…
Seeing how someone trusted myths and legends this deeply—no, obsessively—made what came next much easier.
From Jane Foster's explanation, everything finally lined up:
Where Thor came from.
Why he had arrived on Earth.
And what that hammer truly was.
Ryan Cole already knew all of it, of course—but he still played his role perfectly, reacting with equal parts shock and barely restrained fanaticism.
He even contacted his "close friend," Umbrella Technologies' chief researcher, Howard Liu.
Which, in reality, meant Ryan contacted himself.
The request was simple: retrieve Jane Foster's confiscated research equipment and data so the investigation into this mysterious field could continue.
Less than half an hour later, S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles pulled up outside the house they were staying in.
When Jane saw her equipment returned completely intact, she didn't even try to hold back—throwing her arms around Ryan in a tight hug and planting a grateful kiss on his cheek.
Darcy Lewis took it in stride.
Ryan was impressive, sure—but Darcy wasn't the type to start drama over jealousy.
Thor, on the other hand, visibly dimmed.
At the lowest point of his life, Jane had helped him.
Even if things hadn't gone well, feelings had already taken root.
Erik Selvig—who'd nearly been reduced to background noise—wasn't blind to what was happening between Jane and Thor.
But as a human, he'd much rather see his colleague fall for another human…
Not a god.
Especially not an exiled one.
The emotionally turbulent night passed quickly, wrapped in relief and reunion.
The next morning, Ryan—still in his blond, movie-star guise—used the groceries he'd bought to prepare a lavish Western-style breakfast.
Five-star hotel quality.
Jane, Erik, and Darcy ate until they were all smiles, praising it nonstop.
After breakfast, Thor—trying hard to adapt to mortal life—insisted on handling the cleanup.
Meanwhile, Jane, Erik, and Darcy argued about their research and what to do next.
"The theory sounds great, Jane," Erik said, holding his coffee,
"but without solid proof, the scientific community won't buy it."
Before Jane could fire back, someone knocked on the glass door.
"We finally found you!"
Outside stood the Warriors Three of Asgard—and Lady Sif—faces lit with joy at their reunion.
Sif, clad in close-fitting armor, waved excitedly the moment she saw the man she loved—utterly unlike the battlefield warrior who cut through enemies without mercy.
Thor, washing dishes, happened to glance up—and froze in shock before breaking into a wide grin.
Jane, Erik, and Darcy, however, nearly jumped out of their skin.
Four people dressed like mythological warriors had just shown up at their door.
Only Ryan remained calm.
Not only calm—his eyes burned even brighter.
Taking a bit of Thor's blood earlier had been valuable, yes—but Thor had been exiled.
His worth was limited.
These four?
They were actual gods.
Even if the title came with fine print, their value was astronomical.
After the emotional reunion, Thor introduced his four companions to the group.
Before Jane could fully process their identities, the skies outside the town twisted again—the unmistakable phenomenon of the Bifrost activating.
At the same time, Ryan's phone rang.
"Are more people coming?" Darcy asked, staring at the towering light column in the distance, a bad feeling creeping in.
Ryan finished the call and walked back with a grim expression.
"It's not a person."
"What?" Jane asked, confused.
"Howard Liu just called," Ryan said, holding up his phone.
"This time, what's coming is something called the Destroyer."
The moment that name was spoken, Thor and the Asgardians all went pale.
"You're certain?" Thor asked, stepping forward, deadly serious.
"That's what Liu said," Ryan replied innocently.
"Then how does he know it's the Destroyer?" Thor pressed.
"Because he goes by another name," Ryan said smoothly.
"The Prophet. Coming to New Mexico was his suggestion."
"Prophet?"
"Yeah. He also said the Destroyer was sent by someone named Loki."
Ryan continued calmly:
"He deceived his brother—meaning you, Thor. Odin isn't dead. He's in the Odinsleep."
Thor reeled from the revelation, immediately turning to his companions.
"We don't know about the Destroyer," Sif said firmly, meeting his gaze,
"but the All-Father still lives."
All eyes turned back to Thor.
Moments later, explosions thundered from the direction of the fading anomaly—perfect confirmation of Ryan's words.
"If this Prophet knows so much," Thor asked urgently,
"did he say how to stop it?"
"He did," Ryan answered.
"Only the God of Thunder can destroy the Destroyer."
"But I'm exiled," Thor said bitterly.
"I'm no longer the God of Thunder."
Jane suddenly stepped forward, seizing the key point.
"Did the Prophet say there's a way to make Thor become the God of Thunder again?"
"…He did," Ryan said hesitantly.
"But—"
"But what?!" everyone demanded.
"There are two ways," Ryan said slowly.
"One is… to walk into death and come back alive."
He paused deliberately before continuing:
"The other is this—if Thor was once a god, then obtaining divine blood could allow him to become one again."
"Divine blood?!"
All eyes instantly fell on the four Asgardians.
At that exact moment, the Destroyer—having already overwhelmed Phil Coulson's forces—appeared at the edge of town.
True to its name, devastation followed.
Blazing energy beams erupted from its face, leveling buildings and vehicles in a chain of violent explosions.
Panic spread instantly as civilians fled screaming.
Any lingering doubt about the Prophet vanished.
Sif exchanged a glance with the others.
"Even if we agree," she said,
"how do we even transfer blood?"
Before Ryan could answer, the hum of nano-plasma thrusters filled the air.
A red Bugatti Veyron Transport Carrier descended from the sky.
A woman in a black executive suit stepped out.
"Hello," she said coolly.
"I'm Maria Hill, CEO of Umbrella Technologies."
"I brought the transfusion equipment Liu prepared.
You're free to refuse."
Even the Asgardians hesitated.
The Prophet's foresight bordered on terrifying—anticipating even this.
With explosions drawing closer and Thor's return to Asgard at stake, the choice was obvious.
As plasma scalpels opened controlled wounds on each warrior and blood was drawn…
Maria Hill retrieved a massive container from the carrier and placed it before Ryan.
"Liu says it's time for you to fulfill your part of the deal."
"I understand," Ryan said, visibly annoyed.
The container—six and a half feet long, over three feet wide and tall—hovered silently thirty centimeters above the ground.
Under everyone's gaze…
Ryan began removing his designer clothes.