"Sure enough, ordinary steel armor is just cannon fodder." When Daniel Davis appeared at the Stark Expo, the battle was already over, with the military wrapping things up. The police, disheartened, had left as soon as the military showed up.
Although Anton Vanko's steel suits were much weaker than Stark's, they still provided the military with significant gains. The arc reactors alone were a considerable prize.
"Daniel, you're here. Can you help fix this?" Stark pointed to a building damaged during their fight as soon as he saw Daniel.
"Do you want to put those construction workers out of a job?" Daniel understood Stark's intention—he wanted Daniel to use his magic to restore the building. However, Daniel shook his head and declined.
"You're right. Forget it." Stark dropped the idea immediately. Previously, he wouldn't have cared about such considerations, but his time in the cave with Yinsen had changed his perspective, allowing him to see the struggles of those less fortunate.
Dr. Yinsen was a genuinely kind doctor. Despite his qualifications and expertise, which could have afforded him a luxurious life in any major city, he chose to return to his homeland to help. Unfortunately, before he could make a significant difference, his homeland was destroyed by terrorists.
"Revitalize." After James left, Daniel cast a healing spell on Stark. Although they had won against Vanko's army of suits, Stark wasn't unscathed. His armor was strong, but Stark was still just a human, and every impact took a toll on him.
Thanks to Daniel's manipulation, Vanko's suits didn't target civilians and instead focused solely on Stark and James. Controlled by computers, Vanko's suits couldn't make flexible moves but could still be directed to crash into targets.
Knowing Vanko's plans in advance, Daniel ensured he couldn't harm civilians.
"You're pretty banged up. Take some time to rest. After that, I should be able to address the issue in your body." Daniel referred to removing the shrapnel in Stark's body and later strengthening him with the Extremis virus.
"Director, this place is a wreck." While Stark was being taken to the hospital, Natasha arrived at the Hammer Industries lab. With Vanko's large-scale actions, SHIELD had to be involved. They might not interfere in the armor battles but could certainly investigate Hammer Industries.
"Come back for now."
At SHIELD's Triskelion headquarters, Fury stared sternly at intercepted emails. Though their content was garbled, the destination addresses provided significant clues.
These were emails Daniel had made Vanko send, filled with meaningless content but triggering a self-destruction mechanism to thwart SHIELD's investigation. This move was meant to paint Vanko as a scapegoat while hinting at a greater mastermind behind him.
Fury quickly moved past this incident because it implicated Justin Hammer, who had collaborated with Vanko under military approval. With Hammer dead, much of Hammer Industries' funds vanished, and their lab was destroyed, meaning some military figures would likely be held accountable. Given the public spectacle of the event, scapegoats were necessary to placate the masses.
"The US military has been in turmoil lately, ever since the Raccoon City incident."
"Melinda, bring Daniel here." After staring at a picture on the big screen for a while, Fury pressed a button to issue the command.
"I should find time to head East. But what kind of business should I start there? Drones? A gaming company?"
After roughly sorting through the equipment from Hammer Industries, Daniel contemplated his future plans. His priority was to enhance his own power, but he also needed to ensure his company's growth.
For now, Daniel needed a qualified CEO. Pepper could manage his company for now, but with the expansion of Stark Industries and his own business, she would eventually be overwhelmed.
Even if Pepper thought she could handle it, Stark wouldn't want her to be so busy that she had no time for him.
"It's a shame that Ada prefers an adventurous life; otherwise, she'd make a perfect CEO." Top agents like Ada and Natasha were versatile and could easily manage large corporations.
"That's illegal trespassing." At his beachside villa, Daniel frowned at the Quinjet materializing out of stealth, watching as Melinda stepped out of the aircraft.
"The Director requests your presence." Melinda's face remained expressionless.
"If he wants to see me, he should come himself. I'm not at his beck and call."
"It's urgent, and the Director is currently occupied."
"Fine, since you asked, I'll go." Seeing Melinda's serious demeanor, Daniel reluctantly boarded the plane.
He agreed so readily because he was curious about what Fury wanted at this moment.
At SHIELD's Triskelion headquarters, in Fury's office:
"This thing, does it look familiar to you?" Fury wasted no time, immediately displaying an image on the big screen.
"Well, this is interesting." The image made Daniel smile. He recognized it instantly—Mjolnir, Thor's hammer, lying alone in a crater.
"So, you know what it is." Fury's eyes brightened at Daniel's reaction.
"I need to verify. Do you have closer photos?"
"Here."
Maria Hill handed Daniel a tablet with numerous detailed images of Mjolnir from various angles, along with extensive scientific analyses.
"I need to confirm something." Daniel began searching through his own tablet, quickly finding the data he needed and transmitting it to the big screen.
