Chapitre 190: Chapter 190: Railgun!
Despite being punched by Clark and shooting up a thousand meters into the sky once again, Loki, through the Destroyer's senses, could hear Clark's words as clearly as if they were whispered in his ear, not even the fierce winds above could drown them out.
However, clear as they were, Loki was utterly baffled after hearing them.
What kind of nonsensical talk was this? Could a railgun, of all things, actually pose a threat to the Destroyer?
At that moment, he saw through the Destroyer's vision a golden metal box, about the size of a computer tower, rapidly approaching from afar, its speed matching that of Tony's Iron Man suit.
As the metal box neared Clark, it decelerated rapidly, coming to a complete stop beside him. Its sides opened up, revealing the Mjolnir within.
Holding the hammer, an uplifting background music suddenly filled the air, sung rapidly by a sweet-voiced girl, stirring one's blood to boil with excitement.
"Let go! Carve your dreams into your heart, leave even the future behind, knowing no limits is meaningless! This power (Chikara) scatters light, far beyond to distant thoughts..."
Under the background music of "only my railgun," Clark had already put away the Tesseract, and the rejuvenating stick automatically returned to his back. He slowly raised the Mjolnir in his hand, pointing it towards the Destroyer in the sky.
"Railgun, also known as a super electromagnetic cannon, uses the force of electromagnetic fields to launch a projectile, even a mere coin can unleash extraordinary power."
"I wonder, what kind of power can be unleashed if I use Mjolnir for this move?"
As the BGM fully kicked in, Clark's physical strength, spirit, Qi, and even the dark energy he had absorbed before, merged perfectly into one, transforming into a pure force of thunder.
With the thunderous power infused, Mjolnir responded to Clark for the first time, its vast thunderous divine power merging with his own, giving Clark a surreal feeling of becoming Thor himself.
Clark knew well, he was only temporarily borrowing the hammer's power through the force of the BGM, and not truly recognized by Mjolnir.
But that was enough! "Railgun!"
The thunderous power from Clark combined with the divine thunderous power within Mjolnir, fully channeled into the hammer he casually threw. Under the influence of the strong electromagnetic waves, Mjolnir transformed into a streak of light, shooting straight into the heavens.
"Boom!" The blue light beam transformed by Mjolnir instantly pierced through the Destroyer's body, opening a hole through its chest, front to back. Then, this godly mech with infinite self-healing capabilities, was like a car ignited by its gas tank, exploding into countless pieces, scattering in all directions.
No sign of recovery was seen...
Thus, the army of Frost Giants was annihilated, the Destroyer mech reduced to scrap metal, and Loki's scheme utterly foiled.
Only by now did Tony, Captain America, and others arrive, tardily.
Lacking spatial teleportation capabilities, even with the speed of the Iron Man suit, it took them some time to reach New York from international waters.
They arrived just in time to witness the complete destruction of the Destroyer mech, like fireworks celebrating Clark's victory.
"This attention-seeking guy, didn't even give us a chance to make a move," Tony lamented to Rhodey beside him, seeing the battle had ended.
Clark, having landed from the sky, just caught Tony's complaint and responded with a smirk, "Tony, the armor I just smashed came from Asgard, crafted by the King of Gods himself, top-notch stuff. Though I broke it, the materials are pretty good. You collect the pieces, and we'll split them."
Tony immediately protested, "Why should I do the grunt work while you reap the benefits?"
"Because I was the one who smashed that armor."
Without giving Tony a chance to retort, Clark turned to Thor, spreading his hands apologetically, "Sorry, I lost your hammer. But it was the only way under those circumstances."
Clark had his reasons for saying so.
As Thor mentioned before, the Destroyer was a mechanical guardian created by Odin to protect his vault, containing Odin's divine power. It could only be destroyed by a power of the same or higher level as Odin's.
Theoretically, the Tesseract, being a space stone, should qualify, but Clark could only utilize a fraction of its energy, and that too in the most rudimentary way. The Tesseract's energy at that level was insufficient to destroy the Destroyer.
And Clark had no other power on the same or a higher level than the Tesseract.
Thus, to destroy the Destroyer, one had to circumvent the "≥ Odin level power" requirement.
