Returning to Asgard, I was surprised by how much had happened in just a few days. It felt like a lifetime.
I'd encountered the Kree, connected with the future director of S.H.I.E.L.D., added the strongest Avengers to my contacts, recruited Black Widow early, and, most importantly, changed the ending of Avengers: Endgame…
Now, life is calmer. Maya Hansen had been set up with a private lab, supported by some of Asgard's finest scientists. Meanwhile, Minn-erva, still held in the dungeon, hadn't shown any kindness toward me. I wasn't about to waste my warmth on her indifference.
Sif, however, was as steady as ever, joining me regularly for sparring, drinks, and conversation. Fandral and the others knew well that things between us had shifted.
Life went back to a steady rhythm, but there was one noticeable change—my appetite. Everyone noticed it: Sif, the Warriors Three, even Odin. Food supplies in the palace had practically doubled. Odin himself mused, "Could it be that this new power demands more energy?"
Time passed quickly for the long-lived Asgardians, and in a blink, five years had gone by.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission "Elegy of the Strongest"! Reward: Thor's Power—Enhanced Physique.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission "Eat, Sleep, and Beat Up Your Little Brother."! Reward: Master of Lies.
Thor let out a long breath. Five years in, he'd finally completed one of the toughest challenges. He now resembled the "Fat Thor" seen in the Avengers movies, only bigger. Clenching his fists, he felt raw power, surging and explosive, at his command.
It's no wonder Thor could face off against Thanos with strength like this, he thought. Hulk would think twice before taking me on now.
He had also, finally, finished the "Beat Up Loki" challenge—a hundred times over.
For Loki, the last few years had been the darkest of his life. Thor visited him every couple of weeks for a "justifiable defense" session, and, on unlucky days, Sif would join in for a double team. Loki wondered if life could possibly get worse.
Despite the "casualties," Loki remained the god of mischief, surviving each time. Even Frigga, with her unending compassion, had begun to feel sorry for him, and Odin, never Loki's biggest fan, was also starting to sympathize.
But Thor's "defense" was always justified and flawless. Minn-Erva even recorded each incident, building an airtight video archive of Loki's "mischief"—and proof that no editing was done.
Minn-Erva had, in fact, fully submitted to Thor two years ago.
Maya Hansen developed Extremis within three years, and Thor provided her with a refined formula to create an improved version. The Asgardians, with their already resilient bodies, saw minimal strengthening benefits from Extremis, but the healing and regeneration aspects were incredible. For Minn-Erva, the effects were far more profound.
As a pure-blooded Kree with dark blue skin, Minn-Erva belonged to a proud, noble lineage. In the beginning, the Kree were all blue-skinned, with other colors resulting from interbreeding with different races. Mixed-blood Kree were initially treated as second-class citizens, but after the Supreme Intelligence discovered that pure-blood Kree had hit a genetic limit, citizenship was extended to Kree hybrids to address these shortcomings.
The enhanced Extremis triggered something unexpected: it unlocked Minn-Erva's genetic restraints. And her skin changed to a natural human color—a trait she had always despised. This shift shattered her self-image, her Kree pride crumbling overnight. The next day, she swore her allegiance to Thor, taking on the role of his maid.
Not long after Maya Hansen's arrival in Asgard, the isolation of being in a foreign realm led her to deepen her relationship with Thor. Soon, they completed their own "partnership."
Everything seemed perfect…except for Loki's enduring antics. He orchestrated an early invasion of the Jotunheim giants, baiting Thor into launching an unauthorized attack.
But Thor now was nothing like his former self. Armed with his fully awakened powers, he was a veritable storm on the battlefield. Without Odin's intervention, King Laufey of Jotunheim might not have survived the encounter.
At this point, Odin still hoped to one day entrust Jotunheim to Loki.
But more importantly, he was using these trials to shape Thor into a wise and compassionate king.