slowly stood up.
"Lord Thanos."
His voice was significantly steadier than before, even carrying a few hints of his past, unhurried composure.
Ebony Maw arched an eyebrow, clearly noting the shift in Loki's state. Thanos also grew slightly intrigued, leaning his massive torso forward.
"Speak."
"I can provide you with the coordinates of Earth."
The moment Loki's words fell, Peter's terrifyingly casual face flashed across his mind once more. This instantly lopped off more than half of the grand ambition that had just managed to sprout within his heart.
Consequently, the words that reached his lips shifted into:
"But I have one condition. I will not participate in this invasion. Whether this invasion succeeds or fails, it has absolutely nothing to do with me."
"It is impossible for me to ever provoke that monster Peter Parker again!"
"Otherwise, even if he chooses to spare me, my brother and father will never forgive me!"
Hearing this, Ebony Maw's face immediately twisted into a displeased scowl. He was just about to open his mouth to reprimand him when Thanos raised a hand to stop him.
In truth, Thanos also strongly desired to execute Loki right then and there. But he knew he couldn't act just yet. This little piece of trash still possessed utility. He was the perfect stepping stone for his future invasion of Asgard.
Therefore, Loki could not die just yet! Not only could he not die, but Thanos needed to gradually dismantle the terror nestled within the trickster's heart. Only by doing so could he truly make Loki useful to him!
With this thought in mind, Thanos stepped down from his throne, walking pace by pace until he stood directly before Loki.
Loki instinctively took half a step back, but forced himself to halt. Thanos looked down at him, the corners of his lips slowly curving into an arc.
"Your fear, I understand."
"But your fear happens to prove one thing."
He reached out, taking the Mind Scepter back from Loki's grasp, weighing it lightly in his palm.
"On that planet, there is something well worth my personal attention."
Reaching this point, he patted Loki on the shoulder and said:
"Your condition, I grant it!"
"Now, give me the coordinates of Earth."
"As for that Midgardian you worry about—"
Thanos turned around, reseating himself majestically upon his throne, his dominant aura overflowing as he declared:
"You only need to sit right here and watch a grand show with me."
"Let us see just how long that monster Earthling you speak of can actually endure before my armada."
Loki's lips pressed into a tight, thin line.
The residual influence of the Mind Scepter was still churning violently inside his brain. Those magnified negative emotions were like trash left on the beach after the tide receded—the water was gone, but the garbage remained.
He desperately wanted to refuse. But he also understood with absolute clarity that before Thanos, he fundamentally lacked the qualification to refuse.
Moreover... a scheme slowly coalesced within his mind.
If Thanos won, then by following Thanos, he at least wouldn't be on the losing side. And if Peter won—then he wouldn't suffer any losses on Thanos's side either.
After all, he wasn't personally participating in the fight. Worst-case scenario, he could just claim he was coerced by the Mad Titan, and Thor and his father wouldn't be able to blame him entirely.
This calculation was so shameless that even he himself felt it was low. But there was no helping it—who else was he but the God of Mischief? What was wrong with the God of Mischief utilizing a few petty tricks?
Survival wasn't an embarrassment.
"The Milky Way galaxy, the Third Quadrant, the third planet of the Solar System."
Finally, Loki closed his eyes, slowly reciting the coordinates of Earth.
"Very good!" Thanos nodded in satisfaction. "Ebony Maw."
"Your servant is here."
"Pass down my orders. Supergiant and Black Dwarf shall each command two Chitauri capital ships, plus one flagship. Depart immediately."
"The target—Earth."
Ebony Maw accepted the command and departed, while Loki remained kneeling on the spot, motionless. Thanos cast a glance at him, suddenly breaking into a smile.
"Do not be tense, Loki."
"If matters proceed smoothly, you will very quickly return to Asgard."
"In the capacity of a conqueror."
Loki did not offer a reply. He merely kept his head lowered, staring fixedly at his own blurred reflection on the polished floor. He could barely recognize the face looking back at him.
But very quickly, a violent shuddering disrupted the hesitation and conflict within his heart.
That was the sound of five colossal Chitauri Leviathan cruisers powering up. Every single Leviathan cruiser was packed with thousands of fully armed, battle-hardened Chitauri soldiers who had conquered countless star systems!
Beholding that fully armed armada, Loki instinctively tightened his grip on his scepter. He felt the chaotic, cluttered thoughts within his mind gradually settle into absolute stillness...
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