Daisy finally came back to her senses.
She quickly pulled out her phone, fumbling to open the camera while muttering to herself in excitement.
"Stay calm, Daisy, stay calm! It's real! A live, wild Henry Stark! He's at least a hundred times more handsome than in the videos online! Jane, we've struck gold! This is absolutely the biggest news of the year!"
Her excited shouting stunned Thor and snapped the nearby onlookers—and even the pet shop owner holding the baseball bat—out of their daze.
"Henry Stark? You mean that Superman?"
"The one who burned Justin Hammer to ashes at the Capitol with a single laser blast from his eyes?"
"And that HYDRA senator too! Damn right! I've watched that clip at least twenty times… so satisfying!"
"I heard he and Iron Man have been wiping out HYDRA bases all over the world. So many people online are petitioning to give them the Nobel Peace Prize!"
In an instant, the tense standoff turned into something that felt more like a fan meet-and-greet.
The crowd's gazes shifted from cautious curiosity to full-blown admiration and excitement.
Henry smiled faintly.
What a passionate bunch of spectators.
Still, that saved him the trouble of explaining himself.
Looked like Tony's PR efforts had paid off—at least among ordinary citizens, they were already seen as heroes of justice.
Those damned politicians and media vultures who tried to smear them had better think twice… or risk drowning in the flood of public support.
Thor listened to the chatter around him, his mind spinning in confusion.
Superman? Iron Man? HYDRA?
These words were completely foreign to him.
But he could clearly sense that this "Henry Stark" commanded enormous respect and influence among the mortals here.
In the end, his desire to reclaim Mjolnir and his growing worry for Loki outweighed his pride.
"Fine!" Thor gritted his teeth, locking eyes with Henry as he spoke through clenched jaws.
"I'll talk with you. But if you dare try anything deceitful, I swear, even without my hammer, I'll make you pay!"
"That's the spirit." Henry clapped his hands and flashed an even brighter smile.
"Now that's a prince. Come on, let's go somewhere quieter… maybe grab a coffee. I'm guessing you're a bit thirsty after all that shouting."
As he spoke, he glanced at Jane and Daisy, who were both staring at him with sparkling eyes, then at the pet shop owner still clutching his bat in confusion. Henry raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, the bill's on the Prince of Asgard. I'm sure His Highness doesn't mind treating everyone, right?"
Thor: "..."
He opened his mouth to protest but ultimately swallowed his words.
He had no money, no idea where he even was—what could he possibly pay with? His royal dignity?
...
Meanwhile, high above Germany.
A fighter jet cruised silently through thick clouds, cloaked in stealth mode like a ghost.
Below lay their target—John Garrett's secret laboratory.
"Alright, everyone. Sightseeing time's over."
Tony's voice came through the comms. Without Henry around, he sounded less playful and more like a focused commander.
"Jarvis, confirm the target location and surrounding defenses one last time."
"Sir, the target is located inside an underground facility. External defense systems were disabled five minutes ago. Thermal imaging detects approximately sixty-seven armed personnel inside, along with one high-energy reaction source."
Tony rubbed his chin, staring at the red blips flickering across the holographic display. Then he looked around the cabin at the faces of his team—his first personally assembled crew, his future comrades.
That irresponsible bastard Henry had run off to chase a hammer. As the older brother, he couldn't afford to mess this up.
The guy didn't even say goodbye, just took off for some falling piece of Asgardian scrap metal.
Called it "making contact with extraterrestrial allies." Yeah right… Tony didn't buy that for a second.
He's probably flirting with some blonde alien hottie. (T/N: .... He isn't wrong)
Please don't bring back an intergalactic sister-in-law. I am not ready to deal with cosmic family drama.
Still, even with the sarcasm, Tony couldn't help but worry.
That hammer was too strange—definitely not of Earth. He just hoped Henry didn't screw something up.
"Banner, Blonsky." Tony turned toward the two men already geared up and ready.
