"Hey! Thor got angry, this is terrifying."
"This is real thunder. Anyone caught in it will be obliterated!"
"As expected, the Gods are powerful."
"Loki's scepter can control minds, and Thor's Hammer commands lightning, so shameless."
"I can't fight at all… I don't even know what to do next."
"Tony can't afford a mistake."
In the Administration, within the Extraordinary Conference Room, the four of them stared solemnly at the screen.
The director asked, "How does your ability compare to his?"
The four shook their heads.
"A world of difference. Although I've seen Thor fight before, this kind of power, able to summon such terrifying power, is truly frightening. Even we, under this lightning, would be shattered!"
The chief took a deep breath, letting out a helpless sigh. The full scale of the attacks and other realms remained unknown. What they saw was just the tip of the iceberg. Even the members of the Terra Federation couldn't resist.
"I don't know if Tony can handle this," one said.
"If Tony holds up, the steel suit's importance will rise to a whole new level."
All eyes turned to the live broadcast.
[ The terrifying lightning lit the surroundings. Loki sat atop it, eyes gleaming with interest as he watched the battle unfold below. ]
[ Thor swung his hammer, channeling the thunder toward Tony. Crackling sounds filled the air as the massive lightning engulfed Tony in searing white energy. Tony staggered back, sparks scattering across his armor, parts of which burned and warped. He stumbled, frowning. ]
[ "Power output at 400%!" Jarvis reported. ]
[ Tony whispered, "Not bad." ]
[ He thrust both palms toward Thor, releasing an energy blast far stronger than before. ]
[ Bang! Thor was hurled back by the force of the beam. ]
The barrage erupted violently.
"Damn!"
"Charging treasure, that's it!"
"Laugh all you want!"
"With thunder, shatter the darkness!"
"Thor is shooting himself in the foot."
"Thor-brand power cell… Tony says it works well."
"The suit is formidable, I thought it would have fried instantly."
"But these are friendly forces. Their attacks aim to protect the Earth."
"The culprit? Loki, watching the spectacle from above!"
"Fight Loki, Thor, you should find the Cube first."
"Tony is the same. Why is he so indiscriminate?"
"You can't fight like this. If there are casualties, the creatures may lose power in the future."
Several military leaders in the expert team gawked, mouths forming shocked O's, witnessing the steel suit's energy discharge.
"The suit… can it reverse-charge?" one whispered.
"The armor's metal forms a full protective cage, effectively insulating Tony."
"The Arc Reactor's energy can be released forward or stored in reverse. And the stored energy is immense."
"A fourfold increase… that's ruthless."
"This must be considered in R&D."
"If Thor's energy hits a regular person… they'd be reduced to ash."
"People from God's Domain are extraordinary," another muttered.
Everyone was stunned. Even more so upon realizing Tony was just an ordinary human, no superpowers, not even Rodgers-level physicality. Yet, armed only with a suit, he held his ground against Divine Realm Thor. For the Terra Federation, this was a jolt of hope. God's Domain and the alien creatures might not be as invincible as believed.
[ Thor ascended, hammer extended, charging at Tony. Tony's four thrusters blazed, propelling him like a comet. The two collided midair, and Tony actually knocked Thor straight up. Tony lifted Thor, thrusters firing repeatedly, and slammed him into the steep mountain face. Under extreme speed, Thor ricocheted off the peaks, flipped, and they crashed into the forest.]
[ Thor struck Tony in the head. Tony swung a fist, caught by Thor's blow, then caught again with his left. ]
[ Sparks flew across Tony's armor, and the helmet display flashed extensive damage. Tony opened his right hand; a concentrated energy ball smashed Thor's head at close range. Thor recoiled, releasing his grip, and Tony rammed him with his armored head. ]
[ Thor retaliated, smashing his own head into Tony, sending him flying. Tony skidded across the ground, thrusters firing to halt his fall, then charged again. He flew low, grabbed Thor's legs, and spun into a tree. ]
"Uh… what a fight… insane!"
"This Thor is made of iron! Everyone can hear it!"
