The hammer's summoning drained energy at an alarming rate. First came the precise positioning, then a massive surge of power vanished in an instant. Within the simple S.H.I.E.L.D. Base built around the hammer, the weapon began to hum and tremble. The soil loosened, and the energy readings skyrocketed.
Before the researchers could comprehend what was happening, the hammer erupted from the ground with a deafening boom. It shattered through the roof of the Base and shot into the sky. Hong Fei felt like a cracked wooden barrel, energy pouring out of him in torrents.
In the distance, the hammer streaked through the air, trailing white smoke, its rumbling roar drawing everyone's gaze upward. "It's you! It's really you!" Thor's expression was a mix of excitement and anger, his shock far surpassing that of Sif and the Warriors Three beside him.
"You can summon Mjolnir? You must be the purest, most righteous person on this planet! Only such a person could earn Mjolnir's approval—aside from me, of course. And I am also pure and righteous!"
Matt, standing nearby, rolled his eyes. "If he's pure and righteous, then I must have 20/20 vision in both eyes." Bang!
The hammer slammed into Hong Fei's hand, crackling with lightning. Without hesitation, he thrust it toward Thor. "Pick up your weapon and defeat your enemies!" Thor hesitated, torn between reaching out and fearing failure. Beneath his mask, Hong Fei's expression shifted. He grabbed Thor's hand and shoved the hammer into it. Clang!
Thor crashed face-first into the ground, the hammer dragging him down. His body bounced slightly upon impact. The group stared in stunned silence, glancing from the fallen Thor to the frozen Hong Fei. Hong Fei thought, If I say I didn't do it on purpose, would they believe me? The truth was, if he didn't hand it over, he'd be completely drained.
The Destroyer, watching from a distance, saw the hammer fly by. Loki, seated on Asgard's throne, sneered at the scene. The armored giant approached with menacing strides, its aura radiating danger. Sif stepped forward. "We'll stop it. You all go first! Volstagg, help me distract it!"
The Warriors Three charged forward as Jane clung to Thor, calling his name repeatedly, as if preparing for a melodramatic reunion.
Hong Fei heard the distant explosions and suppressed the urge to flee. He snatched Thor from Jane's arms, activated the "Deceive Time and Crowd" skill card, and poured every ounce of his recovered energy into it. His voice dropped to a whisper. "On the day you were born, all of Asgard—no, the Nine Realms—softly called your name: 'Thor.'"
The hypnotic, narrative tone of his words wormed their way into everyone's minds like a spell. Sif and the Warriors Three turned their heads in astonishment. Did that really happen? In Asgard, Loki froze momentarily, then clenched his teeth as he thought of his own origins.
He seized control of the Destroyer, which swung a massive fist at Volstagg, who was charging at the forefront. The armor lunged forward, intent on crushing him into paste. Sif recovered quickly, scaling a nearby building. As the Destroyer lowered its head, she leaped onto its shoulder and drove her blade deep into its throat.
The citizens of Asgard watched you grow day by day, swelling with pride. They believed you would become the very embodiment of justice." Volstagg, having narrowly escaped disaster, bellowed at the top of his lungs, "That's right! We all believe!" His voice echoed through the chaos. "Remember, Asgard has always ruled the Nine Realms with wisdom and strength." Crackle! Crackle!
Delicate streaks of lightning danced along Thor's arms, twisting like living thunder snakes. Across the battlefield, the armor Sif had pierced through the throat emitted a violent metallic screech. Its joints twisted unnaturally, its head rotating backward to face forward in an instant. The face mask snapped open, unleashing a searing beam of high-temperature energy.
Sif's reflexes saved her—she dodged just in time. "Every Asgardian believes you will wield your strength with caution," she called out. Loki snorted from the sidelines. "Bullshit!" The Destroyer surged forward, chasing Sif and the Warriors Three. Its relentless fireballs exploded, igniting buildings along the street. "But, God of Thunder!"
"True victory lies in inspiring your people's fighting spirit," Volstagg continued, his voice rising above the chaos. "Protect your people, and grant them lasting peace!" Thor's fingers twitched, his eyelids fluttering rapidly. "Someday..." Hong Fei paused mid-sentence, his thoughts drifting. If the circumstances allowed, he'd have loved some epic background music.
"Someday, the All-Father will reach the end of his life, and you... will be crowned King!" Boom! The sky erupted, dark clouds gathering in an instant, thickening as if heralding the apocalypse. Within the storm, massive thunder snakes writhed through the dense clouds.
Thor's body surged into the air, Mjolnir gripped tightly in his hand. His eyes snapped open, and he raised the hammer high. Crackle! A colossal pillar of lightning descended from the swirling thunderclouds, illuminating the entire town and the wilderness beyond.
