"Get up! Get up!"
Thor used every ounce of strength in his body, kicking the ground with all his might.
But no matter how hard he kicked, the hammer remained where it lay, motionless and lifeless.
Realizing that his father had withdrawn all his divine power, Thor finally broke down.
The burly men maintaining order lifted him and tossed him to the side of the road.
The line behind him continued forward, picking up their hammers.
Yujin sat down next to Thor. "So… how's it feel? Describe your current mood."
Thor didn't want to say a word. He trembled as he stood up and walked backward toward the end of the line.
Black Widow watched Thor's defeated figure and couldn't help but ask, "Is he really a god? Because he's so different from what I imagined. He just seems like a regular guy—likes beer, drinks too much, and throws a tantrum smashing the TV while watching football."
"Well said," Yujin said, patting her shoulder. "I'm heading back first."
Black Widow didn't reply.
Among the crowd, a few furtive glances were exchanged. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s clearing operation had begun.
But the target wasn't just the strongmen.
Yujin was included too.
The night in New Mexico was cold.
There was none of New York's bustling streets or towering skyscrapers, no noisy crowds, no endless shops.
Thor, sitting by the hotel window, casually tossed a beer can onto the street below. Many passersby spent ten to twenty minutes delivering long-winded family lectures in response.
Yujin was not the least bit surprised by Thor's behavior.
After all, this was the guy who had become a legendary big eater in Avengers 3.
If resilience could be ranked, "Yujin" was level ten.
Thor could barely be ranked as one.
"Want some edamame?"
Thor turned and took the plate Yujin offered, shoving a handful into his mouth. He chewed for a moment, realized it was too tough, and spat it back onto the plate.
"Disgusting." Placing the plate aside, Yujin couldn't help but curse, "Can't you pull yourself together? Odin sees you like this, there's no way he'd give your powers back."
Thor, fueled by alcohol, shouted back, "I don't want any powers! I'm fine the way I am!"
"Fine, then. Anyway, as long as I can get the Asgardian magic, I don't care who I work with."
He patted Thor on the shoulder and turned to leave.
Within half an hour, the entire building was surrounded by a group of armed agents in suits.
Thor was still tossing soda cans out the window, completely unaware that the once-bustling street below had emptied.
"Bang!" The door behind Thor was kicked open!
A squad of agents stormed in, several guns aimed at the back of Thor's head.
"Sir, don't move, or I can't guarantee what will happen to you."
Thor turned, puzzled, and the first thing he saw was a black, shiny bald head.
Then, the black eyepatch on it.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Nick Fury. Where's your accomplice in this room? I mean, the Asian guy."
Thor frowned. "How should I know where he went? Don't bother me! I'm drinking!"
Nick Fury struck Thor's neck with the edge of his hand. Thor immediately fell unconscious.
The Eyepatch Hero waved his hand. "Take him away!"
Yujin watched as Thor was taken by S.H.I.E.L.D., then dialed Black Widow's phone.
"Looks like you guys want to test me."
Black Widow's voice sounded a little surprised. "What do you mean? Our people giving you trouble?"
"Not your concern, right?" Yujin nodded. "Fine, then I won't hit you. Goodbye."
"Hey?"
Black Widow tried to say something more, but the call was cut off. When she tried again, she couldn't get through.
The hammer hit the ground.
This place had been lively before.
But after S.H.I.E.L.D. stepped in, it was now surrounded with layers of metal walls. Nothing inside could be seen.
The center was equipped with a signal jammer, and patrol vehicles circled around it.
Anyone trying to spread information about the situation there had been collectively sent to the facility to enjoy free tea and beatings.
In terms of annoyance, S.H.I.E.L.D. might even rank above Hydra.
After all, the number of Hydra agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. exceeded even Hydra's own headquarters.
In the detention room, Thor sat on the cold bench.
He had just endured an hour and a half of interrogation.
As the son of Odin and ruler of the Nine Realms, Thor disliked everything he had suffered tonight.
In a daze, he saw a familiar figure. Someone who shouldn't have been here.
"Loki?"
Thor called out hurriedly. Loki, passing by, stopped and gave him a small smile. "So you're here?"
"Loki! Save me! I've been captured!"
"Oh no, no, no. I can't save you." Loki instantly wore a sorrowful expression.
"You made Father furious. Last night, he lay in his coffin. Before falling into unconsciousness, he said he never wants to see you again in this life."
The foolish Thor staggered back as if struck by lightning. His heart sank, and all his words boiled down to one: "Is… is he alright?"
"Very bad, very bad. I'd say he doesn't have more than a few days left."
"I mean, in Midgard time."
Seeing Thor collapse in the chair like a frostbitten eggplant, Loki turned his face and chuckled, then looked back. "I should be going, Thor."
Thor didn't lift his head. His eyes were lifeless.
Satisfied, Loki left, heading straight for the deep pit where Mjolnir was buried, wrapped in layers upon layers of protection.
As the God of Mischief, Loki waved at the guards near the pit. They collectively seemed blind, paying no attention to his approach.
However, just as he reached to grasp the hammer, a discordant voice echoed above him.
"Can you teach me the Asgardian magic?"
Loki looked up and met a pair of blood-red eyes.
He had never seen eyes like these, nor powers like this.
Using one's eyes to hypnotize those nearby?
Loki smiled. "Asgardian magic requires immense talent and divine power. What is your lineage?"
"I'll learn if I want to; whether you teach or not is your business."
Without thinking, Loki replied, "Then I won't teach."
"You must teach."
"Oh? And why is that?" Loki's curiosity was piqued.
"Because I am the biggest obstacle to your rule over Asgard!"
Loki's power level, according to the stats, was only two points higher than Black Widow's.
After experiencing Black Widow's combat ability, Yujin was confident even against Loki.
"A mere mortal dares to challenge me!"
"Then let's see about that!"
Yujin's three magatama Sharingan spun rapidly as he activated his hypnotic eye!
In an instant, Loki saw a bolt of lightning strike from the sky!
Immediately after, Thor, wielding Mjolnir, flew toward him!
"This! This is impossible!"
But in reality, nothing was truly impossible.
After all, Loki wasn't a god in the traditional sense.
In Marvel's setting, it was more accurate to call the Asgardians aliens.
Realizing he is in an illusion, Loki slapped his chest, but still, Thor's hammer struck him with full force!
He spat out blood!
When he opened his eyes again, everything from before was indeed an illusion.
Although Yujin was somewhat shocked that Loki had almost instantly broken the illusion, he still carried himself with full authority.
Looking down on Loki from above, he spoke word by word:
"So, have you made up your mind?"
"I mean—"
"About standing against me."
****
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