Thor stood with Jane, Alex, and the rest of the group in an open square, the heat of the midday sun casting long shadows across the crumbling pavement. Their eyes were drawn to a column of thick black smoke rising from the distance. The Asgardians, immediately recognizing the danger, exchanged uneasy glances.
Thor's face darkened, and he turned to Jane, who was standing close by. "Jane, you have to leave," he said, his voice tense but calm.
Jane looked at him, concern filling her eyes. "What are you going to do?"
Thor met her gaze, his expression resolute. "I'm staying here. These people need help."
Fandral, the blond Asgardian with a roguish smile, leaned on his sword with a casual air and quipped, "Thor's going to fight with us! Just like the old days."
But Thor, more mature and reflective now, shook his head. "My friends," he said softly, "I'm just a man now. But I can help these people get to safety." There was a deep conviction in his voice, a sense of responsibility that radiated from him.
Jane, still concerned but understanding his resolve, nodded. "Well, if you're staying, so am I."
Thor turned to the Warriors Three, his face stern. "We'll need some time," he said.
Volstagg, ever the brave, pounded his chest with a fist and grabbed his massive axe. "You'll have it!" he promised, his voice booming as he prepared for battle.
The group quickly scattered, rushing through the small town to warn the people of the danger descending upon them. Thor, alongside Jane and Darcy, directed the frightened townspeople to safety. Even Alex sprinted through the streets, ensuring no one was left behind as they frantically evacuated.
Amidst the chaos, black smoke rose in the distance, marking the Destroyer's approach. It strode down the street like an unstoppable force, its towering 10-foot frame emitting a deep hum. The red energy glowed ominously from within, seeping out in fierce bursts of heat that radiated through the air. With every step, it unleashed devastating blasts from its faceplate, sending cars flipping through the air and storefronts bursting into flames. The once peaceful town became a war zone, debris littering the ground as fire spread uncontrollably.
The Warriors Three and Lady Sif stood their ground, weapons ready, their faces set with grim determination. Lady Sif told the warriors three, "Keep it distracted," as she moved behind them bidding for an opportunity. They warriors three moved together in unison toward the mechanical behemoth, undeterred by the destruction it was causing. Fandral's eyes narrowed as he spotted an opportunity, his quick mind already formulating a plan. With a subtle gesture, he signaled to Volstagg.
Catching the cue, Volstagg roared and charged forward, his massive frame barreling down the street. Fandral and Hogun quickly positioned themselves, lifting Volstagg with a powerful heave and sending him flying through the air toward the Destroyer. His axe gleamed in the fiery light as he descended upon the machine. "For Asgard!" Volstagg bellowed, aiming to bring the axe down with all his might.
But the Destroyer was no mere foe. Its reaction was swift, and with a simple backhanded swipe, it knocked Volstagg aside like a nuisance, his axe barely grazing its armor. Volstagg crashed into a nearby car with a loud thud, the wind knocked out of him as the vehicle crumpled under his weight. The Destroyer continued its relentless march, moving toward Volstagg, who groaned in pain as he struggled to free himself from the wreckage.
The air around them crackled as the Destroyer's chest began to glow once again, energy building as it prepared to fire another blast, this time aimed directly at Volstagg. The warrior braced himself, knowing there was no time to escape.
Suddenly, with a flash of silver, Sif leaped from the rooftop of a nearby building, her sword gleaming in the fiery light. She brought it down with precision, stabbing the Destroyer directly in its back. For a brief moment, the machine halted, its light flickering as if powered down. But the reprieve was short-lived. With a series of mechanical twists and turns, its head rotated to face Sif, its glowing chest lighting up once more.
Sif's eyes widened as the Destroyer unleashed another beam, the searing energy narrowly missing her as she rolled to the ground, barely dodging the blast. She landed hard, breath knocked from her chest, but quickly scrambled to her feet, sword still clutched tightly in her hand.
The Destroyer, now agitated, fired wildly in all directions, beams of energy tearing through the street. Explosions erupted one after the other, sending the Asgardian warriors flying as the very ground beneath them shook from the impact. Smoke and dust filled the air as fires raged, reducing parts of the town to rubble.
Through the haze, the Destroyer's gaze locked once more on Volstagg, who, groaning in pain, had managed to pull himself to his feet. The machine's chest began to glow again, its power surging as it prepared to unleash a killing blow. Volstagg, unsteady, braced himself for what seemed inevitable.
Out of nowhere, a streak of movement appeared in the air above them. Alex, leaping from a nearby rooftop, delivered a powerful kick directly to the Destroyer's head, his boot connecting with a metallic clang that echoed through the street. The impact was so forceful it sent the Destroyer a few steps backward, its beam firing off into the sky as it struggled to regain its footing.
