Chapter Fifty-One: After The War Is Over, We Will...
"It's fine to fight together, but there's one thing you have to do!"
"What's that?"
"Have a drink with us!"
…
When Peggy Carter entered the hall in a red dress, everyone was subdued except Thor, who was physically enhanced and still strong, and Steve, who, despite drinking far more than usual, was visibly shaken.
"Can't you give me a break?" Peggy Carter said, clearly irritated.
"Don't blame me; it's these guys who insisted on challenging me," Thor protested innocently. He was a large man capable of drinking an impressive amount of beer. How could mere mortals compare? Even Natasha, the future most resilient drinker among the Avengers, wouldn't be able to handle it.
Steve, normally someone who avoided trouble, was coaxed into drinking by Bucky's insistence.
"Alright, Howard has prepared some new equipment for you. Go check it out tomorrow," Peggy said, glaring at Thor.
"Miss Carter, are you trying to dance with me?" Thor teased.
"I don't have time now; we'll see after the war!"
"Fine, when the war is over, we'll go dancing!"
As the prince of Asgard, Thor didn't compare himself to a mortal like Captain America. A mere flag could not stand in his way.
…
The next morning, Thor and Steve arrived at Howard's office. Perhaps it was fate that Steve, despite Howard's intricate high-tech shields, was drawn to a simple and robust buckler.
Thor was equipped with various high-tech firearms, almost with unlimited ammunition. Seeing Thor handle a Gatling gun like an AWM, everyone agreed he was one of the greatest sharpshooters ever. Though his combat skills were also extraordinary...
Thor had initially asked Howard to create a strong hammer mimicking Mjölnir's design. However, the unconventional idea of holding a gun in one hand and a hammer in the other was too much. Under Peggy Carter's strong opposition, he had to abandon it.
However, Steve, upon trying out the hammer, found it surprisingly fitting and fell in love with it immediately, second only to his shield.
With a shield in one hand and a hammer in the other, the legendary Hammer team would be ready for action!
"Mr. Stark, thank you for the equipment. I have a gift for you!" Thor said mysteriously.
"Oh? If you're introducing a beautiful girl, I might be more excited," Howard replied with a hint of sarcasm. Even Steve, a straightforward man, noticed Peggy's unusual attention towards Thor, and Howard's tone reflected his own curiosity.
Thor smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and gave him a hug. "Asgardian friendship in the future world, this gift is precious enough!"
Howard rolled his eyes. Despite knowing Thor's shamelessness, he was still taken aback by it.
In truth, the gift was valuable.
During the embrace, Thor slipped an agent-specific handy syringe into Howard's back. He used magic to make howard not notice the injection he did .
The potion inside was the improved version of Extremis brought from the future—slightly enhancing strength and physical fitness but significantly improving recovery and regeneration.
He had kept some in his dimension storage spell
The full value of this gift would become apparent half a century later.
"Drip, congratulations to the host for completing the mission 'Eternal Secret' Branch 2: Save Howard Stark and prevent him from dying at the hands of the Winter Soldier in the future!"
With another branch completed, Thor guessed the final mission might involve the Red Skull.
…
In the days that followed, the Howling Commando relentlessly attacked HYDRA's factories across Europe. Their victories were overwhelming and consistent, taking down HYDRA strongholds one by one.
Captain America, with his hammer and shield, even faced Thanos' forces. His heroic feats included dismantling tanks with his bare hands and defeating enemies with flair, showcasing his incredible strength.
When Captain America threw his indestructible shield and wielded his mighty hammer, all evil forces bowed down in surrender!
Chapter Fifty-Two: Falling
"Waste!!!"
This term had become Red Skull's mantra lately. With HYDRA's bases falling one by one to the Howling Commandos, no amount of strict defenses seemed to help. He had sent numerous forces to encircle them, but they all returned defeated.
Even luck wasn't on their side , one of their most heavily fortified strongholds, guarded by a large number of defenders and seemingly impregnable, was hit by a one-meter-thick lightning bolt during a storm, causing a devastating internal explosion...
"We're about to launch a world-shocking attack, but we're continuously delayed! All because you can't handle a fool with a shield and someone who just hides and shoots coldly!" he roared at Dr. Zola.
"That's not my specialty. I can develop weapons, but I can't make them fire. Also, the guy who only uses a cold gun is even more troublesome than Captain America."
