Chapter 1: Reborn as the Saint of Thieves! Starting with an SSS-Rank Commission
Lin Che's last memory was of seventeen bullets in his back and the plunge from a high-rise.
"So what if I borrowed a few things from the British Museum? Big deal!"
"Back in the day, the Old Buddha was generous—nobody could out-give her. She helped them plenty. Couldn't they show a little class and help me out in return?"
Consciousness sank, bit by bit, into endless darkness… Boom!
Lin Che forced his eyelids open. Dust filled the air and car alarms wailed all around.
Not far off, a hulking green creature bristling with bone spikes was brawling with another green giant of equal size, muscles bulging.
Wasn't this Hulk versus Abomination?
"Where the hell have you dropped me? Straight into hell-mode!" Lin Che's heart spasmed; the instincts of his past life smothered the fear while his eyes swept the surroundings. "Maybe I should just reroll now!"
"Ding! Detected soul compatible with [Saint of ThievesSystem]. Binding…," a cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Here it was—the transmigrator's standard-issue system!
"Binding complete! Host: Lin Che. Identity: Saint of Thieves (probationary)."
"System creed: Across the myriad realms, nothing is beyond theft! Be it divine power, a goddess's heart, or even rules and concepts—everything can be stolen. Each successful heist earns a reward!"
"Saint of Thieves? I like the title—it suits my style." A wicked smile tugged at Lin Che's lips.
"Ding! Issuing beginner quest: SSS-Rank (forced up by newbie package)—Hulk's Fury."
"Objective: Infiltrate the Harlem showdown and steal the indestructible, ultra-stretchy shorts right off the rampaging Hulk!"
"Seriously? You call this a beginner quest?"
"Rewards: 1. SSS-Rank skill—God-level Stealth(Beginner): hide-and-seek champion. 2. Weakened Hulkgene (won't turn you green—sadly, no growth spurt either)."
"Steal Hulk's shorts now? You're signing my death warrant!" Lin Che grumbled, yet his eyes burned as he stared at the green giant. Either reward would let him swagger through the Marvel Universe; together they were a jackpot.
"Fortune favors the bold! Sorry, Green Bean—looks like your undies are history. System, I accept! Crack open the newbie pack!"
"Newbie pack opened: Temporary God-level Stealth Card (5 min), Disposable Omni-Toolbox, temporary physical boost."
A warm current surged through Lin Che; ten old hims wouldn't stand a chance now. He flipped open the toolbox, spotted adhesive gloves and silent boots, and geared up instantly.
Like a ghost, Lin Che glided forward. Flames licked the air, wrecked cars littered the cratered ground, yet he slipped through the chaos unseen.
At the heart of the battlefield, Hulk and Abominationfought with primal savagery. Every collision felt as though space itself tore open; concrete cracked like spider silk beneath their feet, lamppoles snapped like straw.
"Hulk… can you still punt me like last time?" Abominationsneered, spikes bristling as his muscles bulged.
The first punch detonated the air. Hulk crossed his arms to block, the Impact ringing like a battering ram, and he flew backward, slamming into a car.
Abomination gave no quarter, striding over, ripping another car from the curb and swinging it down like a club.
BOOM—!
Car parts and dust showered the street. As Hulk pushed himself from the wreckage, a second and third car slammed him, forcing him back, each step cracking the pavement.
"That all you've got?" Abomination planted a foot on Hulk's chest, fangs inches from his face. "I'll break everything you love—next up, Betty!"
Despair flickered. Inside Hulk, Dr. Banner screamed; an image of Betty in tears flashed past—and deeper still, the boundless fury born of gamma rays surged.
"Time to finish this." Abomination grunted and hammered a fist toward Hulk's temple.
But this time—
CRASH!!!
Flesh met flesh, and a circular shockwave shattered every window within a hundred meters.
Abomination gaped—his fist… caught? No, crushed! Hulkslowly raised his head; the gashes on his chest closed before his eyes, green gamma veins glowing beneath the skin.
"Hulk! IS! ANGRY!" The roar shook the ground itself.
Hulk—strike!
BOOM!!!
The entire block collapsed into a crater. Abomination lay at the bottom, bones groaning. As he tried to rise, a green foot pinned his chest, pressing until ribs snapped.
Seize the moment. Without hesitation, Lin Che crushed the Temporary God-level Stealth Card. His body, heartbeat, even his shadow vanished—he might as well have slipped into another dimension.
"Target locked—now or never!"
Thirty meters. Ten. Five.
Like lightning, Lin Che halted behind Hulk. Waves of sulfury steam rolled off the giant; green energy pulsed beneath the skin.
He grabbed the waistband, fingers brushing impossibly smooth fabric. No time to think—thief-muscle memory took over. One clean tug.
Hulk froze. For the first time, shock crossed his veined face. He looked down—bare skin under the open sky. The World seemed to hush.
Abomination didn't miss the opening; he hurled Hulkaway with a titanic punch. Lin Che scooped the shorts off the ground and sprang back.
A glint on a distant rooftop caught his eye—rifle scope. Military? Or maybe S.H.I.E.L.D.? Great—in this crazy World, the ones chasing me won't be rent-a-cops anymore. Things just got interesting.
Chapter 2 – Hulk Goes Berserk in the Buff! One Punch Shatters Everything, First Encounter with S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Hulk has lost it!
Completely and utterly lost it!
If his earlier clash with Abomination had been driven by rage and a lust for destruction,
then what consumed him now was pure, hysterical shame-fuelled frenzy!
"Raaah! My… pants!!!"
He abandoned all defence, his two green colossal fists pounding Abomination like pile-drivers. Every blow carried mountain-shattering force, unleashing a chain of sonic booms.
Abomination was utterly bewildered.
He couldn't understand why an opponent who had been evenly matched a moment ago had suddenly ignited like a powder keg, skyrocketing a whole tier in combat power!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Abomination's bone spikes snapped, his thick hide tore; for the first time he let out a terrified roar and, under the relentless onslaught, tried to bolt in a panic.
But how could the rampaging Hulk possibly let him escape? He gave chase and hammered the monster into the ground, treating him like a punching bag!
Aboard the quinjet hovering overhead, the S.H.I.E.L.D.Agents were petrified… Coulson's hand holding the binoculars trembled slightly. "Officer… Hulk's… his pants seem to be… gone?!"
A brief silence blanketed the comm channel.
Nick Fury's voice came through, shock and absurdity barely suppressed. He spoke at lightning speed: "I saw it too. Analyse every anomaly on site—find whoever stole Hulk's pants!"
"And…" Fury stared at the monitor where a stark-naked Hulk rampaged, "load tranquilliser rounds immediately. Before he tears New York apart, we calm him down!"
"Yes, sir!"
From the edge of the battlefield, Lin Che glimpsed the eye-scorching sight—the Green Gladiator in the altogether pummelling Abomination.
He swallowed the laughter threatening to burst out and pushed God-level Stealth to its limit. At that moment he seemed to melt into a wraith, silently slipping into the ruined alley-shadows of New York and quickly distancing himself from the chaos.
Already hundreds of metres away, Lin Che ducked into a half-collapsed building, stowing the purple "trophy" into his system space. His heart still raced, but he couldn't help grinning.
"System, where's my reward?"
"Reward fully distributed. Newbie guidance concluded. The system will release new missions in accordance with host growth and plot progress."
