The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word HELLFIRE
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More clues leading to the result HELLFIRE
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "destruction" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case destruction = hellfire.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HELLFIRE mean?
HELLFIRE noun- The fire of Hell.
- Fire produced by the Devil, or a similar supernatural creature connected to Hell.
- A fire that burns with unusual heat or ferocity.
- Of or relating to a violent, apocalyptic and ultimate day of reckoning and judgment; usually characterizing a form of Christian preaching.