"Who is that guy?"
Natasha asked, sipping her coffee as she stared at the completely lifeless Thor lying outside in the rain.
"The owner of the hammer.
Thor Odinson, the God of Thunder from Norse mythology."
Lucas drank his hot water calmly; the storm outside didn't affect them at all.
He glanced to the corner of the room—
Loki sat there silently, watching his broken brother through the window.
In Loki's eyes, Lucas saw a mocking smirk…
and also a trace of unwilling pity.
"So Loki does care about his brother after all~"
Lucas smiled faintly.
Thor and Loki had grown up together.
Even if Loki pranked him endlessly—even threatening Thor's life—Thor always laughed it off.
And despite Loki's disdain for affection, family remained his deepest bond.
He simply wanted to prove himself to Odin.
Everyone else present looked stunned.
"That's supposed to be just a myth…"
Coulson muttered. He'd read Norse tales since childhood; he could hardly accept they were real.
"Stories are written by people.
Who knows which parts are fiction and which are actual history?" Lucas replied with a mysterious smile.
"Think of them as aliens and it's easy to accept.
The Nine Realms? Nine planets.
Asgard? One of them."
The others nodded.
If gods were extraterrestrials… it suddenly sounded reasonable.
Maybe ancient miracles were simply advanced alien tech.
After all, flight, long-distance communication, and space travel would be considered miracles in ancient times.
Natasha pointed to Thor.
"So what's he doing on Earth? He doesn't look very god-like…"
"His powers were stripped away."
Lucas gestured toward Mjolnir.
"Odin banished him to Earth. When he understands what he must become, he'll regain his power.
"Everything he has—his divine strength—is inside the hammer now.
Lift it, and he gets it all back."
Coulson's eyes widened.
"Then earlier… did you obtain the power of the Thunder God?"
Lucas shook his head.
"I'm not interested in that. Didn't you see? I tossed the hammer outside. That kind of power is redundant for me."
The group glanced at the hammer lying in the mud.
They'd all seen Lucas's true strength—those summoned monsters that even nuclear weapons might not stop.
He really didn't need Thor's power.
From the corner, Loki's eyes narrowed in irritation.
Not interested?
What did this Midgard insect know?
That was Asgard's divine power—something countless beings coveted!
Loki clicked his tongue, toyed with his dagger, sulking.
Lucas ignored him.
Loki at this stage was still just a child who got angry easily.
---
Midnight
Thor had lain there until nightfall.
The rain finally eased.
Everyone in the base went to sleep; no one was even on guard duty.
A faint shimmer appeared—
Loki emerged from an illusion, standing before his soaked brother.
"My dear brother… how do you enjoy life in Midgard?"
Thor's eyes snapped open.
"Loki?! You're here! Are you taking me home?
Why doesn't Heimdall answer me?
How is Father?!"
Loki's expression hardened in feigned sorrow.
"Father… is dead.
Before he passed, he named me king."
Thor froze.
"You disappointed him too deeply.
So he decreed your exile to Midgard is permanent.
You will never return to Asgard."
"NO!! Father—!!"
Thor collapsed, howling in despair, face buried in his arms.
Loki sighed.
"Brother, I came only to see you one last time.
Farewell."
He turned toward Mjolnir.
He grabbed the handle and tried to lift it.
Nothing.
He gritted his teeth, trying again and again.
Still nothing.
"Pathetic hammer!"
He kicked it in frustration—then vanished.
From the shadows, Lucas stepped out with Barton and a squad of agents.
"That was Loki? The God of Mischief?"
Barton asked quietly.
Lucas nodded.
"He lied. Odin's alive.
Loki just wants to keep Thor from returning and competing for the throne."
Barton gave a curt nod.
He gestured, and the agents rushed forward to restrain Thor.
Thor didn't resist.
He was lost in grief.
"Lock him in a room. We'll deal with him tomorrow."
Barton ordered.
---
The Next Morning
Coulson and Barton entered Thor's room for questioning.
Since Lucas had already explained Thor's situation, neither of them reacted strangely when Thor identified himself as the God of Thunder.
Thor blinked.
"So… you believe me?"
"Of course," Coulson replied.
"We believe you're Thor, Prince of Asgard.
So, Prince—how do you plan to return home?"
Thor's face dimmed.
"I can't.
I've been exiled here forever."
Meanwhile, back on Asgard—
Loki sat on the throne with Gungnir in hand.
Before him stood the Warriors Three—Thor's loyal friends.
"I said Thor is exiled forever.
No one may contact him.
Will you defy the king's command?"
He slammed Gungnir.
A shockwave rippled through the hall.
Volstagg, hot-tempered as always, was about to protest—
but Sif quickly held him back.
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