Chapter 59

  Arc 5 - Ch 12: Battle of Pueiguo

  Date: Friday, June 3, 2011.

  Location: Pueiguo, NM

  Tyson stirred awake, roused from his rest by the insistent buzzing of the earpieestled in his ear. It was an unusual occurrence for the mutant. He rarely rested, and even more seldom did he allow himself to drift into such a profound, lengthy sleep. The bright m sunlight filtered into the rear partment of the appropriated S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicle serving as his makeshift bed.

  An amused voice emahrough the earpiece carrying a pyful tone as it announced, "Base, we've got Xena, Jackie , and Robin Hood." A voi the background ented, "Is there a vention in town?"

  Tyson's mind snapped into sharp focus, prehending the humorous code names.

  Thor's Asgardian allies. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three.

  He tersely responded over the s, "Mirage trailing."

  Agent Coulson swiftly issued an order in response, "Observe, do not engage," he directed.

  Stepping out of the truck, Tyson employed his illusions to remain unnoticed as he moved through town. While he could observe most people without dete, he remained uain of how well his powers would fun against the Asgardians. Reag an interse, he caught sight of them.

  The quartet was impossible to miss. Each member of the group carried themselves with the self-assurance of seasoned fighters, radiating fidend power.

  Volstagg's booming voice carried dowreet as he led the group through the town. The rgest of the Asgardians, he was a mountain of a man, his massive frame barely tained by armor. Fiery red hair and a beard framed his face like a lion's mane, plementing his rger-than-life persona. In oy fist, he hefted a double-bded axe. Several paces behind strode the remaining trio, their footsteps falling lightly in parison.

  Lady Sif occupied the ter position, tall and striking, with raven hair spilling down her back. Her armor blended elegant craftsmanship with funal design, articuted ptes curving smoothly over firm muscle. One haed upon the hilt of her sheathed sword while her shield was strapped to her off arm. On Sif's left sauntered Fandral, blond and handsome, with an easy grad disarming smile that evoked the image of a charming rogue. His lightweight armor allowed maximum mobility, well-suited to the rapier hanging at his hip. To Sif's right strode Hogun. His heavy broierg eyes weighed and measured all before him. In trast to the other's armor, Hogun's bore aern style, yered leather and mail c his pact frame. His on of choice iked mace.

  Their outndish appearaood out starkly amidst the town's residents. versations lulled and heads turned as the Asgardians strode by, their presence impossible to ignore.

  Elsewhere in town, Amora began weaving an intricate spell to alter her appearance, murmuring a words of power while gesturing with fluid motions. Green wisps of magic swirled around her lithe frame, transf her Asgardian robes into porary Midgardian clothes of emerald and gold that g to her curves. With a final utterahe spell settled over her seamlessly, blending otherworldly elegah modern fashion. Thus disguised, Amora strode fidently into the town as if she belohere.

  Subtle entments rippled out ahead of her, gently diverting the attention of passersby. To their eyes, she was just another human moving through the streets, albeit a strikiy. But Amora's mind was sharp and focused on her critical mission; to ehor's trial proceeded without outside interference from Asgard. Gliding through the town, Amora's spells kept her shrouded, yet she remained acutely alert for any signs of meddling.

  Suddenly, Amora's innate mystical attuo the Nine Realms fred to life. The distinctive energies of the Bifrost resonated within her senses.

  Someone had opehe bridge between Asgard and Midgard.

  A realization crystallized within Amora's mind. Loki had warhis would happen. It was time for her to serve the purpose for which she had been recruited. It had to be Sif and the Warriors Three. Their dedication to Thor often bordered on recklessness, and their as reeked of such impulsive foolhardiness. To Amora, their loyalty was admirable but misguided, veering into the realm of stupidity. Steeling herself for frontation, she glided toward the main street of the town. She khe character of Sif and her panions well. They were renowned warriors, but they were not subtle. Likely, they would brazenly annouheir presen the most dired tactless way. Amora wouldn't be surprised if they strode down the main thhfare without care for discretion or the o keep a low profile.

  As Amora neared Main Street, she sed the bustling crowd for the first glimpse of Sif's raven hair or Volstagg's imposing frame. Sure enough, Sif and the Warriors Three made their grand, spicuous entranain Street. full Asgardian battle armor and brandishing their ons, they cut striking figures amidst the quaint human towing. Their sudden appearance was so out of p Earth that it immediately drew startled stares and hushed whispers from the local townspeople. Amora couldn't help but roll her eyes at their predictable ck of discretion.

  Her gaze fixed on Volstagg. His imposing warrior's frame and boisterous, eg voice created a presehat domihe street. Amora quickly formuted a pn. Nearby, there was a restaurant quaintly named 'Diner'. It presehe perfect first distra.

  With a subtle gesture of her fingers and a whispered intation, Amora wove strands of magic through the air. Her spell drifted uowards Volstagg aled upon him. Though she stood at a distance, her entment took hold of his mind, amplifying an already siderable appetite for a man of his imposing size. The magic worked its influence slowly, gently nudging Volstagg's thoughts towards the sts of sizzli and baked goods that wafted from the nearby dio Volstagg, the desire seemed to arise naturally from within. Such was the subtlety and ing of Amora's spellcraft. If her magic did not directly harm its target, it could often work ued, uhe victim was warded against sutments.

  Now wholly captivated by the notion of eating, Volstagg drifted towards the source of the tantalizing aromas. His abrupt ge in course caught the attention of his panions, who exged puzzled g his behavior.

  From her vantage point, Amora allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. The first part of her pn had succeeded fwlessly.

  As Volstagg waowards the diner, Hogun's dark brows drew together in . "Where are you going, Volstagg?" he called out to his rade.

  Volstagg turned back to face them, his bearded face alight with enthusiasm. "It may take time to find Thor," he procimed, "we should fill our bellies before beginning the search."

  Though his words seemed perfectly reasonable in Volstagg's mind, they deepehe fusion of his panions. His focus on sating his appetite arent as he ambled towards the diner. Sif and Fandral exged a look veying their skepticism at their panion's priorities given their urgent mission.

  "Volstagg, we have been tasked with a quest of grave importance," Fandral called out, a hint of frustration creeping into his usually cheerful tone. "As much as we all enjoy a fine meal, finding Thor must be our first and only objective for now. Earthly delicacies, however tempting, will simply have to wait."

  Sif nodded, her beautiful yet sterures etched with . "Thor's predit here in Midgard is precarious," she added. "We ot fritter away valuable time on frivolous diversions, not when our sworn duty is to aid our friend in his time of need."

  "Aye," rumbled Hogun in his somber baritohor's welfare and the success of this mission must take prece over our cravings."

  Volstagg halted, turning to face his panions with a pleading look. "e now, friends, surely a small meal will help prepare us for the trials ahead!" he cajoled. "A warrihts best on a full stomach, after all."

