Loki's brow furrowed.
Something was wrong.
Why wasn't this man affected by the Mind Stone?
His emotions were as calm as a pool of still water—no, not still water. That was an abyss so deep not even light could escape.
Loki refused to believe it.
He secretly channeled the Mind Stone's power, condensing a mental assault powerful enough to shatter any mortal's psyche instantly, and drove it viciously toward the figure munching popcorn!
He would see what darkness lurked in this man's mind!
However...
That never-failing mental assault, the instant it entered Cloud's consciousness, was like a single drop of water falling into a vast ocean.
No, worse than that.
It was like falling into an infinite sea of consciousness composed of the universe itself!
Loki felt his spiritual power instantly pulled into an incomprehensible dimension.
He saw!
He saw a woman in red-and-white shrine maiden garb, smiling at him with dignified authority, the radiance of the Yata Mirror behind her.
He saw a woman in fiery red ninja attire, winking seductively at him, yet the fan in her hand blazed with soul-consuming flames.
He saw a girl in a blue combat suit, head tilted curiously at him, a "sun" of intertwined ice and fire balanced on her palm.
He saw more... Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, K', Terry, Ryo Sakazaki...
He saw still more... Natasha, Wanda, Diana, Harley...
Countless powerful, beautiful figures filled with emotion and connection, like stars in the cosmos, forming part of this man's sea of consciousness.
And in the deepest reaches of that starry sea, Loki saw Cloud's true form.
A being seated upon a dimensional throne, beyond description.
His eyes were universes cycling through birth and death.
When that existence turned its gaze upon Loki's insignificant wisp of spiritual power—
Loki felt his very soul laid bare!
All his schemes, all his lies, all his ambitions, all his insecurity and resentment—all analyzed with perfect clarity!
"So... that's what it is."
A voice, vast as if emanating from the source of the universe itself, echoed directly in his soul.
"A love-starved boy desperate for his father's approval, jealous of his muscle-brained oaf of a brother..."
"A classic case of chuunibyou."
BOOM—!
Loki felt his brain had been struck head-on by a neutron star!
His deepest secret—one even he refused to confront—had just been casually laid bare!
"No—!"
Loki let out a soundless scream. The spiritual probe he'd sent into Cloud's mind was instantly ground to dust!
Pfft!
In his cell, Loki violently coughed up a mouthful of golden blood. His face went deathly pale, all elegance and composure evaporating.
He stared at the figure still eating popcorn, eyes filled with the ultimate terror of a mortal gazing upon a god!
He finally understood.
His prized schemes and magic, before this man, were like a three-year-old child showing off "1+1=2" to an ancient cosmic entity that had lived for eons.
Laughable. And pathetic.
...
"Hm? Did something just try to crawl into my brain?"
Cloud licked popcorn crumbs from his fingers, looking confused.
"Felt like a mosquito bite. And it tasted a bit like... burnt mung bean cake?"
He shook his head and stopped paying attention to the "God of Mischief" now curled up in his corner, questioning his entire existence.
His gaze returned to the still-arguing Avengers.
"Sigh, honestly. With all that energy, couldn't you do a few more sets of squats?"
He watched Dr. Banner's face starting to tinge green with anger, then glanced at Captain America and Thor who looked ready to grab shield and hammer to brawl. Finally, he set down his popcorn bucket.
"Fine, fine. If they keep this up, this ship's gonna fall apart. And I can't have my yacht getting damaged."
He closed his eyes.
Then he channeled the "Psychic Divine Power" he'd plundered and evolved from Athena—a force capable of influencing souls.
This wasn't an attack. Nor was it control.
It was purification.
A soothing.
"Phoenix Nocturne."
A mental wave gentle as moonlight spread outward from Cloud, instantly enveloping the entire command center.
Everyone mid-argument suddenly felt their hearts—pounding wildly with anger and suspicion—being gently smoothed by a tender hand.
Steve's grip on his shield relaxed.
The rage about "government" and "weapons" in his mind gradually gave way to trust in his teammates.
Tony's mocking, arrogant words died on his lips.
Looking at his teammates, he suddenly thought... fighting alongside them might not be so bad after all.
Thor's divine power, on the verge of eruption, subsided.
He glanced at his defeated brother in the cell, and what rose in his heart wasn't anger—but a complex, brotherly concern.
The most dramatic change was in Dr. Banner.
He felt that the "big green guy" inside him—always roaring, always destructive—upon contact with this mental wave, suddenly went quiet.
It didn't disappear. It simply curled up like a child who'd been throwing a tantrum, heard mother's lullaby, and obediently fell asleep.
Dr. Banner's face broke into a smile he hadn't worn in years. He felt more peaceful and safe than he had in ages.
The entire command center fell quiet.
The arguments stopped. The hostility evaporated.
Only a serene, harmonious atmosphere remained.
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what had just happened.
But they could all feel that their uncontrollable negative emotions had completely dissipated.
Only Natasha and Fury exchanged knowing looks, their gazes drifting toward the man who'd picked up his popcorn bucket again.
Cloud yawned and stretched.
"Mm... finally some peace and quiet."
He looked at the still-dazed Avengers and smiled, like a counselor who'd just finished a group therapy session.
"Everyone, remember this."
"Teamwork is all about communication."
"Is there anything that can't be solved by sitting down together, having some hotpot, sharing some drinks?"
"All this bickering back and forth."
"It's so bad for team harmony."
...
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