A few minutes earlier.
Hawkeye Clint Barton quietly approached the bridge. Watching the combat squad he led fall one by one, there wasn't the slightest ripple in his eyes.
He slowly drew an explosive arrow, pulled the bow, and took aim.
Nick Fury used his sidearm to hold off the intruders. At this moment, he had a question, "What's coming in now are obviously just cannon fodder. Why hasn't Barton shown up yet? What is he plotting?"
BOOM!
The explosion went off. The staff in front of the control equipment were instantly cleared out. People were sent flying, blood pouring everywhere.
"It's Barton!"
Fury had just been wondering where Barton was when he saw the familiar explosive arrow detonate nearby. He quickly turned his gun and fired toward where Barton was hiding.
But how could a battle-hardened Barton be hit so easily.
He only needed a slight sidestep to avoid Director Fury's bullets. At the same time, he pulled a specially made arrow from his quiver. As the gunfire briefly paused, he swiftly aimed at the control console.
Whoosh!
The arrow struck the data interface on the console with pinpoint accuracy. Upon sensing the hit, the arrowhead automatically transformed, splitting into two data plugs that inserted themselves into the ports.
Inside the special arrowhead was a program with electronic data disruption functions. The instant it plugged in, an entire row of displays on the console went dark.
This set of consoles was the control center for Engine No. 1.
On the screens monitoring Engine No. 1's operating status, red fault warnings popped up.
Engine No. 1 shut down just like that, ceasing operation.
The staff reported immediately:
"Engine No. 1 has been shut down."
"So that's their plan?"
The thing Fury feared most had finally happened. With Engine No. 1 shut down, the balance of the Helicarrier's anti-gravity system was broken.
High in the sky, the Helicarrier immediately began to tilt.
"Sir, we've completely lost power from Engine No. 1. Barton wrecked our system… He's headed for the restricted area…"
After learning Barton's direction, Nick Fury asked over the communicator, "Anyone hear that?"
Barton was a highly experienced agent and an outstanding warrior. If he were allowed to run wild on the Helicarrier, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Someone had to stop him.
Natasha had just been through the battle between Corin, Thor, and Hulk, and her nerves were still rattled.
When Corin and Thor chased Hulk to Level 4, she stayed behind to rest, thinking about what to do next.
Hearing the report come through her earpiece now, the locations of several Avengers flashed through her mind, 'Thor and Corin are upstairs fighting Hulk. Tony and Colonel Rogers are repairing Engine No. 3.'
"Then it's only me."
She and Agent Clint had been partners for many years and knew each other very well.
If the opponent were any other Avenger, Natasha wouldn't have had any thought of resisting at this moment. But Barton was different.
Both of them were outstanding agents with no special powers. Facing Barton, Natasha felt she still had some chance of winning.
"I'm Romanoff. I hear you."
With that thought, Natasha connected to the communicator and responded.
She adjusted her breathing in a few moments, her gaze firm, and ran toward the restricted area.
———
Corin still remembered the task Nick Fury had given him. When the Helicarrier began to tilt, he immediately activated magnetic control, stopping it from continuing to lean or even capsize.
He slowly adjusted the entire ship back to level.
Sensing that the Helicarrier was no longer tilting, Nick Fury realized Destiny had made his move.
He looked toward a certain spot and thought to himself that Destiny really was reliable. That ten billion was well spent.
The tense nerves of the S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel also eased as the tilt of the floor returned to normal.
"It's Mr. Destiny!"
A flash of light burst into Agent Hill's eyes as she showed deep respect to Corin, who was turning the tide somewhere out there.
Seeing that Corin had temporarily resolved the crash crisis, Thor suddenly thought of something and quickly ran toward the restricted area.
Corin tried lowering his hands, maintaining the Helicarrier's balance through mental control of the magnetic field. After a few minutes of testing and feeling no issues, he chased after Thor.
When Thor arrived at the restricted area, the prison door had already been opened by members of the invading squad, and they had brought the Mind Scepter with them.
