Chapter Forty-Two: Stubborn Coulson

Leviathan warships—too large, too slow! The lightning summoned by Thor could easily and precisely strike them, making them nothing more than live targets on the battlefield. Even if a few managed to slip through, they would be hunted down by Hill and Captain America.

Hill transformed herself into Princess She-Ra of the Universe, wielding the Sword of Wisdom and riding Swift Wind. Her agile flight allowed her to effortlessly evade the attacks of the Chitauri, and with a single swing, she could pierce a Leviathan warship from bow to stern.

Captain America, with his vast combat experience, had transformed into Ultraman Diga. He didn't fire energy beams, nor did he unleash his ultimate moves, but instead used the most time- and energy-efficient methods to strike the Leviathan warships at their vulnerable spots, destroying them with a single precise blow. With this approach, Captain America could truly remain transformed as Diga and fight all day long.

The Leviathan warships could not break through the defensive line formed by Thor, Hill, and Captain America. Chitauri soldiers were able to breach S.H.I.E.L.D.'s anti-aircraft emplacements, but only just. As they screeched and charged toward the anti-aircraft positions, they were met by a sweeping storm of metal.

Natasha had not only set up anti-aircraft positions on the rooftops of tall buildings, but also heavy machine gun nests. Yang Xin had nearly stripped the entire Columbia District of all its World War II-era weaponry and equipment, most of which was on the verge of being scrapped and existed in staggering numbers. Natasha simply deployed some of these as well.

The heavy machine gun nests performed admirably, and the Chitauri army could not break through them. Forced to rush to the ground, their only hope was to create greater chaos.

This was the mindlessness of the Chitauri. If Yang Xin had been commanding them, he would first have secured the space portal, then used altitude to strike, targeting communications systems to cut off their channels, followed by aerial bombardment. Control of communications and airspace was tantamount to victory.

But the Chitauri simply threw themselves into the line of fire. Indeed, as they neared the ground, they encountered a second wave of metallic fury—heavy machine gun nests stationed atop the lower buildings.

Manhattan's towering skyscrapers were, in fact, a visual illusion; upon closer inspection, the low-rise buildings far outnumbered them. It's like on a busy street—cars seem plentiful, but a closer look reveals that electric bikes and pedestrians are most numerous.

This second wave of metal storm was ten times stronger than the first.

The deluge of bullets wiped out the Chitauri, and any survivors were swiftly dispatched under the command of Time Warrior Coulson and Hawkeye.

Hawkeye did not join the front lines, instead relying on his keen eyesight and acute hearing to hunt down any Chitauri who slipped through. When he found them, he would call for artillery support or request a heavy machine gun barrage.

After finding a lone Chitauri, Time Warrior Coulson would first use his laser saber to disarm it, then sever its limbs, and finally lock it in an iron cage prepared in advance, sending it to Tony Stark for research.

Bruce Banner realized that the Hulk was unnecessary and was perfectly content with this arrangement. He joined Tony Stark to study the Chitauri's physiology. Though Banner was not a specialist in biology, he held seven doctorates, and his assistance sped up Stark's research considerably.

On the giant screen, Stark could be seen drawing alchemy arrays, beginning to attempt the decomposition of Chitauri specimens. With Stark's intelligence and Banner's help, Yang Xin was confident that this interstellar war—well, this so-called interstellar war, which was in truth more like a cosmic street brawl—would soon be resolved.

In fact, the battle was nearly over, even before Stark had fully analyzed the Chitauri's anatomy. Hawkeye had already discovered Loki atop Stark Tower, and with Loki's location, he had also found the Cosmic Cube and its device that opened the space portal.

Hawkeye immediately called Captain America, asking him to both show off and fly him up. Captain America carried Hawkeye into Stark Tower, facing Loki directly. Time Warrior Coulson, worried that Hawkeye and Captain America might not be able to handle Loki wielding the Mind Scepter, immediately disengaged his transformation and returned to the Dinosaur Express Kexei.

"May, prepare the human cannon. Fire me at Stark Tower; I'm going to support Hawkeye and the Captain!"

Melinda understood instantly and activated the human cannon once more.

"Human cannon, first stage ready!"

"Human cannon, second stage ready!"

"Human cannon, fire!"

Coulson was launched in an instant, soaring toward the top of Stark Tower.

"Captain, leave Loki to me. You handle the Leviathan warships as planned," Hawkeye declared loudly, using the strength of a bear to smack Loki backward as soon as Captain America carried him to the top floor of Stark Tower.

"Are you sure?"

"No problem. Loki is nothing! Besides, I haven't even used my specialty yet." Hawkeye shook the bow and arrows slung across his back.

Captain America glanced at Loki, then turned and flew off to deal with the Leviathan warships. The Chitauri realized their infantry were useless and began to deploy more Leviathan warships.

"Damn it! I've been underestimated! These cursed mortals!" Loki roared furiously and charged forward, determined to teach Hawkeye a lesson and show him why flowers bloom so red.

Hawkeye moved swiftly, and with the speed of a leopard, became even faster. Loki's attacks hit only Hawkeye's afterimages, unable to even graze his clothing.

Just as Loki cursed loudly, Time Warrior Coulson arrived. Using the propulsion force from the human cannon, he transformed himself into a weapon, crashing headfirst into Loki's lower back.

"Head of steel! Coulson! Iron Head Technique—I proclaim you the strongest iron head!" Yang Xin shouted excitedly from the space mothership.

Loki was sent flying, slammed hard against the wall, and collapsed to the ground. He couldn't even muster the strength to stand, nor to speak; every breath filled him with pain.

He felt his divine body, unscathed for a thousand years, had suffered a grave injury. His entire spine seemed broken, the pain indescribable. As for his kidneys, Loki could no longer feel them and could only pray to every god in the heavens that they hadn't been shattered.

"You didn't kill him, did you? He's Thor's brother, and if you killed him, there'd be trouble with Thor and Asgard," Hawkeye remarked, looking at Loki who lay motionless on the ground.

"Surely not? He is a god, after all. How could a single headbutt kill him? Maybe we should call emergency services and try to save him?" Coulson was a bit anxious himself, having discovered a new use for the human cannon—Iron Head! But the effect seemed too potent; he might have accidentally killed a god.

"Should we go check?" Coulson glanced at Hawkeye, uncertain.