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·Chapter 622: The Battle of New York

The Ancient One nodded, showing no concern for the outcome of the battle.

"So, what are you planning to do next?"

Charles glanced at the Ancient One, noting that there was no other Bruce Banner coming to retrieve the stone. After a brief consideration, he replied:

"Heroes always show up at the critical moment. I'll stay here and keep you company for the time being."

The Ancient One gave Charles a knowing smile and nodded, "Then let's enjoy this war together."

…

Meanwhile-

Loki stood on the terrace, holding the scepter and watching the relentless advance of the Chitauri army. With arms outstretched, he seemed to be welcoming something.

This was his moment; he was going to crown himself king on this planet.

At that moment, Thor flew in.

"Loki."

"Shut down the Tesseract, or I will destroy it."

Loki looked at Thor, clearly displeased, "You can't destroy it."

"You can't stop it. Now there's only war."

Thor responded, "Then let it be war."

Suddenly, a flash of lightning appeared in the sky, illuminating the area around them. Both Thor and Loki were momentarily stunned and looked up.

"Chidori Sharp Spear!"

Uchiha Sasuke's hand shot out a stream of electricity, piercing through several Chitauri soldiers in its path.

Loki turned to Thor and taunted, "It looks like the title of the god of Thunder could go to this boy."

Thor frowned slightly.

After mocking Thor, Loki initiated an attack. The two brothers engaged in a fierce battle.

…

Elsewhere-

Tony watched as three Chitauri Leviathans emerged in the sky.

"Jarvis, where's Charles Doyle?"

"Sir, he has already arrived."

Tony breathed a sigh of relief and received a communication request from Natasha.

At that moment, Barton arrived, piloting a Quinjet. Natasha spoke through the comms:

"Stark, we're at your three o'clock, heading northeast."

Tony sarcastically remarked, "Took you long enough. Did you stop for takeout?"

"Head to Park Avenue. I'll draw them towards you."

Quickly, Tony lured a portion of the enemy towards Natasha, who managed to take out several Chitauri with the Quinjet's guns. However, Jarvis warned Tony of more enemies approaching.

Tony flew off to confront the new threats, leaving the Chitauri Leviathans unattended.

The massive creatures released a swarm of soldiers from their sides. The Chitauri soldiers, vast in number, latched onto buildings and smashed through windows, attacking anyone they encountered.

Barton, piloting the Quinjet, spotted Loki fighting Thor on a rooftop and redirected to engage. However, Loki used the scepter to shoot a beam of energy, causing the Quinjet to crash.

Fortunately, the Quinjet's robust construction and Barton's piloting skills ensured a safe crash landing. Steve Rogers, Kabuto, Chen Haoran, Brock Rumlow, Barton, and Natasha, who were in the cabin, ran out and immediately joined the battle.

…

At this moment, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru also fought together, surrounded by the bodies of numerous Chitauri soldiers. Watching a Chitauri Leviathan approach from above, Tsunade declared:

"I'll handle this one."

Tsunade leaped onto the Leviathan's head and delivered a devastating kick imbued with her monstrous strength.

"Boom!"

The impact blew apart the Leviathan's head, tearing through its steel armor. Tsunade passed through the beast's head, leaving it lifeless.

But its huge body continued to smash towards Tsunade due to inertia.

"Massive Rasengan!"

Jiraiya, leaping high, conjured a giant Rasengan and slammed it into the Leviathan's body, blasting it away from Tsunade.

Tony Stark, battling in the sky, saw this and flew over.

"You're here. Great."

"Where's Charles Doyle?"

Tsunade, while tearing apart a Chitauri soldier trying to ambush them, responded, "He should be on another front."

"Got it."

Tony rejoined the battle. The number of Chitauri Leviathans was increasing.

To counter new threats, Loki had opened an exceptionally large portal. Now, ten Chitauri Leviathans were on the battlefield.

…

On another front, Sakura Haruno was clearing out minor enemies, while Naruto, in his One-Tail form, was rapidly killing enemies.

"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

Uchiha Sasuke unleashed a stream of fire, forming two massive dragon heads that descended and annihilated a cluster of Chitauri soldiers.

Their actions attracted a Chitauri Leviathan's attention, which attacked them.

Sasuke, looking up at the sky, said, "Sakura, Naruto, step back."

"Lightning Style: Kirin!"

The sky filled with dark clouds, and lightning began to converge, forming a unicorn-like shape. The lightning unicorn then struck the Chitauri Leviathan with immense force.

"Boom!"

The colossal roar of the thunderbolt left the Leviathan charred and dead.

Sasuke's dramatic technique drew everyone's attention on the battlefield.

…

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Stark Tower, Loki used the scepter to choke Thor, pinning him against the edge of the terrace.

"Hahaha, Thor."

"Did you see that lightning attack just now?"

Loki sneered at Thor, mocking, "Compared to him, you're just a god of hammers."

The jab struck a nerve. Thor had already felt overshadowed by Charles Doyle's superior control over lightning back in Jotunheim, and now there was another even more powerful wielder.

"Arghhh!"

Thor roared in fury, summoning a bolt of lightning from the sky that struck Loki, sending him flying. Thor then grabbed Mjolnir and charged at Loki.

…

On another street, Natasha and the others witnessed the brilliant lightning display.

Steve Rogers exclaimed in awe, "Is that the power of Thor?"

Kabuto Yakushi smirked slightly. Thor? No, that was our ninja technique.

Kabuto had no intention of revealing this secret. He surveyed the battlefield and said, "Our combat strength is wasted if all six of us stay together."

"I'm fast and can dodge attacks. I'll support another street where people are trapped."

"Brock Rumlow and Chen Haoran can assist another street. Captain, Barton, and Natasha, you stay here."

"This way, we can handle more enemies and rescue more civilians."

Steve Rogers, who had been considering the same strategy, agreed, "Good idea, Kabuto. We'll split into three teams."

"Kabuto, can you handle it alone?"

Adjusting his S.H.I.E.L.D.-issued forehead protector, Kabuto replied, "I'm the strongest here. I should be fine."

Chen Haoran, unusually, did not object to Kabuto's claim.

"Alright, let's do this."

The six-person team split into three groups. Kabuto and Chen Haoran headed to two other streets, while Steve, Barton, and Natasha stayed put.

Kabuto, after rounding a corner, made his way toward Stark Tower.

As soon as they split, a Chitauri Leviathan appeared before Natasha's team. Watching the soldiers continuously being launched from the beast's body, Steve Rogers contacted Tony.

"Tony, how do we take down this beast?"

"Is Banner here yet?"

"Let me know when he arrives. I can't penetrate their armor without changing suits."

But Tony's other suits were at his beachside mansion, making it impossible to retrieve them in time.

Tony pondered and then said, "If you can't handle it, don't worry about the big guy. Charles brought his ninjas, and they can take it down."

Hearing that Charles Doyle and his ninjas had arrived, Steve Rogers felt somewhat relieved. Having stronger allies was beneficial.

However, Natasha and Barton exchanged worried glances. They knew that Director Nick Fury was most reluctant to have Charles intervene in this battle.

Both were aware that the ninjas' interest in the Tesseract was as strong as Loki's.

Yet, at this moment, Natasha and Barton had no choice but to deal with the immediate threat, leaving the issue of the Tesseract for later.

…

Meanwhile-

At the three orphanages established by Charles, the Chitauri soldiers attacking on flying vehicles were unable to breach the defenses.

At the first orphanage, Iruka Umino, Obito Uchiha, and Shizune successfully held the line, with Hanabi Hyuga using her Byakugan for surveillance.

At the second and third orphanages, only a few Chitauri soldiers attacked, and they were swiftly dealt with by Teams 8 and 10.

Thankfully, the orphanages were located in the suburbs of New York, away from the central battlefield.

At Charles Agency, Michael and Selene guarded the entrance, preventing enemies from getting through and protecting many civilians on the street.

