When they arrived at the crater where Mjolnir rested, Steve Rogers stepped forward first. The others gathered nearby, forming a loose circle around the hammer.
S.H.I.E.L.D. agents stationed around the perimeter also glanced over curiously. They already knew how strange this hammer was. Earlier tests had used a five-hundred-ton tensile machine, and even that massive device had failed to move the hammer even slightly. Seeing these high-ranking figures approaching it now only made them more curious about what might happen next.
Steve planted his feet firmly on the ground, spacing them slightly apart. He rubbed his palms together as if preparing for a serious task, then took a deep breath before reaching out.
One hand grasped the handle of Mjolnir.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then Steve placed his other hand on the handle as well, quietly exerting more strength. The veins on his forehead slowly began to stand out, revealing the effort he was putting in.
Ethan Blake watched calmly from the side.
Mjolnir had been forged from the core of a dying star. Trying to lift something like that through brute strength alone was obviously unrealistic.
However, something unexpected soon occurred.
As Steve gradually increased his strength, faint arcs of electricity occasionally flickered around the hammer's surface.
At the same time, the sky above them began to change.
Dark clouds slowly gathered overhead, and a sudden gust of wind swept across the desert plain.
Seeing the strange phenomenon, everyone's attention immediately focused on Steve.
Phil Coulson in particular looked extremely tense. There was a clear hint of anticipation in his eyes as he watched the scene unfold.
After all, Ethan had just explained that whoever could lift the hammer would gain the power of Thor.
If anyone here could meet that standard, Coulson believed it would be Captain America.
Unfortunately, the strange phenomenon didn't last long.
The faint lightning disappeared, the wind calmed, and the clouds gradually dispersed.
Steve finally released the hammer and shook his head with a small smile.
"Looks like I can't lift it," he said calmly. "Maybe I'm just not worthy enough."
Ethan didn't quite agree with that conclusion.
If Odin hadn't secretly interfered, Steve would probably have lifted Mjolnir just now.
It was obvious the hammer liked him.
Ethan couldn't help letting his thoughts wander slightly.
Maybe the hammer just appreciated Steve's famous American backside.
Although Steve had failed to lift the hammer, the strange phenomenon had sparked everyone's curiosity.
Ethan had already explained that courage, selflessness, justice, and kindness were the qualities required to wield the hammer. But no one present believed they could surpass Steve Rogers in those categories.
Still, there was another possibility.
According to Ethan, the hammer belonged to Asgard. Who knew whether Asgard's definition of justice and kindness was exactly the same as Earth's?
"I'll give it a try too," Clint Barton suddenly said.
He stepped forward confidently and grabbed the hammer with both hands. His muscles tensed as he pulled with all his strength.
For a moment his face stiffened with effort.
The hammer didn't move at all.
Unlike Steve's attempt, there were no sparks of lightning or strange weather changes either.
"Well," Clint said after releasing the handle, "guess I'm not becoming the God of Thunder today."
Phil Coulson walked up next.
He grasped the handle and tried lifting it as well, but the result was exactly the same. The hammer remained firmly embedded in the ground.
What made Ethan slightly speechless was that Nick Fury stepped forward next.
Courage, selflessness, justice, kindness…
At best, Fury could probably claim half of the justice category. Watching him stand confidently in front of the hammer felt a little amusing.
Unsurprisingly, the hammer didn't budge.
Fury calmly stepped back afterward without showing even the slightest trace of embarrassment.
One thing did puzzle Ethan, though.
Natasha Romanoff hadn't shown any intention of trying.
Normally curiosity drove people to test things like this, especially when everyone else had already tried. But Natasha remained standing quietly off to the side.
"Not going to try?" Ethan asked, looking at her.
"Me?" Natasha said, giving a small, self-deprecating laugh. "If even the Captain couldn't lift it, what chance do I have?"
She shook her head lightly.
"Courage, selflessness, justice, kindness… I can't honestly say I qualify for any of those."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"You won't know unless you try," he said. "Besides, I think you have qualities that most people don't."
He paused slightly before continuing.
"Sometimes the only way to embrace a new life is to let go of the past."
There weren't many people on Earth capable of lifting Mjolnir.
But Ethan knew Natasha Romanoff was one of them.
Natasha narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at him.
For some reason, this man always seemed to understand her far better than he should.
Standing nearby, Nick Fury quietly observed the exchange.
He still couldn't confirm whether Ethan truly possessed the ability to see the future. But one thing Fury knew for certain was that Ethan had access to many secrets.
If Ethan was encouraging Natasha to try, there had to be a reason.
Could it be…
In the future, Natasha Romanoff might actually lift this hammer?
The thought flashed through Fury's mind.
His single eye narrowed slightly before he spoke in a firm voice.
"Agent Romanoff. Go ahead and try."
Natasha immediately shot Ethan an annoyed look.
This was clearly his fault.
"Fine," she said with a helpless sigh.
Fury had used her formal agent designation. That meant it was no longer a suggestion—it was an order.
Natasha stepped forward and stood in front of Mjolnir.
Her gaze lingered on the hammer as complicated emotions flickered across her face.
Courage.
Selflessness.
Justice.
Kindness.
Did any of those qualities really describe her?
Thinking about the innocent lives she had taken during her past missions, Natasha found the entire situation almost laughable.
But orders were orders.
She grasped the hammer's handle with both hands and pulled with all her strength.
There were no flashes of lightning or changes in the sky.
However, the hammer shifted slightly.
Just a tiny movement.
Then it settled back into place like an immovable mountain.
Ethan noticed it immediately and smiled quietly.
Nick Fury noticed as well, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.
Natasha released the handle and let out a relieved breath.
"See?" she said with a shrug. "I told you I couldn't lift it."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"I think you will be able to lift it someday," he said calmly. "Just not now."
He met her gaze.
"Maybe when you finally face your own heart."
Natasha clearly didn't believe him.
She gave him a doubtful look before responding.
"Then why don't you try?"
"I can't lift it," Ethan replied honestly.
He had one virtue if nothing else—self-awareness.
Courage, selflessness, justice, kindness…
Nick Fury might at least qualify for half of the justice category, but Ethan didn't even meet that standard. At best, he could claim a small sense of fairness.
"How do you know unless you try?" Natasha said with a faint smirk.
She deliberately repeated the same words Ethan had used earlier.
Her expression clearly said one thing.
If you don't try today, we're going to have a problem.
Seeing this, Ethan could only sigh.
"Alright," he said. "If you insist."
....
Join my P@treon and get 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/0LordSilvere0 (Remove the *)
Free members get 2 chapters free.
Join Right Now