I'm Grant Ward

Chapter 123: The Berserker Staff

Inside the Bus, the atmosphere was tense. The SHIELD team was gathered around the briefing table, while Coulson updated everyone on the new developments. The discovery of the Asgardian staff and the brutal death of the ranger had set off a red alert. Ward, May, Skye, Fitz and Simmons sat in silence, all attentive to Coulson's words.

"We've received information that the object found is part of something much larger," Coulson said, glancing at the tablet. "And to help us understand it better, we're contacting an expert in Norse history, Elliot Randolph. He's a professor and has helped us with questions related to Norse myths before."

"Do you think he can tell us what we're up against?" Ward asked, crossing his arms, his gaze serious.

"If anyone knows, it's him," Coulson replied, with conviction.

May, always focused on the mission, just shook her head.

— Let's talk to him as soon as possible. We can't waste time.

A few minutes later, Coulson called Randolph. The professor's image appeared on the monitor, revealing a robust-looking man with gray hair and a calm, confident expression. He seemed to be in an office, surrounded by old books and historical artifacts.

— Elliot, it's good to see you again, — Coulson said, in a friendly tone.

— Coulson, — Randolph replied, with a slight smile. — I assume you didn't call me just for a casual chat. What's going on?

Coulson got straight to the point.

— We have a problem with an Asgardian object. A woman found a staff that gave her superhuman strength and uncontrollable rage. A ranger was killed. We need your help to understand what we're dealing with.

Randolph sighed, his gaze becoming more serious.

— Asgardian staffs... I've seen these before. Do you have any images or detailed descriptions of the object?

Fitz quickly brought up the image of the staff found in the forest, captured by SHIELD security cameras. Randolph watched closely, frowning.

"I recognize this," he said finally. "This is a piece of the Berserker Staff."

Skye, who was sitting next to Fitz, looked at Randolph curiously.

"Berserker Staff? What is this?"

Randolph leaned back in his chair, adjusting his posture before explaining.

"The Berserker Staff was used by an Asgardian warrior many centuries ago. He was a Berserker, known for his ability to go into an uncontrollable rage during battle. This staff amplified his rage, giving him immense strength, but at the cost of his humanity. The warrior realized the danger of the staff's power and split it into three pieces, hiding them around the world so that they would never be reunited again."

Coulson's expression hardened.

"So what we have here is just one piece?" Randolph nodded.

"Yes. And if this woman has already killed someone with a single fragment, imagine what would happen if all three pieces were reunited." Ward crossed his arms, clearly worried.

"We need to make sure that never happens."

"I agree," Coulson said. "Elliot, do you know where the other pieces might be?"

Randolph shook his head.

"The exact location was kept secret by the warrior, but... there are stories, legends that indicate some places where he might have hidden the pieces. One of them talks about an ancient church in Seville, Spain."

Skye, who already had her laptop open, began typing quickly.

"I'll start tracking down any information about this church. Hopefully, we'll find something concrete."

Randolph looked directly at Coulson.

"If you do find another piece, be careful. The staff's power is extremely dangerous, even in the best-intentioned hands."

Coulson nodded.

"Thank you, Elliot. We'll keep you updated on any new developments." The screen went blank, and Coulson turned to his team.

"Skye, find out everything you can about this church. Ward, May, get ready to go. We can't risk this woman or anyone else finding another piece of the staff."

Hours later, with the Bus on its way to Seville, Skye was focused on her laptop, browsing historical records and maps of the city. Fitz and Simmons were beside her, helping to interpret some of the data.

"The church Randolph mentioned appears to have been abandoned for centuries," Skye said, showing an image on the central monitor. "Here, we can see an old building, but there aren't many details about what might be hidden inside."

Simmons leaned in to get a better look at the image.

"If the staff was hidden there, the place must have been reinforced in some way. There may be traps or ancient defense mechanisms."

Ward, who was checking his equipment, interrupted.

"No matter what's in there, we're going to go in and make sure the staff piece is safe."

May, ever the pragmatist, added,

"We need to be prepared for anything. If this staff is as powerful as Randolph said, any false move could be fatal."

Coulson entered the room, his suit jacket already straightened and his posture serious.

"We're almost to Seville. As soon as we land, we'll split up the team. Skye and Simmons, you stay on the Bus, tracking any signs of unusual activity. Ward, May, and I will go to the church."

Skye looked at Coulson, a little uneasily.

"What about the woman with the first piece of the staff? Do we have an idea of ​​where she is?"

Coulson shook his head.

"Not yet. But we have teams in the field trying to locate her. Our priority now is to make sure the second fragment doesn't fall into the wrong hands."

When the Bus landed on the outskirts of Seville, the sun was already beginning to set, casting long shadows over the ancient city.

The team quickly prepared, and before long, Coulson, Ward, and May were standing in front of the church Randolph had mentioned. The building was imposing, but in ruins. The walls were covered in ivy, and the wood of the doors had rotted over the centuries. Even so, there was something strange and mysterious about the place. It was as if the church held a dark secret, buried deep within its structure.

Ward approached the main door, checking for any immediate danger.

"It seems clear, but let's be careful."

May, always silent and lethal, slipped into the church with impressive speed, followed by Ward and Coulson. The interior was dark, with only a few broken windows allowing light to enter. In the center of the church, there was a stone altar, covered in dust. And right in the middle, something glowed faintly, as if it were made of ancient metal.

"There it is," Coulson whispered, pointing to the object on the altar.

Ward approached slowly, his eyes trained on it, checking for any possible traps. As he approached, he reached out to grab the object.

However, as soon as his fingers touched the metal, the ground beneath them began to shake violently, and a loud sound reverberated throughout the church.

"The alarm has been triggered!" May shouted, pulling Ward back.