Chapter 22: Mjolnir's Return and a God's Redemption
Thor, stripped of his powers, stood before the Destroyer, ready to sacrifice himself for his friends. "This is it," Adam thought, watching from his marshmallow-covered vantage point. "The moment of worthiness. Time to make it epic. And maybe a little sparkly."
[DAILY WISH DAYS ACCUMULATION: +1]
Thor, with a final, defiant roar, charged the Destroyer. The automaton prepared to unleash a killing blow. But then, a faint hum. A distant, familiar sound. Mjolnir.
Adam focused, pouring wish days into the moment.
[WISH GRANTED: MJOLNIR'S FLIGHT PATH ENHANCED WITH SUBTLE LIGHTNING EFFECTS AND ROARING THUNDER SOUND. COST: 80 WISH DAYS.]
The hammer streaked across the sky, leaving a shimmering trail of iridescent light. A low, rumbling thunderclap echoed across the desert, even though the sky was clear. Mjolnir flew directly into Thor's outstretched hand, and with its return, a blinding flash of light erupted, restoring his powers. His armor reappeared, gleaming, and a powerful aura of lightning crackled around him.
The Destroyer, caught off guard, staggered. Thor, now truly mighty, wasted no time. With a single, powerful blow, he obliterated the automaton.
[WISH GRANTED: DESTROYER EXPLODES INTO A HARMLESS, RAINBOW-COLORED CLOUD OF GLITTER. COST: 100 WISH DAYS.]
Instead of shrapnel and smoke, the Destroyer exploded into a magnificent, harmless cloud of rainbow-colored glitter, sparkling in the New Mexico sun. It drifted down, coating the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and the bewildered townspeople in a shimmering, festive dust.
Coulson, covered in glitter, stared at his hands. "Well, that's… unexpected. And surprisingly festive."
Adam chuckled, brushing a piece of marshmallow from his hair. "You're welcome, Agent. Consider it a cosmic party favor."
S.H.I.E.L.D. agents swarmed the site, beginning the cleanup. Adam, now looking like a very disheveled, glitter-covered tourist, discreetly slipped away. He had a few more wishes to spend on the aftermath.
[WISH GRANTED: S.H.I.E.L.D. AGENT DISCOVERS TINY, CUTE CLOUD-SHAPED MJOLNIR IN DEBRIS. COST: 15 WISH DAYS.]
He imagined a grim-faced S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, sifting through the wreckage, suddenly finding a perfectly formed, tiny cloud, no bigger than his thumb, floating innocently in the shape of Mjolnir. The agent would probably stare at it, bewildered, then quickly shove it into a containment bag, convinced he was hallucinating.
Adam smiled. "Just a little something to keep them guessing. And to remind them that the universe is far weirder than they could ever imagine."
He checked his wish bank. Healthy. He had witnessed a god's redemption, orchestrated a glitter explosion, and even managed a few more pranks. New Mexico was officially a success. Time to head back to Queens, and the comforting normalcy of Aunt May. He just hoped she wouldn't ask too many questions about the glitter.