"Kingpin, what are you doing here?"
"And who is this Loki?"
"Who exactly are you people?"
With Captain America present, Nick Fury finally found his footing. Taking two firm steps forward, he faced them squarely, his mind swirling with countless questions.
Coulson had once suggested investigating Kingpin, but Fury had stopped him. The man was a golden goose for many in American politics — touching him meant threatening the interests of the highest echelons of power.
Still, the Aurora Incident couldn't be ignored. Fury had been forced to conduct all related operations under the table.
And now, it turned out Coulson's suspicions had been right all along — Kingpin was involved, and even connected to aliens!
Worse yet, S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn't been the first to discover it.
That thought made Fury's gut tighten. Any alien capable of reaching Earth would wield technology far beyond human comprehension.
If that power were ever turned toward crime… the world would descend into chaos.
Kingpin's face flickered under the shifting light, his expression unreadable — a mix of humiliation, awe, and greed.
As the undisputed ruler of New York's underworld, he had once been a man no one dared to challenge. Anyone who questioned him would've been sleeping with the sharks by nightfall.
But now? The balance had shifted.
S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony Stark, James Rhodes — each of them represented power he couldn't possibly confront.
For the first time, Wilson Fisk — Kingpin — realized just how insignificant he was. So what if he ruled the underworld? So what if people feared his name?
There would always be someone stronger. Always a higher throne.
Compared to this, his petty games with Daredevil and street-level vigilantes were laughable. The world was far vaster than he had ever imagined.
This "Trial of the King" was his chance — a chance to reach the very pinnacle of existence. Even if it meant becoming someone's servant, he would grasp it without hesitation.
Having made up his mind, Kingpin's tone softened, his massive frame bowing with almost comical reverence.
"This," he announced solemnly, "is Thor Odinson, Son of the Great Odin — the God of Thunder, from the Eternal Kingdom of Asgard."
As the string of titles left Kingpin's lips, Thor's posture straightened, pride flickering in his eyes. His presence seemed to swell — radiant, divine, and utterly self-assured.
To everyone else, however, it sounded… insane.
"Hey, Fury," Stark's voice crackled from within his red-and-gold armor. "I don't remember this being a mythology convention."
Nick Fury's already dark expression grew even darker. "Stark, I never thought you'd be this prejudiced against Black people."
He shot the armored man a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"Tony, shut it," Captain America snapped. He knew full well that their earlier brawl with supposed "aliens" had all started because of Stark's mouth.
Honestly, how could someone like Howard Stark have raised this guy?
Seeing the daggers in everyone's eyes, Tony raised both hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll let the grown-ups talk."
Fury exhaled through his nose and turned back to Thor. "So, you're the God of Thunder? You'll have to forgive me if that sounds… far-fetched. We always thought those were just myths."
Thor's jaw tightened at the doubt. Being questioned by those he had once sworn to protect was hardly a new feeling — but it still stung. Yet, to win Midgard's trust and the throne that awaited him, he needed their cooperation.
"The Nine Realms," he began gravely, "are nine worlds bound together by the World Tree, Yggdrasil. When the planets align, the borders between realms weaken, forming temporary passages that link them."
"Long ago, the Frost Giants of Jotunheim used these passages to launch a massive invasion of Midgard — your world — intending to bury it beneath eternal ice."
"My father, Odin All-Father, led the armies of Asgard to repel them and seized their artifact — the Casket of Ancient Winters."
"These conflicts are not uncommon among the Nine Realms. Ambition breeds conquest, and conquest breeds chaos. Our duty as gods is to restore balance — to ensure that light and order prevail."
He lifted his gaze, his voice resonating with divine conviction.
"Midgard's long era of peace exists because of Asgard's protection."
Hearing this, everyone finally understood. So Asgard really was Earth's "elder brother," coming all this way only to be soundly defeated by mere Earthlings.
How embarrassing.
Everyone's expressions turned awkward. Even Kingpin—who had already decided to become Loki's loyal dog—couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye. Only Nick Fury, the king of spies, maintained a perfectly composed expression, every trace of emotion hidden behind years of training.
"Since you call yourselves the guardians of Earth," Fury began coolly, "what exactly is your purpose in suddenly appearing after all these years of silence?"
At that, Thor's drowsiness vanished. His entire body seemed to radiate energy as he proudly declared, "Of course it's to compete for the title of King of the Gods! Father grows old and will soon choose one of us three brothers. Whoever gains Midgard's support—and defeats the other two—will inherit the throne of Asgard!"
"I see," Nick Fury murmured, his single eye narrowing. The pieces clicked into place. "So that explains the 'Aurora Incident' six months ago… that must have been the descent of the so-called evil god Loki that Kingpin mentioned. And now it's the God of Thunder himself."
He let out a slow breath. "And in mythology, there's also the god of light, Kassadin. Wonderful. They're treating Earth like their personal amusement park."
"Don't you even ask for our opinion before doing this?" Captain America finally spoke up, his tone sharp. A firm believer in freedom and equality, he couldn't stomach Asgard's arrogance in treating Earth like a pawn in their celestial games.
Thor blinked at him in confusion. "Subjects obey their king's orders—isn't that only natural? You wish for protection, yet refuse to fulfill your obligations?"
That left Captain America utterly speechless.
They've protected you for millennia, Thor's gaze seemed to say. What's wrong with asking you to return the favor?
Stark, watching from the side, couldn't resist a smirk. He'd never seen Cap so flustered before. "Sorry," he drawled, "but I don't have time for your alien family drama. This so-called 'God-King War' just sounds like a bunch of kids fighting over daddy's throne."
"If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute!" Fury snapped, cutting him off before Thor could react.
Inside, Fury was seething. Gods fighting, mortals suffering—hasn't anyone learned that lesson yet?
If the U.S. president made a bad call, even Stark Industries wouldn't escape unscathed. A single decision from those in power could reshape the entire world below.
And if this new god-king turned out to be a warmonger who demanded Earth's armies march at his side… could anyone refuse?
They'd be crushed before they could even protest.