"No doubt about it; it's this." The screen now displayed information about Mjolnir.
"Thor's hammer? You can't be serious." Norse mythology is quite popular in the West, and even those unfamiliar with it knew some characters. Fury and his colleagues were stunned.
"So you're saying the gods of Norse mythology actually exist?" Fury, a staunch atheist, found this hard to swallow.
"In a way, yes." Daniel brought his hands together, conjuring a golden magic circle that transformed into a massive golden tree.
"You've heard of Yggdrasil, right?" As he spoke, nine spheres appeared on the golden tree. "Yggdrasil divides the Nine Realms. The gods of Norse mythology reside in Asgard, ruling over the Nine Realms. Our planet, Earth, is known as Midgard among the Nine Realms."
As Daniel explained, the nine spheres displayed their names.
Before Fury could ask further, Daniel continued, "The reason we have Norse myths on Earth is that Asgardians and Jotuns fought here long ago. Though the Asgardians left after the battle, humans recorded the events, giving rise to our Norse mythology."
"So, these so-called Norse gods are just powerful aliens?" Fury pondered after a long pause.
"You could say that. The average lifespan of an Asgardian is over 5,000 years, with the strongest living tens of thousands of years. So, calling themselves gods isn't far-fetched."
"What were the Asgardians and Jotuns fighting over on Earth?" Fury asked.
"Asgard rules the Nine Realms, and many oppose them. The Jotuns came to Earth intending to turn it into an icy world, another Jotunheim. Asgard couldn't allow that." Daniel paused, then added, "Jotunheim is the realm of the Frost Giants. They wanted to transform Earth into a glacial planet. Asgard stopped them."
Though Daniel didn't elaborate further, Fury and his team could infer the rest.
"You mentioned Asgard rules the Nine Realms, including us. So why haven't we heard of them for so long? Did something happen to them?" Fury quickly grasped the implication.
"Asgard is still one of the universe's most powerful forces, respected even by the Kree Empire and the Nova Empire. The other realms regularly interact with Asgard and must pay tribute. We don't know about them and don't need to pay tribute because we have someone watching over us." Daniel pointed upward as he spoke.
Asgard's Bifrost allows them to traverse the Nine Realms freely, but they rarely appear on Earth, thanks to our mysterious guardian.
"Someone watching over us?" Fury stood up abruptly.
"Yes. In a sense, Earth has a protector. Because of them, Asgardians can't interfere freely here." Daniel nodded.
"Then why are they appearing now?"
"Think of it as a vacation. While ordinary Asgardians can't come and go as they please, Thor, as Odin's son, has more leeway. As long as he doesn't destroy Earth, our protector doesn't mind." Daniel grinned at Fury, adding, "He's the guardian of Earth, not humanity. As long as Earth isn't destroyed, he won't intervene in our affairs."
"So, even if aliens invade, he won't help."
"Exactly." Daniel nodded firmly.
In the Battle of New York, the Ancient One only intervened to protect the New York Sanctum from the Chitauri. Otherwise, the Chitauri would have never had a chance to rampage.
"Where did you find this? Take me there." Daniel stood up, ready to go.
"You want to go?" Fury asked, puzzled.
"With Mjolnir on Earth, Thor must be here too. I should introduce myself, unless you want to handle it yourself."
"Melinda, take him." After a moment's thought, Fury agreed.
"Nine realms, a guardian." After Daniel and Melinda left, Fury sat back, taking a deep breath. Daniel's revelations were overwhelming and raised many questions.
New Mexico.
Daniel and Melinda quickly arrived at the site where Mjolnir had landed. Unable to move the hammer, SHIELD had set up a perimeter around it, even bringing in Hawkeye for security.
At the site, Daniel met with Coulson and Agent Sitwell.
"Seems like I lack Captain America's righteousness." Ign
oring pleasantries, Daniel approached Mjolnir, curious if he could lift it.
In the movie, Captain America could have lifted Mjolnir but chose not to, to spare Thor's pride and avoid embarrassment.
Mjolnir's enchantment is peculiar. Normally, only the worthy can lift it, yet Thor can hang it on walls without it crashing down.
"Room." Daniel activated his Ope-Ope Fruit powers to analyze the runes on Mjolnir. But he quickly staggered back, shaking his head to clear the dizziness.
The hammer's runes were intricate and filled with a strange energy, making him momentarily lightheaded.
"Am I that outmatched?" This was the first time Daniel had encountered something he couldn't analyze. With Mjolnir's secrets beyond his reach, he decided it was time to meet Thor.
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"What happened here?" Daniel asked as he stepped into the makeshift command center. He noticed Melinda, Hawkeye, Coulson, and Sitwell locked in a tense discussion.
