"Thor!"
Seeing Thor being knocked back by the Destroyer, flying several meters and landing unconscious on the ground, Jane couldn't hold it in anymore. She screamed and rushed toward him.
Lynch, standing nearby, didn't stop her. In fact, he felt like having a soda.
Because...
An epic moment was about to happen!
He could sense an unusual energy surging from Thor's hammer nearby. The God of Thunder...
Was about to make a comeback!
The Destroyer glanced coldly at Thor, who was barely clinging to life, and then turned to leave.
Jane collapsed on Thor, sobbing uncontrollably. She couldn't understand why this had happened, why he had to face certain death.
Just then!
Thor, who had been stripped of his powers by Odin for his arrogance and warmongering, had undergone various trials on Earth: being treated like a mortal, forming bonds with Jane and other human friends, fighting alongside comrades, and seeking redemption under Lynch's guidance, even willing to sacrifice his life to save everyone...
He had finally completed the transformation Odin had hoped for!
He had passed the test!
A tear slowly slid down Odin's face as he slept, while Thor's ears echoed with the curse his father had uttered in a thunderous voice:
"Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor!"
At the crater where Thor's hammer lay, the scientists at the scene were frantically scrambling around as the hammer began to emit a powerful energy.
Clouds started gathering above Thor.
In an instant!
The hammer sensed its master's call and shot into the sky, breaking through all obstacles!
It was coming!
Thor's hammer, wrapped in lightning and light, was about to bring the God of Thunder back to the world!
"What's that?" Jane's friend and assistant, Darcy, pointed at the streak in the sky, dumbfounded.
"He's back!" Sif said with barely contained excitement.
"Jane! It's dangerous! Move away!" Jane's father, Erik, shouted in worry.
Jane, hearing the commotion, looked up in surprise.
Lynch quickly appeared by Jane's side, pulling her away.
"Lynch, what's happening?" Jane, guessing what was happening, asked Lynch in surprise and joy.
Lynch smiled slightly and answered, "Thor has passed the test and is about to regain his powers. Weren't you curious if he's really a god? Well, you're about to find out!"
As they spoke, the hammer, wrapped in lightning, rocketed toward the unconscious Thor.
Suddenly, Thor extended his hand and caught Mjolnir firmly!
As brilliant lightning crackled, his strength surged, piece by piece, armor began to form around him...
Sensing something was amiss, the Destroyer and Loki quickly turned their heads. Under growing suspicion, the Destroyer began to charge up another powerful attack.
But before it could unleash this strike, Thor's hammer flew out of the lightning and struck the Destroyer hard, knocking it to the ground!
"Oh my god!" Jane stared at the now-armored Thor standing amidst the lightning, her face showing sheer disbelief.
Her father Erik and her friend Darcy wore similarly shocked expressions.
Lynch, however, chuckled, having expected this outcome.
Thor had quite the flair for grand entrances.
With a thunderous boom, the God of Thunder had returned!
Decked out in full armor and a flowing red cape, Thor spun his hammer and took to the skies, summoning a small tornado.
The storm sucked the Destroyer into the air, and Thor seized the opportunity to rain down blows with his hammer.
The Destroyer fired a beam of destruction, but Thor, holding Mjolnir high, charged through the beam and brought his hammer crashing down from above.
"Boom!"
A massive shockwave rippled out, and the Destroyer was smashed to the ground, motionless.
In Asgard, Loki, with a grim expression, gave a sinister smile and whispered, "Now's the time!"
On Earth, Thor, brimming with confidence, descended from the sky, gripping Mjolnir.
He had passed the test and regained Mjolnir's recognition!
He had restored his powers!
Barely able to contain his excitement, he approached his friends.
"Is that your usual outfit?" Jane asked, trying to sound calm as she inspected Thor closely.
"More or less," Thor smiled, nodding slightly at Lynch.
Then he turned to his comrades and said, "Let's head to the Bifrost site. I need to find Loki!"
Just then, a few cars arrived, and Coulson stepped out with his team.
He gave a wry smile, reintroducing himself to Thor.
Another god!
"Thor, your outfit's pretty cool," Coulson said sincerely.
Thor responded solemnly, "Son of Coul, we fight for the same cause—to protect this world. Please, do not hinder our mission!"
"Okay," Coulson said, sneaking a glance at Lynch and nodding in agreement.
"It's not over yet!" Lynch suddenly said.
Thor, hearing this, immediately sensed something and looked in a certain direction.
The Destroyer, which had been knocked to the ground, now stood again, preparing to unleash an even more powerful beam of destruction!
"Oh no!"
There was no time to dodge!
Fear gripped everyone's hearts.
Thor's face changed as he raised Mjolnir, preparing to shield everyone from the blast.
But...
The beam was faster and more ferocious than any before, and just as Thor moved to act, the beam was already upon them!
"No!"
Thor roared.
Given the sheer force of the attack, if it hit, everyone he cared about would perish!
Even his restored godly power wouldn't be enough to save them!
But a second later, Thor realized there was no explosion.
He looked up and saw the figure standing between them and the beam.
Lynch!
The man who had predicted everything, helped him pass the test, and regain his powers!
The man who had comforted and encouraged him during his darkest moments!
The man to whom Thor had sworn loyalty!
If, that night, he had made that vow under the influence of alcohol and impulsiveness, now, in this moment, his gratitude toward Lynch was boundless.
Thor silently renewed his oath in his heart!
"Are you all okay?" Lynch, still in the air, asked the group behind him.
He, too, was a bit stunned. Who would've thought Loki had such a sneaky move, essentially giving the Destroyer a second driver?
And it seemed the Destroyer had powered up, too—this last beam almost matched his own heat vision!
And he was at 70% of Superman's strength!
Odin certainly knew what he was doing!
"We're fine!" everyone replied, their eyes glued to Lynch.
Was this the "Superboy"?
Was this the god of Earth?
Their worldview was gradually crumbling, and they felt a bit numb.
At this point, they would probably even believe if a bearded old man came down and claimed to be God!
"Loki!" Thor roared, swinging his hammer and charging at the Destroyer.
But...
He was knocked back even faster, just like Volstagg had been.
Another beam of destruction followed closely behind, and Lynch quickly moved to block it.
"Thor, leave this guy to me. You guys head to the Bifrost site!" Lynch said, noticing the stars in Thor's eyes.
The Destroyer?
They said it was indestructible and immune to physical attacks?
Seemed like the perfect punching bag!