The base was heavily fortified with Ginny in her Riot armor, Venom Eddie, 200 werewolves, and John Wick. The attacking enemies were not enough to pose any significant threat.

Ninjas from the Sand Puppet Shop, Sound Ninja Base, and Mist Ninja Base also came out to protect the surrounding streets and residents.

…

Charles and the Ancient One stood on a rooftop, observing the battle below.

After watching for a while, Charles realized that the time-traveling Avengers from "Avengers: Endgame" were not appearing, nor was there any sign of Banner coming for the Tesseract.

Deciding not to waste any more time, Charles turned to the Ancient One.

"Ancient One, I've seen enough. I'm going to deal with the enemies now."

The Ancient One nodded, "Go ahead, Supreme Merlin. Remember your duties."

Charles nodded back and used the Body Flicker Technique to head to the battlefield.

…

On the rooftop of Stark Tower, after pummeling Loki, Thor shouted at him:

"Look around you! Do you think this madness will end once you are king?"

Loki glanced at the city below, turned into a warzone, and replied, "It's too late. It can't be stopped now."

Thor grabbed Loki, "No, we can stop this together."

Loki seemed to show a hint of remorse but suddenly produced a dagger and stabbed Thor in the side.

"Ugh!"

Thor groaned in pain, dropping Mjolnir. Loki sneered, "Too naive."

Enraged, Thor kicked Loki and slammed him into the ground. Realizing he couldn't gain the upper hand, Loki jumped onto a Chitauri vehicle and fled, leaving the scepter behind.

Seeing Loki disappear, Thor joined the battle against the Chitauri.

Above, a massive Chitauri warship emerged from the portal, four times the size of the Chitauri Leviathans, looming like a giant storm cloud.

…

Steve Rogers, Natasha, and Barton had just defeated a group of Chitauri soldiers when they saw the enormous warship in the sky.

Steve said, "What in the world is that thing?"

Just then, Dr. Bruce Banner arrived on a motorcycle, skidding to a stop near the battlefield.

Relief washed over the faces of Steve, Natasha, and Barton.

"Dr. Banner, now would be a good time to get angry," Steve said.

Through the common communication channel, Steve called out, "Stark, Banner's here."

"Great, get him into the fight. I've got a beast headed your way from a nearby street," Tony replied.

Soon, Tony led a Chitauri Leviathan towards their location. Banner transformed into the Hulk and charged at the beast, delivering a powerful punch that stopped it in its tracks.

The impact lifted the beast onto its legs, exposing its vulnerable underbelly. Tony seized the opportunity to launch a missile that penetrated the exposed flesh, obliterating the Leviathan.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Tony briefly communicated with the team before returning to the battle.

Charles arrived at the heart of the battle just in time to witness an incredible sight.

Kushina Uzumaki had bound a Chitauri Leviathan with golden chains, using the Adamantine Sealing Chains technique.

With a forceful jerk, Kushina pulled the beast to the ground, exuding a terrifying aura as her blood-red hair flared wildly.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Kushina's relentless punches pulverized the Leviathan's head. The beast, immobilized by the sealing chains, was beaten to death by Kushina's sheer physical power.

Charles couldn't help but be impressed. "No wonder they call her the Red-Hot Habanero!"

As he surveyed the battlefield, Charles saw the various Avengers and ninjas fighting valiantly against the Chitauri. He quickly formed hand seals and began summoning allies.

"Summoning Jutsu: Ninja Dog Army!"

"Summoning Jutsu: Aoda!"

"Summoning Jutsu: Gamakichi!"

"Summoning Jutsu: Ninja Turtle!"

"Summoning Jutsu: Katsuyu!"

"Summoning Jutsu: Shukaku!"

Just as the summoned creatures appeared, a massive laser beam from the Chitauri warship swept across a city block, leveling it in an instant.

The Avengers stared in shock, except for Tony, who had seen such devastation before.

Charles quickly issued orders, "Ninja dogs, rescue the civilians nearby. Aoda, Gamakichi, Ninja Turtle, Katsuyu, you four handle the Chitauri soldiers."

"Yes, Lord Charles," they responded.

"Shukaku, aim at the largest ship in the sky and hit it with a Tailed Beast Bomb."

The summoned creatures sprang into action, following Charles's commands.

On the battlefield of Team 7, after seeing other summoned beasts appear, Uzumaki Naruto no longer held back and used his summoning technique.

"Summoning Jutsu: Gamabunta!"

With a massive thud, the giant toad wielding a huge sword and smoking a pipe appeared on the battlefield.

"Boss Toad, help us out and slice that Leviathan!"

Gamabunta leaped into the air, cleaving a Chitauri Leviathan in half with his enormous sword.

On his hovering platform, Loki watched in astonishment as the battlefield was filled with creatures rivaling the Leviathans in size.

"What... what are these?" he muttered.

Shukaku, crouched on the ground, aimed his attack at the massive Chitauri warship. A dark purple chakra ball began to form in his mouth, growing rapidly in size.

Noticing this, the Chitauri warship aimed its cannons at Shukaku.

"Tailed Beast Bomb!"

The colossal sphere of energy shot towards the warship. A pale blue energy shield appeared around the ship but quickly cracked under the immense pressure of the Tailed Beast Bomb, which forced its way through.

"Crack!"

The shield shattered, and the bomb exploded within the warship, tearing it apart.

"Boom!"

The ship was instantly disintegrated by the explosion. Its fragments rained down, with a particularly large piece plunging towards a group of civilians who hadn't yet evacuated.

Might Guy, seeing the imminent danger, leaped into the air and activated the Eight Gates technique.

"Eight Gates: Seventh Gate of Shock, open!"

"Morning Peacock!"

---1---

·Chapter 623: The End of the War

Might Guy swung his fists countless times, each punch generating fiery trails in the air due to friction, which collided with the falling debris from the destroyed Chitauri warship.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Under Might Guy's relentless assault, the falling debris shattered into smaller fragments, but they still posed a significant threat to those below.

"Lightning Release: Kirin!"

Sasuke Uchiha appeared below in a flash, and a torrent of lightning descended from the sky, vaporizing the debris instantly and saving the civilians below.

Charles Doyle, seeing Might Guy and Sasuke neutralize the falling wreckage, turned his gaze towards the spatial portal.

A Chitauri Leviathan was about to emerge. His eyes immediately activated the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Amaterasu!"

Black flames ignited at the spot where Charles's gaze fell, covering the Leviathan that hadn't fully exited the portal. The beast let out a wail and fell lifelessly from the sky, consumed by the unquenchable flames.

Minato Namikaze, witnessing the Leviathan's black-flame-enshrouded upper body plummeting, quickly reacted.

"Damn it!"

"Spiraling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three!"

He threw a Hiraishin kunai upwards, teleported to the Leviathan's falling body, and placed a hand on it while simultaneously throwing another kunai into the distance.

"Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!"

Minato used the Hiraishin Technique to relocate the Leviathan's corpse, transporting it over the Atlantic Ocean, where he released it.

"Boom!"

The Leviathan's body hit the ocean, creating massive waves. The Amaterasu flames met the seawater with a loud hiss, generating clouds of steam.

Minato, observing the black flames persisting on the ocean surface, admired their power before teleporting back to the battlefield using another pre-placed kunai.

Following Charles Doyle's attack, the other ninjas unleashed their ultimate techniques.

"Lightning Release: Kirin!"

"True Strike of Extermination!"

"Illusion: Triple Lotus!"

"Multiple Shadow Clone: Lightning Blade!"

"Fire Release: Great Flame Rasengan!"

"Wood Release: Binding Burial!"

The coordinated assault of the ninjas swiftly decimated a large number of Chitauri soldiers and beasts.

From his hovering craft, Loki's eyes widened in shock at the scene unfolding before him.

"A whole Chitauri warship destroyed just like that? Is this the power of the Supreme Merlin?"

Loki realized the gravity of the situation. The intelligence he had obtained from Barton did not prepare him for this.

