The small bell above the café door chimed softly as the morning breeze slipped inside.
Alex stood behind the counter, lazily wiping down a row of coffee cups. The warm scent of roasted beans filled the air while sunlight streamed through the glass windows, painting the wooden floor in golden streaks.
Puente Antiguo was a quiet town at least; it looked that way.
A few early customers sat scattered around the café. A truck driver flipped through a newspaper while an older couple shared a pot of coffee near the window.
From the outside, everything seemed peaceful and normal. But Alex knew better.
He dried another cup and placed it neatly on the rack. "It's still hard to believe…" he muttered under his breath.
Exactly one week ago, his life had changed forever. Seven days earlier, memories that didn't belong to him had suddenly awakened in his mind.
Memories of another life and a completely different world. In that world, the events of this universe existed only as movies and comic books.
But here… they all were real. Aliens invading Earth, a genius billionaire flying around in metal armor and a giant green monster smashing through buildings.
And somewhere out there…a god wielding thunder.
Alex leaned against the counter and rubbed his temples. "When I think about it calmly, this is probably the worst place I could've been reborn."
For eighteen years he had lived in this world without realizing anything strange. He grew up in this small desert town. Went to school. Worked part-time jobs and eventually landing this café job to help pay bills.
Nor something unusual neither heroic but after those memories surfaced… Everything looked different.
All news reports, every Storm and each and every government report it all suddenly felt suspicious.
Alex glanced toward the television mounted on the café wall. It was currently playing a morning news program, talking about strange atmospheric disturbances somewhere in the desert.
He snorted. "Yeah, sure. Atmospheric disturbances."
In his previous life, he had watched every Marvel movie more times than he could count.
and if his memory was correct… A certain very important event should happen soon.
A thunder god would soon lose his powers and his hammer would land somewhere on Earth. Right here in New Mexico.
Alex let out a slow breath. "If that really happens… this peaceful life won't last long."
He shook his head and grabbed a tray of utensils from the sink Forks, Knives, Spoons etc. One by one, he began polishing them with a small cloth.
Clink, Clink, Clink.
The quiet rhythm filled the café it was a simple, repetitive job. But Alex didn't mind.
Simple jobs meant simple problems and simple problems were good in a world filled with superheroes and cosmic threats.
Just as he finished polishing a spoon a strange sensation suddenly ran through his mind.
Alex paused. "…What was that?"
A faint buzzing echoed in his head and then a mechanical voice suddenly spoke.
[System Initialization Complete]
Alex froze. "…Huh?"
Before he could react, a translucent blue screen appeared in front of his eyes. Floating silently in midair.
[Weapon Polishing System Activated]
Host: Alex Carter
Primary Function: Polish, repair, and refine weapons.
Result: Unlock hidden potential and evolve weapon quality.
For several seconds, Alex simply stared. Then he slowly blinked. "…A system?"
His first reaction wasn't excitement it was disbelief. He looked around the café the truck driver was still reading his newspaper.
The elderly couple continued chatting quietly no one reacted. Which meant only he could see it.
Alex turned his attention back to the floating screen. "…Alright, if I'm really in the Marvel Universe…"
"…then having a system is probably the only way I survive."
Curious, he looked down at the spoon in his hand and the screen flickered again.
[Object Detected]
Item: Metal Spoon
Category: Weapon (Blunt)
Quality: Common
Polish Available
Alex raised an eyebrow. "…A spoon counts as a weapon?"
Well, there was no harm in trying. He picked up the cloth and carefully polished the spoon again.
The system responded immediately.
[Polishing Complete]
Metal Spoon → Refined Metal Spoon
Durability +15%
The dull metal surface suddenly gleamed under the café lights. Alex turned the spoon in his hand, inspecting it closely. "…That actually worked."
Interesting if even something this simple could be refined… Then what about real weapons?
Knives, Swords, Guns etc. Or something even stronger.
His thoughts slowly drifted toward a certain legendary hammer.
Alex chuckled softly. "Imagine polishing something like—"
The television suddenly interrupted him as the screen switched to a red banner.
BREAKING NEWS
The reporter on screen looked tense. "We have just received reports of a mysterious object crashing into the New Mexico desert earlier this morning."
The café fell silent as everyone looked toward the television as the camera switched to aerial footage.
A massive crater had formed in the desert dust and debris surrounded the impact site.
In the center of the crater… Something metallic was embedded deep into the ground.
The camera zoomed in.
Alex's breathing stopped a short leather handle and a heavy square head. Ancient metal covered in faint engravings.
Even through the blurry footage…
he recognized it instantly there was no mistaking it.
Mjolnir.
Thor's hammer.
The legendary weapon of the God of Thunder the café erupted with confused chatter.
"What the hell is that?"
"is that Some kind of meteor?"
"Looks like a hammer…"
But Alex remained completely silent his eyes were locked on the screen.
Because in that exact moment a new notification appeared before him.
[Divine Weapon Detected]
Item: Mjolnir
Classification: Legendary Divine Weapon
Status: Sealed by Odin's Enchantment
Polish Available
Alex slowly smiled. "Well…"
He grabbed his jacket from the chair beside the counter. "…looks like my first real job just arrived."