Drift Of The Multiverse: [Marvel] [Resident Evil] [DC] [Bleach] [DB]

"Someone broke in?"

Coulson's communication didn't exclude Ethan or Tony, and even if he wanted to, he couldn't exactly hide it from them. So, he allowed them to listen in.

This time, events had already deviated from the original plot. In the initial timeline, Coulson had no idea about the hammer's origin. When Thor stormed in, effortlessly taking down agents like slicing through butter, Coulson decided to stand back and observe what this mysterious individual was up to.

Now, however, things were different. With a clearer understanding of the hammer's material composition and the powerful magic energy surrounding it, Coulson's focus had shifted. Instead of sitting back and watching a random stranger attempt to lift the hammer, his priority was ensuring the artifact was safely secured and transported to S.H.I.E.L.D. for further study.

So, he immediately ordered his agents to arrest the intruder. Letting someone casually waltz in and attempt to claim the hammer was not on his agenda.

Ethan, however, intervened. "Let him in."

"Pardon?" Coulson blinked in surprise.

Ethan gestured for him to stand down. "Let that person through."

Fury had chosen Coulson to interact with Ethan and Tony for a reason. Coulson's professionalism, willingness to adapt, and people skills were unmatched. His ability to make concessions when appropriate helped him maintain positive relationships, which was why, after his death, the fractured Avengers could finally unite.

Taking Ethan's request into account, Coulson revised his order. The agents stepped aside, ceasing their attempts to stop Thor. The reckless, naïve Asgardian wasted no time, charging straight to the center of the camp where the group stood gathered around Mjolnir.

Thor came to an abrupt halt upon seeing the hammer surrounded by people. He looked over the group, his expression cautious and confused. When he noticed Tony in his steel armor and Hawkeye in full combat gear, he assumed they were adversaries sent to block his path. Instinctively, he took a fighting stance.

"Wait," Ethan called out, stepping forward.

In Thor's eyes, Ethan was a small, unimpressive young man. Still, the stranger seemed calm and non-threatening.

Ethan spoke again, "I know who you are, and I know why you're here. There's no need to be on edge. We're not your enemies."

Thor stared at him, surprised. He had spent his time on Earth assuming no one here knew anything about Asgard. To the Asgardians, Earth was a distant and primitive realm, forgotten and irrelevant. It had been ages since Asgard last made its presence known here, so Thor had long since stopped introducing himself to the mortals he encountered. If someone asked, he'd answer, but unsolicited self-introductions usually led to him being dismissed as insane.

"You know who I am?" Thor asked, narrowing his eyes.

Reckless though he was, Thor wasn't stupid. After so many people had ignored or ridiculed his identity, hearing someone claim to know him raised his suspicions.

"Yes, I know who you are and why you've come," Ethan replied calmly. He gestured to the hammer lying on the ground. "You're here for that."

"Yes," Thor said, nodding. "That's mine. I've come to retrieve it and return to my homeland."

Thor refrained from mentioning Asgard or his father, Odin. If this young man truly knew who he was, he wouldn't need those details spelled out. This would also serve as a way to test whether Ethan was genuine or merely bluffing.

"I hate to disappoint you," Ethan said, "but you won't be able to lift that hammer. Not right now."

Thor's expression hardened. "Are you going to stop me?"

Ethan sighed, exasperated. Communicating with someone as direct and battle-hardened as Thor could be a chore. Instead of arguing, he simply stepped aside and motioned for Thor to try lifting the hammer himself.

"See for yourself."

Thor hesitated for a moment, then nodded in acknowledgment. He walked toward the hammer, but before reaching it, Coulson stepped in.

"I don't know who you are, but you're claiming that hammer belongs to you. Can you at least tell us what it is?" Coulson asked, blocking Thor's path. He had overheard Ethan's earlier comments but wanted to hear directly from the stranger.

Thor glanced at Coulson. Though the man wasn't tall or physically imposing, there was strength in his gaze—the kind only a true warrior possessed. Thor found it mildly impressive.

