"I believe you can grow into a king like Odin and protect Asgard. That would be the best way to honor him," said Nathaniel (Nate) Locke as he patted Thor on the shoulder. "Now get up. There's no time for regrets. You still have a lot to learn."
Thor, battered and humbled, stood up from the ground. He looked over at Jane Foster, took her hand, and took a few steps to catch up with Nate. "I've let down so many people—my father, my mother, my brother, my friends. Thank you for believing in me despite everything."
He had lost almost everything. Stripped of Mjolnir, banished from Asgard, and barely surviving against enemies he once thought beneath him, he now found himself clinging to the one person who still had faith in him.
"No need to thank me," Nate said with a sigh. "I never doubted your potential. I just hope that the true Thor—the mighty God of Thunder—arrives sooner rather than later. By the way, why haven't you cut your hair? Shorter hair makes you look more battle-ready."
Thor scoffed. "No one touches my hair."
They walked away together, leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. to clean up the mess. In this war-torn world, massacres were an everyday occurrence. Sometimes they weren't even for power or money but simply acts of cruelty. And every so often, miracles happened—atrocities were prevented, lives were saved. Coulson had seen both too many times to count.
"Sir, you need to see this," one of the S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives called to Coulson.
A terrorist lay dead on the ground, the apparent leader of the group. His arm bore an unusual tattoo: ten intertwined rings forming a circle, with two crossed long knives at the center. Coulson's eyes narrowed. He had seen that symbol before—the Ten Rings organization. Trouble was brewing.
That night, the group didn't leave. Instead, they remained at a temporary S.H.I.E.L.D. military base, resting after the day's battle.
"Thor, do you know the true power of your father, Odin?" Nate asked, seated across from Thor in the dimly lit command tent.
Thor considered the question before shaking his head. "I know that my father is powerful. He has always been, ever since I was a child. Even now, though I am one of Asgard's strongest warriors, I cannot hold my own against him."
Before, he had never questioned why Odin was so far beyond him in strength. Now, with Odin gone, Thor had no choice but to reflect on the true distance between them.
"That's the problem," Nate said. "You don't just lack the qualities of a king; you lack the power of one. But according to our research, your potential should surpass even your father's."
"Is that true?" Thor's eyes widened. A smile spread across his face, as if he were a child being praised for the first time.
Nate nodded. "Absolutely. You are the God of Thunder. Mjolnir is merely a tool to help you control your abilities, but somewhere along the way, you started thinking of yourself as the God of Hammers instead. If you truly want to reclaim your power, forget the hammer for now. Focus on your own strength."
Thor clenched his fists. His arrogance had been replaced by a newfound determination. "I will do whatever it takes."
"Before you can learn how to be a god, you must first learn how to be a leader," Nate continued. "You need to understand what it means to protect your people, to make them believe in you. Look to the wisdom of Earth's greatest leaders, warriors, and philosophers. Learn from them."
Thor listened intently. He had never taken advice from a mortal so seriously before.
While Thor was busy trying to grow into the hero he was meant to be, his friends in Asgard were planning to rescue him.
Odin had fallen into the Odinsleep, and Loki had claimed the throne. Though he was cunning, Loki lacked the love of the people that Thor had always possessed. Sif and the Warriors Three knew they had to act.
They approached Heimdall at the Rainbow Bridge.
"Heimdall, we must find Thor," Sif said urgently.
"Thor is safe," Heimdall replied. "Someone is guiding him. What you intend to do defies the king's decree. It would mean treason."
"We don't know what Loki is planning," Sif argued. "He fears Thor's return. The Allfather sleeps. If Loki is left unchecked, Asgard itself may fall."
Heimdall was silent. He had seen Loki consorting with the Frost Giants. His loyalty was to Asgard, not to the throne.
"I cannot open the Bifrost for you," he finally said.
Then he turned and walked away—but he left his sword behind.
Thor charged through the battlefield, scooping up two frightened children in his arms just as an explosion rocked the ground behind them. A group of refugees had been caught in the crossfire between warring factions. Gunfire and screams filled the air.
"Thor! Get them to safety!" Nate's voice crackled over the comm.
Thor sprinted back toward cover, dodging bullets and debris. They had been ambushed, and their enemies had brought heavy artillery—including attack helicopters. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were pinned down with no anti-air defenses.
"Can you take out the gunships?" Nate asked Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye.
"Not with them circling like this," Hawkeye grunted. "They're staying just out of range."
"Then we need to create an opening. Cover him!"
Thor, still carrying the children, set them down behind a fallen wall and turned to face the battle. Without Mjolnir, he felt incomplete. But Nate's words echoed in his mind—forget the hammer. Find your strength.
Closing his eyes, he focused. He could feel it—the storm, the lightning, the power that was his birthright. He reached out with his hand, and the sky answered.
A bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of him, knocking enemies off their feet. Electricity crackled around his body.
For the first time since losing his hammer, Thor wielded the power of the God of Thunder—on his own.
Hawkeye took his shot. A high-explosive arrow flew through the sky, striking one of the helicopters. The explosion lit up the night.
The tide of battle had turned.
Thor stood victorious, chest rising and falling heavily as the adrenaline faded. Nate approached, nodding approvingly.
"Looks like you're finally remembering who you are," he said.
Thor smirked. "No… I'm just getting started."