"This has nothing to do with her."
Erik stepped in front of Coulson, trying to take all the blame himself.
He even went so far as to claim that Jane Foster had been hired by him, and that she knew nothing about his real research. It was a flimsy excuse, but he was willing to shoulder everything if it meant protecting her.
Coulson, however, wasn't interested in such details.
Between Erik and Foster, what truly captured his attention were the matters concerning Asgard.
More importantly, he couldn't stop thinking about what Senju Haruto had just done—whether it might provoke an actual war.
Because the man Haruto had just punched... was a god.
Maybe Loki alone wasn't Haruto's match. But Norse mythology was filled with countless gods—Odin, the World Serpent, Fenrir, and many more.
If those beings ever decided to join forces... could even Haruto stop them from trampling the world beneath their feet?
The thought sent a chill through Coulson. His earlier excitement and awe vanished, replaced entirely by dread.
Thor, who stood beside him, shook his head almost instantly. "That won't happen."
He didn't know exactly what had sparked the conflict between Haruto and Loki, but in his heart, Thor was certain of one thing—his brother was a kind and righteous god.
Loki would never start a war.
"To tell you the truth," Thor said slowly, taking a deep breath, "I was banished to Midgard because I did start a war."
He hadn't planned to share that, but after what had just happened, he felt compelled to speak—for Asgard's sake, and to reassure these mortals who had become unwilling witnesses to the divine.
"A war?" Coulson frowned. He hadn't expected the man in front of him to be such a warmonger. "What did you do?"
"The Frost Giants," Thor replied, his expression heavy. "They are the embodiment of evil among the Nine Realms. They sought to conquer them all."
"It was my father who once stopped them."
"I believed I could do the same—that by my own strength, I could destroy them completely."
"Erase the threat lurking within the Nine Realms."
As he spoke, Thor's head lowered slightly, a faint, bitter smile tugging at his lips.
Only now did he realize how foolish he'd been back then.
But that realization also gave him certainty.
Loki—his brother—wouldn't repeat his mistake. He wouldn't start a war out of pride. Not now, not when he sat upon Odin's throne.
As the new King of Asgard, Loki should be the one to restore balance among the Nine Realms—to comfort their people, still mourning Odin's death.
That was his duty now.
So why had Loki clashed with the Supreme Sorcerer of Midgard? Thor couldn't understand it.
Still, after Thor's brief explanation, Coulson finally understood why Thor was here—banished to Earth—and where the hammer had come from.
"So you really are the God of Thunder, then?" Coulson asked after a pause. "Thor of Asgard?"
Thor nodded silently.
Coulson's eyes flicked toward the spot where Mjolnir rested half-buried in the desert sand. "Then what are you going to do next? Stay here?" he asked, tone carefully neutral—but his gaze carried meaning.
He wasn't just making conversation. He was hinting.
Even though Coulson was just an ordinary man and had never met Odin, as an outsider he could see what Thor couldn't.
Odin had cast the hammer down to Earth along with his son for a reason—to make Thor earn back his divine power.
"To you, Haruto," Coulson said suddenly, turning toward the sorcerer. "What do you think?"
"Maybe," Haruto replied casually, his tone light, eyes drifting toward the dark sky.
At that same moment, far from Earth—
Loki stumbled back into Asgard, battered and broken. His entire body ached with pain; even walking required the help of guards.
It felt as if every bone in his body had been shattered. His breath came in ragged gasps as he clenched his jaw, hatred burning in his eyes.
Senju Haruto!
He had never imagined he would suffer such humiliation—defeated so completely by a mortal.
If anyone in Asgard ever found out what had happened, his throne would be in jeopardy.
The thought alone made his stomach twist with shame.
But before he could even recover, a new problem emerged.
His repeated activation of the Bifrost had drawn attention. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three—Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg—had all noticed the anomaly and rushed to the palace.
Ignoring the guards' protests, they forced their way inside and found Loki.
And what they saw left them stunned.
The once-proud Trickster God was barely recognizable—his clothes torn, his body covered in bruises and blood, his steps unsteady.
It looked as if he'd barely escaped from a great battle.
The four Asgardians exchanged glances, none of them able to guess what had truly happened.
"What's going on, Loki?" Sif was the first to speak, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her sword, ready for a fight. "Was it the Frost Giants again?"
Her assumption struck Loki like a blade to the chest. His expression darkened, but he couldn't let his anger show.
He couldn't tell them the truth.
After a brief pause, he nodded, forcing composure into his voice. "Yes. The Frost Giants ambushed me. But I've already destroyed them. There's no need to worry about another invasion."
He straightened slightly, trying to reclaim his dignity. "Now, I need to rest. Leave me."
His tone carried the authority of a king.
But Sif didn't move. Instead, she stepped forward, eyes sharp and unwavering.
"Loki," she said seriously, "with the great Odin in the Odinsleep and the Frost Giants plotting beyond our borders—this is not the time for hesitation."
"Shouldn't we bring Thor back?"
"Right now, Asgard needs a true king."
"Agreed!"
"She's right!" the Warriors Three chorused, their voices overlapping in earnest support.
Thor's banishment had been Odin's decision, yes—but circumstances had changed drastically.
If they made the wrong move now, it could cost Asgard everything.
And the fact that even Loki himself was wounded only proved how dire the threat had become.
That sealed their resolve.
"This matter does not concern you," Loki said coldly, his patience wearing thin.
If Thor returned, his lies would unravel. His claim to the throne would vanish like smoke.
Everything he'd schemed and fought for—all of it would be gone.
Loki, who had always been obsessed with power, could not and would not allow that to happen.
But while he held the throne, he had never been formally crowned. His authority was temporary, and Sif and the Warriors Three knew it.
To them, Thor would always be the rightful king.
And so, despite Loki's warning, they turned and left the palace—heading straight for the Bifrost.
They would bring Thor home.