"Hidden reward triggered simultaneously: Safe House (178A Greenwich Village, New York City)."
"Giving away a house too? Not bad—five-star review for a conscientious system!"
"Reminder: Impact of the novice mission has already spread; host please proceed with caution."
Weakened Hulk Power merging… a wild yet gentle torrent surged through Lin Che's limbs and bones! His muscles bulged faintly, brimming with explosive strength; all five senses sharpened several-fold.
God-level Stealth (Basic) acquired… his grasp of stealth deepened in an instant, his body melding closer to the shadows.
He walked to the kerb and looked at an abandoned sedan parked by the street.
"Let's test the power."
He judged the distance and angle, drew a deep breath, and channelled strength into his right fist.
Then, facing the car, he punched—through the air!
BOOM!!!
The derelict sedan looked as if smashed by an invisible sledgehammer!
The chassis twisted and caved; the whole vehicle slid two or three metres sideways, every side window shattering!
A single air-fist that blasted a car away!
Though the distance was short and the car already scrap, the force far exceeded ordinary comprehension.
This was true superhuman power!
"Sweet!" Lin Che couldn't help a low growl.
The unease and fear of arriving in the Marvel Universewere shattered by that punch.
He now possessed power!
He tested God-level Stealth (Basic) next. At a thought his whole form turned indistinct, his presence plummeting. Standing before a mirror he could even see his outline warp slightly in the light.
After getting familiar with his new abilities, he switched on the room's ancient TV.
A local newsflash was interrupting programmes.
"…Large-scale destruction in Harlem continues; the Military and relevant departments have sealed the scene. Witnesses report two colossal monsters fighting, the green one apparently highly unstable… Experts urge residents to stay away…"
The feed cut to distant, blurry footage.
A green figure could be seen smashing something frantically before being surrounded by helicopters that fired sedative rounds; the green shape shrank, collapsed, and was quickly carried away wrapped in a special sheet—emphasis on covering the lower body.
Lin Che rubbed his chin. "S.H.I.E.L.D. handled that fast. But…"
He changed channels; a tabloid-style network blared in an exaggerated tone: "…Unbelievable! Footage our frontline reporter risked life to obtain faintly shows that the green gentleman suffered an extremely embarrassing wardrobe malfunction in the final stage of battle. Is this a new form of attack, or do superheroes have kinks we never knew?"
The screen flashed a mosaic glimpse of a bare green backside—barely visible yet unmistakable.
Lin Che almost spat out his water.
These reporters will dare anything for a shot!
Looks like the "Hulk-in-the-buff" meme can't be hushed up; S.H.I.E.L.D. must be having headaches now.
Sure enough, the next report mentioned that the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division had fully taken over the investigation, patrols and surveillance across New York City had tightened, and citizens were urged to report any suspicious leads.
"They're after me." Lin Che switched off the TV, eyes calm.
He stepped to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain.
Under the night sky, New York saw markedly more police cars and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s black SUVs; helicopters swept searchlights across the streets.
An invisible tension saturated the air.
He was on their radar.
Yet Lin Che felt no panic; instead the corner of his mouth curled.
"Bring it on—come find me."
"Let's see whether your S.H.I.E.L.D. dragnet catches me, or my Saint of Thieves stealth eludes you."
He clenched his fist; knuckles cracked crisply.
The feeling of possessing power filled him with confidence.
Stealing Hulk's shorts was only the beginning.
The Marvel Universe still has plenty of "goodies" waiting to be "collected."
Just as he prepared to head for the safe house to rest… his enhanced hearing caught a faint sound in the alley, almost swallowed by the wind—the soft crunch of a leather sole on a tiny pebble.
Professional. Concealed.
But it couldn't escape his strengthened ears.
Lin Che's gaze turned razor-sharp, cold and piercing.
They're here.
Faster than he had expected.
Chapter 3 – Natasha's First Miss!
Three quinjets descended from the night sky, their searchlights blazing like daylight!
Target locked! Suspected hostile super-powered individual!
Strike team—prepare to apprehend!
Lin Che narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Trying to catch me? Dream on.'
He activated the newly mastered God-level Stealth; his presence faded, shadow and sound vanishing completely.
He slipped through the ruins and reached the edge of a rooftop.
Several S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents were searching below… the leader a black-leather-clad man in typical S.H.I.E.L.D.fashion.
His radio crackled with Fury's voice: 'Any cost—remember, any cost—bring that kid back to me!'
Lin Che looked down at them, a smile tugging at his lips.
'Hah… think you can lay a hand on me?'
He leapt lightly from the roof and landed soundlessly less than five metres behind one Agent.
No sound.
No presence.
The Agents noticed nothing.
Lin Che stood behind them, watching their search like a street performer with monkeys.
Agent A, baffled, whispered, 'I'm positive he ran this way!'
Agent B frowned, eyes on his scanner. 'Weird—the device isn't picking up a thing.'
Agent C paled. 'Don't tell me we've run into a ghost…'
Lin Che muttered behind them, 'You're the ghost.'
Every Agent's hair stood on end; they spun round reflexively, spines chilled.
Nothing—empty air.
Lin Che had already ghosted to another rooftop.
He chuckled to himself: 'This skill… feels good.'
But just as he was about to leave… the air turned cold.
A frigid killing intent locked onto him from behind.
Lin Che's eyes narrowed. '…Here she comes.'
Black Widow—Natasha Romanoff.
Clad in sleek black combat gear, she emerged from the shadows like a night-stalking leopard, graceful and poised.
Her gaze was ice, her movements light, her breathing steady.
Natasha surveyed the empty rooftop, hands half-raised, poised for an unseen foe.
Lin Che stood two metres away, admiring her form with interest.
He had to admit—she was beautiful.
Dangerously, fiercely, icily beautiful—beautiful enough to set the heart racing.
Natasha spoke suddenly. 'I know you're here.'
Lin Che raised an eyebrow. Sharp.
'I don't know what tech you're using—cloaking, jamming, interference? Or something higher… a power?'
Her tone stayed calm, but every muscle was wire-taut.
'But I know…'
She whipped her arm up; a Widow's Bite crackled through empty air.
Lin Che stepped back casually, evading it.
Natasha's voice dropped. '…What did you do to Hulk?'
Lin Che couldn't help laughing.
The next second, still smiling, he leaned to her ear and whispered, 'Just stole a little something.'
Natasha froze, flipped back, and snapped out a rope for a sweeping arc-attack.
Lin Che dodged effortlessly.
Her strikes came faster, harder.
Every time she thought she'd connected.
Every time her fist sliced only air.
Lin Che weaved and critiqued.
'Nice straight—good form.'
'Elbow angle's a bit off.'
'Lower body rushed—too easy to read.'
Natasha's breath caught. 'You… teaching me to fight?'
Lin Che moved with the ease of overwhelming superiority.
Natasha clenched her teeth. 'What the hell are you?'
Lin Che chuckled softly. 'A perfectly ordinary Saint of Thieves.'
Natasha blinked. 'Saint… of Thieves?'
Refusing to yield, she unleashed her fastest assault—punches, kicks, Widow's Bites, grapples, reversals, throws—yet every move missed. She froze: Lin Che was already behind her.
Warm breath brushed her ear as his teasing voice drifted in. 'Beautiful lady, no need to be so fierce.'