  But despite Volstagg's coaxing, his rades remaieadfast. They were Asgardian warriors, disciplined aed to their duty above all else. While they uood their friend's legendary appetite, the situation demanded immediate a, and they could ill afford unnecessary deys, not when Thor's fate hung in the bance.

  Amora watched the warriors' exge from a distance, pleased that her spell had created precisely the diversion she had hoped for.

  As Volstagg tinued pleading with his panions about the y of a meal, Amora shifted her focus to Fandral. She knew him well. His dashing appearance, ready charm, and silver tongue had them crossing paths in the past. While formidable, his charisma was no matora's talent for manipution. Sensing an opportunity, Amora subtly cast a spell desigo exploit Fandral's desires aions. She targeted him specifically, aiming to twist his charms toward Sif. For a sorceress of Amora's skill, such spells were child's py. Lady Sif, though itted to the warrior's path, remained one of Asgard's great beauties. That fact alone amplified the potenora's entment. In Amora's eyes, though she hated to admit it, Sif was her greatest rival for Thor's attention.

  With a gesture and whispered intation, Amora spun her web, direg its insidious threads at the unsuspeg Fandral.

  The spell took hold, w a subtle ge over Fandral. His eyes now held a distant, gzed look. Slowly, as if in a dream, his gaze turoward Sif, no longer seeing a rade-in-arms but instead viewihrough the lens of desire and infatuation.

  Absorbed itempt to vince Volstagg away from the diner, Sif did not notice the subtle ge in Fandral's demeanor as Amora's spell took hold. The entme ued, silently w its influence over his mind.

  Uhe veil of the spell, Fandral's perspective shifted. He turo Sif. When he spoke, his tone sounded reasonable, yet it was tinged with the effeora's magic. "Volstagg is set on having a meal," he pointed out. "We're wasting time arguing with him when we should be searg for Thor. Why not just let him eat? lit up. Volstagg go sate his hunger while you and I search this way, and Hogun go another way."

  "We shouldn't separate in a realm unfamiliar to us," Sif tered, "It could lead to unforeseen dangers."

  Hogun nodded in agreement. "It is foolish to split apart when we do not know what threats this nd may hold," he added.

  However, swayed by his gnawing hunger and Fandral's reasoning, Volstagg sided with Fandral. "Fandral makes a fair point," he argued, "If you won't join me, we'll cover mround by splitting up."

  Unseen by the bickering warriors, Amora observed the drama with satisfa. The division within the group served her purpose, creating deys and distras that would hiheir search for Thor. With her pn steadily unfolding and sowing discord among the warriors, Amora decided to weave one final spell.

  Amora's lips moved silently as she wove another entment, the whispered words imbued with sorcery that slithered uhrough the air toward Hogun. The spell was inteo creep into his mind, subtly twisting his perception of his trusted panions.

  As the magic took hold, Hogun's view of the situation began to morph. His rades noeared not as allies, but as rivals peting amongst themselves for personal glory. In his ed perspective, Volstagg's insisten stopping to eat was not an attempt tain strength, but a deliberate ploy to distract the group from their urgent mission. Fandral's suggestion to divide their forces, and his eagero partner with Sif, seemed a calcuted mao monopolize any honlory from aiding Thor, no doubt to embellish his tales of yet anrand exploit. This distorted view eroded Hogun's loyalty, twisting it into a possessive jealousy. The notion that his trusted allies, with whom he had fought tless battles, were now seeking to outshine each other for selfish reasons was abhorrent to him.

  His ary stoicism gave way to heated words ced with suspi. "Why must we be divided by such trivial matters? Are we not united in our purpose here for Thor? Or does some other motive drive you? Perhaps it's the desire to cim individual glory?" He accused.

  Volstagg, growing increasingly impatient and hungry, finally decred, "Enough poialk," he bellowed, turning resolutely toward the diner, single-minded in his desire to finally eat.

  The entment cast by Amora clouded Hogun's perception, causing him to view Volstagg's departure as a betrayal of the group's unity. As Volstagg turo leave, Hogun reached out and grasped his shoulder, holding him back. "Why are you so eager to split the party?" Hogun demanded.

  Feeling suddenly strained, Volstagg reacted without thinking. He whirled around, shoving Hogun with his substantial strength and sending the slighter warrior stumbling several feet backward.

  "All I want to split with you is a meal!" Volstagg shouted, his impatience finally boiling over.

  As the frontatioed, Fandral turo Sif, gently taking her hand in his. "Let's search together, you and I," he suggested smoothly, "Let Hogun and Volstagg work out their quarrel. We reuh them ter, ohey've regaiheir senses."

  Sif felt torn. She quickly grew ed that her panion's worst qualities were being so pronounced.

  Tyson watched from a short distance as the camaraderie between the Asgardian warriors rapidly deteriorated into heated arguing. Hogun and Volstagg in particur seemed on the verge of ing to blows, their voices raised in anger. He tapped his earpiece. "Adventuring party has devolved into an argument, permission to de-escate?" Tyson requested calmly, ready to intervene aore order among Thor's friends if needed.

  There was a brief pause on the line as Coulson sidered Tyson's request. Tyson waited patiently for a response, his gaze fixed steadily on the increasingly votile Asgardians, prepared to act the moment Coulson gave the order.

  After a few seds of hesitation, Coulson's voice finally responded over the s, "ive. Do not interfere," he instructed firmly.

  Tyson frowned. He disagreed with the decision but given his low rank within SHIELD, he decided not to break the of and… yet. "Uood," he responded simply and tinued the se unfold. Though he subtly began casting illusions, direg the civilians away from the area.

  Sif found herself increasingly puzzled by Fandral's behavior. His hand still g hers, Fandral spoke with uncharacteristitimentality. "We've been adventuring together for years and we've aken fort in each other's arms," he said, his tone oddly wistful. "Thor's banishment made me realize that we aren't truly immortal and that I o make the best of every moment."

  Sif gazed at him, her eyes narrowing in suspi. She had fought alongside Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun for years. Now, each of her panions was dispying unusual behavior that seemed increasingly erratic. She wondered if there was some inant or influen Midgard affeg them. Yet the townspeople seemed ued. She ruled out the possibility. If something was affeg the Asgardians it would be doing far worse to the humans.

  Sif tried to piece together the puzzle. Fandral’s excessive romantic gestures, bined with Volstagg's abrupt insisten food and Hogun's sudden jealousy.

  A dawning realization came over her.

  The obvious clue was that only the Asgardian men in her pany were behaving sely. It poiowards a specifid of manipution; ohat preyed on desires aions.

  Entment.

  A subtle, yet potent magic that could influence minds without leaving any visible trace. Entment articurly potent when cast by a magic user of the opposite sex.

