MARVEL: TOAA

Five years passed quickly.

During this time, John carefully studied, experimented, and gradually unlocked the mysteries of Thor's divine genes. At last, he managed to integrate these powerful genes into himself.

A faint cracking sound echoed as though a shackle deep within his body had been broken. Cool, electrifying energy coursed through him, and a divine power, ancient and boundless, surged in his veins.

John's arms stretched outward involuntarily as his body began to levitate. His eyes glowed with an intense white light, and he seemed otherworldly—like a god descending upon mortal soil.

"Ravion, is this divine power? Will John be alright?" Reina asked, her voice tinged with both awe and concern.

Reina, now fifteen, had grown into a striking young woman. Years of training with Ravion had sculpted her figure, while her features had matured into a balanced blend of softness and strength. Yet, despite her growing confidence, the sight of John's transformation unsettled her.

Ravion placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, a fatherly smile on his face. "Don't worry. He'll be fine."

But as divine energy filled John's body, it caused ripples of destruction and renewal. Each surge tore through his flesh and bones, only to repair and reconstruct them anew, leaving him writhing in pain. His face twisted in agony as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"What's happening, Ravion? He looks like he's suffering!" Reina's panic rose as John's pained cries filled the room.

"This is his test," Ravion explained gravely. "Anyone who seeks to ascend to godhood must endure the trial that comes with it. Divine power is not freely given—it must be earned through struggle."

The divine energy worked relentlessly, penetrating into John's very marrow. His body convulsed violently, veins bulging as blood trickled from his eyes, ears, and nose. Despite his previous life's wisdom and his unyielding will, John could not suppress the raw screams escaping him.

"John, hold on!" Reina cried, tears streaming down her face as she struggled against Ravion's firm grip. "Do something, Ravion! Stop this! He's in too much pain!"

Ravion's tone remained steady, though his eyes betrayed his concern. "This is beyond our interference, Reina. The transformation will either break him or rebuild him. If we interrupt, we'll doom him."

For Reina, watching her friend—the closest thing she had to family—suffer was unbearable. Her hands trembled, fists clenching helplessly. "I don't care about divine power anymore! I just want him back!" she sobbed.

Moments stretched endlessly as John's screams subsided into silence. His body lay limp, a wave of air exploding outward as the transformation reached its climax. The blinding divine light around him dimmed, and he collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.

"John!" Reina rushed to his side, cradling his limp form. She gently wiped the blood from his face, her tears mingling with his. "Wake up! Please, wake up!"

"Relax, Reina," Ravion said, kneeling beside them. "He's fine—just exhausted. The worst is over, and he succeeded. He's no longer just John. He's something much greater."

Ravion could sense the tranquility in John's transformed body. The once-violent divine power now pulsed harmoniously within him, nourishing him with an otherworldly vitality.

John's consciousness drifted in an ethereal realm. He found himself standing on an endless plain beneath a breathtakingly starry sky. The grass beneath his feet was lush and vibrant, and the air hummed with energy. As he walked, he noticed giant trees sprouting around him, their roots breaking free from the ground and quickly growing into a forest of towering trunks.

The divine connection between himself and the trees was palpable. He reached out instinctively, seeking to touch one, but they recoiled, shifting away as if avoiding him.

Frustrated, John followed, trying to understand their rejection. Despite their closeness, they refused to let him connect fully. This strange dreamlike state persisted until a soft, sorrowful sigh echoed through the forest. Suddenly, a fire ignited, consuming the trees in a blazing inferno. The heat seared his skin, and John bolted upright, gasping as he awoke from the vision.

"W-what's wrong?" Reina asked, startled by his sudden movement. She had been sitting by his bedside for hours, keeping watch. "You're sweating so much. Did you have a nightmare?"

John blinked, his surroundings slowly coming into focus. "I dreamed of fire... it burned everything," he murmured, running a hand over his face. The vividness of the dream lingered.

"Do you feel alright?" she asked, worry etched on her face.

"Better than alright," John replied, noticing a strange vitality coursing through him. But Reina smirked knowingly.

"You should see yourself," she teased, handing him a small mirror.

John stared at his reflection in shock. His once-childlike features had matured dramatically. His cheekbones were high, his jawline chiseled, and his skin glowed faintly with an almost divine aura. His dark green eyes shimmered mysteriously beneath thick lashes, and his black hair framed his face like an artist's masterpiece.

"This... is me?" he whispered, unable to recognize the handsome young man in the mirror.

Throwing off the blanket, John stood, finding himself taller than before. His perspective had shifted—his once-short stature replaced with a powerful frame, complete with defined muscles. He flexed his hands, marveling at the surge of energy.

"How long was I out? Five years? Ten?" he asked, half-jokingly.

Reina giggled, holding up a small alarm clock. "Three days. Exactly sixty-eight hours."

John ran a hand over his face again, disbelief etched in his features. His transformation was staggering—he had gone from a small boy to a young man almost as tall as Reina, who stood at 1.7 meters.

As the weight of his transformation sank in, Reina smiled softly, patting his shoulder. "You're amazing, John. But no matter how much you change, you'll always be the same person to me."

John returned her smile, grateful for her words. The journey to divine power had been grueling, but he felt ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead.