"What incredible physical prowess," Daniel mused as he observed Sif and the Warriors Three battling the Destroyer. Compared to the stone mason, who was already impressively strong by human standards, the Asgardians were on a completely different level. Their sheer speed and agility made Daniel question if his own physical abilities could match theirs.
Asgard's strength hierarchy was clear: commoners, nobles, and royalty differed not just in status and wealth but significantly in raw power. While average Asgardians were immune to most Earth-based weapons, beings like Thor and Loki could withstand extreme physical and energy attacks, including explosives and laser-based weaponry.
Sif and her companions attacked relentlessly, their swords and axes striking the Destroyer with immense force, each hit sparking against its armor. Yet, despite their powerful blows, the Destroyer, made of pure enchanted metal, showed no signs of damage.
"Tony, do you have a moment?" Daniel asked, pulling out his phone to call Stark.
"What's up? I'm in the middle of a workout," Stark replied, and through the phone's screen, Daniel saw him pounding a punching bag.
"We've got an alien robot here. Interested?" Daniel turned the phone's camera toward the battle scene, giving Stark a clear view of the Destroyer.
"Where are you? Turn on your locator. I'm on my way," Stark responded immediately, stopping his workout and heading toward his lab. As he walked, he commanded, "JARVIS, activate the surveillance satellite."
"Yes, sir. The target is in New Mexico," JARVIS replied promptly, pinpointing Daniel's location and displaying the satellite feed of the ongoing chaos.
The satellite view showed the Destroyer unleashing destructive energy beams, obliterating cars and buildings in its path.
"An alien robot, you say." Stark, now suited up in his Iron Man armor, launched toward New Mexico.
"Damn, what a mess," Daniel muttered as he watched Sif and the others get thrown back by the Destroyer. Thor, seeing his friends in danger, rushed to Sif's side. Daniel signaled Coulson and Melinda to step back as he grabbed his wand and moved forward.
"Confringo!" A burst of fire shot from Daniel's wand, engulfing the Destroyer. However, the flames barely seemed to affect it.
"Fiendfyre!" Daniel cast another spell, transforming the fire into a roaring dragon-shaped inferno. But even this formidable spell failed to halt the Destroyer's advance.
"Impressive," Daniel remarked, retracting the Fiendfyre. He raised his wand again, "Protego Maxima!" Multiple transparent barriers formed in front of the Destroyer.
Crack.
But the first barrier shattered with a single punch from the Destroyer. Sensing the obstruction, or perhaps recognizing Daniel as a threat, the Destroyer's faceplate began to glow red again, preparing to fire a beam in his direction.
"Apparate!" Daniel instantly teleported behind the Destroyer as the energy beam shot through where he had just been standing.
"Reducto! Reducto!" Daniel cast multiple blasting curses, causing the Destroyer to stagger backward a few steps, but they didn't inflict any real damage.
"Both magical and physical defenses are exceptionally high. It's truly a masterpiece of Odin's craftsmanship," Daniel thought as he apparated again to avoid the Destroyer's retaliatory beam. This time, he moved to the periphery of the battlefield, understanding the Destroyer's potential for 360-degree attacks from its previous movements.
"Can't say I didn't try," Daniel sighed, rejoining Coulson and Melinda with a helpless shrug.
"Don't you have any stronger spells?" Coulson asked urgently.
"My most powerful spells didn't even scratch it," Daniel replied. Just then, his phone rang—it was Stark.
"I'm almost there. Hold it off a bit longer," Stark said, having watched the battle unfold via satellite.
"For Asgard!" Sif and her companions, having recovered, charged the Destroyer once more. But they were quickly knocked back again.
"The Destroyer seems to be getting more agile. Maybe Loki is getting better at controlling it," Daniel speculated. At its initial appearance, the Destroyer's movements were much slower.
"Just hold on a bit longer. If Thor doesn't regain his powers soon, we might have to retreat," Daniel decided, stepping back in front of the Destroyer to buy time.
Instead of offensive spells, Daniel used a series of Transfiguration spells. Signs, boards, and mailboxes transformed into various sizes of eagles that swarmed the Destroyer, momentarily distracting it.
But to Daniel's surprise, the Destroyer ignored the eagles and charged straight at him.
Smash.
The impact sent Daniel flying into the air, his bones cracking from the force. He landed hard nearly a hundred meters away.
"Damn, that hurts," Daniel groaned, feeling the numbness spreading through his right side and sensing several misaligned bones. Using his Ope-Ope Fruit powers, he quickly realigned his bones.