In this world, what else, not yet at Odin's level of divine power, could obliterate the Destroyer? Only Mjolnir!
In the movie plot, the Destroyer was smashed by Thor's awakening of his divine power.
Does this imply Thor's power had reached Odin's level at that time?
Certainly not.
If he were that powerful, he would have at least stood a chance against Hela!
Wouldn't have been beaten like a younger brother, would he? But lack of level is no issue, as attribute suppression can completely make up for this gap.
Or perhaps, when Odin created the Destroyer, he left a backdoor in it.
Under normal circumstances, one would need power at least at Odin's level to defeat the Destroyer, but with Mjolnir, just one full-powered strike...
Ah... it shatters upon touch! Why else would they say Thor is his favored son?
At that moment, Clark wasn't sure if Thor could have passed Odin's test or awakened his divine power before dying, so he didn't let Thor take the risk and chose to act himself.
Now, finding the hammer that was sent into space becomes a long-term task.
Hearing Clark's explanation, Thor finally relaxed, shaking his head lightly, "If it could end this war, I'd gladly sacrifice my life, let alone a hammer..."
Mid-sentence, Thor suddenly tensed, raising his right hand high as if waiting for something.
Witnessing this, Tony exclaimed in surprise, "My God, has this guy grasped the meaning of freedom?"
Everyone looked back at Thor.
And sure enough, his pose did have a bit of the Statue of Liberty vibe.
"No!" Mandy, in her Queen's Knight armor, flew up to clarify, shaking her head, "He means, 'Power outage or not, class must go on!'"
Thor: ...
Impression points from Thor Odinson +66666!
Soon, a buzzing sound approached.
Looking up, they saw Mjolnir, previously sent into space by Clark's railgun, returning flawlessly to Thor's hand.
At that moment, what Thor felt was not the loss of his hammer but a sincere relief.
As a king, one must understand that some things are more important than the scepter and power.
That moment was his epiphany!
Unlike in the original timeline, where Thor's "understanding" of kingship and awakening of divine power was entirely due to Odin's leniency.
Odin's tear in the scene was the best evidence.
It felt like Thor barely scored 51 out of 100 on a test, but Odin, as the examiner, had the privilege to adjust the score.
Seeing Thor about to be killed by the Destroyer without awakening.
Alright then!
Rounded up, it's as if he scored a hundred, let him pass.
But this time, Thor truly passed the test without Odin's help.
With Mjolnir in hand, Thor transformed, silver scales flying towards him from nowhere, weaving a majestic armor around him, his whole body shining with dazzling thunder. In that moment, Thor truly looked like a god descended to Earth.
At the same time, the BGM effect Clark had set up on him months ago also played.
"I am Thor, the God of Thunder! For the glory of the Norse gods!"
Impression points from Thor Odinson +66666!
Casting a resigned look at Clark, after all this time together, Thor knew all too well it was his mischievous uncle's doing.
Yet, Thor didn't voice any complaints but sincerely thanked, "Uncle Clark, thank you for your help, and Jane, and all my friends. It's you who taught me the meaning of being human and the responsibility of being a king."
Clark gave a thumbs up: "A+ for your essay."
Thor: ...
Shaking his head, Thor's expression turned serious again, "Uncle Clark, I've just received news. Loki has instigated a war between Asgard and Jotunheim. I must return immediately."
"I'll join you," Clark stepped forward, "After all, this involves Earth, and I have the right to know the truth. But before that, I have something to do. Wait for me..."
Clark felt Loki hadn't learned his lesson and needed further education.
Hmm... his request to accompany was precisely for this reason, not for the "generous reward" Odin had promised!
Seeing Clark open a portal and disappear, Tony, who had been eyeing Mandy in her Queen's Knight armor and about to question Eir about what was going on, suddenly dropped the idea and flew over to Thor.
"Big guy, you're Thor, right?" Tony said with a grin, "We're kind of friends who've fought together. If you're in trouble, Tony Stark can't just stand by. Let me lend a hand."
Tony's offer surprised Thor, but he accepted graciously.
After all, Tony's performance against the Frost Giants showed that the man in iron was no weakling; his combat effectiveness was significantly stronger than Loki's, Sif's, and even the Warriors Three's.
