After collecting all the Ōtsutsuki bloodlines, Chu Yang activated Flying Thunder God and returned to Konoha.
While he had been out gathering blood samples, his shadow clones had already finished setting up the laboratory. It was now fully operational. Chu Yang categorized the blood from the various clans and began extracting the bloodline factors contained within them.
In addition, back when he had sealed the Tailed Beasts, Chu Yang had also secretly collected portions of their chakra.
From the One-Tail all the way to the Nine-Tails.
Those samples were now stored in the laboratory as well.
Once the Ōtsutsuki bloodline extraction was complete and his Sage Mode evolved into Six Paths Sage Mode, he could attempt to use Yin–Yang Release to create a miniature version of the "Ten-Tails."
The raw materials would be the Tailed Beast chakra he had quietly stockpiled.
If it succeeded—
The next step would be reviving the God Tree and obtaining a God Tree Fruit.
As for how to make the God Tree bear fruit again, Chu Yang still needed to think that through.
In any case, stealing the energy of the land and its civilians was out of the question.
He had no intention of becoming a public enemy, standing against everyone—especially Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.
Only once he had a concrete, feasible plan would he take action.
For now, his priority was still the extraction of bloodline factors.
With the assistance of shadow clones, results wouldn't be long in coming.
...
The Marvel Universe.
"This is already my fourth time inviting you, Mr. Chu Yang."
"Sorry, I'm still a student."
"What conflict is there between working for S.H.I.E.L.D. and being a student?"
"Huh? I thought you were talking about something else…"
Natasha felt like she was about to lose her mind. This kind of conversation played out almost every day.
If Nick Fury hadn't insisted that she stay here to monitor Tony and Chu Yang, she would've left long ago.
That kid across from her was completely impervious—no matter what tricks she tried, she couldn't get him to agree.
Of course, there was still one final move.
Minors not allowed to watch.
But Natasha had a feeling it would probably end with her losing more than she gained.
After all, anyone who hung around Tony Stark—
No matter their age—was probably bad news!
If Chu Yang knew what she was thinking, he'd definitely cry foul.
"Even if you won't accept the invitation, you could at least help out a bit. You've taken advantage of me plenty these days!"
Natasha looked at Chu Yang with a resentful expression.
Anyone who didn't know better might think Chu Yang had done something awful to her.
"You're the one who strikes first every time. When you lose, you say I took advantage of you. Don't tell me you have some weird fetish—do you enjoy getting beaten up?" Chu Yang rolled his eyes helplessly.
Ever since the last time he beat Natasha, she'd been coming over every few days to spar. If he ignored her, she'd attack outright—then leave covered in bruises.
What Chu Yang didn't know was that when Natasha went back that day, she'd even been mocked by Nick Fury.
With her pride wounded, she tossed and turned all night, eventually convincing herself that Chu Yang must be a hidden mutant. She wanted to force him to reveal his hand and confirm her theory.
Losing to a mutant was much easier to accept than losing to an ordinary person.
Unfortunately, Chu Yang didn't need to use any extra abilities at all to beat her soundly. So aside from proving how tough she was, Natasha proved nothing.
Left with no choice, she decided to change tactics—planning to lure Chu Yang into high-difficulty missions under the guise of personal favors.
Preferably the kind that looked troublesome at a glance.
Chu Yang wasn't stupid. He saw through her intentions immediately and ignored her completely.
His real concern was Tony's health.
Watching metal toxins slowly consume his body and the pressure of death bearing down on him, Tony began a series of reckless actions.
He threw wild parties at home and even got into a physical fight with his friend Colonel Rhodes.
Despite his worry, Chu Yang chose to remain an observer.
It might seem a bit heartless.
But without going through these struggles, Tony would never truly become Iron Man.
Chu Yang knew Tony would be fine.
Natasha reported Tony's recent abnormal behavior to her superiors.
And his madness finally caught Nick Fury's attention.
