The Destroyer in the movie may not have looked particularly formidable, but underestimating it based on special effects would be foolish. Reality was far more terrifying.
Qimu Kusuo raised his hand, unleashing a psychic force powerful enough to stop a rocket mid-flight. He tried twisting the metal behemoth's frame with sheer willpower.
However—
A screeching metallic groan echoed as the Destroyer flexed its enormous frame, completely unfazed. It surged forward, its sheer weight crushing the ground beneath its feet. The fluidity of its movement, coupled with its overwhelming force, was terrifying.
"This is troublesome…"
Shen He gritted his teeth, raising his enchanted rifle and retreating to a vantage point. He wasn't skilled in melee combat—his best option was supporting from a distance.
Meanwhile, the Two Rites wielded the long blade they had just received. The steel edge sliced through the air, emitting a chilling resonance. With a graceful leap, they closed in on the enemy. As they landed, their unique vision revealed the Destroyer's body, now riddled with faint, dark-brown death lines.
"Qi Mu, make sure to cover her."
Shen He took position atop a high structure, steadying his rifle's enchanted scope to lock onto the Destroyer. He understood that while Qimu Kusuo possessed overwhelming power, his lack of combat experience made him inefficient against relentless, high-speed assaults. Suppression was his biggest weakness.
"Understood."
Qimu's voice resonated in Shen He's mind as he stepped into the open.
As the Two Rites approached their target, they flicked their wrist, launching a talisman into the air—[Blast], a powerful wind-element spell Shen He had acquired. A violent cyclone erupted, engulfing the battlefield in a blinding swirl of debris.
Taking advantage of the distraction, the Two Rites darted to the Destroyer's blind spot, preparing to strike.
BOOM!
A blinding beam of energy pierced through the dust storm, scorching everything in its path.
Qimu reacted instantly, yanking the Two Rites out of harm's way with a flick of his wrist. The beam's impact left a molten trench in the ground, its heat lingering in the air.
"The Destroyer doesn't aim with its eyes!" Thor bellowed from a distance.
Though stripped of his powers, he refused to turn away from the battle. He had to witness it.
"This thing's ridiculously strong…"
Shen He exhaled sharply, channeling his magic into a summoning spell. Intricate runes flared to life, forming an array around the Destroyer. The sigils collapsed inward, slicing through the machine's armor with razor precision.
For a moment, it seemed to work. But then—
The cuts sealed themselves instantly, as if the damage had never occurred.
"No way. Conventional attacks won't work…"
"Qi Mu, teleport me behind it."
The Two Rites had locked onto a particularly thin death line along the Destroyer's back. It was narrow, but it existed.
Without hesitation, Qimu placed his hand on their shoulder, and in a blink, they materialized behind the metal giant.
But the Destroyer reacted with inhuman precision.
WHAM!
A steel fist, propelled by immense force, swung backward at an impossible angle.
CLANG!
Qimu blocked the blow, but the impact sent him flying across the battlefield.
"It missed!"
The Two Rites had slashed mid-air, but the sudden rotation had ruined their angle. Their blade merely sparked against the armor—no critical hit.
The Destroyer's arm retracted. Energy pulsed from its core, charging another devastating attack.
"No—!"
Shen He leaped from his position, eyes wide with horror. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as he braced for impact.
BOOM!
An explosion engulfed the battlefield.
In the last second, Qimu had yanked the Two Rites away.
"Hah… hah…"
Shen He exhaled sharply, his heart racing.
"Fall back! We can't win this fight!"
His clenched fists trembled. If the Two Rites had died before his eyes, he would never forgive himself.
"First, you want to fight. Now, you want to run?"
The Two Rites rose to their feet, their expression dark with frustration. "Are you abandoning the Chaldea mission?"
"Chaldea… that's just…"
Just an illusion.
But the words caught in his throat.
The Two Rites knew Chaldea wasn't real, yet they followed his fabricated orders without hesitation.
"Hmph. If this thing's that strong, then I'll just have to kill it."
A grin spread across their lips—one Shen He recognized all too well.
That same grin he had seen before.
The same grin that had captivated him while watching them fight in anime.
A thrill ran through him. This was it. The moment.
"Let's go!"
He raised his rifle, loading it with enchanted rounds. He wouldn't back down now. He had to keep up.
At the same time, the Asgardian warriors charged in.
Asgard's finest weren't as weak as the movies made them seem. Their movements were precise, refined through centuries of battle.
But even they struggled.
The Destroyer was relentless—its body unbreakable, its beams devastating, its strength immeasurable.
Shen He adjusted his ammunition, switching to specialized impact rounds. He couldn't damage it, but he could disrupt its movements.
BOOM!
The Destroyer's fist collided with Qimu again, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
But this time—
Qimu held his ground.
"Enough."
For the first time, Qimu's face twisted with effort. His usual detached expression cracked as veins pulsed against his temple.
"I've been holding back for too long."
His grip tightened.
"I almost forgot what it feels like to go all out!"
CRACK—!
The Two Rites' blade gleamed under the fractured sky.
In one fluid motion, they struck.
The Destroyer's arm snapped backward, torn apart like brittle glass.
In Asgard's throne room, Loki shot up from his seat, eyes wide in disbelief.
Impossible.
"Take this!"
Qimu clenched his fist, his psychic energy condensing into a tangible force. With a roar, he drove his strike forward.
BOOM!
The battlefield trembled. The earth beneath them split apart, forming deep fractures radiating from the impact zone.
The Destroyer's armor crumpled. Its chest caved inward.
It tried to repair itself—
But it never got the chance.
SHHK!
A single, decisive blade pierced through the final death line.
The Two Rites stood atop the falling machine, their sword buried deep in its core.
Silence.
The battle was over.