"It's this," Melinda said, pointing to a computer screen flashing red warnings. Another screen showed footage of a young man breaking into the base, fighting his way to Mjolnir. The young man struggled to lift the hammer, screamed in anguish, and was eventually captured by SHIELD agents without further resistance.
In another video, Coulson was interrogating the young man before abruptly leaving the room. The young man then muttered to himself until Coulson returned and inexplicably released him from the base.
"This can't be happening," Coulson and Sitwell were in disbelief. As seasoned Level 6 SHIELD agents, they couldn't fathom making such an obvious blunder, especially with a high-security breach.
Even if the young man had somehow managed to fight his way through, there was no way agents of their caliber would release him so easily, ignoring all the security protocols and warning signs.
"If Melinda didn't trust Coulson, she'd probably have ordered Hawkeye to detain both him and Sitwell by now," Daniel observed.
"What's going on?" Melinda turned her gaze to Daniel for an explanation.
"It's cognitive impairment. Someone used magic on them, similar to hypnosis. Even the most unreasonable actions would seem perfectly logical to them," Daniel explained.
"Magic?" Coulson and Sitwell looked at Daniel in astonishment.
"Are they okay now?" Melinda asked.
"No, to break this kind of spell, you need to jolt them hard. A good hit on the head should do it. Who wants to go first?" Daniel said, pulling up a chair and sitting down, ready to watch the show.
"Can't you break the spell?" Melinda looked at Coulson, hesitating slightly.
"This is Asgardian magic. It's different from the system I've learned. I could try to dispel it, but I can't guarantee there wouldn't be side effects. So, it's probably better if they take the hit," Daniel suggested, not minding the extra drama.
"What's Asgard?" Coulson began to ask, but Melinda didn't wait for an answer. She punched him hard.
Coulson, understanding the need to break the hypnosis, didn't resist and accepted his fate. Sitwell, on the other hand, tried to defend himself, but Melinda's strikes quickly subdued him.
"Do you have a personal vendetta against him?" Daniel asked, noting the noticeable difference in the severity of injuries. Coulson had minor bruises, while Sitwell's face was swelling.
"No, I just haven't been active in a while and misjudged my strength," Melinda replied. She wouldn't admit that she found Sitwell annoying and relished the chance to hit him without repercussions.
After a bit of rough handling, Melinda seemed oddly satisfied, and Daniel noticed a change in her demeanor, almost as if she had enjoyed it a bit too much.
"How do you feel now?" Melinda asked as Coulson and Sitwell regained consciousness.
"Not great. I can't believe I made such a mistake," Coulson said, rubbing his head with a rueful smile.
"Couldn't you have hit me a little lighter?" Sitwell complained, nursing his bruised face.
"Going easy wouldn't have worked," Melinda said, glancing at Daniel.
"Everything seems fine now. Alright, it's time to pay our prince a visit," Daniel stood up, ready to leave.
"That guy?" Melinda seemed surprised.
"Yes, although our prince seems to have some issues, it doesn't change his status," Daniel confirmed.
"Wait, Melinda, what prince?" Coulson seemed to catch on late.
"Prince of Asgard, Thor, the Thunder God, son of Odin," Daniel said before Melinda could respond.
"I haven't had the chance to explain yet," Melinda said, noting that she was about to inform Coulson and Sitwell before the security breach diverted her attention.
"Thor, the God of Thunder? That's impossible," Coulson, Sitwell, and Hawkeye were all dumbfounded.
"Nothing is impossible. Now, where is he? You do know, right?" Daniel asked.
"Actually..." Coulson's face turned awkward, but then he seemed to remember something. "I know where the person who took him lives."
Dr. Erik Selvig, a renowned astrophysicist with impressive achievements in his field, was seen as a mad scientist by some due to his unprovable theories. He was also the one who had taken Thor away. SHIELD quickly traced him to a nearby town.
Daniel and the others soon arrived at a house rented by Erik, used for conducting their experiments.
"What are you doing here again? Give me back my things!" A young woman jumped in front of Coulson as soon as they appeared, shouting angrily.
"We'll return your items soon," Coulson replied, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Ignoring the commotion, Daniel walked into the house, finding a man and a woman seemingly enjoying each other's company while cooking. They were Thor and Jane Foster.
Thor's imposing physique was quite popular in the West, and despite their brief acquaintance, he and Jane had developed a fondness for each other.
"What do you want now?" Erik Selvig came rushing out, seemingly attempting to confront SHIELD but with a nervous look.
"Lord Thor, welcome to Midgard." Daniel approached Thor and bowed with a formal Asgardian salute he had learned from the berserker, Elliot Randolph.
"And you are?" Thor finally set down his plate, looking curiously at Daniel.
"The Sorcerer Supreme greets King Odin," Daniel said, tracing a golden line in the air.