Recalling the "sincerity" Chu Yang had once mentioned, Nick Fury went straight to Tony and spoke frankly.
During their conversation, Nick Fury brought up Tony's father—Howard Stark.
Howard had once discovered a new element, but due to technological limitations of his era, he'd never completed it.
Tony, living in the present age, could find that element and finish what Howard Stark couldn't.
After returning home, Tony dug out the notes and videotapes his father had left behind.
He watched them alone, in silence.
What the recordings conveyed wasn't just Howard's vision of the future, but also his deep paternal love for Tony.
Moved by this realization, Tony gazed at the Stark Expo model his father had left behind. Inspiration struck, and he finally grasped the structure of the new element.
Overjoyed, Tony rushed to the lab—only to find Chu Yang already preparing the experimental equipment.
Chu Yang smiled and asked, "Judging by how happy you look, you've found a way to deal with the metal poisoning?"
"Oh! Shit!" Tony exclaimed in surprise. "How did you know? No—when did you know?!"
Chu Yang teased him. "From the way your 'xx frequency' kept increasing—like you were afraid you wouldn't get another chance."
Tony's face instantly flushed red. "Shut up!"
"No problem." Chu Yang shrugged, spreading his hands. "But before I do, you'd better tell me what we're doing."
Tony said, "Building a particle accelerator…"
The two exchanged a grin and got to work in the lab.
Not long after, the new element was born.
Tony hurriedly inserted it into the reactor in his chest.
As blue light flickered, the bulging veins on Tony's skin gradually subsided.
Feeling his body recover, Tony couldn't help pumping his fist. "Nicely done!"
At that moment, Agent Phil appeared in the lab.
He had come to say goodbye to Tony.
Originally, Phil was supposed to act as the intermediary between Tony and S.H.I.E.L.D.
But now—
Phil Coulson informed Tony that he had been assigned to New Mexico for another mission.
Tony expressed his regret. Phil had a very agreeable personality and was easy to get along with.
After explaining his purpose, Phil Coulson didn't leave right away. Instead, he kept looking at Chu Yang.
"What is it?" Chu Yang asked, puzzled.
"Uh… Natasha told me you're willing to take a trip to New Mexico with me."
Phil looked a bit embarrassed.
Chu Yang was just about to refuse when Tony spoke up first. "Is it dangerous?"
Phil quickly raised his hands. "Not dangerous. Something just fell from the sky—we need to deal with it."
"Like a meteorite?"
"Yes."
"Then that really isn't dangerous…"
Tony quickly turned his back to Phil and whispered to Chu Yang, "Bring back some samples for experiments. My new suit needs better materials…"
Chu Yang shot him an annoyed glare.
Turning back, Tony smiled. "Since there's no danger, you should take him along. Consider it a vacation. He's been stuck in the lab too long—it's not good for his mental health."
"You're absolutely right, Mr. Stark!" Phil Coulson said with a smile.
Chu Yang decided to give up resisting and treat it as a trip. Otherwise, Natasha would just keep pestering him.
The next day, Chu Yang and Phil Coulson set off for New Mexico together.
"Let's be clear—I'm here to sightsee. I'm not handling any of your messy problems."
"Of course. But as a friend, if you're willing to help me out when I'm in trouble, I'd be very grateful."
"Why does everyone in S.H.I.E.L.D. talk the same way? Same teacher?"
"If you mean the training consultant—then yes."
"Sigh… I'm just a student. Can you stop putting so much pressure on me?"
"A student who can defeat elite agents barehanded—there isn't a second one like you in all of America." Phil Coulson shrugged.
After arriving in New Mexico, Chu Yang and Phil rode in a Humvee toward a desert area.
Apparently, something strange had fallen there not long ago.
Chu Yang knew very well that what had fallen was Mjolnir—and along with it, the strongest yet most ridiculous Avenger: Thor.
Because of his arrogance, Thor had endangered his comrades and even defied his father, Odin, the All-Father.