"Remember your mission?"
"Take out their logistics base. The louder the better," Blonsky replied flatly, a glint of bloodlust flickering in his eyes. Nothing thrilled him more than large-scale destruction.
Banner pushed up his glasses and added, "While causing chaos, I'll try to recover as much experimental data as possible. I've prepared a portable copy unit."
He sighed inwardly. God knew why he'd agreed to join this demolition crew.
He was supposed to be a quiet researcher, not part of an elite strike force!
Still, destroying HYDRA's inhumane labs with his own hands… that did feel pretty good.
And Tony's promise to let him study HYDRA's database afterward? That was just too tempting to resist.
"Good." Tony nodded, then turned toward the twin siblings.
Wanda and Pietro were already suited up in sleek black combat gear.
After weeks of training, much of their earlier confusion was gone—replaced by a sharp, focused determination.
"Speedy," Tony called out, "remember your task. Hit fast, hit hard, and don't let a single one escape to call for help."
"And you, Red Lady…"
His tone softened as he looked at Wanda. "Stick close to your brother and keep yourself safe. Remember what Henry taught you—control, not release. If things go bad, don't be reckless. Call for backup immediately."
That little girl… Henry seemed to care about her quite a bit.
If anything happened to her here, Tony was pretty sure that idiot would come back and tear down his entire lab in revenge.
Seriously, when did Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, philanthropist… start sounding like a worried mom?
"Understood," Wanda nodded firmly.
She could hear the concern beneath Tony's words, and it warmed her heart.
Maybe these people really were nothing like the monsters Strucker had described.
Tony looked over his odd but powerful squad, shaking his head with a helpless smile.
Their lineup was strange, sure—but their combat ability was off the charts.
He drew in a deep breath as his armor unfolded, encasing him completely.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen," Tony's voice boomed through the helmet speakers.
"Ready to begin our first official demolition job? Remember—our motto is efficiency, eco-friendliness… and style!"
...
Puente Antiguo, New Mexico
A small, ordinary café.
Henry was sitting across from Thor, enthusiastically introducing him to Earth's "advanced culture."
"So what you're saying…" Thor carefully lifted a cup of cola, took a cautious sip, and frowned at the strange fizzing sensation.
"…is that you Midgardians don't ride horses anymore, but instead use these metal boxes that move on their own?"
"That's called a car, Your Highness," Henry said, rubbing his forehead. This cultural exchange was going to take forever.
This guy really was like a barbarian dragged straight out of the Middle Ages.
Thor held his coffee—the "Midgardian divine drink," as he called it—and took another careful sip, his face still filled with disbelief.
"Alright, so if that's true, then I'm on Earth because my father Odin banished me here?"
"Exactly." Henry took a relaxed sip of his own coffee.
"To be precise, it's because you, a muscle-brained hothead, nearly started an interstellar war over a few Frost Giants stealing something. Your dad decided you weren't fit to inherit the throne, so he threw you down here for some military-style life lessons. Took your hammer too, so you could experience a mortal's struggles and finally learn what it means to use your brain."
Thor's face darkened instantly.
"That's absurd! I was defending Asgard's honor! Those Frost Giants dared invade our realm—they had to pay the price!"
His chest heaved as anger rose. This mortal's words were unbearable!
What did he mean, "muscle-brained"? He was Asgard's mightiest warrior!
Well… okay, maybe that part was true. But that had nothing to do with intelligence!
"Pay the price?" Henry raised an eyebrow.
"Your way of defending honor nearly turned the Nine Realms into a warzone. Who do you think you are, Kratos? Oh wait, you actually are the God of Thunder. But the difference is, Kratos killed gods—while you almost got a bunch of mortals killed. You see the problem here, my prince? Your sense of scale is way too small."
Thor choked on his words.
He thought back to his actions in Asgard… and yes, maybe he'd been impulsive. But being called out like that by a mortal stung more than he cared to admit.
