Floating effortlessly in the cold, broken air, Tony Stark hovered down beside Bella.
The faceplate of his armor slid open with a soft hiss, revealing his iconic smirk.
"Goddess of Judgment," he greeted warmly, almost teasingly.
Even if Bella herself didn't think much of her reputation, the world had already crowned her the most mysterious, admired, and unstoppable superhero alive.
Especially after the Manhattan Bridge incident — saving dozens of children trapped by collapsing infrastructure.
In America, children weren't just valued — they were sacred.
Even criminals drew a line at harming them.
Bella's heroism hadn't just made headlines.
It had made history.
She became a symbol — of hope, of justice, of true heroism.
And to someone like Tony, who had once lived selfishly and shallowly, that mattered.
More than he liked to admit.
He trusted Bella.
Almost as much as he trusted Rhodey or Happy.
And Bella, sharp as ever, felt the sincerity behind Tony's arrival.
She didn't comment on it.
It was just natural that Tony Stark would appear — he was always where the noise and chaos were loudest.
Across from them, Loki's face twisted slightly in irritation.
He wasn't pleased by Tony's showy entrance.
Nor by the easy camaraderie between these two.
With a mocking smile, Loki addressed Bella directly.
"Gods shouldn't associate with insects," he said silkily.
"I'm surprised you would become... friends with such a bug."
He turned to Tony, feigning politeness.
"Oh, but pardon me. Perhaps I shouldn't insult you to your face."
Bella arched a delicate eyebrow, but said nothing.
She didn't need to.
Tony stepped forward, arms spreading theatrically.
"God, look at you," he said, his voice dripping with mock astonishment.
"You look like you just wandered off the set of a bad Renaissance fair."
Tony wasn't done.
He pointed at Loki's elaborate horned helmet.
"Especially those horns — what happened, buddy? Someone bend your breadsticks before you got here?"
Laughter threatened to bubble out from Bella's throat.
Tony was just getting started.
"Oh, and nice spear. Very regal. I'm sure it'll fetch at least two bucks at a junkyard. Maybe even three if you throw in that oversized ego."
Bella couldn't suppress it anymore — a soft, amused laugh escaped.
It was rare for anyone to successfully provoke her into visible mirth.
But Tony Stark's legendary sarcasm was something special.
Loki's face darkened instantly.
The easy grace he'd worn earlier shattered like glass.
"Stupid mortal," he hissed, barely restraining his fury.
"Mocking a king is a dangerous game."
Tony shrugged casually, utterly unfazed.
"What next? Should I kneel? Offer you grapes? Maybe kiss your royal slippers?"
He smirked wider.
"Please. I'd rather kiss that big frost monster over there."
For Loki, it was the final insult.
With a snarl, he raised the Eternal Spear.
Boom!
A bolt of brilliant, destructive lightning exploded from its tip, tearing through the freezing air straight at Tony.
Tony barely had time to react.
The helmet snapped closed.
The armor's emergency defense systems flared, reinforcing the outer layers.
But even so, the impact was brutal.
Tony was blasted out of the air like a comet, crashing into the frozen ground at the town's outskirts, skidding through snow and ice.
Loki lowered the spear with cold satisfaction.
Finally, a moment of reasserted superiority.
But his gaze quickly turned back to Bella, hard and measuring.
"Now then," Loki said smoothly, "let's discuss matters of power."
He leveled the spear casually at Bella, offering with feigned magnanimity:
"Stay out of Asgard's family affairs, and I'll gift you the remains of the Destroyer."
"Better yet — pledge yourself to my new reign, and I'll offer an alliance between Asgard and yourself."
His voice was honey-sweet but laced with venom.
He was no fool.
He had seen what Bella could do — ripping apart the Destroyer — and knew adding her as an ally would solidify his rule like nothing else.
Such power was rare.
Perhaps unique.
In this world, there might not be a second like her.
Bella tilted her head slightly.
Considering.
To be honest, without the knowledge she had gained, she might have been tempted.
Loki's reign would likely be chaotic — but sometimes, chaos was profitable.
However, she already knew better.
She smiled lightly and lifted a hand — pointing not at Loki, but behind him.
"If he agrees," she said simply.
RUMBLE—!
The air grew heavy.
Dark clouds rolled in, black as coal, surging and boiling in the sky.
The low growl of thunder became a roaring crescendo.
Lightning split the heavens, twisting and flashing like living serpents.
Loki's smug expression faltered.
Slowly, he turned.
His blood turned to ice.
Far off in the distance — fifty miles out — a tiny, glimmering hammer rocketed toward them, dragging a tail of furious lightning behind it.
It spun faster and faster, gathering impossible speed.
Near the ruins of the town, Phil Coulson and his agents stood dumbfounded.
They had been pulling Jane and the other civilians further away, but now all eyes were drawn skyward.
In the center of the square, lying where he had fallen, Thor's blackened body twitched.
"Thor..." Jane gasped.
She stumbled forward a few steps before collapsing to her knees, watching helplessly.
Arcs of lightning exploded around Thor.
Electricity danced wildly, crackling and hissing across the ground.
The very air was charged, buzzing with impossible power.
Then—
With a deafening BOOM, a charred but still powerful hand shot upward.
Fingers closed tightly around the descending hammer.
The moment his fingers closed, it was as if a dam had burst.
Lightning consumed Thor's body, engulfing him in radiant light.
The burned flesh was stripped away, replaced with new, stronger skin.
Muscles reformed, pulsing with divine power.
Armor, shining and majestic, materialized around him — not the old mortal garb, but the true raiment of Asgard's prince.
The hammer, Mjolnir, gleamed brighter than the sun.
"No," Loki whispered, horror dawning across his face.
"No! It's not fair!"
His entire body shook with rage and fear.
All his careful schemes — all his lies and betrayals — unraveling before his eyes.
Across the battlefield, civilians, agents, even Frost Giants paused.
The world itself seemed to hold its breath.
Thor rose slowly, standing tall and proud.
The storm roared in his veins.
Lightning danced along his fingers.
His blue eyes blazed with fury — and with new understanding.
Thor, the fallen prince, was gone.
In his place stood Thor, the God of Thunder.
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