"That's the weird part," Coulson's voice crackled over the line. "It's not... logically heavy. It's sitting on a pile of dirt. If it weighed ten tons, it would sink. But the dirt is fine."
"Yet," Coulson continued, "we can't move it. We hooked it up to a winch. The winch snapped. We tried to dig under it. The dirt under it became as hard as diamond. It's like... the universe decided this object stays here."
"Magic," Fury muttered. "Or sufficiently advanced technology that looks like magic."
"Are you on site?" Fury asked.
"Just arrived," Coulson confirmed. "We've established a perimeter. The locals are calling it a 'Satellite Crash'. We're building a containment unit around it. The 'Crater Base'."
"Good," Fury nodded. "This is a Level 10 asset. Treat it like a nuclear bomb that can talk. And keep an eye out for the owner. If a blonde guy with a bad temper shows up... call me."
"Understood," Coulson replied. "And if he asks for his hammer back?"
"Tell him he needs a permit," Fury deadpanned. "Stall him."
Fury hung up.
"It's begun," Fury looked at Tony. "The hammer is down. The God is coming."
"One thing bothers me," Tony frowned, tapping his chin. "Why does a hammer fall from the sky? If Asgard is another planet, or another dimension, did they just... drop it?"
"It feels deliberate," Tony analyzed. "Like an exile. Or a test."
"If Thor is the protagonist of his own story," Fury suggested, "then this is his 'Cave Moment'. His origin story. He lost his power, and now he has to earn it back."
"A depowered God," Tony realized. "That makes him vulnerable. And dangerous."
Meanwhile, in his apartment, Lucas stretched, cracking his knuckles.
The ten million dollars from Tony had hit his account. He was officially retired. He could buy an island. He could buy a small country.
"But where's the fun in that?" Lucas mused, looking out at the city.
He had started as an observer. A transmigrator just trying to survive. But now? He was Superman. He had power. He had influence.
"I can't just watch," Lucas decided. "Not when I can fly."
He opened the diary. The system was simple. Write. Get stronger. Sunbathe. Repeat.
But with great power comes... great boredom.
"Let's spice things up," Lucas grinned.
He started typing.
[Thor 1 was supposed to be Odin's tough love lesson. A trial by fire for his arrogant son.]
[But even All-Fathers make mistakes. What if this isn't the 'Main Timeline'?]
[What if this is the 'What If...?' timeline where Hawkeye accidentally puts an arrow through Thor's eye?]
[If the Golden Boy dies on Earth, by a human hand... oh boy.]
[Loki—the drama queen of the Nine Realms—would use it as a Casus Belli. Invasion. War. The whole nine yards.]
[It would be chaos.]
Lucas paused. He wasn't really worried about Loki. Or the Chitauri.
"Odin is the problem," Lucas thought. "And Hela. The Goddess of Death."
"Frigga is strong," Lucas noted. "She went toe-to-toe with Malekith. But she let her guard down. Rookie mistake."
"The Marvel Multiverse is a mess," Lucas sighed. "The 'What If' series proved that anything can happen. Tony didn't get shrapnel in his heart here. So who knows?"
"My knowledge is a guide, not a gospel. I need to be careful."
"But if Hawkeye kills Thor..." Lucas chuckled darkly. "That would be a hell of a plot twist."
SHIELD Helicarrier.
"Sir!" An analyst shouted. "New entry!"
Fury read the text. His blood ran cold.
[What if this is the timeline where Hawkeye accidentally puts an arrow through Thor's eye?]
"Barton," Fury whispered.
Clint Barton was currently stationed in New Mexico. Watching the hammer. With a bow.
"Get me Coulson," Fury barked. "NOW!"
"And get Barton off the nest! Tell him to stand down! Do not engage! I repeat, DO NOT ENGAGE!"
"If he kills the Prince of Asgard," Fury roared, "we are all dead!"