A bone-rattling crack echoed through the desert landscape as the armored form of the Destroyer burst forth, shattering the side of a mountain sculpted from dirt and stone. Clouds of dust and debris billowed into the air, casting a haze over the sun-bleached terrain.
As the dust began to settle, Thor and Atomic exchanged determined glances before propelling themselves into the fray.
With arcs of blinding lightning dancing along the shaft of Mjolnir, Thor's voice resonated like thunder as he unleashed a primal roar. He swung his enchanted hammer down with immense force, summoning a cataclysmic bolt from the roiling dark clouds overhead.
The Destroyer, sensing the imminent attack, prepared to evade the strike. But before it could leap away, a heavy set of chains—crafted from the very same indestructible metal that made up its body—snaked around it, restraining its movements.
The impact of the lightning strike was monumental, sending a shockwave rippling through the air as the bolt drove the Destroyer deep into the earth, creating a massive crater.
Even before the dust settled, Atomic soared skyward, his silhouette framed against the brilliant blue sky. With tremendous concentration, he raised his hands and summoned the ambient air around him, manipulating it until it crystallized into a massive, solid block.
With a fierce grunt, he released the colossal 50-meter block, watching it crash onto the downed Destroyer. In a swift motion, Atomic swiped his hands across the air, condensing the massive structure into a tight, spherical prison that encased the automaton, locking it away in an unyielding embrace of compressed, solidified air stronger than steel.
Landing on the ground with his hand clenched tightly to hold the sphere, Atomic turned to Thor. "Do you think that will hold it?"
The sphere of highly condensed air shattered into pieces, freeing the Destroyer. Its face shield collapsed, and it began to build up power.
"No," Thor replied as they moved away, just in time for a beam of energy to slice the desert floor in two.
"Any ideas on how to beat it? Can we even defeat it?!" Atomic wondered as he held out his hand beside him, forming a tightly condensed ball of plasma. He threw it at the Destroyer's back with a heave, knocking it off balance.
"The Destroyer is one of the most formidable weapons in existence. My father created it to defend his treasures and the people of Asgard," Thor shouted as he threw his hammer at the Destroyer. The creature weaved aside and rushed at Thor, its primary target.
The ground beneath the automaton gave way to thick mud, burying the Destroyer within it. The mud was then transmuted into a large chunk of Adamantium, trapping the suit of armor within it. But within seconds, the Adamantium began to shake and glow red with intense heat.
I would have used Mystic Metal, but creating those chains really drained the hell out of me. I can't afford to waste energy in this fight. Atomic thought.
"So there's nothing we can do?" Atomic asked in frustration as he and Thor watched a large armored hand break free from the block of adamantium.
"No… there may be a way. But I need you to buy me some time," Thor said as he caught his returning hammer and looked up at the sky.
"Time? That's something I'm running out of myself... but yeah, I can buy you some time," Atomic replied as the Destroyer finally broke free with a resounding crack.
"Excellent. I won't be long!" Thor exclaimed, launching himself into the quickly darkening sky.
Atomic turned back to the Destroyer and rolled his shoulders. The automaton shook as if agitated, and a bright glow began to seep from its body.
"That can't be good."
The Destroyer unleashed beams of power from its face, arms, and chest, all directed at Atomic. With a burst, Atomic began to fly low in the air, but the multiple beams of energy turned to chase him.
"Wonderful," Atomic thought and began to weave in and out through the air as the beams tried to take him out of the sky. It was then that Atomic looked over to the Destroyer and flew directly right at it.
You're strong. But you're not very smart! Atomic thought.
At the last possible second, Atomic turned sharply as the Destroyers' own beams collided with its body. The automaton was launched back as its chest armor crumbled under its own attack. Leaving visible burns and cracks on its form.
"Get back, my friend!" Thor bellowed, his voice barely audible over the cacophony as an immense tornado spiraled down from the heavens.
Winds howled at a staggering 500 mph, whipping the landscape into a frenzy. The tornado loomed ominously, its colossal form crackling with vibrant arcs of lightning that danced ferociously around its perimeter, pulling everything within reach into its insatiable maw.
