Mjolnir Reclaimed, the God of Thunder Returns

The instant the lightning ring exploded, Ye Mo's right arm Steel Bone had just Regeneration to his elbow, and before he could even retract his strength, he caught a glimpse of the Destroyer's remains shuddering violently.

The pile of scrap metal had already gone out, but the moment Thor's forehead touched the hammer handle, a tube suddenly popped out from the shoulder armor, shooting a beam of blue light straight into his back.

"Damn!" Ye Mo blurted out as the system notification exploded in his mind: [High-energy trajectory locked, target hit within three seconds - Thor].

He didn't have time to think, Wall Phasing Technique was activated instantly. It was as if he had been pulled into the ground, and the next second he appeared behind Thor, his left shoulder Steel Bone hardening instantly to withstand the blow.

Boom!

The energy beam slammed into the metal shoulder armor and exploded, sending fragments flying. Ye Mo was thrown off balance, rolling twice on the scorched earth before coming to a stop. A crack appeared on his left shoulder, crackling with sparks.

"System notification - could you please say it five seconds earlier next time?" he cursed as he struggled to his feet.

Thor was unaware of what was happening behind him. His eyes were closed, lightning creeping up his body, his muscles tensing inch by inch, his breathing growing heavier. The hammer was pressed against his forehead, runes glowing in circles, as if confirming something.

Three seconds later, the last ring of lightning finished spreading.

Thor opened his eyes.

His pupils suddenly glowed with golden light.

He slowly straightened up, raised his right hand, palm facing upward. Mjolnir automatically lifted off the ground, spun half a circle, and landed steadily in his hand.

Click.

A soft click, like the contract closing.

"You're back." Ye Mo wiped the dust off his face and grinned. "This hard work paid off."

Emma Frost stood still, her Mental Network silently scanning the entire area. She noticed that Thor's Mind Stone fluctuations had changed; they were no longer filled with confusion and struggle, but were clear, stable, and carried an undeniable resolve.

The Destroyer's remains were still smoking, but suddenly the core area flashed with blue light again.

Beep beep.

It was very short, almost inaudible.

But Ye Mo's ears twitched, and he immediately turned his head. "Still alive?"

He walked over and kicked aside a charred piece of armor plate, revealing a black chip embedded in the spinal connector underneath. The thing was hot, and fine Asgard runes appeared on its surface.

"Good heavens, remote check-in?" He sneered, squatted down, his Steel Bone right hand deformed, his fingertips elongated into cones, and inserted directly into the chip's gap.

"Regenerative Phasing, initiated."

Wade's Healing Factor combined with Shadowcat's ability to Wall Phasing, and his finger instantly pierced through the solid structure, swirling around inside. The chip emitted a piercing alarm, flashed blue light a few times, and then went out completely.

"The connection dropped." Ye Mo pulled his finger out, and the metal returned to normal. "Loki should be furious looking at the black screen right now."

Emma Frost walked over, closed her eyes, and sensed for a moment. "There are no other signal sources. That was the last listening node."

"I knew it! The Destroyer is practically useless, yet it's still transmitting data. What kind of robot is so dedicated?" Ye Mo patted his pants and stood up. "So it was being used as a camera."

Thor, hammer in hand, stood motionless in the center of the ruins.

He looked down at his hands, then looked up at the two of them.

"You all knew he was spying on you?"

"It wasn't long ago," Ye Mo shrugged. "I started to have doubts from the very first time he sent this guy out. What kind of villain builds a mecha and doesn't install a self-destruct program, but instead leaves a live-streaming function?"

Emma Frost added, "And it only targets you, not civilians. Its behavior is more like a testing tool than a combat unit."

Thor was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed, "So my trial was actually a live broadcast?"

"Pretty much." Ye Mo nodded. "They might even want to make a highlight reel, titled 'The Down-on-His-Luck God of Thunder's Online Car Crash.'"

