The entire grocery store had fallen into a tense, uncanny stillness.
If there was a single creature in Luke's orbit that required a push to evolve, it was the lucky cat.
Luke understood that better than anyone: it only grows when it's terrified.
That's why he had staged the outburst, why he'd threatened it with destruction.
But to outsiders like Nick Fury and Hill, who had just witnessed Luke threatening a plastic statue with cold fury… it was deeply unsettling.
They exchanged a glance and instinctively took two cautious steps back, inching toward the exit.
Maybe if we turn around slowly, we can still run for it…
Nick Fury, sweating slightly beneath his coat, was seriously reconsidering every decision he'd made that had led him here.
His instincts screamed that he needed to stay close to Luke, but not too close.
…
Clint Barton, still standing near the shelves, looked like he'd seen a ghost.
He hadn't moved much since walking through the door, just stared blankly at the absurd scenes unfolding in front of him.
'This place... is worse than a circus.'
And yet… he felt like he finally understood what Natasha and Coulson had meant when they avoided describing Luke.
They hadn't been trying to hide anything.
They simply didn't have the words.
…
Luke approached Thor, who remained crouched over his hammer, and placed a firm, reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Take a good look at that axe, brother," Luke said softly. "Pick it up. Just try it, you might be surprised."
Thor hesitated, still mourning Mjölnir, but his gaze shifted to the heavy, oversized axe resting nearby.
Its shape really was beautiful. Powerful, mighty.
As he stared at it, the lucky cat, quietly perched back on the counter, glowed faintly, a subtle red shimmer flickering in its eyes.
No one noticed.
But something shifted in Thor.
He still loved Mjölnir, but… maybe he could hold something else.
Maybe… just give it a try.
He stood slowly, approached the axe, and bent down.
His fingers wrapped around its thick handle, and to no one's surprise, he lifted it with ease.
In his grip, the massive weapon twirled effortlessly.
He spun it once, then twice.
It sang through the air like an extension of his arm.
For a moment, Thor just blinked.
'Why… does this feel so right?'
He frowned, confused.
He'd always felt uncomfortable holding any weapon that wasn't Mjölnir.
But this one… felt good.
Almost natural.
Still, there was one thing missing.
"It's a fine weapon," Thor said finally, his voice low. "Powerful. Balanced."
He paused, then added sadly: "But it doesn't let me summon thunder."
Luke sighed through his nose, brow creasing in thought.
He could see this was the final hurdle.
Then, he thought of something and his expression turned solemn.
He placed a hand on Thor's shoulder again, this time gripping him firmly.
"Thor," he said, voice calm but commanding. "You are the god of thunder, not the god of hammers."
Thor blinked.
"Your power never came from Mjölnir. It comes from you. You summon lightning, not because of that hammer, but because of who you are."
There was silence.
The kind of silence that feels heavy and makes it hard to breathe.
Thor's mouth fell slightly open.
Luke leaned in.
"That hammer… maybe it's been holding you back."
"Stop feeling the thunder with your hand. Start feeling it with your heart."
CRACK~!
A bolt of lightning split the sky above.
Thunder roared overhead.
Clouds rolled in like an army, blanketing the heavens.
Outside the grocery store, daylight vanished in an instant.
The air grew heavy.
Electric.
In the center of the store, Thor's entire body began to hum with raw energy.
His skin shimmered with arcs of lightning, silver tendrils dancing across his arms.
His eyes flared white-hot, glowing with godlike power.
Luke stumbled back, startled.
'Wait, I was just quoting Odin! I didn't think it would actually work!'
He looked up at the ceiling nervously.
The storm outside was intensifying, lightning coalescing into one spot, directly above the building.
'Oh crap. My roof…'
…
Acting fast, Luke snatched Mjölnir from the ground and tossed it to Wanda.
"Take this, draw the lightning away! Get it out of the store!"
Wanda caught it clumsily, surprised by the throw.
Before she could react, Sharon, who had been quietly standing by the entrance the whole time, stepped forward.
"Give it to me!" she shouted. "I'm closer to the exit, I'll go!"
Wanda nodded and tossed the hammer.
Sharon swiftly caught it mid-air and dashed outside into the storm.
As soon as she lifted Mjölnir skyward, the clouds responded.
BOOM~!
A torrent of lightning struck her like a river of pure energy.
But this time, the lightning was different.
It didn't just pass through Mjölnir.
It flooded her entire body.
Her muscles tensed, her breath caught in her throat.
Her skin began to glow faintly.
She stumbled back, eyes wide.
'Too much… this is too much!'
The power flowing through her was beyond what she'd ever trained for, beyond what any normal body could handle.
Fury and Hill, watching from nearby, shouted in horror.
"Sharon!" Fury called. "Get back!"
He reached for his sidearm, despite knowing it was useless.
His heart thundered in his chest.
If something happens to her… he felt like everything he had done to keep Luke on their side would be for nothing.
Sharon was the bridge that connected S.H.I.E.L.D and Luke.
Hill looked on, pale-faced, fingers frozen over her comm unit.
Even Luke's expression darkened.
He hadn't seen this coming, not like this.
"No…" he muttered. "Sharon"
Suddenly, a chime echoed inside his mind.
[Ding! Sharon's body has begun adapting to the lightning. She finds the sensation comfortable. Thunder Physique awakened. She can now control lightning with ease. It would not be an exaggeration to call her a female Thor.]
Before he could react, another message followed:
[Ding! Mjölnir has detected Sharon's compatibility and fallen in love. Loyalty permanently transferred. From now on, Mjölnir will follow her unquestionably.]
…
(Support with power stones or comments. You can subscribe to my Patreon /mysterion901 to read over 40 advanced chapters 🐢🐖🐧)