The torrential downpour crashed against the desolate, war-torn ground like the heavens themselves had collapsed.
Amidst the roaring engines of the Valkyrie, a damaged aircraft with tattered wings streaked across the sky.
In the next instant, a towering figure pierced through the veil of rain, landing heavily in the mud-strewn battlefield.
Boom!
The sheer force of the impact sent a wave of murky rainwater surging outward, rippling through the pools of filth. However, the grime that splashed onto the figure's metallic armor was swiftly washed away by the relentless downpour, merging into the endless, muddied streams.
Splash!
Zaire stepped forward, muddy water splattering beneath his boots. In one hand, he hefted his Gauss Burst Rifle.
With a swift motion, he activated the night vision within his helmet, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield.
In mere moments, Zaire locked onto a colossal silhouette lurking deep within the rainstorm.
A towering, four-meter-tall metal giant.
Its segmented, ring-like metallic body constantly rotated and undulated, revealing brief glimpses of seething energy surging within the gaps of its armored plates.
Hissss!
The relentless rain evaporated into dense steam upon contact with the immense heat radiating from the metal titan's body.
Scorching beams of destruction erupted continuously from its face, bombarding the Valkyrie fighters above and the lightning-clad humanoid figure in the stormy sky.
Without a doubt, this was Asgard's ultimate weapon—
The Destroyer Armor, personally forged by the Allfather, Odin!
"Hiss—"
Zaire took a deep breath, tightening his grip on the Gauss Burst Rifle with his massive armored gauntlets.
Just as he prepared to activate his Hunter Knight armor and stealthily approach for an ambush—
Boom!
Suddenly, streaks of terrifying lightning erupted from the ominous storm clouds above!
Accompanied by deafening thunderclaps, the bolts of electricity coalesced into a massive, serpentine lightning strike that crashed into the Destroyer's immense frame!
Crackle!
The violent surge of energy interrupted the metal titan's attack, forcefully driving it deep into the ground!
Whoosh—
At that moment, the air trembled, parting the relentless rain as a figure wielding a hammer crackling with lightning descended from the heavens.
Thor, the God of Thunder, landed before Zaire.
Thud!
His heavy form crashed into the earth, sending filth flying in all directions.
The moment Thor landed, Zaire's sharp instincts noticed a slight stumble in his steps.
Lifting his gaze, Zaire observed that Thor was in no condition to fight.
His golden hair, drenched by the rain, clung messily to his pale, battle-worn face.
His crimson cape was tattered, barely hanging onto his broad shoulders.
Even his gleaming chest armor was marred with scorch marks, burned and battered.
Before Zaire could speak, Thor, his expression grim, interrupted:
"Warrior of Midgard, this is not your battle! Leave at once while I can still hold that thing off…"
Glaring at the bedraggled god before him, Zaire frowned beneath his metal helmet.
Lowering his Gauss Burst Rifle, he released the trigger and spoke in a low voice:
"Thor? What the hell is going on? You can't even handle the Destroyer?"
Hearing the unfamiliar warrior's question, Thor's blue eyes flickered with a trace of confusion.
"You… know me? And you recognize the Destroyer? No, never mind that! Listen to me, Midgardian—"
"Damn it! It's getting back up! Just how many layers of the Allfather's seals have been broken…?"
Before Thor could finish, the metal colossus that had been struck down clawed its way back to the surface.
Hissss!
Rain cascaded down upon the Destroyer's massive frame, instantly turning into hissing steam.
Despite the earlier attack, it appeared unfazed.
Thor took a deep breath, gripping Mjolnir tightly.
Boom!
Thunder rumbled overhead.
Lightning cascaded down, striking the Destroyer's metal body repeatedly.
Unfortunately, the destructive energy that could demolish a building barely stalled the titan's advance.
As if regaining its focus, the Destroyer locked onto its new targets.
The faceplate of its metallic helm split open, unleashing another devastating beam!
Buzz!
Thor, exhausted from summoning the relentless lightning, couldn't react in time.
The searing energy blast struck his chest armor, hurling him through the air!
A second beam shot directly toward Zaire!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The Hunter Knight armor's defensive barrier crackled as it resisted the intense heat, absorbing the attack!
"I can take it!"
Zaire's eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, he raised his Gauss Burst Rifle and squeezed the trigger!
Zap! Zap! Zap!
Blinding green energy beams sliced through the downpour, striking the Destroyer's body.
Yet, instead of disintegrating the target as expected, the attacks merely scorched its surface.
The powerful green beams that had once obliterated enemies with ease now only managed to vaporize the outermost layer of the titan's armor before dispersing—
As if repelled by an unseen force.
Zaire narrowed his eyes.
Runes—
Intricate Asgardian runes began glowing all over the Destroyer's body.
They pulsed with the divine power of the Allfather—
Odin's magic!
"The Destroyer, sealed by nine layers of divine bindings, is my father's ultimate war machine…
Even with only one seal undone, it has already laid waste to entire worlds."
"Now, at least two seals have been broken. Not even I can defeat it."
Thor, gripping Mjolnir, stepped beside Zaire.
One hand clutched the scorched hole in his chest armor as rain trailed down his face, disappearing into his golden beard.
His blue eyes darkened with sorrow.
"Run, Midgardian… It only seeks my life. Perhaps if I die, your world will know peace once more."
"Peace? Like hell it will!"
Zaire discarded his Gauss Burst Rifle.
He raised both of his massive, red-armored gauntlets.
Boom!
Explosions ripped through the rain.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Destroyer's runed-covered body shuddered under the relentless barrage, staggering backward!
Though the explosions failed to damage its indestructible metal, they momentarily disrupted its attack sequence.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Zaire alternated fire from his gauntlets, then turned to the stunned Thor.
"Thor, do you fear death?"
"Asgardians do not fear!"
Thor's blue eyes sparked with latent lightning.
"As the heir to the throne of Asgard, I fear nothing!"
The gauntlets' ammunition ran dry.
Zaire chuckled under his helmet.
"Then fight with me!"
He stretched out one massive armored hand.
A weapon materialized within his palm—
A massive, 1.6-meter-long energy blade, its fan-shaped edge pulsating with eerie green light.
The Phase Blade—drawn!
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