Thor shook his head and slung the hammer over his shoulder. Lightning danced around him, but didn't spill out; it was completely under his control. He took a few steps forward and stopped in front of the two of them.

"I want to return to the Asgard."

His tone was calm, but carried significant weight.

Ye Mo neither laughed nor joked, but simply asked, "Are you sure?"

"I'm certain." Thor's gaze was resolute. "Odin banished me to teach me that true power comes from within. But now I know, I must return, not for the throne, but to prevent something far greater from happening."

"Like Loki causing trouble?" Ye Mo chimed in.

"It's not just him." Thor looked up at the sky. "The balance of Asgard has been broken. If I don't go back, it won't just be small towns on Earth that suffer next."

Emma Frost said softly, "In your current state, can you handle him?"

"Not necessarily," Thor readily admitted, "But I have to go. Some responsibilities cannot wait until I'm fully prepared."

Ye Mo looked at him for a while, then suddenly reached out and patted his shoulder. "Alright, then you go play your divine palace drama, and we'll continue our daily lives as Earth's working class."

Emma Frost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Thor laughed and slapped Ye Mo back. The force wasn't strong, but it made Ye Mo take half a step back.

"Thanks," he said. "Without you guys, I'd probably still be at the gas station exchanging coins for hamburgers."

"Don't thank me too soon," Ye Mo said, rubbing his shoulder. "Let's talk about it after you actually kill Loki. If he fakes his death again, we'll have to do the raid all over again."

The three of them stood there, and none of them spoke.

The wind blew through the valley, stirring up some Ashes and debris. The dark clouds had mostly dispersed, and sunlight shone down, falling on the scorched ground.

In the distance, the remains of the Destroyer lay silently, a pile of twisted metal remaining.

Ye Mo's right arm Steel Bone had finally completed its Regeneration, its metallic luster shimmering slightly in the sunlight. He moved his wrist to confirm that its function was normal.

Emma Frost stood slightly behind him, her hands hanging at her sides, her mental energy still slowly recovering. Her face was still a little pale, but her eyes were clear.

Thor stood high above, hammer in hand. The lightning was no longer violent, but rose and fell with the rhythm of his breath. He looked up at the sky, where a gap had opened in the clouds, and he could vaguely see the direction of the Bifrost.

"It's time to go," he said.

Ye Mo nodded. "Be careful on the road, don't get stabbed in the back."

"I'll be careful," Thor smiled. "After all, I didn't come back alone this time."

He raised the hammer and began to spin it.

The hammer spun faster and faster, creating a whirlwind. Lightning bolts descended from the sky and coiled around it. His feet slowly lifted off the ground.

Ye Mo took two steps back, pulling Emma Frost along with him.

The two stood side by side, watching Thor ascend into the sky.

Just a second before the hammer was about to carry him up to the clouds, Ye Mo suddenly spoke:

"Hello!"

Thor lowered his head.

"Next time we meet," Ye Mo grinned, "Remember to bring some Asgard specialties, don't come empty-handed to freeload."

Thor laughed loudly but didn't answer.

The next second, he transformed into a bolt of lightning, shooting straight into the sky.

Boom!

The entire sky was illuminated.

Ye Mo squinted until the light disappeared at the edge of the clouds.

Emma Frost asked softly, "Do you think he can win?"

"I don't know." Ye Mo looked down at his right arm. "But at least this time, he wasn't carrying the burden alone."

He turned and walked toward the Destroyer's wreckage, bending down to pick up a piece of charred metal. Half of a rune could still be seen on it.

"Loki thought he was in control." He gripped the metal plate tightly. "But he forgot, the audience can also come in and fight."

Emma Frost looked at him. "What are you planning to do?"

"What else can I do with it?" Ye Mo stuffed the metal piece into his pocket. "Even employees need to upgrade their accounts."

He looked up at the sky.

The clouds had not completely dispersed.

The sunlight shone on his face, casting a clear shadow.

At that moment, the metal piece in his pocket suddenly vibrated.

It's very light.

It's like a response.