As the dust began to settle over the ruined city, Su Zhan glanced at Thor, who was still stunned by the aftermath of the battle. With a calm smile, Su Zhan's gaze shifted to the silver blade lying beside Elliott Randolph. He bent down and, without effort, picked up the silver blade from Randolph's trembling hand.
Now, with the silver blade in his left hand and the black blade in his right, Su Zhan held the Twin Blades of Fear. The moment both blades were in his grasp, he felt a surge of power flood into his body. For a split second, a voice echoed in his mind, whispering temptations of destruction and chaos, urging him to lay waste to everything before him.
Thor, battered but still resolute, dragged himself closer and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
Su Zhan did not answer immediately. He lowered his head, arms trembling as if wrestling with something deep inside. The others—Steve Rogers, Hawkeye, and Natasha—rushed over, alarmed by the sight. Steve called out urgently, "Stop him! Don't let him take the blades!"
They all knew the danger. The Twin Blades of Fear were enchanted, and just moments ago, Elliott Randolph had been twisted into a monster by their power.
Hearing Steve's warning, Thor summoned Mjolnir and hurled it at Su Zhan. The hammer thundered through the air, but just as it was about to strike, Su Zhan lifted the black blade and flicked his wrist. With a casual, almost lazy motion, he deflected Mjolnir, sending it crashing through several buildings before it vanished from sight.
The force of the blow was effortless, yet devastating. Su Zhan slowly raised his head, his expression cold and unreadable. The etheric battle suit shimmered into existence around him, and for a tense moment, everyone feared the worst.
Steve's voice trembled with despair. "No, he's being controlled. What do we do? If Randolph was nearly unstoppable, how can we possibly face Su Zhan?"
Hawkeye, usually so quick with a quip, sounded defeated. "If we can't beat him, we're finished."
A heavy, desperate silence fell over the group.
Suddenly, Su Zhan's icy expression shifted. He broke into a smile and said, "Is this the part where I'm supposed to say, 'Not even the heavens can save you now'?"
The unexpected humor stunned everyone.
Steve stepped forward, his voice uncertain. "You… you're okay?"
Su Zhan shrugged, twirling the Twin Blades with practiced ease. "Isn't it obvious? These are mine. If I can't control my own power, wouldn't that be a joke?"
Hawkeye let out a deep breath, his relief palpable. "You scared the hell out of us!"
The tense atmosphere finally eased, and everyone began to relax.
Thor, still wary, asked, "You said these are yours? But I can sense powerful Asgardian magic within them."
Su Zhan nodded, glancing at the Twin Blades with satisfaction. "They were forged from the Berserker Staff, but I enhanced them with a few things I picked up along the way. The craftsmanship is excellent." He turned to Elliott Randolph, who had just regained consciousness. "Your work is impressive, Randolph. I'm very satisfied with the Twin Blades of Fear."
Randolph instinctively recoiled, his face pale with terror. "Please, don't let me see them again. They're… horrifying."
Su Zhan did not press the issue. "How are you feeling?"
Randolph shook his head, his voice hollow. "Terrible. It's like my whole body has been hollowed out."
Thor stepped forward, concern still etched on his face. "Su Zhan, are you absolutely sure you can handle them?"
Su Zhan smiled confidently. "Of course."
Thor studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You truly are remarkable. Aether has no effect on you, and even these blades cannot sway you. I just hope you use them wisely. Their power is… terrifying." He turned to Randolph. "You, come back to Asgard with me!"
Randolph's eyes widened in panic. "No, I don't want to go back! Su Zhan, you promised me—if I helped you forge the Twin Blades, you'd protect me. You won't go back on your word, will you? Look at these blades; they're everything you wanted. Please, help me."
Thor was taken aback. He looked at Su Zhan, uncertain. "He is Asgardian. By our laws, he must return. And after what happened here, he should answer for the destruction."
Both men looked to Su Zhan for a decision. Su Zhan considered for a moment, then said to Thor, "I'm sorry, but I can't let you take him. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it."
Thor's face grew serious. "That's the law of Asgard."
Su Zhan met his gaze. "But it isn't my law. If you insist, you'll have to take him by force."
Thor tensed, instantly on guard. "You wouldn't fight me, would you? We're friends—you're a hero of Asgard!"
Su Zhan's tone softened. "Since we're friends, and you call me a hero of Asgard, can't you let him stay? He's done nothing wrong—he just wants to live quietly on Earth. Besides, if it weren't for him, you wouldn't know half of what you do about your own history. In a way, he's a benefactor to Asgard. Without him, who would have known you as Thor?"
Thor hesitated, then finally relented. "Very well. I'll explain everything to my father. He can stay for now."
The truth was, Thor had no desire to fight Su Zhan, especially after seeing the power of the Twin Blades.
"Now that's more like it!" Su Zhan said with a grin. Suddenly, he moved, pressing the silver blade lightly against Thor's chest. Thor barely had time to react before he felt a wave of fear leave his body.
"Thank you," Thor said, feeling the oppressive fear dissipate.
Su Zhan smiled, then turned to Steve Rogers, Hawkeye, and Natasha. One by one, he used the Twin Blades to draw out the lingering fear from each of them.
Hawkeye flexed his hands, relief flooding his face. "That's so much better. I feel like myself again."
Natasha gave Su Zhan a grateful smile. The side effects and lingering dread from her last encounter with fear magic vanished, replaced by a sense of peace.
For the first time since the battle began, everyone could finally breathe easily.