  In the realm of Asgard, there was one who was notorious for weaving such deceptive spells. Amora the Entress. Sif suspected she was behind this, using her sorcery to manipute the Warriors Three for some hidden purpose. It was a troubling thought, yet Sif knew she o act. Her panions were not themselves, their minds and judgment promised. She would o break the Entress's hold over her friends.

  Sif's eyes darted over the boulevard, searg for any sign of the Entress's presehough Amora's spells were cleverly desigo avoid notice, rendering her unremarkable to those around her; now focused ily, Sif's senses became attuo what she previously overlooked. The humans that had dotted the streets were now mostly gone, she spotted a figure who remaiheir mundane appearance failed to disguise the stark beauty of the sorceress within.

  "Amora!" Sif's voice rang out in a battle cry, sharp and clear.

  With Sif's cry shattering the entment, Amora's hold on the Warriors Three vahe fog clouding their minds lifted and awareness returo their eyes. Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun blinked with dawning prehension as the maniputions fell away. Their attention so Amora, fusion shifting tnition.

  Amora stood, revealed, her intricate schemes and spells uh a word. No longer could she operate from the shadows, subtly pulling strings. Now she faced Sif and the Warriors Three directly. Though exposed, the Entress was far from helpless. If she could not rely on guile, she would front them diplomatically, should that fail, she would resort to sorcery and power.

  Shedding all pretense, Amora let her disguise as an ordinary townswoman fall away. Her true form emerged dramatically from the illusion, green and gold clothes morphed into her sorceress garb. The Entress met their gazes with regal fidence befittiatus as a powerful sorceress.

  "Greetings, Lady Sif, Warriors Three of Asgard," Amora announced, her voice carrying a subtle blend of defiand poise.

  Sif stepped forward, eyes narrowed with suspi. "Dispeh the pleasantries, Entress," she spat. "We know you've been using yieddle in our affairs here on Midgard. Now reveal your true purpose at once!"

  Amora smiled calmly, adopting the patient tone of an adult expining simple truths to a fused child. "My purpose? Very well… I was merely trying to prevent you from itting treason against the throne of Asgard," she cimed, choosing her words carefully to justify her as.

  "Treason?!" Sif decred incredulously, taken aback by the accusation. "You dare accuse us of treason?!"

  Amora eborated, "Loki now sits upon Hlidskjalf as ag king. And he has charged me with overseeing Thor's trial of banishment, to e is pleted without interference."

  Sif's eyes widened in surprise and fusion. "What trial do you speak of?"

  "Thor's powers were stripped and his hammer was ented by Odin Allfather himself. A test, a trial if you will, for the fallen prio prove his worth and recim his status in Asgard." Amora eborated. She met Sif's gaze directly. "By attempting to aid Thor prematurely, you would undermihis trial ahe will of your king… Hereason."

  Sif furrowed her brow, processing Amora's words that cast ret events in a very different light.

  Amora pressed her perceived advantage. "I serve Loki only in this matter, to see Odin's will dohor must face this test alone. You would be wise not to interfere."

  Though still wary, Sif could not deny the Entress's words held some truth. Perhaps there was more to Thor's banishment than she sidered.

  Sif's determination was evident as she appealed to the Entress with a sense en her voice. "Amora, you know as well as I that Loki is treacherous," she implored, trying to find on ground.

  But Amora remaieadfast, unmoved by Sif's appeal. "Does he not wield Gungnir?" she tered, referring to the powerful spear that was a symbol of Asgard's kingship.

  Relutly aowledging this truth, Sif admitted, "He does," a hint of frustration creeping into her tone.

  Seizing on this cession, Amora pressed her argument. "He wields the king's spear. He is the son of the king. That makes him the rightful ruler of Asgard," she emphasized, her voice ringing with vi. Then Amora turhe tables, her eyes fshing as she accused Sif directly. "Loki has a legitimate cim, regardless of what you think about his character. You're trying to choose which successor you want ohrone," she charged, her voice sharp with accusation. "Your as, io interfere with Thor's trial, are the very definition of treason and a btant attempt to incite civil war."

  Sif and the Warriors Three were momentarily taken aback, stunned into silence by Amora's bold words. The accusation of treason was a serious ohe situation was plex, with their loyalty to Thor g against their duty to respect the ws of succession. While their suspis about Loki's true iions only further muddied the waters. They were torn, waveriween supp their friend, obeying their king, and remaining loyal to the realm.

  Sif remained resolute, the weight of their as settling upon her shoulders. "Yes, it is treason," she admitted solemnly, her voice tinged with regret. Though it pained her to defy Asgard's ws, she could not abandon Thor to exile. Turning to Amora, Sif regarded the Entress with grudging admiration. "I respect your dedication to Asgard, Amora. Which makes me regret what I must do now."

  With those fateful words, Sif raised her shield and drew her sword, adopting a battle-ready stance. Beside her, the Warriors Three reacted in unison, bonded by their unfling loyalty. The imposing Volstagg hefted his heavy double-bded axe in anticipation. Fandral uhed his slender rapier with a flourish, and the taciturn Hogun gripped his studded mace.

  Together, the fardians stood united against Amora, their ons drawn in defiance. For the sake of their sworn oaths, they would brave any sequeo uphold their duty to Thor.

  In respoo their open rebellion, Amora wasted no time in unleashing her sorcery's full fury. Weaving her slender hands in intricate patterns, she jured a maelstrom of crag are energy. The air around her hummed with power as she prepared to subdue these defiant enemies.

  The shimmering are bolts shot forth from Amora's outstretched hands, zigzagging through the air toward Fandral, Hogun, and Sif. Fandral reacted with the swift grace of a dancer, nimbly sidestepping the magical projectiles. Hogun's dark eyes remained fixed upon Amora, his awareness allowing him to dodge clear of her assault. Sif raised her shield just in time, the sturdy metal abs the full impact of the sorceress's attack. Amora's magic fred brightly against the Asgardian steel before dissipating into the air. Volstagg charged toward Amora. The Entress had ighe imposing Volstagg in her first volley. Seeing his approach, Amora acted quickly to defend herself. Moments before the impact, she vanished in a swirl of sparkling magic, reappearing several feet away, coalesg out of thin air.

  Weaving her slender hands in intricate patterns, Amora summohe full might of her mystical powers. Bolts tinued shooting from her palms, f the Asgardian warriors to scatter and roll across the ground to avoid the magical onsught. The Entress alternated her offensive spells with defensive shields of shimmering light, swiftly juring magical barriers whenever one of her oppos mao draw too close. But Amora's most powerful offense was her juring of rod stone golems that fhe warriors and struck at them when distracted. Sif sshed at one struct with her glinting sword, only to have the bde firmly lodged in the middle of the golem's dense body. Hogun shattered anolem with a crushing blow from his mace, but two more materialized to take its pce. The jured minions divided the Asgardians' attention, preventing them from direg their full might toward the sorceress herself.