He could only hope that the Chitauri leader had heeded his earlier warnings and requested reinforcements from Thanos. Otherwise, this battle seemed doomed.

Top-level fighters could render sheer numbers irrelevant, making victory just a matter of time.

As Loki pondered this, Kabuto Yakushi arrived at the rooftop terrace of Stark Tower.

Spotting Loki's abandoned scepter, Kabuto approached it, ensuring no one else was around. He retrieved a sealing scroll from his ninja pouch and sealed the scepter within it.

Knowing the power of the scepter, Kabuto saw it as a valuable weapon, potentially on par with some of the strongest ninja tools, and something that could be useful to Charles.

"This was too easy!" Kabuto thought as he secured the scepter and headed to the top floor.

Meanwhile, the Avengers were equally stunned. Steve Rogers gazed at the battlefield, where giant toads, snakes, and other creatures fought alongside the ninjas.

"Tony, what are those giant creatures?" he asked. "Are they friend or foe?"

Rogers was astonished at the sight of these creatures, which, unlike the Chitauri beasts, resembled Earth's amphibians and reptiles.

Tony, observing the battlefield from above, responded, "They're the ninjas' summons. I've seen some of them before, summoned by Charles Doyle. The others are new to me, but they're on our side."

Hawkeye, upon hearing this, closed his eyes, accepting that avenging his personal vendetta might never happen.

Thor, recalling Charles's inquiry about having a pet in Jotunheim, marveled at the Supreme Merlin's extensive reserves.

…

On the other side-

The communications on the helicarrier had been restored, and the events in New York were being broadcasted via various cameras, drones, and daring reporters.

Nick Fury, watching multiple screens displaying the battle from different angles, furrowed his brow. The sight of the ninjas joining the fray didn't ease his worries; instead, it made him more solemn.

"Charles Doyle and his people have been hiding such power. This is too dangerous..."

"Get me the surveillance footage from around Charles Agency, the base, the Sand Puppet Shop, the Sound Ninja Base, and the Mist Base."

"Yes, sir!"

The screens lit up again, showing footage from the requested locations. The Chitauri soldiers, barely appearing before they were swiftly taken down, were too fast for the cameras to capture.

Nick Fury muttered, "These ninjas..."

Combining the intel from Tony and his own analyses, Fury had a revelation: Could there have been a secret group protecting Earth all along?

If so, what did that make S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Just a bunch of amateurs?

"No, I don't accept that. If they were truly our protectors, why didn't they intervene during World War I, World War II, or even when HYDRA threatened to destroy the world?"

Nick Fury clenched the pager he always carried in his coat pocket, his thoughts turning to one singular idea: The Earth can only safely progress under my protection. These uncontrollable threats must be brought to heel.

Suddenly, Fury's face changed. "The Tesseract," he muttered.

At that moment, Maria Hill approached and said, "Director Fury, the Council is on a video call. They need you in the meeting room."

"Alright, I'm on my way."

Nick Fury walked into the meeting room, where multiple LCD screens showed the members of the World Security Council.

One of the male council members began, "Nick Fury, from what we've gathered, the Chitauri army in New York is expanding its reach. There are already enemies outside of New York."

"To ensure global security and halt the Chitauri's advance, I propose that the United Nations Security Council decide to launch a tactical nuclear missile at the spatial portal in New York."

Council Member A: "I support this proposal."

Council Member B: "I support this proposal."

Council Member C: "I support this proposal."

The American representative hesitated for a few seconds before speaking, "I support this proposal."

The proposing council member, seeing unanimous agreement, continued, "Good. Since everyone agrees, Nick Fury, begin preparations to implement this plan."

Nick Fury looked at the five council members on the screen and said, "This decision is unbelievably foolish. Right now, New York is the battleground, and although the situation is tense, it is still manageable."

"I refuse to carry out this order."

The American representative responded, "Director, you are the closest to the situation. Send out the jets immediately."

"Councilman, unless my team is truly overwhelmed, I will not order a nuclear strike on civilians."

The American council member replied, "If we fail to contain them here, the danger will be far greater."

Nick Fury countered, "A nuclear strike would be the true danger!"

With that, Nick Fury cut the video feed, deciding to take matters into his own hands, disregarding the council's orders.

Fury believed the situation hadn't reached an unmanageable point, especially with the ninjas' intervention. Things were going much better than expected.

Moreover, a tactical nuclear strike wouldn't eliminate all the ninjas. Given that other ninja villages' bases were outside Manhattan, this could lead to them retaliating, creating an even bigger problem.

…

Meanwhile, Kabuto Yakushi had reached the top floor of Stark Tower. He saw the device and the unconscious Dr. Selvig lying nearby.

Approaching the machine cautiously, Kabuto took out a kunai and attempted to pierce the area around the Tesseract. An energy shield suddenly appeared, blocking Kabuto's actions.

Kabuto applied more force but to no avail. Instead, the energy shield's rebound force almost knocked him off the building.

At that moment, Loki, having been hit by Hawkeye's arrow, fell onto the terrace below. The Hulk arrived and began to thrash Loki mercilessly, finishing by muttering, "Puny god!"

After his rampage, the Hulk left Loki lying on the ground and charged away.

Natasha Romanoff, arriving on a flying craft, jumped onto the rooftop and called out to Kabuto, "Kabuto, what's the situation?"

Kabuto looked at Natasha and said, "I'm trying to shut down the portal, but there's an energy shield protecting it. I can't get close."

Speaking, Kabuto struck the device with his hand, revealing the light blue energy shield to Natasha.

Natasha frowned slightly, wondering what to do next.

Looking around, she spotted the unconscious Dr. Selvig and rushed to him. Perhaps he knew something that could help.

…

Meanwhile-

Charles Doyle was cutting through the enemy forces on the ground. He watched the seemingly endless stream of Chitauri pouring through the portal in the sky.

After incinerating a soldier with a Fireball, he pondered whether to continue fighting and wipe out the Chitauri army or to shut the portal and end the war.

Charles flew up and observed the devastated Manhattan below. After a moment of deliberation, he decided to close the portal and end the war.

In an instant, he teleported to Stark Tower's terrace, intending to retrieve Loki's scepter to shut down the portal. However, after a quick scan, he only saw Loki's unconscious body but not the scepter.

Seeing the destruction surrounding Stark Tower, with most buildings reduced to rubble, Charles realized a major reconstruction would be necessary.

Assuming Natasha had the scepter, he teleported to the rooftop.

Just as Natasha was waking Dr. Selvig, she noticed Charles's sudden appearance. Understanding his objective, she said, "The device is protected by an energy shield. Regular attacks can't penetrate it."

Charles frowned, not seeing the scepter with Natasha. He wondered where it could be.

Dr. Selvig, now conscious, said, "Loki's scepter, its energy can close the portal. I built a failsafe into the device that the scepter can activate."

Natasha asked, "Where is Loki?"

Charles responded, "Loki is down below, but he's been defeated. I didn't see the scepter with him!"

Both Natasha and Dr. Selvig looked down at the terrace. It was empty; neither Loki nor the scepter was there.

Natasha pressed her earpiece, calling out on the public channel, "Has anyone seen Loki's scepter? We need it to close the portal."

While Natasha coordinated the search, Kabuto Yakushi approached Charles, kneeling and presenting a sealed scroll from his ninja pouch.

In Natasha's surprised gaze, Kabuto said, "Lord Charles, I have sealed the scepter in this scroll. You can use it to close the portal and retrieve the Tesseract, ending this madness."

Charles took the scroll, impressed yet unsurprised by Kabuto's foresight. He nodded and said, "Kabuto, your task is complete. Return to the ranks."

"Yes, Lord Charles!"

Kabuto stood beside Charles, removing his SHIELD headband and tossing it to Natasha, then said with a smile, "Serving Lord Charles is my honor."

Just then, voices crackled through Natasha's earpiece:

"I haven't seen Loki or the scepter here."

"Nothing on my end either."

"No sign of them here!"

