Episode 6: A New Enemy Approaches!

"Thunderthor, Lighting Blast!" Thor commanded.

In response, the Thunderthor thrust its hammer in Spidi's direction causing an electric projectile to zap Spidi in one flash. This made Spidi fall and land on his back, but his legs barely moved.

"Spidi!" Peter cried and knelt before the little jumping spider. "You're going to be fine. I just need to heal you with Healing Factor Juice."

From Peter's pack, he took out a syringe with clear liquid and injected it into Spidi. This caused Spidi's visible lightning burns to go away and his legs to wriggle more. As a result, Spidi was able to flip himself right back up using his stingers.

"That's it," Peter murmured and then said, "Spidi, Web Shot Thunderthor's hammer!"

So Spidi did that, but Thunderthor gripped the hammer tightly. Yet Spidi merely launched himself at Thunderthor landing on its wrist which allowed Spidi to plunge the stingers into it. Thunderthor flinched briefly before swatting Spidi away.

"Very good," Thor smirked. "You tried to use Spidi's Stinger attack to paralyze Thunderthor. Unfortunately, paralysis doesn't work on Thunderthor since electricity is constantly coursing through his body which gives him a higher metabolism. Thus, any conditions he gets from Marémon attacks don't last long."

"Jeez," MJ remarked. "Does Thunderthor have any weaknesses?"

While MJ checked her MarGuide, Thor told Thunderthor to use Lightning Blast again. This time, Spidi dodged it and then Peter ordered him to Web Shot Thunderthor's face. Blinded by the thick webbing, Thunderthor tried to remove it with both hands causing him to drop the hammer which fell on his feet. Crying out loud, he stumbled backwards and fell right into Thor who fell back too.

"Huh, that worked better than I expected," Peter observed.

Thunderthor's eyes suddenly turned bright blue as he waved his hand causing the hammer to return to him. Getting back up, he let out a blood-curdling scream and charged at Spidi. But then he was encapsulated by a flash of light and returned to Thor's PDB.

"Why did you do that?" Peter asked.

"For your protection," Thor explained. "When Thunderthor gets angry enough, he unlocks the Warriors Madness ability which makes him more aggressive than usual and liable to kill any living thing in his vicinity."

"He's right, Peter," MJ claimed. "The MarGuide said the same thing."

"But there's a way to control Warriors Madness, right?" Peter assumed.

"Yes," Thor nodded. "It's called Frigga's Love, which is a device that creates illusions to soothe Marémon afflicted by Warriors Madness. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take this device with me when I had the Realm Champion title stolen from me."

Peter blinked in confusion. "So you're not the current Realm Champion of New Asgard?"

"I was, but my brother Loki decided to take my place," Thor responded. "He put my father Odin into a deep sleep and challenged me to a Marémon Match. But he had help from Hela, my older sister, so they were able to defeat me with the combined powers of their Marémon. They then kicked me out of New Asgard, and so here I am."

After a pause, MJ said, "Okay, but you realize that Peter won the match since you called Thunderthor back."

"I know, but if I was able to soothe Thunderthor's Warriors Madness he would've definitely won," Thor pointed out.

"Plus, I used Healing Factor Juice on Spidi," Peter added. "Although you never did specify whether we could use items during our match or not."

"True, so you're fine," Thor claimed. "Anyway, since you technically won I won't ask you to get me a coffee. Instead, I'll give directions to New Asgard and be on my way."

"To where?" MJ asked rhetorically. "Don't you want your title back?"

"What's the point?" Thor said as he placed his PDB back inside his sweater jacket pocket. "I wasn't able to win against Loki and Hela, so why would I have a better chance the second time?"

"Because you won't be alone," Peter interjected. "I'll help you defeat them, and you could help me become a better Marémon Wielder since you're clearly more experienced than I am."

"Plus, if you didn't have confidence in your Thunderthor's abilities you wouldn't have challenged Peter to a match in the first place," MJ added. "Unless you just like challenging random people to matches in order to make yourself feel better to make up for your cowardice."

Frowning, Thor took out his PDB again just as MJ took out hers. But before they could summon their Marémon, three men suddenly appeared. They wore matching dark green uniforms with octopus-shaped logos on their chests and masks that covered their faces while their eyes were obscured by dark goggles.

"Team HYDRA," MJ flinched. "I thought Steve Rogers defeated you guys long ago."

"On the contrary, fräulein," said an electronic male voice.

From a gap between the three men appeared a floating computer monitor with a pixelated face on it that resembled a sullen man wearing dark glasses. It was also accompanied by a young man with medium brown hair wearing dark goggles and a mask covering the lower-half of his face, wearing a black leather jacket pants kneepads boots and gloves.

"After our leader was defeated by Rogers, we went into hiding," said the floating computer monitor. "Now we seek to finish what we started: total world domination!"

"And how do you plan to do that?" Thor asked.

"Steal your Marémon, of course," answered the floating computer monitor. "Otherwise, you'll have to deal with me and my men."

Peter took out his MarGuide and pointed it at the floating computer monitor.

"Ar-I, the Bio-Fanatic Marémon," EDITH claimed. "During the Second Marémon War, a HYDRA scientist named Arnim Zola transferred his consciousness onto an advanced computer before dying. However, this computer became a Tech-Type Marémon with the ability to mind control any living thing and transfer itself into most electronic devices."

"Yes, thanks for that pointless introduction," Ar-I replied. "So what will it be, children? Your Marémon or your lives?"

To be continued…