Phil looked at Dave's face as he pointed at the hammer. "Something tells me you know exactly what it is," he said.
Dave nodded. "Yeah, I know. The question is, why is he here?"
Phil raised his eyebrows in confusion, while Fury's voice came through his communicator. "Ask him who 'he' is."
"Who is 'he' you're referring to?" Phil asked.
Dave glanced at him and smirked. "Tell Fury it's Thor, the God of Thunder from myth. Only, he's not just a myth—he exists." With that, Dave flew toward the hammer, Diana following closely behind.
"Did he just say God?" Phil asked aloud, looking around.
"God of Thunder, sir," an agent confirmed. Phil nodded, still processing the information.
"Let's go," he said as he got back into his car. Unlike Dave, who could fly, and Diana, who vanished and reappeared some distance ahead (Shave, a skill reminiscent of Navy Six Styles, from One Piece), Phil had no choice but to follow in his car.
Soon, they reached the crater. Dave stood near the hammer, staring at it. There is no one here as other agents while Phil was talking with him, evacuated this place.
He resisted the urge to grab the hammer and try to lift it, knowing he wouldn't be able to. After all, he didn't possess the selfless desire to sacrifice himself for others. The only things he cared about were himself and his people.
"But..." he thought, glancing at Diana. He wondered if the brainless devotion she had to him might somehow make her worthy enough to lift it. But then again, her devotion was more about killing others for his sake, so no, she wouldn't qualify either.
His attention shifted to the hammer itself, focusing on the runes carved into it.
"The language of Asgardian magic," he mused as he began memorizing them. While he couldn't understand Asgardian magic yet, at least he could copy the symbols for later study.
As Dave observed the intricate runes on Mjölnir, he felt a faint hum of energy emanating from it. The hammer was not just a weapon but also a symbol of power and worthiness, bound by Odin's magic. Diana stood beside him, her curiosity piqued.
"Are you going to try lifting it?" Diana asked playfully, tilting her head.
Dave smirked. "No point. It's not about strength; it's about worthiness. And I know I don't meet the criteria."
Diana nodded, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Can I try? It might be fun."
Dave raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead, knock yourself out," he replied, stepping aside.
Diana approached the hammer, her fingers brushing against its cold surface. She wrapped her hands around the handle and pulled with all her might. The hammer didn't budge. She pouted slightly, stepping back and shaking her hands dramatically.
"Not even a millimeter!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, figured as much," Dave said with a chuckle. He turned his attention back to Phil, who had finally caught up with them.
Phil stood with a mix of awe and skepticism as he looked at the hammer. "So, this Thor you mentioned... Are we expecting him to show up anytime soon?"
Dave nodded. "He'll be here soon. The hammer's presence has already called to him. It's just a matter of time."
As Phil relayed this information to Fury over the communicator, a sudden change in the atmosphere made everyone pause. The air grew heavy, and the wind picked up, carrying a faint sound like distant thunder.
Dave smirked. "Speak of the devil."
But soon, the thunder subsided. Dave glanced around, his expression thoughtful. Thor might just be cursing Odin right now, he mused.
"What was that?" Phil asked, looking at the machines that showed a sudden spike in energy readings before they flatlined.
"Thor was trying to summon his hammer, but for some reason, he failed," Dave replied while inwardly adding, Of course, he failed. He's no longer worthy of it... at least not until he understands why he was banished in the first place.
"He failed?" Phil repeated, furrowing his brows. "So, does that mean he'll come here in person?"
Dave nodded. "Yes, he'll come in person now," he said, his gaze still on the Asgardian runes.
Phil looked intrigued. "Do you know what he looks like?"
Dave shrugged. "Tall guy with long blonde hair, like the myths. Trust me, his way of walking and talking will give him away. Just wait—some madman will surely show up trying to grab this hammer."
Phil smirked and then asked, "Can you stay around and help us out?"
Dave nodded casually. "I'll be here. I want to study this thing anyway."
"Great! We'll make accommodations. We'll set up your station," Phil said, walking away to organize things.
After Phil left, Diana stepped closer, her gaze curious. "Are those magic runes?" she asked.
Dave nodded. "Yes, Asgardian magic. They're not Earth-based."
Diana tilted her head thoughtfully. "Do they match anything in the Kamar-Taj archives?"
"Of course not," Dave replied with a chuckle. "They're not from Earth, after all."
Diana studied the hammer and runes for a few moments but eventually grew bored and wandered off, leaving Dave alone to focus. She went to explore the area, and a little while later, Phil approached her.
"What was that earlier?" Phil asked, his expression curious.
"What was what?" Diana replied, leaning back casually.
"You vanished from one spot and appeared in another," he said.
"Oh, that's called Shave," Diana explained. "It's a movement technique. By tapping the ground repeatedly with one foot, you create an air pressure burst. Using it, you can propel yourself forward at high speed."
Phil's brows lifted in fascination. "Can you demonstrate it in slow motion?"
Diana nodded and took her stance. She began tapping the ground repeatedly, generating the movement slowly so Phil could observe.
Phil nodded appreciatively. "Now show me the real thing," he said, pulling out his phone.
Diana smirked, got into position, and executed the Shave technique at full speed. Phil recorded her movements, marveling at the results. His phone's advanced recording feature captured even the smallest details, and he played back the footage with interest.
"Impressive," he muttered, watching the replay.
Diana glanced at the screen and gave him a satisfied grin. "Told you it's cool."
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