An officer came to report: "Sorry, Mr. Schmidt, we fought to the last man."
That remark only fueled Red Skull's rage, and he ended the officer's life with a single shot: "Clearly not."
He then turned to Dr. Zola and bellowed, "Eliminate them, or face the consequences!" The repeated failures had nearly exhausted his patience. If Dr. Zola weren't genuinely useful, he would have been sent to a concentration camp long ago.
Dr. Zola's face was grim; he knew that Red Skull's threats were serious.
…
On this day, the Howling Commandos received information from Dr. Zola about a train traveling through the snow-capped mountains.
Unbeknownst to them, it was a trap. The immense pressure from Red Skull forced Dr. Zola to take drastic measures.
While Steve and Bucky were separated by a gate controlled by Dr. Zola, Thor found himself alone in a car surrounded by heavily armored soldiers. Their thick alloy armor was nearly impenetrable, even to the strongest armor-piercing rounds.
"Is this specifically aimed at my layout?" Thor looked up at the monitors. "Who told you I can only shoot?"
He pulled out his pistol and fired a few shots, not at the armored soldiers but at several cameras...
Meanwhile, under the onslaught of energy weapons, Bucky used his shield to protect Captain America. Unfortunately, his physical resilience wasn't on par with Captain America's, and he was blasted out of the carriage by a cannonball. He desperately clung to the crumbling handrail outside.
Furious, Captain America used his hammer to throw the enemy out of the car and crawled back out to reach Bucky.
"Bucky, grab my hand!" Bucky reached out, but before he could grasp Captain America's hand, he fell into the abyss...
"Bucky!!!"
As Thor approached with Dr. Zola in tow, Captain America was on the ground, gritting his teeth and trying to control his emotions.
…
As history unfolded, politicians didn't let Dr. Zola's talent go unnoticed, and that was irrelevant to Thor.
Grieving the loss of his friend Winter Soldier, Captain America channeled his sorrow and anger into his mission. After destroying several HYDRA strongholds, he finally located Red Skull.
The Howling Commandos launched the final battle against HYDRA.
HYDRA's forces fell back, and Red Skull, carrying the Tesseract, boarded a bomber headed for New York. Thor, Peggy, and the others held off the remaining enemies while Steve pursued Red Skull, boarding the aircraft for a decisive confrontation.
Red Skull was no match for Captain America. Steve, wielding his shield and hammer, defeated him swiftly.
In a desperate attempt to turn the tide, Red Skull grabbed the Tesseract.
But his power wasn't sufficient to control the Space Stone. The Tesseract's power erupted, causing Red Skull to vanish from Captain America's sight.
Captain America quickly took the pilot's seat, only to find that the plane's autopilot was set to New York. With a skilled flight crew, there might have been alternatives. But Steve lacked the necessary skills and could only attempt a crash landing.
He reported the situation to headquarters, connecting the channel to Thor. With the HYDRA soldiers cleared, Thor and Peggy would handle the aftermath.
…
"Have you made your decision? Maybe we should contact Howard; he might have a solution," Thor suggested.
Steve shook his head. "There's no time. I need to land immediately. If it takes too long, many people will die."
"This is my choice!"
"Alright." Although he had anticipated this moment, Thor was still emotional.
"Any unfulfilled wishes?"
"No, sadly, I won't see the end of this war, nor will I have a chance to see Bucky again." He pushed down the landing lever.
"There will be a chance..."
Peggy stood by, quietly observing as the two said their goodbyes.
"Boom—"
The plane crashed into the ice, sank to the bottom, and was buried in ice and snow.
Chapter Fifty-Three: Showdown
The signal vanished.
Thor fell silent for a moment before suddenly standing up.
"Where are you going?" Peggy Carter asked.
Thor gave her a penetrating look but did not answer. Instead, he climbed into a fighter jet.
Peggy's expression changed; she clenched her teeth and followed him, taking the passenger seat.
The two remained silent throughout the flight.
…
The northernmost part of Alaska was only a few hundred kilometers from the crash site of Captain America.
Thor stared out at the sea, with Peggy Carter standing beside him.
After a long pause, she spoke: "Aren't you going to tell me anything? Or have you been hiding something from me?"
Thor's expression shifted. He turned to Peggy and said, "What do you see?"
Peggy looked serious: "You've been hiding things. I've done some digging—Donald Blake, that name has never appeared before, as if it materialized out of nowhere."
