Wanda had been working tirelessly of late, leaving little time for outings with Leon. Her current obsession was figuring out how to transform the Destroyer armor.
Transforming the Casket of Ancient Winters into a necklace had taken her less than a day. She'd presented the necklace, now adorned with a gemstone made from the ice core, to Leon with a solemn expression. He wore it proudly.
But unlike the Casket, the Destroyer was far more complicated to work with. The Casket was essentially a massive energy module encased within a container. Once Wanda had opened the Casket, suppressed the energy burst, and compressed the frost energy into a gem, the transformation process was relatively straightforward.
For the Destroyer, things weren't so simple.
The Destroyer armor was crafted during Odin's prime to battle the Celestials. Its metal was a rare, enchanted material, and its true power came from the intricate magical runes and inscriptions Odin had imbued upon it. These runes granted it unmatched defensive capabilities, self-repair functions, and the ability to channel and amplify the immense power of Odin at his peak.
The armor wasn't just a weapon—it was a symbol of Asgard's deepest secrets: the art of crafting and the mystical knowledge of runes.
Odin himself had sacrificed his right eye for the wisdom of the runes, hanging from Yggdrasil for nine days and nights to uncover the secrets of the cosmos. In Asgard, what appeared to be advanced technology—aircraft, weapons, and fortresses—was actually a blend of dwarven craftsmanship and rune-based spellwork.
This was why the Destroyer posed such a challenge to Wanda.
As she delved deeper into the study of white and black magic, Wanda's thirst for knowledge only grew. She was no idle dreamer; her experiences and her bond with Leon had instilled in her a relentless drive for power. The more she learned about the Destroyer's secrets, the more determined she became to master the art of rune crafting.
Runes were not just symbols—they were a language imbued with power. Each rune had its own meaning and energy, and their combinations created new and diverse effects. But learning them wasn't as simple as memorizing letters; it required spiritual communion and a deep understanding of their essence.
Wanda wasn't impatient, but she wasn't one to waste time either. If there was a smarter way, she'd take it.
So, she turned to Leon.
Leon agreed with her plan but told her it would take some time. Though puzzled, Wanda trusted him and returned to her studies.
Meanwhile, the Sky Blade battleship had already scanned and analyzed the Destroyer when Wanda brought it into the Mirror Dimension. However, deciphering divine texts required an immense amount of computational power. The Sky Blade's resources were already stretched thin, focused on analyzing Thor's genes and constructing additional Sky Blade series battleships.
Learning runes wasn't impossible for Leon, but it demanded effort and patience—something he had in abundance.
Suddenly, a deafening boom shook the heavens. Brilliant beams of multicolored light descended, sending shockwaves in every direction. Warriors clad in armor were thrown back as a powerful electrical storm raged, tearing through the battlefield.
Thor Odinson stood at the center of the chaos. His crimson cape billowed behind him, and Mjolnir crackled with lightning in his grip. His sharp, storm-filled gaze scanned the scene.
The ground beneath his feet was not natural earth but the metallic surface of a massive war fortress floating in space. Surrounding him were countless Chitauri warships and swarms of smaller aircraft.
Thor recognized the figures at the far end of the battlefield immediately.
"The Chitauri..." he muttered grimly, his voice filled with disdain. His eyes narrowed on the man standing beside the Chitauri King. "And Loki..."
Loki, dressed in his green and gold armor and signature horned helmet, smirked as he gripped the scepter gifted to him by Thanos.
"My dear brother, Thor Odinson," Loki drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I've never lost my way. I simply know what I need to achieve my goals. These allies are the key to realizing my ideals."
"They are ruthless executioners!" Thor thundered. "What do you hope to achieve by aligning yourself with them? Invade Asgard? Take the throne? That's not how one rules. Even if you succeed, you'll never win the hearts of our people."
Thor's voice was heavy with frustration and heartbreak. He could barely recognize his brother anymore. The Loki before him was cunning and callous—a stranger. Yet, Thor held onto a sliver of hope, desperately wanting to believe Loki had merely strayed down the wrong path.
But as Loki stood confidently beside the Chitauri King, his smirk unwavering, Thor knew his pleas would fall on deaf ears.