"Is this what death feels like? Why does it seem... unchanged?"
As Thor opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of Phoenix flames swirling around him and Jean Grey's tear-streaked face hovering above, her expression filled with anguish.
A series of mechanical chimes echoed in his mind:
"Drip! The death of the host is detected. Passive skill—Death Resistance—has been triggered. Time rewinding is in progress…"
"Drip! The target strength of the host's killer has surpassed the world's time regression capability. Switching to host-specific time regression…"
"Time rewinding is complete. Host state fully restored."
"Drip! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission: Hatchet Ending. Reward granted: Character-exclusive plug-in."
Thor's memories snapped into focus as the system prompts continued. A faint chuckle escaped his lips. He had almost forgotten about that passive skill—a relic from a mission involving Hela, tucked away in the recesses of his mind for over two decades.
"Are you... are you okay?" Jean's voice quivered with a mix of relief and disbelief.
"For now, it seems so," Thor replied, his voice steady but tinged with exhaustion.
A strange sensation lingered in the air. The devastating power of the Phoenix Force, which should have annihilated him entirely, now seemed slightly subdued. Could my "death" have triggered something within Jean, perhaps unlocking more of her potential control?
Jean shook her head, as if reading his thoughts. "No," she murmured. "The improvement is negligible. It could take years, maybe decades, to fully control this power..."
Thor frowned. Years? Decades? Time was a luxury they didn't have. The chaos outside, whatever state the universe was in now, demanded immediate action. But before he could respond, the Phoenix Force surged again, consuming him in its fiery embrace.
When Thor's consciousness returned, he found himself standing on a lush expanse of green grass.
The sound of waves crashing against the shore reached his ears, accompanied by the distant cries of seagulls. He scanned his surroundings, realization dawning. Northern Norway?
He turned his gaze toward the ocean, his voice cutting through the tranquil air. "Father, you're slipping. Normally, I should be able to see my new island from here."
From the shadows, Odin emerged, his expression sheepish. "You're five years late," the All-Father muttered. "I thought you'd be here during Ragnarök."
Thor rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm just that good."
Odin scowled but said nothing. Thor, however, felt a pang of awkwardness. Is this the legendary "dad" mode? Or just a glitch in my system?
"Enough banter," Odin said, his voice deep and serious. "You're in unsolvable trouble again, aren't you? Asgard is in crisis?"
Thor nodded. "Surtur. That flaming bastard took advantage of my absence to stir up chaos. Once I deal with this, I'll make sure he learns his place!"
Odin chuckled, a sound rich with both amusement and weariness. "You won't be able to kill him. Even in my prime, the best I could do was take the Eternal Flame from him. But as long as his helmet touches the flame, he'll be reborn."
"How did you take the Eternal Flame, then?" Thor asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Beat him senseless," Odin replied matter-of-factly.
Thor stared at him, dumbfounded. "Seriously?"
Odin's laughter echoed across the grassy expanse. "If I could do it, so can you. Perhaps even better. Just as Ragnarök—the eternal prophecy—was something I thought unbreakable, yet here you are, proof that it can be undone."
He turned, his cloak billowing in the sea breeze.
"That's it?" Thor called after him, his tone incredulous. "You're just going to leave me with a pep talk?"
Odin paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "You're better than I ever was, Thor." His voice softened. "That's all you need to know."
He continued walking, his form fading into the horizon.
"Wait!" Thor called again.
"What now?" Odin asked without turning.
Thor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Next time you decide to appear out of nowhere, can you, I don't know, give me a heads-up? Sometimes I'm... busy."
Odin froze for a moment, the implication dawning on him. His expression darkened as he turned. "You ungrateful brat—"
In the physical realm, mere seconds had passed.
Jean sobbed as the Phoenix Force continued its relentless assault on Thor. She watched in despair as his body, now reduced to ashes, showed no signs of returning.
But then, a spark—a subtle shift in the energy around him—caught her attention.
Thor's body, which should have been utterly obliterated, began to heal. Flesh and bone reformed, wounds closed, and life returned where there should have been none.
Jean's eyes widened in astonishment.
Thor's recovery was swift, his divine power surging to unprecedented levels. Golden radiance enveloped him, creating an impenetrable shield against the Phoenix Force.
The air around them trembled.
"Boom!"
The explosion was cataclysmic, its shockwave disintegrating nearby celestial bodies into dust. Jean could only stare, her tear-filled eyes reflecting the brilliance of Thor's divine aura.