Believing Thor unworthy of the throne, Odin stripped him of his divine power and exiled him to Earth.
Mjolnir was cast down as well. Odin placed an enchantment upon it: only one who was worthy could lift the hammer and gain the power of Thor.
Extremely idealistic.
Chu Yang felt he probably didn't belong to the "worthy" category, so this trip to New Mexico was purely for tourism.
If he could scrape off a few fragments from Mjolnir, that would be even better.
Upon arrival, Chu Yang saw a crowd gathered around the crater created by the hammer's impact.
They were all locals.
At first, people were drawn by the massive crater, then noticed the hammer at its center.
The first person failed to lift Mjolnir.
Naturally, a second, a third, a fourth followed…
Over time, the area turned into a full-blown "challenge game" attraction.
"Is there a new activity here called 'Pull the Hammer'?" Chu Yang joked, turning to Phil Coulson.
"Unfortunately, that activity is about to end," Phil said with a headache, quickly calling people to clear the area.
America had one particularly annoying rule—official authorities didn't have the power to forcibly remove civilians from public areas.
Unless there was an imminent danger, they could only evacuate people under the guise of public safety.
So before Phil Coulson—or rather, S.H.I.E.L.D.—intervened, local police had no authority to clear the site.
Soon, a group of men in black suits arrived along with a large number of police officers. Amid constant shouting and curses, they forcefully escorted the onlookers out of the area.
Chu Yang looked at Phil Coulson with curiosity.
Phil Coulson laughed. "I told them there were weapons of mass destruction here…"
Chu Yang: "..."
With the irrelevant bystanders gone, Phil Coulson ordered large-scale equipment to be brought in to move Thor's hammer.
The result was obvious.
Completely useless.
In the end, they even brought in tanks to tow it away. The engines were smoking, but the hammer remained quietly standing at the bottom of the crater, unmoving.
Left with no other choice, Phil led Chu Yang down into the crater.
"What do you think this thing is?" Phil Coulson stepped forward, puzzled, and reached out to touch the hammer.
"A hammer," Chu Yang answered honestly.
"Stop joking, okay?" Phil said helplessly. "What kind of hammer can't be moved even by a tank?"
"An alien's hammer," Chu Yang replied seriously.
"I know you're here on vacation," Phil sighed, forcing a smile. "But could I ask you—on a personal level—to use what you learned with Tony to help me analyze this thing?"
"I'm really not joking." Chu Yang rolled his eyes. "Something this small that even tanks can't move—how dense do you think it is?"
"Can you even find a material on Earth that meets those requirements?"
Phil Coulson froze, rendered speechless.
Chu Yang walked up to the hammer and gently ran his hand over the runes carved into its surface—magic belonging to Asgard.
Compared to the hammer's material, these inscriptions interested him far more.
Phil Coulson made another call. On the other end was Nick Fury.**
"He says it's an alien hammer…"
"An alien hammer? That's an interesting answer. He might actually be right."
"What do we do now? That thing can't be moved—every method's been tried."
"If it can't be moved, then build the research facility on-site. Seal off the surrounding area."
"Understood."
A short while later, the empty desert was filled with cranes, and large numbers of construction workers began coming and going.
With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s manpower and resources, a fully equipped research facility would be completed here in at most a day.
During this entire time, Chu Yang stayed crouched beside Mjolnir, studying the inscriptions without moving an inch.
Phil Coulson remained by his side the whole time, forbidding anyone from disturbing him. Even the nearby construction noise was kept lower than elsewhere.
"If only I could contact Hogwarts. No need to rack my brain alone—he's much better at dealing with runes and symbols than I am."
Deciphering the inscriptions for so long made Chu Yang feel mentally drained. He had no choice but to stop and catch his breath.
By then, night had fallen, and the temporary research facility had taken shape.
"Want to take a break? You've been staring at that thing all day," Phil Coulson said worriedly.
