Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Welcome Back, Master
"Pika... Chu..."
Pikachu leaped off Gwen's shoulder and electrocuted several Chitauri soldiers diving from the sky, reducing them to useless scrap as they plummeted to the ground like trash.
Returning to Gwen's shoulder, Pikachu began to pant heavily.
Even Gwen, who had never felt fatigue since gaining her spider abilities, was starting to feel the strain.
If it weren't for the assistance of Red Queen and her spider-sense, she would have been caught off guard several times.
Clinging to the side of a tall building, Gwen watched a few more Chitauri soldiers flying toward her, her expression turning grim.
"These guys... the more we fight, the more of them show up."
"Miss Gwen, on the other side of the portal is likely their main base."
"If we can't close the portal or destroy their base directly..."
"The simulated outcome of this battle is defeat."
Hearing Red Queen's analysis, Gwen immediately asked, "Is there a way to close the portal?"
"The energy barrier of the Tesseract is still being analyzed."
"It will take a little more time."
Leaping between buildings, Gwen swung her symbiote-formed blade and sliced through several Chitauri soldiers.
"How much longer?"
"Five minutes. Miss Gwen, hold on for five more minutes."
"During this time, you must reach the rooftop of Stark Tower."
"Got it!"
Gwen then spoke into her communicator, "Tony, where are you right now?"
"Engaged in a heated fight with these annoying aliens. Any instructions, Spider-Woman?"
Though Tony's tone sounded lighthearted, Gwen knew that the more tense the situation, the more Tony used humor to keep himself calm and focused.
In reality, Tony was desperately thinking of a solution.
"Cover me to reach the rooftop of your tower. I can find a way to close the portal."
Upon hearing this, Tony blasted a few more Chitauri soldiers and replied immediately, "I'm on my way."
Though Tony's previous attacks on the Tesseract were deflected, he trusted that Gwen wouldn't joke about something this critical.
In no time, Tony arrived by Gwen's side.
"Let's move!"
Swinging on webs, Gwen advanced while Tony's repulsor beams cleared the obstacles ahead.
Pikachu continuously unleashed bolts of lightning.
Together—two heroes and one Pokémon—they pushed toward Stark Tower.
Under Tony and Pikachu's cover, Gwen steadily got closer to the tower.
Meanwhile...
Loki, seated on a Chitauri chariot surveying the battlefield, noticed the scene unfolding.
Besides Iron Man, another figure was heading toward Stark Tower—Black Widow. She had managed to gain partial control of a Chitauri chariot and was being pursued by Loki.
From a sniper perch atop a nearby building, Hawkeye spotted Black Widow weaving through the city.
He immediately asked, "Nat, what are you doing?"
"Barton, I need you to handle the pursuers behind me."
Glancing at her pursuers, Hawkeye saw that Loki himself was chasing her—an old grudge from when Loki had controlled him.
Drawing his bow to full tension, Hawkeye aimed at Loki. "Gladly."
Whoosh!
A black arrow shot toward Loki, intercepting him mid-flight.
But Loki, being no ordinary opponent, casually caught the arrow and glanced at Hawkeye with a smug smile.
Just as Loki was about to taunt Hawkeye about how mortal weapons couldn't harm him...
Hawkeye smirked knowingly, as if he had predicted Loki's every move.
With a slight press of a button on the bow's handle—
Boom!
The arrow in Loki's hand exploded, engulfing him and the Chitauri chariot in flames.
Though the explosion couldn't seriously injure Loki, it was enough to knock him off the chariot and send him crashing onto the rooftop of Stark Tower.
At that moment, Gwen swung onto the rooftop, her eyes immediately locking onto the device powering the portal.
But her attention was quickly drawn to another figure.
"Anna?"
Anna rushed over to Loki, who had just hit the ground, and helped him up.
"My King, are you okay?"
Loki shook his head, trying to clear his daze, and looked at his hand.
"Where's my scepter?"
Both Loki and Anna scanned their surroundings, eventually spotting the scepter lying on a lower balcony.
"Miss Gwen, I've identified a way to close the portal."
"The scepter Loki wields contains energy that is equivalent to the Tesseract's energy."
"The Stone in the scepter can pierce through the energy barrier."
Gwen's gaze shifted immediately toward the scepter.
At that moment, another voice rang out.
After successfully escaping from the chariot, Black Widow, along with Professor Selvig, who had been freed from mind control, also discovered a way to close the portal.
"Spider-Woman, Loki's scepter can shut down the portal!"
"Quick, bring it over!"
"I know!"
Gwen shot a web, precisely attaching it to the scepter and yanked hard. The scepter flew into her hand.
Loki's expression turned anxious upon hearing that the portal was about to be closed.
He knew that without the Chitauri army, his combat abilities wouldn't cause much trouble here.
He would likely be beaten down by the heroes, who already harbored immense hatred for him.
He had to stop Spider-Woman!
"Spider-Woman, give me the scepter!" Loki demanded, reaching out his hand toward Gwen.
Gwen glared at Loki. "Your plan is about to end. Once I shut the portal... you're next!"
Just as Gwen was about to deliver the scepter to the device, Loki shouted, "You know that woman, don't you?"
"When you saw her earlier, you called out her name."
Gwen's face darkened instantly. "What are you trying to do?"
Loki, the God of Mischief, quickly devised a countermeasure, a sinister smile creeping across his face.
"Those under my control are utterly loyal to me and will carry out my commands without question."
"Shall we test it?"
Before Gwen could respond, Loki ordered, "Anna, jump off the building."
"Yes, my king!"
Anna turned and sprinted toward the edge of the rooftop with all her strength.
"No!" Gwen screamed, but it was futile.
Under Loki's control, Anna would obey only him.
Below, Black Widow and Selvig watched the scene with fury, but there was nothing they could do.
Just as Anna was about to reach the edge, Loki snapped his fingers.
Anna stopped obediently, standing on the very brink of Stark Tower—just one step away from falling.
"Now, give me the scepter!"
Gwen tightened her grip on the scepter, her eyes filled with rage as she glared at Loki.
"Alan... what should I do now..."
For the first time, Gwen felt powerless, her mind filled with thoughts of Alan.
If Alan were here, what would he do?
But the situation left her no time to think further.
"Loki... I hope you keep your word."
Gritting her teeth, Gwen tossed the scepter to Loki.
With Anna as a hostage, she didn't dare to tamper with the scepter using her symbiote suit.
Below, Black Widow watched Gwen throw the scepter, her expression complicated, lost in thought.
Loki caught the scepter and smirked wickedly. "Good girl."
Then, without hesitation, he fired an energy blast at Gwen.
Gwen raised both hands, and her symbiote suit instantly transformed into a shield, absorbing the attack.
Thanks to vibranium's unique properties, the energy blast caused her no harm.
Loki realized he couldn't hurt Gwen.
Leaving her on the rooftop would only create more trouble for him.
"Well, since you've been so obedient, let me give you another gift..."
With that, Anna took another step forward from the edge.
At that distance, Gwen had no chance to reach her in time to save her.
Yet, she dashed forward instinctively. "No..."
Buzz!
At that moment, the sky above Stark Tower shattered like glass, revealing a starry expanse similar to the portal.
A beam of golden light shot out from the rift, streaking toward Anna below.
Everything happened so quickly that no one could see clearly what was going on.
Only Red Queen reacted instantly, connecting to Alan's network.
"Welcome back, Master..."
...
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