Asgard, the Rainbow Bridge.
Thor, God of Thunder, who had just been rescued from Jotunheim, roared at his father, Odin the All-Father.
"I want those Frost Giants to know who I am and understand they should fear me!"
The God-King Odin reprimanded sternly: "That is arrogance, not the wisdom of a leader! I have told you time and again that you must be patient, yet you persist in forgetting everything I taught you! Now is not the time for war!"
Thor gritted his teeth in fury. "Our enemies stir while you counsel us to wait! Your old tactics are no longer effective. We should strike immediately and defeat any enemy who dares challenge us!"
Odin's rage flared: "You are a reckless, arrogant, warmonger!"
"And you are merely a cowardly old fool!"
Odin erupted with divine fury. He raised his hand, summoning thunder across the heavens as his eyes blazed with divine wrath.
"Thor Odinson, you are no longer worthy of being Asgard's heir! In the name of myself, my father, and my father's fathers, I hereby strip away your divine powers!"
Mjolnir instantly flew from Thor's grip, landing in the God-King's outstretched hand. Odin raised his arm, activating the Rainbow Bridge as tremendous energy surged toward Thor: "From this day forth, you are banished from Asgard!"
Odin gazed at the raised hammer and whispered enchantment into existence: "Whoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor!"
With those words, he cast Mjolnir into the still-active Rainbow Bridge.
Stark Industries Building, top-floor luxury suite balcony.
While Manhattan below endured agony, blood, and screams, Stark leaned casually against the railing, sipping whiskey.
Beside him, the refined elderly gentleman Mephisto watched the Avengers base while frowning. "Why does this Jason have armor too? And it appears... superior to yours?"
Stark bristled slightly: "He has one? And it's better than mine?"
Mephisto waved his hand, projecting the Avengers base battlefield before them. Observing the two airborne figures in the projection, Stark couldn't help but inhale sharply.
One wore Hellfire armor, the other silver-gray armor with angular aesthetics. The confrontation crackled with anticipation.
"Tsk, I could easily produce that kind of armor."
Stark stubbornly complained: "Why did you give Hawkeye so many gifts? I only received a handful of sand?"
Mephisto shook his head: "If you're willing to assist Hawkeye now, I'll grant you my staff."
Stark studied the skull-topped cane skeptically: "What's it do?"
"Hurts when it hits people."
In Mephisto's projection, Jason and the angelic Hawkeye engaged in combat. They battled from ground to sky, from sky to river, from river back to the Avengers base.
Just when Mephisto and Stark assumed an even match, the dynamics shifted. For reasons unclear, Jason suddenly transformed.
With a simple gesture, lightning from his armor coalesced into an enormous electric net, enveloping Angel Hawkeye! Though the attack struck rapidly, oddly, Hawkeye showed no reaction whatsoever, colliding with it head-on.
Stark noticed the condensed lightning formed an inescapable prison for Hawkeye. When did this guy develop such incredible control over lightning?
Jason's combination wasn't finished—he teleported before Hawkeye, bringing the chainsaw down without hesitation!
"SCREECH... CRACK!"
Sparks erupted! The grinding sound between chainsaw and armor grated on everyone's nerves.
Mephisto's expression changed as he vanished, calling out: "Stay here, I'll assist Hawkeye!"
The projection disappeared, leaving Stark unable to monitor the battle. Yet he remained unconcerned. Surveying the spreading flames and smoke-choked Manhattan, he downed his whiskey.
Demon had infiltrated much of New York. On the nearby Manhattan Bridge, a red-and-gold Mark armor protected civilians while battling demons. Merely an automated combat protocol.
No one realized the true Stark was here appreciating the view. He studied the crimson beacon nearby, stating calmly: "Mephisto, can you truly invade this realm? I sense you're destined for failure."
Sparks filled Jason's vision as he sensed Hawkeye's armor nearing collapse. Following their standoff, he'd immediately contacted the system.
Open all gift boxes.
Thanks to eliminating nine demon knights and hundreds of common demons, he'd acquired over a dozen silver treasure chests and two invaluable platinum chests.
Opening everything yielded abundant rewards: a new ability called Dragonfly Eye Technique, Fighter Pilot Mastery, over two hundred attribute points, an ability upgrade card, and an entirely new ability fusion card.
He immediately used the upgrade card to evolve his [Electrokinesis] ability into [Lord of Thunder]. Employing the ability fusion card, he merged nearly all his ocular powers, gaining [Spiritual Eyes].
These two abilities gave him overwhelming superiority over Hawkeye. His Spiritual Eyes observed every movement, even predicting with remarkable accuracy!
