Chapter 239: The Death of Loki

On the wastelands of New Mexico, the battle raged fiercely—or rather, the situation had spiraled completely out of control not long after Strange left.

Sif gripped her greatsword, her right shoulder continuously bleeding—a wound from shattered rocks sliced by the searing beam.

Originally, Asgardians wore armor of divine power during battle, but Sif's divine energy was nearly exhausted; she could only shield vital parts of her body, leaving her badly injured by explosive shrapnel.

"This isn't right!!" Volstagg roared: "The Destroyer has sat in the Xiangong warehouse for centuries—it shouldn't have this much divine energy!"

"The one piloting it is Loki—he just ascended to full godhood! Don't you remember?!"

Thick clouds hung over New Mexico, and as rain fell, the cold wind howled across the wasteland.

"Damn it…" Thor's arms trembled; he had tried countless times to reconnect with Mjolnir and the lightning's power, but nothing responded.

My Ice Mountain Beauty Wife

"Thor…" Sif's voice remained low and steady, but Thor heard the tremor in it: "We will fight for you to the end—for Asgard…"

"We will never let such a vile traitor ascend the Asgardian throne!" Volstagg bellowed: "Loki! You will never be king in the hearts of Asgardians!"

"Even if you kill Thor, even if you kill us, you will never become the Allfather!" With that, Volstagg raised his heavy hammer again and charged the Destroyer, Hogn and Vandr following behind him.

Sif, her divine energy spent, could barely stand; she propped herself up with her greatsword and whispered a prayer: "Allfather, if I die, grant me passage to the Hall—let me continue fighting for the land I love…"

Thor's eyes burned red as he stared at the monstrous mech, grotesque under the storm, rain plastering his long hair to his forehead.

As a beam of destruction swept past, Volstagg was flung hard to the ground, spewing blood—Thor had never felt so helpless; rage burned within him, and the cold rain could not douse it.

Finally, Sif collapsed—grabbed by the Destroyer and tossed like a sack of sand. Vandr, missing an arm, crawled on the ground, still trying to attack, only to be kicked aside by the giant beast. Thor could see his companions' divine power fading, even their godly titles being stripped away.

Glowing points of Yggdrasil shimmered around them; if no one saved them, they would soon return to the World Tree.

Thor knew this was merely a beautiful Asgardian fantasy—Valhalla and Yggdrasil were just euphemisms for death. He understood clearly: even if Sif reached Valhalla, she would no longer be herself.

At that moment, a sonic boom pierced the air—a shining mech streaked from the horizon. Iron Man hovered midair, firing palm beams at the Destroyer, but human technology, like divine power, could not pierce its defense.

Loki piloted the massive weapon—he was no Asgardian brute who charged blindly. Seeing Stark rise again, the Destroyer's eyes flickered. Stark anticipated the beam and maneuvered his mech to the right.

But the Destroyer suddenly extended an arm, snatching Stark's mech by the leg, then hurling him away.

"No!!!!" Thor screamed.

If battle and even death were the fate and honor of Asgardians, Earth's heroes were utterly innocent victims—Thor could not accept any Earthly superhero dying in this fight.

As Iron Man flew backward, he slowed and landed steadily, then piloted his mech toward the Destroyer again. At once, the Lizard Monster leapt forward, followed by Spider-Man.

Previously, Dr. Connors' Lizard had been enormous—but beside this five-hundred-meter-tall giant, it looked tiny. Iron Man and Spider-Man were even smaller, like raindrops falling now.

The three clashed with the Destroyer—but it wasn't really a clash; the Destroyer merely attacked relentlessly while the three dodged.

Thor's heart grew colder than the rain; despair filled him. He didn't understand why his brother betrayed him, why his comrades fell, why Earth's heroes were trapped—and why he could do nothing.

At that moment, Loki's voice echoed from within the Destroyer: "Thor Odinson, are you just going to watch?"

"Look at them… your precious companions!" The Destroyer kicked Hogn on the ground again: "Once I've dealt with these annoying flies, I'll kill them. And now…"

A cold laugh came from the Destroyer as Loki stomped down on Hogn, producing a sickening crunch. Hogn screamed, suffocating—when Loki lifted his foot, Hogn was already unconscious.

