Harvey remembered that, by this time, Mjolnir had already been cursed by Odin.
Only those who possessed a heart filled with justice and love for all could be deemed worthy to lift the hammer. Otherwise, the only way was through sheer, overwhelming strength. But anyone capable of that wouldn't need Mjolnir in the first place.
Though Tony had grown much stronger, his power still wasn't enough to overcome the Allfather Odin's enchantment.
So if Tony managed to lift the hammer, it could only be by the first method.
Considering Tony's ideals and his ambition to benefit all of humanity by advancing Earth into the space age, it made sense that he could wield Mjolnir.
As Tony looked at the surge of energy within him, he noticed it hadn't dissipated. There was a strange connection with the hammer he had thrown as if it were an extension of his own body—like a third arm.
"JARVIS, connect me to Harvey. Something's going on with my body, and I need to figure out what."
The feeling rattled Tony, and he quickly asked JARVIS to reach out to Harvey.
"Right away, sir."
JARVIS didn't understand what was happening to Tony's body either, but seeing his concern, he immediately contacted Harvey.
Within five seconds, Harvey answered the call.
"Harvey, you've got to help me out here. Something's wrong with my body," Tony said in a rush, like a man clutching at a lifeline.
"Don't panic. You just picked up Mjolnir, Thor's weapon," Harvey said calmly. "When you hold it, it grants you the power of Thor."
"Since you can wield the hammer, just take it back with you for now."
Harvey tried to reassure Tony while giving a quick explanation.
"Mjolnir? You mean Thor's hammer from Norse mythology?" Tony asked, confused by the unusual name.
"Exactly," Harvey confirmed with a nod.
"The legendary weapon? But why did Mjolnir suddenly fall out of the sky?" Tony questioned, puzzled.
"This isn't the best place to talk. Just call the hammer back, and I'll meet you at your estate later," Harvey suggested.
"Call it back? How do I do that?" Tony asked, still baffled.
"If you can't summon it, just go pick it up. Either way, don't worry—it won't hurt you."
Harvey was a bit exasperated. After all, it wasn't his hammer, so how would he know how to summon it? But he offered an alternative solution.
"As long as it won't harm me, that's fine," Tony said, reassured. He flew over to retrieve the hammer and headed back to Stark Estate. He figured that once he understood the hammer, he'd deal with the alien threat afterward.
On the other side, Harvey watched as Tony easily picked up Mjolnir again. This confirmed that Tony hadn't lifted it by chance, and Harvey's interest was piqued.
The hammer was supposed to be in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico, but now it was in Tony's possession. Thor was probably going to be searching for it soon.
After about ten minutes, Tony returned to Stark Estate with Mjolnir, just as Harvey arrived.
"Harvey, I was thinking earlier," Tony began as he walked into the hall, holding the hammer. "Before Mjolnir fell, there was a beam of light that came down. Was that an alien, or was it Thor himself?"
"You've still got that sharp mind of yours," Harvey said with a smile. "It was indeed Thor. And there's no doubt that the hammer you're holding is his weapon."
"Damn, I got all excited thinking it was an alien invasion," Tony said, deflating a bit. "Turns out it's just Thor."
With that, he set the hammer down on the floor, feeling a little deflated.
"You can wield the hammer—don't you want to keep it?" Harvey asked, somewhat surprised by Tony's reaction. "Mjolnir isn't weak. It can grant you the power of Thor and make you even stronger."
"I've already got the deep and mysterious Void energy," Tony replied with a shrug. "I don't need the power of Thor. Besides, since this hammer belongs to Thor, he'll come for it eventually. I'll just return it to him when the time comes."
Harvey was genuinely surprised by Tony's calm and humble attitude. Instead of praising him directly, he joked, "Wow, you've learned to kiss up without saying a word! But don't expect any favors from me."
"Heh, hanging out with Reno too much, I guess," Tony said with a grin. "He and the others are always going on about the greatness of the Void God—you, of course. I picked up a thing or two. And besides, you've already helped me more than enough."
"It's good that you have such an open mind," Harvey said. "With that kind of outlook, it's no wonder you were able to lift Mjolnir."
"Wait, are you saying there's a requirement to lift Thor's hammer?" Tony asked, now fully intrigued. He quickly sat up from his previously relaxed position on the couch.
"Odin, the Allfather, crafted that hammer. Not just anyone can lift it," Harvey explained. "You need to have a righteous heart to be deemed worthy."
"Can you lift it?" Tony asked, even more curious.
"Like I said…" Harvey reached out casually and tried to lift Mjolnir. It didn't budge an inch.
"You're messing with me, right? No way!" Tony said, laughing at how casually Harvey had tried.
"I could lift it, sure, but I'd use brute strength. Your way is different—you were deemed worthy because of your beliefs."
With that, Harvey's right hand began to glow with purple Void energy. He exerted a bit of force and easily lifted Mjolnir.
"See? Lifting it isn't that hard," Tony remarked, watching Harvey hoist the hammer with ease. It didn't even seem to require any effort.
Note: If you are interested, read up to chapter 180 at patreon.com/MythicForge11.