"You've had a close relationship with Steve from early on, almost deliberately so. Given your behavior, you don't seem particularly eager to help others. Perhaps you've known for a long time that he would become Captain America."
"Bucky fell off a cliff, and you didn't seem particularly devastated because you knew—Sergeant Barnes was just missing, not dead!"
"There are more instances. For example, you know Howard will have a son in the future, and you even know his character. You also know..."
Thor's expression grew troubled. These were details that ordinary people would miss. She was indeed the most formidable agent, or perhaps she had been observing him closely?
"Then, have you figured it out?"
"I didn't guess at first, and I wouldn't have suspected it. But one day, while idly reading about the theory of relativity in news, it struck me. Does space-time travel really exist?"
Thor was silent for a moment before replying, "It does." These words confirmed Peggy Carter's suspicions.
"Just as I thought!" Peggy's eyes lit up, "It's unbelievable! Someone I've been with for so long is actually from the future! Is that why you've been avoiding me?"
Thor nodded, "I can't stay in this era forever. I came here to accomplish something. Once I finish it, I must return over sixty years into the future. Therefore, I can't leave behind too much emotional attachment."
He wasn't a shy person like Steve; how could he not sense Peggy Carter's feelings? Yet he had been pretending not to notice because their eventual separation was inevitable.
Peggy's face grew sad: "Yes, sixty years is a long time... For many, it's a lifetime."
In a moment of vulnerability, she gazed into Thor's eyes and asked earnestly, "What if I say I can wait for you for sixty years?"
She leaned against Thor slowly. He hesitated but did not pull away.
…
"The war will be won, right?"
"Yes, it won't be long."
"Donald Blake isn't your real name, is it? What is your real name?"
"Thor Odinson."
"That sounds like some mythical figure..."
"It is me. Do you believe it?"
Peggy stared at him for a while before smiling, "I believe. I've heard many incredible things today. I didn't expect to fall in love with a legendary god."
Thor took out a syringe and administered it to her: "This is a future-enhancing serum. Though not as potent as the Super Soldier Serum, it requires less and helps you recover faster from injuries."
Peggy was about to speak when a sudden roar interrupted them.
Thor's face shifted with concern. He gently pushed Peggy away and moved forward. With a thought, a blinding light emanated from his uniform.
To Peggy's astonishment, Thor's black battle armor and red cloak were instantly donned.
Thor's armor!
At the moment Red Skull activated the Tesseract, a new mission appeared before Thor's eyes.
Chapter Fifty-Four: Supergiant, Die!
"Congratulations to the host for discovering the mission 'Eternal Secret' Branch 3. Complete all the branches to finish the mission!"
"Branch 1: Completed!"
"Branch 2: Completed!"
"Branch 3: Stop Supergiant from taking the Tesseract and eliminate her!"
At that moment, Thor finally grasped the key to repairing the timeline.
Whether it was Captain America's story or Howard Stark's future, these were not major changes.
Even if he wanted to fix them, it wasn't necessarily his job to do so.
The real impact came from Supergiant and the Tesseract.
Without the Tesseract, Captain Marvel wouldn't appear in the future, and the Avengers wouldn't exist.
Humanity would be delayed in its contact with alien civilizations by more than a decade...
No wonder there were only four members in Thanos' Black Order. It turns out that Supergiant had perished on Earth in the 1940s.
A female figure approached slowly, slender yet with a face uglier than Ebony Maw's...
"Who are you?" Supergiant demanded, wary. Though clad in ancient battle armor, the figure before her exuded more pressure than any previous foe.
A strange wave of energy emerged, splitting into two. One floated towards Thor, and the other silently drifted towards Peggy Carter nearby.
With a crackle, dazzling lightning surrounded the area, instantly dissipating Supergiant's energy.
"Don't try your mind control tricks; you don't stand a chance against me," Thor said disdainfully.
He genuinely underestimated this Thanos scout. Even after dealing with your master Thanos, who are you?
Supergiant's face paled. She hadn't expected the spiritual power of her opponent to be so vastly superior. Gritting her teeth, she transformed her psychokinesis into a long spear and thrust it towards Thor.
With a thunderous clash, mingled with lightning, Thor's punch struck the spear's tip, shattering it instantly. The remaining force sent Supergiant flying.
"Ah—" she screamed, soaring over ten meters before landing heavily, staring at Thor in terror.
