The obsidian-black armor slowly rose from the molten forge, molten red metal dripping down its face. The crimson V-shaped visor, once smooth and shiny, now bore a matte texture, refined by the legendary Uru alloy.
Suddenly, the forge roared with movement—the black armor surged upward, molten metal cascading from its frame. Its jet-flamed thrusters ignited as it blasted out of the forge, landing heavily in a nearby corridor. The once-black exterior now held a smoky matte gray finish, bestowed by the Uru alloy. The residual heat radiating from the forge was enough to make everyone present feel the blistering temperature it had been forged in. A mighty presence emanated from the armor—divine, awe-inspiring, godlike.
"This is unbelievable," Eitri said in shock, staring at Gene. The armor—crafted from Vibranium, Kree alloy, and Uru metal—was nothing short of a divine artifact.
He wasn't alone in his awe. The Warriors Three from Asgard shared the same sentiment. The mere heat emanating from the armor gave them a glimpse of the infernal temperature it had endured. They couldn't even fathom surviving such conditions. Had it been them, they'd have been vaporized long before stepping inside the forge.
Gene's strength was now even more unfathomable.
"This is hands-down the most perfect weapon I've ever seen," Eitri exclaimed with joy.
"Yes... perfect," Gene replied, his V-shaped visor flickering briefly.
His armor had just completed its internal diagnostics. The results? Flawless. Every system, every weapon, every function had surpassed expectations. Most importantly, the suit was now fully capable of withstanding the energy backlash from the Space Stone. Which meant… Gene could finally unleash its power without limit.
Asgard - Royal Palace
Thor was bound, his limbs shackled by arcane energy chains conjured from Loki's magic. Under the weight of Odinforce—now stolen and controlled by Loki—Thor was being crushed by a force hundreds of times stronger than his own. He knelt, struggling desperately to resist the urge to collapse completely.
Standing before him, seated arrogantly on the throne of Asgard, was his brother—Loki.
Meanwhile, Tony Stark was in far worse condition. During the battle, Loki had shattered the arc reactor in his chest. Now, Stark lay trapped within his own Iron Man suit, unable to move, every action draining the last bits of his energy. Thankfully, Loki didn't seem particularly interested in him at the moment.
Which gave Stark time.
While Loki reveled in his delusions of grandeur, Stark was secretly restoring his armor, rerouting power and deleting nonessential functions. He needed just one chance.
Loki sat on the throne, the very symbol of Asgard's absolute authority, gazing down at his brother with smug satisfaction. Gungnir twirled in his hand, a symbol of his newfound power. He looked upon the kneeling Thor with disdain, relishing every second of his dominance.
For the first time in his life, the world was perfect.
But then… something shifted. Loki's eyes narrowed for a fleeting moment. Something was off.
Still, he quickly recomposed himself.
"Well then, the Celestial Convergence is complete," he said, stroking his chin. "Seems Amora has failed her mission. Disappointing, but not unexpected."
"You'll never win, Loki!" Thor growled, straining under the weight of the magical chains. "Your schemes will never succeed!"
Loki shrugged. "Oh, my poor, foolish brother." His tone dripped with mockery. "Why do you cling to such naive notions? I have claimed the Odinforce! I am now the strongest being across the Nine Realms. The realms will kneel before my rule—not because of trickery, but through the sheer might of my power!"
With a dramatic flourish, Loki slammed Gungnir into the ground. Thor immediately felt the oppressive force on his body grow heavier.
He couldn't even argue anymore. Part of him feared Loki might be right.
Forgotten in the corner of the hall, Stark finally made a breakthrough.
With grit and sheer willpower, he brought his suit back online. Vital functions returned. Weapon systems reloaded. The Iron Man armor shuddered, then activated fully. It was time.
He stood up slowly, raising his arm. The repulsor core in his palm hummed with a familiar, deadly glow.
"I don't know much," Stark growled. "But I do know this—guys like you? You never win in the end!"
A blazing repulsor blast fired—not at Loki, but at the magical chains binding Thor.
The impact was precise. The arcane bonds shattered one by one, dissipating in a cascade of energy. As Thor felt his godly powers return to him, he let out a deafening war cry and rose to his full height. Without hesitation, he launched himself toward Loki.
Loki, still seated on the throne, watched the two approach with a smug grin. In his eyes, their efforts were laughable—flies trying to topple a mountain.
With a lazy flick of Gungnir, a shockwave hurled Stark across the hall. He crashed into the ground with a groan.
Then, in a blur of motion, Loki seized Thor by the throat.
Thor's legs kicked helplessly in the air as Loki held him suspended.
"Role reversal, dear brother," Loki whispered darkly. "How does it feel to be the one choking for once? I told you… I. Am. Invincible."
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