Chereads / reborn in mcu universe / Chapter 16 - ### **Chapter 16: The Race for the Stones - The Battle Intensifies**

Chapter 16 - ### **Chapter 16: The Race for the Stones - The Battle Intensifies**

The first defeat stung. Despite all the training, all the preparation, the Avengers had failed to stop Thanos from acquiring the *Power Stone*. That was one step closer to his ultimate goal, and now the clock was ticking. They couldn't afford to waste any more time. With the knowledge that the Power Stone was in Thanos's grasp, the Avengers had no choice but to move faster, act smarter, and strike harder.

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**Setting: The Avengers' Plan of Action**

Back at the Avengers Compound, the atmosphere was tense. The failure on Xandar had shaken them all, but Steve, Tony, and the rest of the team knew they couldn't afford to let that setback derail them. If they didn't act quickly, Thanos would be unstoppable.

Tony Stark and Bruce Banner had been working nonstop, scanning for any signs of the remaining Infinity Stones. The next stone—*the Space Stone*—was believed to be in the hands of Loki, who had recently been involved in an attack on New York City. The Avengers needed to find him and get the stone back before Thanos could track it down.

"I've got a lead on Loki," Tony said, his eyes narrowed at the holographic map. "He's somewhere in space—most likely with the Tesseract. We can't let him get to Thanos first."

Jordan, standing beside Steve, looked over the map, his mind racing. The Space Stone. It was one of the most powerful of the Infinity Stones, and it had been lost for years, hidden away by Loki. Now it was up to the Avengers to get it back before it fell into the wrong hands. 

"Then what are we waiting for?" Jordan asked, stepping forward. His eyes were sharp, determined. After his time in isolation, his instincts were back on full alert. The mission was clear, and there was no turning back.

Steve placed a hand on his shoulder, a quiet gesture of reassurance. "We go after Loki. Together."

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**The Search for Loki - Space Battle**

The Avengers set off in the *Quinjet*, heading toward the last known coordinates of Loki's ship. The team was divided into two groups: one led by Steve to infiltrate Loki's ship, and another with Tony and Banner to provide backup from the outside. Jordan found himself with the group led by Steve, knowing that he would have to fight hard if they wanted to stop Loki—and more importantly, prevent Thanos from gaining the second stone.

They arrived in the debris field near the outskirts of space, where Loki's ship was cloaked, hiding among the remnants of a destroyed planet. It was eerie—quiet, with only the hum of the Quinjet's engines breaking the silence.

"Stay sharp," Steve ordered as the Quinjet dropped out of warp speed and approached the ship. "We're going in quietly."

Jordan nodded, his heart racing. The power of the *Space Stone* was immense, and the Avengers couldn't afford any mistakes. He was determined to keep Loki from escaping with it.

As they landed on the ship, the team slipped out, moving silently through the corridors. Jordan's enhanced senses made it easier to track the faint vibrations of movement within the walls. He could feel the tension in the air—the mission was high-stakes, and every step could be the one that led them to victory or failure.

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**Loki's Trap**

As they made their way deeper into the ship, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Loki, always the trickster, had anticipated their arrival. He knew the Avengers would come after him, and he was ready.

The moment they entered the main hall, the doors slammed shut behind them, and a trap was sprung. The walls lit up with bright, blinding lights, and the air became thick with a magical energy that Jordan could feel vibrating in his chest. Loki appeared before them in a dramatic flair, his smirk as infuriating as ever.

"Well, well, if it isn't the mighty Avengers," Loki said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Did you really think you could take the *Space Stone* from me? I think you've underestimated me."

"I think we've underestimated ourselves," Steve retorted, stepping forward. "You're not getting away this time, Loki."

The battle began almost immediately. Loki summoned his magic, and the Avengers were forced into a chaotic fight. Jordan's strength and speed were crucial as he barreled through the enemies Loki conjured, knocking them aside with ease. His heat vision cut through the room, disintegrating anything that got too close.

But Loki wasn't just using his usual tricks. He had prepared for them. The walls of the ship began to pulse with energy, and soon, Loki unleashed a new wave of attacks—blasts of energy that distorted time and space itself. The room began to warp, the laws of physics bending around them.

Jordan's mind raced. He could feel the pressure building as the environment itself seemed to fight against them. He had to act quickly, or they might be trapped in this pocket of reality forever.

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**Jordan's Fight: Controlling the Power**

Loki's magical onslaught was relentless. His illusions twisted the world around Jordan, creating clones of himself that attacked from every direction. Jordan's heart pounded, the chaos making it hard to focus. But he couldn't afford to lose control. Not here. Not now.

His eyes flashed with determination as he pushed past the illusions, seeking the real Loki. With a burst of speed, Jordan closed the distance between him and Loki, grabbing the god by the collar and lifting him off the ground.

"You're not getting away," Jordan growled, his voice filled with the fury of someone who had been through too much.

Loki's smirk remained, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Do you think your strength can defeat me, boy? You are nothing compared to the might of Thanos."

Jordan gritted his teeth, trying to ignore Loki's words. He was right in one respect—if they didn't stop Thanos soon, it would be the end for everyone. But right now, it was Loki who stood between them and their goal.

With one powerful punch, Jordan sent Loki flying into the wall, shattering the illusionary barriers around them. The *Space Stone* was within reach, its power glowing brightly in the center of the room.

"Now!" Steve shouted, signaling the team to move in.

As the Avengers closed in, Loki's plan started to unravel. He tried to conjure a last-minute escape, but it was too late. Tony, with his tech and the assistance of Doctor Strange, managed to secure the stone, taking it from Loki's grasp.

But just as they were about to celebrate, a strange pulse of energy rippled through the ship, and Loki disappeared in a flash, vanishing into thin air.

"Damn it!" Tony cursed, looking around. "We didn't expect him to bail like that."

"But we've got the Space Stone," Steve reminded him, his voice firm. "That's one step closer to stopping Thanos."

Jordan's breath was heavy, but there was a feeling of relief now that they had secured the stone. But it was brief. There was no time to waste. Thanos was still out there, and he would stop at nothing to collect the remaining stones.

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