{Chapter: 287 Beating Loki}
Loki and Hawkeye stared intently at the approaching figure, their expressions darkening with tension. Loki narrowed his eyes. "You must be William."
William stopped exactly one meter in front of the Asgardian. His posture was relaxed, but there was a coiled energy beneath the surface—like a predator toying with its prey. "That's right. I am William."
Loki let out a soft, amused laugh. "So, it's true. Earth has bred quite the infamous figure. I've heard whispers about you, even in the halls of Asgard. Your reputation precedes you. But tell me something important—did you take my Casket of Ancient Winters?"
Before William could respond, Natasha's voice rang out, sharp and urgent. "Hawkeye! Clint! Snap out of it! This isn't you!"
Hawkeye barely glanced in her direction, his face blank but composed. "I've never felt clearer," he said coldly. "Better than ever, in fact."
Loki chuckled and turned back to William, his grin stretching unnaturally wide. "I see you've brought a prisoner. I must say, your tastes are... intriguing. But let's not get distracted. Answer me—did you steal what belongs to me?"
William's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Yes. I took it. The last time I was in Asgard, I noticed you fumbling around with the artifact like an amateur. I figured it would be safer—and more useful—in my hands."
Loki's face darkened instantly. His amusement vanished like mist under sunlight. "You insolent thief… Return it. Now."
"And if I refuse?" William asked casually, as if they were discussing the weather.
"You might be strong by Earth's standards," Loki said, his voice rising with fury, "and even feared by mortals—but don't be mistaken. I am no man. I am a god, born of Asgard."
William scoffed, crossing his arms. "A foolish god? That certainly tracks. I've crushed beings far more terrifying than you without even breaking a sweat."
"What did you just say to me?" Loki growled, his pride stinging.
"You heard me, Loki," William said, his tone icy. "You're a jester playing god. Recognize your place in the world before someone like me erases you from it."
Loki burst out laughing—an unhinged, mocking sound that echoed across the steel corridors. "You truly live up to your reputation, William. Arrogant to the core. No wonder you've become the enemy of mankind. But perhaps there's still a place for you. Return the Casket and kneel, and I may let you serve me."
Without another word, William gently set Natasha down. She took the opportunity to dart away, but after only a few steps, her legs locked up, and her body froze in place. "What… What did you do to me?"
"Relax," William said without turning. "it's nothing. Just stay put."
Loki gave a subtle signal, and Hawkeye instantly moved. He raised his bow and loosed an arrow at point-blank range. It sailed directly toward William's heart—swift and silent.
But William didn't flinch. Instead, he calmly reached out and caught the arrow mid-air.
"I've heard these arrows of yours are rigged with high-yield explosives," he mused, examining the sleek projectile. "Let's see just how powerful they really are."
BOOM!
The arrow detonated in William's hand. The explosion was massive. Fire engulfed the corridor, and molten metal dripped from the warped walls. The shockwave blasted Natasha off her feet, sending her crashing against the bulkhead.
Loki laughed madly, his voice echoing over the flames. "You held it, you idiot! That was your end!"
But as the smoke cleared, a figure emerged—untouched.
William stood exactly where he had before. His clothes were unscathed, his expression calm. "Who are you calling an idiot?"
Loki's laughter died in his throat. His eyes widened with disbelief. "You… you survived that? Without a scratch?"
"I told you," William said coolly. "Your toys don't work on me."
Loki's expression twisted in frustration. "Enough! Open fire!"
At his command, the guards accompanying him raised their weapons and unleashed a hail of bullets.
But midway through the air, the bullets stopped. Time seemed to suspend them in place—hovering like frozen rain.
Then, without warning, the projectiles reversed direction and flew back with deadly force, striking their original wielders. Every soldier collapsed in a heartbeat, their weapons clattering uselessly beside them.
"Now then…" William murmured, turning his gaze on Loki.
Loki, enraged, shouted and charged forward, determined to land a blow.
But the outcome was already decided.
William's figure flickered and vanished like a ghost in the wind—only to reappear directly behind Loki. Without a word, he raised his foot and delivered a swift, brutal kick to Loki's backside.
"Argh!" Loki screamed in shock and pain, his body shooting forward uncontrollably. He slammed face-first into an iron pillar with a loud crash, shattering it into splinters of metal. His limbs sprawled awkwardly across the floor in a posture reminiscent of a clumsy fall, his dignity thoroughly erased.
