Home-Field Advantage

"Wow, I never thought Thor's Hammer would really find its destined owner..."

Sif looked conflicted.

Thor's Hammer sat on the table, which hadn't even wobbled. The hammer looked as light as a feather.

But she knew very well that no one but someone it recognized could lift it.

King Odin was the ruler of the Nine Realms!

Thinking of Thor's banishment and the fact that his fate was now unknown, she felt a jumble of emotions.

The Warriors Three might have seen things a little differently, but for the most part, they felt much the same as Sif.

The Crown Prince had been banished and had now met with some unknown misfortune. And now a new owner for Thor's Hammer had appeared. It even gave them a sense that this was fate.

It was all far too coincidental!

"So, what's the situation now? As you can see, I'm a sorcerer. I've been appointed Earth's next Guardian—oh, that's Midgard to you. I came here after divining that a crisis was unfolding."

Volstagg, who had already put his doubts about Tao Yu to rest and even begun to admire him, furrowed his brow at Tao Yu's formal introduction.

His rounded belly jiggled as he spoke.

"Oh, my friend, you may not quite understand how things work in Asgard. Midgard is also under our protection. We—or, more precisely, the all-powerful King of Asgard—are the true guardians of the Nine Realms."

"I think the Sorcerer Supreme and King Odin must have an understanding of their own. Perhaps you should ask them about it."

Tao Yu didn't believe the Ancient One and Odin had never met. The Ancient One had always kept her eyes on other dimensions, while Odin was merely the Nine Realms' ruler in name. Both sides had more than enough reason to