Chapter 214: Night Talk

Thor couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Loki's defeated form sprawled outside the palace, surrounded by curious onlookers. Still, he felt a twinge of helplessness. Summoning allies through his system sounded like an incredible advantage, but the reality was much more complicated.

The so-called rewarded characters were summoned with no built-in loyalty—just their presence. From there, it was up to him to win them over, sometimes against their will. Onyxia, summoned as his supposed mount, had initially tried to kill him. Only through brute force and persistence had he managed to tame the dragon, earning her loyalty over time.

Jean Grey had been no different. When summoned, her favorability toward Thor was practically in the negatives, given their forced battle in the arena. Thor had spent considerable effort building a relationship with her, navigating between earning trust and lighthearted teasing.

Even now, Jean regarded him more as an ally than someone she would willingly follow. Thor didn't mind, though; the process of earning her respect had its own rewards. Meanwhile, Onyxia's loyalty had grown rapidly, making her a formidable and obedient ally.

These weren't just tools. Each summoned character had their own will, their own complexities, and Thor respected that. It also made things far more interesting.

In the palace's quiet halls, Thor and Frigga spoke in low voices while Jean listened attentively.

"Her physiology is remarkably similar to the people of Midgard," Frigga remarked, her tone thoughtful. "But the genetic anomaly within her—this mutation—grants her extraordinary abilities."

Thor scratched his head awkwardly. "That's not what I meant to ask, Mother…"

Frigga cast him a knowing look but continued. "More importantly, she harbors an immense power that sleeps within her. Should it fully awaken, not even your father in his prime could contain it."

Thor nodded grimly. He knew the potential of the Phoenix Force. Once fully unleashed, it would rival the Chaos Force, one of the most ancient and devastating powers in the universe. Even Odin at his peak would struggle against it.

Frigga turned to Jean, her expression softening. "I imagine you fear this power, don't you? That it might overwhelm you."

Jean nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I try to control it, but it's hard. Sometimes it feels like it's not even mine."

Frigga's voice was gentle. "Control begins with mastering yourself. Learn to temper your emotions. That is the first step."

"I'll try," Jean murmured, though her tone carried a note of despair.

Thor stepped forward, his voice filled with confidence. "Don't worry. I'm here. As long as it doesn't fully erupt, I can help keep it in check."

Jean glanced at him, a small smile breaking through her worry. She didn't notice the unspoken part of his reassurance—If it does fully erupt, even I won't be able to stop it.

Later that night, while the others slept, Peggy Carter approached Thor by the window. She wrapped a shawl around her shoulders as the cool Asgardian breeze swept through the hall.

"Thor," she began, her tone serious. "Why did you bring us all here? And don't give me the evacuation excuse."

Thor glanced at her, then turned his gaze back to the stars. "War was on the horizon, Peggy. Evacuating citizens when conflict breaks out is standard procedure. You were all in danger."

Peggy folded her arms. "That might work on the others, but not me. Don't forget, I've seen the defensive setups at Trudheim Manor. That place could repel an army—even Wakanda's. And Jane is there, too. She could handle it."

Thor chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, you got me. The truth is, I didn't want you all to become pawns in someone else's game."

Peggy frowned. "What do you mean?"

Thor's tone turned serious. "The Sokovia Accords haven't been forgotten. If I hadn't intervened, the Council would have used you as leverage—ordering you to the front lines, knowing full well you wouldn't stand down. If that happened, I'd have to intervene anyway, and that would give them exactly what they want: proof that they can manipulate us. And once they succeed, they'll keep trying."

Peggy sighed, leaning against the window. "So this is about forcing them to come to you—to negotiate on your terms."

Thor smirked. "Exactly. Besides, you know how shameless politicians can be. They wouldn't hesitate to use people like you—good people—as pawns in their schemes. I couldn't let that happen."

Peggy nodded slowly, understanding his reasoning. "It's sad how much things have changed. This country used to stand for something."

Thor's gaze softened. "That's why we're here—to remind them what real strength looks like, and what it means to use it wisely."

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