The Avengers and the pair of detectives stood outside the warehouse. Tony was nursing a headache, but had insisted on coming.
"Let's go then, what are we waiting for?" Valkyrie asked.
"A plan," Steve responded.
"Plans don't usually work out for us,"
"They do here,"
"Fine!"
Steve outlined his plan, half of them would come from the east the others from the west, and meet in the middle. The Hulk would be involved straight away.
Tony burst into the warehouse from the east, shooting repulsors at the three men inside. Sanguine sighed and disappeared, Merit ran and Loki spawned copies of himself. A million shards of darkness sliced through them, leaving the real Loki.
Skulduggery was fighting Sanguine, the rest of the Avengers were looking for Merit, while making sure he didn't touch them- they had prior warning.
Loki and Valkyrie were using magic against each other, spheres of energy and flame going back and forth. Loki was speaking as he fought, then one of his copies distracted Valkyrie long enough for his magic to carve a hole in her stomach. Valkyrie fell down- dead.
Valkyrie fought Loki, every part of her magic being used against him.
"They said if I killed you, my greatest ally would reveal herself. Darquesse will rule by my side! You are pathetic Cain, but your life is the only thing stopping me. I will kill you!"
"Get in line," she muttered.
He split again, Valkyrie read the air, finding the real Loki, but she had taken too long and his magic hit her in the heart.
Valkyrie fell, and Darquesse woke up.
Loki laughed triumphantly, finally this world would bow at his feet, the fighting still went on around him. The man of iron firing at him, Loki simply deflected the blasts. He had grown stronger than before and he would rule.
He waited for the arrival of his ally. But Cain sat up, and smiled sarcastically.
"How… I killed you!"
"No, you killed Valkyrie."
"Don't play games with me Cain!" He shot more magic at her, which she made no attempt to dodge, letting it hit her. The wound closed as soon as it opened.
"Impossible," Loki muttered.
"I'll fill you in, as clearly goldy didn't,"
"What are you talking about, I killed you, I killed Valkyrie Cain!"
"Valkyrie is gone, now there is only me,"
"Who are you?" Loki asked- although he already knew the answer.
"I am Darquesse."