Loki, Thor

"Andrew, cover me!" Electro shouted at Andrew, who was rising into the air nearby.

Electro brought his hands together, and a massive amount of electricity surged up in an instant, causing bolts of lightning to flash all over his body.

"Oh? Interesting."

Loki, who was controlling the Destroyer, could not help showing a hint of interest at the sight.

"This guy seems like he would make a fine general under my command when I conquer Midgard." Watching Electro erupt with lightning, looking incredibly imposing, Loki found himself more and more satisfied.

"Then let's see whether you can please me."

The Destroyer clenched its fist and punched at Electro. If that blow landed, it would probably shatter his bones on the spot.

"Ha!"

Veins bulged at Andrew's temples. With a loud shout, he pressed his left palm against his right arm and extended his right palm toward the Destroyer's arm, unleashing an invisible Psychic Power shockwave.

The Destroyer's punch failed to hit Electro in the air and instead swung through empty space.

Andrew flew to one side, panting as he watched Electro unleash his ultimate move.

Electro gathered all the electricity in his body, clenching both hands into fists as energy rapidly accumulated in his palms. Currents flickered wildly, forming brilliant arcs around his hands and releasing a dazzling glare.

The electricity within his body grew stronger and stronger, as though an immense thunderous force were gathering around him. His muscles tensed, electricity intertwining across his entire body into a buzzing mass.

When Electro felt the energy reach its peak, he sharply spread his hands apart, and the arcs roared hotly through the air. He swiftly thrust both hands forward with all his might.

In an instant, an enormous beam of electrical energy burst from his palms, blazing with a blinding blue light. The beam contained endless electricity as it shot forward with a howl, like a bolt of lightning charging ahead.

The beam sliced through the air at once, releasing the crackling of electric arcs. It shone with magnificent lightning and carried devastating force. Once it struck its target, the electricity would pierce through every obstacle and unleash a terrifying Energy Shock wave.

Electro's finishing move fired a powerful beam of electrical energy that howled forward. Just as the beam was about to hit the Destroyer, Loki reacted quickly. He swiftly controlled his power, causing the Destroyer to release a mysterious Energy Barrier. The barrier formed a sturdy shield against Electro's attack. Electric arcs crashed against the Energy Barrier with piercing crackles, but failed to penetrate it.

A cold glint flashed in Loki's eyes. He withstood the electrical assault without wavering. Although the Energy Barrier began to ripple slightly, he steadied himself and refused to let it collapse.

At the same time, Loki felt the force of Electro's powerful attack, and its might shocked him. A mere mortal could actually unleash such a blow. It could even rival his brother.

However, as a god, Loki's heart remained full of arrogance and contempt. A god's power would inevitably, absolutely surpass that of mortals. No matter how powerful the mortal before him was, he could not shake Loki's confidence.

Under Electro's finishing assault, a trace of disdain gradually appeared in Loki's eyes as he defended himself.

Loki's heart was filled with a desire for victory. He wanted Electro to submit to his authority.

Although Electro's attack had caused some damage to the Destroyer, Loki felt neither panic nor fear. Instead, he faced the threat with an arrogant bearing, convinced that he was invincible. As a god, he possessed abilities beyond mortals and incomparable power.

"Hahahaha! So this is your 'Flash Fountain.'" Loki's unrestrained voice rang out from within the Destroyer.

Loki's thoughts shifted toward making Electro witness his strength. A desire rose within him to display his rule and majesty through an invincible posture. He was determined to defeat Electro with his wits and strategy, forcing him to submit at his feet.

"Now kneel and submit to me. I will give you a place." Loki held his head high, a teasing glint in his eyes.

"You talk too much, Loki!!!" The Warriors Three charged at the Destroyer once more.

"You are truly annoying!" Loki looked impatiently at The Warriors Three, who were shouting and yelling on the other side. If they had not been part of Asgard, he would have sent them to meet Surtur long ago.

"Get lost!" Loki snarled.

The Destroyer launched an overwhelming offensive against The Warriors Three.

A punch, a sweep, energy pouring forth.

Ignoring The Warriors Three he had sent flying, Loki turned his attention to Electro, who was being carried away by Andrew.

"Trying to leave?" Loki curled his lips. After dealing with The Warriors Three, he would have all the time in the world to play with this fellow.

Loki suddenly froze, then sneered.

"I've been enjoying myself so much that I forgot my dearest brother."

Thor gripped Mjolnir tightly in both hands, feeling the cold touch of its handle. His gaze was firm and focused, his eyes shining with unwavering conviction. He drew a deep breath and straightened his body, his heart filled with the strength of self-realization.

He recalled the scenes from that storybook about Thor, the trials and emotions he had experienced.

