New Mexico, the northernmost region of the United States, was known as the "Land of Enchantment." Of course, that was just the slogan. But now, this place had fallen into a very strange situation.
A meteorite had fallen from the sky, crashing into the ground and leaving behind a massive crater. But when people went to investigate, they discovered there was no meteorite at all—only a hammer.
This hammer was strange. No one could move it. Not even with cars, chains, or heavy machinery—it wouldn't budge an inch.
People here loved a challenge. Soon, crowds gathered, each person wanting to try lifting the hammer. Even if they failed, they stayed behind to watch others try and laugh about it.
Within just a day, the crater was surrounded by a sea of people. There were not only those who came to try lifting it but also tourists who had pitched tents and turned the site into a campground.
However, the cheerful atmosphere was soon broken. Upon receiving the report, S.H.I.E.L.D. naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity. Coulson arrived with his team, dispersing all civilians and setting up a temporary base around Mjölnir.
Melin also arrived with Asura. However, they didn't meet with Coulson. After all, eighty percent of the people Melin brought were Hydra operatives—there was no need for contact.
Still, he wanted to see the famous hammer with his own eyes—to confirm whether it was the one he knew.
"As I thought—it's different," Melin said quietly as he looked at the familiar yet foreign Mjölnir.
This Mjölnir was indeed the one from the movies, not the one from the mythic age. The original divine hammer had two blue thunder-gems embedded within it, covered in runes, including the primordial rune for "lightning." It was a weapon capable of destroying heaven and earth. But the one before him now was far simpler—merely a key to unlock the power of the God of Thunder.
"My lord," Asura called.
"Do you want to try?" Melin asked.
"No. I already have the Sacred Sword Excalibur. That's enough."
"Hmm. Let's go. We're here to meet Thor."
"Yes, my lord."
Their arrival and departure went completely unnoticed.
Before long, they found Thor, who had been rescued by Jane Foster. Although Melin had mentally prepared himself, the sight still disappointed him.
"My lord, he's the God of Thunder?" Asura frowned.
In the eyes of the Gold Saints, gods were divided into three kinds. The first were those like Melin and Athena—their faith, supreme and sacred. The second were allies like Horus or Odin. The last kind were enemies—divine beings meant to be challenged. Every Gold Saint dreamed of continuing the legacy of the first generation: to slay gods as mortals.
Although Thor fell into the second category, Asura had once wanted to test his own strength against him—to see if he was worthy of challenging a god. But now that he saw him, disappointment took hold.
There was no divine aura at all. If not for the faintly sealed godly power sensed within Thor's body through his Cosmo, Asura would've thought he was an ordinary human.
"His divine soul hasn't awakened yet. Odin sealed his godly power. So yes, he's a mortal for now—but he truly is Thor," Melin explained.
"But my lord, is there any point in striking someone like this?" Asura asked. He despised attacking mortals—it would only disgrace his Sacred Sword.
"That's why this is your test, Asura. You must push him to his limits—without killing him."
"I understand, my lord."
"Good. But wait. It's not time yet."
The two quietly observed Thor—watched him charge through the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, fail to lift Mjölnir in despair, and slowly grow through his time with Jane Foster. Until…
"Thor!"
"OMG, you guys! You came!"
Having spent several days on Earth, Thor greeted his closest friends with open arms, embracing each warmly.
"We came looking for you, Thor."
"That's right," said one of them. "Loki is ruling Asgard now, but we think he's hiding something. We have to go back and stop him."
"Thor, you must return with us—immediately."
"But… I was banished. I caused Father's death. I have no right to return to Asgard," Thor said, voice heavy with guilt.
"What are you talking about? Who told you that the All-Father is dead? He's merely fallen into the Odinsleep."
"What?" Thor frowned deeply. "Loki… he lied to me…"
"He deceived you, Thor. The All-Father still lives, merely sleeping. You must return with us—before Asgard falls into ruin."
Persuaded by his friends and filled with doubt toward Loki, Thor finally agreed to return. Even without his power, he was still Prince Thor Odinson of Asgard—and he would defend it with his life.
After hurriedly bidding farewell to Jane Foster and her companions, Thor followed the Warriors Three and Sif. But as they were leaving, a golden figure blocked their path.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Thor demanded as he and his friends raised their weapons.
To ordinary eyes, Asura's golden armor was strange but dazzling. Yet to Thor and his companions, the invisible pressure it radiated was suffocating.
"Defeat me, and you may pass," Asura said coldly.
"Are you one of Loki's men?" Thor asked with a frown.
"No."
"Listen, friend, I don't know who you are or why you're—oh, damn it!"
Thor had been about to reason with him, but suddenly, in the distance, a black tornado descended from the heavens. To bystanders, it might have seemed like a natural disaster—but Thor and his friends knew better.
It was the Destroyer, one of Asgard's most fearsome weapons, sent by Loki himself.
"Friend! It's dangerous! You need to—"
Before Thor could finish telling Asura to evacuate the civilians, Asura turned and raised his hand.
"Sacred Sword—Unsheathing!"
In an instant, a golden blade of energy sliced through the air, splitting the tornado cleanly in two. The Destroyer within it was bisected as well, both halves crashing lifelessly to the ground.
"Can we begin now?" Asura asked indifferently, his expression unchanging.
"Who… who are you?" Thor's voice trembled. Even when he had his divine powers, he wasn't sure he could have defeated this man—much less now, stripped of his strength.
He needed to know—who this being was, and what his purpose might be.
"Capricorn Gold Saint—Asura."
"Gold Saint…" For some reason, hearing that title stirred something within Thor's heart, like a faint echo behind a sealed door—but he couldn't quite grasp it.
"Thor! Go! We'll hold him off!" Sif shouted, raising her shield before him. She, too, felt something from Asura's words, but her focus was entirely on protecting Thor and getting him home.
The Warriors Three drew their weapons, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
"Can you still fight?" Sif asked without turning her head.
"Of course! If I don't have my axe… I'll use my fists!" Volstagg said, bloodied but defiant, lifting his fists.
They exchanged a glance. Sif expanded her shield, blocking Asura's view. Then Hogun and Fandral grabbed Volstagg and hurled him forward like a human battering ram while they flanked Asura from both sides. Sif followed behind with her sword braced on her shield, charging head-on.
It was a flawless assault, closing off every path of retreat and striking from multiple directions at once.
Unfortunately for them, Asura was no ordinary being.
"Sacred Sword—Unsheathing: Dance of Blades!"
With both hands formed into blades, he unleashed countless golden slashes in a single instant—an eruption like a volcanic storm.
When the light faded, the four warriors were blown backward, armor and weapons shattered, their bodies covered in thin, bloody cuts.
This time, Asura had used more power—enough to keep them from standing again.
Sif and the three warriors writhed in pain, watching helplessly as Asura approached step by step. Despair mixed with defiance in their eyes.
"Is this… the end?" the same thought crossed all their minds.
Then, suddenly—
"No!"
Thor's anguished roar echoed through the battlefield as he returned, seeing his friends lying broken on the ground.