Natasha shuddered violently.
For the first time in her career, an unseen, untraceable presence had whispered flirtatiously in her ear—an unprecedented helplessness flooded her.
She spun, trying to slam a Widow's Bite into his face.
Futile—her strike met air again.
Lin Che now stood at the roof's edge, smiling faintly, watching her with amusement.
Natasha panted, eyes like sharp blades. 'If you ever materialise, I'll drop you.'
Lin Che lifted a brow, unperturbed. 'Assuming you ever manage to touch me.'
Natasha had no retort; Fury and frustration blazed in her eyes.
Lin Che released his stealth, his form coalescing from thin air.
Black hair, dark eyes—handsome and wild.
Natasha's gaze flickered, surprise rippling through her.
Lin Che gave her a lazy wave, a playful smile curving his lips.
'Natasha… next time we meet…'
'Be ready.'
'Because you'll never know what I'll steal next.'
Before the words faded he sprang off the roof.
Natasha rushed to the edge and looked down.
The street below was empty—no sign of him.
Lin Che had slipped back into stealth.
For the first time, Natasha tasted real defeat. 'Damn… my first miss ever!'
She raised her comm, took a steadying breath. 'Fury, upgrade the threat level. He's no ordinary target.'
On the other end, the one-eyed Director's face darkened further. 'I know…'
Natasha, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top Agent, had lost her quarry—he'd vanished right under her nose.
'Next time…' her eyes were ice, 'I'll catch you.'
Lin Che was already far from the cordon, racing through the night.
Soon a townhouse loomed before him: 178A, Greenwich Village, New York City.
He glanced around. Perfect—though the Sanctum next door could be trouble. Best get inside… He pushed the heavy door; the system chimed at once:
[Deployable here: Waypoint, Defensive Installations]
Lin Che nodded. 'Deploy.'
Woomph—
Space quivered with a soft hum.
A pale-blue translucent array rose from the floor, expanding to envelop the building.
Once formed, the array blocked outside surveillance—this patch of space simply vanished from perception.
Most important… it was safe.
Lin Che lounged on the sofa, flexing his fingers idly.
His body had fused perfectly with Hulk Power; every muscle brimmed with explosive strength, ready to be unleashed.
Chapter 4: Tony's Fury! The Saint of Thieves Invades Stark Industries!
The next day, Lin Che was lying on the sofa watching the news, seeing if S.H.I.E.L.D. was still searching... "Ding! Mission issued: S-Rank — Heart of Iron."
"Mission Objective: Steal Iron Man's first arc reactor."
"Mission Reward: S-Rank Skill — Master Hacker (Hand over your browser history)."
Lin Che chuckled softly, "Yo, Tony Stark?"
"Alright... next stop, I'll go play with him for a bit."
Night enveloped Manhattan.
The Stark Industries Building's glass curtain wall looked like a crystal palace under the lights.
But tonight, deep within this palace, in Tony Stark's private showroom, his unprecedented roar suddenly rang out, "Jarvis!! Say that again?!"
On the oversized transparent screen, Jarvis's tone remained unhurried, "Sir, the prototype arc reactor you kept in the bulletproof crystal case has been stolen."
Tony stood up abruptly, his chair sliding back with a harsh screech.
"You're telling me someone was in my building, bypassed twenty-one independent verification systems, bypassed the alarms I personally designed, and opened the crystal case that requires my voiceprint, palmprint, and triple iris authentication..."
He took a deep breath, his voice almost squeezed out through gritted teeth, "And stole the reactor Pepper gave me?"
Jarvis was silent for two seconds, "To be precise, it is the prototype arc reactor you have repeatedly called 'the starting point of everything' and 'the most precious memento.' Yes, sir."
Tony leaned his hands on the table, "Theoretically, even a Rocket couldn't break that case! It even had..."
He gestured forcefully in the air, "'Private Collection, Do Not Touch Without Permission.'"
"...It indeed had those words engraved, sir."
Tony's eyes were bloodshot, "And today someone just took it like they were taking candy???"
Jarvis, "Judging from physical traces, the intruder didn't even damage the case; they only precisely destroyed the lock cylinder."
Tony slumped back into his chair, staring up at the ceiling, "Who... who could do something like this?"
Jarvis, "My logic core cannot analyze it. The intruder's infiltration methods... are completely outside all my known data. Data shows that when moving through space, his mass signal was almost zero, and energy residue approached nothingness."
Tony's expression grew uglier, "What about the surveillance? Something must have caught him, right?"
Jarvis pulled up the final footage.
Showroom surveillance.
Nothing.
Only the crystal case door where the reactor was stored silently slid open in one frame and closed a second later.
As if a pair of invisible hands had completed it all.
But at the very bottom of the screen, after the door closed, something new appeared on the base where the reactor had been.
A smiling face delicately twisted from wire.
Tony's face instantly darkened, "What the hell is this?!"
Jarvis prompted, "There is a note under the round face."
The image zoomed in.
A line of elegant handwriting appeared.
[Tony, locking it up isn't the way to preserve a sentiment. — Saint of Thieves, Lin Che]
Tony, "..."
The next second
"Ah! Ah! That was a memento from Pepper and me!!! You have no heart!!!"
The lights on the entire floor flickered with his roar... The scene cuts back to a few hours ago.
Stark Industries Building.
The outer edge of the top-floor ventilation shaft.
The night wind blew, and Lin Che stood with one foot on a metal edge less than ten centimeters wide, looking down at the web-like defense network beneath him.
He looked down, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"Tony, your defense network might be strong."
"But unfortunately... my abilities are beyond your imagination!"
Lin Che took a deep breath, his thoughts shifting slightly.
God-level Stealth (Beginner) quietly activated.
His figure became blurred.
Light passed over him, no longer reflecting.
Sound passed through him, no longer echoing.
Air flowed through him, no longer disturbed.
He wasn't just invisible in the simple sense; he was completely removed from the "perceptual recognition" range of all sensors, as if in the detection dimensions of this World, he had become an intangible existence, leaving no trace.
He took a step forward and drifted into the ventilation duct as light as a feather.
Infrared? It couldn't scan a "non-existent" heat source.
Static detection? It couldn't capture "non-existent" charge disturbances.
Neural wave scan? It could only read a blank.
Half an hour later, Lin Che stood before Tony's private display case.
In the center of the room, a bulletproof crystal case stood quietly under the spotlight. Inside the case, that crude, heavy, yet iconic prototype arc reactor that marked the birth of Iron Man emitted a soft blue light.
On the case door, a line of words was engraved: Private Collection, Do Not Touch Without Permission.
He smiled, "The tighter it's locked, the more I want to open it and see."
Walking up to the case, he didn't look for a password panel or attempt an electronic hack. He simply extended his finger and lightly tapped the position corresponding to the crystal case's lock.
It wasn't the Hulk's destructive, rampaging force, but a tamed, concentrated, and precisely directed precision power. This power transmitted along his fingertip, with no overflowing energy flashes, no deafening booms, and not even a ripple in the air.
All the power was compressed into a needle-sized contact point, penetrating in an absolutely precise manner.
Crack.
An extremely faint yet incredibly crisp snapping sound came from inside the case.
It wasn't the door being smashed or the crystal being shattered. It was the most critical precision parts inside the lock cylinder failing after enduring force far beyond their tested limits.