He remembered how young and impulsive he had once been, and how he had grown because of it. He realized that those hardships and setbacks were vital elements that had shaped him into who he was today.

He thought of the people and things he had protected. They gave him strength and inspired his determination to fight for them. He understood that he was not merely a god with extraordinary power, but also a guardian who fought to protect his people and defend his home.

But!

"Why is it still not working?!"

Thor weakly released Mjolnir, staring gloomily at his trembling hands before stumbling to the ground.

"Because you never truly experienced those feelings." A mature male voice sounded beside Thor's ear.

"Who?!"

Thor sprang to his feet, taking an attacking stance before looking at the newcomer in surprise.

"So it's you." Thor's voice sank.

Nathan Hawke clapped his hands and pointed at his ear. "You really didn't notice that it was getting closer and closer."

"I heard it. It's... it's the sound of the Destroyer coming." Before Nathan Hawke could finish, Thor shouted, then looked anxiously at Nathan Hawke. "You need to leave. If the Destroyer truly is under Loki's control, just as Sif said—"

"Tell me, if we were part of your trial, sacrifices meant to become part of the 'love' you feel, would you accept that?" Nathan Hawke effortlessly spun his deceptive rhetoric.

Yet those very words threw Thor into confusion, since he firmly believed his father was the strongest being in the Nine Realms.

"Tell me, if your fall to Earth and this trial were a story, then would Jane Foster count as the heroine of that story?" Nathan Hawke continued.

Memories of his time with Jane Foster surfaced in Thor's mind. He really had developed feelings for that girl.

It did not seem bad if she became his girlfriend.

"Ah! What am I even thinking?!" Thor fell into a state of confusion, not knowing what to do.

"Just be yourself. Do what you would do for your kingdom, your family, and the person you love." Nathan Hawke patted Thor on the shoulder and left.

Nathan Hawke decided to make the other man understand with the simplest words.

"Yes, yes, yes." Thor's eyes gradually brightened.

"Even without Divine Power, when something like this happens, I must step forward. I have to..."

"Fight!"

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

As Loki controlled the Destroyer and looked down at his short brother standing before him, every cell in his body seemed to make the corners of his mouth curl up in delighted laughter.

"My dear brother, without Divine Power, are you sure you want to stop me?"

Thor raised his head and shouted solemnly at Loki, "Brother, let's go back. I don't want to fight you."

"Only the strong have the right to speak, and you do not have that right now." Loki bared his teeth and controlled the Destroyer to stomp heavily on the ground.

The ground split apart in an instant, and shattered rocks flew everywhere.

"Dear brother, can you still manage even such a simple action now?" Loki rested one hand beneath his chin and looked at Thor mockingly.

"If you want to fight, I will accompany you." Fighting spirit emerged in Thor's eyes.

Seeing the fighting spirit in Thor's eyes, Loki spread the Destroyer's arms and laughed. "Then let me test the strength of Thor."

"Hahahahahaha!"

Energy began gathering in the Destroyer's palm. Meanwhile, Loki sat upon the throne in Asgard, swaying his head as his fingers and legs moved along with it.

"Run. Don't get blown to death, my most, most, most beloved 'brother.'"

Rumble, rumble.

Blast after blast of energy rained down on Thor.

Watching Thor run about in a sorry state, dodging his attacks, Loki's grin widened further and further.

"Hehehehe."

"Hehehehe."

"Thor, this way." Sif immediately grabbed the disheveled Thor and began running. "Thor, you should not have come. As you are now, you cannot defeat the Destroyer."

Thor shook his head and shouted, "No, Sif. I did not come because of power. I came because I have to fight."

"Fight? Are you insane?! This is suicide!" Sif could not understand why Thor, who had no power, called throwing his life away a battle.

"Still flirting over there? Hmph." Seeing this, Loki wrinkled his nose and controlled the Destroyer to use even greater power.

"This is bad. The Destroyer has locked onto us." A dangerous presence targeted the two of them, making Sif's expression change sharply.

Bang!

An energy blast exploded directly in front of Sif.

"Sif!"

As Sif violently shoved him away, Thor shouted, only to be blasted away by another burst of energy.

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Dizzy and disoriented, Thor frantically spat the grit from his mouth.

"Thor!"

An SUV screeched to a stop beside him, and Jane Foster immediately pulled Thor up to take him away.

"Jane!" The moment Thor heard Jane's voice, his scalp went numb. Sif at least had a god's physique, but Jane was an ordinary human. Just one shot, just one!

"Hahahaha, it seems my brother is quite popular with women!" A sinister smile appeared on Loki's face as he ground his right foot hard against the palace floor.

The energy gathering in the Destroyer's hand became ever more deadly!