Sebastian Shaw sat across from Thor, their lunch spread out on the villa’s dining table. Five large pizzas dominated the scene, Sebastian nibbling through a third of one while Thor demolished the rest, washing it down with hearty gulps of beer.

Watching Thor’s enthusiastic appetite, Sebastian couldn’t help but muse that, at this rate, a fat version of the Thor might soon emerge, far ahead of schedule.

His phone buzzed, Tony’s name flashing on the screen. Sebastian answered swiftly. “Tony, any updates?”

Tony’s voice was taut, stripped of its usual levity. “The Cosmic Cube’s gone. The thief called himself Loki. He’s got four subordinates, including a mind-controlled Hawkeye, whose skills are way beyond human.

S.H.I.E.L.D.’s footage helped us Identify two others: Samuel Stern, a professor missing for three years, and Carl Creel, a New York underground boxer gone off the grid six months ago. Both have superpowers—Stern’s got a deformed head, likely tied to enhanced intellect; Creel’s abilities are less clear.”

Sebastian’s eyes flicked to Thor, who paused mid-sip at Loki’s name. “Including Hawkeye, Loki has a total of four men under his command. So what about the fourth one? What’s his situation?” he asked.

“Not a ‘his,’ a ‘her,'” Tony corrected. “We ran facial recognition but got nothing. Her attire’s similar to Loki’s—probably Asgardian.”

Sebastian nodded at Thor, signaling calm, and continued, “Tony, can you send me the surveillance footage? I might recognize Loki’s female ally.”

“Give me a sec,” Tony replied. Moments later, Sebastian’s phone pinged with the video.

He opened the file, zooming in on a clear shot of the woman. Her striking features and green attire were unmistakable. “Thor, take a look. Know her?”

Thor leaned over, studying the image. His expression hardened instantly. “That’s Amora, the Enchantress, an Asgardian witch. She’s a formidable sorceress, highly skilled in magic. Rumors of her disappearance circulated before I came to Earth. I never imagined she’d defect to Loki’s side.”

Sebastian ended the call with Tony, some details best kept private for now. “What can she do?”

Thor cleared his throat, a touch of unease in his voice. “Amora excels at charming men. Her mental power is near-unstoppable—few in Asgard can resist her charm.

But don’t underestimate her. Beyond charm, she wields powerful spells. She’s a dangerous foe. My advice? Find a female warrior to counter her. Men… struggle against her.”

Sebastian’s lips curved in a knowing half-smile. “Charm’s no issue for me, but it could be trouble for you.”

Thor’s cough betrayed his embarrassment, confirming Sebastian’s suspicion. Their year in Asgard had forged a deep friendship, and Sebastian’s sharp mind often unraveled what Thor missed. That Thor had once fallen to Amora’s wiles was no surprise.

“Ahem,” Thor muttered, then shifted to a serious tone. “Enough about her. You said Loki has the Cosmic Cube?”

Sebastian nodded gravely. “He does.”

Thor stood, his resolve unshakable. “Then we must stop him before he does something catastrophic.”

“He’s already fled with the Tesseract,” Sebastian pointed out. “Any way to track him now?”

“Not yet,” Thor admitted, “but Asgard has someone who can.”

“Heimdall?” Sebastian guessed.

“Exactly,” Thor confirmed. “I’ll return to Asgard, consult Heimdall, and rally allies. Loki’s built his team—Amora, Stern, Creel, Hawkeye. I need my own comrades to face him.”

Sebastian leaned back, considering. “Fine, but one condition: don’t summon the Bifrost near my villa. I’d rather avoid unwanted attention. That’d be a hassle.”

As he spoke, Sebastian subtly shook his left hand. A flicker of flame-like light danced across his fingers, and the Ring of Harnessing Power materialized, gleaming faintly.

With a casual gesture, he conjured a shimmering portal, its edges crackling with arcane energy. “This leads to a deserted area outside New York. Summon the Bifrost there. Also, Earth’s forces— S.H.I.E.L.D.—are mobilizing against Loki. If you want to reach him before they do, you’d better move fast.”

Thor grinned, clapping Sebastian’s shoulder. “Understood. I’ll see you soon, my friend.”

With that, Thor stepped through the portal, emerging in a barren stretch of New York wilderness. He raised Mjolnir, calling out to Heimdall. The sky roared, and the Bifrost’s radiant beam descended, whisking him back to Asgard, leaving Earth behind.

————-

The portal’s shimmering edges dissolved, leaving Sebastian Shaw alone at the dining table. His appetite unsated, he reached for another slice of pizza, the remnants of Thor’s feast still scattered across the table. But before he could take a bite, a sharp knock echoed from the door.

Sebastian rose, his senses alert, and opened the door to find Tony Stark and Happy Hogan standing on the threshold, the late afternoon light casting long shadows behind them.

“Why are you here?” Sebastian asked, stepping aside to let them in.

Tony strode into the villa with his usual swagger, Happy trailing behind. His eyes swept the room, noting the absence of a certain Asgardian. “Where’s that costumed god of yours?” Tony quipped, a trace of skepticism in his tone.

Sebastian closed the door, his expression neutral. “Thor’s gone back to Asgard to track Loki and gather allies.”

Tony snorted, his lips curling. “Runs fast, doesn’t he?” His disdain for Thor was palpable, rooted in his belief that Asgard bore responsibility for Loki and Amora’s chaos on Earth.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “He’ll be back soon. But you didn’t come just to gripe about Thor, did you?”

Tony shrugged, sauntering to the kitchen. He plucked a bottle of wine from the refrigerator, poured himself a glass, and took a leisurely sip, his casual demeanor belying the gravity of his visit. Leaning against the counter, he fixed Sebastian with a pointed look. “I’m here on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s behalf, Sebastian.

They want you to join the Avengers.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep