Adam released the hammer, losing interest in it, and turned his attention to the fierce battle between the Abomination Xenomorph and the Deviant leader.
"This thing is the one that absorbed the Crimson Dynamo. Just as I expected, it has become incredibly strong... but not yet to an unmanageable level, like Sub-Father tier," Adam observed carefully.
Even though the Abomination Xenomorph carried Hulk genes, making it far stronger than the original Abomination with much higher growth potential, it still wasn't the Hulk itself.
As the fight progressed, the Abomination Xenomorph consistently failed to gain the upper hand and took more and more hits.
The Deviant leader possessed high intelligence. After adapting to the Abomination's strength, it began launching targeted counterattacks. It enlarged its own body and paired that with the near-indestructible qualities it had gained from the Crimson Dynamo, allowing it to withstand the Abomination's assaults head-on.
It might not match the Abomination in raw power and couldn't defeat it quickly, but over time, it would almost certainly be the victor.
"If one isn't enough, then overwhelm it," Adam commanded. Several powerfully built Xenomorphs closed in from all directions and leaped at the Deviant leader.
What truly enraged the Deviant leader and forced it to shift its focus was the dozen or so Deviant-strain Xenomorphs joining the assault!
It sensed a familiar presence from these creatures that bore a strong resemblance to itself.
The leader let out an angry hiss. With its sharp intellect, it had already pieced together what was happening. It whipped its head around, its eyes glowing red as it stared at Adam.
"Yes, it was me. Your people's awakening was my doing. Their repeated captures were also my doing," Adam said calmly, standing beside Thor.
In the original timeline, these Deviants would only awaken when the Celestial at Earth's core stirred, triggering global earthquakes that shattered the ice over Alaskan lakes.
But because of Adam's interference, they had appeared much earlier.
Adam had no intention of making peace with these man-eating Deviants. Capturing them alive was ideal; killing them was the next best option. Either way, elimination was the optimal solution.
The Deviant leader roared in fury, its piercing shriek echoing across the battlefield.
"You think I didn't know you had your people positioned around us? They've each met their own opponents. Who wins and who loses remains to be seen," Adam said.
The leader abandoned the Abomination Xenomorph and Thor, attempting to charge Adam instead, only to be hemmed in tightly by the Abomination and the other Deviant strains.
Whenever the leader tried to break free, more than a dozen extremely powerful Xenomorphs swarmed it with relentless attacks. The assault was astonishingly frequent and airtight, yet they still couldn't breach its defenses.
From a distance, the Spitter Xenomorphs sprayed corrosive acid blood that sizzled on contact with the Deviant leader. However, the Crimson Dynamo-derived durability prevented any significant damage to its flesh.
Lightning flashed and thunder roared beneath the heavy clouds.
As soon as the Deviants appeared, they were met with Xenomorph attacks. The two species clashed violently across the open wilderness.
With blinding speed and incredible combat instincts, they darted through the howling wind and gloom, using the simple terrain to their advantage. They engaged in one-on-one duels or, when driven back, seamlessly switched targets to strike other foes.
Small-unit tactics reached their peak from the very start of the engagement.
Only the occasional sounds of tearing flesh and agonized shrieks revealed just how brutal the fighting truly was.
On a purely martial level, both species were exceptionally capable. The key difference was that the Xenomorphs were clearly superior war machines... every inch of them designed for killing, a perfect fusion of extreme violence and lethal beauty.
The Deviants fell short in comparison. They lacked tough exoskeletal armor, inner jaws, or bladed tails. They relied more on energy drain and absorption. Against the "armored" Xenomorphs, they often found themselves at a loss.
They had to expend tremendous effort to break through the Xenomorphs' outer shells before their tendrils could begin absorbing.
The Xenomorphs were born as armored weapons of war. Every line and contour of their bodies existed for combat to the death. They possessed absolute obedience, perfect coordination, and knew neither retreat nor fear.
Occasional flashes of lightning split the darkness, and watchful eyes turned toward the scene, witnessing something unforgettable.
The Xenomorphs... some upright, others crawling... moved like a well-trained army. Silent as iron, they executed orders with cold precision. Every strike from any single Xenomorph carried a chilling gleam as it brutally tore into its Deviant opponents.
Some unlucky Deviants found themselves swarmed by multiple Xenomorphs at once. They shrieked and tried to retreat, calling for reinforcements, but by the time their kin broke away to help, they had already been pinned down. After a chorus of ripping sounds, their bodies were reduced to countless pieces.
Self-healing? Their bodies were deliberately torn into multiple sections precisely to prevent it.
Of course, against opponents of the Deviants' caliber, the Xenomorphs couldn't avoid casualties... especially the weaker blood strains. But even in death, they used their final strength to tear open their own bodies, spraying acidic blood to inflict maximum damage.
Deviants kept trying to break through toward Adam, but whenever they moved, Xenomorphs intercepted them with pinpoint accuracy.
With Adam maintaining the mental link, the defensive lines never faltered. Every Xenomorph served as one of his controllable "eyes."
This quiet, ice-cold style of combat left a profound impression on everyone watching.
The highly sci-fi appearance of the Xenomorphs burned itself into their minds.
"Midgardian, are these warriors you recruited? What species are they?" Thor was deeply captivated by these efficient, cold-blooded creatures.
Truthfully, aside from the Spitters, most Xenomorph variants could walk upright on two legs. To the uninformed, they might appear to be an intelligent race with unusual physiology.
In reality, the Xenomorphs possessed extremely high intelligence. They simply didn't pursue technology, favoring genetic evolution instead.
This was Thor's first encounter with such life forms.
"Xenomorphs. My Xenomorphs are working hard to eliminate these rude Deviants, but I'd prefer to capture them alive," Adam said.
Perhaps the close exposure to battle stirred the deep-seated desire for conquest and destruction in Thor's blood. His voice grew louder. "No need for prisoners. If they are enemies, crush them completely on the battlefield!"
As he spoke, his gaze lingered on the standout Abomination Xenomorph. Such a machine of violence perfectly matched his aesthetic.
"That big one is strong. In my campaigns across the realms, I've met many who looked impressive but amounted to little. Clearly, he is not one of them. You are very fortunate to have such a warrior at your side. Have you earned the loyalty of this entire race?"
"Of course. But shouldn't you be retrieving your hammer right now, God of Thunder?"
"I can do so whenever I wish."
Thor was eager to throw himself into battle and show these Midgardians the might of the gods... especially in front of living weapons like the Xenomorphs, born purely for combat.
Smack!
Thor tried to lift the hammer, but it didn't budge.
"How is this possible?!" Thor staggered as if struck by lightning, his face full of disbelief. He tried again and again, only to sink into despair. A bitter smile crossed his face.
"Is this your punishment, Father?"
The rain that had been building finally fell, growing heavier until it became a downpour... almost as if in response to Thor.
Thor realized Odin had not been joking. He was truly condemned to live as a mortal, stripped of the divine power that once let him roam the heavens and earth.
Without power, how could he deal with these Deviants?
"Don't dwell on it," Adam said, patting Thor on the shoulder. "It's simply because you aren't strong enough yet. However, I can give you what you desire. Young Thor, do you want power?"
^^^
If you'd like to read up to 50 chapters ahead, feel free to visit our patron: pat reon . com/XElenea