Three days later, inside the house Erik had rented.
"Thor, do you know this rune too?"
In the first-floor living room, Lockhart sat at the table, wand in hand, drawing a complex rune in the air. His voice was filled with excitement.
Across from him, Thor studied the glowing blue rune, floating mid-air, formed by countless intricate lines. After a brief pause, he replied, "Lockhart, this rune can be interpreted as judgment."
"Its main function is to make decisions based on intent. Think of it like a switch."
As he spoke, Thor's expression darkened slightly, but he continued, "For example, Mjolnir is inscribed with a judgment rune. If someone meets its criteria, they can lift Mjolnir."
"If not… it becomes impossibly heavy."
Hearing Thor's explanation, Lockhart quickly jotted down notes with a floating quill, deeply moved.
He couldn't help but admit it—he'd been biased.
Back in his previous life, his understanding of the Marvel Universe was limited to the movies. He'd never dug deeper—he was always busy with research, and movies were just a way to unwind.
Who would've thought he'd one day end up in the Marvel world?
He used to think Thor was just a reckless brute who didn't use his brain, but it turns out... the guy's a full-blown genius.
An elite among elites.
Dozens of complicated runes—explained flawlessly and in detail. He had to respect Asgardian royal education.
It made Lockhart calm down and view the unfolding story with more objectivity.
After all, the original plot was only a two-hour film. While it provided key beats, it lacked depth.
But now—this world was real.
He couldn't rely on vague memories. He had to observe, analyze, and adapt.
Inviting Thor to explain runes had been the right move.
Ever since deepening his bond with Thor, Lockhart had been inviting Thor, Erik, and the others to dinner under the pretense of discussing magic.
On one hand, he genuinely wanted to learn more about Asgardian magic. Even if Thor was more of a warrior than a scholar, the training he'd received, the magical worldview of Asgardians, and even their casual "common sense" about magic were incredibly valuable.
Different worlds led to different paradigms. What they considered basic knowledge might be precious insights for Lockhart.
And he'd already gained far more than expected. Thor had shared plenty about runes and even the magical education system of Asgard.
On the other hand, based on the original plot, the Warriors Three and Sif were likely about to arrive and bring Thor back to Asgard—marking the moment Thor regained his powers.
Which meant this might be Lockhart's last chance to interact with Thor in this powerless, more approachable state. He couldn't waste it.
And he was also planning to capitalize on his reputation system to earn some additional rewards.
As for how he got the rune, he'd told Thor the truth: it came from Mjolnir.
He just fudged the timeline a bit—saying he'd studied the hammer out of curiosity after saving Thor and sneaking into the S.H.I.E.L.D. site.
Thor didn't seem to mind.
After all…
He couldn't lift Mjolnir right now anyway.
Still, seeing Thor's slightly gloomy expression, Lockhart guessed he'd touched a nerve—the pain of losing Mjolnir's recognition.
So he stood up and said loudly, "Alright, that's enough for today!"
"Let's start dinner! What does everyone want to eat?"
"I'll cook!"
At Lockhart's words, Thor, Jane, and Darcy's eyes lit up.
"I want that magical grilled fish!"
"I want the fried dragon meatballs!"
"I want butterbeer!"
"I want—"
"—"
Hearing the excited chatter, Lockhart raised a hand and laughed. "Okay, okay—don't rush."
"There's five of us—everyone can choose whatever they want."
"I'll make it all at once."
Just then—
Suddenly!!!
Four armored figures appeared at the distant glass door, knocking loudly.
"Hey, Thor! We found you!"
Thor turned in surprise. "Sif? What are you all doing here?"
He rushed over and opened the door, giving Hogun a big hug.
After pulling away, he quickly introduced his friends to Lockhart, Jane, and the others. "These are my best friends from Asgard!"
"Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun—also known as the Warriors Three."
"And this is Sif, my comrade and the goddess of war and harvest," he added, gesturing to the armored woman beside them.
Then he turned to Lockhart's group. "And these are my good friends from Earth—Lockhart, Jane, Darcy, and Erik."
Lockhart smiled warmly. "A pleasure to meet friends from Asgard."
"We were just about to enjoy a big meal—care to join us?"
Thor turned to his companions. "Volstagg, Lockhart's a wizard."
"He can make incredible food—way better than any chef in Asgard."
Volstagg's eyes lit up. "Count me in! I love good food."
Seeing their excitement, Lockhart chuckled. "Alright, I'll cook a feast tonight to welcome our guests from Asgard."
He reached into his space pouch, making it float mid-air.
With a wave of his wand, countless ingredients poured out: green peppers, onions, corn, cheese, sausages, beef—all floating around them.
The amount of food compared to the small pouch was a visual shock.
Sif and the others stared, stunned.
Asgardian mages did have space rings, but they were rare.
The sheer volume and visual spectacle of Lockhart's pouch left them visibly impressed.
Lockhart smirked at their reactions.
These small displays would naturally earn him respect.
Friendship alone was fragile—it wouldn't gain lasting recognition.
Suddenly!
Lockhart's brow furrowed. With a sharp wave of his wand, all the ingredients flew back into the pouch.
He turned to Thor and the others with a solemn look.
"Looks like… we won't be having that feast just yet."
Then, turning to Sif, Volstagg, and the others, he added seriously, "I just sensed a powerful energy wave—one that coincided with your arrival."
"And it's radiating hostility. That's not good."
Thor immediately asked, "Wait… why exactly are you here on Earth?"
Volstagg quickly responded, "Thor, we came to bring you back!"
"Loki took the throne while the All-Father is in the Odinsleep—and things are a mess."
"We came to take you home to reclaim your rightful place."
Thor's eyes widened. "Are you sure Father is asleep?"
Hearing the doubt in his voice, Sif and the others nodded firmly. "Of course, Thor."
"Otherwise, Loki wouldn't dare do what he's doing—grabbing power and creating chaos."
Thor's expression darkened, clearly shaken.
Lockhart sighed silently.
Thor had never admitted the real reason he wanted to stay on Earth.
No one had asked—out of respect for his pain.
But now he understood: everything Loki told him had been a lie.
All to keep him stranded on Earth.
Just then, Darcy rushed outside and shouted, "Guys, come look!"
"There's a giant armored monster out here!"
Lockhart stepped outside, eyes narrowing.
It was—
The Destroyer.