Lightning Armor

Both figures came from Asgard.

They were the guardians of the Asgard Vault-the Destroyers, known as weapons of annihilation.

Thor quickly explained to everyone, "These things come from Asgard. They're made of Uru, the same special metal as my hammer. As for how tough they are, even your Earth's nuclear bombs couldn't destroy them!

"They aren't alive, they feel no pain, and they can fire high-heat beams without limit.

"That brat Loki! Asgard only has four Destroyers, and he sent out two at once. He really went all out for his big brother!"

Thor gritted his teeth, but Mercer had a different thought. Perhaps Loki had deployed two Destroyers not because of Thor, but because of him!

And the Destroyers weren't necessarily here to kill Thor. It seemed more likely that they were here to kill Mercer.

After all, their confrontation had happened that afternoon, and the Destroyers had arrived that very night.

Loki couldn't have guessed that Thor and the others would come somewhere like this tonight, so there was only one explanation: these two Destroyers were here for Mercer.

"Ugh, he's like a kid who loses a fight and runs off to get backup," Mercer muttered.

Dong-!

The sound of an ancient bell rang out again, and another rainbow pillar descended from the sky.

This time, Loki arrived... along with over a hundred Asgardian Royal Guard Warriors!

As the light faded, Loki froze for a moment at the sight of Thor before him, wondering why he was here too.

"First the Destroyers, and now an army. Loki, you're really worried I won't die, aren't you?"

Thor narrowed his eyes at the massive force and sneered.

Hearing that, Mercer scratched his head awkwardly. How could Loki have known Thor would be here? He had come entirely because of Mercer.

"Stand farther back. He's here for me. Stay behind me and look for a chance to escape," Thor quietly told Mercer and the other two beside him.

Mercer had wanted to say something, but Thor stepped forward, shielding the three behind him, then shouted at Loki.

"Loki, if you want to kill me, then do it! They're innocent. Leave them out of this!"

His words darkened Loki's expression. His brother really would say anything!

Mercer could only think what an idiot Thor was. The struggles between the two brothers generally weren't aired in public.

After all, Asgard was only so big. Word that Loki and Thor were fighting over the throne wouldn't do their reputations any favors.

They all believed in Odin. Whoever Odin named the next God King would take the throne. It wasn't something Thor and Loki could fight over like executives competing to become a company's CEO.

So when Thor shouted it out so loudly, both Thor and Mercer were left rather speechless.

Apparently, it wasn't that he usually kept quiet about it. He simply hadn't had the chance to say it, since none of Loki's earlier little tricks had actually hurt him.

Only now that he had become a mortal-a mortal who could easily die-had Thor blurted it out so foolishly.

"Uh, Thor? Why are you here?" Loki stared at Thor with a dark expression. "Do you have to ruin my plans every single time?"

"How dare you speak to your big brother like that... wait, you're not here to kill me?"

The confusion in Loki's words left Thor stunned.

So this massive force wasn't here for him? Then who else could it be for?

"We'll settle our grievances another time. I'm here for this man!"

Loki pointed his spear straight ahead. Thor turned to follow its direction and found that it was aimed at Mercer.

"Him? What grudge could you have against him?"

"This human insulted the dignity of Asgard. I brought an army here specifically to show him what Asgard truly means!"

His spear struck the ground with an imposing clang. At that moment, Loki certainly put on a convincing act as a monarch.

If Mercer hadn't just beaten him into retreat, he might actually have believed it.

"Heh, insulted Asgard's dignity? You just couldn't beat me, so you slunk back home to get backup. How embarrassing. Truly embarrassing."

Mercer even finished with a few clicks of his tongue, packing every ounce of mockery he could into his words.

A short distance away, Loki gritted his teeth in fury and tightened his grip on his spear.

While taunting him, Mercer was also discreetly studying the army opposite him.

The Destroyers looked just as he remembered, but the appearance of the Asgard Royal Guard was somewhat different.

The helmets of the Asgard Royal Guard in Mercer's memory had been rounded, with an open section cut out at the top center.

These helmets, however, sported a pair of curved goat horns, similar to those on Loki's crown, but much shorter.

"What kind of troops are these? Does every army in Asgard wear this armor?" Mercer asked Thor quietly.

Thor shook his head gravely. "No. Loki trained these troops himself. They're Asgardian Warriors who have also learned some magic. They're strong!"

This world's Loki really did keep surprising Mercer.

First, he had truly become a mage. Now he had even brought a royal guard he had trained himself. That was the second surprise.

"This universe's Loki is pretty impressive. He's nothing like the Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe..." Mercer muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing. You should leave first. You're just a mortal now, so you can't help here. I'll handle this."

Mercer rolled his neck, walked in front of the three, and loosened up his body.

"You'll handle it? But what can you..."

Before Thor could finish, the sight before him left his mouth hanging open in shock.

Dazzling lightning surged from Mercer's body, dancing over him as though it had a mind of its own.

A vast bank of dark clouds, roiling with lightning, drifted across the previously clear night sky, obscuring the moon-the last source of light over the land.

With every step he took, the lightning on his body solidified into pieces of silvery-white armor that fitted themselves over him.

After a dozen or so steps, Mercer was entirely covered in armor formed from lightning.

Flash after flash and peal after peal of thunder seemed to herald the arrival of the true God of Thunder.

In the blink of an eye, he looked like a god descended to earth. Merely standing there, his silvery-white figure seemed as solid and immovable as an iron tower.

"Lightning Armor! Hmm, not bad. This armor and the Blacklight Armor each have their strengths!" Mercer praised.

The protection provided by the Blacklight Armor was the ultimate in physical defense.

This armor, formed from the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's lightning, could also protect against physical damage, but Mercer had discovered an even better effect: protection against magic.

During their brief earlier battle, Mercer had already discovered just how strong the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's resistance to magic was!