The sudden voice made Loki freeze in place.
He slowly turned his gaze and caught sight of an unfamiliar man through the mirror, seated casually on a single sofa, a peculiar smile playing on his lips.
"Who are you?" Loki demanded, spinning around, summoning two daggers to his hands in an instant.
The stranger, Russell, responded with a bemused smile.
"You forgot me so soon?" he teased, waving his left hand.
Loki instinctively shielded his right cheek with a hand, his expression twisting in anger.
"You're the one who hit me before! How dare you show your face here again!"
Russell chuckled.
"Relax, Loki. I've had time to think about it and felt a little bad for what happened."
Seeing Russell's relaxed demeanor, Loki's confidence surged.
"An apology? Hah! Too late for that!" he sneered before charging forward with his daggers, ready to strike.
Russell didn't flinch. He sighed as Loki lunged at him.
"Do all you Lokis only know how to fight like assassins?" he asked. "Why would a mage act like this?"
With a single, precise slap to Loki's left cheek—almost as if Loki had moved into the strike on purpose—the god of mischief was sent spinning in the air in an almost comical 720-degree twist before landing face-first on the floor with a loud smack.
Russell looked satisfied. He rubbed his palm, then smirked.
"How do you feel now? A little more balanced?"
Loki, both cheeks now equally swollen, shakily raised his head. He pointed a trembling finger at Russell, his voice quivering with rage.
"You didn't come here to apologize at all!"
"Huh?" Russell tilted his head, feigning innocence. "When did I say that? Your right cheek was swollen—it just felt unfair to your left. Now they're even. Got a problem with that?"
Loki nearly passed out from sheer frustration. He clenched his fists, taking several deep breaths before roaring:
"I'll fight you again!"
He charged once more.
Russell sighed and shook his head.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Still no originality."
With a flick of his wrist, Russell shot a strand of purple energy, which struck an invisible figure. The green shimmer faded, revealing Loki—terrified and visibly sweating.
The illusion magic Loki had used to hide was effortlessly dispelled.
"Your phantom magic is embarrassingly weak," Russell commented, his voice tinged with pity.
Several more strands of purple silk shot out, binding Loki and sealing his mouth. Suspended in mid-air, the god of mischief dangled helplessly.
Russell leaned back, glancing at a strange, tablet-like device he carried. Nothing seemed to change on the screen, and he frowned thoughtfully.
After a few quiet moments, he dissipated the silk gag with a thought and approached Loki, now pale and visibly panicked.
"Please," Loki stammered, desperation clear in his voice. "My cheeks are symmetrical now, just as you wanted. Let me go. I'll do whatever you want!"
Russell patted Loki's cheek gently, his tone almost soothing.
"Don't worry so much. I told you I'm here to save you, and I meant it."
Save me? Is slapping my face part of your so-called salvation? Even Hulk doesn't hit this hard!
Loki forced a strained smile, afraid to anger Russell further.
"You're right, of course," he said nervously.
Satisfied, Russell dropped his playful demeanor and spoke seriously.
"Loki, you're going to die soon. Do you believe me?"
The gravity of the statement sent a shiver down Loki's spine, though he reflexively scoffed.
"Hela is dead. I have no enemies," he retorted.
"Are you sure about that?" Russell raised an eyebrow. "Temple II, does that ring a bell?"
The color drained from Loki's face.
"You mean... Thanos?"
Russell gave a curt nod.
"Odin is gone. Earth's Supreme Sorcerer is gone. No one stands in his way now. Within a few hours, his ship will block this one, and he'll slaughter everyone on board. You'll be strangled to death, your lifeless eyes staring into the void."
The calm delivery sent chills through Loki. The scenario sounded too plausible to dismiss.
Seeing Loki's growing fear, Russell opened a portal with a flick of his ring, tossing Loki through it. On the other side was the rooftop of Stark Tower.
Loki stared at him in shock, but Russell didn't linger. The portal snapped shut behind him.
Still, the tablet in Russell's hand showed no changes. He frowned, muttering to himself.
"Not enough? Does it have to wait until his death is supposed to occur? Is that when the timeline branch appears?"
Hours passed in silence.
Eventually, the hatch opened, and Loki emerged, wearing his usual green attire.
Thor turned to greet him with a teasing smile.
"You're here, brother. Still feeling sore?"
Loki snorted, his pride bruised but intact.
"He only runs fast, nothing more. If he stayed a second longer, I'd have shown him why I'm the greatest sorcerer in the Nine Realms."
Thor chuckled but refrained from pointing out the obvious.
"Honestly, I thought you'd run. But since you're here..." He paused, smirking. "Perhaps the throne of Asgard—"
Before he could finish, Loki's expression turned serious, and he pointed behind Thor.
"I don't think now is the time for this discussion."
Thor turned abruptly, his eyes widening at the sight of a massive spaceship eclipsing the light of a nearby star.
Darkness fell.
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Added 'All the Powers Russell has Till Ch 45' Auxiliary chapter do check it out.