37

Whether Thor truly loved Loki was a question for philosophers, but there was no doubt that the hammer in his hand had its own affections. Mjolnir seemed to know its master's heart, and when Thor wielded it, even the Destroyer armor was tossed aside like a child's toy.

John watched as the Destroyer was sent flying, bouncing across the ground as if it weighed nothing at all. He could not help but feel a bit confused.

"Are you putting on a show for me?" John muttered, half amused and half annoyed. "Where was all this when you were fighting me?"

He silently cursed the armor. When he had battled the Destroyer, it had been nimble and relentless, and its high-temperature beams had been devastating. Now, in Thor's hands, it seemed sluggish and clumsy, its attacks missing their mark, its beams little more than streaks of light.

John found it hard to believe. Even when he had been Apparating away, the Destroyer had locked onto him with deadly precision. Now Thor swung his hammer and sent the armor flying, seemingly without effort.

Was it simply because he was Odinson, prince of Asgard? Did the universe itself bend to his will?

Yet as John watched Thor's display of power, he could not help but be impressed. Unlike Sif and the other Asgardian warriors, Thor's attacks were thunderous, each strike accompanied by crackling lightning. After regaining his strength, Thor knocked the Destroyer away with a single blow, then spun Mjolnir and hurled it, battering the armor back and forth until it staggered.

The Destroyer opened its visor, unleashing a beam of energy so hot it melted concrete. Thor soared upward, the hammer spinning in his grip, dark clouds gathering overhead. A hurricane wind lifted the heavy armor into the air. Thor brought the hammer down with a crash, and the Destroyer let out a metallic roar.

The visor opened again, and another beam lanced toward Thor. This time, Thor did not retreat. He advanced, meeting the beam head-on with Mjolnir. He pressed forward, forcing the energy back into the Destroyer's body. There was a tremendous explosion, and the storm was swept away. The buildings of Old Bridge Town were left riddled with holes.

The Destroyer crashed to the ground and lay still.

John raised his wand and murmured, "Tergeo." A whirlwind swept through the ruins, dispersing the smoke and dust.

Thor stood in the clearing, his face calm, his breathing steady. He looked every inch the god he was.

"What an actor," John said with a wry smile. "Your power is restored, and our deal is complete."

Thor hefted Mjolnir, feeling its weight and the surge of power it brought. "You still have not told me the terms of our deal," he said, his voice full of pride and possibility.

John tapped the Destroyer's armor with his wand. "This will do," he replied with a satisfied nod.

Thor, generous as ever, agreed without hesitation. He was ready to return to Asgard and confront Loki to save his home from disaster.

"Do you want to come with me, John?" Thor asked, his invitation genuine.

John shook his head. "No, but I am interested in the Rainbow Bridge."

He had no desire to become entangled in Asgard's family drama. What truly fascinated him was the Destroyer's armor. Such a vast quantity of Uru metal was a treasure beyond compare, and John was already thinking of ways to modify it.

He remembered the magical armor he had crafted as a Hogwarts student, fashioned from troll hide and gifted to the Care of Magical Creatures professor. That armor had played a critical role in the Battle of Hogwarts. Now, with the Destroyer's Uru, he could create something even greater.

John continued to observe Thor's mastery over his power. It was different from magic, but at its core, it was the manipulation of chaotic particles. The Asgardian body seemed naturally attuned to this energy. Mjolnir was not the source of Thor's strength but rather a conduit, much like a wizard's wand. It focused and amplified his power.

There was no denying that Mjolnir was a weapon of immense might, capable of channeling magic just as the Elder Wand could. In the right hands, it could turn a mortal into a god.

Thor strode toward Jane Foster, red cape billowing, hammer in hand. Jane looked at him, seeing both the familiar and the extraordinary.

"Is this your true self?" she asked, her gaze lingering on him.

"Absolutely," Thor replied, standing tall and confident.

Jane smiled, a mixture of awe and affection in her eyes. "It suits you."

Thor returned her smile, then turned to his companions. "We must go to the Rainbow Bridge. I have words for my brother."

He had much to say to Loki, and not all of it was kind. Yesterday, Loki's words had wounded him. Today, Loki's Destroyer had tried to kill him. Even Thor, ever the loving brother, could not help but feel anger.

He prepared to return to Asgard, but first, SHIELD arrived.