With the Tesseract now secured, survival was her priority. She gathered her remaining strength, released a burst of energy towards Peggy Carter, and fled in another direction.
Thor quickly moved in front of Peggy Carter and punched the energy ball. Supergiant was no match for him, and the other generals of the Black Order were insignificant in comparison. She alone was an easy target; keep an eye on her mind control, and she could be dealt with effortlessly.
"She's trying to escape!" Despite trusting Thor, Peggy was shocked by the recent events. Seeing Supergiant boarding an unfamiliar fighter jet, she cried out.
"She won't get away." Thor's gaze was resolute. He pointed to the sky, and a flash of lightning surged upwards, the surrounding wind whipping violently.
Peggy Carter had never seen such a sight before. The black clouds seemed to press down on the earth, and the thunder roared as if the sky were about to collapse.
In the distance, a brilliant lightning bolt streaked across the sky, heading straight for the fighter jet with the power to obliterate everything in its path.
As Supergiant, still in shock, saw the blinding light, she cried out in terror.
"No—" Her scream was swallowed by the lightning as the fighter jet was incinerated instantly.
"Congratulations to the host for completing the mission 'Eternal Secret' Branch 3: Stop Supergiant from taking the Tesseract and kill her!"
"Congratulations to the host for completing all the branches of the 'Eternal Secret' task. Reward: Eternal Life!"
"Warning! The task of repairing the timeline is complete. The host will return in ten minutes! Please prepare!"
"Warning! The host cannot bring any living things to the future! Forcibly carrying them will result in automatic deactivation!"Chapter Fifty-Five: Parting, The Promise of the Century
"You're leaving, aren't you?" Peggy Carter asked softly, her eyes filled with sadness.
Thor nodded. "There are still ten minutes."
They sat side by side, watching the sun dip below the horizon.
"At that time, I was still alive, right?"
"Yes, we will meet again. And there are a few things you must remember!" Thor suddenly turned to her and said.
"At least for this century, don't reveal my true identity to anyone, not even Stark! I trust you'll keep this secret and just come up with a reason for my departure."
"Also, retire early!"
With Dr. Zola now recruited, it was inevitable that S.H.I.E.L.D. would become compromised in the future. As one of its founders, staying in S.H.I.E.L.D. could make her a target for HYDRA, as evidenced by Howard Stark's fate.
Peggy Carter nodded. Though she didn't know the full details, she trusted Thor's words.
"You still owe me a dance," Peggy said suddenly.
"After the war is over... though I fear it might be in the next century!"
"When will I see you again?"
" Come on this date - .... and and this adress - ....., don't try to contact before "
The system's voice intruded:
"Congratulations! You have triggered the Captain America-related mission: The Covenant of the Century. You will be rewarded upon completion!"
"Mission Objective: In the new century, invite Peggy Carter to dance. Mission Reward: Dancing Proficiency."
Time seemed to fly by, and a green light enveloped Thor.
"Applying the skill to Peggy Carter—Immortality!"
…
Peggy Carter gazed at the spot where Thor had disappeared, unable to hold back her tears. For over fifty years, it seemed hopeless.
After a while, she picked up the communicator: "I have found a clue about the Tesseract, in the northernmost part of Alaska, close to my current location."
"Captain America crashed and disappeared. Numerous HYDRA remnants tried to seize the Tesseract but failed. Captain Blake tragically fell into the sea during the battle and went missing."
…
Time passed, and the war eventually ended.
The Howling Commandos toasted Steve and Blake, remembering their former leader.
Howard Stark followed leads to locate the Tesseract. Even without its energy signature, he persisted in his search. But amidst the vast Arctic Ocean, finding two individuals beneath the icebergs was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
Peggy came to terms with the reality and accepted it. Colonel Phillips handed her Thor's retirement files, and she stared blankly at the photographs.
…
One night in 1991.
Howard Stark drove home alone, his mood dark. He sought solitude to escape his thoughts.
The thought of the troublesome Blake and his son, who was even more reckless than he had been in his youth, weighed on him.
Lost in thought, the car suddenly skidded out of control and crashed into a tree.
A metal arm dragged him out. Howard looked up and gasped, "Sergeant Barnes?"
His response was a brutal punch, followed by another... He gradually lost consciousness.
After confirming the target's death, Bucky staged the crash scene and vanished into the darkness.
About half an hour later, the corpse's fingers twitched...