Meanwhile, his lightning mastery reached unprecedented heights. In an instant, he manifested an electric net that captured Hawkeye completely.
"CRACK!"
Through persistent chainsawing, Hawkeye's armor finally shattered. The divine power protecting him dissipated simultaneously. Now he stood exposed before Jason without defense, including... his soul!
The Thunder Armor's chest opened, revealing Jason's eyes locked onto Hawkeye's left eye.
"Look into my eyes! Your soul shall be judged by your victims—feel their pain!"
"No!" a voice protested, too late.
Eyes of Judgment: Sinner's Execution.
This time, Hawkeye's eyes weren't simply burned while his soul vanished. Instead, hellfire arrows materialized from nothingness, striking him repeatedly. One hundred sixty-seven arrows.
Each corresponding to an innocent life taken.
In his final moments, Hawkeye regained clarity. Witnessing war-torn New York, he collapsed, whispering, "I'm... forgive me..."
Jason shook his head: "I cannot grant you absolution for the dead, but I can avenge them by eliminating your puppeteer."
Hawkeye smiled forlornly: "Oh, he's... more dangerous than you realize!"
With that, his soul dissolved completely.
Jason discarded the body, turning to where an elderly gentleman in formal attire had manifested from nowhere, even leaning on a cane.
"Mephisto?"
"Ah, you deduced my identity?"
"Hawkeye's wings originated from Saint Vanganza's angels, correct?"
"Seems my pathetic son failed."
"Indeed—I destroyed him."
Mephisto smiled thinly: "Excellently executed."
"Your cruelty impresses me."
"Actually, I'm considered merciful in Hell."
Jason nodded: "Prepared to reunite with your son?"
Mephisto hesitated: "Ha... do you comprehend who you address?"
"If this is your true self, New York would already lie in ruins. But an avatar, I think I can handle it!"
Mephisto's eyes turned glacial: "This avatar alone could obliterate you tenfold! Haven't you noticed two additional Hellgates remain active?"
"So what if they're open? Would you risk manifesting in your true form? Aren't you terrified of becoming trapped in the mortal realm?"
"Hmph! This mere clone's power exceeds your comprehension!"
Concluding his declaration, he struck his cane against the ground, unleashing extraordinarily potent dark energy from his form.
Jason sensed he faced not an elderly man but an ancient Tyrannosaurus Rex! It seemed capable of devouring him in one bite!
This impression proved accurate. The system categorized the elderly Mephisto clone before him as [King]-tier target.
Truthfully, Jason's current abilities struggled against diamond-tier adversaries. Magneto's defeat resulted from strategic advantage and moral flexibility. Hawkeye required substantial effort to defeat.
He'd never even fight [King]-tier before!
Nevertheless, he remained fearless, taunting Mephisto: "Hahaha... Old Mephisto, you know your greatest error?"
Murderous intent flickered in Mephisto's eyes: "Oh, then enlighten me—where's my error?"
Jason grinned, indicating a direction: "I engaged you in conversation to buy time. Tell me, what were I waiting for?"
Mephisto spun around in shock, sensing massive divine power approaching!
Impossible?
This is the mortal plane—where's this divine energy originating?
And... why such intensity?
Moments earlier...
Mjolnir traversed through Rainbow Bridge, swiftly reaching its target: Midgard. It manifested beyond Earth's atmosphere, descending groundward.
Soon detecting unusual attraction, its trajectory altered slightly toward... New York.
"Mephisto, didn't you clearly hear I was once called the 'THOR'?"
"IMPACT!"
Before Mephisto could react, an extremely solid object struck his face! Powerful electricity surged through his form, paralyzing him!
Jason leaped from Thunder Armor, extending his arms. "CLANG!"
A hammer landed in his grasp, and euphoric recognition flooded his mind. Jason wished to howl skyward: Damn right, Hammer God is STILL a god—don't underestimate me!
Tremendous power flowed into him. Jason momentarily startled, realizing this was—
The Power of Lightning God Thor!
Odin had proclaimed: whoever lifts Mjolnir shall wield Thor's power!
As vast divine might entered Jason's body, crimson cloak and golden armor conjured from nowhere!
"What manner of sorcery is this!?"
Mephisto, nearly unconscious from hammer impact, bellowed in the distance.
Jason's will directed Mjolnir, instantly propelling him toward Mephisto, materializing before him almost instantaneously.
Countless miniature lightning arcs danced across Mjolnir's surface as it descended viciously!
Power of Thunder!
Mephisto's dark essence dissolved easily as the hammer struck his enraged visage once more! Immediately, he plummeted into the Hudson River.
Jason seized the moment, pursuing relentlessly. Mjolnir raised overhead, he shouted: "Old Mephisto, Catch!"
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