"The power of magic is very profound. Forget a day—sometimes even a month isn't enough to grasp a fraction of it." Chu Yang stretched and yawned.
"Sorry… did I hear something wrong just now?" Phil asked suspiciously. "Did you say magic?"
Chu Yang felt there was no need to hide it and nodded. "Aside from its special material, the hammer is reinforced by magic. That's why it's so absurdly heavy."
Phil shook his head vigorously. "That's not the point. The point is—how do you know there's magic on the hammer?"
Chu Yang answered matter-of-factly, "Obviously because I understand it."
Phil looked confused. "What university teaches that course?"
Chu Yang looked at him like he was an idiot.
Phil Coulson took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Yang, I know students your age like fantasy novels and tend to have unrealistic ideas. I was the same when I was young, but—"
Chu Yang smiled faintly, pointed at Phil, and softly said, "Tarantallegra!"
The Dancing Jinx!
The moment the words left his mouth, Phil's legs began moving on their own as he started dancing in place.
Phil Coulson: "???"
Passing S.H.I.E.L.D. agents stopped in their tracks, staring in disbelief.
"Agent Coulson, I didn't know you could dance this well!"
"Do a windmill, Agent Coulson!"
"Do a—"
The onlookers quickly grew unsatisfied with simple moves and started shouting requests.
Phil panicked. "Make it stop—now!"
Chu Yang lifted the spell.
Phil stopped dancing, bent over, and gasped for breath.
If Chu Yang hadn't stopped it, would he have danced himself to death?
The thought made Phil shudder.
"You wouldn't die," Chu Yang said, as if reading his mind. "Once you're too exhausted to move, your body stops on its own."
"I still don't believe it," Phil said stubbornly. "Some hypnosis experts can do similar things. This has to be hypnosis."
"I already told you—it's magic."
Phil Coulson stared at Chu Yang suspiciously, trying to find a crack in his expression. But Chu Yang looked completely calm, not like he was lying.
Chu Yang then cast a Levitation Charm, making a small stone at his feet float into the air.
Phil stared for two or three seconds. Once he was sure it was real, his jaw dropped. "Holy—"
After a long while—
Phil Coulson called Nick Fury again.
Nick Fury, who had already answered several calls from Phil, was starting to get irritated. "You'd better have something urgent."
Phil blurted out, "That kid is a wizard!"
Nick Fury was baffled. "Who?"
Phil lowered his voice. "Yang…"
Nick Fury said in surprise, "Isn't he supposed to be a mutant?"
"I don't know if he's a mutant," Phil said, "but I'm certain he's a wizard. I saw him cast magic with my own eyes."
After a few seconds, Nick Fury said with a headache, "Enhanced humans, mutants, aliens, mad scientists—I've seen them all. This is the first time I've ever run into a wizard."
"Things have really been getting more chaotic lately. The Avengers Initiative needs to be pushed forward."
Phil asked, "What about Yang?"
"What else can we do?" Nick Fury said. "Wizard or not, it's not much different from a mutant. If we can recruit him, do it."
Phil sighed. "Natasha and I tried everything. He hasn't shown any sign of agreeing. Looks like he really doesn't want to join S.H.I.E.L.D."
Nick Fury pondered for a moment. "Then don't force it. Maintain surveillance. Our relationship with Tony Stark is good right now—he may join the Avengers in the future. We need to stay friendly."
Phil nodded. "Understood."
Just after hanging up, one of Phil's agents walked over. "Director Coulson, we found several scientists nearby. They recorded some of last night's events. Should we—"
"Confiscate everything," Phil said decisively. "This cannot be leaked."
The agent nodded, then cautiously added, "Your friend is standing in front of the hammer again, spacing out. Should we remind him to rest?"
Phil shook his head. "Leave him alone. Let him do whatever he wants."
The next day.
Phil led a team to where the scientists were staying.
These scientists were none other than Jane Foster, her friend Erik Selvig, and Jane's friend Darcy Lewis.