Volstagg and Vandr cursed, Sif could no longer speak, and Thor trembled all over.

Years of hardship on Earth had worn away the pride of past glory; the despair of watching comrades die and innocents suffer drove Thor to the edge of madness.

"Thor, do you feel pain? Do you feel you've betrayed your comrades?"

"Let me tell you—they came for you not out of concern for you, but out of fear for themselves, for their own families."

"He and his family wanted you to become king of Asgard, so they ignored me. After the Allfather fell asleep, they couldn't wait any longer, Thor… They wanted you to promise you'd keep leading them to war, to satisfy their ridiculous, hollow sense of honor…"

"For that, they're capable of anything…"

"How can you say that?!" Thor roared at the Destroyer: "You're the one who hurt them! You betrayed—"

"If you dare say another word, I'll kill her now." The Destroyer seized Sif, lying on the ground. As her consciousness faded, she saw through the armor—Loki's icy expression.

"Thor, why don't you understand? They're only forcing you to make a promise—using honor as an excuse to turn you into a war machine. This will lead Asgard to ruin…"

"They surround you, revere you, call you king—only because it lets you lead them to war, satisfying their inner violence and thirst for conquest. It's always been this way."

The Destroyer's grip tightened; Sif groaned in pain. "Look—just like her… Their families sent them to you early, to become your lovers, your guardians."

"Then, when you take the throne, they become Grand Generals, Commanders of the Royal Guard, or even the Divine Empress…"

"For that, they flatter you and slander me. For that, there's nothing they won't do…"

Rain pounded the Destroyer's arm; blood seeped between its fingers.

"No! Loki… please, let go of Sif—she's innocent…"

Thor's voice shook: "It's not how you think, Loki… Loki… I know many slander you. I know there are vile rumors in Asgard…"

"I know Volstagg and the others sometimes speak too bluntly—but you are truly my brother. We are brothers…"

At that moment, Iron Man's mech suddenly rose. Dr. Connors and Spider-Man retreated swiftly. Then, a portal opened midair, and a cold, glowing bomb was thrown down.

Iron Man pressed several buttons on his arm; several drones launched from his mech's back, colliding with the bomb. Iron Man also retreated rapidly—the drones carried the bomb toward the massive Destroyer.

The instant the bomb touched the Destroyer, a tiny snowflake bloomed at the point of contact. Then, icy crystals erupted from the snowflake's edges, spreading silently and swiftly across the Destroyer's armor.

In a single breath, the Destroyer's chest was entirely covered in blue ice, then its arms and legs. Just before the cockpit—where divine power was strongest—froze solid, Loki flew out.

The god of fire's power flared around him; a more violent force descended. Countless flames erupted from the sky, swirling into fire dragons that raced toward Sif and the Three Warriors of Xiangong.

Instantly, Loki vanished—then reappeared before Thor. Flames turned falling rain into steam. Loki raised one hand; a colossal arm of fire seized Thor and lifted him into the air.

Above the black, rainy night, only fire glowed. Flames lifted them both. Loki looked at Thor and said: "If you cannot tell who lied to you, and who seeks to shatter those lies and save you, then die with these false, selfish people."

He clenched his fingers; the fiery arm crushed Thor's neck. Thor's face turned purple. Seconds before losing consciousness, he saw the stars behind Loki brighten—familiar light approached from afar. Thor widened his eyes, summoning his last strength to scream: "That's… the Rainbow Bridge! Loki!! Get out of the way!!!!"

But it was too late. A rainbow-hued glow blazed from the stars—a beam of unmatched, violent power struck Loki's back instantly.

Facing Loki, Thor saw an expression of agony he had never witnessed before—then, in an instant, Loki shattered.

Time froze. The stars glittered. Loki broke into glowing points amid the rainbow and illusion.

Divine power erupted, nearly becoming another sun. Thor saw that, before Loki's body dissolved, he had been staring at him—after the agony vanished, only helplessness and despair remained as he faced death.

Thor watched as Yggdrasil's light flared suddenly—the god of fire's title was fully extracted. Divine power and title paused for an instant where Loki stood, then surged into Thor's body.

"No!! Loki!!!!"

After Thor's desperate scream, a black hole–like portal opened above him, a tremendous force pulling him inside. Then all fell silent—only endless rain and a darkened, fading sky remained.