Hawkeye added, "Loki got blown away after my last shot. I was under attack and lost track of him."

Natasha replied, "No need to search further. The scepter is with Charles Doyle."

Hearing this, everyone sighed in relief.

…

Meanwhile, on the helicarrier-

In the aircraft hangar, an airman received a command through his earpiece.

"Director Nick Fury has been relieved of command. Proceed with executing Contingency Order 7A11."

"Order 7A11 confirmed. Preparing for takeoff."

In the command center, Hill noticed the activity and shouted, "Sir, a jet is taking off without clearance!"

"Attention, all deck personnel. We have an unauthorized jet taking off. It must be stopped immediately. Repeat, unauthorized takeoff!"

Nick Fury, hearing this, rushed to the weapons locker, grabbing a man-portable Stinger missile launcher, and sprinted towards the deck.

Reaching the deck, Fury saw the unauthorized jet accelerating down the runway. He aimed and fired the Stinger missile.

"Whoosh!"

"Boom!"

The jet exploded on the runway before it could take off. Fury breathed a sigh of relief but then noticed another jet taking off. It quickly ascended and flew away.

Realizing he couldn't stop it, Fury returned inside and contacted Tony, "Stark, do you read me? A missile is heading for Manhattan."

Tony, amidst the battle, paused and asked, "How long do we have?"

"Three minutes at most. It's carrying a tactical nuke that will level the city center."

"Got it."

Tony then shouted, "Natasha, is Charles with you? Tell him not to close the portal yet. A nuke is incoming."

Natasha, seeing Charles about to shut the portal, called out, "Charles, wait! Tony says a nuke is on its way!"

Hearing this, Charles sighed, "Have Tony give me the coordinates. I'll handle it."

"Wood Style: Wood Clone Jutsu!"

A wood clone separated from Charles's body. He said, "The portal is your task to close."

Knowing the spaceship had an energy shield that could thwart Tony's efforts, Charles decided to handle the missile himself.

Charles didn't linger and flew at full speed towards the missile. He quickly spotted Tony in the sky and overtook him.

Tony, seeing Charles zoom past, stopped mid-flight.

Charles soon saw the incoming missile, matched its speed, and placed a Hiraishin mark on it. "Hiraishin Second Step!"

In the next instant, Charles, with the missile in tow, vanished from Tony Stark's sight. He reappeared directly below the portal, sending the tactical nuke hurtling through it.

"Boom!"

As the nuke exited the portal, it collided with an incoming Chitauri cruiser.

The explosion created a massive fireball, which was contained by the cruiser's energy shield, causing only a tremor. However, the surrounding Chitauri soldiers weren't as fortunate and were obliterated.

Back on the rooftop, Charles's wood clone, seeing the successful missile transfer, immediately used the scepter to shut down the portal.

As the energy was cut off, the spatial rift created by the Tesseract began to close. The Chitauri forces still in transit found themselves lost in space instead of reaching Earth.

With the portal sealed, the Chitauri soldiers on Earth seemed to lose their command signal, instantly falling down. Even the flying Chitauri leviathans plummeted from the sky.

Charles, using the Hiraishin technique, reappeared on the rooftop, smiling. "The war is over!"

…

Meanwhile, aboard the helicarrier, the soldiers erupted in cheers as they witnessed Charles's heroic act of redirecting the nuke and the subsequent shutdown of the portal.

The sight of the Chitauri soldiers and beasts deactivating only added to their excitement.

Nick Fury's expression was complex, but he finally spoke, "The war is over!"

With the Chitauri threat neutralized, the Avengers regrouped at Stark Tower.

They found Loki, who had just regained consciousness, and promptly arrested him.

Taking advantage of the situation, Charles swiftly stored both the Tesseract and Loki's scepter in his spatial storage.

As he touched them, Charles heard the system's notification sound but chose to ignore it for the moment, focusing instead on securing the items.

Natasha, observing Charles's actions, wisely chose not to interfere. Instead, she smiled and asked, "Mr. Charles Doyle, should I call you the Ninja Immortal or the Supreme Merlin?"

Charles looked at Natasha and replied, "Both names refer to me. You can use whichever you prefer."

---2---

·Chapter 624: Post-War

With the portal's closure, the Battle of New York officially ended. Seeing the enemy incapacitated and the portal sealed, Charles Doyle's ninjas began to regroup at his location.

Although the battle was over, the aftermath had only just begun. Charles Doyle and the Avengers gathered at Stark Tower.

Beside Charles stood many ninjas, their numbers far exceeding those of the Avengers. Loki was restrained in a wooden prison created by Yamato.

The presence of Loki presented a challenge for the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. alike. As the second prince of Asgard and Thor's brother, his fate was a delicate matter.

Everyone looked to Charles Doyle, the most powerful individual present in terms of both strength and influence.

Charles spoke up, "Loki wasn't defeated by me, so he isn't my spoils of war."

With one sentence, Charles defined Loki as a spoil of war.

Bruce Banner, now back to his human form, said, "While it was the Hulk who defeated him, the Hulk doesn't make decisions."

Thor stepped forward, addressing Charles and the others. "Charles and everyone, Loki is an Asgardian. He will face Asgardian justice for his crimes. I will take him back to be punished."

This declaration was met with dissatisfaction from the likes of Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Captain America.

Loki had turned Manhattan into a war zone, causing immense damage and loss of life. The idea of him being taken back to Asgard without facing earthly consequences was infuriating. However, the fear of Asgard's might kept them in check.

All eyes returned to Charles Doyle. Even Thor watched him closely, despite Charles having already stated that Loki wasn't his spoil of war.

Charles, seeing the anticipation in their eyes, spoke again, "Thor, since you want to take Loki back to Asgard for trial, you may do so."

"I'm confident that after this, Loki won't have another chance to cause trouble."

Thor smiled and said, "Rest assured, Loki will be judged in Asgard. He will spend at least several centuries in prison for his crimes."

Charles cast a sidelong glance at Thor. Unlike others, he knew that a few centuries meant little to Loki and that Odin's word alone could release him.

Besides, if the timeline remained unaltered, Loki wouldn't survive long enough to serve his full sentence, dying in a future conflict.

Yet, with Charles's presence, Thanos might not get the chance to defeat Thor and kill Loki. Regardless, Charles wasn't particularly concerned about Loki.

Thor, sensing Charles's understanding, smiled awkwardly. "By the way, Charles, I need you to return the Tesseract. It belongs to my father and was placed on Earth by him. We also need it to return to Asgard."

Before Charles could respond, Natasha interjected, "The Tesseract is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s property. Mr. Charles, could you return it to us?"

Natasha had already reported everything to Nick Fury, including Kabuto's defection to Charles Doyle and the fact that both the scepter and the Tesseract were in Charles's possession. Fury's orders were clear: try to retrieve the Tesseract, but don't force the issue. Kabuto's defection wasn't even mentioned.

Standing beside Natasha were Barton, Rumlow, and Chen Haoran.

Steve Rogers spoke up before Charles could respond, "What does S.H.I.E.L.D. intend to do? Use it to build weapons and start another war?"

Banner added, "This thing shouldn't go back to S.H.I.E.L.D. Thor said studying the Tesseract's energy signals a declaration of war to other planets."

Tony nodded in agreement but remained silent, knowing Charles wouldn't hand over the Tesseract.

Charles finally spoke, "I think there's a misunderstanding here. The Tesseract and Loki's scepter are my spoils of war. Their ownership is mine, not anyone else's."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't protect it; that's your problem. These items no longer belong to you."

Natasha paused, then said, "Charles, if you won't return the Tesseract to S.H.I.E.L.D., you should at least give it to Asgard."

Her goal was clear: if S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't have it, it should at least leave Earth.

Thor, however, said, "With Charles Doyle's strength, there's no problem with him keeping the Tesseract. It's his spoil of war."

"But, Charles, I do need to use the Tesseract to return Loki and me to Asgard. Unless you can send us back yourself."

