[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-marvel-hunter":3,"chapter-marvel-hunter-marvel-hunter-chapter-132":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Marvel: Hunter",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1590021,2056,"Chapter 132: Natasha","marvel-hunter-chapter-132",132,"\u003Cp>In fact, from Loki's perspective, Blaine seemed like the easiest one to deal with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the intelligence on him was vague—just a few blunt phrases—Loki had already learned that Blaine once accepted a contract to kill Tony Stark, but backed out after Tony offered a higher reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this, Loki inferred that Blaine wasn't someone who followed through with missions out of honour or reputation. No, this was a man who cared only about profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to Loki, that made him the ideal type of person to manipulate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because as long as you offer the right incentive, he won't stand against you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, Blaine's actions had confirmed Loki's assessment. Just days ago, Blaine accepted a mission from S.H.I.E.L.D.—then immediately turned around and took another assignment to steal from them, leaving one of their bases in utter disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That incident solidified Loki's belief in Blaine's nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why Loki hadn't taken any specific action against him. In fact, back in Germany, he had even considered recruiting Blaine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, someone that powerful would be a great asset in an invasion of Earth—just like Dr. Selvig, who had helped initiate the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, what Loki hadn't anticipated was that Blaine would reject his offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, Blaine had joined forces with S.H.I.E.L.D. to fight the Chitauri invasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This completely blindsided Loki.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd assumed that Blaine, like himself, would prioritize his own gain over any so-called \"greater good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that this damn Hunter—this Earthling—actually felt some sense of loyalty to the planet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Blaine could read Loki's thoughts at that moment, he would probably weep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loyalty? To Earth? What loyalty?! This wasn't even the same Earth from his past life. He'd only been here a few months—how could he possibly feel attached to it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were invaded, then so be it. As long as there was profit to be made, what did it matter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Blaine had turned Loki down earlier? Well, first of all—just look at what Loki was offering. None of it interested Blaine. Second, Blaine had been mid-mission, and Loki—who had been the mission's target—had suddenly declared the contract invalid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had the chance, Blaine would've loved to watch both sides raise their bounties and outbid each other again. Unfortunately, the system deemed it too overpowered and banned it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that \"exploit\" hadn't been patched, Tony Stark might've started bidding billions every minute just to keep himself alive. Blaine wouldn't even need to take missions anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loki frowned, momentarily lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of this distraction, Clint Barton—stationed on a nearby rooftop—drew an arrow from his quiver, aimed with deadly precision, and fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrow streaked through the air across a hundred-meter distance—aimed directly at Loki's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just before impact, Loki caught the arrow with one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You dare shoot me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held the arrow in his left hand and glared toward Barton with a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As a god...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the thought hadn't even finished forming when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrow exploded in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chitauri glider Loki had been standing on was obliterated in an instant, launching him into the air and blasting his armored body toward the top of Stark Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Hulk was still busy smashing enemies and didn't notice Loki's unfortunate flight, so he missed the opportunity to humiliate him—again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, Loki reacted quickly. Injured but alert, he retrieved his fallen scepter from the rubble and summoned another Chitauri hovercraft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Climbing aboard, blood running down his forehead beneath his horned helmet, Loki grinned and muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barton swore under his breath. He hadn't expected that his attack would hand Loki back his greatest weapon—the scepter capable of mind control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation had just become much worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loki, now airborne once again, suddenly crossed paths with Natasha, who was piloting another commandeered Chitauri glider midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two locked eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, crap...\" Natasha muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loki's smile widened. The scepter glowed as he charged it with energy—then fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Natasha reacted instantly. She abandoned the Chitauri glider beneath her feet and leapt into open air, aiming for the rooftop of a nearby building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But things didn't go as planned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glider behind her exploded like a bomb, and the resulting shockwave sent her tumbling off course. Disoriented, she spun midair, completely losing her trajectory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing close enough to grab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn't superhuman. She hadn't mastered mythical martial arts that let her fly or change direction midair. She didn't have Spider-Man's wall-crawling, web-slinging tricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was just a highly trained human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not Monkey D. Luffy—she couldn't extend her arm ten meters and pull herself to safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from this height?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah… this would be fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Shit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, panic flashed through Natasha's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn't afraid of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she was afraid of a pointless one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Natasha!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clint and the others noticed what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tony Stark—at that moment—was being swarmed by Chitauri. They seemed to know he was likely to attempt a rescue, so they relentlessly pursued and distracted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only Avenger nearby was Hulk—but he couldn't fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thor and Spider-Man were battling Leviathans farther away. They couldn't reach her in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Steve Rogers and Clint Barton? They couldn't fly, jump, or web-sling. They were just as grounded as she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no one left to save her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Natasha!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony's voice crackled through the comms, tight with panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the team about to lose another member?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phil Coulson had only just died. Had all those silent promises to do better meant nothing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*************************************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can get access to early chapters on patr*on\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My patr*on account is Lord_Immortal_0170\u003C\u002Fp>",962,"2026-06-06T09:11:28.860Z",1,"novelbin.me","25864734f67ae4bb991f1efce70d839592bed032a1c45b012db3e00904e94d53","marvel-hunter-chapter-133","marvel-hunter-chapter-131",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarvel-hunter-cover.jpg"]