"Hello, Thor Odinson."
"You can call me Blackheart."
The visitor was none other than Blackheart. He had sensed the energy fluctuations caused by Odin's banishment of Thor. Seizing the opportunity, he traversed the depths of Hell and arrived in Mexico to find the fallen god.
His purpose? Simple: to sway Thor to his side—or, more precisely, to corrupt him.
Thor's identity alone made such an endeavor worthwhile.
To Jane, Dr. Selvig, and Darcy, the name "Blackheart" sounded strange, almost like a nickname. Dr. Selvig was on the verge of muttering a disparaging remark when Thor raised his hand, signaling him to stop. Thor stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Blackheart, and asked in a deep, measured voice, "Are you a devil?"
The response, "You are a devil," sent a shiver down the spines of Jane, Selvig, and Darcy, their hearts pounding with unease.
What did this mean?
Watching the exchange between the man calling himself Blackheart and Thor, it became increasingly clear that everything Thor had said might be true. Was he really Thor, the God of Thunder from myth and legend, exiled to Earth by Odin?
Selvig opened his mouth, as if to speak, but after assessing the tense atmosphere, decided to stay silent.
Jane, meanwhile, wrestled with her emotions, her thoughts swirling in confusion.
Darcy, on the other hand, remained her straightforward self. She found the situation cool—very cool. A chance meeting with a handsome guy, who now turned out to be a literal mythical figure, was the highlight of her day.
The three humans had their own varied reactions, but Blackheart paid them no mind. His focus remained entirely on Thor. With a sly smile, he said, "Although the All-Father has stripped you of your divine power, your senses remain sharp."
"I've encountered many devil in my time," Thor replied, his tone measured but devoid of warmth. "And I would never forget their stench."
Devils were a broad category, encompassing countless beings across the Nine Realms. The fire giant Surtur, for instance, was an ancient demon of Muspelheim. Thor had crossed paths with many demons and devils throughout his life. Most left a poor impression, but there were exceptions—some had even become allies.
Thor had no immediate ill will toward Blackheart, especially since the latter seemed to have no hostile intent. Devoid of his divine power, Thor knew better than to antagonize the stranger.
"I believe I've heard of you," Thor said, his gaze steady. "You're the son of the one who rules Hell...?"
Thor's eyes remained fixed on Blackheart, his expression unreadable.
Blackheart was not surprised. His father, Mephisto, was renowned across many dimensions. It made sense that Thor, as the prince of Asgard, would be familiar with the name. Smiling slyly, he replied, "Yes. By human standards, I suppose you could call me a standard second-generation devil."
Thor's gaze remained steady as he retorted, "Have you forgotten that Midgard is the domain of Asgard?"
"Aha," Blackheart chuckled. "I think you'll find that Midgard, after gaining its own guardian, no longer considers itself subordinate to Asgard."
"Midgard has its own guardian?" Thor repeated, visibly confused. He rarely visited Midgard, which he considered the least significant of the Nine Realms. Its civilization was primitive and posed no threat to Asgard. The idea that Midgard had a guardian was foreign to him.
Blackheart hesitated before answering. "I think there's at least one. Maybe two or three," he said thoughtfully. He recalled his encounters with the wielder of Chaos Magic and another man—both formidable beings. Whether they officially guarded Earth, he couldn't say for certain. Still, their allegiance to humanity seemed natural.
Thor frowned, the revelation unsettling. "I haven't been here in centuries. It seems much has changed without my knowledge."
"Indeed," Blackheart said with a shrug.
Jane, Selvig, and Darcy continued to listen in silence. The more they heard, the more uneasy they became.
Thor, true to his straightforward nature, cut to the chase. "So, you still haven't explained your purpose here."
Blackheart's smile deepened, his tone dripping with subtle mockery. "As the noble prince of Asgard, surely you detest being stripped of your divine power and exiled to this... what did you call it? Barbaric and backward world?"
Thor's expression darkened. "Speak plainly, devil," he said curtly.
Unfazed, Blackheart laid out his proposal. "I can help you regain your divine power, restore your glory, and even aid you in ascending the throne of Asgard. But in exchange, I need your help."
Thor's brow furrowed, his expression resolute. "What is it you want my help with?"
Blackheart studied Thor's face and sensed resistance. It was clear the Asgardian was not easily tempted. After a moment's pause, he said, "I need you—and perhaps Asgard's forces—to help me overthrow my father's rule."
Thor's expression immediately shifted, his displeasure evident. "That is impossible. Your father, Mephisto, is the King of Hell. He and my father, Odin, are equals in power and stature. Were I to aid you, it would undoubtedly spark war between Hell and Asgard—a war that would lead to countless deaths."
Thor shook his head, his tone firm. "I will not bring that destruction upon my people or the Nine Realms, no matter my personal grievances. My answer is no."
Blackheart's smile faltered for the first time. It seemed his carefully crafted offer had fallen on deaf ears.
But that didn't mean Thor could hate Odin, let alone consider overthrowing his rule. To ascend to the throne by using Asgard as a bargaining chip? The cost was far too high, and it clashed with his sense of honor.
"You're a little different from what I imagined, Thor," Blackheart said, his tone calm despite the rejection. It wasn't surprising—after all, anyone with sense would see the imbalance in the transaction he proposed.
His offer was made with ulterior motives, of course, but it was worth a shot.
After a brief moment of thought, Blackheart smiled and said, "In that case, I'm willing to extend a hand in friendship. For this, I'll help you reclaim your glory."
Thor remained unshaken. His piercing gaze stayed on Blackheart as he replied solemnly, "You give me a bad feeling, devil. My mother once taught me that any free offering always comes with strings attached, for greater rewards later."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice firm. "You radiate danger, and I suspect your ambitions would use me as a conduit to spread into Asgard. There will be no friendship between us."
Blackheart sighed dramatically, his expression a mix of disappointment and feigned sorrow. "How tragic, Thor. It's such a pity that you would reject my offer of friendship."
But before Blackheart could say anything more, another voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding:
"I don't think so, Blackheart!"
...
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