"Damn, I just saw a dent in Tony's helmet from Thor's strike!"
"This kind of raw physicality… truly godlike!"
"Amazing!"
"Wait… wouldn't the battery explode after that charge?"
"No, that's not Tony anymore."
"Thor's body… he's nearly invulnerable."
[ Thor rose, punching Tony; metallic echoes reverberated through the air. Tony spun from the attack, slamming into the ground. Thor's hammer flew back into his hand, raised high, ready to crush Tony. In a desperate move, Tony fired his thrusters downward, colliding with Thor. Tony launched again, and shield intercepted midair. ]
[ Rogers caught it and asked, "That's enough!" ]
"Wow! Rogers survived?!"
"From that height, even with a parachute… this sky is unforgiving."
"Like elementary schoolers fighting… but Rogers' parents are here!"
"Tony's suit is insane, smooth, and responsive. Back-and-forth with Thor, and it holds."
"Thor's Hammer exploded and returned automatically. Insane power."
"Rogers is here, too? Are they teaming up?"
"I doubt it. Rogers is just surviving longer."
"Don't underestimate his shield; it can reflect energy attacks."
"And he seems to employ some cunning, returns the shield accurately to himself even in chaos."
"Incredible."
"The guidance of his shield rivals Thor's Hammer in complexity."
"So satisfying to watch! This scene is steadier than the previous one, and Tony is central."
Supreme Court elders monitored the live broadcast closely. Seeing Rogers deftly handle the shield, Elder Sith frowned.
"Wasn't there a citizen with over 700,000 activity? Previous life of a martial arts heir? Claimed a sort of cleverness? Theory of inner strength. I doubt Rogers has powers like that… otherwise, how explain the shield returning so precisely?"
Elder Li Longshen added, "Not just skill, this is the 'Way of Skill.' Casual movements aligned with physics and mechanics, allowing precise catching of the shield."
The crowd whispered, excited. The Way of Skill… tied to memories of past lives. Unexpectedly, Rogers seemed to possess it naturally. Everyone wondered if the owner of the Immortal Warrior had awakened such an ability.
[ Rogers leaped to the ground, staring at Thor. "I don't know what you came to Earth for."]
[ Thor growled, "I'm here to crush Loki's conspiracy."]
[ Rogers said, "Prove it, put the hammer down."]
[ Tony muttered, "Ah, yeah, no, he loves that hammer."]
[ Thor slammed the hammer, hurling Tony away.]
[ Thor roared at Rogers, "You want me to put the hammer down?"]
[ He leapt, raising the hammer, striking Rogers with the fury of ten thousand storms.]
The live broadcast audience erupted. Such raw power… and Rogers, flesh and blood, how could he withstand it?
"Rogers is human!"
"Thor really loves his hammer."
"Captain Rogers, why let him put it down?"
"They were on the same side, but now acting independently."
"Gan! Is this the meeting of the three giants?"
"Loki watches from outside… the real threat remains."
Rogers' resistance against Thor's hammer shook the Terra Federation. Across military and industrial networks, everyone marveled. The shield, simple in design, but unmatched in defense, surpassed all expectations. Even when attacks intensified, it seemed indestructible. Experts realized the shield's material must originate from Terra itself.
"In the Federation, do we still have this material?"
"Synthetic? Or from natural ore?"
Hope lit every leader's eyes.
"This shield is invaluable!"
"Even a fragment could make a piercing cone for spacecraft."
"Search relentlessly! Dig three feet if necessary!"
Supreme Court elders recognized the shield's significance. Elder Gladwin remarked, "Way of Skill and this indestructible shield, a perfect match. And with his superhuman physique…"
Orson added, "If our medical-biology team progresses, adding this shield, and guiding those with past-life memories, we could train a formidable team!"
Eyes lit up. A brilliant plan, but many conditions remained.
An elder sighed, "Even with Loki caught, why is there a flaw in Terra's Earth Age history? The Chitauri Grand/Army hasn't moved yet. Things are more complex than I imagined."
Several elders nodded, all turning to the live broadcast of the past life.