Thor didn't care much about the Tesseract. If it wasn't for Charles, he would have taken it back to Asgard, but now it was better in Charles's hands.

Charles nodded, "No problem. I'll use the Merlin Array to send you and Loki back to Asgard."

Thor looked at Charles, astonished. "You've grown so powerful? You can now transport three people at once?"

Charles smiled, "I've been lucky. My strength has improved significantly in the recent time."

Thor opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. Just a few months ago, Charles Doyle had struggled with even a two-person teleportation. Now, he could handle three people at once using his array. The improvement was astounding. Thor himself had grown stronger in that time, but his progress seemed insignificant compared to Charles's.

Giving Charles a thumbs-up, Thor said, "You're amazing!"

Natasha, Barton, and the others silently took note of Thor's words. This was significant information.

Tony, meanwhile, blinked in surprise. Did the teleportation array really limit the number of people? He remembered that when they visited the wizarding world, Charles had transported quite a few people at once. Perhaps it was a matter of distance?

Talking about spoils of war, Tony then asked, "Speaking of spoils, what about the Chitauri weapons, beasts, and corpses left behind? How should we divide them?"

Charles responded, "I'm not interested in those things. Anyone who wants them can take a share. After all, everyone contributed to the fight."

Charles had already touched those items during the battle and received no system prompts, so he wasn't concerned about them.

Captain America, Banner, and others shook their heads. "I'm not interested in those things either," said Steve Rogers.

Thor didn't need them, and the others, being either lone operators or S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, had little use for them.

Tony said, "I'll take a share. I want to study the alien technology and see what's different."

Natasha nodded. "Besides Tony's share, S.H.I.E.L.D. will recover the rest. It's too dangerous for ordinary people to have access to these items."

"If used for nefarious purposes, regular police wouldn't stand a chance."

Everyone nodded in agreement and said no more.

Orochimaru, seeing Charles give up on those items, wasn't bothered. He had already sealed many samples using a sealing scroll during the battle. He had some interest in researching them.

With the discussion mostly settled, Thor said, "Charles, when are you planning to send Loki and me back to Asgard? If there are no other matters, I'd prefer to go as soon as possible."

Charles smiled. "Thor, since you're here on Earth, don't you want to see your girlfriend?"

Hearing this, Thor murmured, "Jane..."

"Charles, is there enough time?"

Charles chuckled. "Thor, don't worry. Your girlfriend has been under my protection. If you want to see her, you can meet her at my place later."

Thor smiled. "Thank you, Charles."

With that, Charles led Thor and the ninjas away from the battlefield, while the S.H.I.E.L.D. team returned to their New York base for rest.

…

The next day-

Charles Doyle was in the dining area of the base, eating and watching the news. All channels were covering the confirmed alien invasion.

"In this alien invasion, two teams stood out."

"One was the Avengers, consisting of Iron Man Tony Stark, Black Widow Natasha Romanoff, Hawkeye Clint Barton, Flame Warrior Chen Haoran, Crossbones Brock Rumlow, the Hulk, Thor, and Captain America Steve Rogers."

"The other was led by the Ninja Immortal Charles Doyle, and his ninjas."

"Together, they achieved a heroic feat, defeating the invading enemies."

"This is a great comfort to many and something worth celebrating."

Reporters interviewed surviving New Yorkers, who praised both teams. However, some voices of dissent emerged, questioning the role of superheroes and suggesting the government was hiding something. Some even called for these heroes to compensate for the city's destruction.

Watching the dissenters, Charles smiled, unconcerned. He wondered how the survivors would feel about their homes and cars being destroyed. Manhattan real estate wasn't cheap, and the U.S. government wouldn't fully compensate them. At best, they might provide temporary housing and some relief funds.

Insurance wouldn't cover alien invasions or wars, as those were considered acts of God and thus excluded from policies. Insurers would go bankrupt if they had to cover all the damaged buildings. Ironically, Stark Tower, the epicenter of the battle, remained the most intact building.

As Charles pondered these thoughts, Thor and Jane Foster entered the dining area. Thor, with Jane on his arm, approached Charles.

Thor, smiling brightly, saying, "Charles, thank you for protecting Jane all this time."

Jane also spoke up, "Thank you, Charles."

Charles waved his hand and said, "Thor, you're too polite. We're friends."

Thor then said, "Charles, there are many matters to attend to in Asgard. I can't stay here long. Could you send Loki and me back to Asgard today?"

Jane looked reluctant to see Thor leave, but she didn't say much. He had already told her about this last night and promised to find a way to visit Earth again.

Charles, seeing Thor's urgency, nodded. "Alright, this afternoon. It's no problem for me."

"Thank you!"

After expressing his gratitude, Thor and Jane Foster left the dining area and returned to their room.

Not long after they left, Ginny came in holding some documents.

Seeing Ginny, Charles asked, "What were our losses from yesterday's battle?"

Ginny opened the file and said, "Because of your prior arrangements, our core industries sustained no damage, and there were no casualties. In fact, our agency, orphanage, and base sheltered many citizens, earning us widespread praise."

"However, some of the underground forces in Manhattan under the High Table suffered significant losses, with some unlucky gangs being hit hard by the Chitauri soldiers."

"But these are non-core forces. Once one batch falls, another will replace them."

Charles nodded and said, "It's good that there were no major losses."

"By the way, I saw Orochimaru leaving Loki's area earlier."

Hearing that Orochimaru had been with Loki, Charles nodded. "I see."

"Don't worry, Orochimaru won't do anything excessive."

Orochimaru had a keen interest in beings like the Asgardians, who were considered gods.

While Loki was in custody, Orochimaru, along with Kabuto, had taken quite a bit of Loki's blood. Initially, ordinary needles couldn't pierce Loki's skin and broke, but he succeeded using vibranium needles, extracting a significant amount of blood. Orochimaru hadn't gone overboard, but Loki did look a bit pale.

…

Elsewhere, on the helicarrier-

Natasha was reporting to Nick Fury. Early that morning, Natasha and the others had returned to the helicarrier on a Quinjet.

Natasha placed Kabuto's forehead protector on the table.

"Director, this is Kabuto's forehead protector. He has left S.H.I.E.L.D. and joined Charles Doyle."

"He was likely a spy Charles placed in S.H.I.E.L.D. to locate the Tesseract. Now that the objective is complete, Kabuto has been recalled."

Natasha then detailed the events she witnessed to Nick Fury.

Fury looked at the eagle-marked forehead protector on the table, not showing anger, but calmly said, "I understand."

"What other intel do you have?"

Natasha continued, "Loki's scepter and the Tesseract are now in Charles Doyle's possession."

"And Thor holds Charles Doyle in high regard. According to Thor, Charles has the ability to travel between Earth and Asgard using something called the Merlin Array."

"Charles agreed to use his ability to take Thor and Loki to Asgard."

"Based on intel from Tony and Thor, Charles is Supreme Merlin, the leader of the magical world."

"Charles commands an entire magical world, with all its mages following his orders."

"However, no mages appeared in the New York battle, only Charles's ninjas and summoned beasts."

"This puzzles me. It might be because Tony notified Charles last minute, and there wasn't time to call the mages."

Natasha then explained what summoned beasts were, mentioning that the dog with a forehead protector seen with Tony before was one of them.

After listening to Natasha's report, Fury nodded and said, "The bond formed from this battle has strengthened your relationship with Tony and the others."

"Natasha, maintain this camaraderie."

"Yes, sir!"

"But Captain and Dr. Banner have already left New York this morning, and Thor will be leaving Earth with Loki."

Fury nodded. "It's alright. It's good for them to leave for now."

"If danger arises, they'll return."

"Alright, I have all the intel I need. You may go."

"Yes, sir."

---3---

·Chapter 625: Adjustments and Arrangements

After Natasha left, Nick Fury stood by the window, gazing at the sky outside the helicarrier, lost in thought.

Integrating the intelligence provided by Natasha and previously collected data, Nick Fury realized that the information on Charles Doyle needed to be updated.