With his help, Asgard's chances of victory would undoubtedly increase.
Hearing Thor agree, a satisfied smile appeared under Tony's mask, "I need to replenish my energy and ammunition. Wait a moment; I'll be right back."
With that, Tony accelerated his suit to maximum speed, heading towards Stark Tower, seemingly eager not to let Thor return alone.
As another portal appeared, Clark emerged, looking serious. Without waiting for questions, he addressed Thor, "If I'm not mistaken, Loki plans to use the Bifrost to strike Jotunheim, his real aim being to prove himself to Odin."
"How to deal with it, dear nephew, is up to you. I'm afraid I can't join you after all." After a pause, Clark added with a dark expression, "I've lost face."
Thor wanted to inquire further but was stopped by Clark's gesture.
Knowing Clark didn't wish to elaborate, Thor reassured, "Don't worry about Asgard, Uncle Clark. Not only has my divine power been restored, but Tony has also volunteered to help. He's gone to replenish his ammunition and should be back soon."
Tony volunteering to help Asgard fend off chaos? That wasn't his style at all.
But Clark had no interest in that now; he had indeed lost face.
He had misplaced Skye! Originally, upon receiving news of the Frost Giant's attack, feeling that the uninhabited island was safe, Clark asked Skye to wait there until he could fetch her after resolving the situation here.
But when he returned after dealing with Laufey, annihilating the Frost Giants, and shattering the Destroyer, he found that Skye had vanished without a trace from the quiet island, with no signs of large beasts or sea monsters nearby.
Expanding his senses, Clark circled the island three times but found no clue of her whereabouts. Could Skye have decided to end it all by jumping into the sea? The thought of her vibrant personality made it seem unlikely.
If not her own doing, what force had taken her away?
Where was Skye now? Clark couldn't figure it out, so he decided against helping Thor in Asgard, needing to find Skye first.
After all, Skye was working for him, technically his responsibility, especially since he was the one who left her on that island. It was his duty to see it through.
Compared to Odin's promised "generous reward," what was the rush?
Turning, he briefed Coulson and others, implying they couldn't count on Tony anymore and asked S.H.I.E.L.D. to help collect the Destroyer's fragments.
After all, with all the Frost Giant corpses Clark had provided S.H.I.E.L.D., they couldn't possibly hoard all his spoils, right?
Sharing the benefits was fine; as long as everyone played their part, all was good, so easy!
"Mr. Clark," Coulson agreed to help collect the Destroyer debris, then suddenly changed the subject, "With today's battle causing widespread impact, I wonder where you've placed Skye. She shouldn't be in any danger, right?"
Damn!
How had he not noticed Coulson's ability to bring up the most inconvenient topics before?
Clark, of course, wouldn't admit his embarrassment, so he firmly shook his head, "She's in a place far from both battlefields, perfectly safe. You don't have to worry about her at all."
After a bold lie, not waiting for Coulson to probe further, Clark used the Tesseract's power to open a portal to Kamar-Taj's central temple square.
Skye's disappearance was too mysterious, and Clark's first thought was to seek the Ancient One's help.
Though she had expressed a desire not to have the temple disturbed by external strife, that was presumably resolved when she reclaimed the Eye of Agamotto.
Besides, Clark wasn't seeking help for battle, just to uncover the truth about Skye's disappearance.
Using the Eye of Agamotto to rewind time should be a simple task for the Ancient One.
However, Clark didn't find the Ancient One at Kamar-Taj; Mordo said she had gone to battle demons from other dimensions intending to invade Earth and wouldn't return for a few days.
With such important matters at hand, Clark couldn't bother her. After a moment of silence, he asked Mordo if the Ancient One had left any message.
Mordo shook his head, showing he couldn't help.
Clark guessed the Ancient One didn't want to interfere with Skye's situation; otherwise, she would've left some guidance for him, just as she had lent him the Eye of Agamotto before and requested he stay away from the temple for a while.
Her silence was a clear stance.
Clark had no complaints or dissatisfaction with this.
After all, the Ancient One owed him nothing. If anything, he was in her debt. Her help was a favor; her refusal was her right. Clark had no grounds to demand anything.