"Good thing I used the Protego Totallum spell before the fight, or I'd be in serious trouble," Daniel thought as he struggled to his feet. The protective spell had absorbed most of the impact, preventing severe injuries.
In the Harry Potter universe, Protego Totallum was a standard defensive spell that created a protective barrier. Daniel had adapted it to form a shield-like armor around his body. Unlike the simple shields taught at Hogwarts, advanced Aurors could use this spell to create spherical barriers that could withstand even the attacks of an Obscurus.
"He's still alive," Loki, watching from the Asgardian throne, scowled in frustration. Enraged, he commanded the Destroyer to launch another attack on Daniel.
Boom, boom, boom.
A series of mini-missiles suddenly bombarded the Destroyer, erupting in a chain of explosions as Stark arrived in his Iron Man armor.
"You don't look so good," Stark hovered nearby, a grin on his face.
"Be careful; this thing isn't easy to deal with," Daniel warned as he stood up, his body healing rapidly thanks to his enhanced recovery abilities and the Ope-Ope Fruit.
"Not easy to deal with?" Stark was about to comment when the smoke cleared, revealing the undamaged Destroyer. Stark's jaw dropped.
Having seen the Destroyer's formidable capabilities via satellite, Stark had launched a full assault without holding back. Each mini-missile was powerful enough to destroy even the most advanced tanks on Earth and could potentially damage his own suit if not careful.
"JARVIS?" Stark called out.
"The target is enveloped in a strange energy field. It deflects our scans," JARVIS reported.
"Let's try that again." Stark fired another volley of nearly twenty mini-missiles, thanks to the undetectable extension charms he had applied to his suit, allowing him to carry far more ammunition.
Boom, boom, boom.
Another barrage of explosions followed, yet the Destroyer emerged unscathed.
"This is impossible," Stark exclaimed. As a former arms dealer, he knew the devastating power of his mini-missiles.
"Sir, the enemy's energy readings are off the charts. I recommend retreating and alerting the military to use strategic weapons," JARVIS advised.
"I know," Stark acknowledged but still charged at the Destroyer, opting for close combat since ranged attacks were futile.
"This guy," Daniel muttered, startled by Stark's sudden decision.
Despite his newly acquired martial arts skills, Stark's punches barely fazed the Destroyer. The robot responded by sending Stark flying with a single punch. Its faceplate then glowed red, preparing to fire another beam at Stark.
Luckily, Stark managed to evade by jetting upward just as the beam blasted past. However, the Destroyer kept firing at Stark, forcing him into evasive maneuvers.
"It can rapid-fire too? Reducto!" Daniel cast another blasting curse, attempting to disrupt the Destroyer's aim.
"Where's the military? Why haven't they deployed yet?" Fury, watching from SHIELD headquarters at the Triskelion, slammed his fist on the table in frustration.
"They're still mobilizing," Hill replied.
"Enough!" Just as the Destroyer prepared for another widespread attack that knocked Stark to the ground, Thor finally stepped forward.
"Episky! Brackium Emendo!" Daniel immediately began treating Stark's injuries, using healing spells to stabilize him.
Fortunately, Daniel had also cast a Featherlight Charm on Stark during his fall, significantly reducing the impact and preventing severe injuries. Stark's suit, however, was too damaged to fly again.
Boom.
As Daniel helped Stark out of his damaged suit, they heard a loud crash. Thor had been thrown aside by the Destroyer.
"Loki really doesn't want to kill Thor," Daniel observed. Despite Loki's many schemes against his brother, he never intended to end Thor's life. After knocking Thor away, the Destroyer turned and started to leave.
Crash.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a massive lightning bolt illuminated the scene. Thunderclouds rapidly gathered, casting a dark shadow over the battlefield.
"What's happening? Where's the signal?" Fury's view from the satellite feed abruptly went dark.
"JARVIS, JARVIS," Stark called out, but he too had lost contact with his AI.
"It's finally happening," Daniel realized, recognizing the signs of Thor regaining his power.
Moments later, a dark silhouette flew toward Thor. Despite being unconscious, Thor instinctively caught Mjolnir. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hammer, he transformed. A black suit of armor materialized around him, and a red cape billowed dramatically behind him.
"Is this spatial magic or nanotechnology?" Daniel wondered as he watched Thor's armor appear.
He considered that Asgard, with its advanced technology, might have developed nanotechnology long before Earth.
Boom.
With a single throw of Mjolnir, Thor sent the Destroyer flying nearly a hundred meters. The power disparity was clear.
Seeing Thor restored to his full strength, Sif and the others cheered with joy, while Jane Foster looked at Thor with shining eyes.