They had rescued the exiled Thor and recorded everything that had happened the previous night.
For safety reasons, Phil forcibly took all their equipment, including large quantities of storage cards.
A serious conflict broke out between the two sides.
Unfortunately, Thor wasn't present. Otherwise, he probably would've fought the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the spot.
In the end, it was Erik Selvig who calmed Jane down and stopped her from escalating the confrontation.
"Never get tangled up with S.H.I.E.L.D.," Erik said seriously. "I have a friend who studied gamma radiation. He crossed them—and to this day, no one knows where he is."
Dr. Erik had no idea that his friend Bruce Banner had caused a massive incident in Virginia not long ago.
He would never have imagined that the green giant shown on the news was his former friend Banner.
After calming down, Jane also realized that clashing with an official organization would only end badly. With no other choice, she dropped the matter, sulking on her own.
Thor, who had been asking around town about the whereabouts of Mjolnir, also received news about it.
That evening, Thor returned to Jane's research lab.
After a brief discussion, the two of them got into the car and headed toward the crater.
"They look like a bunch of bandits," Jane complained nonstop about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s actions that day. "Always talking about safety—if you ask me, the most dangerous things in all of America are those people in black suits!"
Those materials represented her life's work.
Thor smiled calmly. "Don't worry. Once I retrieve my hammer, I'll help you teach them a lesson and get all your research back."
Jane laughed at the man's inexplicable confidence. She didn't find it annoying—if anything, she thought it was kind of cute.
At the same time, she grew curious about Thor's true identity.
He was polite and refined, yet constantly spoke in outrageous claims.
When night fell, the two drove near the crater and discovered that a massive research facility had already been built there, surrounded by temporary structures.
People in black suits moved back and forth—clearly the same group from earlier.
"The thing you're looking for is really in there?" Jane said in shock. "Should we come back another day?"
Before she could finish speaking, Thor had already rushed forward. He could feel it—Mjolnir was here!
Suddenly, rain poured down from the sky.
Patrolling agents spotted Thor charging toward them and immediately issued warnings.
Thor paid them no heed and barreled straight through.
A fight broke out.
Gunfire erupted in an instant.
With nightfall and heavy rain, the agents' visibility was severely hindered, preventing them from shooting as accurately as usual.
Thor, on the other hand—even stripped of his divine power—was still a battle-hardened god. His combat experience had long become instinct.
He surged out of the darkness like a tiger among sheep. The agents were no match for him.
In the shadows, a lone figure stood atop a raised platform, bow drawn, aiming at Thor as he fought the agents in close combat.
Through his earpiece, he asked, "Do we engage?"
Phil Coulson replied, "No. He might be our extraterrestrial friend. Observe for now—if he isn't carrying anything suspicious, let him through."
At Phil's instruction, the agents gradually eased their assault, deliberately leaving Thor a path straight toward Mjolnir.
Following his senses, Thor pushed forward until he finally found the hammer. Just as excitement surged through him, he noticed someone sitting beside it—a boy.
The boy stared at Mjolnir as if lost in thought, murmuring under his breath. From this distance, Thor couldn't hear him clearly.
Judging the boy harmless, Thor stepped forward to retrieve his hammer and casually warned, "Hey, kid, you'd better keep your distance. Otherwise, you might get struck by lightning."
The boy suddenly looked up. His voice rose sharply, accompanied by faint rumbling thunder.
As his hands moved rapidly, Mjolnir ceased its stillness. Lightning crackled, and the hammer lifted into the air.
Thor stood frozen in shock.
"Holy—!!!"
Mjolnir hovered for a single second before dropping back down. But that brief moment delivered a tremendous blow to Thor.
He rubbed his eyes, convinced he must be seeing things.
Chu Yang stroked his chin, deep in thought.
He had just deciphered a small portion of the magic Odin left on Mjolnir—that was why the hammer had reacted.
But it was only a fragment, far from enough to control it freely.