Following this incident, Howard felt as if he had developed memory issues. Even if those who had sacrificed themselves for decades returned, it was hard to believe they could be so youthful.
But after overcoming this hardship, Howard, seemingly reborn, chose to step back. He handed over the company to Tony and withdrew from the public eye.
…
In 2005, at Kamar-Taj's Holy Place, the Ancient One was casting a spell when a frantic magician burst in, shouting, "Your Highness Sorcerer Supreme, Kaecilius has betrayed us!"
The Ancient One was startled, causing a disruption in the spell.
"This is not good!" Despite efforts to correct the error, the temporary lapse caused a shift in Thor's return time and space...
Surrounded by darkness, Thor looked on helplessly.
Ancient One, you clumsy magician! No wonder even a dignified Socceror was slain with a knife!
Chapter Fifty-Six: A New Era Begins
At the door of Betty Ross's apartment, Peggy Carter stood in a daze, gazing at the empty room. Who?
Betty Ross looked at the visitor with a sense of familiarity but couldn't quite place her. Cautiously, she asked, "Are you agent Carter? I think I've seen your photo in S.H.I.E.L.D's profile."
"Yes, I am..." Peggy Carter nodded.
"Well, Senior Carter, where's my boyfriend?"
Peggy Carter couldn't help but press her forehead in frustration.
Thor, you idiot. You come back and leave me to clean up this mess!
…
After Peggy Carter reassured Betty, she used information from S.H.I.E.L.D. to locate Maya Hansen, and they shared numerous details.
Uncertain of when Thor would return, Maya Hansen established a small research center with Peggy's help.
Though Extremis research had hit a dead end, Maya also pursued other projects.
Betty Ross eventually came to terms with the fact that her boyfriend had left urgently to save the world and returned to the military laboratory.
Her personal turmoil over Thor's departure and Bruce Banner's reserved nature led to no romantic sparks between them.
A few months later, an experimental accident under gamma ray exposure resulted in the birth of the Hulk.
The newborn Hulk was nearly irrational, driven only by the urge to destroy everything in his path.
A green giant burst out of the laboratory and vanished into the night. The experimenters faced severe casualties, and extensive equipment was destroyed. Hulk's rampage showed no mercy, and Betty Ross sustained severe injuries, leaving her paralyzed.
Typically, such an injury would mean a lifetime in a wheelchair. Fortunately, with Extremis, though there was no pre-injection, recovery would take time but remain effective.
Deciding to move to Maya Hansen's laboratory after her recovery, Betty was shaken by the military's reckless experiments.
General Ross, feeling guilty for his daughter, didn't oppose her decision. Meanwhile, he was enraged and dispatched many personnel to search for traces of the Hulk.
However, Banner, in his non-transformed state, was very clever. He could not be found without transforming and was undefeatable in his transformed state. As a result, the search for the Hulk made little progress over the years, as if he had vanished from the world.
Before arriving on Earth, with Thor's approval, Maya Hansen sold a small amount of Extremis to General Ross at a high price for research funding. Although the modified Extremis only offered a minor strength boost, its physical recovery benefits were significant.
General Ross was also intrigued by the first-generation virus but feared its severe side effects, which dissuaded him from taking the risk.
Time passed, and soon it was 2010.
On this day, a major event that shook the entire United States occurred—
Tony Stark, the brilliant inventor and young CEO, was kidnapped by terrorists during a weapons conference in Afghanistan.
The entire nation was thrown into turmoil. Given Stark's status and the influence of Stark Industries, this incident had the potential to alter the world.
No one anticipated that this kidnapping would herald the dawn of a new era, transforming the notorious playboy into a superhero.
…
In the dark void, Thor pondered his location and how to escape.
Kamar-Taj's sorcerers certainly prove true to their reputation for leaving one unprepared at critical moments!
He wondered what was happening outside now...
At that moment, a deep voice echoed in his ear.
"Kneel down!"
"What?"
Chapter Fifty-Seven: Big Boss 6
As the saying goes, a man has gold under his knees. And at Thor's knees—
There is Uru...
I don't even kneel to Thanos. Who are you?
Thor, already full of frustration, snapped angrily, "Get out! You kneel!"
The dark space fell into sudden silence.
Thor suddenly realized and turned toward the source of the voice...
"Why did you come out without any warning, sister?"
The figure before him was stern and cold, the voice that had spoken belonged to none other than—Hela.