The level of danger and urgency associated with him had now been elevated to the same level as Asgard's crown prince, Thor.

Charles Doyle was known by two titles: Supreme Merlin and the Ninja Immortal. Each of these titles represented a significant power.

Supreme Merlin - According to Tony's intelligence, Merlin is the ruler of the magical world and has, through his own efforts, created this magical realm, becoming the leader of all mages.

Nick Fury wasn't sure whether Merlin had discovered such a world or had really created it, much like the mythical deities. Regardless, it indicated a terrifyingly powerful being.

Merlin, a legendary figure, has left behind personal myths in what was once Great Britain—legends of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and Merlin the wizard.

Although Thor's appearance had shown Fury that mythical stories might not be entirely accurate, they did have some basis in reality.

It was clear that Merlin and mages were native to Earth, part of its local forces.

Charles Doyle had become the successor to such a legendary figure, inheriting everything from Merlin, including the magical world and its mages.

This reminded Nick Fury of the magical array incident in the Golden Ox Plaza, which might have had a lot to do with Charles Doyle.

What concerned Fury more was that the magical world had also experienced an alien invasion war.

According to Tony, that battle was more terrifying than the New York battle—stronger and more numerous enemies, lasting longer, yet still repelled by Charles Doyle.

That battle involved demons from hell using the magical world as a springboard to invade Earth.

From Tony's information, Nick Fury understood that even just the identity of Supreme Merlin made Charles Doyle more powerful than the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. combined.

Moreover, Charles had the ability to travel between two worlds, further demonstrating his immense power and his ability to escape at will.

This was just one identity. The other was the Ninja Immortal.

Initially, Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. thought this title was just a casual nickname, like Iron Man or Flame Warrior. But now, Fury thought otherwise.

He speculated that this title, like Supreme Merlin, represented Charles Doyle's status in the ninja world.

Charles Doyle might not be a descendant of high-ranking officials from the Land of Fire stuck on Earth, but rather the child of a deity or a divine successor from the ninja world.

Otherwise, those powerful ninjas, even the Hokage of Konoha and the various village leaders, wouldn't let him have such a title.

As for why other ninja villages didn't obey, Fury guessed it might be because Charles Doyle's identity was only fully recognized by Konoha of the Land of Fire, and other countries and villages hadn't fully accepted it yet.

As for rogue ninjas, they wouldn't follow the Ninja Immortal, just like traitors wouldn't obey a president's orders.

The ninjas currently on Earth showed terrifying power, easily overwhelming S.H.I.E.L.D.

Terrifying beasts, energy blasts more powerful than tactical nuclear weapons, and Charles Doyle's ability to teleport a nuclear bomb—all revealed their fearsome nature.

This war against alien invaders showed S.H.I.E.L.D. and the entire World Security Council that Charles Doyle was not afraid of nuclear strikes, and this was only the tip of the iceberg of the ninja world.

Combining these two forces, it was clear that Charles Doyle was as untouchable as Thor.

Thor was just a prince, a future heir, while Charles Doyle was already a ruler of his forces.

As for which was stronger, Asgard or the ninja and magical worlds, Fury thought it didn't matter. Both were beyond S.H.I.E.L.D.'s capacity to handle.

Fury guessed Asgard might be stronger, given its universal reputation and control over nine realms, while Charles Doyle controlled at most two worlds.

However, one thing was certain: Charles Doyle was an Earthling, and Thor was an alien god. Moreover, Supreme Merlin had the task of protecting Earth.

At this point, Charles Doyle had become someone Fury needed to fully ally with and avoid provoking. Any conflicts would be set aside for now.

If Charles Doyle ever tried to dominate Earth or became a supervillain threatening the planet, Fury wouldn't hesitate to call in his backup, Captain Marvel.

As of now, Charles Doyle's power and influence were still, in Fury's view, less than Captain Marvel's. She was just too formidable.

Thinking about the loss of the Tesseract, Fury decided to use the remaining Type-1 energy blocks to trade for resources with Charles's agency.

The Type-2 energy blocks produced would continue to develop weapons and enhance S.H.I.E.L.D.'s capabilities.

Just then, Hill walked over and said, "Director, the Security Council meeting is starting."

Fury nodded and asked, "Has Phil Coulson been sent to Tahiti?"

Hill replied, "Yes, he's been sent."

"Are you sure you want to activate the Tahiti program for Coulson?"

Fury looked at Hill and said, "We can't afford to lose Coulson, can we?"

With that, Fury headed to the meeting room to attend the Security Council's emergency meeting.

With Nick Fury's arrival, the Security Council Meeting officially began.

A council member asked, "Where have the Avengers gone, and what are the plans going forward?"

Nick Fury responded, "I haven't pursued their whereabouts for now. I believe they have earned the right to take a break."

A female council member inquired, "But Natasha, Barton, Chen Haoran, and Brock Rumlow are S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Don't you know their locations?"

Nick Fury crossed his arms and said, "They need a break too, don't they? After all, they've just been through a battle to protect Earth."

Fury was fully aware of what these council members were after. He wouldn't disclose their presence on the helicarrier; otherwise, they would definitely try to reassign them.

Another council member asked, "What about the Tesseract?"

After a moment of silence, Fury replied, "The Tesseract is no longer in our possession. It has been taken to a place where it will receive proper protection."

At this time, a male council member said, "Nick Fury, you have no authority to make such a decision."

Fury shook his head, "It wasn't my decision. The Avengers didn't recover the Tesseract; it's not in our hands."

A council member asked again, "So you just let someone else take the Tesseract?"

"And what about Loki, the war criminal who should be punished for his crimes?"

Looking at the people on the screen, Fury said, "Loki will face the justice he deserves. This situation might fall under the extradition treaty. Of course, the council can try to contact Asgard to have them return their second prince."

Hearing Fury deliberately mention Loki's status as the second prince of Asgard, the council members didn't pursue this further but asked, "And the Tesseract?"

"It went to another place, one that is also under divine entity."

The council members were exasperated hearing about another divine entity.

The female council member asked again, "Do you realize the consequences of your actions? Letting the Avengers return to society—they are dangerous individuals."

"Indeed, their fame has spread worldwide and beyond," a male council member agreed.

"Isn't that our goal? A declaration, a guarantee," the female council member argued.

"What about the ninjas who appeared? They aren't part of the Avengers. Are we just letting them roam free?" she continued. "We won the battle, but what did we gain?"

For the council, the Avengers were considered a unit under S.H.I.E.L.D., albeit a somewhat uncontrollable one, but still within their sphere.

The ninjas, however, were another matter entirely. They seemed even more powerful and numerous than the Avengers.

To the council members, the war was an extension of interests. As the victors, they were looking for their share of the spoils.

Noticing that the council members had shifted their focus from the Avengers to Charles Doyle, Fury said, "Compared to the Avengers, the ninjas have their own organization and are even more formidable."

"But they are more willing to follow basic rules, and S.H.I.E.L.D. has a foundation of cooperation with them."

The female council member asked, "Have they also left?"

Fury answered, "No, they haven't hidden their tracks. After the battle, they returned to their original locations."

"Can we recruit them? Like forming a team similar to the Avengers?" another member asked.

Fury shook his head, "It's difficult. I've been trying for years but have failed. They prefer a cooperative relationship."

"As for our gains, we have acquired a lot of alien technology from this war. Trust me, this is a huge treasure."

"Their individual energy weapons, personal aircraft, energy bombs—all contain advanced technology that, once absorbed and digested, will greatly enhance us. And all these items have been recovered by S.H.I.E.L.D."

Hearing about the alien technology, the council members nodded. If they could convert that technology, it wouldn't be a loss.

The first male council member said, "Nick Fury, your task is to find ways to recruit them and win them over."

An idea flashed through Fury's mind. "Council members, I need financial support."

"Alright, we will allocate a special fund for you. For any other needs, you can apply through Councilman Pierce."