Chu Yang was about to try again when Thor hurriedly interrupted him.
"Hey—stop!"
"That's my hammer!"
Thor rushed forward to halt Chu Yang and demanded, "How did you do that?"
Looking at the man's flowing golden hair and explosive musculature, Chu Yang immediately knew—this was Thor.
"The hammer's power is sealed by magic. I wanted to see if I could undo it," Chu Yang answered honestly.
"This is my hammer. No one can place magic on it—"
Thor suddenly remembered the words his father Odin spoke when he was exiled.
You are unworthy of the throne.
Thor's expression darkened. Turning away, he reached out and grasped Mjolnir, trying to lift it.
The result…
The hammer felt as heavy as a mountain. His muscles bulged as he strained with all his might—yet it didn't budge an inch.
He was unworthy of wielding Mjolnir.
Realizing this, Thor deflated like a punctured balloon, utterly despondent.
Rain mixed with mud coated his entire body, leaving him in a miserable state.
He slowly raised his head, about to shout—
"Are you wondering why?"
Thor spun around in shock, staring at Chu Yang. How did this mysterious boy know what he was thinking?
"I deciphered part of the inscription," Chu Yang said. "It says: Whosoever is worthy shall lift this hammer and gain the power of Thor."
"You said this is your hammer—so you're the God of Thunder?"
Chu Yang smiled faintly. "Or rather… you used to be?"
The word used to hit Thor hard. He smiled bitterly. "Yes. I was once a god."
Chu Yang pressed on. "And why did you lose the qualifications of a god?"
"I…" Remembering his past actions, Thor fell silent.
He didn't want to admit that his father had stripped him of his power out of disappointment in his arrogance and foolishness.
"I see cowardice on your face," Chu Yang said calmly. "It looks like you don't have the courage to face certain truths."
Thor was shaken once again.
"All right, enough chatting," Phil Coulson said as he appeared with a large number of soldiers and agents. "You broke into a restricted facility and injured many agents. We have grounds to detain you."
With no will to resist, Thor was subdued and taken away.
Phil turned to Chu Yang and asked, "Do you really believe he's a god? A god this… pathetic?"
Chu Yang laughed. "Either he's a god, or he's a lunatic. Pick one."
Phil sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't like either option."
"Talk to him with some sincerity," Chu Yang said, patting Phil on the shoulder before yawning. "He doesn't seem scheming. You should be able to get something out of him."
"Sincerity again?" Phil Coulson frowned. That word had been appearing inside S.H.I.E.L.D. far too often lately.
A short while later, a figure suddenly appeared inside the room where Thor was being held.
The second son of the All-Father.
Thor's younger brother.
Loki.
However, Loki was not Odin's biological child. He had been picked up by Odin on the battlefield during a war with the Frost Giants.
Now that Loki knew the full truth, he believed his father had always favored Thor because of bloodline.
Convinced that he had no chance of inheriting the throne, Loki chose to betray Asgard and ally himself with the Frost Giants.
At this very moment, Odin had fallen into the Odinsleep.
Loki temporarily assumed the throne and issued an order forbidding anyone from bringing Thor back from Earth.
Yet he himself secretly came to Earth—for one purpose only: to deceive Thor.
"Because of your arrogance, Asgard has once again gone to war with the Frost Giants. Father was already advanced in age and could not withstand such a blow. He has fallen into eternal slumber."
"I have now inherited the throne and signed a ceasefire agreement with Laufey. The condition was your permanent exile. From this day forward, you will never return to Asgard."
The news of his father's death dealt Thor a blow far greater than his failure to lift Mjolnir.
Thor completely broke down, tears streaming down his face.
Loki turned his back, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, then vanished from the room.
The God of Mischief excelled above all else at lies.
Simple-minded Thor never imagined that the younger brother he had always cherished would deceive him with something like this.
—
After a good night's sleep, Chu Yang woke refreshed and prepared to continue researching Mjolnir.