Coulson, relieved to have survived the chaos, approached Thor. "Excuse me… Donald," he said, stumbling over the name as he looked up at the newly restored god. "Is there anything else you are hiding from me?"

Thor bore no ill will toward the mortal. As Odin's son and prince of Asgard, he understood the responsibilities of peace.

"From today, you may consider me an ally," Thor said. "As long as you return what you took from Jane."

At that, Jane interjected, "It was stolen!"

"It was borrowed," Coulson replied with a helpless shrug. The balance of power had shifted, and he had no choice but to acquiesce. He had just witnessed Thor end a battle with a single blow.

"No problem. You can have your equipment back," Coulson conceded. "Use it to continue your research."

SHIELD's intervention had cost them dearly. They had lost men, resources, and, it seemed, the goodwill of the gods. Even the check they had written was forgotten in the aftermath.

Jane was overjoyed, and her happiness grew when Thor invited her to witness the opening of the Bifrost. This was the phenomenon she had pursued for so long.

Thor wrapped his strong arm around Jane's waist, raised Mjolnir, and soared into the sky toward the Rainbow Bridge.

"Wait, we have more questions!" Coulson called after them, but the god and his beloved were already gone. On the ruined battlefield, Coulson realized he had no power to decide whether a god would stay or leave.

He could already imagine the headaches this would cause for the American government and for SHIELD's budget.

Meanwhile, the battered taxi was stopped, and four people squeezed inside. The driver, on the verge of tears, wondered if his car would survive the ordeal.

Volstagg slapped the dashboard. "Drive faster!"

The trembling driver obeyed, cowed by the presence of these otherworldly passengers.

Selvig slapped his forehead. "I think our car is parked on the other side."

Daisy and Selvig hurried after the others, leaving SHIELD and John behind.

John collected the remains of the Destroyer armor and noticed the injured Star Spirit Guardian. Raising his hand, he called it back and whispered, "Episkey." The wound on its arm healed instantly. The little golden creature flexed its arms and chirped happily.

John glanced at Coulson and the others and said to the Star Spirit, "Thank you." The golden guardian stood straight and saluted. As the magical protector of this place, it had fulfilled its duty.

With a final wave, the Star Spirit scampered away, hiding behind a mailbox to peek out at the world.

John chuckled, waved his wand, and vanished with a soft crack.

Coulson heard the sound and turned, confused. "Mr. Wick?"

He wandered through the battered remains of Old Bridge Town, certain he had just seen John a moment ago.

Elsewhere, SHIELD's vehicles were a mess, many destroyed in the chaos.

Thor, holding Jane in his arms, landed and called out to the sky, "Heimdall, open the Rainbow Bridge!"

A yellow taxi and a research vehicle pulled up, and several people climbed out.

There was no answer. Thor hesitated, then called again, "Heimdall?"

He did not know that the gatekeeper of the Nine Realms, clad in golden armor, was frozen at the entrance of the Rainbow Bridge. This was Loki's doing, using the Casket of Ancient Winters to freeze Heimdall and open the bridge for the Jotunheim assassins to reach Odin.

Heimdall heard the call and struggled to break free.

On Earth, Thor was still in the dark.

"Bad news. He is not responding," Thor said, his face grave.

The Asgardians grew solemn. Fandral said, "Then we have no way to return."

Without the Rainbow Bridge, even gods could not go home.

At that moment, an explosion erupted nearby. John appeared, startling Jane.

"Where did you come from?" she gasped.

"When you are standing with a group of aliens, you should question your own ability to adapt," John replied with a shrug. He glanced at the Rainbow Bridge sign. "Where is the Rainbow Bridge?"

"Heimdall is not responding. We need him to open it," Thor said, anxiety in his voice.

Thor called out, "Heimdall, if you can hear me, we need you!"

Sif added, "It is Loki. He attacked Heimdall and will not let us return."

Thor grew anxious. Without a way back, even with his restored power, he was trapped.

John raised his hand. "Does anyone know the location of Asgard?"

Thor looked at John, hope flickering in his eyes. "Do you have an idea?"

"I can try," John said, stroking his chin. "But I am not sure if it will work."

"It would help if you knew where Heimdall is," Thor replied.

Thor described Asgard's location as best he could.

John closed his eyes and raised his wand.

"What is he doing?" Daisy whispered to Selvig.

Selvig could only shake his head.

They watched in silence as John concentrated.

In the next moment, the world around John faded to white. Before him floated a blue planet, suspended in endless space.