"How did Captain America manage to fight Thor? Is his shield really that strong, or is it his unwavering spirit?" Daniel mused, considering the immense power Thor had just displayed. While Asgardians weren't literal gods, their strength was not to be underestimated.
Unfortunately, the shield Stark had found wasn't made of true adamantium. The genuine Captain America shield likely remained with the real Cap.
As the Destroyer rose again, Thor took to the skies, twirling Mjolnir to create a swirling vortex around himself and the robot.
Crash.
A blinding flash of lightning struck down, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When they looked again, the Destroyer was in pieces, scattered across the ground.
"Forget it. Odin's still alive; it's best not to take unnecessary risks," Daniel thought, watching Thor's display of power. Despite being tempted, he decided against collecting Thor's blood samples scattered on the ground, wary of the potential consequences from Odin's wrath.
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"Ah, Heimdall." After a slight sigh, Daniel Davis glanced up at the sky. The reason he abandoned the idea of obtaining Thor's blood wasn't just because of Thor, but also because of the guardian of Asgard, the one who oversees the Bifrost Bridge and is known for his all-seeing eyes across the Nine Realms.
Heimdall's ability to perceive the Nine Realms with his eyes alone was practically a divine power, one that Daniel couldn't hope to evade at his current level.
"Childhood friends never stand a chance against those who come from the skies." Watching Thor destroy the Destroyer and then seeing Jane Foster rush up to embrace him, Daniel couldn't help but shake his head as he glanced at the somewhat dejected Sif standing to the side.
Fortunately, Thor wasn't just a guy who ignored his friends when with a girl. After a brief hug with Jane, he moved over to Sif and the others, smiling as he embraced each of them in turn.
"Congratulations," Daniel said, approaching with a smile after Thor finished speaking with Sif and the others.
"Thanks to you all. But, you need to return Jane's belongings," Thor replied.
"Don't worry, we'll give them back to her right away," Daniel assured him promptly.
"I'll be back soon," Thor said, turning to Jane with a smile after Daniel agreed to his condition. Then, he and Sif moved aside, and he raised his hammer, shouting, "Heimdall."
This period of being without his divine powers had transformed Thor in a way similar to how Tony Stark had been transformed. Although Thor still wasn't a fully competent king, he was on the path to becoming one.
Boom.
As Thor lifted his hammer, a rainbow-colored beam of light descended from the sky, and in the next moment, Thor and his companions vanished, leaving behind a strange pattern on the ground.
"I wonder how the Bifrost Bridge works?" Daniel murmured as he carefully photographed the pattern left by the Bifrost with his phone before moving over to the destroyed remnants of the Destroyer.
"It's really been thoroughly destroyed. The runes are all obliterated. Was it because he was too excited after regaining his powers?" Daniel muttered to himself as he discreetly pocketed a fragment of the Destroyer.
"Alright, the show's over. You guys can start cleaning up now," Daniel called out loudly, seeing Tony Stark and Agent Coulson curiously examining the pattern left by the Bifrost.
He had initially been interested in the Destroyer, thinking it could be a powerful weapon if restored. However, Thor had thoroughly dismantled it, leaving nothing of significant value other than the materials of its armor. Fully repairing it would probably require Odin's intervention.
Still, even in its destroyed state, the Destroyer wasn't entirely useless. S.H.I.E.L.D., for example, developed a powerful weapon based on its remains. But for Daniel, it wasn't worth the effort to contest with S.H.I.E.L.D. over the Destroyer.
"Still too weak." At his current level, Daniel was unmatched on Earth except for the Ancient One. Even Kaecilius was no match for him. Yet, compared to Thor, the gap was still vast. In terms of superhero team rankings, Daniel was on par with Tony Stark—a second-tier force, while Thor was top-tier.
After hearing Daniel's words, Coulson immediately started coordinating with S.H.I.E.L.D. for the cleanup, and Melinda May received a call from Nick Fury. Due to Thor's restoration of his divine power, the surrounding communications had been disrupted but were now restored.
Daniel's boldness in pocketing a piece of the Destroyer stemmed from this temporary disruption.
Seeing Daniel standing by the Destroyer, Tony Stark quickly joined him. Stark was naturally intrigued by such a formidable robot.
"Alright, you'll have plenty of chances to study it later. There's nothing more for us to do here; we should head back," Daniel suggested. The rest was up to S.H.I.E.L.D.; their cleanup was no longer his concern.
"Get that over to my lab," Stark commanded, though Coulson didn't comply, directing Stark to discuss with Fury instead.