The armor Odin had stripped away reassembled itself, piece by piece, crawling up Thor's arms. Finally, with a rustle, a crimson cape billowed behind him. Jane, Darcy, and Dr. Erik Selvig stared in awe. Sif and the Warriors Three roared with excitement. Matt covered his ears, nearly deafened by the thunder. Coulson, rushing to the scene, leaned halfway out of his car, eyes wide.
Master Hong stood apart from the others. He gazed at the spot where Thor had lain moments before. A deep purple card floated slowly upward, its light outshining even the lightning erupting from Thor. What's this? Did I just defeat the God of Thunder with words? The card vanished into his body before he could examine it further.
Thor turned to Hong Fei, his demeanor transformed, gratitude shining in his eyes. Hong Fei shook his head, tapped his metal mask, and walked away without hesitation. This was the God of Thunder's moment, and it had nothing to do with him. His own gains were more than satisfactory—far exceeding expectations.
Taking advantage of everyone's focus being on Thor and the Destroyer, Hong Fei mounted his motorcycle, twisted the throttle, and sped into the distance. Hmm, excellent. Goddess Sif didn't notice I took her sword. No, perhaps it's better to say she gifted it to me—she never asked for it back, after all. Besides, she has two. She's a goddess!
A sword? Hardly worth her concern. The Destroyer's remnants might hold value, but now wasn't the right time to claim them. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s custody would suffice—safe and secure. Moments after Hong Fei departed, a towering black whirlwind erupted in the town, lightning and fire twisting violently within its core.
Soon, the Destroyer lay defeated. Thor emerged triumphant from the haze, hammer in hand, striding purposefully toward Jane Foster. Sif lingered behind, her gaze darting to the Warriors Three, who quickly averted their eyes under her sharp glare.
She'd always admired Thor, the dashing God of Thunder, but fate hadn't spun their threads together. Her hand instinctively reached for her sword's hilt, only to grasp empty air. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the area with electric intensity, but the figure she sought was nowhere to be found.
"Did you see that masked man?" she demanded, turning to Volstagg with a furrowed brow. He barely glanced her way. "Him? He left just a moment ago." Sif's jaw tightened. That sword—a gift from the All-Father himself, enchanted and blessed—was gone.
Coulson and his team arrived, interrupting the tender moment between Thor and Jane. "Excuse me, Mr. Donald, but it seems you haven't been entirely truthful," Coulson stated. Thor stepped forward, his tone firm. "Son of Coul, we share the same goal: protecting this world. Return Jane's belongings, and we can stand as allies."
"It was stolen!" Jane interjected. "Borrowed temporarily," Coulson countered smoothly, his quick thinking evident. "Of course, you can have it back. After all, your research depends on it." Matt approached, whispering into Coulson's ear. His eyes flickered with interest. "Mr. Thor, do you know the man who appeared here earlier? Black clothes, a metal mask, wielding a gold-red cross blade?"
Thor's mind flashed to Hong Fei's abrupt departure. "No, I don't know him at all." Coulson's smile faltered. Behind Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three exchanged puzzled glances. Erik Selvig and Darcy shared a silent look, while Jane frowned, certain Thor must know the man.
"Very well, Son of Coul," Thor said, his voice resolute. "I have urgent matters to attend to. Please return Jane's possessions promptly." With that, he swept Jane into his arms and soared into the sky.
In the distance, Hong Fei rode his bike, his attention focused on the five skill cards he'd acquired. Two green, two blue, and one purple. Passive skill card: Sword Master (Green) - Fandral. Passive skill card: Enhanced Physical Resistance (Blue) - Volstagg: Physical attack resistance increased by 50%, magic damage taken increased by 100%.
Passive skill card: Dual Wielding (Blue) - Sif: Dual wielding weapons doesn't hinder performance and can unleash greater attack power. All four were passive. The first two were redundant; Hong Fei was already a Sword Master, and hammer skills weren't his forte.
Enhanced Physical Resistance had its uses, but given his Eyes of Death, opponents rarely landed hits. Dual Wielding, however, was perfect—he now wielded both a blade and a sword. Though he'd practiced dual blades and dual swords before, neither had been mastered.
Active skill card: Odin's Seal (Purple 1/1)...
"This isn't just a seal—it's a path of cultivation. The sealed individual unlocks it naturally through introspection of heart and strength. Once achieved, their power surges dramatically. Warning: consumes immense energy. Use sparingly."
It turns out he didn't defeat the God of Thunder with his mouth alone. His words guided Thor to examine himself, shattering Odin's seal in the process. The power of a devoted son is truly fearsome! Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable, Amitabha—may Odin never uncover the origin of that passage.