After excusing himself from Mordo, Clark opened a portal back to the New York battlefield.
By then, S.H.I.E.L.D. and military personnel had begun coordinating with police and government agencies for cleanup efforts. After chatting with Thor and others, Tony finally returned in his Iron Man suit, fully prepared with ammunition and energy.
"Uncle Clark, thank you." Before leaving, Thor gave Clark a bear hug, an uncomfortable experience for Clark, who was used to hugging women.
Once Thor released him, Clark said, "Next time, express your excitement differently. Greeting with a hammer would be more acceptable than this."
Used to Clark's sarcasm, Thor took it in stride, gently punching him on the chest before turning to Jane Foster.
The couple exchanged a few parting words, then locked eyes and kissed passionately, oblivious to the onlookers. A French kiss!
In front of Sif! My God!
Nephew, you're playing with fire, do you know that?
However, when Clark looked at Sif, he found her smiling politely at him.
A sight to behold! Despite thinking he was accustomed to the openness in America, Clark realized he was still too naive and inexperienced compared to Thor and Sif.
Compared to them, Americans seemed quite traditional.
After bidding Jane farewell, Thor, along with Sif, the Warriors Three, and Tony, who brought his own supplies, gathered together. Then, with a serious expression, Thor addressed Clark, "Uncle Clark, after Asgard's turmoil is settled, I will return. To thank you, to return to Jane, and to see the movie I starred in."
Clark nodded, contemplating whether to visit Asgard himself.
Not because he'd given up on finding Skye, but wondering if Asgard's resources could help locate her faster.
The Ancient One's stance was clear, leaving him without her support.
Besides the Eye of Agamotto, what could help him find Skye? Clark thought of the Orb of Agamotto in Odin's vault in Asgard. Given his relationship with Thor and Odin, borrowing the orb after helping quell the chaos shouldn't be difficult.
And with Odin's promised "generous reward," perhaps the artifact might even be gifted to him.
Heimdall's gaze could also be useful in finding people.
But this idea was quickly dismissed.
Mainly because of the Ancient One.
Clark, aside from basic magic, had only learned the spell for creating portals. The Book of Vishanti, with its extensive magic, was something he hadn't even seen, likely because the Ancient One wouldn't easily share it.
Without knowing how to use it, even obtaining the Orb of Agamotto would be futile for finding Skye.
It wouldn't offer any real help in the search.
Like the Eye of Agamotto, its only use in Clark's hands had been to neutralize the Tesseract's energy, hardly the time stone's true power, just an interaction between Infinity Stones.
As for Heimdall's gaze, Clark didn't hold much hope.
Heimdall could see through the Nine Realms, but not omnisciently. He had to actively "look" at something to see it. Given the circumstances, with the Destroyer descending on Earth and Asgard's heir at risk, Clark doubted Heimdall would focus on a girl far from the battlefields.
Asking him to find someone he'd never seen, Skye, seemed impractical.
In summary, the options were limited!
So, after some hesitation, Clark decided it was best to stay and figure it out himself.
"Heimdall!" Thor's roar brought Clark back to reality, and a rainbow of light descended from the sky, enveloping Thor and the others.
"Jane, Uncle Clark, and all my friends on Earth!" Thor bade farewell from within the rainbow light, "You taught me the true meaning of life and the responsibility of a king. I, Thor, will always be a friend to Earth."
"Remember, I'm not just the God of Thunder from Asgard but also a movie star on Earth, Lei Jinjiang!"
As Thor and the others vanished with the Bifrost, Clark silently wished them success in securing the rainbow bridge. He then turned to Agent Coulson, hesitantly requesting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s help to find someone.
Excluding the cheat codes of the Agamotto artifacts and Heimdall's external help, Clark's only idea was the old-fashioned way of searching.
When it came to finding someone, S.H.I.E.L.D. was the most professional resource he could think of.
Despite feeling a bit hypocritical and eager, he still made his request.
Coulson, ever the good guy, assured him, "Mr. Clark is also a strategic advisor to S.H.I.E.L.D. I believe Director Fury would be happy to help."
After a pause, Coulson asked, making Clark blush, "So, Mr. Clark, who exactly are we looking for?"
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