As the Destroyer lumbered forward, its hulking, metallic form, Alex stood firm, a steely resolve in his eyes. Pointing at the mechanical giant, he smirked. "I'm gonna melt you into slag," he said, his voice calm but deadly serious.
Inwardly, Alex's mind raced with excitement. It's not every day you get your hands on unknown metal from Asgard. Scanning the Destroyer with his Kiroshi Eyes, he marveled at the composition. It wasn't just Uru; it was a perfect blend of Proto Adamantium, Uru, and other unidentified metals. He couldn't wait to bring it back to his lab for study.
With a swift motion, he pulled out his transformation device — the Progrise Key. With the press of a button, the unmistakable sound of a deep, booming AI voice echoed: "SHINING JUMP!"
A belt, sharp-edged and futuristic, materialized around Alex's waist, its neo green and gun metal metallic sheen reflecting the flames around them. He held the Driver up to the belt buckle, scanning it across in one fluid motion. Another mechanical voice rang out in an authoritative tone: "AUTHORIZE!"
Up in the SHIELD monitoring room, agents stared at their screens in awe as a satellite above Earth fired a beam of energy down toward the battlefield. SHIELD agent's on the monitoring room watched as the display monitor shows energy fluctuation and the AI indicated it came from Arasaka's ZEA satellite system. It seems Alex's previous claims that he could track down energy that is entering Earth's atmosphere seemed to ring true as the energy that even came from his own satellite can be detected.
As the beam bathed the area around Alex in a radiant golden light, casting long shadows across the town. The Warriors Three, Sif, and Thor stood mesmerized, eyes wide at the surreal sight of this Midgardian Warrior's power.
"What is that?" Thor muttered, "I don't remember seeing Samurai's do this before…" his voice filled with wonder as he pointed toward Alex.
Darcy, bouncing with excitement, practically squealed as she record Alex. "It's Zero-One's transformation! And this time, there are two grasshoppers!" She nudged Selvig, who fumbled with his glasses in an attempt to see better through the glowing haze.
As the golden light intensified, a circular pattern formed above Alex, glowing and pulsing with digital energy. He raised the Driver, which had transformed into a key, and turned it in mid-air. The circle of light above him spun rapidly before morphing into a massive digitized grasshopper. Out of the golden light, two mechanical grasshoppers leaped into existence. The first, a large gold one the size of an SUV, and a smaller silver one the size of a motorcycle, standing above the gold one, they move animatedly, poised and glowing.
Frandral and Hogun exchanged glances, awestruck. "What sorcery is this?" Frandral asked, his voice a mixture of confusion and awe.
Before anyone could answer, the Destroyer, aimed its fiery beam at Alex. The air crackled with the force of its power. Alex, seeing the attack, leaped into the air just in time. "You!" he shouted while mid air, his voice echoing with indignation. "Don't you know it's bad manners to interrupt someone's transformation?"
The AI voice boomed once more: "PROGRISE!" Suddenly, a bug-catcher net appeared in mid-air, snaring the two mechanical grasshoppers before they merged into Alex's body. In a blinding flash of golden light, Alex began to transform mid-leap, encase in a golden spherical light. The transformation sequence was both mesmerizing and quick — energy pulsed through the air, crackling like lightning.
The AI voice continued as Alex's form took shape in the bright light: "The Rider Kick increases the power by adding to brightness!"
The golden sphere of energy surrounding Alex slowly faded, revealing him clad in sleek, mechanical black armor from head to toe. The armor was thick, yet streamlined, with neon green & red lines tracing across his torso, arms, and legs in a sophisticated, geometric pattern. His armor looks like a mechanical warrior grasshopper motif, and his helmet featured glowing red bug eyes, shining menacingly in the dim light. The armor was topped with two antennae protruding from his helmet, and from his chest, grasshoppers' mechanical legs briefly wriggled before snapping into place, locking his armor tighter to his body. The intricate mechanical pieces shimmered in the light, creating a sense of impenetrable strength.
As Alex landed in a perfect superhero pose, the ground beneath him cracked with the sheer force of his impact. Dust swirled around him in the wind as the AI made its final declaration: "When I shine, darkness fades!"
Selvig seeing the elaborate and overly flashy transformation shook his head and said, "I'm too old for this shit." Remembering those flashy super heroes he used to read in his younger days.
Volstagg scratched his head in bewilderment. "Oi, oi! Where can I get one of those? But in red!"
Thor, still bewildered by what he had just witnessed, turned to Jane. "Is this how samurai fight now?" he asked, genuinely confused.