Loki was just about to step out of the cell.
"No!"
Thor knew that if Loki escaped in the chaos, it would definitely cause even greater trouble.
Without time to think, he instinctively rushed forward, trying to tackle Loki back into the cell. Even if he ended up trapped inside with Loki, it didn't matter.
But he tackled nothing but air.
Loki's figure at the cell entrance suddenly turned illusory, and Thor passed straight through him.
Zzz!
The prison door slammed shut.
The situation flipped. Thor was inside the cell, while Loki stood in front of the control console with his hands behind his back, calmly watching the agitated Thor.
"This trick works on you every time."
At this moment, Hawkeye Barton was moving through the narrow passage toward the restricted area when an attack suddenly came from the side.
It was Romanoff.
Barton reacted instantly, his body moving on instinct to block and counter.
But the narrow corridor made it impossible for him to use his bow. Just like that, Hawkeye and Romanoff entered a round of close-quarters combat.
Trapped in the cell, Thor intended to smash the glass wall in front of him with Mjolnir, and that was exactly what he did.
Clang!
After one strike, fine cracks appeared on the transparent wall, but the entire cell suddenly dropped several meters.
It was the projection mechanism.
When Loki shut the cell door, he had simultaneously activated the sensors. Any disturbance in the cell would cause it to be dropped directly.
Realizing this, Thor dared not make another move.
Loki laughed happily, "People on Earth call us gods. Want to give it a try?"
He moved closer to the control console, intending to drop Thor straight down.
"Ah!"
A cry of pain rang out. The assault team member who had opened the door for Loki was taken down.
"Please don't move!"
Agent Coulson, dressed in a suit, appeared in front of Loki holding a massive weapon.
This weapon was an energy weapon developed by S.H.I.E.L.D. based on the Destroyer's attack method.
Coulson didn't yet know what kind of power it could unleash, but he believed it was at least enough to make Loki wary.
At this moment, Corin had already followed Thor to the restricted area. From an inconspicuous corner, he controlled the Helicarrier's balance while observing the others.
Seeing the weapon in Coulson's hands, Corin was a bit surprised.
"So the Destroyer already got sold out by me?"
'S.H.I.E.L.D. can actually develop a weapon with a similar mechanism?'
'Have to say, the R&D department has some real skill.'
Just then, Corin noticed another Loki suddenly appear behind Coulson.
This Loki was holding the Mind Scepter, stabbing toward Coulson's back.
This was a trick Loki, the God of Mischief, commonly used. Deception and sneak attacks.
Coulson had no idea he was on the brink of life and death, calmly facing off against the Loki in front of him.
Corin cursed inwardly. His eyes immediately fired two bright yellow high-temperature beams straight at Loki.
Worthy of a god's body from Asgard. The high-temperature beams that could easily slice through mountains only sent Loki flying hard into the wall.
"Who's there?"
Loki crashed down awkwardly, his hair in disarray, no trace of his earlier calm elegance left as he shouted.
Startled by the commotion behind him, Coulson suddenly turned around and discovered there was another Loki behind him, his face full of disbelief.
Corin stepped out of the shadows. He had no intention of dealing with Loki verbally.
Against someone as scheming as Loki, Corin's method was simple and brutal. Beat you until you submit.
Zzz!
Thud!
Another high-temperature beam. Loki was sent flying again, bounced off the wall, and rolled several times on the ground.
As Corin's eyes charged up again, ready to continue tormenting Loki, Loki raised his arms high and shouted urgently, "Stop! Stop! Tell me your demands! Let's talk!"
Loki was completely dumbfounded. Who just jumps in and starts swinging without a word?
This was just… unreasonable.
The attacks were fast and vicious. He didn't even have time to react, only take the hits passively.
He had to fight for a chance to negotiate, or he'd never turn this around.
Looking at the gorgeous divine armor on Loki's body, a wicked grin appeared at the corner of Corin's mouth.
"Take it off!"
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