New Mexico.
On the outskirts of Puente Antiguo.
This desolate area, covered with yellow sand and weeds, was so barren that even wild animals didn't linger.
But now—
it was bustling with excitement.
"Let me try! This time I can move it!"
A middle-aged man rubbed his rough palms and gripped the hammer's handle.
Around him, many curious residents gathered, cheering loudly. Cars lined up nearby.
In the middle of a thirty-meter-wide crater lay a strange metal hammer.
Since yesterday, when a passerby discovered it and failed to lift it, more and more people joined this impromptu strength contest.
But no matter how hard the middle-aged man strained, his face turning purple, the hammer didn't budge.
"Step aside! Damn it, watch me! Guruhalu~~~"
A burly, muscle-bound man shoved forward, giving the hammer a few furious kicks.
As the local strongman, Mylock swore he'd prove his manhood.
"Get up——!"
He put in every ounce of strength, hands blistering from the effort.
The result?
The hammer still didn't move an inch.
"Hey! Guys, hook it up to this!"
An old man named Stark shouted from outside the pit as a jeep revved up, iron clamps strapped around the hammer.
A hammer? Just a hammer! No way it could resist!
The jeep roared, tires screeching—
then flipped over backward with a deafening crash.
And the hammer…
remained utterly motionless.
Soon, the military took notice. Civilians were driven off as they sealed the site for excavation and research.
Far across the vast cosmos—
In the realm of the gods, Asgard.
Golden palaces rose like miracles.
Within a shadowed side hall, firelight flickered across grim faces.
"How did the guards find out?"
A bearded warrior in heavy armor, Hogun, asked gravely.
Not long ago, Thor had secretly led the Warriors Three and the shieldmaiden Sif into Jotunheim, seeking to teach the Frost Giants a lesson in fear.
But instead, they were nearly trapped and killed.
It was during that battle that Loki discovered the truth—
that he bore the blood of the Jotun!
The blood of Asgard's eternal enemies, the Frost Giants!
Confusion, fear, and fury roiled in him, though he concealed it well.
Thankfully, at the last moment, Odin himself descended and brought them home.
But their reckless attack shattered the fragile truce.
Jotunheim formally declared war on Asgard.
Countless lives would be lost in the coming conflict.
In his anger, Odin stripped Thor of his godhood and cast him down to Earth, hurling Mjolnir into the void where it landed by chance in Midgard.
Upon it, Odin left his divine decree:
"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor."
…
"It was me, All-Father."
Loki's words enraged the warriors, who saw only betrayal.
"I saved your lives! Thor is arrogant and reckless! What kind of king would he be?!"
Loki spat bitterly, and the meeting dissolved in anger.
Deep down, he envied Thor—
so arrogant, yet still Odin's favorite.
While he, no matter how flawlessly he performed, was never equal in Odin's eyes.
And what could Thor accomplish anyway?
Only drag Asgard into war and ruin!
Though Loki had discovered his frost giant heritage, he was determined to prove—
he, not Thor, was the rightful king of Asgard!
Back in New Mexico.
Scientists had filled the crater, instruments encircling the hammer in layer upon layer.
"Sir, satellite scans can't penetrate the clouds. Judging from the signal this thing emits, normal tech won't work…"
In the monitoring room, experts analyzed data in vain.
Not even lasers could chip the hammer.
X-rays, ultraviolet, radiation—all failed.
The strange hammer seemed fused into the earth, impervious to every known test.
A whole day passed, and they were no closer to answers.
"How's it going, Coulson?"
A black car arrived, clearing every checkpoint.
Out stepped Fury, Natasha, and a half-asleep Saitama.
"This is our partner," Fury introduced warmly, his uncharacteristic smile making Coulson feel like he'd seen a ghost.
The famously cold Fury was acting like a doting uncle.
For a moment, Coulson even wondered—
was this bald man Fury's illegitimate son?
But he wisely kept the thought to himself.
"Temporary," Saitama yawned.
"Uh—temporary still counts," Fury chuckled awkwardly.
Coulson quickly treated Saitama with deference, leading them to the crater's edge for a clear view.
Handing Fury a stack of reports, he said gravely:
"As you can see, we have no leads. This material isn't from Earth. Based on calculations, one cubic centimeter of it weighs as much as a ten-thousand-ton carrier—or even more."
"Heavy?!"
Saitama, who had been yawning endlessly, perked up at last.
In his salted-fish world, only thrilling battles stirred him.
But this hammer—
it might be interesting.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!]
[[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]