077. If Words Fail, Let Fists Speak

The Destroyer from Asgard, guardian of Odin’s treasury, the All-Father’s ultimate weapon, displayed overwhelming power the moment it touched down. The searing beam from its face unleashed devastation comparable to heavy artillery: planes exploded, terminals collapsed, and debris rained across the airfield, while countless people were injured or killed.

In an instant, chaos engulfed the entire airport—flames burst out everywhere as panicked crowds scrambled to escape this apocalyptic nightmare. At this point, no one believed this massive iron giant was another one of Tony Stark’s new toys. Even if Stark were drunk, the worst he’d do was wet himself inside his own armor—not unleash a driverless suit to wreak wanton destruction.

On that note, the author must confess a question: Stark always seems to wear clothing beneath his armor. So, what happens if he needs to relieve himself? Is there a specialized device, perhaps an access panel or zipper, to facilitate matters, or does he simply let go in his suit, to be absorbed and dried away? If it’s the latter, that would certainly make him an... aromatic man. If it’s the former, well, forgive the author’s bold imagination—but perhaps there’s a business opportunity here.

But enough digression. Whenever disaster strikes, there are always some who run against the fleeing tide, becoming heroes in the chaos. Some do it out of duty, out of responsibility, for the emblem on their chest and the blue flame of service.

As for Thor, he was simply stubborn. He believed he would be fine, that even if he couldn’t withstand the Destroyer’s onslaught, he could at least reason with the one behind it. And who else could be controlling the Destroyer but Loki?

“Loki, my brother!”

Amid the ruins of the runway, Thor stood before the Destroyer. His imposing frame, over six feet tall, seemed childlike beside the towering machine.

“Loki, stop! Tell me what’s really going on. Why did you send the Destroyer here? Why attack these innocent people? This isn’t like you, Loki. Something must have happened—tell me!”

Thor had not yet endured the hammer’s rejection, nor Loki’s subsequent betrayal. He still harbored illusions—about the hammer’s love and about the brotherhood with Loki.

But unfortunately, Loki had already resolved to kill Thor. After the beating he’d taken in New York, his anger simmered, desperate for release. Normally, Loki should have dealt with things in New York first or waited for Thor to arrive there. But in the brief time since his return to Asgard, many unexpected things had happened.

Heimdall, Valkyrie Sif, and the three Warriors had all betrayed him in succession, conspiring to help Thor, Asgard’s fallen prince, return home. For Loki, now self-styled as Asgard’s new king, this was intolerable.

“One after another, why do you defy me? Why do you insist on dying? Since that’s what you want, then all of you can die.”

After dealing with Heimdall for neglecting his duties at the Rainbow Bridge, Loki immediately dispatched the Destroyer to Earth.

As for Sif and the Warriors, they were hardly a concern—four mere extras, lost and blundering, unable to stir up real trouble. As for New York, he would deal with them last, making them pay as a final tribute to Midgard.

Loki’s priorities were clear: personal grudges and grand designs kept in balance. Thor was the true threat, the root of Asgard’s unrest, the obstacle to Loki’s rule. Eliminating him was paramount.

Now, in his rage, Loki ignored Thor’s pleas. At the sight of his brother, he immediately ordered the Destroyer to attack.

In that instant, a thousand years of shared childhood, of brotherhood and loyalty, vanished like smoke—perhaps love, when deep enough, turns to hate.

“Loki!”

Thor was utterly shocked as the torrent of fire surged toward him. Though Loki had stabbed him in the back countless times, Thor had always treated it as mischief, never imagining his brother would one day truly try to kill him.

So he made no move to dodge; even if he’d wanted to, it was too late. All he could do was watch as the beam filled his vision, growing larger and larger.

Just then, a blazing streak fell from the sky like a missile, crashing onto the Destroyer’s head, forcing it down so the fire beam blasted into the ground, throwing up a huge mound of earth with a thunderous explosion.

Thor was hurled away by the blast—looking battered, but spared from a fatal, point-blank shot.

At the same time, he lost the chance for a dramatic return from the brink of death, leading an army to put Loki in his place.

Because Iron Man had taken over the fight.

Tony Stark, the Iron Man and hero of Los Angeles, arrived in spectacular fashion. In one swift move, he forced the giant Destroyer’s face into the ground.

The atmosphere at the airport instantly changed. The passengers who’d been fleeing now stopped in their tracks and cheered wildly, hope rekindled. It no longer mattered who had built the iron giant—what mattered was that Iron Man was here. They were safe. Order would be restored.

Thor crawled out of the rubble, wiped his mouth, and called up to Iron Man, who hovered above, keeping his eyes on the Destroyer while basking in the crowd’s applause.

“I advise you to leave now. That thing isn’t what you think—it’s not so easily beaten!”

No sooner had Thor spoken than the Destroyer, face-down in the dirt, suddenly shifted. In a matter of moments, it flipped over, its back now a gaping, black-mouthed face glowing red, aimed at the hovering Iron Man.

“High-energy warning below!” JARVIS alerted.

Iron Man immediately fired his thrusters, scrambling to get away. But the attack came too fast—the energy beam caught his leg, disabling one of his jets for a moment, sending him tumbling awkwardly to the ground.

“I told you,” Thor sighed. “That thing is formidable. Underestimating it is your greatest mistake.”

Iron Man shot Thor a disgruntled look, said nothing, merely snorted, then stood, raised his fists, squared his chest and hips, and aimed his repulsor at the Destroyer’s face from a distance.

At that moment, the Destroyer also opened its mouth wide, ready to answer Iron Man’s cannon.

In the next instant, both unleashed their full power. The arc reactor’s energy beam and the Destroyer’s fire column erupted at once, colliding with thunderous force.

The resulting explosion was immense. The nearby crowd, who had paused to cheer their hero, now found themselves facing the destruction they thought they’d escaped—yet which had finally come for them.