Before Laufey could finish speaking, the Destroyer made its move. It cared little for his words or diplomacy. Though its orders didn't extend to the Frost Giants, it would not ignore the enemies before it.
Weng!!
Terrifying wisps of energy seeped through the gaps in its silver metal armor, radiating an intense, fiery red glow. The mask on the Destroyer began to lift—a precursor to its devastating attack.
But Wanda glanced over.
Click!
The space around the Destroyer shattered like a mirror breaking into countless shards. In an instant, the massive armor was swallowed by the fractured void, disappearing entirely.
Laufey and his frost giants froze, their hearts skipping a beat.
Laufey's expression turned grave. He knew better than anyone how formidable the Destroyer was. Even without Odin's direct control, it remained a terrifying killing machine. Yet, with a mere glance, this woman had exiled it to who-knows-where.
Now, Laufey and his forces faced the full brunt of their opponents with no buffer. If not for Loki giving him the Casket of Ancient Winters, Laufey might have turned and fled right then.
He could dismiss Thor, whom he deemed immature and brash, but Wanda was a complete enigma—a dangerous unknown.
"I never expected to encounter a witch from Midgard," Laufey said, his voice betraying a mix of surprise and unease. "You people never cease to amaze me."
Though Laufey commanded an army of frost giants, he was a king who knew when to act and when to wait. Starting a war here, in a foreign land, was risky. Midgard might resist fiercely, and its defenders—though weaker than his forces—had proven formidable.
Cruelty defined Laufey's character, but he wasn't reckless. As a ruler who had endured countless ages, he understood strategy. He decided to test the waters with words, seeking to sow discord between the humans of Midgard and the Asgardians.
"Odin ruled the Nine Realms with blood and cruelty," Laufey began, his tone calm but cutting. "He slaughtered countless civilizations to achieve his so-called glory."
"We are all nothing but pawns under his rule," he continued, addressing the humans. "Asgard treats everyone else—be they human or frost giant—as insects, unworthy of respect. They expect other civilizations to kneel, to kiss their boots, as they plunder wealth and resources without remorse."
Laufey's words were carefully crafted to frame Asgard as a cruel and arrogant oppressor. He painted himself and Midgardians as equals, victims of Asgard's tyranny.
Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three bristled with anger. Even among the Avengers, Tony and Jean hesitated. Laufey's rhetoric was persuasive; from their perspective, staying neutral seemed logical. Midgard had no obligation to fight Asgard's battles.
But Wanda wasn't swayed.
She stepped forward, her expression resolute. Sergei and Pietro flanked her, following without hesitation. Wanda's voice was sharp and unwavering as she responded:
"You remind me of someone else who twisted words to manipulate others—a devil from hell."
Her gaze pierced Laufey as she continued, "From my time with Thor, I've seen no cruelty or bloodlust. What I've seen is loyalty to his friends, respect for strength, and humility when faced with humanity. He shed the arrogance of a so-called god to extend goodwill."
She paused, her eyes narrowing. "You speak of Asgard's victories as tyranny, yet you stand here not out of righteousness but out of ambition. You crave to do what Asgard has done: conquer and rule the Nine Realms."
Her voice grew colder. "Between you and Asgard, I choose to believe in the strength and character of those I've fought beside."
Boom!
A wave of immense, overwhelming energy burst forth from Wanda. The world turned crimson as her power filled the air. Clouds scattered, the earth trembled, and rain swirled unnaturally in her wake.
Her entire body blazed with crimson flames as she rose into the air, majestic and terrifying. She looked like a goddess descending to judge mortals. Her voice echoed across the battlefield, cold and resolute:
"This is Earth. This is humanity's home. Anyone who comes with war and malice is an enemy."
Her hands spread wide, and the sky cracked with thunder and lightning. The sheer force of her will distorted reality itself.
"If you wish to freeze the world in the frost of war, prepare to be shattered. From the moment you stepped onto this land, you declared war. So be it."
Wanda's declaration was absolute, her presence commanding.
Those watching—Asgardians, Avengers, and even frost giants—could only stare in awe. At that moment, Wanda appeared more divine than any so-called god. Her beauty, power, and authority silenced even the boldest of voices.
Sergei and Pietro looked on with pride, their faces calm but their eyes gleaming. Wanda's words and actions reflected their stance as well.
Across the battlefield, Laufey's expression darkened. His crimson eyes flickered between fear and rage. Slowly, he drew a magnificent sword hilt from his waist. The blade extended with a metallic hum, its edges jagged and icy.
Laufey's aura surged as frost gathered beneath his feet, lifting him to match Wanda's height.
For all his bluster, he could not deny the truth: Wanda Maximoff was a force unlike any he had faced.
...
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