I am Thor

"Asgard already possesses the Tesseract. Having two Infinity Stones in close proximity might not be wise. I think the Aether should be entrusted to someone capable of safeguarding it," Vostagg suggested in the grand hall, a sentiment that many seemed to agree with. In a way, his reasoning was sound.

"However," Loki immediately retorted, "the power of the Aether is extremely dangerous. If it fell into the hands of another malevolent race like the Dark Elves, they could use it to grow stronger, creating potential threats for the future."

"That's why we need someone both capable and trustworthy to guard it—like Taneleer Tivan, the Collector," someone proposed, sparking further debate.

The argument seemed endless until Thor raised his voice to interrupt. Holding the Aether, he said, "The Infinity Stones are a temptation to many, whether there's one or two of them here. Even if we send it away, there will be others seeking to collect it—such as Thanos, the tyrant."

"With the Aether, there are already four Infinity Stones within the Nine Realms," he continued. "Whether the Aether remains here or not, Thanos will come for it eventually. Sending it away would only make his goal easier. The Collector may be powerful, but he is no match for Thanos."

Thor's words settled the matter, leaving no room for further objections. In the end, the Aether and Tesseract were both stored together in Asgard's palace vault.

Though Asgard may resemble medieval Europe, it is actually a highly advanced civilization, not the autocratic monarchy many might assume. Even with Odin's absence, there is little unrest. This is why Odin holds Thor in high regard—not just for his strength in battle. Though Loki has high political acumen, it doesn't carry much advantage here in Asgard.

However, things have been different recently. Envoys from all over the universe have been visiting Asgard, and Thor can't possibly handle them all himself. Frustrated, he finally decided to hand over these duties.

At this point, Loki has proven to be quite useful.

"My dear brother, are you really leaving all this to me?" Loki asked, staring at the towering stack of reports in front of him. Most were about diplomatic relations with other planets, while others concerned Asgard's post-war economic recovery.

"Didn't you always dream of being a king?" Thor replied with a smirk. "This is for your benefit—to let you experience the joy of ruling."

"And you're not worried I might cause some chaos?"

Thor pulled out a small device. "This," he explained, "attaches to your neck and can't be removed. Pressing this remote triggers a hundred thousand volts. I'll give it to Mother, so if you feel like rebelling, just know it's ready and waiting."

"Got it from the Grandmaster in Sakaar…."

Loki almost flipped the table in frustration.

With Loki handling the mundane affairs, Thor felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders. In a world where a single person's strength could rival entire armies, conventional power often felt like an illusion; real power lay in strength. What use is a throne without force to back it up?

Just like in history, when Loki pretended to be Odin, he might have gathered some followers and even replaced Heimdall with Skurge. But as soon as Thor returned, Skurge was demoted to a mere janitor.

To be honest, if Thor arrived on most planets, his presence alone could bring entire civilizations to their knees. He could enjoy the privileges of a king without the responsibilities. It was an enticing thought.

Of course, Earth would be an exception—far too well-guarded by a certain god.

With Asgard's affairs resolved, Thor turned his attention back to Earth. It had been over a month since he left, and by now, HYDRA's human experimentation should be nearly complete, right?

At Avengers headquarters on Earth, once the Stark Tower, the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. were in discussion.

"Before Thor left, he warned me that the superhumans in Sokovia are incredibly powerful. Rushing in could be risky," Nick Fury said seriously.

"Still, he's been gone for more than a month. Who knows what might have delayed him?" Stark replied, a hint of impatience in his tone. "Just because Thor isn't here, does that mean we can't act? Does Iron Man mean so little?"

Everyone turned to Nebula, who was attending in Natasha's stead. Although Natasha had a close relationship with Thor, she avoided asking too much to prevent any appearance of favoritism.

After a pause, Nebula spoke up. "Half a month ago, His Highness sent a message that they were preparing for battle—against a race of Dark Elves from another realm…."

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