Although the Electromaster's Railgun boasted a billion volts of high-voltage current, she did not have all that many techniques. Her most famous move was undoubtedly the one where she launched a coin as ammunition.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was different. It had many potential techniques, and Mercer remembered all those abilities. If he chose it, he could adapt more quickly to the powers the Rumble-Rumble Fruit granted him.
"All right, this is the one."
With his mind made up, Mercer raised his hand and tapped the fourth option.
The other three dissolved into motes of light and dispersed. Only the fourth gathered together, streaming into Mercer's palm and forming a ball of light slightly larger than his hand.
The light gradually faded, revealing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in full.
It was a silver and pale blue fruit, shaped somewhat like an apple, with lightning-shaped markings and patterns adorning its surface.
"So this is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
Mercer curiously hefted the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in his hand, turning it over to examine it. This was his first time seeing it in its actual fruit form, so he could not help playing with it a little longer.
After a moment's hesitation, Mercer brought the fruit to his mouth and took a bite.
His first impression was that it tasted awful.
It tasted like a shriveled apple. Its surface looked plump and juicy, but biting into it was like eating a loaf of Russian bread that had gathered dust for years. Every mouthful was nothing but sandy crumbs.
If it had not been a reward from the system, Mercer would have spat it out after the first bite.
"Devil Fruits all seem to taste terrible. Better get this over with."
Fighting the urge to throw up, Mercer quickly polished off the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Once he finished, he let out a long breath, as though he had survived some ordeal.
He was still inwardly complaining about how a Devil Fruit could taste so terrible when his expression shifted slightly. He looked down at his hands in astonishment.
His slender fingers gradually turned insubstantial, breaking apart into strands of lightning. The transformation spread upward from his fingers until, under Mercer's astonished gaze, his entire body dissolved into lightning.
Only Mercer's clothes remained on the floor.
The eerie silence did not last long. A dozen seconds later, countless silver-white bolts of lightning converged from all around, filling out the clothes lying on the floor. They gathered into a human shape, restoring Mercer's appearance.
Now, however, Mercer stood motionless with his eyes closed, like a statue.
After a long moment, Mercer slowly opened his eyes. Had anyone been there, they would have been stunned by his appearance.
His formerly blue-green eyes had turned completely silver-white.
Silver-white lightning filled his eyes, and faint rumbles of thunder seemed to sound around him.
The next second, Mercer's right hand suddenly scattered into strands of lightning and lashed out behind him to the right.
Bang!
Though the spot appeared completely empty, the sound of something being struck rang out.
The lightning dispersed, revealing a figure with a rather grim expression.
"Loki, you finally managed to screw over your brother and become God King for once. Why are you still sneaking around like this?"
As Mercer spoke his name outright, the man's expression grew even uglier.
The man who had appeared so abruptly was none other than the hammer owner's younger brother, the God of Mischief, Loki!
Mercer had detected Loki precisely because dissolving into lightning moments earlier had spread his senses throughout the entire area.
The room, which should have contained only Mercer, actually held another presence, staring unblinkingly at the spot where he had originally stood.
Scattered throughout the room as lightning, Mercer had carefully sensed the person beside him and discovered that the energy within him was completely unlike anyone else's, far beyond anything a human could possess.
That was how he had discovered Loki's presence, and he recognized him immediately when he revealed himself.
Loki stared at the young man before him with an extremely grave expression. Hearing him not only speak his name but also reveal things no Earthling should know sent an even deeper chill through him.
Having just arrived in this world, Loki had come looking for Mjolnir, which Odin had cast down, intending to see whether he could lift it.
He had barely tried when voices sounded outside, followed by a group of humans about to enter.
Loki had no choice but to conceal himself in a corner with magic and quietly wait for them to leave.
But the young man among them stayed behind. He tried as well, yet could not budge it either.
"Well, damn. Odin's enchantment really is something. Looks like just anyone can't lift it..."
Hearing the young man mutter to himself, Loki sneered inwardly. Hah, how could a mortal like you possibly lift it? At least you know that much...
As he silently mocked Mercer's inability, something seemed to occur to Loki. The sneer froze on his lips, and he raised his head to stare at Mercer in disbelief.
How did he know Odin had placed an enchantment on this hammer?!
Then Loki watched Mercer take out a card, accidentally drop it, and have it land against Mjolnir.
The next moment, that card actually began absorbing Mjolnir's energy...
Loki witnessed everything that followed as well, including Mercer eating the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
"You know perfectly well who I am, yet you still attack me. Are you declaring war on Asgard?"
Watching the lightning flicker around Mercer's raised right hand, Loki's expression grew increasingly grim.
The man before him clearly knew his identity, yet beneath that smiling face, his killing intent remained utterly undisguised.
Wisps of golden light rose around Loki, manifesting the attire he wore in Asgard.
A brilliant golden crown with horns like a ram's and an extraordinary-looking spear-as expected of Asgard's second prince, even his equipment looked exceptional.
"Heh. For that to mean anything, you'd have to be Asgard's true God King first!"
As his words fell, lightning enveloped Mercer's hand, and his figure vanished from Loki's sight.
Seeing him disappear in an instant, Loki's pupils sharply contracted, and he blurted out, "So fast!"
He had barely finished speaking when he heard crackling behind him. The next second, a bolt of lightning blasted him away.
The lightning numbed him, while the immense force behind it sent him hurtling back through one layer after another.
Watching Loki fly away, Mercer flashed forward and gave chase.
The commotion drew the guards' attention, and fully armed soldiers moved in to surround them.
When Coulson saw that the two men ahead were Mercer and someone he did not recognize, he hurriedly told everyone to lower their guns.
"Mercer, what's going on? Do you need our help?"
"No. Just stay there and watch."
Mercer shook his head and looked at Loki, who was struggling to his feet before him, with a hint of excitement in his eyes.
He can really take a beating. Looks like I can test the strength of my Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers.
Before you continue