Chapter Thirty-Nine: When the Dust Settles

Near Stark Tower, Loki sat atop a flying ship, his face alight with triumph. So what if Aquaman was mighty? He had fallen into Loki’s traps time and again.

Just then, not far away, Barton released an arrow aimed straight at Loki. Loki snatched it mid-air, casting a disdainful glance at Barton, when suddenly the arrowhead erupted in an explosion.

Loki was blasted off the ship, plummeting down to land squarely atop Stark Tower. At that moment, Natasha also arrived at the rooftop aboard an alien craft.

Loki had barely risen to his feet when a green figure collided with him, sending him flying—it was Hulk.

Hulk charged at Loki in a fury. Loki stood and shouted, “Enough! What are you? I am a god! You mortals will not humiliate me.” But chaos loomed ahead...

Hulk seized Loki by the leg and smashed him repeatedly into the floor, as though Loki were nothing more than an object, his screams echoing through the air.

Finally, Loki lay barely alive, tossed aside by Hulk, who strode away muttering, “Pathetic excuse for a god.”

Natasha seized Loki’s scepter. Dr. Erik said to her, “Loki’s scepter can breach the energy shield. I’ve installed a safety device to cut the power.”

...

The Avengers fought desperately; Peter Parker could only rely on his webs to maneuver among his foes.

Thor descended to aid Steve Rogers, while Iron Man faced the greatest number of enemies, including the colossal Leviathan.

Dr. Erik took up the computer, instructing Natasha to thrust the scepter into the energy shield.

“I can shut down the portal! Do you hear me? I can shut down the portal!” Natasha called through her headset.

“Hurry and close it!” Steve Rogers urged.

“Wait! There’s a nuclear missile headed this way, about to detonate in a minute. I know where to send it!” Tony interjected. The upper ranks of S.H.I.E.L.D., ignoring Nick Fury’s protests, had launched a fighter jet to Manhattan, sending a nuclear missile speeding toward them.

“What about Arthur?” Peter Parker asked.

“...” The others fell silent. Arthur might not return, and if the portal wasn’t closed, more enemies would pour in. Civilians in New York were dying—they couldn’t wait any longer!

Tony flew beneath the missile, grasped it firmly, and charged toward the portal. In his last moments, he tried to call Pepper, but couldn’t get through.

Tony plunged into the portal with the missile and glimpsed Arthur, still battling the Chitauri in disarray. The missile sped toward the Chitauri warship and exploded, annihilating the massive ship. Instantly, every Chitauri on Earth fell lifeless, their ships crashing, Leviathan losing control and plummeting from the sky.

Arthur watched the missile streak toward the warship, his only thought, “Damn it!” before he was knocked unconscious by the blast and shockwave...

Tony, now in space, found his suit drained of power. The last thing he saw was the explosion of the warship and Arthur consumed by the fiery blast. “Arthur...”

“Hurry! Stark, Arthur!” Natasha waited anxiously for their return, but saw no sign of anyone emerging from the portal.

“Close it!” Steve Rogers commanded.

Natasha touched the safety device designed by Dr. Erik with the tip of the scepter. The energy of the Tesseract stopped instantly, and the portal began to shrink.

Just before the portal vanished, Tony, unconscious, tumbled out. The Avengers saw he wasn’t slowing, preparing to catch him.

Hulk managed to catch Tony, landing him safely, then tossed him to the ground.

Awoken by Hulk’s deafening roar, Tony stirred.

“Whoa, what happened? No one kissed me while I was out, right?” he asked Thor, Peter Parker, Hulk, and Steve gathered before him.

“It’s over. We’ve won,” Steve Rogers said.

“I saw Arthur in space; he couldn’t escape the blast...” Tony said sorrowfully.

“...” The group fell silent. Peter stepped aside, quietly wiping his tears. Hulk roared up at the sky.

“It’s not over yet,” Thor said, looking at them.

...

Loki finally struggled to his feet, facing the seven angry Avengers. “If you don’t mind, I’d like that drink now,” he said.

“Let him stand. We’ll have plenty more chances to show off,” Tony replied.

Just then, the S.H.I.E.L.D. strike team arrived. The bald agent, Itwell, said, “Leave it to us.”

The team took Loki’s scepter and the Tesseract.

“I’ll lead the search party,” the Captain said.

“I’ll lead the search party,” Loki mimicked, transforming into Captain America and mocking his manner, “How can you stand the way he talks...”

Thor produced a metallic muzzle and fastened it to Loki—a device from Asgard for prisoners, silencing their speech.

Everyone entered the elevator together, but Hulk was stopped and told to take the stairs. Hulk, frustrated, punched the elevator door and obediently took the stairs.

“Hate stairs.”

“Hate stairs.”

...

“Despite the devastation to the city, in this confirmed alien invasion, the heroic deeds of the Avengers are a blessing to us all...”

“It’s reassuring to know they exist, that someone is watching over us...”

“Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Aquaman, Thor—this Avengers team is just so cool. I absolutely adore them...”

“Jon Arthur, known as Aquaman, sacrificed his life in this event. To honor him, people gather at the seaside to pay their respects...”

“Their presence makes me uneasy, as if we’re being kept in the dark...”

“These so-called superheroes must be held accountable for the city’s destruction...”

Televisions everywhere broadcast extensive coverage of the event, with public opinion divided.

Atlantis Restaurant

“This isn’t true! This isn’t true! Boohoo...” Isa and Lina clung together, crying, while Omily wiped her tears nearby. Jack, Zhao Long, and Mike sat in silence.

“Boss, I never thought you weren’t lying to me...” Zhao Long murmured.

Nick Fury handed the Tesseract to Thor, entrusting it to be returned to Asgard, while Loki’s crimes would be judged there as well.

Thor took Loki and activated the Tesseract, returning them to Asgard...

The Avengers each returned to their own lives.

...

New York, Manhattan Beach

Tony Stark erected a five-meter-tall bronze statue of Jon Arthur holding his trident here, commemorating Aquaman’s sacrifice. At the base, a stone tablet detailed Arthur’s life and deeds.

Crowds gathered to honor this hero who had fallen in the New York incident, lighting candles or offering white flowers in remembrance.

All employees of Atlantis Restaurant came to mourn in silence, joined by those Arthur had saved, classmates, and friends, each offering their tribute.

Peter Parker and Gwen also arrived. Peter gazed at the statue, not shedding a tear; he thought of his late uncle, recalling the words: “With great power comes great responsibility.” Resolve deepened in his eyes.

...

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