Atomic grunted, feeling the fierce pull of the tempest as it clawed at him, desperate to drag him into its chaotic embrace. Determinedly, he anchored himself securely, driving steel chains deep into the ground, their metallic links glistening under the eerie light.
Through the maelstrom, he watched in awe as the Destroyer was lifted effortlessly off the ground. Its heavy, armored figure twisted and writhed in the storm's grasp, drawn toward the God of Thunder, who swung Mjolnir above his head with a speed so great it became a mere blur.
Suddenly, the Destroyer retaliated, unleashing a searing energy beam toward Thor.
Lightning-fast, Thor parried each attack with his trusty hammer, deflecting the destructive blasts with a mastery born of countless battles. With a mighty thrust, he launched himself downward at the Destroyer, Mjolnir held firmly in front of him, a bulwark against the wrath of his foe.
In an act of defiance, the automaton fired its most formidable beam yet, a brilliant shaft of energy that collided with the hammer. The impact was tremendous, momentarily stalling Thor's advance as he grunted against the pressure.
But from below the swirling chaos, Atomic sprang forward, harnessing the last reserves of his strength.
With a fierce battle cry, he grabbed the sides of the Destroyer's head. In a determined effort, he encased the automaton's head in a massive, dense cube of Mystic Metal.
"Go!" Atomic yelled as he continued to reshape the metal cube, as the Destroyer tried to melt through it.
Thor nodded with determination, his muscles taut as he surged forward. At the last possible moment, Atomic released his grip and undid the Mystic Metal around the Destroyer's head, allowing it to unleash a surge of power just as Thor brought Mjolnir crashing down onto the creature's formidable facial mask.
The Destroyer, undeterred by the hammer lodged in its facial mask, unleashed a torrent of energy in a desperate attempt to blow Thor away.
Due to it's reckless attack, an overwhelming blast erupted from within its core due to Thor's hammer stopping any energy from escaping. Waves of powerful shockwaves rippled outward and dispersed the swirling tornado with arcs of high powered winds.
Caught in the violent maelstrom, Atomic was thrown backward by the ferocious onslaught, his body jolted as if it were a mere feather in a tempest.
He grunted, straining against the force that tossed him through the air, his instincts racing to adapt. Drawing upon the last remnants of his Kiao-Ken energy, he transformed the arid desert floor into a shimmering expanse of water, conjuring a vast lake beneath him.
Atomic's form collided with the water's surface with a thunderous crash, creating a colossal splash that sent droplets soaring into the air like shimmering diamonds in the sunlight.
••o••o••o••
"…quick! Get him… a healing chamber…!"
"…this armor… the Destroyer…?"
"…his body… extraordinary…!"
Wyatt opened his eyes and saw gold.
"Where… am I?" Wyatt murmured, a sense of disorientation washing over him as he scanned his unfamiliar surroundings.
He found himself encased in a sleek, high-tech pod that pulsed gently with a vibrant energy. As he focused his gaze on the air around him, he noticed tiny atoms swirling like motes of light, glowing and dancing as they zigzagged through the atmosphere before merging seamlessly with his skin. A realization struck him.
"I'm being healed?" Wyatt muttered.
He cautiously placed a hand on the plush, almost cloud-like bed beneath him, feeling an unusual warmth radiating from its surface.
Distracted yet curious, Wyatt began to examine the intricate components of the pod that enveloped him. Metallic panels glimmered under the soft glow of the pod's internal lights, interconnected by a web of shimmering circuits that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat. He recognized some devices as familiar: monitors displaying biometric information and glowing interfaces. Yet, other elements remained a mystery—strange glyphs flickering intermittently and odd contraptions humming with latent power.
A sense of awe washed over him as he pieced together what he could. This chamber was not merely a healing device; it harnessed a form of magic and technology that accelerated his recovery in ways he couldn't begin to comprehend. Wyatt felt the energy coursing through him, soothing and invigorating, and he couldn't help but wonder how he had come to be here and what extraordinary forces were at work to restore him.
"Was I sent to another world… again?" Wyatt muttered and checked his burnt left shoulder, which was an easy task considering he lacked a shirt. At least he had pants. "No burn… not even a scar."