This destruction was precise and restrained, destroying only a few small parts without harming the case itself, and didn't even trigger the stress sensors connected to the alarm system.
The case door silently slid open a crack.
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: prototype arc reactor (Gift from Pepper Potts)]
[Reward: S-Rank Skill — Master Hacker]
Lin Che carefully took out the reactor. It was heavier than he imagined, its casing cold, and he could still vaguely feel a trace of residual energy pulsing in its core.
He took a pre-prepared wire from his pocket.
He had "borrowed" it from one of Stark Industries' labs.
Now he was returning it.
His fingers flew, twisting it into a delicate smiling face.
He gently placed the smiley face on the empty base and left a note.
As he turned to leave, he glanced at the room filled with Tony's personal collection and shook his head, "Locking up memories is the dumbest way to preserve them."
"Stealing his most cherished memento should be enough to give him insomnia for a month. Leave some room so I can play again next time."
[Tony Stark's blood pressure will soar; a City-wide Search Protocol is expected to be initiated.]
Lin Che's voice carried a hint of amusement, "I know. I'm just waiting to see him jumping in frustration."
...Back to the present.
Tony was about to explode with rage.
"Jarvis! Issue a bounty! A city-wide search! I want to know everything about this guy named Lin Che!!!"
Just then, an encrypted communication channel automatically connected.
Natasha's voice came through, calm and cold, "Tony, I know you're looking for him."
Tony roared, "You know who he is?!"
Natasha was silent for a second, "No, I only know his name is Lin Che."
Tony, "Did he steal something from you?"
Natasha, "...My dignity."
Tony, "???"
Natasha, "That's not something you need to concern yourself with."
Tony suppressed his shock, "Fine, we need an information exchange."
Chapter 5: Natasha's Judgment
Dark clouds loomed over New York.
S.H.I.E.L.D., Triskelion Headquarters.
The entire conference room was filled with a solemn and oppressive atmosphere.
In the center of the large screen.
A photo of Lin Che was displayed.
Black hair, black eyes, and a wicked, flamboyant smile.
Next to the photo, it was noted: Stealth Rating Unknown, Combat Ability Unknown, Threat Level Unknown... In less than 48 hours, he had stolen Hulk's shorts (causing social Death and significant impact), flirted with Black Widow, and infiltrated the Stark Industries Building (stealing Tony's souvenir).
He had repeatedly toyed with the members of S.H.I.E.L.D.
In all these actions, no one had managed to discover his trail.
Nick Fury stood before the screen, his single eye fixed on everyone, a dark, sharp glint flashing within it.
"Everyone, there is only one theme for today's meeting."
He pointed at Lin Che's photo. "This man, Lin Che."
"An unknown superhuman who suddenly appeared in this World."
"The culprit who nearly made Tony jump from the 137th floor."
"I wasn't going to jump," Tony retorted through gritted teeth, his fingers tapping hard on the table. "I just wanted to go out the window for some air and think about how to find that bastard and stuff him into the reactor as fuel."
Colonel Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "Getting air by jumping? Tony, we've known each other for twenty years; your lying hasn't improved one bit."
Tony roared, "Shut up, Rhodes! What you should be doing right now is being quiet, not analyzing my psychological state!"
"Once I design the Anti-Lin Che Armor..."
A ripple of low laughter went through the conference room, but it quickly fell silent.
Natasha sat in the shadows of the corner, deftly twirling a pen in her hand.
Her gaze fell upon the wicked face on the screen, and images of last night on the rooftop flashed through her mind.
The warm breath of that man as he whispered in her ear, and those words: "Next time we meet, you'd better be prepared."
Nick Fury tapped the table, his voice heavy. "We need to recognize a fact."
"Lin Che is not an ordinary superhuman; he is a dangerous entity with unknown motives and abilities."
"His stealth ability—as you've seen from the surveillance—is as if he doesn't even exist."
Hawkeye frowned, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his bowstring. "So what do we do? Use radar? Thermal imaging? Sonic positioning? There must be some technology that can catch him, right?"
A technician nearby shook his head, looking grim. "We've tried all of those. He seems to naturally ignore these technologies; we can't track him at all. Even weirder, none of the surveillance equipment shows any reaction."
Tony sneered, taking a large gulp of coffee. "It's normal that you can't track him, because even my technology can't do it right now."
He grew angry as he spoke, gesturing in the air. "That kind of stealth... it's like he's using administrator privileges in a game."
"Jarvis utilized all of Stark Industries' satellites and employed the highest level of thermal imaging and biometric scanning."
"The result? Nothing! He just strolled into my showroom, took the reactor, and left a damn smiley face."
Rhodes interjected, "Then can't you use one too? Aren't you a genius?"
Tony glared at him. "I'm not an admin, I'm a player! What that guy is using isn't technology at all—at least, not any technology we know of."
Nick Fury sighed, his single eye scanning the room. "Worse still, he seems to be extremely interested in us."
Natasha looked up, her gaze cold as ice, but a hint of complexity she hadn't even noticed herself flashed deep in her eyes.
Nick Fury continued, "After stealing the prototype arc reactor, he even left a note for Tony."
"This clearly shows he is provoking us!"
"That's called humiliation!!!" Tony roared. "He stole the gift Pepper gave me! It has her writing on it, 'Proof that Tony Stark has a heart'! That bastard actually dared to steal even that!"
Natasha spoke softly, her voice terrifyingly calm. "No, he's not humiliating you. He's saying, 'I can go wherever I want, whenever I want, and you can't stop me.'"
Tony replied, "That's even more humiliating, okay?!"
"Alright, Tony." Nick Fury stopped Tony from continuing. "Natasha is the only one among us who has personally faced him."
Everyone's eyes turned to Natasha.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the inexplicable complex emotions in her heart.
"I've seen him and fought him."
Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "And the result?"
Natasha was silent for a second. In that brief second, everyone in the conference room held their breath.
"I... was toyed with by him."
Tony asked urgently, "You were toyed with too?!"
Natasha nodded, her voice still calm, but her knuckles holding the pen had turned white.
"Yes, I was completely suppressed. It was as if he saw through all my movements and predicted all my choices. My attacks... all of them missed."
The conference room fell silent instantly.
Natasha continued, "His speed and judgment surpass all my combat experience. He could even predict my movements, as if he could read my mind."
"And when he's in stealth, I can't sense him at all."
"It's as if he's in another dimension."
Tony couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with disbelief, "Then what do you think he is? An alien? A monster from another dimension?"
Natasha shook her head. "I don't know. Ordinary superhumans aren't that terrifying. Hulk is powerful, but predictable. Thor is grand and loud, but visible."
She looked up, a cold light flashing in her eyes as she analyzed calmly, "He doesn't seem to be fighting us. It's more like he's performing."
Tony stared at her. "Performing? You mean we're like a Joker to him."
Natasha nodded with certainty. "Yes, he is toying with us. Every one of his actions is meticulously designed."
"Stealing Hulk's shorts to create chaos, stealing your reactor to prove he can breach the tightest defenses. This isn't random crime; it's a performance."
Rhodes gasped. "Then what does he actually want? Power? Wealth? Or simply the pleasure of mocking the strong?"
Natasha replied quietly, "I don't know."
"But I can feel that he has his eyes on us."
