Chapter 38: The Destroyer

In the distance, the small frontier town had fallen into chaos. A terrifying, towering mechanical monstrosity was wreaking havoc, leaving a trail of destruction. Agents who had attempted to stop it, as well as several civilians, lay dead.

At that moment, Thor was busy evacuating the nearby townsfolk along with Jane Foster and Dr. Erik Selvig. Meanwhile, the Warriors Three and Lady Sif were charging toward the descending Destroyer Armor.

They knew they weren't a match for the Destroyer Armor, which Odin had painstakingly crafted with immense effort. However, they were confident in their own strength, believing they could buy enough time for the evacuation.

Just as Loki had charged at Alex a few days ago, the burly, bearded Fandral, aided by his companions, bravely charged at the Destroyer Armor. But as he got close and before he could attack, the Destroyer Armor landed a punch squarely on his face, sending him flying onto a car, unable to rise again.

Booom!

When the Destroyer Armor prepared to unleash a laser beam from its head to kill Fandral, Lady Sif, the only female among the Warriors Three, leaped down from a rooftop and drove her spear through the neck of the Destroyer Armor.

As they breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was over, they saw the Destroyer Armor light up again, unscathed, and it unleashed another energy beam, forcing them to retreat.

Swooosh!

In no time, the Warriors Three were overwhelmed by the Destroyer Armor, and they finally realized the vast gap in power between them and the mechanical behemoth.

"No..."

Seeing his wounded comrades and the ongoing destruction caused by the Destroyer Armor, Thor finally understood his responsibility. He stepped forward, moving towards the Destroyer Armor with the resolve to sacrifice his life to save others—this was what a true king should do.

Just as Thor prepared to meet his end, the sound of clear footsteps echoed from afar, starkly contrasting with the desolate small town.

Thud

Thud

Thud

Everyone turned towards the source of the sound, only to see a young man with white hair and sunglasses, walking leisurely with his hands in his pockets.

He seemed completely oblivious to the carnage around him, and the terrifying Destroyer Armor standing amidst the flames. As he casually strolled forward, chewing gum, he looked as though he was out for a casual walk.

He passed by Jane Foster and the others, greeting them with a nonchalant "Hello, Jane, Professor Erik, we meet again."

Upon seeing Alex, a glimmer of hope flashed in Jane Foster's eyes. She urgently said to him, "Alex, please help Thor! He's about to die!"

But before Alex could respond, Lady Sif shook her head and said, "Mortal, give up. Let Thor die honorably. You can't stop the Destroyer Armor."

Alex completely ignored her, nodding to Jane with his usual laid-back tone, "Then you'll owe me a favor. When you're 'sick,' come to me first for treatment."

Although Alex had come specifically for the Destroyer Armor, the opportunity to have Jane Foster owe him a favor was too good to pass up. When she eventually became possessed by the Reality Stone, his Reversal Technique might be strong enough to extract it from her body.

It was like getting a package delivered.

Although she didn't quite understand what Alex meant, Jane Foster agreed immediately in her desperation to save Thor. "Okay, I promise. I'll come to you first when I get sick!"

Satisfied, Alex smiled and then walked toward the Destroyer Armor.

Suddenly, Lady Sif stepped in front of him, blocking his path. She looked at him sternly and said, "Go back. You cannot defeat the Destroyer Armor. Don't ruin Thor's moment of glory!"

Alex couldn't help but scoff at her words: "Glory? You mean getting slaughtered?"

Facing Alex's ridicule, Lady Sif warned him, "For an Asgardian warrior, dying on the battlefield and being remembered is the highest honor! I ask you to leave immediately!"

The Warriors Three had never been particularly friendly to anyone from Earth. They looked down on the primitive Midgardians. The only reason they hadn't attacked Alex immediately was because he was an acquaintance of Thor.

Seeing that Sif still blocked his path, Alex, now out of patience, flashed a bright smile.

Booom!

Just as Sif thought he would back down, Alex waved his right hand, and with a powerful repulsion force, Sif was sent flying, crashing through several buildings before embedding into the ground, unconscious.

The remaining members of the Warriors Three, and Jane Foster and her group, froze in shock, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. The Warriors Three were utterly stunned—since when were mortals so powerful? Alex had taken down Sif in an instant!

Once they snapped out of their shock, they were filled with rage, charging towards Alex. How dare a mere Midgardian attack the strongest female warrior of them? It was unforgivable!

But in the blink of an eye, under the stunned gaze of Jane Foster and the others, the remaining Warriors Three were also sent flying, crashing through numerous buildings before collapsing unconscious on the ground.

Even though she now knew Alex was indeed the "white-haired mutant," Jane Foster still couldn't believe it—could he really be this strong? Stronger than the gods of legend?

Meanwhile, Dr. Erik Selvig and Darcy, who had yet to learn Alex's true identity, were dumbfounded, holding their breath in disbelief. Was he really the "white-haired mutant" and not just cosplaying? Was he really this powerful?

After dealing with the four Asgardian fools, Alex took a single step, appearing as if he had teleported, standing before Thor, facing the Destroyer Armor.

Thor, initially relieved to see Alex, soon grew somber. He said, "Alex, don't be reckless. This is the Destroyer Armor, forged entirely from Uru metal by my father to combat the Celestials. It's incredibly powerful, and you can't defeat it! You must leave now. Loki's target is me. If he kills me, he'll leave!"

Before Thor could continue, the Destroyer Armor's body began to glow intensely, unleashing a far more powerful energy beam aimed directly at Alex.

In Asgard, Loki, controlling the Destroyer Armor, grinned with joy. The man before him was the same one who had humiliated him days ago. Now was the perfect time for revenge!

Even though this man was strong, there was no way he could stand against the Destroyer Armor. Loki commanded the armor to attack with full force.

Earlier, for reasons unknown even to himself, Loki had used only a fraction of the Destroyer Armor's power against Thor and the others. But now, facing the mortal who had once shamed him, he unleashed the full might of the armor.

WHOOOOSH!

The searing energy beam shot towards Alex at lightning speed. Thor, unable to bear the thought of witnessing what was about to happen, turned away. Even though Alex was incredibly powerful, there was no way he could stand against the Destroyer Armor. He would soon be disintegrated by the energy beam, leaving nothing behind—not even a body.

But in the next moment, Thor's expression turned to one of utter astonishment. Loki, who was controlling the Destroyer Armor from Asgard, was equally shocked. On the Destroyer Armor's display, he saw a fist hurtling through the laser beam, smashing into the armor's chest.

In the next instant, terrifying black and red lightning erupted between the two.

°°°

A/N: Stones, my disciples

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