"Still, your father wasn't wrong," Henry went on, smoothly steering into his next move.
"He sent you to Earth so you could understand that real strength doesn't come from brute force, but from wisdom and responsibility. Power means nothing if all you use it for is smashing things."
Thor fell silent.
Looking into Henry's calm, confident eyes, he found himself questioning his entire belief in what honor truly meant.
"Then what do you want from me?" he finally asked, not wanting to linger on that humiliating topic.
"It's simple." Henry set down his cup, leaned forward slightly, and smiled with a sly glint in his eyes.
"I'll help you reclaim your hammer, regain your father's recognition, and return to Asgard."
Thor's eyes widened. "Truly?"
"Of course," Henry said confidently. "But in return…"
He paused, not mentioning his true motive yet.
The Infinity Stones were still too dangerous to mess with—but Asgard itself… now that was an opportunity.
Uru metal, forged by dwarves and perfect for enchantment, far superior even to vibranium. If he could get his hands on some, he could upgrade his armor to a whole new level.
And Asgardian magic—who knew what he might learn there? Even just copying a few tomes from their libraries would be worth the trip.
Seeing Thor's impatient look, Henry finally continued.
"When you return to Asgard, I'll need you to fulfill one promise," Henry said, his tone sincere.
"Take me with you. I want an official visit. I'd like to see the legendary realm of the gods for myself… maybe have a little cultural and technological exchange while I'm there."
Thor froze.
He had expected Henry to demand something impossible—his loyalty, treasure, or some form of servitude.
But this… he just wanted to visit Asgard?
"Just like that?" Thor looked doubtful.
"Just like that." Henry nodded with a calm smile.
Of course, it wasn't just like that.
I also want to take a look at your treasure vault, touch your Rainbow Bridge, and maybe ask your old man where he bought that knockoff Infinity Gauntlet. Probably some back-alley stall, Henry thought silently.
Thor gazed into Henry's seemingly sincere eyes and finally let down his guard.
A mortal who admired Asgard—that was perfectly normal.
And this request was trivial for him.
"Alright!" Thor slapped the table decisively.
"I swear upon my name as the son of Odin! Once I return to Asgard, I'll invite you as my most honored guest to the grandest feast of the realm!"
"Deal." Henry extended his hand, and Thor gripped it tightly.
Got him.
Asgard Seven-Day Tour — Ticket secured. Henry made a little mental victory sign.
"So, what do we do now? Go and take my hammer back by force?" Thor asked, already eager to act.
Henry released his hand and grinned playfully. "Take it back? No, no, no, my dear Prince. We're civilized men—how could we do something so barbaric?"
At this point, Thor was no different from an ordinary mortal. He couldn't lift the hammer at all. Going now would be pointless. He needed to awaken first.
Henry pointed at Thor's ragged T-shirt and jeans. "Your first priority is learning how to blend into this world. Before you learn how to eat with a fork instead of your hands, you're not going anywhere."
Thor: "..."
Once again, his life felt plunged into darkness.
Later that night, inside Jane's trailer.
Thor sat on the couch, looking utterly lifeless as he held a small paperback titled Modern Survival Guide, which Daisy had enthusiastically lent him.
"'Learn to use the toilet instead of smashing it. Do not shout loudly in restaurants. Money is currency used to exchange for goods, not trash paper…'" Thor read aloud, his tone full of despair.
"Why must I learn all of this?! I am Thor of Asgard! The son of Odin, Father of the Gods! The future ruler of the Nine Realms!"
"You're just a guy your old man kicked to Earth, with no powers, no hammer, and not even enough money for food. You almost got arrested today for dining and dashing," Henry replied mercilessly, lounging on the sofa while eating one of Jane's homemade pizzas—which, honestly, tasted a bit strange.
Cinnamon? She put cinnamon on pizza? Truly the goddess of dark cuisine... no wonder Thor falls for her, Henry thought as he silently swallowed another bite.
