This Earthling is incredibly strong!
"Gahaha!"
Their hands were tightly clasped, muscles grinding with such force that it sounded like bones were cracking.
Beads of sweat formed on Thor's forehead. He was clearly not winning this contest of strength.
Just as he was debating whether to admit defeat, Aetheris suddenly released his grip and chuckled.
"I'm not really into holding another man's hand for that long."
"Uh… hahaha."
Thor let out an awkward laugh, secretly relieved that Aetheris hadn't humiliated him in front of everyone.
Thor, after all, was a man who had journeyed through the Nine Realms. If nothing else, he had his pride.
"Mr. Stark, thank you for helping us defeat the Destroyer. If it had caused any serious damage, I wouldn't have been able to dodge the blame as Asgard's future king."
Thor spoke with sincere gratitude.
Aetheris nodded approvingly. He admired Thor's willingness to take responsibility, even in defeat.
"You Asgardians came from afar, which makes you friends. And friends help each other. It's fate that we met here. How about this—tonight, I'll treat everyone to drinks. Sound good?"
Aetheris extended the invitation.
"Awesome!"
The chubby warrior was just about to agree, but Thor interrupted.
"I need to go find my good-for-nothing brother. I don't have time to drink and party. Once I've handled things in Asgard, I'll bring our finest mead and toast with you properly."
"Hold up, Mr. Donald!"
A few cars pulled up, and Agent Hill stepped out with several agents.
"It seems you haven't been entirely honest with me. Given the circumstances, may I ask—do you have a health code?"
The moment Thor saw the beautiful woman, his eyes lit up and he stopped walking.
"I don't have a health code, but my father owns a herd of eight-legged horses. Want one?"
Hill was speechless. She turned to Aetheris for help.
Aetheris couldn't stand seeing a beauty look that helpless. He walked over, catching the pleasant scent drifting from Hill, and said,
"This is Thor, Prince of Asgard."
"I'm the future king," Thor corrected him.
"Right, the future king. He means no harm. Actually, he'll become our ally," Aetheris added, patting Thor's shoulder. "Isn't that right?"
"Of course. We all fight for the peace of the universe. Naturally, if you return the item you took from Jane, I'll be your most loyal ally."
Thor glanced down at Jane Foster, who was clinging to his arm, and gave her a warm smile.
"They were the ones who stole it!" Jane protested.
"We only borrowed it. Naturally, we'll return it to Miss Jane Foster, and you may resume your research," Hill explained.
"Perfect!" Aetheris snapped his fingers. Everyone seemed satisfied.
"I'm heading back. Anyone wanna give me a ride?"
Aetheris looked at Erik and Darcy.
"I can take you," Hill said, stepping ahead before either of them could answer.
"Well then, sayonara!"
Aetheris waved to Thor and the others.
"See you!" Darcy called out, blowing him a kiss, clearly reluctant to part ways.
Once Aetheris slid into the passenger seat, Hill gave him a sidelong glance.
"You really are a playboy. Everywhere you go, you've got female fans."
"Ah, can't help it. Born this handsome and kind—it's only natural the ladies like me," Aetheris said, adjusting his hair in the rearview mirror, still messy from the Destroyer's earlier attack.
"Shameless," Hill muttered under her breath.
"Oh, and don't forget my Iron Armor. And the Destroyer's remains—make sure those are collected too," Aetheris added suddenly.
"Don't worry, Young Master. I already assigned someone to handle it."
Hill rolled her eyes and started the car.
"Where to?"
"Rockefeller Business District." Aetheris reclined his seat and settled in comfortably.
"Rockefeller Business District? Shopping trip?"
"I'm picking up one of my girlfriends," he replied casually, hands folded behind his head.
Vroom—
The car shot forward like an arrow.
"Damn! Are you insane?!"
Aetheris was nearly thrown into the backseat from the sudden jolt.
"Hmph. That's what you get for not wearing a seatbelt," Hill said smugly, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
As the convoy carrying Aetheris sped off into the distance, Thor turned to Jane Foster.
"Wanna see the Bifrost?"
"Of course!"
Jane jumped up in excitement. This involved atmospheric physics and space travel—her greatest passion and research dream.
Thor wrapped his left arm around her, held her tightly, then swung Mjolnir with his right hand. The two of them launched into the sky, soaring toward the teleportation array.
"Woooow!"
Held in Thor's arms, Jane was a mix of nervous and ecstatic. Looking down at the rivers and mountains now reduced to ant-sized blurs, the wind rushing past her ears, her heart felt like it might burst.
This was ten—no, a hundred times more thrilling than the craziest rollercoaster she'd ever ridden.
In less than five minutes, they reached the teleportation array.
The remaining four Asgardians had crammed into Erik's tiny van, now rumbling toward the same destination. When they finally arrived, the scene before them left them stunned.
Wreckage from all sorts of vehicles lay scattered across the area, and blast craters scarred the ground—it was a mess.
Thor stepped into the center of the teleportation array and called out.
"Heimdall! Open the Bifrost!"
Jane clasped her hands, eyes full of hopeful anticipation.
Thor gave a slight smile. The magic was about to begin.
Silence.
Only a few crows cawed in the sky above.
The atmosphere was thick with awkward tension.
"Heimdall!"
Thor's face twitched. What the hell? Had Heimdall suddenly gone deaf?
Maybe his hearing was going in his old age... Once Thor claimed the throne, he swore he'd replace that gatekeeper.
Meanwhile, in Asgard—on the far end of the Bifrost—
Heimdall had turned into a statue of ice. Only his eyeballs could still move.
Erik's little van finally pulled up at the site. The four Asgardians stepped out.
Thor walked over and said,
"Heimdall's not responding."
"Then we're stuck. Without him, we can't open the Bifrost," the chubby warrior said, shaking his head.
Still unwilling to give up, Thor shouted into the sky.
"Heimdall, if you can hear us—we need you!"
Crack... crack...
Fractures spread across the ice encasing Heimdall. The thick shell shattered in a burst of frozen shards.
(End of Chapter)
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