Just before Madison and Yulinka got back, Luke was sprawled on the sofa in a classic dead-tired slouch, remote in hand and TV on.
The moment Madison walked through the door, she went looking for Veronica to learn some new magic.
Madison's magical talent was extraordinary; Veronica only had to show her once.
What's more, Madison didn't even need a Sling Ring like the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj to cast lower-level spells—things like fireballs or particle blasts.
She had even picked up basic transformation magic.
She wasn't fluent yet, but the progress alone left Madison absolutely thrilled.
"Shh, keep it down. Veronica's wiped out from messing around with ..magic all day; she's still asleep," Luke said, waving Madison over with a lazy flick of his hand.
Madison froze for half a second, then caught the hint. "You ditched school for this?"
She said it with her mouth, but her body was already honest; she slipped in beside him without another word.
Luke's hand moved on instinct, reaching for an "apple." Madison swatted it away half-heartedly. "Yulinka's right there, you idiot."
He let go, privately deciding that watermelon, papaya, and grapefruit still won the prize. Still, he thought as he stole a glance at Mady's boobs, that little apples had their own charm.
Madison bit her lips as he started fondling her boobs through her shirt while kissing and nibbling on her neck.
Yulinka kept her eyes glued to her homework at the desk, pretending she was suddenly fascinated by algebra.
"Luke.. ahh~ let's go to my room first. I really don't want Yulinka to get traumatised—Whoa!! What the hell is that thing?"
Madison's gaze snapped to the TV. She snatched the remote and flipped back to the channel she'd just passed.
Luke half-heartedly gazed at the Tv while licking her earlobes.
The footage was shaky, clearly shot on someone's phone in a panic. The angle sucked, the image kept blurring, but whatever was on screen was massive.
They could just about make out the sign: Culver University.
A massive green humanoid was tearing through a column of military armored vehicles like they were made of cardboard.
Luke sat up a little straighter.
"Hulk?"
"That's really him?" Madison's eyes went wide. "God, look at that strength—one punch and an armored car is scrap metal!"
On the shaky footage, Hulk launched himself dozens of meters into the air. When he came down, gravity did the rest: several tons of military hardware crumpled under a single fist.
Heavy machine-gun rounds stitched across his chest without even breaking the skin. All they managed to do was piss him off more, and the angrier he got, the harder he hit.
At some point Yulinka had slipped onto the bed on Luke's other side, deliberately putting him between her and Madison.
"I still think Dad is way cooler," she said sweetly, gazing up at Luke with pure hero-worship. "Daddy could squash that big green guy with one finger."
Damn it!
This little brat is playing dirty!
Madison's heart stuttered. She fired back instantly, "Yeah! Those muscles are gross. He looks like he mainlines steroids for breakfast. Luke's the best!"
Yulinka's lips curved in the tiniest smirk, clearly unimpressed with the comeback.
Luke couldn't care less about the little rivalry brewing between the two girls. As long as they didn't drag him into it, they could bicker all day for all he cared.
He was far more interested in the anomaly points he could harvest from Hulk.
And then there was Abomination.
If memory served, the final showdown between Hulk and Abomination happened in New York, didn't it?
With that in mind, Luke immediately scrapped any thought of heading out there himself.
Then his mind drifted to Thor.
At this point in the timeline, Thor hasn't destroyed the Bifrost again, has he?
The longer that bridge stays broken, the better. More time means more interest accruing.
When the moment comes, I'll just waltz into Asgard, empty the royal treasury, and walk out richer than ever.
They try to stop me? They can take it up with my fist.
With the Reality Editor in his pocket, Luke figured a single finger would be enough to turn Odin into cosmic dust.
...
Meanwhile, on the shattered remains of the Bifrost,
Thor stared in horror as Loki lost his grip and tumbled into the endless void below.
"Nooooooo!!!!!! Loki!!"
Old Odin stepped forward and placed a weary hand on his son's shoulder.
"Thor, my son, take heart. All must part from those they love in time. There is no need to grieve so deeply."
"...Father, I.. I'm sorry. If I had known Loki would do this… I would have stopped him!"
Thor stared at the shattered Bifrost, sorrow etched across his face, yet somehow feeling he had forgotten something crucial.
"But you did stop him," Odin said gently, pride shining in his one good eye. "You stopped him before he could bring Laufey into Asgard, before the point of no return. You kept the war between Jotunheim and Asgard from spiraling further out of control."
"That boy… I know what he intended, but slaughtering Laufey would never have solved anything."
"Slaughtering Laufey?" Thor's head snapped toward his father. "You're saying Loki tricked Laufey into coming here just so he could murder him?"
Odin nodded solemnly. "The crown of a wise and valiant king must be adorned with great deeds and epic tales."
"But Loki never understood that a truly enlightened ruler does not start wars or butcher his enemies to prove his worth. He preserves stability and peace for the realm."
"He never saw that. Yet you, Thor—you will be that enlightened king."
Odin's gaze fell on Mjolnir, and a satisfied smile spread across his face. "I thought it would take you years to learn these lessons. Instead, you earned Mjolnir's recognition again on only your second day in the mortal realm."
"Worthy indeed. You make me proud, my son."
"..." Thor, who had just been swept up in Loki's insane scheme, heard the praise and glanced at the Bifrost he himself had shattered. The proud smile on his face froze solid.
He looked up and met Odin's warm, expectant eye.
Thor swallowed hard. "Ehm.. Father… I'm your only son now, right?"
Odin's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, something flickering behind it, then he nodded firmly. "Of course. Why do you ask?"
Thor let out a huge breath. Okay, only child. He probably won't kill me.
He sucked in another lungful of air. "There's something I have to tell you. I didn't actually earn Mjolnir's approval again. I… kind of borrowed it…"
One minute later.
"Arrh!!! No, Father! I'm your only son, don't kill me!!"
"Mother!! Help! Father's trying to murder me!!"
"I command you to stop running right now, in the name of the king!"
Thor halted a bit and looked back, "Only if you swear you won't hit me! I.. I will stop once you put the spear down!"
Odin put on a smile, "Fine, I swear I won't hit you if you—"
Smack! Smack!!
"AH!! You lied!!"
"Of course I lied! I'm going to beat you to death, you unfilial brat!"
_____
______
12 Advance Chapters—Patreon.com/HornyFBI