A faint emotion flickered across Natasha's face—a hint of discomfort at being treated as prey, but deep down, there was a strange trace of excitement.
"He said, 'Next time we meet, you'd better be prepared.'"
The air in the conference room froze instantly.
Those words grated on everyone's nerves.
Chapter 6: Lin Che Invades S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Good!"
"Since traditional methods can't lock onto him, we'll change our approach."
Fury took a deep breath, a decisive cold light flickering in his lone eye. "We have to face reality..."
"Since we can't catch him... we'll lure him to us."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Are you crazy? You want him to come turn himself in voluntarily? We don't even know what he wants!"
Natasha's gaze fell on the wicked face on the screen, and she said calmly, "He'll come. His behavioral patterns show he enjoys a challenge and interacting with the strong. The more importance we place on him, the more likely he is to show himself."
Fury nodded. "So we'll take the initiative."
Fury pressed a button, and a file for a super-bait plan lit up on the conference room screen:
[TOP SECRET · LEVEL 7 CLEARANCE AND ABOVE ONLY]
Operation: Snare the Saint of Thieves
Core Concept: Use the target's demonstrated points of interest as bait to create an irresistible scenario.
Primary Bait: Agent Natasha Romanoff (Target has shown clear interest)
Secondary Bait: Tony Stark (Target has previously made contact)
Tactical Framework: Use a "manhunt" as a facade to construct a closed battlefield, forcing the target to manifest.
Risk Level: Extreme (Bait may suffer unpredictable harm)
Everyone's eyes focused on the choice for the primary bait.
Natasha Romanoff.
Tony was shocked and stood up abruptly. "You want to use Natasha as bait?! Are you guys insane?! That guy can sneak up behind her without making a sound!"
"If he wanted to kill her, she wouldn't even have time to react!"
Natasha's face remained impassive, her voice steady. "No. This is the most effective method."
"Because he is already interested in me."
Tony's eyes widened. "How do you know!?"
Natasha looked up, a hint of complex light flashing in her eyes. "Because of the way he looked at me."
Tony: "???"
"It wasn't killing intent, nor was it hostility," Natasha said slowly, every word crystal clear. "It was... a playful interest. Like a cat watching a mouse, but not to eat it—to play with it. When he spoke, there was a promise in his tone... that he would come for me again."
The lights in the conference room suddenly flickered wildly.
A piercing alarm sounded inside the Triskelion.
Everyone stood up instantly, assuming defensive positions.
The next second, the large screen in the conference room was suddenly hijacked.
A hand-drawn, mocking doodle appeared.
A smiling round face.
Below it was written: Natasha is right, there will be plenty of opportunities. — Lin Che
Everyone in the conference room was petrified on the spot.
Natasha snapped her head up, her pupils shaking violently as a chill ran through her body. "He's been listening to our meeting this whole time?"
Tony snapped, slamming a fist onto the table. "Holy crap, is this a live stream? He heard our entire plan just now!"
Fury slammed the table hard, a fire of rage burning in his lone eye. "This lunatic! He hacked into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s systems?! Coulson! Immediately activate the LAN emergency firewall and physically cut all external connections! Put all combat Agents on Level 1 combat readiness."
"Reporting, Director!" a technician cried out in despair from the corner. "We can't cut it! The technology he's using is unprecedented! He has completely taken over the Triskelion's internal network; all our commands are under his surveillance."
The next second, in the center of the screen...
A clear projection emerged.
In the image, Lin Che was leisurely sitting on the rooftop of a skyscraper overlooking the New York night scene.
His legs were crossed, and he was swirling a glass of red wine in his hand.
The night breeze ruffled his messy black hair, and his handsome, demonic face wore a smile that made Tonywant to punch him.
The background was the glittering night view of New York, and he sat there at the top of the World, as if all of this were his stage.
"Yo, old friends, good evening!" Lin Che raised his wine glass, greeting everyone in the conference room through the screen. His voice was as clear as a whisper in their ears. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lin Che—champion of justice, honest with all, and a professional master thief."
"Of course, you can also call me the Saint of Thieves; that title is much cooler."
"Who the hell are you? What do you want?" Fury roared.
Lin Che didn't answer, gently swirling the goblet as the crimson liquid rippled under the moonlight.
The image suddenly shifted, cutting to Tony Stark's livid face for a large close-up.
"Tony, baby, don't be so gloomy." Lin Che's voice carried a hint of a smile. "I've finished studying your prototype arc reactor; the design concept is decent. But that pathetic defense system of yours isn't even worth mentioning."
He snapped his fingers like a magician.
The feed suddenly switched to the display cases in StarkTower.
Tony's prototype arc reactor was lying quietly in its original position.
"However, I, Lin Che, may be a thief, but there is honor among thieves. I said I was just borrowing it to learn, and now, it's returned to its rightful owner."
"Tony, you'd better take good care of Miss Pepper's gift from now on!"
Tony's face was dark. "You!! ***..."
The screen shifted again, focusing on Natasha's icy face.
"Natasha, 'Operation: Snare the Saint of Thieves'?" Lin Che cast a flirtatious look, his smile unrestrained. "That name is too cliché. Why not call it 'The Heart Trap'?"
"I know what you're thinking—'This bastard is spying on us!', 'How did he do it?', 'Why is he so interested in me?'"
Natasha's fingers tightened slightly around her pen, but she didn't speak.
Lin Che leaned closer to the camera, as if trying to pierce through the screen. "Don't worry, I am very interested in you, but not as 'prey'—rather, as 'my woman'."
"You just said I've developed an interest in you? Of course. You are the most beautiful poison I've ever seen—cold and lethal, yet hiding a broken past and a soul longing for redemption."
"Does the blood debt of the Red Room still haunt you?"
Natasha's whole body jolted, her eyes flashing with unbelievable horror.
How could he know?! That was a secret among secrets!
"You want to catch me? It's simple." Lin Che's smile grew even more radiant, his voice carrying a seductive magic. "Give me your number, and I promise to turn myself in at your home."
"Of course, you'll have to be the one to put on the handcuffs. I absolutely love that visual."
Natasha's cheeks actually flushed slightly—a complex mix of anger and humiliation, but deep down... there was a tremor of being seen through.
Finally, the image focused on Nick Fury's face, which was so dark it looked like it might drip ink, giving him a large close-up.
"Director Fury, that lone eye of yours is truly a classic." Lin Che's voice grew cold; the smile remained on his face, but a sharp edge appeared in his eyes. "But unfortunately, it can't see things outside the rules."
"You thought you were making the plan and I was just reacting."
"How about now? Next time, remember not to forget my abilities when you're discussing how to deal with me."
Lin Che raised his wine glass toward the screen as if clinking glasses with Fury from afar. "Alright, tonight's live broadcast ends here. Thank you all for participating, especially Natasha... your expression was wonderful, I liked it very much."
With his final words, all the intrusion signals vanished instantly.
The screen returned to its original state.
Dead silence filled the conference room.
Nick Fury clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white, his lone eye filled with solemnity. "Lin Che... he's not just playing with us! He's declaring war!"
Natasha slowly released the pen she had squeezed out of shape. She looked up. Her eyes were still icy, but a flame had ignited deep within.
"The plan continues," she heard her own voice say calmly. "But the objective is modified... it's not a snare."
