With his decision made, Loki approached Thanos, stopping ten meters away. He planted the Reality Scepter on the ground and knelt before the Mad Titan.
"Thank you for your gift, Thanos. I won't disappoint you!"
"Hmm. I trust Asgard, and its prince."
"Yes!"
Ebony Maw nodded respectfully, leading Loki to the Sanctuary II's hangar. They boarded a smaller spacecraft together.
Onboard, Loki sat in the co-pilot's seat, smiling. Ebony Maw, however, looked displeased.
The ship launched and warped to the Chitauri assembly point.
As soon as they arrived, Ebony Maw addressed Loki, whose smile was both sinister and erratic.
"The Emperor rarely trusts anyone, yet you've earned his trust.
But I sense deceit and pride within you. I hope your pride doesn't disappoint him."
"Hehe, Ebony Maw!" Loki replied confidently. "With Thanos's aid, do you think I could fail?"
"Indeed."
Ebony Maw pondered, shaking his head seriously. He folded his hands behind his back, standing like a statue beside Loki.
They arrived at the Chitauri flagship—a massive H-shaped vessel resembling two U-shaped magnets fused back-to-back.
Around it, countless bio-mechanical dragon carriers circled, a fusion of flesh and machinery.
Their ship docked at the flagship's center. The hangar doors opened for Ebony Maw's vessel.
Inside, Ebony Maw led Loki to the command center, explaining as they walked:
"The Chitauri are ideal for you. They have no commander.
Input your genetic code into their leader, and you'll control this bio-mechanical army fully.
They can enter hibernation to conserve energy, have no consciousness, and never tire.
Obey your commands without question. Even among the Emperor's seven elite forces, the Chitauri aren't the weakest."
As he spoke, Ebony Maw waved his right hand. Loki's forehead seared with pain.
"Damn!"
Loki cried out. A narrow wound appeared on his forehead!
A single gesture had injured Loki's pride—the body of Asgard's greatest assassin…
Its greatest sorcerer!
Loki's face darkened, but Ebony Maw ignored his anger. He swayed his hand, sending a drop of Loki's blood to the Chitauri leader's container.
Completing the genetic input, he continued:
"Flesh closest to the brain works best. The Chitauri leader favors intelligence. Though you're foolish, you have some wit."
Ebony Maw waved at Loki again. His hand seemed to control everything.
Mysterious devices in the command room floated and assembled into a trampoline-like machine.
Once assembled, Ebony Maw explained:
"This is the Emperor's old device for harnessing the Space Stone's energy.
It can influence the Stone, but not strongly. To manipulate it remotely and transport you and your army to Earth…"
He shook his head.
"It's nearly impossible."
"So, Ebony Maw, you must have a solution."
Loki remained calm, trusting Thanos's subordinate.
Why?
Because in this universe, Thanos solves everything.
Ebony Maw confirmed Loki's guess:
"Indeed. We don't need to transport your entire army. Only you will arrive on Midgard first.
You understand."
Loki nodded.
"The old way. I'll open the portal to Midgard myself."
"Correct."
Ebony Maw affirmed.
"Remember, you'll have fewer than five attempts. The device retains a fraction of the Space Stone's energy from 5,000 years ago.
That energy dissipates each time you activate it. Master the Stone's wave pattern quickly and open the portal at the right moment.
That moment will be fleeting—a blink.
You have few chances to train. Study it, master it, and succeed, Prince of Asgard.
I expect your victory."
With that, Ebony Maw nodded and left.
Watching him go, Loki admitted envy.
He envied Thanos's subordinates' damnable confidence!
Look at them! He'd merely suggested a plan—just a suggestion!
He hadn't expected success, only a position under Thanos.
Yet Thanos gave him the Reality Stone and the Chitauri fleet.
Without demands, they let him handle everything his way—as long as he kept his promise.
Such confidence was ruthless.
Thanos and his men were certain: whether Loki gained Earth or fled to the ends of the universe, no matter his future power…
If he broke his promise, Thanos would find him and make him pay.
This invisible pressure made Loki shake his head. He hated feeling shackled.
He strode to the spatial device, examining it.
After a while…
"Hmm. Incredible. 5,000-year-old technology is so minimalist."
He faced the device, which lacked controls.
"So minimalist, it has no on/off switch!"
Loki stood above the device.
"Perhaps it's always active."
He spread his arms on the platform, trying to sense the Space Stone's power.
Moments later…
"Haha! I feel it—suppressed energy waiting to burst.
Midgard's use of the Stone is crude. They merely extract, compress, and release its power.
Like owning the finest Pegasus but breeding it instead of riding it into battle.
I believe these gems have souls. Midgard disgraces the Stone.
So, I'm Midgard's destiny—sent by the Space Stone to punish and rule them!"
Loki first communicated with the Space Stone's energy.
In an instant, blue fluorescence enveloped him—but only for two seconds.
"Hmm. This spatial tear feels different from the Bifrost.
The Bifrost is like drifting downstream. This feels like falling into an abyss, landing precisely where I aim."
Loki pondered his failure, thinking for a long time.
…
Midgard—Earth.
At the unattractive Pegasus Base, over 2,000 S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and scholars evacuated systematically.
They'd received orders from the Helicarrier:
"Evacuate all Pegasus Project personnel. Suspend Tesseract research!"
In the command center, Hill told Banner and Selvig:
"I've evacuated everyone as you advised. Is the risk still present?"
She looked exhausted, awaiting their answer.
Selvig shook his head.
"The risk remains. The Tesseract's activity has increased. I can't guarantee safety."
Banner immediately added:
"That's too conservative. Let me explain, Director.
The Tesseract's no longer dormant. Like a waking volcano, it's building energy—and it will erupt!"
"Erupt?!" Hill asked. "To what extent?"
"A wormhole, possibly a black hole!!!"
"Fuck!"
Hill swore at Banner's answer—unacceptable.
Black holes? Hawking warned Earth couldn't survive one.
Fortunately, Selvig continued:
"We have a solution. Director, if we don't stop stimulating the Tesseract, let it build energy, and prepare to contain it…"
"What does that mean?" Hill asked, confused.
Selvig explained:
"We accelerate its energy buildup, forcing a premature wormhole before it gains full power.
We'll contain the Tesseract immediately, preventing the wormhole from becoming a black hole.
It'll collapse—harmful, but no worse than a medium-sized hydrogen bomb."
As he finished, Banner shouted angrily:
"Selvig!"
Banner was furious.
"This isn't a good plan! We can't predict the wormhole's scale. It might form a black hole instantly!
We discussed this. Don't treat proactive risk as a solution, especially without certainty!
You promised to end Tesseract stimulation, bury it in an uninhabited wasteland, and delay its eruption. Why propose this reckless plan? Are you dissatisfied with me?!"