  Yet for all the chaos sown by Amora's golems, the warriors of Asgard demonstrated the skill that had made them legends. Seamlessly they adapted their tactics, fighting as one unified force, c each other's blind spots, and coordinating their strikes. While the Entress's spells could not halt their advaneither could the Asgardia close enough through the elementals to nd a decisive blow.

  Reizing the o alter her strategy, Amora prepared a more potent entment. Unlike her earlier, subtle attempts, this one was desigo cloud the minds of men as easily as she jured her stony allies. She fixed her gaze upon Fandral, her eyes now glowing with supernatural power and coer.

  "Help me, Fandral!" Amora cried out, her voice shaped into a desperate plea though her words were but a honeyed shey're trying to kill me!"

  The spell took hold immediately. Fandral the Dashing fell uhe Entress's ensorcellment. In but a moment, his demeanor transformed, and he now saw Amora not as a dangerous foe, but as someone in dire need of his prote. pelled by her magic, he moved to defend the Entress.

  Fandral unched a swift luh his rapier, aimed at the back of his ally. The Entress's spell had turned his mind, transf friend into foe in an instant.

  Sif's warrior instincts, honed over turies of battle, allowed her to react just in time. Shifting her shield, she deflected Fandral's bde mere inches from pierg her body, preventing a skewering but still shocked by her friend's sudderayal. Fandral's rapier gnced off Sif's shield with a ringing etal oal, the force of the redirected thrust throwing the spellbound warrior off bance. Sif whirled to face her ented rade, dismay written clearly across her face.

  "Fandral! What are you doing?" Sif demanded, unwilling to raise her swainst an ally. But the fusion in her voice fell on deaf ears. His eyes burned with supernatural pulsion, Amora's magic allowing no room for reason or loyalty. With a guttural cry, he recovered his stand pressed his attace more. Sif parried the hrust with gritted teeth. She only hoped the others would find a way to break Amora's spell before she was forced to seriously hurt her friend.

  Fandral's panions uood at ohat he had fallen under some sinister entment. Hoping to subdue their rade, Volstagg and Hogun acted swiftly. The enormous Volstagg approached from behind, ing his thick arms around Fandral in an unyielding bear hug that pinned his arms to his sides. Though Fandral struggled violently against the restraint, Volstagg's formidable strength kept him immobilized.

  At the same time, Hogued to more direct means to break the spell's hold over Fandral's mind. Though he held no desire to injure his friend, each of Hogun's quick jabs was aimed at the head, to jar Fandral to his senses.

  The blows disrupted the insidious magic.

  Fandral blinked rapidly, shaking his head as if trying to clear it. The gze of entment faded from his eyes. He stared at his friends in bewilderment, realizing he had been maniputed into attag them. Though still reeling from the broken spell, shame washed over Fandral at the deception he had suffered.

  Satisfied that the spell's hold over their friend was broken, Hogun, Volstagg, and Sif turheir attention back to where the Entress had been standing just moments before. To their surprise, Amora was o be seen. While they had been focused on freeing Fandral from her magic, the sorceress had seized the opportunity to vanish.

  The Asgardian warriors sed their surroundings, searg for any sign of Amora, but she had mao slip away ued.

  "She's gone," Sif said through gritted teeth, her frustration evident. The others shared her se.

  "That witch is slippery as an eel," Volstagg grumbled. "No matter. We'll find her."

  The Warriors Three and Lady Sif regrouped, taking stock of their situation. Though relieved to have Fandral returo his right mind, Amora's escape posed a new challehe enter with the Entress had been a signifit setback, but they remained determio fulfill their duty. The fate of their friend and the welfare of Asgard itself hung in the bance.

  "We must make haste," Hogun said solemnly. "Thor may be in grave peril."

  The others nodded.

  Now invisible to normal sight, Amora still watched from a rooftop. She he Midgardian, Tyson, was nearby. He used his own type of magic to obscure himself. But Amora possessed a resistao mind magics that allowed her to pierce his illusions with little effort. Analyzing the nature of his abilities, the blonde woman realized they were not true magic like her own, but rather psioni nature. This only further intrigued her. He possessed more abilities than he'd revealed previously.

  — Rogue Rept —

  The skirmish erupted suddenly betweeriking blonde woman an emerald green gown and Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. Tyson was gd he'd already weaved illusions to steer the nearby townsfolk away from the chaotic se. The citizens remained blissfully unaware of the csh between the Asgardians in the middle of town.

  Tyson activated the unication device cealed within his ear. "Coulson, we have a situation here. A frontation has broken out between a mysterious new woman and the Renaissance Faire crew. I've redirected civilians away, but things are esg quickly."

  Coulson's steady voice respohrough the earpiece, "Uood, Mirage. We're monit things closely. Do not engage or interfere unless absolutely necessary. As long as they're ign bystanders, sider it an internal matter for the time being. tai and gathering intelligen these unknown pyers are our priorities."

  Tyson shrugged. He was curious about the Asgardians' capabilities and how he matched up. He scrutihe blonde woman, Amora, if Sif's shout was to be believed. She wielded startlingly potent magics; juring elementals, are bolts, and defensive shields. Tyson was intrigued, he had never entered sorcery of this magnitude in person. He marveled at the possibilities such tremendous power could offer but for now, he would only observe, as Coulson instructed.

  Tyson watched as the Warriors Three and Lady Sif presented a formidable opposition against the mysterious sorceress. Despite her incredible magic, the Asgardians appeared seasoned batants who operated in seamless unison. After distrag the Asgardians, the blonde womaed a tactical retreat.

  Tyson she air. The st of exotise, dusty a stone, and aig floral perfume still lingered, remnants of the sorceress' presence. With a jolt, Tyson realized the st was familiar. It matched the alluring stripper from the previous night. He was fused as to how or why the seductive woman was somehow this same sorceress, Amora.

  But more wly, none of this should be happening.

  Amora wasn't supposed to be here.

  Tyson thought back to the invasion of the institute, and the time when Kraven showed up at the battle with the Green Goblin. Was this another instance of an ued character surfag and plig events that he thought himself prepared for?

  Even worse, he didn't know much about Amora. He vaguely remembered the name, but she didn't appear in movies that he recalled.

  Tyson was drawn from his thoughts by a strange disturban the horizo lightning fshed and crackled through clouds where no storm should be brewing. Suddenly, a funnel cloud desded rapidly from the roiling sky, swirling towards the earth below like a tornado. A burst of static sounded in his earpiece, cutting off Coulson's voice mid-senteyson tried to re-establish tact, letting Coulson know the fight had ended, but only radio silenswered his hail. It seemed unications were disrupted. For the time being, Tyson realized he was alone.

  Weighing his options, he dismissed the idea of returning to the makeshift SHIELD base. Coulson's st disible words echoed in his mind.

  'Gather information'.