Natasha looked at Fury, her gaze resolute. "It's a hunt."
"This time... I'll make him understand that being targeted by the Black Widow is the biggest mistake of his life."
Outside the window, the New York night sky remained dazzling.
But everyone knew.
The game had only just begun.
Chapter 7 – The Cloak of Thor Secured
Lin Che idly drummed his fingers across the keyboard, rifling through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s network for anything worth taking.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? Not so tough after all."
His first clash with this World's top spy agency—and a crushing victory.
He cracked open a bottle of water and took a sip.
The system's prompt echoed in his mind.
"Ding! Quest issued: SS-Rank—Cloak of Thor."
"Objective: infiltrate Asgard and claim the red cloak that symbolizes Thor's honor."
"..."
Lin Che fell silent.
Then burst out laughing.
"You really don't treat Thor like a VIP, do you?"
"Heh, first we snagged Hulk's shorts, now we're swiping Thor's cape."
He joked, but he knew this job was several tiers tougher. Asgard—home of the gods, watched by Heimdall and ruled by mighty Odin. Stealing here was like pulling a fang from a tiger's mouth.
"Rewards: Asgardian bloodline (basic), God-level Stealth(intermediate)."
Hearing that, Lin Che's breath hitched.
"Asgardian bloodline..."
The payoff was irresistible; one look at Odin, Thor, and Hela in the films showed how priceless that heritage was.
Long life, immense power.
"Looks like it's time to tour the divine realm," he murmured, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The harder the challenge, the richer the reward—an eternal truth.
Without hesitation he told the system, "I accept."
The moment the words left his mouth, a surge of spatial energy wrapped around him. Everything blurred, the World twisted, and a violent dizziness struck.
When it cleared, Lin Che opened his eyes to a place completely alien.
Beneath his feet stretched golden stone; around him soared majestic structures aglow with divine light.
Grand, solemn, ancient.
No sight on Earth could rival this splendor.
The divine realm—Asgard.
His gaze swept the surroundings; God-level Stealthactivated instinctively the instant he set foot on this foreign soil.
Even so...
he could feel a pair of eyes—Heimdall was watching all of Asgard.
"Tch, not somewhere you just drop by."
He lifted his head.
Far away, at the end of the Bifrost Bridge, stood a figure with a great sword, unmoving.
Heimdall.
Guardian of the realm, the All-Seeing Eye of the Nine Realms.
Lin Che's heartbeat quickened a notch.
Not from fear, but from sharp instinct.
Can he see me?
Or just sense something off?
Lin Che stayed motionless, melding into the edge of Asgard like a living shadow.
Heimdall frowned; in his gaze the Nine Realms turned.
Yet within that flow he sensed a minute anomaly.
"An illusion?" he murmured, giving no alarm.
That instant of hesitation was enough—Lin Che moved.
He locked onto his target: the training field.
On the vast field a golden-haired, broad-shouldered man was swinging a hammer with gusto.
Each swing boomed like thunder, wild lightning crackling around him.
Thor was showing the Asgardian warriors his might, his face radiant with cocky confidence.
Thor raised Mjolnir high, lightning gathering in a blinding blue blaze.
Behind him a scarlet cloak snapped in the wind like a banner of flame—his badge of glory.
"This is the power of Thor—unmatched!"
BOOM!!
A bolt of lightning crashed into a distant target, blasting it to dust.
The divine warriors cheered louder.
"Long live Prince Thor!"
"Glory to Asgard!"
Elated, Thor spun and lofted his hammer again, the cloak flaring higher.
While he was lost in the show, Lin Che seized the perfect moment.
He shot forward, a ghosting blur, and brushed the edge of Thor's cloak.
No more than a breeze.
Thor noticed nothing; laughing, he summoned another bolt and hurled Mjolnir.
"For Asgard!"
He launched skyward in a streak of lightning, performing a dazzling aerial display.
Below, the cheers continued.
No one realized the Prince's emblem of honor had vanished.
Almost no one.
At the palace gate, Heimdall's all-piercing golden eyes snapped toward the field.
He'd sensed the faintest ripple—foreign, spatial—gone in a heartbeat.
His hand tightened on his sword hilt, yet he did not act.
Without a clear intruder he could not trigger Bifrost defenses or alarm the palace.
In a secluded corner of Asgard space twisted faintly.
Lin Che reappeared.
In his hands he held the red cloak still warm with Thor's aura.
"Done," he smirked. "Cloak of Thor? Nice fabric. Maybe next time I'll try the hammer."
[Congratulations, host: obtained Cloak of Thor (symbol of Asgardian honor)]
[Reward: Asgardian bloodline (basic) fusing... God-level Stealth upgrading...]
A current unlike Hulk Power flooded him.
Purer, vaster, steeped in ancient mystery.
His bones creaked, muscle fibers tightened, skin toughened, senses sharpened—especially toward energy, flame, and divine force.
His stealth improved: he melded deeper with shadow and space, left fewer traces, could even slip briefly into another plane.
"Asgardian bloodline... so this is what godhood feels like?" He clenched a fist, feeling untapped power surge. "Only basic, but the potential's huge."
He glanced at the magnificent cloak and stuffed it into the system vault.
"System, evac," he ordered silently.
[Teleport initiating. Destination: Earth safe-house.]
Light enveloped him.
But just as the beam was about to collapse,
Heimdall, unable to ignore it any longer, swept the Bifrost's power across Asgard.
Hum!
Bifrost energy clashed slightly with the system's jump.
Instead of his safe-house, Lin Che found himself in a blaze of white light amid celestial architecture—an unknown, heaven-like realm.
Chapter 8 – Blundering into the Tenth Realm, Hunted by the queen of the hunt
Bang!
Lin Che landed solidly, feet settling on ground that felt like soft yet unyielding clouds, the impact muffled.
All around rose alabaster structures, each seemingly woven from Angel feathers and pure light. They towered into the sky, sanctified and solemn.
This place? Definitely not Earth!
[System prompt: Current location—Tenth Realm(Heaven)]
You've got to be kidding me. I just picked up a cloak and you teleport me straight to Heaven?" Lin Che looked around, a flicker of bewilderment in his eyes before his usual devil-may-care smirk returned.
Danger!
Absolute danger!
Every hair on Lin Che's body stood on end.
His body tensed on instinct; he jerked his head up.
High above,
A golden silhouette tore through the air,
Wings unfurling.
A razor-sharp sword-light ripped the sky, trailing a piercing sonic boom straight for his face.
The blade was so fast it seemed to slice space itself; there was no dodging it.
Boom!!!
Lin Che's pupils shrank.
Almost reflexively he twisted aside.
The sword-light skimmed past his cheek and slammed down.
The ground split open in a shocking fissure.
Crap!
No hello, nothing?!"
Lin Che flipped backward and burst away, God-level Stealth activating in an instant as he vanished.
The attacker descended slowly.
Only then did he see who had struck.
It was a woman.
Wild, wavy crimson hair blazed like fire around a face of breathtaking beauty. Pure-white eyes, deep and cold, held no trace of human feeling.
Every line of her features looked sculpted by divine hands, yet that icy stare lent her beauty a lethal edge.
From her back enormous wings of light spread wide; golden battle-armor hugged a tall, powerful frame, taut and strong.
This was Angela, strongest of the Tenth Realm—the queen of the hunt.