"Of course not, my friend. You are being healed by one of Asgard's healing chambers," Thor said as he stepped into the large room with a small, almost sad smile. "After we defeated the Destroyer, you fell unconscious. But the blast and fall had left you severely injured. I made the choice to bring you to Asgard."
Now that he was no longer in a life and death battle with the Destroyer, Wyatt took the moment to briefly be in awe of seeing Thor in person. Even though Wyatt was a superhero of great renown himself at this point, he still couldn't help but be excited.
But what overshadowed his excitement at seeing the real Thor was the fact that he was now in Asgard.
Asgard? As in the Asgard! Wyatt thought wide-eyed as Thor undid the healing chamber's glass cover.
Wyatt sat up and stood on his feet. He looked around the room in awe. Bright, elegant carvings and architecture lined the room, as highly advanced technology lined the walls, and more healing chambers sat around him.
"This is Asgard? It's… It's amazing," Wyatt muttered as he continued to look around in awe.
"Aye, but this is just a small fraction of what my home has to offer. I am Thor, son of Odin and Frigga, and the God of Thunder," Thor said as he held out his hand.
Snapping out of his reverie, Wyatt turned to Thor. "It's an honor to meet you, Thor. I'm Wyatt Wilkins."
"The honor is mine, Wilkins. It was a pleasure to fight alongside such a mighty young warrior like yourself. Follow me, and we'll find you something to wear and something to eat," Thor said as he led Wyatt through the tall, exquisite halls of the building.
"Don't worry about the clothes," Wyatt replied as he conjured a new set of attire for himself.
"Impressive. I witnessed your abilities during our battle. How do they work?" Thor inquired as they entered a large room filled with people dressed in complex but traditional clothing. The crowd turned to Thor and offered him a quick, respectful nod. Wyatt smiled and returned the greeting to a few Asgardians.
"Ah, well, you see, my abilities work like this…" Wyatt began to explain how his powers functioned.
Thor nodded and asked about the suit Wyatt wore when he arrived at Puente Antiguo. Wyatt explained that it was part of his identity as Atomic.The alter ego he took on to keep his identity hidden on Earth. From there, Thor asked several questions regarding Wyatt's role as Atomic.
"I understand now. You are one of Midgard's champions—a truly mighty one. Few could have confronted such a foe as the Destroyer and lived to tell the tale. You have earned my respect, Wilkins, for saving my life and aiding me in protecting the town from its rampage," Thor said as they stepped outside. "Now, allow me to give you a proper introduction to my home."
Wyatt stood on the edge of the expansive terrace, blinking in awe as he took in the ethereal beauty of Asgard. The landscape stretched before him like a vivid dream, a realm of breathtaking vistas that shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
Asgard was a unique anomaly among the nine realms, a place that transcended conventional understanding. It was neither a planet nor a moon, suspended in the cosmos without any discernible rotational axis or star to orbit. Instead, it floated majestically, a celestial tapestry woven from vibrant colors and illuminated by an impossible light.
The architecture of this magnificent floating landmass was as intricate as it was stunning. Towering spires and grand towers seemed to rise organically from the earth, as if shaped by the hands of nature itself.
Each structure was a testament to artistry and power, adorned with glistening gold that caught the light in dazzling reflections, making it appear like they radiated a warm, inviting glow.
Wyatt marveled at how the buildings seamlessly blended with the infinite seas that spilled over the edges of the realm, creating a surreal vista that captivated his senses and stirred his imagination.
"It's… I don't have the words," Wyatt murmured, etching the landscape into his memory.
"I'm glad to hear that," Thor replied, a bittersweet smile crossing his face. "In yesterday's battle, I destroyed the Rainbow Bridge to save Jotunheim from destruction. Without it… we cannot send you back to Midgard."
"Oh," Wyatt said quietly, quickly recalling the events of the first Thor movie.
It was as Thor said, the god of thunder had to destroy the Bifrost to stop Loki's plans to annihilate an entire realm. Leaving Wyatt trapped in Asgard.
"That's… not good." Wyatt muttered, now deflated.
"Aye..."