Marvel: My Eyes Defies Fate.

Next to Stark Tower, Loki appeared with Hawkeye and several agents under his control.

He looked up at the towering skyscraper, a crooked grin forming on his face.

"So this is the tallest building in New York?" he murmured, eyes glinting with arrogance.

Hawkeye, still under Loki's influence, nodded stiffly.

Loki chuckled.

"Fitting.

The most iconic structure in the most prosperous city—it's only natural that such a place should belong to me."

He stepped forward, his voice low but laced with confidence.

"From this moment on, this building is mine."

With that, Loki led his enthralled agents into Stark Tower.

Any employees who tried to resist were swiftly incapacitated.

Some were struck down; others fell under Loki's control via the Mind Scepter.

Their blank stares followed Loki as he and his group made their way up toward the top floor.

High above, on the penthouse level, Kurogai Alexander Blackwood set down his glass of wine and gazed through the massive glass window overlooking the city.

A faint smirk touched his lips.

"He's here," Kurogai murmured.

"I knew he'd pick this place.

Right into the trap… like a rabbit rushing toward the snare."

Loki's efforts to mask his presence had failed.

Against ordinary perception, he might have gone unnoticed, but not to someone like Kurogai.

Even before Loki entered the building, Kurogai had already sensed him.

With his heightened awareness—and eyes that could pierce through all illusions—there was nowhere for Loki to hide.

Still, Kurogai made no move to interfere.

He simply waited, patient and calm, for Loki to arrive.

Moments later, the elevator doors opened with a chime.

Loki stepped out, his expression alight with triumph.

"At last," he declared, "the beginning of my conquest of Earth!"

He pushed open the glass doors to the penthouse—and froze.

A man sat casually on the leather sofa, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand.

His dark coat reflected the soft light from the skyline.

He looked completely at ease.

"Kurogai," Loki hissed, his eyes narrowing.

"You again?

What is this?

Isn't this Stark's property?"

Kurogai tilted his head slightly, his tone calm and cool.

"Why am I here, you ask?"

His gaze dropped to the scepter in Loki's hand.

The blue glow at its tip pulsed faintly, radiating power.

"So it really is the Mind Stone," Kurogai murmured, eyes sharpening with interest.

Loki sneered, raising the scepter.

"It doesn't matter why you're here.

What matters is that you'll die here.

Men, begin assembling the Tesseract generator.

I'll handle him myself."

His tone carried unshakable confidence.

The thought of eliminating Kurogai here thrilled him.

After all, he wielded a divine weapon—surely enough to crush anyone who stood in his way.

Meanwhile, his controlled agents began setting up the device to open the space portal.

Loki just needed to stall Kurogai long enough for the Chitauri army to arrive.

Kurogai made no attempt to stop them.

Instead, he simply leaned back, studying the process with quiet curiosity.

"Interesting," he said.

"Let's see what this little stunt of yours might reveal."

Then, raising his gaze, he looked directly at Loki.

"Your subordinates are doing their part.

Now, are you ready to do yours?"

"You'll regret standing against me," Loki said coldly, rushing forward in a burst of motion.

Kurogai's lips twitched.

"I doubt it.

You're far too weak for that."

Their clash was instantaneous.

Sparks flew as the god of mischief struck again and again, his scepter flashing with raw energy.

Yet Kurogai deflected each blow effortlessly, his movements precise and unhurried.

It was clear that while Loki was giving everything he had, Kurogai was merely toying with him.

Loki gritted his teeth.

"You're strong, I'll admit that," he said, a sinister smile creeping across his face.

"But even the strongest have weaknesses."

His form shimmered—and vanished.

A second Loki appeared behind Kurogai, thrusting the scepter forward with deadly speed.

He intended not to fight, but to control.

The Mind Stone's power surged, ready to pierce through Kurogai's mind and bend him to Loki's will.

But the instant the scepter's tip touched Kurogai's chest, it stopped cold.

Loki's eyes widened in disbelief.

The weapon refused to move an inch further—as though an invisible force held it frozen in midair.

"What—?" Loki stammered, his smirk fading into confusion.

Kurogai looked down at the scepter, then slowly raised his eyes to meet Loki's stunned gaze.

"Did you really think that would work on me?" he said quietly, his voice carrying a faint edge of amusement.

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