Asgardian magic was extremely special. Drawing parallels from it greatly enhanced his own magical understanding.
Chu Yang felt that if he could fully comprehend the inscriptions on Mjolnir, his wandless casting ability could reach Albus Dumbledore's level.
At that point, casting the three Unforgivable Curses would be effortless.
Halfway there, Chu Yang thought of Thor's dejected expression.
So he changed direction, made two cups of coffee, and headed to Thor's holding room.
Upon entering, he found Thor in an even darker mood than before.
"Not being able to lift the hammer made you this depressed?" Chu Yang asked casually.
He removed Thor's restraints and handed him the coffee.
"It has nothing to do with Mjolnir…" Thor said, holding the cup, his voice heavy with sorrow. "My father has died—because of my selfishness and foolishness!"
Understanding flashed through Chu Yang's eyes. Loki the little liar had clearly been here.
He asked, "There's a trace of magical residue here. May I ask who visited you?"
Thor looked up in shock. "You can actually sense Loki's magic? He's the strongest spellcaster in all of Asgard, aside from my mother!"
"Loki." Chu Yang raised an eyebrow and smiled. "According to Norse mythology, you should be Thor, God of Thunder, and your father is the legendary All-Father Odin."
Thor nodded. "That's right."
The door opened again.
It was Phil Coulson.
Seeing Chu Yang there, he said in surprise, "I thought you'd sleep until morning."
Chu Yang smiled. "Curiosity woke me up."
Phil nodded. "Understandable. Scientists and wizards alike are obsessed with knowledge."
"But I hope next time you won't remove a detainee's electronic restraints without authorization."
"Sorry." Chu Yang shrugged. "He needed a cup of hot coffee."
"His 'father king' Odin has passed away."
Phil scratched his head. "So he's not just a god—he's a prince?"
Suddenly, something felt off. "Wait… who did you say? Odin? Odin from Norse mythology?"
Chu Yang nodded.
"That's right. The one you've tied up is the famous Thor."
Compared to Norse mythology, Americans preferred Greek mythology and had made countless films about it.
They loved blending American elements with Greek myths—so much so that people from other countries mistakenly believed Greek mythology belonged to America alone.
Their 'kimchi-country son' even learned this habit perfectly.
As for Norse mythology, most people had only heard of it vaguely. When someone mentioned a god-king, Zeus came to mind long before Odin.
Phil Coulson felt as if he were dreaming—then immediately decided Chu Yang was talking nonsense.
He barely believed Thor was a god, let alone the God of Thunder.
"Loki was here just now," Chu Yang said.
A verbal bombshell.
"That's impossible," Phil said immediately. "This place is covered in surveillance."
"Cameras can't stop a god's magic," Chu Yang sneered.
"He's telling the truth," Thor said dully. "Loki came and told me about my father's death."
He recounted everything.
Phil Coulson's scalp went numb. The nonstop revelations made his heart feel like it was riding a roller coaster.
"Agent, don't panic," Chu Yang said calmly after finishing his coffee. "This is most likely fake news."
"Impossible!" Thor frowned, glaring at Chu Yang. "Loki would never lie to me about this."
Chu Yang smiled mockingly. "If Odin truly is the legendary All-Father, how could he die so easily?"
"Just because he was old and couldn't handle stress?"
"You've only been on Earth for a few days."
Thor froze. Thinking carefully, it did seem strange—his father had just exiled him to Earth. How could he die so quickly?
Chu Yang continued, "And signing a peace treaty with the Frost Giants is even more ridiculous."
"If Odin is dead and Thor is exiled, what does Loki have to deter the Frost Giants?"
"If I were a Frost Giant, I'd have invaded Asgard long ago instead of signing some bullshit peace treaty."
Realization struck Thor like lightning.
An overwhelming fury erupted from his chest.
"Loki!!!"
Phil Coulson quickly pulled Chu Yang aside and whispered, "You told me he was an alien before. Why is he suddenly a god now?"