"Sorcerer Supreme? Midgard has sorcerers now?" Thor seemed puzzled.
"He doesn't know about the Ancient One," Daniel thought, realizing Thor's ignorance.
"Midgard has had sorcerers for a long time. It seems Lord Thor is not aware of this. I am here to ask why you've come to Midgard."
"I was banished. Father thinks I am unworthy to inherit the throne," Thor admitted, surprisingly honest, even mentioning that his father, Odin, had passed away because of him.
"So, you can't return to Asgard?"
"Yes."
Thor's face fell as he spoke of being unable to return home.
"I see. Here's my contact information. If you need anything in Midgard, call me." Daniel handed over a business card before standing up to leave.
After Daniel left, Coulson and the others quickly followed.
"Are you really Thor?" As soon as Daniel and his team exited, Erik, Jane, and Darcy surrounded Thor. Though Thor had claimed to be the God of Thunder, no one had believed him until now. Daniel's visit had validated his words, as it was implausible that SHIELD would play along with such a ruse.
"What's going on?" Back at the temporary base, Melinda opened a laptop, and Fury's stern face appeared on the screen.
"What do you mean, 'what's going on'?" Daniel asked calmly from his chair.
"I've heard the reports. Is he really Thor? What are you planning? Don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
"He is indeed Thor, as I've already explained. As for my plans, I have none. Since you've heard the reports, you should know Thor said Odin was dead. But to my knowledge, Odin is very much alive. Asgard is clearly facing some upheaval, and without knowing the details, it's best to observe for now."
Odin had exiled Thor to Earth to teach him humility. Daniel didn't want to interfere, knowing it was part of Thor's growth. Intervening might incur Odin's wrath, something even Daniel wasn't willing to risk.
"I see. Understood," Fury said before ending the call.
"Come out; your magic doesn't work on me." After Fury disconnected, Daniel's right hand suddenly held a wand, pointing to a seemingly empty space.
"No wonder the old man didn't want anyone coming to Midgard," Loki appeared in a sharp suit, his illusion finally broken. Daniel had hurriedly left Thor's side because he sensed Loki's presence.
Unlike Thor, who relied on brute strength, Loki was highly skilled in magic, having learned from the sorceress Frigga.
Thor needed the Bifrost to travel between realms, but Loki had other methods to move freely across the Nine Realms, including Midgard.
Loki's illusions were formidable, and without the keen energy perception granted by Kamar-Taj's magic, Daniel might not have detected him.
"Asgardian," Daniel addressed him, knowing it wasn't wise to call Loki by name immediately.
"Why are you here? This place..." Daniel began to speak but noticed Loki's expression change. Then, Loki vanished.
"He's gone. Was that an illusion?" Daniel mused, knowing Loki's illusions were incredibly convincing, having fooled Thor multiple times.
"Something's happened." Coulson rushed in, looking concerned.
"That's the Bifrost. No wonder Loki left suddenly." Stepping outside, Daniel saw massive clouds swirling in the eastern sky, followed by a beam of light as the clouds dissipated.
"It must be Sif and the Warriors Three."
"We've spotted them." SHIELD agents monitoring Thor relayed descriptions of Sif and her companions, confirming their arrival.
"Let's go check it out." Daniel instructed Coulson and Melinda to take him back to Thor's location. By the time they arrived, Thor had already reunited with Sif and the Warriors Three, learning that Odin was alive and that Loki was behind the recent events.
Daniel had refrained from revealing the truth earlier because he knew
Thor was deeply loyal to his brother. Hearing the truth from an outsider would only alienate him, whereas learning it from trusted friends wouldn't have the same negative impact.
Just as Sif and the others were discussing how to return to Asgard and expose Loki's plot, the sky churned again. A beam of light heralded the arrival of a silver-white giant robot at the town's edge—the Destroyer had arrived.
Boom.
As soon as the Destroyer appeared, it attacked. Beams of energy from its faceplate demolished several buildings in the small town.
By the time Thor and his friends reached the scene, the Destroyer had already devastated a street, causing chaos among the townspeople. In their panic, most fled in all directions, though some brave souls fired weapons at the giant. However, the Destroyer, being one of Asgard's mightiest weapons, was impervious to ordinary firearms. The attackers vanished in the face of its destructive beams.
"Attack!" Sif and the Warriors Three charged the Destroyer from different directions, weapons ready.
"Aren't you going to intervene?" Coulson asked, noticing that Daniel hadn't moved.
"Let's see how they handle it first," Daniel replied. Facing the Destroyer, Daniel was curious about its capabilities. If Odin controlled it, he wouldn't dare intervene, but with Loki at the helm, it was a different story.
As Asgard's ultimate weapon, the Destroyer's power was vastly different depending on whether Odin or Loki wielded it.
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