Karl's muscles tightened as crimson energy surged through his body.
Veins rose visibly along his arms and neck.
Kaioken ×10.
That was the maximum his current physiology could withstand without tearing muscle fibers or rupturing internal vessels. Beyond that, structural damage would begin immediately.
The Destroyer's red beam pressed forward, forcing Karl's freezing energy back inch by inch.
Steam engulfed the battlefield.
Then—
"Now."
Karl's right arm snapped forward.
Crimson aura flared violently.
The Kaioken-enhanced strike collided with the beam, shattering it in an explosive shockwave. The compressed force continued forward and slammed into the Destroyer's torso.
BOOM—
The armored construct was blasted backward across the street, carving a trench through asphalt and debris.
A circular breach appeared in its midsection — molten edges glowing.
Karl dropped out of Kaioken immediately.
His aura faded.
Breathing heavy.
No broken bones.
But the strain was real.
In Asgard, Loki rose from the throne in shock.
"The Destroyer… breached?"
He tightened his grip on Gungnir.
He did not realize that the construct's enchantment was stabilizing itself automatically — not because Odin was secretly controlling it, but because the Destroyer was forged to self-repair unless completely annihilated.
The molten hole sealed slowly.
Uru flowed like liquid metal before solidifying again.
Moments later—
The Destroyer stood.
Fully restored.
It crossed the distance in a blur and struck Karl directly.
BOOM—
Karl's head shattered—
But not into blood.
Into frost.
His body dispersed partially into ice fragments before reforming several meters away.
Elemental dispersion.
Not true intangibility — but a temporary restructuring of his physical state.
Coulson stared at the recording monitor in disbelief.
"This is beyond the Harlem incident…"
Half the town had been reduced to rubble by residual shockwaves alone.
Even the Warriors Three watched in stunned silence.
They knew the Destroyer's reputation.
Seeing a Midgardian trade blows with it was not normal.
Karl reformed fully beside Tony and Juggernaut.
"I need a moment."
His voice was steady — but measured.
Juggernaut grinned.
"Finally."
Red mystical energy ignited around him — the power of Cyttorak responding to intent.
Once Juggernaut began moving with purpose, stopping him became exponentially difficult.
Tony looked between Karl and the Destroyer.
"That thing repaired itself."
"It's enchanted Uru," Karl replied. "It will continue rebuilding unless its core structure is obliterated."
"And you think he can do that?" Tony nodded toward Juggernaut.
Karl gave a small smile.
"If he gains momentum? Very few things can stop him."
Juggernaut charged.
Each step cratered the ground.
The Destroyer fired a continuous red beam directly at him.
The beam struck—
But the crimson aura around Juggernaut absorbed and dispersed the energy.
Cyttorak's power was defensive as much as offensive.
The beam could push.
It could not penetrate.
Tony joined from above, unleashing repulsor blasts and micro-missiles.
They struck the Destroyer's back and shoulders.
Sparks.
Scorch marks.
Minimal structural compromise.
The Destroyer shifted focus briefly to Tony—
Faceplate glowing brighter—
A beam clipped Tony's side mid-dodge.
Warning alarms blared in his HUD.
"Flight stabilization compromised!"
He spiraled but regained partial control, crash-landing near Karl.
"Still not my worst day," Tony muttered through static.
Juggernaut collided with the Destroyer.
The impact was thunderous.
The Destroyer was driven backward nearly thirty meters before digging its feet into the earth to resist.
Its arm shot forward and grabbed Juggernaut by the forearm.
With mechanical precision, it hurled him through a collapsed building.
Debris erupted.
Red beam followed.
The energy washed over Juggernaut—
But the mystical field held.
The beam flared uselessly against the crimson aura.
A roar answered.
Juggernaut burst from the rubble, accelerating.
Once his momentum re-established—
The ground fractured beneath his charge.
The Destroyer attempted lateral movement.
Too late.
BOOM—
…
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