"Your strength is impressive. Even in Asgard, you would be considered a true warrior. But do you really believe you have the power to challenge the gods?"
Facing Qin Xiao's provocation, one of the Warriors Three—Fandral—casually flicked his sword a few times before rising to his feet.
In his eyes, Volstagg had merely been careless earlier. That man had dodged the axe with everything he had—missing the strike was hardly surprising. Volstagg could send someone flying dozens of meters with a single blow, delivering force measured in tons.
To mortals, power on that scale was terrifying. To Asgardian warriors, it was nothing more than basic technique.
"For Thor's sake, apologize to Volstagg," Fandral said calmly. "Do that, and we will overlook your blasphemy."
"Heh."
Qin Xiao was actually amused.
He couldn't tell whether the people of Asgard were frogs at the bottom of a well—or whether Odin had protected them too well.
That innate sense of superiority was truly irritating.
A cold smile crept onto Qin Xiao's lips as he prepared to teach these so-called gods of Asgard a proper lesson.
Unfortunately, Loki—who was determined to prevent Thor from returning to Asgard—gave him no such opportunity.
Dark clouds gathered once more, spiraling slowly through the sky. Then a beam of multicolored light descended.
A circular object engraved with unknown symbols smashed into the ground, and from the shattered earth emerged a towering black metal giant.
"The Destroyer—guardian of the vault," one of them exclaimed. "Who released it?!"
The arrival of the Destroyer instantly changed the expressions of the Asgardians.
"There's a town behind us—thousands of people live there. Stop it!"
Thor immediately turned to look back toward the town.
Jane was there.
At that moment, none of them cared about their conflict with Qin Xiao anymore.
At Thor's shout, the four warriors charged the Destroyer with weapons in hand.
Their coordination in battle was immediately apparent.
Volstagg, who had been sent flying earlier, rushed back from the distance and took position at the front.
Flames ignited across the Destroyer's body. The metal slats on its flattened face split open, unleashing a concentrated blast of fire that swept toward the four warriors leaping overhead.
They scattered to either side. Volstagg rolled forward, swinging his axe and striking the Destroyer's ankle.
Fandral and Hogun moved in tandem, using sword and hammer-like weapon to seize the Destroyer's arms as they slammed down toward Volstagg.
The Destroyer raised both arms. Flames surged again as the metal grille on its face opened once more, molten fire gathering within.
"Sif!!!" Volstagg roared.
Already positioned behind the Destroyer, Sif sprang into the air, leaping over three meters high. The short staff in her hand transformed instantly into a double-headed spear, which pierced cleanly through the metal gap exposed as the Destroyer bent forward.
The spear drove the Destroyer straight into the ground.
The flames inside its body slowly faded.
Fandral twirled his sword in a graceful flourish and shot Qin Xiao a challenging glance.
Qin Xiao rolled his eyes and pointed at the Destroyer.
Fandral's expression changed instantly as he turned back—metal rods on the Destroyer's body were beginning to rotate.
Driven by the spinning mechanism, its entire body twisted, shifting from a bent posture into a backward arch.
Flames erupted once more.
"Sif!"
This time, Thor shouted, and Sif immediately leapt off the Destroyer.
The Destroyer rotated, fire blasting from its body as it charged forward.
As it rose to full height, the spear embedded in its body was slowly forced out, inch by inch.
It turned, and a jet of fire shot from its face.
Unlike before, it didn't stop after a single blast. It continued firing, tracking the four warriors as it attacked while rotating its torso and head.
Fortunately, the massive Destroyer was not particularly agile—otherwise, that single maneuver would have been enough to wipe out all four proud gods.
Bruised and battered, the four were already struggling just to survive the inferno. Chasing down the remaining targets was impossible.
Volstagg, the strongest among them, leapt high into the air, axe aimed straight for the Destroyer's chest.
Unfortunately, the Destroyer's combat awareness was far superior this time.
Before Volstagg could complete his swing, the Destroyer's massive arm swept across like a steel pillar.
Volstagg's vaunted strength meant nothing in comparison. Despite resisting with all his might, he was once again sent flying dozens of meters.
The Destroyer's body was forged from Uru metal and other precious alloys gathered by Odin.
Qin Xiao's current physical abilities were nowhere near that level. In an instant, Volstagg slammed into the ground, coughing up blood.
A single strike—devastating damage.
The other three fared no better. They avoided the flames, but not the crushing follow-up of arms and boots.
All of them were knocked away, injured to varying degrees.
Still, the Destroyer did not relent. It locked onto the closest target—Sif—and strode toward her.
Sif had been kicked away earlier. Though she had blocked with her shield, her physical strength was weaker than the others'. That blow had severely reduced her mobility—there was no way she could dodge now.
The others were in similar condition. Even if they managed to stand, they couldn't reach her in time.
"Qin!"
Thor roared, his face filled with desperation as he looked at Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao sighed, stomped the ground, and charged straight toward the Destroyer.
Truth be told, Sif had already given up hope as the Destroyer raised its fist high.
Watching that massive fist descend, she closed her eyes in despair.
Boom!
A heavy impact echoed.
Sif felt darkness flash before her eyes. She opened them in confusion.
"It's you?!"
She cried out in shock.
The sight before her was almost unbelievable.
The Earth man stood with his back to her, arms crossed and raised, blocking the Destroyer's fist with sheer strength.
Not just Sif— even the three Asgardian warriors lying on the ground stared in disbelief.
A human. A mortal.
Blocking the Destroyer's punch with his bare hands?
"What are you still doing here? Hey! You—move! Get out of the way!"
The Destroyer's power was overwhelming. Qin Xiao felt the pressure on his arms increasing rapidly as he shouted at Sif without mercy.
"O—okay!"
Sif nodded, snapping out of it. She struggled to her feet and quickly retreated from the battlefield between Qin Xiao and the Destroyer.
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