  Tyson smiled. He could do that, but while doing so, he also had his own priorities. This portunity to ingratiate himself with the visitors from Asgard. Making a decision, he dropped his illusion and approached Sif and the Warriors Three openly, hands raised iing to show he meant no harm.

  "Hail, friends!" Tyson called out respectfully but directly. "I am Tyson, though some know me as Mirage. I am a defender of this world. Might I have the honor of your names and purpose here?"

  The Asgardians turned as one, ons raised warily before the Lady Sif stepped forward. "I am Lady Sif, and these are the Warriors Three. Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun," she procimed, indig each of her patriots in turn. "We e seeking our rade Thor, who was bao this realm. Do you know of his whereabouts, mortal?"

  Tyson's smile broadehough he was careful to keep it friendly rather thaory. "Fortune smiles upon our meeting. Just st night I shared drinks with a mighty warrior who could be her than your missing panioroduced himself as Thor." Tyson ined his head respectfully to Lady Sif. "If you wish, I lead you to where he has takeer."

  Sif's stern expression softened slightly at Tyson's words. She gave a single nod. "Your aid is appreciated, mortal. Please, lead us to Thor with haste."

  At her words, the Asgardians sheathed their ons. Tysoured for them to follow a off at a brisk walk dowreet, the Warriors Three and Lady Sif close behind. Leading them to Thor would strehis tentative alliance. He guided the Asgardians toward where he knew SHIELD had fiscated Jane Foster's equipment after Thor's arrival.

  Tyson led Sif and the Warriors Three through the streets of Pueiguo. As they approached the building where Jane Foster had set up her research operation, Tyson spotted a broad-shouldered figure through the rge ground-level windows.

  Thor stood at the stove, spatu in hand, brow furrowed in tration as he teo a sizzling pan of eggs and ba. Oblivious to his audieside, the fallen prince of Asgard seemed utterly absorbed iask of cooking breakfast.

  Tyson rapped his knuckles against the gss pane, catg Thor's attention. When Thor's bright blue eyes met his, Tyson pointed eagerly behind him to the small pany of Asgardians.

  "Greetings Thor. I found your friends!" Tyson called out, his voice muffled through the window.

  Thor's bearded face lit up, eyes widening in delighted surprise. The spatu slipped from his fingers, cttering to the floor as his eyes set upon his rades with urained joy.

  Volstagg's impressive girth nearly blocked the others from view as he jostled forward, waving a meaty hand ihusiastic greeting. The elegant Fandral and stern Hogun peered out from behind their rger panion, relief warming their tired faces. After days of separation, uainty, and failure, the reunion of Thor and his loyal warriors was a wele aening sight. He crossed the small kit in two long strides and threw open the front door, the force of his excitement nearly pulling it from its hinges.

  "My friends!" Thor's voied out like thunder as the Warriors Three pushed past Tyson to get ihor's face split into a wide grin as he heartily embraced each of them, ughter rumbling in his broad chest. "This is a most wele surprise. e in, e in!"

  Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun crowded in, chatting and joking loudly as they csped Thor's arm and cpped him on the back. They ribbed him good-naturedly about his predit on Midgard while poorly cealing their profound relief at finding their prinharmed.

  Tyson stood back the joyous reunion. Thor's Asgardian rades appeared utterly delighted to see their banished prince safe and well in this mortal realm. The relief on Lady Sif's usually stern face was evident as she grasped Thor's arm, her dark eyes roaming his casual Midgardian attire with i. "We feared for your safety after your banishment. You look...well," she said, a warm smile grag her features.

  Thrin only wide this ued reunion. He led them eagerly into the kit, retrieving the slightly bed eggs from the stove. "Indeed, I have fared alright here among these mortals," he replied, sincere gratitude etched on his face as his eyes met Tyson's. "Thanks to the friends I've gained on Midgard." He gestured expansively around him. "Please, join us for breakfast."

  As the Asgardians and Thor caught up enerously den ptes of eggs, ba, and payson joihe group but remained a silent observer. He leased that he could facilitate this reunion while gaining the Asgardians' trust. If he recalled correctly, the stramospheric disturbance from earlier marked the arrival of the Destroyer armor. For now, Tyson was tent to enjoy a hearty breakfast.

  As Erik Selvig ehe room, he stopped short at the sight of the armor-cd Asgardians crowded raucously around the table.

  "I don't believe it..." Selvig muttered, staring wide-eyed at the ued guests.

  Darcy Lewis poked her head around Selvig to get a look at the otion. "Who are they?" she asked.

  "Lady Sif and the Warriors Three," Volstagg procimed between bites of pancake. "Surely you've heard tales of Hogun the Grim, Fandral the Dashing, and I, Volstagg the Svelte?"

  Selvig looked pointedly at Volstagg's massive gut spilling over his belt.

  "Well, perhaps I've put on a little more muscle since I was here st," Volstagg amended with a chuckle.

  "That would have been a thousand years ago?" Jane Foster cut in. "In northern Europe?"

  "Exactly!" Volstagg firmed enthusiastically. "Those lovely herring people. They worshipped us!"

  The Asgardians regaled the group with tales of their adventures oh a thousand years ago, their voices booming with ughter and merriment as they shared their stories over a hearty breakfast.

  As Tyson listened, a lightbulb suddenly went off in his head. He turo Thor, a mischievous glint in his eye, and asked, "So then, Thor is obviously the god of thunder, but Lady Sif, does that make you his wife? The goddess of the harvest?"

  The warriors three burst out in ughter, their guffaws eg off the high ceilings of the hall. Th Jane before turning back to Tyson. "The mortals of the time took some creative liberties in their stories," he chuckled. "While I am... was the god of thunder, Sif and myself have only ever been rades-at-arms. We have never been romantically engaged."

  Tyson pressed on. "I thought the legends spoke of yolden hair?" he asked, turning to Sif. "Was that a mistelling as well?"

  The warriors three suddenly fell silent, their ughter dying on their lips. Fandral shot Tyson a look that spoke volumes, a warning that he had stepped into dangerous territory. Sif's expression turned murderous, her green eyes fshing with barely tained rage.

  "No," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "That was no mistelling. Loki, the trickster, used magic to ge the color of my hair in a cruel jest."

  Sif's eyes took on a distant look as she began to ret the tale, her voice trembling with emotion. "It was during a time of peace when the realms were in harmony. There was little fighting to be done, leaving us a bit bored, holy. Loki, ever the mischief-maker, decided to py a trie. He snuto my chambers while I slept and used his magic to turn my golden locks as bck as night." The warriors three shifted unfortably in their seats, their eyes downcast as Sif tinued her story. "When I awoke, I was horrified to find my hair had been ged. I fronted Loki, demanding that he restore my golden tresses, but he refused, g that the dark color suited me better."

