"Everyone, cover the civilians' evacuation! I'll hold it back!" Steve Rogers's voice was still echoing through the empty streets, while he had already charged like a cannonball, fearlessly rushing toward that metallic demon god emitting an aura of destruction. The Destroyer's visor lifted; there was no emotion in its single eye, only programming. A beam of scorching energy shot out, instantly plowing a crimson trench of molten lava in front of Steve, the heat wave hitting him full in the face.
Coulson watched with his heart in his throat, shouting into the comms, "Captain!"
Steve ignored him, dodging the beam with a roll. Using the momentum from the roll, he fiercely hurled the star shield in his hand like a frisbee!
The vibranium shield slammed into the Destroyer's visor.
"Clang—!"
The sound of metal clashing rang out as sparks flew in all directions.
An attack capable of flattening a tank only caused the Destroyer's head to tilt back half an inch. It didn't even stop its stride, swinging a backhanded slap toward Steve! The movement was so fast it exceeded the limits of human reaction!
Steve only had time to bring his shield up in front of him.
"Boom!"
A massive force surged through him; he felt as if he had been hit head-on by a high-speed train. He was sent flying, crashing through two brick walls in succession before finally being heavily embedded into the wall of an abandoned shop.
"Captain!" The Agents watched, their eyes nearly splitting with rage.
"Damn it!" Behind a distant cover, Thor slammed his fist into the ground. He watched helplessly as the mortal who had taught him principles was easily crushed while trying to protect innocents, a feeling of powerless fury burning in his chest.
As the town fell into silence, the sky was torn open again!
A rainbow pillar of light, more brilliant and grander than when Loki arrived, crashed through the dark clouds and projected precisely onto the empty ground in front of the Destroyer!
The light was holy and majestic, making all the surrounding S.H.I.E.L.D. searchlights pale in comparison.
"My god..." Daisy Louise's jaw almost dropped. "Is today some kind of alien team-building day? Buy one get four free?"
The pillar of light dissipated, and four figures clad in magnificent metallic battle armor slammed heavily onto the ground, sending dust flying everywhere!
Leading them was the valiant Valkyrie Sif, wielding a sword and shield. Behind her followed the burly Volstagg with a giant axe, the agile Fandral who excelled with a longsword, and the cold-faced Hogun gripping a morning star.
The Warriors Three and the goddess Sif had descended!
"Loki!" Sif immediately saw the cold killing machine and then spotted the Loki nearby playing with his scepter, her face full of horrified anger. "Have you gone mad?! You dare bring the Destroyer to Midgard!"
Her answer was the Destroyer's single eye lighting up once more with a beam of destruction.
"For Asgard!" Volstagg roared, being the first to charge forward while swinging his giant axe.
Fandral's longsword thrust toward the gaps in the Destroyer's moving joints. Hogun's morning star smashed against its back. Sif, holding twin swords and a shield, agilely advanced from the flank, searching for a weakness.
For a moment, the sound of clashing metal was constant, and energy sparks flew everywhere.
But this seemingly grand siege was more like a futile performance.
Volstagg's battle-axe was grabbed by the Destroyer, and the weapon made of divine metal actually began to melt rapidly in the high temperature. Fandral's longsword struck the metal shell without leaving even a white mark. Hogun's morning star was even crushed underfoot.
"Boom!"
The Destroyer's visor turned, and a beam of destruction swept out! The four battle-hardened Asgardian warriors screamed as they were sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground with charred armor, instantly losing their combat capability.
From beginning to end, the Destroyer hadn't moved a single step.
Right then, inside the hole in the wall, the figure everyone thought had fallen stood up unsteadily once more!
Steve Rogers spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, but his gaze was even more determined than before.
"Breathe, Mr. Rogers, remember your breathing. The Holy Light of Vishanti originates from the will to protect, not the anger of killing."
Master Wong's calm voice echoed in his mind.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, a holy flame burned within those deep blue eyes!
"Buzz—!"
A visible white halo expanded from his heart, rapidly flowing through his entire body! On his deep blue combat suit, rows of complex, silver-white mysterious patterns that hadn't existed before emerged and lit up! Even on both sides of his resolute cheeks, symmetrical silver patterns appeared!
Steve ignored everyone's shock. Feeling the surging energy of the "Holy Light of Vishanti" within him responding to his will to "protect," he held the star shield in front of him and once again charged resolutely toward the metallic demon god!
The Destroyer was clearly enraged by this "insect" that repeatedly provoked it. Within its single-eyed visor, a beam of destruction even thicker than before blasted out!
Steve didn't dodge. He suddenly held the vibranium shield upright in front of him and let out a heaven-shaking roar!
A layer of holy white energy shield, as solid as a physical object, expanded from his shield! The scarlet laser slammed into the shield, only triggering a series of violent ripples before being completely absorbed!
Pushing against the laser, Steve's feet plowed two deep trenches into the sandy ground, but this time, he didn't retreat a single step! Steady as a mountain, he began to advance actively against the laser! Within a few breaths, he had already rushed to the Destroyer's feet! He leaped up, his right fist wrapped in blindingly holy white light, and smashed it hard against the metallic creation's knee armor!
"Clang!" With a loud bang, a visible dent was actually smashed into that thick armor!
The Destroyer was completely infuriated. Its main cannon charged again, and the beam of destruction blasted down. Steve quickly retreated, opening his energy shield once more.
Thor saw all of this. He watched that mortal be knocked down again and again, only to stand up each time with a stronger posture, all to protect people who had absolutely nothing to do with him.
An unprecedented emotion instantly crushed all the pride and conceit in his heart. He understood. He finally understood the "sacrifice" Steve spoke of, and he understood Odin's painstaking efforts.
He strode out from behind the cover, passing by the pale-faced Jane Foster, and stood directly under the massive shadow of the metallic demon god.
"Loki."
Thor looked up and shouted toward the empty sky, knowing his brother must be watching.
"You win. I started this war, and what you want is my life. Let them go, let these innocent mortals go. My life... you can take it."
After speaking, he slowly closed his eyes and spread his arms, calmly facing the single eye already aimed at his chest.
On a distant sand dune, Loki watched this scene. The playful smile on his face slowly vanished, replaced by a complex expression—a mix of the pleasure of victory and a sense of loss. He gently raised his hand.
The Destroyer received the command. Its massive metal arm swung back suddenly and then, with the force of ten thousand tons, slammed hard against Thor's chest!
"Bang—!"
A dull thud sounded. Thor's body was sent flying, tracing a parabola in the air before crashing heavily into the mud, motionless.
But at that very moment, in the distant divine realm of Asgard, the All-Father, who had fallen into the "Odinsleep," shed a single hot tear from the corner of his eye.
The Federation, New Mexico.
Inside the deep pit, the war hammer that had been silent for many days suddenly emitted a clear hum that reached the clouds!
"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor!"
Ancient runes lit up on the hammer's body like a brand!
mjolnir trembled violently, coming to life. It suddenly broke free from the earth's constraints, turning into a bolt of silver lightning that tore through the rain curtain, whistling as it flew resolutely toward Thor's outstretched palm!
"Rumble—!!!"
A thick bolt of lightning crashed down from the rolling dark clouds, accurately hitting Thor as he lay on the ground!
Thunder light exploded!
Under everyone's shocked gazes, Thor's body slowly floated into the air. His tattered mortal clothes disintegrated inch by inch in the electrical light, replaced by a set of silver armor forged from Uru metal, shining with a holy radiance!
A red cape fluttered behind him.
He opened his eyes. Within those deep blue pupils, there was no longer confusion or arrogance, only the majesty and divinity of one who commands the thunder!