Suddenly, an arrow whistled through the air toward William—but just before it could reach him, it reversed mid-flight, curving back with unnatural speed.
Hawkeye reacted instantly, launching himself to the side with an agile roll. The arrow narrowly missed him and struck the iron wall behind, blasting it into a shower of fragments.
"Impressive reflexes," William said calmly, his gaze shifting to Hawkeye. "But don't get the wrong idea. I'm sparing you, not because I can't kill you, but because I won't. You still have a part to play. Make yourself useful, even if your skills are little more than trash in comparison."
Loki groaned and pushed himself up from the floor, his face smeared with dirt and frustration. "You—!"
"What about me?" William interrupted, his voice suddenly right beside Loki's ear.
Loki flinched in shock as William materialized in front of him once more. Without hesitation, William extended a single hand, gripping Loki's throat with effortless precision and lifting him off the ground like a rag doll.
Loki's legs kicked in the air as divine energy surged from his body in a desperate burst. "Damn you—perish!"
But William stood firm, his posture unaffected. The divine power washed over him like wind over a mountain. He didn't even blink.
"You're nowhere near your brother's level," William said coldly. "Thor could actually make me try. You, on the other hand… you're just a glorified jester with a few magical toys."
"You dare—!" Loki roared.
In a flash, green-and-gold armor shimmered into existence around him, snapping into place with the sound of magical sigils activating. "You insolent human! You dare strike me?!"
"Armor won't save you," William muttered, tightening his grip.
SLAP!
The sound echoed across the room like a whipcrack as William struck Loki hard across the face. The force of the slap twisted Loki's head sharply to the side, leaving a vivid red imprint blooming on his cheek.
"You dare slap my face?" Loki howled in disbelief. "I—I—"
SLAP! SLAP!
William hit him again—once from the left, then the right. Loki's head jerked from side to side like a bobblehead caught in a storm.
"What do you want?!" Loki cried out.
"What do I want?!" William bellowed. "You're the one chasing me around, starting trouble, threatening lives—and now you have the nerve to ask me that?"
"I... I..." Loki stammered.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
The barrage continued, a rhythmic series of open-handed strikes echoing through the chamber. Loki's face bounced back and forth under the relentless slaps. His cries turned to whimpers, then grunts, then howls.
His cheeks swelled red, puffy and sore. Drool spilled from the corner of his lips as his pride crumbled with every impact.
Hawkeye stood frozen, his eyes wide. Even he, loyal and conditioned as he was, had never imagined that the so-called "God of Mischief" would be reduced to such a pitiful state.
"This... This is insane," he whispered under his breath.
Finally, Loki let out a roar of desperation. His divine power surged again in a twin wave, launching two blasts of raw magical energy directly at William's chest.
BOOM!
Smoke filled the air, and William staggered back slightly. There was a large, smoldering wound in the center of his chest. Loki's expression lit up with hope.
But that glimmer vanished in seconds.
William looked down at the injury and smiled. Before Loki's eyes, the wound began to knit together—muscle, skin, and clothing reforming in seconds as if nothing had happened.
"You've still got some strength left," William admitted with a grin. "That's good. I was beginning to think you were all talk."
"Don't... underestimate me..." Loki rasped.
SLAP!
Another powerful backhand sent Loki flying across the room. He flipped three times midair before hitting the ground with a heavy thud, groaning as he tried to push himself up once more.
"You misunderstand," William said calmly. "I never underestimated you. I evaluated you—and found you lacking."
Loki finally stood up again, barely. His once-regal face was now swollen beyond recognition, red and puffed, with both eyes beginning to close from the swelling. His lip was split, and his once-impeccable hair stuck out at odd angles.
"You... you monster..." Loki hissed through clenched teeth.
"Easy now," William warned, suddenly appearing in front of him again. His hand raised slowly, almost casually.
Loki recoiled instinctively, flinching backward like a beaten dog. "Wait! W-wait... what are you going to do now?"
William looked at his raised hand for a moment, then smirked.
"Oh, I'm just stretching," he said coolly. "Unless, of course, you want another round."
*****
You can support me by joining my Patreon and get upto 60 chapters in advance.
patreon.com/Eden_Translation