Jane, pulled from her own awe, replied with a small laugh. "Not quite."
Darcy, unable to contain herself, was practically jumping up and down. "Jane, Jane! Take a picture of me!" She posed with a peace sign, trying to capture the moment with Alex's armored form in the background.
Jane pulled her down quickly. "Not now, Darcy! It's still dangerous!"
Meanwhile, in Asgard, Loki watched the events unfold through magic, his brow furrowed. He'd never expected Midgard to have a warrior like this. "Just some clown with party tricks," he muttered to himself. With a tap of Gungnir, he directed the Destroyer to focus solely on this strange, armored warrior.
Back on Earth, the Destroyer, seething boiling with energy, charged at Alex. Its massive fists, still glowing with fiery energy, swung toward him with devastating speed. But Alex stood his ground, his crimson eyes glowing brightly. As the Destroyer's punch came crashing down, Alex met it with his own, their fists colliding in a thunderous 'boom'. The sheer force of the impact created a sonic wave that rippled through the street, lifting dust and debris, and cracking the pavement beneath their feet. The two stood, locked in a power struggle, neither backing down as the ground crumbled around them.
Above Midgard, Loki watched from Asgard, his brows furrowing in disbelief as he witnessed a mere mortal holding his own against the Destroyer. The sight of Alex, clad in his Shining Hopper armor, withstanding a punch from the towering metal giant was enough to pique his curiosity. "How could a human be this powerful?" he wondered. With a malicious glint in his eye, Loki pointed Gungnir, his staff, toward the mortal battlefield below. He infused the Destroyer with more power, silently commanding it to obliterate Alex.
Back on Earth, the Destroyer glowed with newfound energy, moving with alarming speed. The metallic behemoth—towering at ten feet—charged at Alex, its fists hammering down with thunderous force. Alex, around six feet tall in his Zero-One armor, wasn't fazed. His movements were swift, calculated, as he met the Destroyer's attacks with his own. Each collision of their fists created a shockwave that rippled through the street, shaking the very foundations of nearby buildings. Dust and debris filled the air, while storefront windows shattered from the sheer force of their blows.
The Destroyer swung its massive fist at Alex, but he ducked just in time, retaliating with a sharp uppercut that sent the Destroyer stumbling back a step. Despite its enormous size, the Destroyer adjusted quickly, its metallic body creaking as it lunged again, aiming to crush Alex beneath its might.
In a burst of speed, Alex sidestepped, his Shining Hopper armor glowing with neon-green energy. He danced around the Destroyer, too fast for human eyes to follow. From the sidelines, Jane, Darcy, and Selvig struggled to make sense of the blur that was Alex, it's as if a neon green light was flashing from one place to another leaving energy lines.
"He... looks like his teleporting." Jane muttered, squinting as she tried to keep up with the lightning-fast movements.
"No, that's just how fast he is!" Darcy grinned, her eyes wide with excitement. "Zero-One Go! Go, Go!"
The only ones who could track the battle were the Asgardians. Thor watched in amazement as Alex fought, his speed and strength keeping pace with the Destroyer. The Warriors Three and Lady Sif, seeing an opportunity, charged into the fray. Volstagg led the way with his mighty axe, swinging it at the Destroyer's legs, while Hogun and Fandral attacked from the sides, trying to find weak points in the metallic giant.
Lady Sif, her sword gleaming in the sunlight, leaped through the air, aiming for the Destroyer's head. She brought her blade down with a fierce cry, the weapons made contact and pierce through but the Destroyer's ignored their attack as if it was nothing. The Asgardians fought valiantly, their weapons clashing against the Destroyer's metal body, but it was clear the machine was adapting, shifting as it repaired itself in seconds with each damage dealt to it.
With a roar of power, the Destroyer unleashed a surge of fiery energy. Its faceplate opened, revealing the furnace-like core within, and a searing beam of energy shot out. Alex, already anticipating the move, leaped high into the air, avoiding the blast with a graceful flip. His speed was astounding, so fast that the human eyes of Jane, Darcy, and Selvig couldn't even track him.
Only Sif, and the Warriors Three could keep up with Alex's movements, as for Thor although he could see the movements but his body without his powers just can't keep up with them.
"He's strong, probably stronger than most Asgardian warriors," Thor said, marveling at the Samurai a Warrior of Midgard, though his wondering why he doesn't have any sword.
The Warriors Three pressed on, but the Destroyer, now enraged, struck back with vicious power. One swing of its massive arm sent Volstagg and Fandral flying into nearby walls, their bodies crashing into the stone with sickening force. They slumped to the ground, knocked out cold.
