Chapter 72: The Most Daring Man in the Nine Realms

Upon careful reflection, Su Ye instantly understood why the scene Athena described felt so familiar. Wasn’t this just like in Thor, when Thor couldn’t lift his hammer, sank into despair after being struck down, and then Loki swooped in to twist the knife further, making Thor abandon any hope of returning to Asgard? After that, with the thought that since he was already there, Loki secretly tried his luck with Mjolnir himself.

Loki, being a master of magic and illusions, made sure that no one saw him either taking advantage of Thor’s misfortune or attempting to lift the hammer. He did these things in secret, committed his misdeeds, lost a bit of face, yet managed to leave unscathed and unobserved—how exhilarating!

This time, Loki started with the same intention. While Thor was away, he wanted to see if he could lift the hammer. If he could, his claim as the heir to the throne would be uncontested. If not, he’d lose nothing. Afterwards, he planned to swing by Los Angeles and bring Thor fabricated news of Odin’s death and Queen Frigga forbidding his return to Asgard.

He wanted to see if Thor and Jane could still enjoy themselves then.

Reality unfolded much as Loki expected. He truly had no fate with Mjolnir—it wouldn’t budge for him. So, he decided to leave swiftly.

But just as the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents turned a blind eye and Loki, acting as though nothing was amiss, stepped out of the Shiranui Dojo, a group of figures blocked his path not far from the entrance.

Dongjo and Ryo Sakazaki stood at the front, the others spread out to encircle Athena, who stood with her eyes closed, softly announcing, “Directly ahead, five meters.”

The instant Athena finished speaking, Dongjo and Ryo Sakazaki struck combat stances.

“Death Tornado!”

“Supreme Dragon Fist!”

A massive tornado erupted skyward, roaring forward, while from the other side, a colossal energy wave with a diameter of over a meter surged forth, no less imposing than the whirlwind. The tornado and energy wave filled the street, barreling straight toward Loki’s face.

Loki’s brows furrowed. What were these Midgard natives playing at? That ugly woman, eyes shut, frail waist, flat behind—had she sensed his presence?

Was this some special welcome ceremony they’d prepared?

Loki was no warrior; he wasn’t in the habit of taking attacks head-on, nor did he wish to reveal his existence. With a flicker, he left behind an illusionary duplicate as a decoy, while his true body slipped away, invisible, down a nearby alley.

He scoffed inwardly. So, they’d sensed him and come to block his path? Did they think the Prince of Asgard, the realm’s most gifted sorcerer, the handsomest and mightiest hero of the Aesir, and the boldest man in the Nine Realms, was just an empty reputation?

He would show them what happened to those who provoked the wrong man.

In the alley, Loki vanished with another flash. When he reappeared, he was behind the martial artists’ formation, still cloaked in invisibility.

With a pop, his decoy was pierced through by the tornado and energy blast, flickered, and vanished.

Dongjo and Ryo Sakazaki, thinking they’d scored a hit, were about to cheer when their expressions shifted to confusion. At that moment, Athena suddenly cried out.

“Behind you! Watch out!”

Even before her warning, Su Ye had already appeared behind her, turning and swinging his fist into the air.

Gale Fist!

A basketball-sized energy orb shot out, smashing the slender black shadows that had been darting toward Athena’s back. Only then did everyone see that those shadows were black daggers.

Athena had been focusing her psychic power to scan the vicinity, leaving little energy for self-defense. Had those daggers struck her, the consequences would have been dire.

With his dagger attack, Loki’s form was finally revealed, exposed for all to see. Slicked-back hair, green suit, a scarf draped over a long coat—one had to admit, Loki’s style was impeccable. Paired with his famously handsome, wickedly charming face, his allure was off the charts for many women.

There were quite a few women among the martial artists: Mai Shiranui, King, Athena, and Yuri Sakazaki, all present.

Yet, regrettably, these women preferred men like Su Ye—the sort who could keep them up all night—rather than someone like Loki, whose appearance seemed a touch too delicate, almost effeminate.

Off to the side, Robert, sporting a braid and dressed in shirt and suspenders, felt personally wounded.

“So, this bastard’s the one who tried to steal the hammer from our dojo and ambush Athena, huh?” Mai Shiranui was the first to strike, flicking her fan toward Loki.

“Fluttering Butterfly Fan!”

“Twin Serpent Strike!”

King was not to be outdone, launching two energy waves at Loki’s face with a kick.

Loki flickered again, leaving behind another shadowy double, his true body slipping away in invisibility.

The decoy was pierced and vanished under the combined attacks of the fan and the serpent strikes. More black shadows shot from the void, but this time, Terry and Robert, already prepared, struck back at the shadows—only for their attacks to pass harmlessly through.

“They’re fake!” Athena’s warning came a heartbeat too late. In the chaos of battle, it was no easy feat for her to give timely alerts to the fighters.

At that moment, more black shadows flew from another direction. Dongjo and Ryo Sakazaki attacked, but again, their strikes missed.

“Those are illusions too!”

Athena’s cheeks flushed. She was skilled in psychic powers, yes, but she was just a sixteen-year-old high school girl, two years younger than Su Ye—a child still. When calm, she could sense Loki’s illusions from afar. But with the battle raging around her, it was hard to focus, and once rattled, she couldn’t keep pace with Loki’s tricks.

The last two attacks had been fakes, but who could say the next wouldn’t be real?

Besides, the martial artists couldn’t keep playing cat and mouse with Loki forever.

Against a magician who could turn invisible, create doubles, and hurl weapons from the shadows, the fighters were clearly at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, there was more than just Athena with strong senses on their team—there was Su Ye.

Though he lacked psychic abilities, his spider-sense was a powerful asset in this situation.

Earlier, he’d intercepted an attack even before Athena’s warning, shielding her from a sneak attack.

Moreover, Su Ye differed greatly from the inexperienced Athena—he’d seen bloodshed, more than once, and his composure was rock solid.