"Is this... Asgard?"
Maya Hansen looked around, stunned. Asgard, one of the most remarkable realms in the MCU, was a breathtaking mix of medieval and futuristic elements. Towering skyscrapers, hovering structures, and unique, advanced architecture all testified to Asgard's supremacy and grandeur. The combination of classical and futuristic aesthetics made the realm feel timeless.
"Welcome to Asgard," Heimdall said, giving Maya a thoughtful look.
"Heimdall," Thor introduced, "this is Maya Hansen, a brilliant scientist from Midgard. She's here at my invitation."
Thor then added, "Maya, this is Heimdall, Asgard's guardian of the Bifrost—and one of our greatest warriors."
At that moment, a striking female warrior approached. "Thor! You're back," she greeted with a grin. "How was Earth?"
This was Sif, Asgard's most famous female warrior, the goddess of land and harvest in Norse mythology, Thor's childhood friend, and—in Odin and Frigga's eyes—his future bride.
In his memories, his past self had shared a close bond with Sif, but more like siblings or battle comrades than lovers.
Looking at her now, he thought, I treated you like a sister, but you actually wanted more?
He smirked, turning to her. "Oh, there was a lot happening on Earth. But the best part? I got to beat up Loki!"
The three warriors of Asgard who had gathered nearby burst into laughter. In their circle, giving Loki a hard time was almost tradition. The problem was, Thor, the one capable of besting Loki, was often too soft-hearted to do it.
Fandral, the cheerful, blond warrior, laughed the loudest. Brave and upbeat as ever, he looked Thor's way seeing a woman behind him, grinning. "Hey, Thor, aren't you afraid of ruffling Sif's feathers?"
Bravery mixed with humor sometimes led to trouble. Sure enough, Sif glared at him, silencing the trio immediately. They knew none of them could take her down, even together.
Ding! Congratulations! You've triggered the "Sif Challenge" mission: As Thor's childhood friend and the bride favored by Norse prophecy, Sif holds strong feelings for you. Complete one of the following missions to earn rewards!
Mission 1: Reject Sif. Reward: A bar of soap (real men fight men; women are distractions!).
Mission 2: Give Sif a reason to hope. Reward: Three random Infinity Stone Experience Coupons (She's waited over a thousand years for you—don't let her down, hero!)
Thor shook his head, annoyed. This system has no chill!
Looking at Sif, whose expression was calm but whose eyes held a trace of sadness, Thor stepped forward. Gently, he reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. He spoke softly, "Come on, don't look so worried. We've known each other for ages—I know what's in your heart."
Sif's cheeks flushed, and for once, she looked like a shy girl. Thor had always been the type to treat her like one of the guys, hugging her after drinks, sparring with her without a second thought. But this time felt different.
Fandral and the others were already whistling.
Maya Hansen, observing the scene, muttered under her breath, "Hmph. Men—always pigs."
In the golden halls of Asgard, a one-eyed, white-haired elder sat on the throne, surveying his son with intensity. Even Thor, despite his newfound strength, felt a powerful presence weighing down on him.
Odin, king of Asgard and ruler of the Nine Realms, is still one of the strongest beings in the universe. In his youth, he had even driven off Thanos. Even in old age, his very name commanded respect and fear across the cosmos.
"You've exceeded my expectations, Thor," Odin said at last. "For a long time, I worried that you relied too heavily on Mjolnir. To become the true god of thunder, to face what awaits in the future battles of the gods, you must learn to rely on your own strength. But what surprised me was that you reached this understanding on your own. You will make an excellent king."
Odin's voice held pride, both in Thor's growth and in the news Frigga had shared—that the prophecy of Ragnarök, once set in stone, now appeared uncertain.
It meant that the future held new possibilities.
Loki, standing off to the side, frowned. To him, this "new Thor" was a bit too unpredictable… at least, his old brother hadn't punched him at every opportunity.