  Sif's hands ched into fists, her knuckles turning white with the force of her grip. "I was furious, humiliated. I demahat Odin punish Loki for his transgression, but the Allfather only ughed, g that it was a harmless prank."

  As Sif finished her tale, Tyson spoke "Loki is a fool," he said softly, "And a creep for sneaking into your room while you were sleeping. I won't back his cim that dark hair suits you better, as I never saw you blonde. But I say that your bck hair doesn't detract from your beauty. It emphasizes the depth of yreen eyes."

  Sif's eyes widened, a fsh of surprise crossing her face. For a moment, she seemed at a loss for words, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find a response.

  Volstagg broke the tension with a booming ugh. "It seems our young friend here is the sean to flirt with Sif this day!" he guffawed, spping his thigh in amusement.

  Fandral, his face flushing with embarrassment, shot Volstagg a gre. "I didn't do it iionally," he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "I was under entment."

  The Asgardians all burst into ughter once more, the tension in the room dissipating like mist in the m sun. Sif shook her head in amusement.

  "You are a smooth talker, Tyson," she said, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "But do not think that your pretty words will sway me so easily. I am a warrior, not some maiden to be wooed with fttery."

  Tyson bowed slightly. "I would never presume to think otherwise, Lady Sif," he said, "I'm certain your battle prowess is as admirable as your beauty."

  Sif rolled her eyes.

  Thor's ughter died down as he id a heavy hand on Volstagg's broad shoulder. "My friends, though I've never been happier to see anyone, you should not have e," he said, his voice tinged with regret.

  Fandral shook his head, blonde locks swaying. "We're here to take you home," he insisted.

  At his words, Jane's face fell, crestfallen. She had hoped for more time with the man who had so abruptly entered her life. Thhed, the weight of responsibility bowing his shoulders. "You know I y father is dead because of my recklessness. I must remain in exile to atone for my sins."

  The warriors three exged puzzled looks. "Thor..." Lady Sif begaly, pg a gaued hand on his arm. "The Allfather yet lives."

  Thor reacted with shoearly dropping his fork to the floor. He was momentarily stunned into silence as he processed this revetion. Grasping Sif's arm with sudden urgency, he demanded "What? But how this be? Loki told me Odin had perished and that the line of successioo him. He cimed the throh the Allfather gone. But if what you say is true..."

  Sif's expression was grave as she interrupted, "Loki spires to unwfully seize the throne of Asgard. Even now he wields Gungnir in your father's stead and has enlisted Amora the Entress to aid his cause."

  "She seemed to give you all a real challeyson ented, "Any idea why she'd be involved in whatever scheme Loki is hatg?" He asked as mu hopes of gaining their insights as fitting her preseo his metaknowledge.

  Sif's face was grim as she responded, "She cims Loki sent her here to prevent our interference." She turned her pierg gaze to Thor, urgency lending steel to her voice. "We ot dey. You must return with us at oo challenge Loki's false cim to your father's throne."

  The discussion tly cut short by a otion outside, the sound of shouts and cries of arm filtered through the outer walls of the building. The Asgardians exged worried gheir hands instinctively reag for their ons as they rose from their seats. Tyson followed the warriors as they stepped outside momentarily blinding him. As his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight, he saw it off in the distance.

  Amid the swirling sands of the desert, a giaal figure roag, its flinting in the harsh light of the sun.

  The figure was massive, t over the ndscape like a colossus of old. Its body was structed of gleamial, a patchwork of interlog ptes and gears that shifted and whirred with each step. The head was a featureless mask, a bnk ste that seemed to stare out at the world with cold, unfeeling eyes.

  The Asgardians reized the figure immediately. "The Destroyer," Thor said, his voice low and tense. "Odin's on of st resort."

  "What is it?" Jane asked, her voice trembling with worry.

  "A struct of pure magid metal," Thor replied, "Desigo protect Asgard from any threat."

  Sif studied the approag figure. "But why is it here?" she asked, her voice filled with suspi.

  "Loki would release it on Midgard?" Thor said in disbelief.

  Tyson could feel the tension ratchet up among the Asgardians as they too peered out at the approag threat.

  "The Destroyer is an engine of destru fed ages ago a as guardian of Odin's vault," Sif expined grimly. "It is nigh iructible."

  Thor's expression was grave as he turo Jane, "You must leave this town now. Get yourself and your friends to safety."

  Jane asked, "What are you going to do?"

  Thor met Jane's ed gaze steadily, though his eyes held a glimmer ret. "I must stay and fight," he stated, "The Asgardians look to me as their prince. I may be mortal now, but I am still a warrior at heart, and will stand with them in this battle."

  Volstagg's bearded face creased into a disapproving frown as he shook his head. "You're naught but a mortal man now, Thor. You'll only get yourself killed!"

  Fandral nodded emphatically, "Or one of us, trying to protect you from harm."

  Sif pced a gaued hand on Thor's shoulder, meeting his eyes with siy. "The wisest course is for you to get these mortals to safety. Leave the battle to us."

  Thor surveyed the bustling street filled with townspeople; families, shopkeepers, young and old, all unprepared for the arrival of the hulkial behemoth lumbering toward the vulnerable town. With a heavy sigh, he turned back to Sif and nodded. "You speak truthfully. I will ensure no harm es to these people." Surprise at his pliance flickered in Sif's eyes. Squaring his broad shoulders, Thor faced Jane, Selvig, and Darcy with newfound resolve. "Help me clear the streets. I'll let none of these is die this day."

  Together, Thor, Jane, Selvig, and Darcy began herding the crowd away from the oniroyer. Parents clutched their children's hands tightly, shopkeepers abaheir livelihoods, and curious residents peered and murmured over the strange otion. But uhor's insistent dire, the streets sooied. As the depod hurried the citizens to safety, Sif and the Warriors Three strode with purpose in the opposite dire, ons gripped tightly in anticipation of the ing battle. Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim, and Volstagg the Valiant were unafraid to face the Destroyer head-on. The four friends had battled all manner of beasts and vilins across the realms, always emerging victorious together. Now, they would stand united once mainst a formidable foe.

  Though focused on his task, Thor could not help stealing gnces across the town, anxious for his friends to front the Destroyer without him. But he trusted in their abilities and remained resolute in his mission; proteg these i mortals.

  With Jane's assistahor cleared the diner and neighb shops of lingering patrons. Darcy marched up and down the sidewalks, herding stray pedestrians away from the main street with impatient urgency. Selvig stood at the towrance, waving approag vehicles away from the impending battle. Soon, an eerie quiet settled over the normally bustling town, the streets ied uhor's insistent dire.

  — Rogue Rept —

  From her hidden vantage point atop the roof, the Entress Amora watched invisibly as Tyson approached the Asgardian warriors three.

  "As a defender of Earth, I insist upon joining you in this battle," Tyson decred, fixing each of the Asgardians in turn with his mismatched eyes.