Since Hela's mother is Frigga, he really would have to kneel to her mother...
"Hehehe, hello? If I hadn't seen you fall into the rift, I wouldn't have bothered to fish you out."
"Now, kneel before your queen!"
Outsiders certainly couldn't kneel, and being family, they definitely—couldn't kneel either. Thor knew that once he knelt, it would be hard to stand up again.
Thor spread his hands and said, "Sister, don't be like this. Our Asgard is a place where everyone is equal now, and that sort of thing is no longer in fashion..."
Hela sneered. She understood that Thor, though appearing earnest and straightforward, was actually more cunning than Odin, able to grasp the point without much effort.
From this perspective, he was indeed a fitting heir to the throne.
She raised her hand, and a slender black sword materialized in it.
"Beating one's younger brother during meals and rest" had always been a traditional virtue of Asgard. Hela followed this tradition just like Thor. If words won't do, then physical punishment would suffice. Moreover, Hela believed in not backing down if she could confront.
She tossed her long hair, black spikes jutting from the back of her collar, and the terrifying power of death pulsed around her.
It seemed that a fight was unavoidable. Lunatics are the most challenging to handle; if there's a disagreement, they will fight...
The problem was, she was currently stronger than him!
The fight did not last long, and Thor felt he was on the verge of being beaten to a pulp in less than half an hour. Despite managing to hold his own with physical skills, his strength, magic, speed, and defense were being overwhelmed from all sides, and he was also dealing with bloody wounds...
It was clear that Hela was not using her full strength, and there was no Asgardian home advantage.
Thor gritted his teeth and struggled, trying to find a way out of the situation. Meanwhile, Hela became increasingly exhilarated...
At that moment, a golden halo appeared in front of Thor. The Ancient One stepped out of it, waving a magic fan and sending an energy whip towards Hela.
Hela, initially indifferent, focused her eyes and sent out several flying swords to sever the energy whip.
Then, a crystal-clear transparent wall advanced towards her. Before she could react, she was trapped in a mirror dimension, unable to move.
Impressive! After fighting so hard, Ancient One managed to subdue Hela in just a few moves. Although Hela didn't understand the opponent's skills, it demonstrated the Ancient One's strength.
"Who are you?" Hela, rarely flustered, was taken aback. The pressure from this seemingly delicate Midgardian rivaled that of Odin at his peak.
The Ancient One did not answer, instead saying calmly, "The internal matters of the Asgardian royal family are not my concern. However, since this person arrived due to my oversight, I cannot ignore it."
With that, she turned and stepped back into the portal, releasing the restraints on Hela, who gasped for breath.
Thor approached Hela and said quietly, "The Guardian of Midgard is currently the greatest power in the Nine Realms. Because of her, Midgard is merely a name among the realms."
After speaking, Thor followed the Ancient One into the portal.
Hela stared at the shrinking aperture, her expression uncertain.
For a moment, she almost wanted to rush through the portal desperately.
But considering that Odin would be summoned immediately upon her exit, and that a powerful sorcerer might block her path, she suppressed the urge.
Anyway, Odin didn't have much time left, just a few years away.
Chapter 58: Stark's Metamorphosis
Tony Stark, the hard-nosed inventor, was hammering away in a cave when Thor exited through the portal.
Originally, the group of captors who had kidnapped him intended to execute him immediately. However, the Jericho missile Tony demonstrated at the previous press conference proved quite valuable to them, so the terrorists decided to extract every last bit of utility from him.
They provided materials and demanded that Tony Stark produce missiles for them.
But Tony wasn't foolish. Did they really think he would make the missiles and then be set free? That was laughable!
He had no intention of constructing missiles.
Under the threat of death, Tony Stark's already sharp mind worked at superhuman levels, and he began to build the first-generation Iron Man suit from the missile parts.
Unfortunately, the humanoid figure he created had nothing to do with missiles. Even a pig would have sensed something was off.
After a severe beating, the terrorist leader issued an ultimatum: if the missiles weren't completed by the next day, he would face severe consequences.
Tony Stark had never suffered such indignities before, nor would he allow himself to. His assistant, Ethan, had lost all inhibitions and accelerated the armor's construction.
If Stark had been given a few more minutes, he might have succeeded. However, the vigilant terrorist leader frequently monitored the surveillance and came rushing over as soon as he noticed something was amiss.
The bomb tied to the iron door killed two of the young men, but the armor required some time to activate, and the terrorists were already at the door.
