Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Third Princess Arrives

Michael made a battle suit for Max.

The suit’s main structure was built from insulating material, with metal circuit boards inside to provide a measure of defense while also guiding the flow of electricity.

The palms and fingers were left uninsulated, allowing him to discharge electricity through both hands.

A specially designed reactor was installed in the chest, capable of absorbing and releasing power to recharge him.

This blue battle suit was the gift Michael had given Max.

It was not especially formidable, but it was highly practical.

After giving the suit to Max and watching him and Spider-Man go out to do good, Michael finally felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

By the way, what was Harry doing? Gwen’s death had a hand in him as well.

“Queen Red, what is Harry doing?”

Red Queen pulled up several videos. In them, a masked figure riding a flying device was seen chasing Spider-Man in a normal pursuit.

Red Queen’s annotation identified him as likely Harry, with a similarity of ninety-nine percent.

Unlike the Green Goblin, Harry’s flying device was more like a hoverboard, whereas the Goblin’s was a glider.

However, both of them used pumpkin bombs, which was why Red Queen marked him as suspicious.

A comparison of Harry’s bones and his own revealed a similarity of over ninety-five percent, enough to confirm they were essentially the same person.

Michael glanced at it and did not pay much attention.

Harry was different from his father. Though he too had mental issues, he was only bent on avenging his father; he had not gone mad like Norman, and he would not do anything without restraint. He would not strike at the innocent, and he could not defeat Gwen.

“Keep an eye on Spider-Man and Electro. Report to me immediately if anything comes up.”

“Yes.”

Red Queen vanished once more.

...

S.H.I.E.L.D.’s dark energy laboratory base.

Countless people were on high alert, carrying important research materials out as they evacuated. They did not know why, but they knew the gravity of the situation.

Because energy was leaking from the Cosmic Cube, Coulson had no choice but to report it to Nick Fury and order the base personnel to evacuate.

A helicopter landed, and Nick Fury stepped out.

He wasted no time in asking Coulson, “How bad is it?”

Coulson replied, “That’s the problem, sir. We don’t know.”

You don’t know? You’re telling me you don’t know?

Seeing the murderous look in Nick Fury’s eye, Coulson hurriedly explained.

“The Cosmic Cube is emitting energy into the surrounding area.”

Nick Fury said, “NASA never approved Selvig’s experiment.”

“He wasn’t conducting an experiment. Professor Selvig wasn’t even there. The energy was being emitted by the Cosmic Cube itself.”

Nick Fury was somewhat surprised. “It activated on its own? To what level?”

“It’s still rising. Selvig can’t shut it down, so I had no choice but to order a full evacuation.”

“How long until the evacuation is complete?”

“Half an hour.”

“Make it faster.”

Coulson said anxiously, “Sir, maybe evacuation won’t help. The harm caused by a Cosmic Cube eruption may be beyond imagination. I mean—does it still make sense to evacuate?”

Nick Fury looked at Coulson sternly and said something very much like a real man.

“As long as Earth has not yet been destroyed, we must make full preparations. I want you to confirm the transfer.”

“Yes.”

Coulson immediately went to oversee the evacuation.

Nick Fury quickened his pace and headed to the underground office where the Cosmic Cube was stored.

Professor Selvig was trying to shut down the Cube, pacing back and forth in agitation.

“Professor, what’s the situation?”

Selvig looked at Nick Fury and said anxiously, “The Cosmic Cube has awakened.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I know it’s not funny. The Cosmic Cube has awakened. It released energy of its own accord.”

“Have you tried cutting the power?”

“It is the power source itself. Every time I try to shut it down, it restarts.”

“We were prepared for this, Doctor.”

But Doctor Selvig ignored him and continued, “For energy from outer space like this, we still do not have the ability to control it. My calculations are not yet complete. If it continues releasing energy and radiation, sooner or later it will reach a peak...”

Nick Fury had had enough. Continuing like this would never clarify the situation.

“Where is Agent Barton?”

“That bird?”

Selvig pointed toward the corner and said, “Naturally, tucked away in his nest.”

“Agent Barton, respond.”

Hawkeye ran out from the shadows and came before Nick Fury.

“I put you in charge of security, told you to keep a close watch on everything...”

Hawkeye replied, “From high up, I can see more clearly.”

“Then did you see what activated the Cube?”

“No. No one went in or out. Selvig wasn’t a problem either. He had no contact with anyone and passed no information along.”

Hawkeye thought for a moment, then said with certainty, “If someone was playing tricks, it wasn’t anyone here.”

“Not here? What do you mean?”

Nick Fury was somewhat confused.

Hawkeye gave his own guess. “The Cosmic Cube is a gate to the universe, and gates can be opened from either side.”

The words had barely left his mouth when a beam of light shot forth from the Cosmic Cube, opening a portal in the distance.

All eyes were drawn to it, watching intently.

The portal at the top of the beam gradually vanished. The Cube returned to normal and ceased emitting energy. A figure stood there holding a staff.

Slowly, the figure raised his head, revealing a healthy smile. Coupled with a long green coat, he was clearly a villain.

Seeing that face, Nick Fury immediately recognized Loki.

Since Michael had once captured Loki, S.H.I.E.L.D. also had records of his appearance and abilities.

Still, he played ignorant and said, “Sir, please set down the spear in your hand.”

Loki glanced at the spear in his hand. It was a scepter inlaid with the Mind Stone, capable of enhancing his magical power.

It was the investment that man had given him. Once everything was done, he would offer the Cosmic Cube along with it to that lord.

With a sinister smile, he simply walked forward.

The agents immediately opened fire, but the bullets did no harm at all when they struck Loki.

Loki possessed a divine body. Though his own strength was ordinary, with dark energy empowering him, common weapons could not break through his defenses.

Several agents charged at him, only to be thrown to the ground by Loki and beaten into helplessness with a few punches and kicks.

It was not that Loki was extraordinarily strong; rather, these ordinary people lacked any means to restrain him.

They could not break his defenses, while Loki could do as he pleased.

Staff in hand, Loki unleashed one burst of laser fire after another, blasting the agents to the ground.

He darted in front of Hawkeye in a single step, seized control of him, and said, “You are very loyal.”

With that, he tapped Hawkeye’s chest with the scepter.

Hawkeye’s eyes turned dark for an instant, and his expression immediately grew calm. The look he gave Loki also softened.

Loki then came to another agent and repeated the trick.

This agent’s eyes also turned black before returning to normal, as if he had been taken over.

Nick Fury did not know what was happening, but the situation had far exceeded expectations. This fellow seemed able to control other people’s minds directly.

That forced him to prepare for the worst.