  Hogun the Grim was quick to reply, doubt pin in his tohe Destroyer was created by Odin himself to safeguard Asgard. What could a mere mortal hope to aplish against such a foe?"

  The Lady Sif's reply was gentler, but no less firm in vi. "reciate your ce, but perhaps your skills could be put to better use elsewhere. You could assist in the evacuation of the mortals."

  Tyson paused, carefully weighing their words. Amora watched him closely from her hidden vantage, curious whether his pride would insist he join the fray. But after a thoughtful moment, he simply nodded in acquiesce. "Very well. I shall go where my efforts may prove most needed."

  Satisfied, Sif and the Warriors Three turned and marched onward, striding forth to front the Destroyer, which had begun ying waste to the mortal town. Tyson watched them depart, then lifted his head as if catg a st upon the wind. His eyes narrowed, homing in unerringly on Amora's cealed rooftop location.

  The Entress pursed her lips in sternation. The mortal's senses had already allowed him to observe Loki's covert as at Mjolnir and now seemed able to pinpoint her veiled presence as well. She would o exercise greater caution around this unusually perceptive one. For now, Amora turned her focus back to the impending frontation with the Destroyer, certain it would prove quite the spectacle.

  Tyson caught a whiff of a st on the desert wind, his enhanced senses pig up the faint aroma of exotise and floral perfume. He turned his head, nostrils fring as he tried to pinpoint the source. Frowning, he stared at the rooftop where he was certain the st inated but failed to spot the elusive Entress.

  With a shake of his head, Tyson strode down the main street, projeg illusions to help herd the remaining stragglers to safety. An elderly couple shuffled by, the woman clutg a framed photograph to her chest as her husband guided her with a gentle hand.

  Up ahead, a battered pickup truck rumbled dowreet, its rusted bed overflowing with people. Tyson squinted against the sun's gre, reizing the figure behind the wheel. It was the same old man he'd entered outside the Federal Reserve. The same old man who'd been w as the librarian at Midtown High on the day when the Lizard had attacked. As if sensing Tyson's gaze, the old man's eyes kled in a knowing wink. His calloused hand gripped the steering wheel, guiding the overloaded truck towards the tow. Tyson watched as the man leaned out the window and bellowed a single word. "Excelsior!"

  Tyson couldn't help but grin.

  An explosion rocked the ground, the thunderous boom eg through the now deserted streets. Tyson spun around to see a plume of smoke and debris rising from the tower where the Asgardian warriors had ehe Destroyer.

  Torween assisting the evacuation or joining the fight, Tyson wavered only a moment before setting off at a sprint toward the rising smoke.

  Sif and the Warriors Three marched down the deserted street.

  With a curt nod to her panions, Sif split off down an alleyway, calling over her shoulder, "Keep him distracted!"

  Fandral fshed her a roguish grin. "Don't you worry, my dy. We'll keep our new friend plenty occupied."

  The Destroyer towered over the street, its massive metal form impassive and unmoving. The struct's bnk facepte revealed nothing of assed for thought in its artificial mind. Without warning, the Destroyer's expressionless mask slid open. A bst of fiery psma erupted from within, scorg a storefront into ders and molten sg.

  Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg stood their ground as debris rained down around them. ons held at the ready, they advaeadily oal behemoth. It turned with a grating, meical sound to face the approag warriors.

  "Right then, no time like the present!" Fandral decred, fshing a roguish grin. He gnced between his remaining panions, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "What do you think, ds? The Svartalfheim Twist? Kiss of the Hag? Face Full of Boot?"

  Volstagg's ruddy face lit up eagerly at the suggestions. "The Flying Mountain!" he decred, hefting his battle axe.

  Fandral and Hogun both groaned. "Not the Flying Mountain!" Fandral pined, his usually perfectly coiffed blond hair already tousled from their exertions. "It threw out my back for a year st time!"

  But Volstagg was uerred, his bushy red beard quivering as he grinned. "Trust me, it'll work," he insisted fidently.

  Hogun simply shook his head. He shifted his ma his grip, dark eyes fixed on their foe. As ohe Asgardian warriors broke into a run. Volstagg let out a bellowing battle cry as he barreled towards the Destroyer.

  "Fard!"

  Fandral and Hogun each seized one of the rotund warrior's arms. Muscles bulging with effort, the two smaller men heaved with all their might, sending Volstagg flying upwards on a collision course with the Destroyer.

  For a moment, it looked like their audacious gambit might actually succeed. Volstagg's siderable mass smmed into the Destroyer with a resounding g, actually rog the metal behemoth back a step.

  But their triumph was short-lived. With speed belying its size, the Destroyer's arms shot out, snatg Volstagg out of the air and holding the dazed warrior up like a rag doll. Fandral and Hogun could only wat sternation as their friend hung limply from the struct's unbreakable grip.

  Volstagg managed a weak grin down at them, struggling t within the Destrrasp. "Worth a shot, eh?"

  The Destroyer did not share his mirth. Its empty facepte fred with molten light and it ptuously flung Volstagg into his two panions. A jumbled tangle of limbs aed armor crashed to the street, the Asgardian warriors momentarily out of ission.

  It was at that moment that Sif made her move. She leaped from a nearby rooftop, twin bdes of her swleaming. With a fierce cry, she brought the bdes down in a powerful strike, burying them deep in the Destroyer's back. The tips erupted from its chest. Sif nded gracefully atop its shoulders in a crouch, fingers still ed around the sword hilts.

  For aernal sed, all was still and silent. Sif held her breath, not daring to hope. Had her surprise attack felled the seemingly unstoppable metal monster? Her panions, pulling themselves out of their undignified pile, watched with awe and trepidation.

  Then, with a nearly inaudible whir of internal meics, the light reignited within the Destroyer's face. Beh Sif's boots, it began to move, muscles of iron rotating as it adjusted to her weight on its back. Gears ground and joints realigned with a siing series of ches, the Destroyer slowly turning to face its assaint. Sif's eyes widened in disbelief and mounting horror as the thing's torso rotated 180 degrees without its legs ever moving, bringing its soulless gaze around tard the Asgardian perched atop it. Its head rotated st, wisting around with a final meical click to fix her with a literally burning stare.

  Fandral, still extrig himself gingerly from the heap of his panions, summed up all their thoughts with a deadpan quip, "That's not supposed to happen."

  Before Sif could leap free, the Destroyer's arms reached up, seizing her and lifting her bodily into the air. Her sword remained buried in its torso, useless. She struggled mightily in its grasp but could not break free.

  Unbowed, Sif gred into its featureless face, refusing to look away from what might be her death. "Yht is great, creature," she ground out through gritted teeth. "but we will not yield!"

  The Destroyer seemed utterly unimpressed by her defias grip oightened until she could barely breathe, the edges of her vision darkening. It studied her for a long moment as if pting how best to extinguish this test annoyance.