In a crucial moment, Ethan picked up an AK and walked toward the door.
"No! Come back and follow the plan!"
Ethan turned back, smiling, and said firmly, "This is my plan!"
Ignoring Stark's protests, he charged forward.
Gunshots rang out, then fell silent.
Stark's eyes welled up. He now understood the gravity of the situation.
When the terrorists burst into the cave where Stark was imprisoned, they were confronted by a powerful figure with a black metallic sheen.
Tony Stark, the arms dealer and playboy, was finally galvanized into action by Ethan's sacrifice. His anger unleashed upon the terrorists.
Even the original Iron Man was more than a match for a group of mortals. He burst out of the cave, detonated the munitions depot, and used the rocket propulsion system to soar through the flames before collapsing from exhaustion on the sand.
A military helicopter spotted the battered Stark overhead. Regardless of the circumstances, he had escaped.
On this day, arms dealer and playboy Tony Stark underwent a transformation and emerged as a superhero.
…
In the hall of Kamar-Taj, Thor was negotiating with the Ancient One. He had learned he had been displaced for nearly five years, which was alarming. If the Ancient One's hand had faltered, he might have returned to find only half population people left .
"Well, it was indeed my mistake this time. Please let me know what you need, and as long as it's within reason, Kamar-Taj will do its best to accommodate you."
The Ancient One nodded with a wry smile.
Now it was Thor's turn to be troubled. Kamar-Taj was not like Asgard. Its constant isolation meant it had little money, and the situation was dire. The poor were in distress, and even the wifi was provided by a country where it was cheapest. The only thing that interested Thor was...
"For example—the means to travel back in time? Or perhaps a red cloak that can fly by itself? A cloak would do as well. I've used this cloak for over a thousand years; it's time for a change..."
…
Chapter 59: Niece? Uncle?
Looking at the clueless expression on Thor's face, the Ancient One resisted the urge to smash his head and said in a low voice, "The Eye of Agamotto is a sacred artifact sworn to be protected by the Sorcerer Supreme, and the levitation cloak belongs to the next Sorcerer Supreme."
"Is that so?" Thor pretended to consider this for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Then, magician, if you accept me as an apprentice and make me the next Sorcerer Supreme, could you give me both? Master, you seem to be lacking in apprentices!"
The Ancient One felt that his outsider image was slipping away.
How shameless! Is this really one of Odin's family?
…
Eventually, the Ancient One gave Thor a Sling Ring to open portals and taught him how to use it.
Although Asgard has the Bifrost for teleportation, it has a longer activation time and is better suited for transporting large armies through the air. The Sling Ring, on the other hand, is more versatile in regular battles. In his previous life, Thor had seen Doctor Strange using such methods to coordinate with others against Thanos.
According to the Ancient One's instructions, Thor mastered the use of the Sling Ring in just over an hour. The Ancient One and her group of sorcerers were impressive; this level of proficiency was nearly unheard of in Kamar-Taj in a hundred years. Unfortunately, they were from Asgard.
Thor sighed. No wonder the Ancient One was able to trick and manipulate Doctor Strange; learning in the harsh conditions of Mount Everest in two minutes must have been incredible!
No wonder it's called a historical legend—this magical ability is truly formidable!
He quickly drew a portal and arrived at the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D., specifically Nick Fury's office.
After waiting sixty years for Peggy Carter, he had finally returned, but now he found himself waiting another five years...
Not knowing Peggy Carter's address, he had to seek out a lead.
Since he had just learned to teleport and the office had only recently reopened...
"Who are you? Put your hands up and place your head on the ground!"
A gun was quickly pointed at his head, and a clear female voice rang out. A girl with blonde hair came into view.
Even without his divine powers, Thor's skills would have allowed him to subdue the opponent instantly. However, the girl's somewhat familiar face left him momentarily stunned. He raised his hands in surrender.
When the girl saw Thor clearly, she also looked puzzled. After thinking for a moment, she tentatively asked, "Uncle Blake?"
Thor immediately recognized her identity.
Agent 13, Sharon Carter, Peggy Carter's niece.
The "uncle" address was indeed surprising and made Thor feel inexplicably old.
However, Thor felt somewhat reassured when he thought about the younger kid who had just escaped from terrorists.
Thor lowered his hands, nodded, and said, "Are you Peggy's niece? I often hear her talk about you."