"Take us back," Stark said. He had arrived in his Iron Man suit, but with it now destroyed, he had to return via S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Quinjet.
After a quick call with Fury, Melinda May soon transported Daniel and Stark out of New Mexico. However, instead of heading directly home, they detoured to Washington D.C. Fury wanted to see them, and Stark was eager to get his hands on the Destroyer for research.
"Asgard, Thor—are you sure you're not joking?" After a call to Pepper to assure her of his safety, Stark began questioning what had transpired. Upon hearing Daniel's explanation, Stark nearly jumped out of his seat.
Even though Stark had witnessed Thor's powers firsthand, learning that Thor was indeed the Thunder God and that Asgard from Norse mythology was real left him incredulous.
"No joke. Asgard rules the Nine Realms," Daniel replied, giving Stark a brief overview of the Nine Realms.
"So, they're aliens, essentially," Stark concluded after a long silence, finding it easier to conceptualize them as aliens than gods.
"In a way, yes." The alien analogy was more palatable for Stark than the idea of divine beings.
"Send that thing to my lab first," Stark demanded directly upon reaching Fury's office in the Triskelion.
"So, you're agreeing?" Fury asked calmly.
"I'll think about it a bit more."
"Fine. You can have it to study first, but you must share your findings with us, and you only have three months," Fury stipulated after some thought.
While S.H.I.E.L.D. had numerous scientists, none compared to Stark.
"Deal," Stark agreed after a brief hesitation. Fury, as the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., was within his rights to set terms, but Stark knew he could manage. After all, what he chose to reveal or keep hidden from the Destroyer research was up to him.
In research, sheer numbers rarely guarantee success.
After reaching an agreement with Stark, Fury turned his attention to Daniel, who was quietly sitting nearby. "I want to know if Asgardians always fight like this," Fury said, showing footage of Sif and the others battling the Destroyer.
Daniel understood that Fury was probing whether Asgardians commonly used melee weapons in battle.
Modern warfare had moved far beyond melee weapons, except for exceptional individuals like Hawkeye. In the modern world, everyone knew guns were the way to go.
If Asgardians predominantly used melee weapons, it would be somewhat reassuring for Earth's defenses—though Thor and the Destroyer's powers were another matter entirely.
"More or less. It's their tradition. To die on the battlefield is the highest honor for an Asgardian," Daniel confirmed, nodding in agreement with Fury's assumption.
With that, Daniel stood up, ready to leave. He had no further interest in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s dealings with Asgard. How Earth and the major powers interacted with Asgard wasn't his concern.
But as he prepared to depart, neither Fury nor Stark wanted him to leave just yet. They had many more questions about Asgard.
"Don't ask me about Asgard. I've never been there. What I know comes from books," Daniel said, exasperated by their barrage of questions.
This was reality, not a movie. Unlike the talkative Spider-Man mentored by Stark, Daniel didn't have detailed foresight about Asgard's future.
Even if Asgard was destroyed by Hela as in some tales, it didn't necessarily mean its people would come to Earth. The Nine Realms offered plenty of habitable worlds for Asgardians. The idea of them settling on Earth and declaring a 'New Asgard' was far-fetched.
"This concerns Earth's relationship with Asgard. Aren't you worried?" Fury pressed, sensing Daniel's reluctance to delve into details.
"Worried about what?" Daniel laughed, looking straight at Fury. "Worried about Asgard declaring war on Earth? You're overthinking it. Do you know about the Bifrost Bridge?"
Before Fury could respond, Daniel continued, "The Bifrost isn't just a transport link for Asgardians; it's also a star-destroying weapon. At full power, it could slice Earth in half like a cake in about an hour." As he spoke, a golden magical circle appeared in Daniel's hand, and a virtual planet materialized before them. A beam of energy cut through the planet, splitting it in two.
Fury and Stark were stunned into silence. Earth had always been under the threat of a star-destroying weapon?
"Relax. Asgard doesn't use the Bifrost in such a way under normal circumstances. This applies to all the other realms as well, so there's no point in worrying," Daniel reassured them before opening the door and leaving.
"Dr. Erik Selvig, we've brought you here to study a particular object," Fury said in a secret underground facility, leading Dr. Selvig to a reinforced glass case containing a glowing blue cube—the Tesseract, the Space Stone.
Dr. Selvig, who should have been with Jane Foster waiting for Thor in New Mexico, had somehow been brought here by Fury.
Dr. Selvig's eyes gleamed with excitement as he gazed at the Tesseract.
Neither Fury nor Dr. Selvig noticed that as they examined the Tesseract, someone else was also watching them—Loki.
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