Hogun barely had time to react before the Destroyer unleashed another devastating energy blast. The explosion sent him tumbling across the street, writhing in pain. Only Alex remained standing, his agility allowing him to dodge the destructive blasts. As the dust settled, Lady Sif struggled to her feet, coughing from the debris.
Before the Destroyer could fire again, Alex appeared at her side, scooping her into his arms with ease and leaping away to safety. He landed softly behind a crumbled building, setting Sif down.
"Thank you, warrior of Midgard," Sif said, breathless as she stood up, gripping her sword tightly.
Alex nodded. "Lady Sif, take your comrades to safety. I'll hold it back and find a way to stop it." His voice was calm, but there was a fierce determination behind his words.
Without hesitation, Sif nodded and hurried toward the fallen Warriors Three. Meanwhile, Alex turned his gaze toward the Destroyer, his armor gleaming in the sunlight. He knew he had to somehow force the destroyer to attack Thor as it's one of the easiest way to force his old man to release Thor's seal, and for that, he needed to put on a show. He summoned his weapon—a sword unlike any other. It materialized in his hand with digitize sound, its guard resembling the engine of a motorcycle, complete with an exhaust pipe and a throttle grip. The blade itself shimmered with a metallic silver edge, tinged with red and black accents. It was the Engineblade.
Gripping the handle tightly, Alex revved the throttle, and the sword roared to life like a powerful engine 'broom broom', its deep growl echoing through the street, it's blade vibrate to high-frequency. "Proto Adamantium vs Odin's armor. Let's see how it matches," Alex muttered, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the Destroyer.
The ground shook beneath his feet as Alex charged forward, his Engineblade roaring with every step. The Destroyer, sensing the threat, moved to intercept him, its arms glowing with fiery energy. But Alex was too fast, too skilled. He dodged the Destroyer's attacks with ease, his body a blur of motion as he weaved between its blows.
With a powerful swing, Alex brought the Engineblade crashing down onto the Destroyer's arm. Sparks flew as the blade cut through the metal, leaving a deep gash. The Destroyer recoiled, but Alex didn't let up. He revved the Engineblade again, the high-frequency blade roaring louder as he pressed the attack, slashing at the Destroyer with speed and precision.
The Destroyer, unable to keep up with Alex's relentless assault, fired another beam of energy from its faceplate. But Alex was ready. He dodged the blast with a quick sidestep, then leaped into the air, raising the Engineblade above his head.
"For Midgard!" Alex shouted as he laugh almost cringing at the thought how stupid this looks and brought the blade down with all his might. Alex use his Sandevistan and entered light speed, he slash multiple strike at the destroyer, red energy lines marks the Destroyers body, cutting it's body into ribbons. The Engineblade then connected with the Destroyer's head, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The force of the blow sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, and the Destroyer staggered, its glowing core flickering as if struggling to stay active.
The Destroyer then stop, as it fall piece by piece into the round. The battlefield on Midgard was a scene of devastation. The once quiet street was now littered with debris, molten craters, and shattered buildings. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three watched in awe from the sidelines, their weapons drawn, but the fight was far from over. Alex stood tall, his Shining Hopper armor gleaming, as the Destroyer began to stir once more.
Sif couldn't help but whisper, "He did it… the mortal defeated the Destroyer."
But Thor, watching with a grim expression, knew better. "No… it's not over. That armor guards the vault of Asgard. It cannot be felled so easily."
The Destroyer, as if fueled by an unseen force, began to pull itself back together. Metal plates creaked as they reformed, its body slowly piecing itself back into its towering form. Loki's control had been usurped by a greater power, without him knowing. He just know that aslong as he can supply energy to it with the help of Gungnir, the Destroyer cannot be vanquish, Once the powerful force of energy made it's way to the Destroyer it rebuild its body and burned with a fiery glow that was almost blinding. Each step the Destroyer took now melted the earth beneath it, the ground sizzling as it stood with newfound strength. The air around it distorted from the sheer heat it radiated, like standing near the surface of the sun.
High above, in the void of space, the astral forms of Odin and Yao, the Ancient One, observed the battle unfolding on Midgard. Odin's one good eye narrowed as he peered down at the mortal fighting his creation. "Is this the warrior you trust to defend Midgard from what is coming?" he asked, his voice deep and commanding.
Yao, ever calm, smiled knowingly. "Yes, though his cosmic powers are still developing. In time, he will grow far stronger. His strength will rival anyone on Midgard."
Odin stroked his beard "He sure is flashy…", skeptical he then said, "Let's put that to the test," with a wave of his hand. He infused the Destroyer with more power, far beyond what Loki had managed to.