"I am the God of Thunder!"
Thor roared. His arms broke free of their restraints again, and lightning flashed across his palms.
The Grandmaster saw this and teased him:
"I don't see any thunder. Are those sparks on your hands?"
A moment later, Thor could hold out no longer. His arms were pulled back against the chair, unable to move.
Topaz approached with a Scepter in her hand and told the Grandmaster:
"We found your cousin."
The Grandmaster paused at the news, then said:
"Oh, wonderful."
He waved a hand.
"Come along. You'll like this."
As the Grandmaster headed for another room, the chair holding Thor followed him on its own.
Inside, the Grandmaster looked at the man trapped in another chair and said:
"There he is."
"Cousin."
"We almost couldn't find you. Were you hiding?"
"Well, then..."
The Grandmaster took the Scepter from Topaz. The man he had called his cousin immediately pleaded:
"Please."
"I'm sorry."
The Grandmaster looked at him and said:
"Carlo, I forgive you."
Carlo said gratefully:
"Thank you."
But the next moment, the Grandmaster touched Carlo with the Scepter.
"You're pardoned."
"Pardoned from life."
As soon as the Grandmaster finished speaking, Carlo screamed.
"Ah!"
"Help!"
Before Thor's eyes, Carlo dissolved into a puddle of blue liquid.
Thor cried out at the sight:
"Oh my God."
"That stinks."
The Grandmaster turned to Topaz.
"What's that smell?"
Topaz answered without expression:
"Burnt toast."
The Grandmaster laughed, then said:
"How rude of me."
"I haven't properly introduced myself."
He turned to Thor.
"Come on. Follow me."
Soon, the Grandmaster brought Thor to something like a bar's DJ booth. A band played behind him as he addressed Thor from the booth:
"I'm the Grandmaster."
"I host a little spectacle called the Contest of Champions."
"People from all over take