Asgardian scum, dare tread on Heaven's soil?" Angela's voice carried no warmth; her frosty white gaze swept the spot where Lin Che had vanished.
Her senses transcended the ordinary. Though she couldn't fully lock onto him, she caught the faintest ripple in the air.
In the name of the queen of the hunt, I grant you eternal Death."
Before the words faded her wings snapped open and she shot forward as a streak of gold,
Sword sweeping down again.
Boom!
Another slash—this one wreathed in searing red flame that swallowed the shadow where Lin Che hid.
His outline flickered in the fire; he triggered God-level Stealth once more and, with the explosive speed granted by Hulk Power, barely slipped away.
The blaze detonated behind him, blistering heat licking at his skin.
She doesn't mess around—straight for the kill!" he cursed, zig-zagging desperately through the tempest of sword-light.
He scooped up a chunk of rubble to parry; the stone was instantly ground to dust.
All he could do was keep dodging, channeling Hulk Power into his legs, each stomp cratered the ground, buying a breath of space.
So fast—such swordsmanship!" The longer it went, the more alarmed he became.
This winged woman's close-quarters skill was supreme; every strike aimed to kill, her strength monstrous. She fought with ruthless, silent efficiency.
Trying to explain was pointless—she wouldn't listen.
Who are you, and why have you entered the Tenth Realm?" Angela demanded at last, voice still icy, white eyes narrowing slightly.
Never in the Tenth Realm had a foe proven slippery enough to evade her so many times.
Name's Lin Che, just a… tourist passing through!" He sprang and reappeared dozens of metres away, panting.
He had to break free or at least figure out what was happening.
Right now he felt like a mouse toyed with by a cat—alive for the moment but infuriatingly helpless.
Damn system, damn Heimdall—if you're going to teleport me, pick somewhere safe! And why gift-wrap a beautiful woman to murder me?
She wouldn't listen, just attacked at the first word—classic gorgeous-strong-tragic template, except right now she wanted him dead.
Angela's gaze turned even colder. A rat skulking in shadows!"
She raised her sword high; sacred white light gathered. Judgment Light!"
Boom!!!
Blinding radiance burst outward, a tide of white that seemed to purify and reveal.
Lin Che's stealth faltered, his outline sharpening in the glare.
Not good!
He sucked in a breath, eyes sharpening. If running was impossible, he would have to fight.
Hulk Power surged; muscles bulged, veins popped. Asgardian blood ignited, a faint golden sheen rippling across his skin.
Weaponless, he funneled all his strength into his right fist and slammed it against the side of that golden blade.
Flesh against divine steel.
Clang!!!
The collision rang like a colossal bell.
A ring of shock-waves erupted, shattering the surrounding ruins.
Lin Che grunted, hurled backward, his right fist torn and dripping blood, the whole arm numb.
Yet the terrifying sword-stroke had been stopped.
Angela's body wavered, surprise flashing in her eyes. Such power—this intruder's bare fist had briefly matched her blade of the hunt?
But that was as far as it would go.
Her wings snapped open again, giving him no chance to breathe. She pursued, sword-light raining like a net.
System! System! Emergency evac—get me out!" he roared in his mind, but the system stayed silent, as though dead.
His heart sank; he could rely only on himself.
Lin Che rolled and dodged, using his still-working left arm to block or counter, but he was hopelessly outclassed, fresh wounds opening.
No—she'll wear me down! His mind raced. Where am I? Heaven? Tenth Realm? Angela? (╯'-')╯︵ ┻━┻ Odin's long-lost daughter!
Pieces of Marvel comics clicked in his head.
I have to escape—or make her stop!"
He scanned the Angelic architecture and the hatred in Angela's icy eyes.
A wild idea formed.
Maybe… it was time to gamble.
Chapter 9 – The Lost Princess of Asgard
Using the recoil of yet another head-on clash, Lin Checrashed into the half-collapsed ruins of a building.
He instantly stifled every trace of aura, pushing God-level Stealth to its absolute limit, forcefully suppressing his life-fluctuations until he resembled a lifeless stone.
Angela hovered in mid-air, white eyes coldly sweeping the rubble below.
She could no longer sense the intruder's presence.
'Escaped?' Angela frowned.
He'd taken serious injuries, yet vanished beneath her very gaze—an unheard-of feat of concealment.
Unwilling to give up, she searched the vicinity again, hacking sword-qi through several suspicious ruins and still finding nothing.
'Hmph!' Angela sheathed her longsword but stayed on guard; the intruder was nearby, merely more cunning than expected.
Wounded and needing rest, the man would eventually slip up; she need only cast a net and wait.
'Pass the order: double patrols at every key point of Heaven—report anything unusual at once!' she commanded the arriving Angel warriors.
'Yes, queen of the hunt!' The Angels bowed and scattered.
Angela gave the ruins where Lin Che had vanished one last look, then flew off to inspect the rest of Heaven for more intruders.
Deep in the rubble, Lin Che exhaled in relief but dared not relax.
He checked his injuries: his right fist bore the deepest wound, the bone possibly cracked; the rest were mere scratches. Asgardian bloodline regeneration was already kicking in, sending a tingle through the wound as it slowly knit closed.
'That woman's a beast…' He grimaced while giving himself cursory first aid.
Through a crack he could see outside.
The sky was a soft milky white, bathed in eternal light—no Sun, yet the World was bright as noon.
Occasionally, winged Angels flew past in strict, hierarchical order.
'The Tenth Realm… Heaven, a World ruled entirely by Angels, rigidly stratified,' Lin Che mused; it felt less like paradise and more like a highly militarized Base.
Angela, the 'queen of the hunt,' was clearly a top commander here, terrifyingly strong and deeply hostile to Asgard.
'System?' he called inwardly.
[Alert: teleportation disrupted; system energy restabilizing. Teleportation available in 12 hours.]
Twelve hours… manageable.
He calmed himself; the priority was to stay hidden until the system recovered.
He settled in to heal, watching Heaven cautiously through the crack, gathering intel while replaying his clash with Angela.
Time trickled like Water.
What he didn't know: Angela hadn't left. She sat cross-legged atop the tallest golden spire nearby, blade of the hunt across her knees, white eyes hawk-sharp on the ruins below.
She was waiting.
Waiting for that sly rat to show his tail.
For Lin Che, the twelve-hour vigil was both torment and priceless observation time.
His wounds were seventy-percent mended; though his right fist couldn't yet bear full force, normal movement was fine.
He now understood Angels' patrol patterns—disciplined, yet, save for Angela, complacent after ages of peace.
[System alert: energy restored. Teleport to Earth safe-house? Initiate immediately?]
He didn't answer at once.
Through the crack he glanced at the distant spire; the golden-armored figure still stood like a statue.
Angela was still watching.
'Leaving like this feels like a loss,' he muttered, licking dry lips, a cunning, adventurous gleam in his eyes. 'And after all that chasing, not hitting back isn't my style.'
More importantly, a key detail surfaced.
In the comics, Angela is Odin's stolen daughter, Thor's elder sister.
If that setting held true…
A bold plan formed.
Win the gamble, and he could defuse the crisis—and maybe gain more.
Lose? Teleport away instantly.
Let's do it, brothers!
He drew a deep breath, flexed his limbs, and instead of hiding, released a faint thread of Asgardian bloodline power.
