"Relax. We have no hostile intent. Otherwise, in your current sealed state, I could end you with a single finger."
Aiden Cross met Thor Odinson's gaze, his tone calm and absolute.
His psychic power already surpassed Tornado of Terror by an entire tier, standing infinitely close to the Vice-Chairman threshold. If he wished, he could crush an entire planet with sheer will alone. Even Thor at full strength would not be his equal—let alone this weakened, sealed version.
"Setting aside the trouble you've caused," Aiden continued evenly, "tell me this—do you truly believe you can protect her as you are now?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Don't force bravado. You know what's happening on Earth. With your power sealed, even the weakest Wolf-level threat would tear you apart."
Aiden let out a faint, cold chuckle.
With the spread of the Monster Factor, the danger level of the world had risen exponentially. No one could predict when someone nearby would suddenly awaken as a monster.
In the old world, disasters occurred in fixed locations. Avoid them, stay lucky, survive the Snap—and you lived.
Now it was different.
Monsters could awaken anytime, anywhere.
Without the strength to protect oneself, defending a loved one was nothing but a delusion.
"You're right," Thor admitted quietly. "But my father stripped me of my power. I'm nothing more than a mortal now."
"So what if you're mortal?" Aiden replied. "Mortals can grow strong through training. Once, there was an ordinary man who trained relentlessly for three years—and gained the power to defeat any enemy with a single punch."
"…That's…"
Thor fell silent.
Even without divine power, strength was still attainable.
"Join us," Aiden said. "Gain the power to protect the one you love."
"I…"
Thor hesitated. The offer was undeniably tempting.
Earth was far more dangerous than he had imagined.
What Aiden intended to teach him first was not divine power, but combat discipline—true fighting skill. In Thor's past, he relied purely on overwhelming force, swinging lightning without restraint. That worked only when facing weaker foes. Against equals—or superiors—it was fatal.
As for divine power, Odin had never destroyed it—only sealed it.
Once Thor matured, cast aside his dependence on his hammer, and earned true resolve, Mjolnir would recognize him again.
He was the God of Thunder.
Not the God of the Hammer.
"Wait! Stop! He can't go with you!"
Jane Foster shouted sharply, stepping forward like a mother protecting her child.
These strangers were trying to take her boyfriend with a few sentences—and worse, he was actually considering it.
"Thor, don't go."
"Jane… I need the power to protect you."
"No! The government can protect us!"
"Oh? Can it?"
Aiden's expression cooled.
Invisible psychic force erupted instantly.
An unseen hand seized Jane's throat and lifted her into the air. Suffocation struck immediately.
She struggled wildly, but as an ordinary human, she couldn't even touch the invisible force restraining her.
"Stop! What are you doing?!"
Thor panicked, rage and fear surging through him.
Aiden released her after ten seconds. This was a warning—not an execution.
"Cough—cough—!"
Jane collapsed, clutching her reddened throat and gasping for air.
"Tell me," Aiden said coldly, "could your government protect you just now? Placing your hope in others is the height of foolishness. If that hand had belonged to a monster instead of me, you'd already be dead."
"Even so, I—"
"Enough, Jane."
Thor's voice was firm now. His eyes burned with resolve.
"I've made my decision."
If that force had belonged to a monster, they would both be corpses.
Even without divine power, he could grow stronger.
"You won't regret this."
Aiden flicked a Hero League wristband toward him.
The second native hero was secured.
Click.
The moment the band locked onto his wrist, Thor's mind flooded with understanding.
The scale of the Hero League was terrifying.
Even the combined might of Asgard would be insignificant before it.
This… was a priceless choice.
"If you're taking Thor, take me too," Jane said firmly.
"Suit yourself."
Thor was the objective. Jane was incidental.
Aiden didn't mind sheltering an additional scientist. Heroes had families. And the Hero League headquarters was the safest place in existence.
"Interrupting," Tony Stark said suddenly, his expression grim. "I'm detecting an extremely high-energy reaction approaching."
"What is that?!" Child Emperor looked up at the sky, his dropped candy forgotten.
Above them, an ominous black energy twisted into existence—an annihilating force that seemed capable of stripping the world bare.
And unfortunately—
They were at its epicenter.
"…A spatial quake."
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