"Yes, Council members."

The meeting ended, and the video feed was turned off. Fury walked out of the conference room.

Hill approached with a tablet. "Director, you might want to see this."

Fury looked at the tablet, which was showing a video of Eddie transforming into Venom, fighting Chitauri soldiers near Charles's base, and rescuing people.

"Who's this?" Fury asked.

Hill shook her head, "We don't have his information yet, but he appeared near Charles's base. He's not a werewolf or a ninja, that's for sure."

Fury nodded, "Start a file on him. Gather intelligence."

"And investigate other individuals displaying extraordinary abilities during the alien invasion. See if any have slipped through our net."

"Yes, Director."

"But with the Avengers scattered, what should we do next? Some have gone far away. How do we handle situations like this?"

"They'll come back," Fury said, glancing at Hill.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I need them to."

Hill was silent for two seconds before turning and leaving, inwardly cursing Fury for his pretentiousness.

…

On the other side-

In the afternoon-

On the base's lawn, Charles Doyle, Thor Odinson, and Loki Odinson stood together. Loki was shackled with chains made by Yamato, surrounded by Jane Foster, Tsunade, Ginny, and others.

Thor looked at Jane, waved, and said, "Wait for me!"

Jane Foster reluctantly nodded, "I'll wait for you..."

Charles looked at everyone and said, "We're leaving."

A blue chakra energy appeared on the ground, instantly forming Merlin's magic circle. With a flash of light, the three disappeared.

After they left, the crowd dispersed, leaving only Minato Namikaze, who stayed behind, seemingly pondering something about the Merlin magic circle on the ground.

---4---

·Chapter 626: Ancient One Wants to Flee Early

With a flash of light, Charles Doyle brought Thor and Loki to the palace in Asgard.

The guardian of the Merlin Formation, the Asgardian warrior Skurge, saw the sudden magical glow of the formation and immediately said, "Welcome, Supreme Merlin Charles."

As the light faded and the three appeared, Skurge was surprised and exclaimed, "Prince Loki..."

Thor looked at the palace guard and said, "Oh, it's Skurge. Charles and I will go see Father first."

Charles nodded to Skurge, "Thank you for guarding this place. We will leave now."

Skurge watched the three leave, his mind filled with questions: Didn't the second prince, Loki, die? He had even attended Loki's memorial.

…

Soon, Thor, escorting Loki, and Charles Doyle arrived at the throne room, where Odin was seated on the throne.

Seeing the three enter, Odin glanced at Loki before addressing Charles Doyle, "Charles, thank you for bringing my two sons back."

Charles smiled, "You're welcome."

Loki looked at Odin on the throne, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. He was frustrated that his plan had failed and that he had once again failed to prove himself.

Odin then said, "Guards, take Loki to the dungeon!"

Upon Odin's command, a squad of Asgardian soldiers entered, took Loki from Thor, and escorted him to the dungeon.

Watching the soldiers take Loki away, Thor said, "Father, the war Loki brought to Earth has been resolved, but he hasn't revealed who was behind him. I suspect someone is using Loki to test Asgard."

"After all, everyone in the universe knows that the Nine Realms are nominally ruled by Asgard. With the recent destruction of the Bifrost and the rebellions in some worlds..."

Odin nodded inwardly at Thor's words, pleased that his son was finally using his brain rather than just his hammer.

Charles remained silent, but he knew it was a test and that the Chitauri soldiers were under the command of Thanos, the Eternal of Titan.

However, Charles also knew that he was not yet a match for Thanos and had no idea of his whereabouts.

Thanos only refrained from attacking Earth directly due to the presence of Odin and the Ancient One.

Thanos planned to gather the other Infinity Stones first and leave Earth as the final target.

Odin spoke, "Thor, you're right. With the Bifrost destroyed, not only the Nine Realms but also other cosmic forces are becoming restless. However, there's no need to worry now; the Bifrost can be repaired quickly."

Thor was surprised, "Father, really? The Bifrost can be repaired quickly? I thought it couldn't be fixed once broken."

Thor had been considering asking Charles Doyle to take him to Earth periodically to see Jane. If the Bifrost could be repaired, it would save him the trouble.

Odin looked at Charles Doyle, "Charles, the Tesseract is with you, right? I need to use it to repair the Bifrost. Don't worry, it is your spoils of war, and I have no intention of taking it from you."

Odin had once considered collecting five Infinity Stones and had even had the Dwarf King create a gauntlet to hold them.

However, he eventually gave up the idea when he couldn't find the Soul Stone, deciding not to pursue them any further and even threw the Tesseract, containing the Space Stone, to Earth.

He knew that the Infinity Stones would attract countless ambitious individuals, so he didn't want to keep such a troublesome item.

Even Odin couldn't exist eternally in the universe, and after his demise, the stones would pose a significant threat, and the unawakened Thor might not be able to handle it.

As for others collecting the Infinity Stones and bringing trouble to Asgard, Odin wasn't worried.

His father had once sealed one of the stones in an unknown location, and rumors even suggested that the stone had been destroyed.

Charles wasn't surprised by Odin's request. He knew the Tesseract could repair the Bifrost, so he wouldn't use it for any other purposes.

With a wave of his hand, the Tesseract appeared from his storage space, and he said, "If you need it, take it and return it when you're done."

Odin gestured, and the Tesseract floated into his hand. He then said, "Charles and Thor, come with me to witness the restoration of the Bifrost."

Odin led them to the broken Bifrost. Odin placed his hands on the Tesseract, and divine power surged through him.

A beam of blue light shot from the Tesseract, connecting to the broken end of the Bifrost. The colorful bridge extended forward, quickly restoring itself to its original state.

As the Bifrost was repaired, Odin stopped his spell, and the energy beam from the Tesseract ceased.

Charles watched, understanding that the Infinity Stones had various uses, though most people were unaware of them.

Odin said, "The Bifrost is basically restored. We just need to reassemble the control room, and it will be fully operational."

Thor smiled, "This restores Asgard's mobility."

Odin looked at Thor, knowing his son was likely thinking about visiting the Earth girl. "Thor, once the Bifrost is fully restored, take Asgardian warriors and tour the Nine Realms, quelling any unrest."

"Yes, Father."

The three returned to the throne room, and Odin said to Thor, "Thor, your mother misses you. Go see her."

Thor, hearing this, didn't linger. After greeting Charles and Odin, he left the palace to visit his mother.

Charles understood that Odin likely wanted to speak to him privately. Odin waved, and the Tesseract floated back to Charles.

Odin asked, "Supreme Merlin, do you know what the Tesseract truly is?"

Charles replied after thinking, "A container for the Space Stone?"

Odin smiled, "It seems you understand the Infinity Stones. Yes, the Tesseract is the container for the Space Stone, meant to hide its true nature."

"Since you know about the Infinity Stones, I won't elaborate, but I must tell you this: do not keep multiple Infinity Stones on a single planet for too long. Their presence will attract other stone holders, leading to catastrophic battles."

"If you don't want Earth to become a wasteland, avoid gathering more Infinity Stones. Earth is already holding two; it would be best to keep them in the magical world for protection."

Charles understood now why Thanos had given Loki the scepter with the Mind Stone to bring to Earth.

Thanos must have known about the Time Stone in the Ancient One's possession and the Tesseract on Earth.

If Loki succeeded, great; if not, the Mind Stone would stay on Earth, drawing other stones and making the rest easier to find.

Odin continued, "You know where the other Infinity Stone is, right?"

Charles nodded, "The Eye of Agamotto in Kamar-Taj."

Odin smiled, "You could potentially hold two Infinity Stones, but acquiring a third would bring unwanted attention unless you are certain you can handle it."

However, Odin didn't know that Charles already had two Infinity Stones: the Space Stone and the Mind Stone, both in his storage space. Charles nodded and said, "Thank you for the warning, King Odin."

Internally, Charles thought: I'll recharge the Infinity Stones when I get back. I want to see how Thanos can snap his fingers and wipe out half the universe's life with one or even two stones missing.