Chu Yang replied calmly, "Ever considered that gods might just be aliens?"
Phil choked.
That… actually made a lot of sense.
"Make the call," Chu Yang teased. "If you wait any longer, you'll get yelled at again."
"I'll get yelled at even if I call now!" Phil said with a headache as he dialed.
"It's the middle of the night, Phil."
Nick Fury's voice was tightly restrained with anger. "Go on. What surprise do you have for me this time?"
Phil cleared his throat and stepped outside.
—
Thor walked up to Chu Yang. "I must return to Asgard and expose Loki's lies."
Chu Yang shrugged. "Telling me that won't help much."
"I saw it," Thor said firmly. "You can call Mjolnir—it responded to you."
Chu Yang shook his head. "What responded wasn't Mjolnir, but the magic placed upon it. I only recited part of the spell correctly."
"Then recite the rest correctly!" Thor snapped.
Chu Yang laughed in disbelief. "Do you think Odin's magic works like a password lock?"
Thor sighed deeply. "Then what should I do? I've lost my worthiness. I can't lift the hammer, and I can't summon the Bifrost."
"That's your problem," Chu Yang said. "If you're willing to stay on Earth and live out your life, that works too."
With that, he left the room.
"Wait!"
Thor hurried after him.
They arrived at the area housing Mjolnir. Researchers were still measuring the energy fluctuations it emitted.
Because of its special material, none of their equipment could leave even a scratch on it.
They had long since abandoned any idea of brute-force disassembly.
Even if they could, Phil Coulson wouldn't allow it.
This was Thor's hammer. Damaging it wouldn't cause an international incident—it'd be a cosmic one.
When Chu Yang arrived, the staff withdrew voluntarily to avoid disturbing him.
Phil had emphasized this many times.
Thor watched with curiosity as Chu Yang analyzed Asgardian magic.
After a long while, he realized a deeply depressing fact.
He couldn't understand a single thing.
As a representative of the muscle-brain archetype, Thor's intellect lagged far behind Loki's.
If not for his good genes, he'd probably only qualify as a fitness coach.
"You and Loki are the same type—extremely intelligent," Thor said with mixed emotions. "I could never learn this complicated magic."
"Honestly, letting Loki take the throne wouldn't be so bad. I'm not worthy of the hammer anyway."
While studying the inscriptions, Chu Yang replied, "Since you're exiled and unworthy, wouldn't the throne naturally pass to Odin's remaining son?"
"Then why would he travel all the way to Earth just to lie to you?"
Thor felt his brain overheating. "Can't you just say it plainly?"
"There's only one reason," Chu Yang said. "Compared to you, he's even less qualified to inherit the throne."
"He's probably not Odin's son."
Thor was stunned.
His first thought—Did Mother cheat?
Chu Yang ignored him and focused on memorizing the runes.
According to the plot, Thor would soon take the hammer away.
—
Meanwhile, Loki was striking a deal with the Frost Giants.
Long ago, during a war between Asgard and the Frost Giants, Odin seized their clan's greatest treasure—the Casket of Ancient Winters.
It was also during that war that Odin found Loki as an infant and brought him back to raise.
Now, Loki intended to trade that artifact for an opportunity.
He wanted Laufey, king of the Frost Giants, to assassinate Odin during his Odinsleep.
Laufey agreed.
What he didn't know was that this, too, was part of Loki's plan.
Loki intended to become Asgard's hero.
If the plan succeeded, even if Thor reclaimed Mjolnir, he would be powerless to challenge Loki's secure rule.
Just as Loki believed everything was unfolding as planned, Thor's companions secretly activated the Bifrost, preparing to travel to Earth and retrieve him.
After glancing at the activated Bifrost, Loki turned and headed deep into the palace.
He released Asgard's ultimate weapon.
Destroyer Armor!
Loki intended to annihilate everyone who stood in his way!
(End of Chapter)