"So stop whining. If you don't want to starve on the streets or run around naked, then study properly."
Thor: "..."
He'd never felt so humiliated. Asgard's education never covered this.
"But I'll admit, your father's methods are pretty interesting," Henry said between bites, his tone casual.
"He dumped you on Earth but also tossed your hammer nearby—that's obviously a test. He wants to see whether, without your power, you can still act with the heart and humility of a true king."
Henry smiled faintly. Classic starter quest. The main character gets level-reset, trains back up, defeats the boss, then returns with god-tier loot. Odin really knew how to play the long game.
Thor's eyes widened. "You mean… my father still cares about me?"
"Of course he does!" Henry rolled his eyes.
"He's your dad! If he didn't care, he'd have thrown you into Muspelheim to play with Surtur. But, yeah—his parenting style is a bit… direct. Not straightforward, more like straight-god. The guy's been alive for ages; a little generational gap is normal."
Thor's face twisted into a mix of emotion and confusion.
He suddenly realized this mortal—though unbearably sarcastic—seemed to understand him. Maybe even more than he understood himself.
"That's why you need to make the most of this chance," Henry went on, his voice more serious now.
"Prove to your old man that even without the hammer, you're still worthy to be the future king of Asgard."
Thor took a deep breath, gripping the Survival Guide tightly as determination reignited in his eyes.
"I understand now!" he said loudly. "I will prove to my father that I am not some muscle-headed fool who only knows brute force!"
Henry nodded with satisfaction.
Good lad. With that bit of motivation, the "God of Hammers" just got a 50% faster awakening progress bar.
What can I say? I'm just a humble, everyday psychological counselor.
Watching Thor's burning resolve, Henry's lips curved into a sly grin.
"Oh, by the way, Thor—I couldn't help but notice… you seem to have a bit of a thing for Miss Foster, don't you?"
Thor looked startled, his voice awkward. "No, I merely think she's… a very intelligent Midgardian scholar!"
"Oh, really?" Henry raised an eyebrow.
"Then why were you staring at her during dinner and moving all your steak onto her plate? You might as well have had 'I like you' tattooed across your forehead. Don't worry, though—Asgardians are pretty open-minded, right? If you like her, go for it."
Thor's ears turned red. For a prince, this was mortifying.
"So let me teach you a trick." Henry leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"When you pursue a woman, you need romance. Gentleness. Not roaring and asking to buy a horse. Compliment her."
"Compliment her?"
"Exactly. Say things like, 'Jane, your eyes shine brighter than the stars of Asgard,' or, 'Your wisdom humbles even the sages of the Golden Palace.' Got it? Use metaphors. Sound cultured!"
Before Thor could respond, Jane's voice came from outside.
"Henry! Thor! Daisy! Dessert's ready!"
Henry instantly sat upright, wearing his usual composed smile again.
"Coming!" he called back, then turned to Thor with a wink, mouthing silently—
"Remember—stars!"
Thor stared at him, uneasy.
Was this mortal… really trustworthy?
...
Germany — Above the secret HYDRA base
"All units, commence operation!"
With Tony's command, the rear hatch of the aircraft slowly opened.
Blonsky was the first to leap, his body carving a black arc through the air before slamming into the supply depot below like a meteor!
Next, a streak of white lightning flashed across the night—Pietro had already vanished, his form reduced to an afterimage speeding toward the enemy outposts.
"Wanda, follow him. Remember—you're his eyes and his shield," Tony's voice came through her earpiece.
Wanda took a deep breath, her eyes glowing scarlet as her body lifted off the floor, floating after her brother.
"Alright, our turn, Bruce." Tony clapped Banner on the shoulder.
Banner nodded, slipping into a custom gray combat suit.
One after another, the two men leapt from the hatch, diving straight toward the main gate of the base.
***
Read 20 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666