Nolan's words carried a weight of mystery.
Thor heard them and felt a subtle chill run down his spine.
What exactly was Nolan Rock talking about?
Thor had never underestimated Nolan. No matter how haughty Nolan might appear, Thor took his words seriously. But this time, the message unsettled him deeply.
What did he mean by "protect your mother"?
His mother was the queen of Asgard. In Asgard, no one could harm her.
And then there were Loki and Malekith. Loki was imprisoned, and Malekith was a figure of legend.
A sense of unease settled over Thor as he carried Jane Foster back to Asgard.
Watching them vanish, Nolan looked up at the sky and let out a sigh.
Could the future be changed?
Who could say?
Whatever came next was no longer his concern. He decided to spend some time with his girlfriend. Lately, Jessica Jones had been in a foul mood.
He had heard she had been encountering trouble, though she had also made some new acquaintances superheroes operating in Hell's Kitchen. Nolan neither opposed nor supported the idea. Making friends among superheroes was not a bad thing.
With that thought, he made his way to Hell's Kitchen.
When he arrived at Jessica's studio, she was attending to a customer. Noticing Nolan, Jessica gestured for him to wait.
After the customer left, she turned to Nolan.
He didn't bother with formalities. He rose and pulled her into an embrace. Jessica squinted and attempted to push him away.
Unfortunately, her resistance was half-hearted. Nolan's strength, though less than hers, was enough to hold her firmly.
Jessica pouted but ultimately gave up resisting.
Nolan chuckled.
"Jessica, it seems you're developing quite well."
"Stop it!"
Her face flushed, betraying her embarrassment. Though she was an adult, she was still growing.
Before she could reply, Nolan kissed her passionately.
It was well-known among couples: when a conflict arose, sometimes the best solution was a forceful approach. Giving space was for fools.
The root of their tension was clear. Nolan's life was consumed by work and research, leaving little time for her. He understood her frustration and intended to soothe it.
"This is ridiculous. Why isn't there an AI to handle my research for me?" Nolan muttered.
But the complaint was fleeting. After a brief interlude, Jessica settled in Nolan's arms, her expression laced with worry.
"Nolan, I've discovered a very dangerous group operating in Hell's Kitchen," she said.
Nolan raised an eyebrow. He suspected Jessica didn't know that his debut battle had also taken place in Hell's Kitchen, and he had emerged victorious. Still, seeing his girlfriend afraid, he adopted a serious expression.
"Tell me about it."
Jessica nodded.
"Recently, I've noticed more ninjas appearing in Hell's Kitchen. They've caused quite a few incidents. Some of the assignments I've received led me to investigate, and many are connected to these ninjas. During one encounter, I overheard them mention a 'Beast,' but I don't know what that is."
At the mention of a Beast, Nolan's expression darkened.
Sure enough, it was the Hand again.
In this world, among human-led organizations, the most troublesome was Hydra. Nolan had clashed with them numerous times. Their foundation allowed them to hold their own against him. Sometimes, he even felt at a disadvantage, as in the case of Viper.
The other formidable organization was the Hand.
What made the Hand truly feared was not their skill but the so-called "Beast."
This Beast was a primordial demon, the kind whose existence required the presence of someone like the Ancient One. Without such guardians, Nolan worried that the hidden demons on Earth might all emerge at once.
For now, though, it seemed they had no reason to worry.
"Do you want me to help? I think I can handle those ninjas," Nolan offered.
Jessica immediately refused. She was Jessica Jones. Even without Nolan, she could manage this, especially with her friends.
Nolan shrugged, unsurprised.
"Alright, I trust you. But remember, you have a very reliable backup."
Jessica nodded and buried her head against his chest. Sometimes, a simple phrase could warm her heart.
While Nolan enjoyed this moment, far away in Asgard, Thor faced the battle of his life the one he would regret forever.
His mother had died.
Even Nolan's warnings could not prevent Queen Frigga's death. The palace erupted in chaos, yet Odin remained calm as ever.
Thor could not stand idly by while his mother had been killed. But Odin had no intention of acting preemptively.
In his view, the Aether particle was already in Asgard. There was no reason to take unnecessary risks. He trusted that Malekith would make his move. Malekith was no ordinary threat; he had once battled Bor, nearly plunging the Nine Realms into eternal darkness. Even after being sealed for countless years, Odin remained wary of Malekith's lingering power.
Thor, however, had his own plan. He would not allow the Dark Elves to ravage Asgard again.
He sought out his brother, Loki, the only one who knew a hidden path to the outside world. With Loki's help, they could leave Asgard.
Thor understood Nolan's warning. Loki may have revealed Jane's location, unaware she was not there, but it inadvertently led the cursed warrior to their mother.
Thor was furious at Loki's actions, but he knew Loki would never let their mother die in vain. On this, he could trust him completely.
The three of them Thor, Loki, and Jane seized a Dark Elf ship and fled Asgard. Their goal: Malekith.
Before Malekith, they enacted a prearranged plan. Loki betrayed Thor, stabbing him and presenting Jane to Malekith.
The Aether particle was extracted from Jane, but as Malekith prepared to merge its power, Thor roared:
"Loki!"
At that moment, Loki knew it was time. The restraints on Thor were lifted, and together, they unleashed their full strength upon Malekith.
This was Malekith at his weakest.
Yet they underestimated the Aether's power.
Though surprised by the attack, Malekith only smiled.
"So this is your plan? Thank you for delivering the Aether to me. But now… Algrim, kill them!"
Algrim, the last cursed warrior of the Dark Elves, was immensely powerful. At Malekith's command, he charged at Thor and Loki.
The cursed warrior's strength was overwhelming, and even Thor struggled to match him. Malekith simply observed, then turned away. His task was clear: using the Aether's power, he would plunge the Nine Realms back into darkness. Darkness was the source of the Dark Elves' strength, and once the realms were consumed, none could oppose them.
After a brutal struggle, Loki removed Algrim's spatial grenade. The ensuing collapse killed the cursed warrior. Thor mourned Loki, believing him dead.
Back on Earth, Nolan discussed the super-soldier serum with Bruce Banner. Bruce had joined LockTech and was researching the serum, an area he had studied for years due to his own transformation. Even he acknowledged the immense difficulty of advancing the serum further.
Suddenly, Red Queen's voice cut in:
"Sir, strong spatial fluctuations detected in Greenwich."
Nolan paused, his expression tightening. Greenwich was significant it had been the site of Thor's battle with the Dark Elves. Nolan had already installed monitoring systems there.
Could the Aether particle be reacting?
His previous warnings were meant not just for Thor but also for Odin. Nolan assumed Odin would monitor every move Thor made on Earth. If Odin had predicted the future, events could hardly unfold the same way again. This was why Nolan had not been too worried before.
Now, though…
Odin was useless!
Nolan could not stop cursing inwardly. Could the old god still be playing games at this critical moment?
"Investigate the spatial fluctuations immediately. Report updates continuously."
Bruce noticed Nolan's grave expression.
"What happened?"
"Nothing serious, just that Earth might be facing another war."
Nolan abandoned further discussion of the super-soldier serum.
Far away, in the Himalayas at Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One turned her gaze toward Nolan's location, a faint smile gracing her face.
Everything was beginning.