The throne room of Asgard was a battlefield. Golden pillars, once pristine and regal, now bore the scars of war-cracks running along their length, scorch marks marring their surfaces. Debris littered the marble floor, and the air was thick with the scent of smoke and the distant clangor of battle. At the heart of this chaos stood Su Zhan, his expression calm and resolute, facing down Malekith the Accursed, the infamous ruler of the Dark Elves.
Malekith's pale, angular face was twisted with contempt. His eyes, cold and unfeeling, burned with an ancient hatred. He advanced with deliberate steps, the fragments of his black armor glinting in the flickering torchlight. Behind Su Zhan stood Lady Sif, legendary Asgardian warrior and loyal companion of Thor. Her shield was raised, sword drawn, every muscle in her body tense with anticipation.
Malekith's voice was like a serpent's hiss, low and venomous. "I have come to reclaim what is rightfully mine. The Aether belongs to the Dark Elves."
He did not even spare Sif a glance. His focus was locked solely on Su Zhan, as if he sensed the true threat lay with the mortal who had dared to meddle in the affairs of gods and monsters.
Su Zhan's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "Once something falls into my hands, I do not see any reason to give it back. If you want it, Malekith, come and take it yourself."
As he spoke, the swirling red energy of the Aether-the Reality Stone-vanished from around Su Zhan's body, hidden away by his will and power. Malekith's eyes widened, his confidence faltering as he tried and failed to sense the Reality Stone's presence. It was as if it had disappeared from the universe itself.
"How is this possible?" Malekith demanded, his voice cracking with disbelief.
"If you want it, you will have to defeat me," Su Zhan replied, rolling his wrist and settling into a fighting stance. The challenge in his voice was unmistakable.
Malekith sneered, his contempt for mortals evident. "You insignificant Midgardian, prepare to witness the true power of darkness!"
With a guttural roar, Malekith lunged at Su Zhan, his movements swift and deadly. Lady Sif prepared to intervene, but suddenly found herself immobilized, her body frozen in place by an invisible force. Su Zhan glanced at her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"Lady Sif, did you not say you enjoy a good wager? For now, just stay where you are," Su Zhan said, his voice calm but firm.
Sif's eyes widened in surprise, but she could do nothing as Su Zhan turned to face Malekith head-on.
Their fists collided with a thunderous impact, the force reverberating through the chamber. The two were evenly matched, neither giving ground. Malekith's surprise was evident-he had not expected a mortal to withstand his strength. Sif, too, was taken aback. She had not anticipated Su Zhan's resilience or his willingness to meet Malekith's assault without hesitation. In that moment, her perception of Su Zhan shifted. He was not just another brash outsider; he was a true warrior.
The duel intensified. Su Zhan unleashed a flurry of punches, elbows, and kicks, his movements fluid and precise. Though he had never undergone formal Asgardian combat training, his physical prowess and reflexes far surpassed those of ordinary mortals. Malekith, however, was no ordinary foe. As the leader of the Dark Elves, he possessed centuries of battle experience and the cunning of a predator.
Despite Su Zhan's strength, his blows seemed to have little effect on Malekith, whose body absorbed the punishment with unnatural resilience. Malekith's lips curled into a disdainful sneer.
"Is this all? Is this the extent of your power? You are nothing but an insect. Surrender the Aether, and I may allow you to live."
Su Zhan's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "You are quick to judge, Malekith. But perhaps you should consider who the real insect is."
He leapt backward, creating distance between himself and Malekith. "Lady Sif, move back."
Freed from Su Zhan's mental hold, Sif raised her sword defiantly. "A true warrior never retreats!" she declared, her voice ringing clear.
"I do not wish to harm you," Su Zhan said, his tone grave.
"If you can, then try," she replied, refusing to yield.
Su Zhan shook his head, a hint of exasperation in his eyes. He had no time to argue. He needed to show Malekith who truly held the power in this room.
Without warning, flames erupted from Su Zhan's body, swirling around him in a vortex of searing heat. The temperature in the chamber soared, the air shimmering as the heat intensified. Sif was forced to retreat, the sheer intensity of the flames making it impossible to remain close.
Within the inferno, Su Zhan's form became a blur, his silhouette barely visible through the roiling fire. His voice echoed through the flames, calm and unhurried. "Do you understand what a supernova is, Malekith? I wonder if your Dark Elf body can withstand temperatures that rival the heart of a dying star. My flames can reach the heat of a supernova. So, tell me-who is the real ant here?"
The ground beneath their feet began to crack and melt, the marble turning to slag and the walls blackening under the relentless assault of the heat. Sif watched from a safe distance, her eyes wide with awe and fear. She had never witnessed such raw, elemental power.
At first, Malekith remained composed, confident in his own abilities. But as the temperature continued to rise, his arrogance faltered. Sweat beaded on his brow, and a flicker of fear crossed his face. The Dark Elves were creatures of shadow, vulnerable to light and fire. The superheated flames sapped his strength, burning away his composure.
Panic overtook him. He turned to flee, desperate to escape the inferno.
"So, you are not as strong as you claim, after all," Su Zhan called out, his voice laced with contempt. "Who is the ant now?"
With a sudden burst of speed, Su Zhan launched himself through the flames, his fist connecting with Malekith's back. The force of the blow sent Malekith crashing through the wall, his body tumbling end over end before vanishing into the darkness beyond.
The palace trembled from the impact, and for a moment, silence reigned.
"Stop! Enough!" Sif's voice rang out, urgent and commanding. She could feel the very foundations of the palace buckling under the relentless heat. If this continued, the entire structure might collapse.
Su Zhan did not respond. Instead, he surged forward, flames trailing behind him as he soared through the shattered wall and into the open air. His target was clear: the Dark Elf warships hovering above Asgard.
With a sweep of his arms, Su Zhan unleashed torrents of fire, the flames coiling around his body like living serpents. As he approached the nearest ship, the hull began to glow, then buckled and melt under the onslaught. In seconds, the entire vessel erupted in a spectacular explosion, debris raining down like fiery hail.
He did not stop. One by one, the Dark Elf ships fell before him, each consumed by fire and reduced to ashes. The sky above Asgard was lit by a series of brilliant detonations, drawing the attention of every warrior below. Cries of astonishment and celebration rose from the defenders as they watched the invaders' fleet annihilated in a matter of moments.
When the last ship was destroyed, Su Zhan allowed the flames to subside, the temperature dropping as quickly as it had risen. He descended to the palace grounds, landing lightly beside Lady Sif. The last traces of fire faded from his body, leaving only the faint scent of scorched air.
He turned to Sif, a sly smile on his lips. "Do not forget our wager. You owe me a date."
Sif rushed to his side, catching him as he swayed unsteadily. The exertion had finally caught up with him, and Su Zhan's strength gave out. He slumped against her, his breathing heavy but steady.
Sif's cheeks flushed as she supported him, her eyes shining with a mixture of admiration and concern. She looked down at Su Zhan, cradled in her arms, and could not help but feel a surge of respect and something more.
For a moment, the chaos of battle faded away, leaving only the two of them standing together in the ruins of the palace. In that instant, Sif understood that Su Zhan was no ordinary man. He was a force of nature, a warrior worthy of legend.
And as the fires of battle died down, the legend of Su Zhan began to spread through the halls of Asgard, whispered by those who had witnessed his power and courage firsthand.