Chapter 180: Captain Thor

Captain America, Steve Rogers, held an opinion completely opposite to Tony Stark's.

"He doesn't sound like he's lying," Steve reasoned. "And considering the future George has foreseen, it's not entirely impossible."

"Maybe the aliens planning to invade us are actually soldiers from Asgard," Banner suggested thoughtfully.

"Some myths are rooted in truth," he continued. "To ancient humans, our modern technology might as well have been magic or miracles. If Odin, Thor, and Loki were extraterrestrials, and Asgard an advanced alien civilization, it's possible they visited Earth during our early history, leaving behind the legends we know today."

"That makes sense," Tony admitted, visibly intrigued by Banner's analysis. "If that's the case, Loki leading an alien invasion of Earth in George's vision could be his plan to eliminate Thor, solidify his claim to the throne, and eventually dominate Earth."

Thor's expression darkened as he overheard their conversation, anger flaring in his eyes.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Loki would never try to kill me, nor would he invade Midgard!" Thor bellowed.

Tony shot Thor an incredulous look. "Are you serious, big guy? It's obvious your brother's been manipulating you this whole time. He likely orchestrated the Frost Giants' attack during your coronation and ensured Odin arrived just in time to save you. That way, you'd be exiled, and he could seize the throne. Isn't it obvious?"

Thor roared back, "Loki didn't manipulate me! I went to Jotunheim of my own will, and he even tried to dissuade me! Don't insult my brother again, or I'll thrash you, George or no George!"

Tony rolled his eyes. "If all gods are this dense, I don't think we need to worry about any alien invasions."

George stepped in, his tone calm but firm. "My mental abilities confirm he's telling the truth. Plus, I sense a powerful energy in him, similar to that of the hammer, though it's currently sealed. If he's truly Thor, we need to help him return to Asgard and prevent Loki from ascending the throne. That could stop the war between Asgard and Earth before it even starts."

George deliberately avoided correcting their misconceptions, finding it unnecessary. The ultimate goal remained the same: stop Loki, ensuring he ended up imprisoned in Asgard. Without Loki aiding Thanos, the Mad Titan would lose access to the Tesseract's space portal, preventing the invasion.

Thor, however, shook his head in despair. "Thank you, but you can't help me. Unless my father forgives me, I can't return to Asgard."

"We'll figure something out," George assured him, clapping his shoulder. Then he turned to the group. "Let's try lifting the hammer ourselves. If one of us can do it, we might help Thor regain his powers."

Intrigued, everyone agreed, curious about the mysterious hammer.

First up was Logan, the Wolverine. Gripping the handle with all his might, he pulled—but it didn't budge. Tony, still skeptical, gave it another go in his Iron Man suit, but the result was the same.

Banner and Betty, less optimistic, made half-hearted attempts before giving up. Banner wasn't keen on letting the Hulk try, and George didn't push the issue.

Last up was Steve Rogers, who approached the hammer to little fanfare. No one really expected anything—after all, Captain America's physical strength couldn't compare to the raw mechanical power of Tony's suit.

But George's eyes narrowed slightly, knowing Steve might just be worthy. If Odin truly remained in his Odinsleep, Steve could theoretically lift Mjolnir and temporarily wield Thor's power.

"Huh, it feels... light?" Steve remarked, surprised. Grasping Mjolnir, he accidentally yanked it too hard, almost losing his balance as he lifted it effortlessly.

"This power!" Steve exclaimed. Energy surged through him, and he instinctively swung the hammer toward the sky. A bolt of lightning answered, striking down from above.

"How is this possible?!" Thor cried out, his composure shattered. Seeing a mortal wield Mjolnir—and even summon lightning—was too much. Why would his father allow a mortal to lift the hammer, yet deny it to him?

"Give me back Mjolnir!" Thor roared, charging at Steve. Without hesitation, Steve handed the hammer over, seeing no reason to keep what clearly belonged to Thor.

Yet as soon as Thor touched the hammer, it clattered to the ground. No matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't lift it. Crushed, Thor slumped into silence.

"Well done, Captain!" George's eyes sparkled. Steve lifting Mjolnir solved a major problem: the impending threat of the Destroyer.

Crafted from Uru metal and imbued with Odin's power, the Destroyer was nearly invincible. Even under Loki's control, its destructive capabilities were immense. Only an artifact as powerful as Mjolnir could destroy it.

Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Loki wasn't handling the situation any better. After sending away the Warriors Three and Lady Sif, he used his magic to spy on Thor's exile.

To his utter shock, he witnessed Steve Rogers lift Mjolnir and wield its power with ease.

"A mortal?!" Loki's voice dripped with disbelief. "How could a mere mortal lift Mjolnir?!"