  Suspended in the Destroyer's clutches, Sif refused to close her eyes or look away. If this was to be her end, she would meet it with all the ce and defiance of an Asgardian warrior born. The fire ihing's gaze burned brighter, building to a cresdo. Sif braced herself to meet her aors in Valhal...

  Hogun pulled himself painfully to his feet, blood trig from a cut on his temple. His mace was held tightly in one hand. Volstagg and Fandral also began to stir, though they looked a bit worse for wear. They shook off the cobwebs, retrieving their ons.

  Sif ched her jaw against the pain as the Destroyer's metal fingers dug into her torso. She could feel her ribs beginning to crader the immense pressure. This creature was far strohan she had anticipated.

  Suddenly, a dark blur shot out from the side of a nearby building. Sif's eyes widened in surprise as the figure leaped onto the Destroyer's arm and scrambled up towards its shoulder.

  As he drew closer, Sif reized the man. Tyson.

  His hand was raised, and her eyes widened further as cws extended from his fiips, razor-sharp and deadly. He raked those cws across the Destroyer's metal body, leaving deep grooves in the seemingly imperable armor. Sparks flew from the gashes as Tysolessly sshed at the struct's head and shoulders.

  To Sif's shock, the man's cws damaged the Destroyer's armor. She had thought nothing crafted by mortal hands could pierce it. Tyson moved with superhuman graever losing his bance even as the Destroyer thrashed beh him, trying to dislodge its ued assaint.

  After a few more swipes, the creature finally released its crushing grip on Sif to grapple with this hreat. She dropped to the ground, nding lightly despite her bruised ribs. As she regained her bearings, she watched Tyson tinue his relentless assault, adamantium cws carving ks out of the Destroyer's thick metal pting.

  The Destroyer attempted to seize Tyson in its massive fist, but he was too quick, leaping and somersaulting out of reach with astonishing agility. His cws fshed as he tio hack away at the Destroyer's armor, ks of a ented metal falling away beh his relentless barrage.

  With a graceful flip, Tyson soared over the Destroyer's head, raking his cws down its bad shearing off thick ptes that fell to the street with a resounding crash. The struct spun, trying in vain to grab hold of its elusive attacker. But Tyson stayed oep ahead, a whirlwind of fshing cws and superhuman agility.

  Despite herself, Sif was impressed. This mortal was exceeding her expectations. She'd uimated him.

  Tysoop a nearby parked car in a crouch, meeting Sif's gaze. She hat one of his eyes was aric blue while the other was a striking green. Prior to the battle, she had dismissed him as just another human. Now, studying his features, she reized powerful muscles that shifted under his skin as he moved. She realized with some surprise that she found him striking. The way he anticipated the Destroyer's attacks and evaded them. How he had raked its metal skin, heedless of his own safety. And, of course, how he had saved her life. Sif was no maiden to be easily swayed by a handsome face or honeyed words. But she could not deny the allure of a worthy warrior who had exceeded her expectations. This mortal had proven his strength, and that excited her.

  "I believe this was where my efforts were needed most," Tyson ented cheekily. He referred to Sif's earlier reendation. She shook her head ruefully at his boldness even in the face of such peril.

  As if ohe Destroyer rounded on Tyson, molten gaze burning with barely restrained fury at this impudent mortal who dared defy it.

  Sif surged to her feet, snatg up her dropped sword. "The us make good use of them," she decred, brandishing her bde as she charged bato the fray to fight at Tyson's side. The Warriors Three quickly moved to join them, encirg the battered but still deadly struct.

  Together, they pressed their coordinated assault, w in tao overwhelm the Destroyer through teamwork and precision rather than brute force. Tyson's cws strategically weakened key joints and structural points, creating openings that Sif and her panions exploited with devastating strikes.

  Slowly but surely, the tide began to turn in their favor. Uheir bined onsught, the Destroyer was faltering, its movements became sluggish aic. Sparks flew from rents in its armor and its internal meisms sputtered and whined.

  Sif allowed herself a fierce smile, her blood singing with the thrill of impending victory. Today, with Tyson's ued aid, they might emerge triumphant against this seemingly uable foe.

  Tyson crouched atop the battered SUV, cws at the ready as he prepared to unch himself bato the fray. The Destroyer was on its st legs, a armor torn, molten core flickering and guttering. They just o press their advantage a little longer.

  He caught Sif's eye and fshed her a wink before diving bato the melee with a whoop of exhiration. She found herself grinning fiercely iurn, swept up in his iious bravado. As ohe alliance surged forward t down the mighty Destroyer ond for all, mortal and Asgardian fighting side-by-side as equals.

  Tyson's enhanced hearing picked up the crackle of energy milliseds before the beam of golden light oward him. He threw himself into a sideways roll. His adamantium cws instinctively exteo gain purchase on a nearby SUV's metal frame for bance.

  The energy beam sizzled past, missing him by mere inches.

  Tyson tried to identify the source of the ued attack. The Destroyer was still in his sights and hadn't unleashed its devastating beam from its featureless head. So where had this hreat e from?

  For a brief, hopeful moment, he thought he had successfully dodged the surprise assault. But then, to his shock, the head of the energy beam curved impossibly in midair, unerringly correg its course to sm into his chest with cussive force.

  Tyson had just enough time to su a surprised breath before the golden energy engulfed him, eng his body in a glowing sphere of power. He could feel it permeating every cell, immobilizing him with its all-enpassing grip.

  Through the haze of stilting light, Tyson caught a flicker of movement from a nearby rooftop as Amora, the Asgardian entress, shimmered into view. The invisibility spell cealing her faded, revealiall, lithe form.

  One elegant hand was exteowards Tyson, long fingers spyed as she maniputed the energy sphere that held him captive with ptuous ease.

  Their gazes met across the distance, and Amora's full lips curved into a satisfied smirk, reveling iriumph over the troublesome mortal. With a graceful flick of her fingers, she sent the sphere hurtling away with Tyson still trapped helplessly inside.

  Buildings and streets blurred siingly as Tyson rocketed through the air at incredible speeds, coed ihe golden glow. He smmed through brick walls and pte gss windows without slowing, the energy shield tinued propelling him onwards.

  After what felt like minutes of dizzying, untrolled motion but was likely only a matter of seds, the glowing prison finally dissipated. Its power spent, it unceremoniously dumped Tyson onto the dusty ground in an undignified heap.

  He rolled to his feet with the fluid grace of a predator, adamantium cws sliding bato their sheaths beh his skin as he took quick stock of his new surroundings. His jaw ched as he realized Amora's magic had unched him far from the town and, more troublingly, far from the ongoing battle against the Destroyer.

  AN: Sorry for the te posts. I’m on vacation for the wo weeks. Patrohe chapters on time because I schedule them in advance. Public releases happen when I get to them.

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