Faint, but unmistakable.
To Angela—who had been locked onto this zone and hypersensitive to Asgardian energy—it was a beacon in the dark.
Whoosh! Angela's wings snapped open, her razor gaze boring into the ruins.
'Found you!' She dove like a blazing meteor.
blade of the hunt flashed, sword-light ripping the sky toward Lin Che.
This time she would show no mercy; the annoying rat would die.
Lin Che's eyes narrowed; he burst from the rubble, narrowly dodging the first strike.
Boom—his former hideout was obliterated.
'Struggling in vain!' Angela closed in, sword-qi forming a golden storm around him.
Weaving through the tempest, he shouted, 'Angela! queen of the hunt! Ever wonder why you hate Asgard—why their power feels so familiar?'
'Asgard is treacherous, expansionist, a cancer upon the Ten Realms! Heaven and it cannot coexist!' she retorted, attacks unceasing.
'Really?' he shot back while evading. 'What if I told you you're no Angel of Heaven—your blood, your power, come from Asgard?'
Her sword-light faltered for an imperceptible instant.
'Nonsense—die!' Her killing intent surged; strikes turned fiercer.
Pressure mounting, Lin Che pressed on.
'Look at your wings—different from other Angels. They're formed from Asgardian power!'
'Silence!' she roared, unleashing a heavier slash; Lin Che, with no room to dodge, blocked with his left arm.
Crack—bone broke, agony flaring.
He bit back the pain, used the impact to leap backward, and with all his breath yelled, 'Because you are Odin's daughter—the lost princess of Asgard!'
Boom!
The words detonated like thunder in Angela's mind.
Her offensive froze.
The air seemed to solidify.
Angels arriving nearby heard it too, exchanging stunned glances.
In that deathly hush—
Hum!
A rainbow beam tore across Heaven's sky without warning, slamming down between them.
Instinctively Angela gripped her sword, yet her heart pounded—not from fear, but from a deeper bloodline call.
Lin Che narrowed his eyes, a playful grin tugging at his lips. 'Looks like someone couldn't sit still!'
Chapter 10 – The Angel Queen: Heven
A few hours earlier, Asgard.
Heimdall lifted his hand from the sword-hilt that controls the Bifrost Bridge. Eyes able to pierce the Nine Realmsnarrowed, and a voice empowered by divine force echoed through the golden halls of Asgard.
'Your Majesty,' Heimdall said, low and grave, 'I confirm the anomalous spatial ripples originate in the Tenth Realm—Heven. The signature matches the intruder's previous energy, yet it is laced with potent Heven might and… resonance of Odin-blood.'
The aged figure on the throne snapped his single eye open.
'You are certain it is Odin-blood that answers?' Odin's voice thundered through the palace.
'Absolutely.' Heimdall raised his head. 'The pulse is faint, but it shares its source with you and Queen Frigga.'
A storm of pain, fury, and longing crossed Odin's lone eye.
Memories of a war millennia old surged through him.
The Angel Queen had slain his daughter, Audrifa Odinssdotter, before his eyes to avenge Asgard.
In his rage he severed the bond between Yggdrasil and Heven, casting the Tenth Realm into exile, and laid an eternal curse upon the Angels, hurling them into the void.
'Ready the Bifrost,' Odin commanded, rising in gold that blazed beneath Asgard's light. 'I will go to the Tenth Realm myself. After thousands of years, it is time to answer for past sins.'
Shock flickered across Heimdall's gaze, then yielded to duty. 'Yes, My Lord. But the Angel Queen—'
'She will understand.' Odin's voice turned to ice. 'She hid my daughter for ages; the reckoning is overdue.'
The rainbow light faded, revealing Odin's towering form.
Clad in golden war-plate, Eternal Spear in hand, his single eye swept the gathering Angels and finally rested on Lin Che and sword-straight Angela.
He ignored the Angels; Angela held him wholly.
So many centuries.
The infant he had mourned stood before him—now a warrior proud and strong.
Frigga's eyes, his own firm jaw; those pure white orbs marked the awakening of Odin-blood.
'Audrifa,' Odin spoke, sorrow thick in every word, 'I have missed you, my child. The war with Heven stole you away; I failed as a father.'
A simple sentence, yet it sent violent ripples through every Angel heart.
'What? The queen of the hunt is Odin's daughter?'
'Impossible—she is a Heaven-raised warrior, fostered by our own Queen!'
'But… that is Odin…'
Angela's body stiffened; her mind went blank.
Odin—All-Father, lord of hated Asgard—now stood confessing the truth, shattering the beliefs she had clung to all her life.
'No… it cannot be…' she whispered, colour draining, proud head bowing, sword trembling.
Odin stepped forward, each pace heavy with divine majesty. Golden power flowed, instantly healing Lin Che's wounds.
He looked only at Angela. 'Audrifa, my child… come home to Asgard, where you belong.'
She gave no answer, rooted in place, eyes vacant, heart warring with itself.
No longer the cold, ruthless queen of the hunt—only a soul battered by fate.
A voice, regal and chill, split the sky.
'Odin, after millennia you are still so arrogant.'
The heavens parted; Angel Queen Heven descended in a blaze of light. Twelve wings spread, her white armour blazing sanctity across the land.
'Angela is an Angel of my Tenth Realm, a warrior I raised,' Heven declared, voice flat. 'Your daughter? Show proof.'
Fury flashed in Odin's eye. 'You stole her, and now you would deceive her still?'
He tapped the Eternal Spear; a soft golden glow carrying blood-resonance drifted toward Angela.
She did not resist, letting the light sink within.
At once a warm, achingly familiar chord sounded in her soul—the call of kin.
Faint infant-memories, long buried, stirred in the depths of her mind.
Odin's words, the blood-song, the memory fragments—every sign pointed to a truth Heven could not deny.
'Deceit?' Heven sneered. 'I gave her glory, strength, the dignity of an Angel! You cast her aside for Asgard's sake, and now you claim her? Ever the hypocrite, All-Father.'
The clash of two titans made the very air quiver, battle poised to erupt.
Angela stood between them, memory crashing in like a tide, sword-hand shaking.
'Who… am I?' she breathed.
A careless laugh sliced the tension.
'Well, well—live family drama?' Lin Che lounged atop a pillar, legs swinging. 'Fight if you must, but could you send this innocent by-stander back first? Earth's calling me for dinner.'
Every gaze snapped to him.
Heven's eyes frosted over. 'The intruder who breached Heven, conspiring with Asgard to sow chaos?'
'Hey, words can kill—choose them wisely,' Lin Chewaved. 'I'm just a guy the rainbow ride mis-delivered. Met Grandpa Odin today, first-time customer.'
He hopped down, dusting himself off. 'Still, fair is fair: you raised her, armed her, glorified her—cool. But you buried her past and forged her into a weapon against Asgard. Low blow, don't you think?'
'Insolence!' Heven's voice cracked like a whip.
Radiance gathered, a lance of light lancing toward him.
Yet his form blurred, reappearing elsewhere, still relaxed. 'See? Hit a nerve. Odin here was a jerk to ditch his kid, but at least he admits it and wants to fix things. And Angela—'
He turned to the tormented warrior between the two powers, tone turning earnest. '—deserves to know the truth and choose her own road, not be a trophy for either of you.'
His words left both monarchs silent.