After Juggernaut's latest impact, half of the Destroyer's torso collapsed inward again.
This time, instead of immediately returning to its previous configuration, golden runic energy began flowing across its surface.
The metal shifted.
Expanded.
Spikes formed along its shoulders.
Its mass increased.
The aura it emitted grew heavier — denser.
Karl narrowed his eyes.
That was not Odin intervening.
That was Loki increasing the flow of power through Gungnir.
The Destroyer was forged by Odin, yes — capable of channeling immense energy when directed by the Odinforce. But Loki, seated on the throne with Gungnir in hand, was now pushing it harder than before.
And that was dangerous.
Not because it equaled Odin.
But because it was unstable.
Asgardian cosmic hierarchy was not so simple.
Odin in his prime was among the most powerful Skyfathers — capable of wounding a Celestial under extreme circumstances.
But Celestials were not "mid-stage universal beings."
They were cosmic entities operating on a vastly higher tier.
Even Odin wearing the Destroyer had once required alliance and sacrifice to survive such encounters.
Karl understood that clearly.
If Odin himself were controlling the Destroyer seriously, this battlefield would already be gone.
This was Loki — escalating recklessly.
Thor saw the Destroyer's transformation.
His expression changed.
If this continued, the town would be erased.
Jane.
Selvig.
Darcy.
His friends.
"Enough!" Thor shouted.
He stepped forward.
"Loki! I know you can hear me! You want me — not them!"
The Destroyer paused.
Faceplate angled slightly.
Thor walked closer.
"I surrender. Take my life. End this."
There was no arrogance in his voice.
No pride.
Only resolve.
For the first time since his banishment, Thor chose sacrifice over glory.
The Destroyer turned fully toward him.
Thor smiled faintly.
Perhaps Loki would stop.
The Destroyer kicked him through a car.
Metal crumpled.
Thor's body struck pavement hard.
Jane screamed and ran to him.
Thor coughed.
Spoke softly to her.
Then went still.
His heart stopped.
Not permanently — but mortal enough.
Odin's enchantment had not removed his Asgardian lineage.
But it had made him vulnerable.
Silence fell.
The Destroyer began to turn away.
Objective complete.
At that exact moment—
Thunder rolled across the desert.
Dark clouds formed instantly.
Mjolnir, embedded miles away, trembled.
Then shot into the sky.
It tore through the air like a comet.
Selvig saw it coming and pulled Jane aside.
Just as the hammer reached Thor—
His hand lifted.
He caught it.
Lightning detonated outward.
The sky erupted in silver-white energy.
The enchantment had never said "only Asgardians."
It had said:
"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy…"
Thor had chosen self-sacrifice.
That was worthiness.
The curse was broken.
Power returned.
Lightning consumed him.
When it faded, the God of Thunder stood restored — armor formed, red cape flowing, eyes blazing.
Jane stared in awe.
Thor looked toward Karl briefly.
There was no challenge in his gaze.
Only acknowledgment.
Then he turned toward the Destroyer.
Thor charged.
Mjolnir struck the Destroyer's head with thunderous force.
The enhanced form destabilized.
Loki pushed more energy into it—
Too much.
Thor spun Mjolnir and launched upward, summoning a vortex.
A tornado formed.
Lightning concentrated inward.
The Destroyer was lifted into the cyclone.
Then—
Thor hurled the full concentrated bolt directly into its core.
BOOM—
The Uru shell ruptured from within.
Not because it was weak.
But because Loki had overloaded it.
When the storm cleared, the Destroyer lay shattered.
Its enchantments flickered out.
On Asgard, Loki staggered back from the throne, shocked.
He had underestimated Thor.
Karl stared at the wreckage.
That explosion had internal destabilization characteristics.
Overload.
Not brute-force superiority.
He exhaled slowly.
Makes sense.
Thor approached Jane.
Relief washed over the battlefield.
Coulson cautiously stepped forward — but wisely remained silent.
Karl walked toward the remains.
"Thor. You don't mind if I take this?"
Thor smiled.
"It has fulfilled its purpose. Take it."
Uru metal — even damaged — was extraordinarily valuable.
Karl stored the remains into his system space.
Tony immediately appeared at his side.
"Tell me I can get some of that."
Karl shook his head.
"Uru is mystically attuned metal. Without enchantment or access to Asgardian forging techniques, it's just extremely durable scrap to you."
Tony looked disappointed.
Karl added casually:
"I can give you vibranium instead."
Tony froze.
"…You're joking."
"No."
"How much do you have?"
"About one hundred forty tons. Used twenty tons to construct a new body for Speed."
Tony nearly short-circuited.
"You WHAT? You've been hoarding vibranium and didn't tell me?!"
Karl rolled his eyes.
"It's not hoarding. It's preparation."
Tony raised a finger.
"One ton. I only want one ton. Fair trade between friends."
Karl waved dismissively.
"Fine. When we get back."
A ton was insignificant compared to his reserves.
And Tony was useful.
Very useful.
…
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