The gun that had been lowered was quickly raised again. "As far as I know, you and my aunt haven't seen each other for sixty-five years. Do you think you look like a sixty-five-year-old?"
Gritting her teeth... It was clear what her mother had said was true—the more attractive a man was, the more deceitful he could be!
How sharp are all agents? Setting up a scenario like this is nearly impossible!
Thor's figure flashed, and he seized the gun, tossing it casually onto the table. "Alright, take me to see your aunt quickly. If we delay too long, don't blame me if she teaches you a lesson."
Sharon Carter, though slightly annoyed, was still in awe of Peggy. Despite her irritation at Thor's sudden appearance, she led him to Peggy.
"By the way, how did you recognize me?" Thor asked, puzzled. He had been gone for decades, and only a few people from his past might recognize his name. Sharon Carter should not have known him.
"My aunt has several old photos of you and often looks at them."
Sharon then seemed to find something amusing and said with a bright smile, "I recently discovered that you still have a name.
Your name is Thor—was that your original name? My aunt still holds a grudge against you for the problems you caused five years ago, so you might want to prepare yourself!"
"Then let the storm be even more intense!"
Chapter 60: Reunion After 65 Years
At the door of an apartment, Sharon Carter knocked, and when Peggy Carter and Thor Odinson emerged, their eyes met.
Sharon gave a self-satisfied smile, then retreated into the guest room, leaving Peggy and Thor alone.
Contrary to what Thor might have expected, there was no dramatic storm. Peggy Carter bit her lip, struggling to hold back her tears, but she couldn't help them from flowing.
To Thor, it felt like only a few days had passed, but for Peggy, it had been half a century.
Thor had prepared many words to say, but only one remained: "Peggy, I'm back."
Peggy dabbed at her tears with a tissue, forcing a smile. "Is this all you have to say after making me wait so long?"
Thor quickly collected himself, placed his hands together, and said with a gentle smile, "Beautiful Miss Peggy, may I have the honor of this dance?"
From the guest room, Sharon Carter shivered and felt goosebumps.
"Drip! Congratulations on completing the task – the covenant of the century. Reward: Dance Proficiency!"
The system's notification echoed in Thor's mind, but he chose to ignore it.
Often, the purpose of completing a quest is the quest itself, not the reward. If a task conflicts with his principles, no matter how appealing the reward, he will not pursue it.
Peggy blushed, not from embarrassment, but because of Thor's awkwardness.
However, she didn't make a fuss and simply gave a soft "Hmm."
Thor embraced her and whispered, "It's all over now. I won't leave again."
In the coming years, the world would undergo major changes and truly enter the superhero era.
"For so many years, I haven't aged. Did you do this?" Peggy suddenly asked.
"Yes. For mortals, birth, aging, illness, and death are the natural order. Longevity can often lead to endless loneliness after a partner is gone. But as an Asgardian, my lifespan far exceeds that of ordinary people. I won't let such a fate befall us."
"Then why didn't you tell me sooner? For a long time, I worried about how desperate I would be when facing you while suffering from dementia ?" Peggy said with a gentle smile.
Thor cleared his throat. "I wanted to surprise you..."
In truth, when he finally achieved eternal life, he decided on the spur of the moment to reveal it.
Previously, he had planned to return to modern times and seek the Time Stone from the Ancient One to restore Peggy's youth, even if he had to use Doctor Strange life as leverage.
Thor had never been opposed to taking a villainous role for the sake of those he cared about.
…
Peggy Carter briefly recounted the events of the past years.
After the war, Peggy, Howard Stark, and Colonel Phillips had founded S.H.I.E.L.D. Although Peggy's appearance remained unchanged, she had chosen to retire when she reached retirement age, as per Thor's advice.
Howard had been monitoring S.H.I.E.L.D. until he was assassinated by HYDRA in 1991. Stark Industries announced his death, but he had been secretly investigating the truth behind the scenes. Unfortunately, there had been no significant progress before his death a few years ago.
…
The two of them got into a car and drove to a nearby upscale dance hall.
Sharon Carter emerged from the guest room and remarked with a sigh, "The quaint love story from half a century ago still has the power to move my aunt so deeply. It's quite something!"
"It turns out that Thor, who was listed as a secret more than ten years ago, was actually Lieutenant Colonel Blake back then. I doubt Director Nick Fury knows the whole story. Oh well, it's beyond my control now..."