Odin studied Charles Doyle, surprised by the rapid growth of this Supreme Merlin. His power had increased significantly, especially considering his age of just over twenty.

Odin wondered if Charles could help prevent many problems by interacting with Hela.

Odin knew that his own departure was inevitable and that with his departure, the seal imprisoning Hela would break. At present, Thor was no match for Hela.

Odin didn't want Asgard to fall into civil war, nor did he want his children to fight each other.

After some consideration, Odin spoke, "I have a task for you, but it's beyond your current abilities."

"Even with the Tesseract, you're not strong enough yet. I will teach you how to use the Tesseract and let you choose three items from my treasury. This task will count as three commission tasks."

Charles was suspicious of Odin's generosity and asked, "What is the task?"

Odin said, "With your current power, you're not ready. Without considering external forces, your internal strength must at least double. I need you to go to Helheim when your strength is adequate."

"This must be done within three years; if it takes longer, the task will be considered a failure. However, if you reach the required strength within this period, you can come to me anytime."

Odin knew he could hold on for at most five more years before he could no longer control the ever-growing Odinforce.

If Charles couldn't meet the standard within three years, there would be no point in meeting Hela. If he could, then, Charles would have at least two years to meet and communicate with Hela.

Even if he couldn't change Hela's mind, he could help Thor resist her.

Odin didn't know about Charles Doyle's regenerative abilities and immortality but understood that Charles wasn't strong enough to face Hela, whom he had sealed and suppressed.

Hela had reached near Skyfather level and was only slightly weaker than Odin.

Odin wouldn't expect Charles to reach Skyfather level by doubling his internal energy but believed that with the Space Stone, Charles could ensure his safety when meeting Hela.

At first, Charles didn't guess the task, but when he heard "Helheim," he realized it involved Odin's eldest daughter, Hela, a terrifying entity near Skyfather level.

He wondered what Odin wanted him to do in Helheim.

Kill his daughter? Unlikely.

Still, Charles didn't refuse, figuring he could always run if things got bad. Plus, Odin's treasury and the knowledge of using the Space Stone were tempting.

Worst case, he could learn the knowledge and not do the task.

"I accept the task."

Odin smiled, "Good, you haven't disappointed me."

Odin waved his hand, and an ancient book appeared in mid-air. "This is a book on using the Space Stone, containing various spells that work with it. I now entrust it to you."

With a wave, the book flew to Charles Doyle, who took it without hesitation, saying, "Thank you, King Odin."

Charles didn't open the book but stored it directly in his storage space. "If there is nothing else, I will return to Earth."

Odin asked, "Won't you stay and spend time with Thor?"

"No, I believe we'll have plenty of time in the future."

Odin nodded, "Alright, I'll inform Thor of your departure."

After saying goodbye to Odin, Charles left the throne room and immediately used the Merlin Formation to teleport back to his base.

As soon as Charles returned to the base meeting room via the Merlin Array, a portal opened before him—a portal from Kamar-Taj.

The Ancient One's voice came through, "Charles, I have something to discuss with you."

Charles wondered why the Ancient One was seeking him out but decided to step through the portal to Kamar-Taj.

Entering the portal, Charles found himself in the Ancient One's chamber. The Sorcerer Supreme sat cross-legged, with two cups of tea in front of her.

"Sit."

Accepting the invitation, Charles sat on a cushion and took a sip of tea before asking, "What can I do for you, Ancient One?"

The Ancient One looked at Charles and slowly asked, "What do you foresee for Earth in the future?"

Charles pondered and replied, "A troubled time ahead, with many calamities."

The Ancient One nodded and continued, "And how do you view Kamar-Taj?"

Charles was curious about the Ancient One's intention but answered, "The sanctuary of the mystical arts."

Indeed, Kamar-Taj was different from the magical world. Here, practitioners signed contracts with the Vishanti to use white magic.

The former relied on borrowed power, while the magical world depended on innate magical energy.

The former could be learned without magical power, while the latter could not.

The Ancient One looked seriously at Charles Doyle and said, "I wish to take you as my disciple and pass on the title of Sorcerer Supreme to you. What do you think?"

"Sorcerer Supreme and Supreme Merlin combined, the power of both mystical and magical arts will be yours. You will become the most powerful sorcerer in the universe."

Hearing this, Charles was momentarily stunned but quickly realized that the Ancient One was preparing to step down.

Remembering Balthazar's warnings and the drawbacks of being a mystical sorcerer, Charles immediately shook his head and refused.

"Thank you for the offer, Sorcerer Supreme, but I cannot take on such a heavy responsibility. I believe the position of Sorcerer Supreme is best suited for you."

Charles had no interest in guarding Earth's extradimensional threats. The title might offer prestige and the potential to acquire the Time Stone in the future, but the downside was being tied to Earth, constantly fending off dimensional invasions.

Even someone as powerful as the Ancient One had grown weary and was considering a faked death.

Charles didn't want to be bound to this duty, especially when he had plans to travel to other planets to plant the Chakra Tree.

The Ancient One looked intently at Charles and asked, "Are you sure you won't reconsider?"

She then performed a spell, and the Eye of Agamotto floated before her chest. "When I step down, I will pass the Eye of Agamotto to the next Sorcerer Supreme. It is a divine artifact on par with the Tesseract."

Seeing the Ancient One directly tempt him with the Time Stone, Charles still resolutely refused.

"I won't reconsider, Sorcerer Supreme. I follow the lineage of Merlin and will not join the mystic sorcerers, nor will I become the Sorcerer Supreme."

With that, Charles added, "I have pressing matters to attend to and must take my leave."

The next moment, Charles sensed his Hiraishin mark in the base and used the technique to return to his room. He preferred the faster Hiraishin over the Merlin Formation to leave this troublesome place quickly.

Watching Charles disappear, the Ancient One smiled wryly. She hadn't expected that a position everyone fought over was something Charles would avoid, even refusing the lure of Kamar-Taj and the Time Stone.

It seemed she would have to continue for another five years before she could step down.

The next second, the Ancient One used the Eye of Agamotto to project her soul into a special dimension.

The three-in-one Vishanti appeared before her. Agamotto asked, "Did he accept the position of Sorcerer Supreme?"

The Ancient One shook her head. "No, he refused."

Oshtur commented, "I told you he wouldn't accept it so easily."

The elderly Hoggoth added, "Merlin must have warned him. Otherwise, he wouldn't refuse such a significant benefit so easily."

Agamotto then said, "Ancient One, we know you have a backup successor, but Charles Doyle is different. We hope you will make another attempt."

"If it's absolutely impossible, then you can give up. If he joins the mystic sorcerers and becomes the Sorcerer Supreme, I can waive a third of your debt."

The other two nodded in agreement. "This is our collective will."

The Ancient One found the Vishanti's offer tempting. Any other Sorcerer Supreme would eagerly accept and do their utmost to ensure Charles took the position, even by force.

However, the Ancient One wasn't concerned about the Vishanti's conditions; she had already planned her way out.

Still, she showed gratitude. "I will try my best to recruit him as the Sorcerer Supreme. However, if he absolutely refuses, there is nothing I can do."

The elderly Hoggoth responded, "Proceed, Ancient One. We await your good news."

In the next second, the Ancient One's soul returned to her body. Looking at the two cups of tea in front of her, she smiled slightly. "It seems those three are very interested in him, willing to waive a third of the debt."

…

Meanwhile-

Back in his room, Charles Doyle sighed in relief and smiled slightly. He didn't want to be the Sorcerer Supreme or bear the responsibility of fending off dimensional invasions, but he did want the Time Stone.

However, he wasn't in a rush; there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. He was willing to help defend Earth but didn't want the task pushed upon him.

Being a guardian out of interest was preferable. The responsibility could go to that unlucky guy with the stomach ulcer, Stephen Strange.

With that thought, Charles took out the magical book he got from Odin and began studying it.