"It's called Mjolnir. It's my weapon," Thor said simply.

"Mjolnir?" Tony rubbed his chin. "That name sounds familiar…" A moment later, Jarvis chimed in with a timely reminder, jogging Tony's memory. "Mjolnir. The hammer of Thor from Norse mythology?"

"Yes. I am Thor!" Thor declared proudly.

"…"

The atmosphere in the room froze. Everyone's reactions varied.

Tony looked as though he'd swallowed something bitter. The idea of dealing with someone who thought they were a mythological god was too much. Then again, considering the legendary King Arthur and Ethan's magical prowess, encountering the Norse god of thunder didn't seem all that impossible anymore.

Coulson and Hawkeye, on the other hand, had simpler responses: they both assumed the man might not be entirely sane. Arthur, meanwhile, studied Thor curiously, comparing him to other "divine" beings he had encountered, such as Diana.

"Well," Ethan said, breaking the silence, "why don't you give it a try and see if you can reclaim your hammer?"

Thor nodded and approached the hammer. He seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of reclaiming his weapon. However, the moment his hand wrapped around Mjolnir's handle, his expression darkened.

Something felt… wrong.

In the past, wielding the hammer had felt as natural as moving his own body. Now, the hammer felt foreign—resistant, even. It was as though the weapon itself was rejecting him.

"This… this is impossible!" Thor exclaimed.

He tried with all his might to lift the hammer, but no matter how much strength he exerted, Mjolnir remained firmly rooted to the ground. It didn't even tremble under his efforts.

"NO!" Thor cried out, his voice filled with anguish.

The realization hit him like a thunderbolt: Mjolnir had abandoned him. His father, Odin, had disowned him. His identity as Thor, God of Thunder, had been stripped away. In his mind, he was now just an ordinary man, condemned to live on Earth.

Ethan watched Thor's despair with an unimpressed expression. He knew better.

If Odin truly intended to disown Thor, he would have removed the power of thunder entirely from his son's body, a feat that wasn't easy and might not even be possible. Moreover, if Odin had truly abandoned Thor, he wouldn't have tossed Mjolnir onto Earth within Thor's reach. The hammer's placement was clearly meant to offer Thor a chance at redemption.

"This whole situation screams 'tough love,'" Ethan muttered, watching as Coulson's agents escorted the defeated Thor away. Thor didn't resist, his willpower sapped.

Tony, looking pale, walked over to Ethan. "That guy… he's really Thor?"

"If it's not him, it's a perfect imitation," Ethan replied.

"There are actual gods in this world?" Tony asked, still trying to wrap his head around the idea.

"If I took you and myself back a thousand years, Tony, what do you think people would call us?" Ethan countered.

Tony immediately understood. "You're saying that these 'gods' are just… beings from higher civilizations?"

"Higher civilizations, yes. But some beings do possess lifeforms that far surpass human limitations," Ethan explained.

Coulson, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "So… which kind is this Thor? A higher lifeform? A member of a more advanced civilization?"

"Asgardians are both," Ethan replied. "They're far beyond humans in terms of biology and civilization. Their claims to godhood aren't baseless."

"So… he's an alien with advanced technology and a higher lifeform?" Coulson clarified.

"If that explanation helps you sleep at night, sure," Ethan said with a shrug.

Coulson frowned. "Are there many beings like them in the universe?"

Ethan smiled—a smile that wasn't exactly reassuring. "Do you know why I don't think much of your organization, Coulson? It's because you S.H.I.E.L.D. agents act like you have everything under control, like you understand how the world works. But in reality, you're like a bird trapped in a cage, completely unaware of the vast sky beyond."

Ethan had clearly been holding that comment back for some time. While he had wanted to deliver it to Fury directly, Fury had wisely avoided confronting Ethan alone, always sending Coulson in his stead.

And now, poor Coulson had to take the hit on Fury's behalf.

***

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