"Andrei, cover me!" Electro shouted to the levitating Andrei.
As Electro pressed his palms together, massive currents of electricity surged through him, crackling and arcing around his entire body.
"Oh? Interesting."
Controlling the Destroyer, Loki raised an intrigued brow.
"This one might make a fine general for my conquest of Midgard," he muttered with a sly grin, watching the man wrapped in lightning with growing satisfaction.
"Well then, let's see if you're worthy."
The Destroyer clenched its massive fist and swung down. The strike was so powerful that if it landed, Electro's bones would have been crushed instantly.
"Haah!"
Andrei's veins bulged at his temples. With a loud shout, he pressed his left hand against his right arm and thrust his right palm forward, releasing a wave of invisible telekinetic force that slammed into the Destroyer's arm.
The blow diverted the strike midair, missing Electro completely.
Panting, Andrei flew to the side and watched as Electro began charging his ultimate move.
Gathering every ounce of energy in his body, Electro clenched his fists. Electricity crackled and flared around him, condensing into a blinding arc of light between his hands. The air hummed and vibrated violently.
As the power peaked, Electro thrust both hands forward with a roar.
A brilliant blue beam of pure electrical energy exploded from his palms, tearing through the air like a thunderbolt. The sound of crackling arcs filled the sky as the beam illuminated everything in its path. Its destructive force was immense—anything struck by it would be vaporized by the current.
But just as the beam was about to hit, Loki reacted instantly. He made the Destroyer project a mystical energy barrier—an unbreakable shield of Asgardian magic.
The lightning struck the barrier, creating an ear-piercing crackling noise, but it couldn't break through.
Loki's eyes glimmered coldly. Though the barrier rippled under the pressure, he steadied his stance, refusing to yield.
Still, even Loki had to admit the mortal's power was impressive. The sheer force of that attack surprised him—it was nearly strong enough to harm even his divine brother.
But Loki was a god. His arrogance and pride would not allow him to acknowledge any mortal as his equal.
Within the Destroyer, his smirk deepened.
"I must admit, you have spirit," he sneered. "But against a god, you are nothing."
"Ha ha ha ha! Is that what you call your 'light show fountain'?" Loki's mocking laughter echoed from within the Destroyer's armor.
He was already imagining how satisfying it would be to make this lightning-wielding mortal kneel before him.
"Now, bow before me, and I'll grant you a place by my side," Loki said with smug superiority.
"You talk too much, Loki!!!" shouted one of the three Asgardian warriors as they charged the Destroyer again.
"You're all so annoying!" Loki growled. If they weren't Asgardians, he would've sent them straight to Hel by now.
"Begone!"
The Destroyer unleashed a barrage of devastating strikes, each one shaking the ground.
Loki ignored the warriors he sent flying and turned his attention toward Electro, who was being carried away by Andrei.
"Trying to run?" Loki smirked darkly. "We're not done yet."
Then, as if remembering something, he chuckled. "Ah, how could I forget my dear brother?"
Thor stood before Mjolnir, gripping the hammer's handle tightly. He could feel its cold surface, and his eyes filled with determination.
He took a deep breath and straightened his posture, recalling all his lessons, trials, and mistakes.
He remembered the courage he'd gained, the people he'd sworn to protect, and the meaning of his strength—not for pride, but for those he loved.
But—
"Why… why won't it work?"
Thor loosened his grip and looked down at his trembling hands. Despair filled his eyes as he fell to his knees.
"Because you've never truly understood," came a calm, mature voice from behind him.
"Who's there?!"
Thor jumped to his feet, ready to fight—only to recognize the man approaching.
"It's you," Thor said, lowering his guard.
Nathan Hawke clapped his hands and pointed to his ear. "You really didn't hear it getting closer, did you?"
"I heard it! The sound of the Destroyer—it's here!" Thor interrupted him, panic flashing across his face. "You should run. If it's under Loki's control, as Sif said—"
"If this trial of yours requires sacrifice, Thor," Nathan interrupted softly, "if our deaths help you understand what it means to care… would you accept that?"
Thor froze, confused by the strange question.
Nathan's voice grew steady. "Tell me—if your story were written in a book, would Jane Foster be its heroine?"
Thor's mind flashed with images of Jane—her laughter, her kindness, her strength. His heart ached.
"Yes," he whispered. "She would."
"Then be yourself," Nathan said gently. "For your kingdom. For your family. For the one you love." He placed a hand on Thor's shoulder. "Do what you must."
Thor took a deep breath. His eyes shone again with resolve.
"Even without my godly power," he said firmly, "I will fight. For them all."
He clenched his fists. "I will fight!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Loki's laughter boomed through the Destroyer as he looked down upon his powerless brother.
"My dear brother," Loki sneered, "you have no power. Do you still think you can stop me?"
Thor met his gaze, unwavering. "Brother, please. Let's go home. I don't want to fight you."
"Only the strong have the right to speak," Loki said mockingly. The Destroyer slammed its foot into the ground, sending cracks through the earth.
"Can you even do this, brother?" Loki taunted.
"If you want a fight," Thor said, clenching his fists, "then I will stand and fight you!"
Loki smirked. "Then let's test the strength of the mighty Thor."
Energy began to gather in the Destroyer's palms as Loki laughed wildly from his throne in Asgard.
"Run, little brother. Don't get yourself blown to pieces."
A deafening explosion ripped through the ground.
Sif rushed forward and grabbed Thor. "You shouldn't be here, Thor! You can't defeat it in your state!"
Thor shook his head and shouted, "No, Sif! I'm not here for power. I'm here… to fight!"
"Fight?! You're mad! That's suicide!" Sif cried out in disbelief.
Loki scowled at the sight, snarling, "Pathetic sentiment."
He unleashed another wave of destructive energy.
"Damn, it's targeting us!" Sif gasped, feeling the air crackle with danger.
BOOM!
An energy blast exploded right in front of her.
"Sif!"
Thor screamed as Sif pushed him away just before another explosion threw them both into the air.
Coughing up dust and blood, Thor struggled to rise.
"Sif!" he shouted desperately into the smoke.
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