As soon as those words were spoken, an eerie silence fell over the scene.
Dr. Eric and the others turned to Thor.
"What's been wrong with you these past two days? Why do you keep introducing yourself as Thor, God of Thunder, to every stranger?"
Thor didn't expect such an absurd misunderstanding. Quickly, he explained to everyone:
"I'm the real Thor. That one's an impostor!"
Jane couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
"Didn't you just dismiss Norse mythology as fairy tales? Why the sudden urgency?" she thought, rolling her eyes. "Humph, men."
Seeing her obvious disbelief, Thor grew anxious. He turned to the stranger and challenged him:
"If you're claiming to be Thor, then answer me this: who is the All-Father, who is the Queen of Asgard, and who are the warriors of Asgard?"
Before the man could respond, Daisy excitedly raised her hand.
"I know! Odin is the All-Father, Frigga is the queen, and the warriors are Sif, Hogan, Fandral, and Volstagg!"
Eric sighed, shaking his head. "Anyone familiar with Norse mythology would know that. It doesn't prove anything."
Thor's expression turned red with embarrassment as Jane watched him with thinly veiled pity.
At that moment, the mysterious man smirked. "Fair enough. Now it's my turn."
He rattled off a series of questions that left Thor completely stumped:
"Why is Jotunheim always in winter despite the nearby stars?"
"What is the inscription on Mjölnir, and why does it summon thunder?"
"What are the forges of Nidavellir made from, and why are the dwarves so tall?"
Thor's confident expression slowly turned to one of utter confusion.
Eric and Jane exchanged knowing glances. "He doesn't have a clue," Eric muttered.
Red-faced, Thor retorted, "You act like you know all the answers!"
The stranger smiled slyly. "Maybe I do... but I'm not telling."
Later that night, as Thor sulked by the fire, the mysterious man casually sipped milk while Daisy clung to his arm, asking him more questions about Norse myths.
"Don't worry, Thor," the man said with mock reassurance. "If you act a bit dumber, maybe Jane will finally take a liking to you."
Thor frowned. "Is that how Midgardian women choose their partners?"
Daisy, horrified, pulled the man away, declaring she'd learned enough mythology for one night.
The next day, as everyone gathered for breakfast, the peaceful morning was shattered when four leather-clad warriors burst into the diner. Thor leaped to his feet, greeting them with joy.
"These are the Warriors of Asgard!" he announced to the bewildered humans.
Before he could explain further, the stranger interjected: "I have one last question for your so-called warriors... can they defeat the Destroyer?"
As if on cue, a beam of light descended from the sky, shaking the ground and sending windows shattering.
A towering metallic figure emerged, its form glowing with ominous energy.
"The Destroyer!" Thor shouted in alarm.
Outside, chaos erupted as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fired futilely at the machine. Their efforts only seemed to anger it further.
Thor's attempts to reason with it failed as the Destroyer struck him down effortlessly, leaving him battered on the ground.
Despair hung thick in the air until the mysterious man stood up, setting his cup of milk aside.
"Don't worry," he said with calm assurance. "I promised to save you."
In a flash, he was gone, reappearing outside to face the Destroyer head-on.
Everyone watched in stunned silence as a silver war hammer hurtled through the sky, landing in his hand with a deafening crack. Lightning split the heavens, bathing him in divine power.
His casual attire transformed into intricate armor, a crimson cloak billowing behind him as arcs of electricity danced around his form.
The imposter had become the real Thor.
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