In the wreckage of the laboratory, Yon-Rogg and his team stood in stunned silence.
They'd expected this mission to be simple—after all, they'd come to a primitive planet. The soldiers they brought were only meant to control Carol if she lost it. But they hadn't anticipated Thor—a ruthless powerhouse whose fighting style resembled that of a fierce, untamed barbarian.
Now, the once-confident Starforce was in disarray, and every Kree soldier had been defeated. If Yon-Rogg hadn't managed to land a full-force blow and knock Mjolnir out, Thor might still be in control of the battle.
With a dark expression, Yon-Rogg commanded, "Take Vers back. Supreme Intelligence will restore her to 'normal.'" He turned to Thor, who was restrained. "Minn-Erva, take this one to another room. He'll make a fine addition. Supreme Intelligence will turn him into one of ours."
The Supreme Intelligence, an entity of pure consciousness, had no fixed form and appeared differently to each individual. It always took the shape of the most significant person in one's mind.
In Thor's vision, however...
"Uh, is that Chris Hemsworth? Or… me?" he murmured in confusion.
Supreme Intelligence smirked, observing his reflection. "I didn't expect to encounter someone so narcissistic. You're the second one, actually." The first had been Yon-Rogg.
"Really?" Thor remained unfazed, prepared for this encounter. "Though I do have one question. If a dog came to see you, would you turn into… a chew toy?"
The Supreme Intelligence's expression remained cold, unfazed by the mockery. "Provoking me isn't wise," it warned.
But the entity simply continued, "It doesn't matter. Soon, you will become one of us." It extended a hand, releasing a surge of blue energy that wrapped around Thor.
Thor immediately felt a crushing force pressing down on him, powerful enough to immobilize him, and his vision started to blur. He knew the Supreme Intelligence was trying to seize control of his mind, and he fought desperately to stay alert.
"Give up! Without your weapon, you're just a mortal. You cannot resist me," the Supreme Intelligence's voice echoed.
Thor gritted his teeth, struggling as though a massive weight bore down on his chest. His breathing grew labored, and it felt as if the very air was being squeezed out of him. The pressure intensified, threatening to overwhelm him.
But in that moment, Thor forced himself to calm down. The sounds around him seemed to fade, and time itself appeared to slow.
Outside this vision, Minn-Erva, watching Thor's struggle, sensed a rising dread. She shook her head to dismiss it, unaware of the faint arcs of electricity that began circling Thor's hand.
The Supreme Intelligence poured more energy into its control, but Thor's willpower was stronger than expected. Yet it believed this resistance was ultimately pointless.
Then, a mocking, cold voice broke the silence.
"I am Thor, prince of Asgard and God of Thunder. With a single thought, I can summon the power of the Lightning to me. None can hold me captive."
"And as for Mjolnir, it will return to me from any distance at my call. No one can stop it—not your Kree soldiers, not even you."
"If I wanted to escape, I could have done so already. I've only allowed this charade because I was curious about the limits of your arrogance."
Thor's body began to tremble as an immense, terrifying power awakened within him. Success!
Meanwhile, in another part of the space station, Yon-Rogg and the Starforce turned to confront Carol Danvers, who was resisting with all her strength.
"She's trying to break free," Yon-Rogg muttered. Energy surged throughout the station, lights flickering wildly. Outside, in the vacuum of space, dark clouds gathered and began to swirl around the station.
Inside her illusion, Carol's tense, angry expression slowly turned calm. "All this time, I've been holding back, fighting with only half my strength. Have you ever wondered what might happen if I didn't hold back?"
The inhibitor chip dropped to the floor, shattering, and the illusion dissolved.
Golden light enveloped her body as she opened her eyes, which now shone with a brilliant, blinding glow.
Captain Marvel born.
Simultaneously, outside in the swirling thunderclouds, an enormous lightning bolt, nearly a kilometer wide, condensed into a spear of energy and shot down onto Thor. The blast rocked the entire station, and as the blue lightning danced around him, Thor slowly rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with a radiant blue light.
Thor, God of Thunder, had arrived in full power.