Thor, My Disciple!

Thor cried in the room, and no matter how much Jane comforted him, it was useless.

"It's all because of me..."

He sobbed, covering his face.

Jane, feeling heartbroken, gently held Thor's head and stroked it.

"No, it's not your fault."

...

After a while, Lynch pushed the door open and walked in.

"If I told you Odin isn't dead, would you stop crying?"

Lynch really couldn't take it anymore.

Crying is one thing, but crying while holding your girlfriend?

A muscular man crying in the arms of a delicate woman—it was starting to look like they were engaging in some odd romantic activity!

For his own mental health, Lynch had to step in and stop it.

Thor's emotions were clearly in the right place; any more of this, and it would leave him with psychological trauma.

Hearing Lynch's words, Thor froze, tears still in his eyes as he looked at him.

"Didn't you say my father's life was coming to an end? How do you know he's still alive?"

Lynch sighed and walked up to Thor.

"Because Loki's been lying to you, it's that simple."

"What?..."

Thor's expression darkened, not knowing what to say.

With his brain, he could already guess what was going on.

After all, Thor knew his cunning brother all too well.

Lynch patted Thor on the shoulder and said, "Wanna grab a drink?"

"Sure."

...

At the bar.

The table was already piled high with empty bottles, and Thor, his face flushed, was finishing one bottle and opening another.

He was already quite drunk, swaying and insisting Lynch drink with him.

"Lyn, you drink too! Come on!"

Lynch picked up his large, dark glass and sipped his cola.

Drink alcohol?

Not happening.

Thor was so drunk that he wouldn't notice if Lynch was drinking air.

Downing half a bottle of expensive liquor in one go, Thor complained, his words slurred, "Your Earth liquor is terrible!"

Then, as if recalling something, a drunken grin spread across his face.

"Our Asgardian liquor is much better... I remember the best drink I ever had was when Loki and I stole my father's treasured wine as kids, that taste..."

As he spoke, his voice grew quieter and quieter, until he could no longer continue, replaced by sobbing.

"Why has everything changed so much in the blink of an eye?"

Thor took another deep swig from the bottle.

"Everything changes with time, and now it's your time to change too."

Lynch thought to himself.

People say superheroes have it rough, and Thor—whom Lynch considered the powerhouse of the Avengers, the strongest man—was epic-level tragic.

Both his parents were dead, his sister wanted to kill him, his brother schemed against him constantly, his homeland was destroyed, half his friends were killed by Thanos... even his girlfriend disappeared in the end.

By the end of Avengers: Endgame, this man who once carried the aura of wealth, nobility, and power was left with just a storm axe, wandering space with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

"Are those prophecies you spoke of... true?"

Thor asked Lynch through gritted teeth.

Lynch nodded.

"I've seen that future."

Thor hunched over, fists clenched tightly, asking in frustration, "Is there no way to change it?"

Lynch shook his head.

"Even if you regain your powers, there's nothing you can do. Are you even a tenth as strong as Odin?"

"No..."

Thor started to sob again.

Lynch would bet that Thor had cried more in this single day than in all his movie appearances combined.

It seemed that knowing everything but being unable to do anything was more painful than losing it all.

Suddenly, Thor looked up, his gaze intense as he stared at Lynch.

"You were able to lift Mjolnir, which my father sealed. You must be very powerful, and you know so much about us—you must be very ancient, right?"

He grabbed Lynch's shoulders and shook him vigorously.

"You can help me, right? You must have a way to help me, right?..."

"Calm down!"

Lynch grabbed Thor's arms, holding him down tightly.

This guy had lost his powers but still had such strength—how ridiculous!

"I can help you, but I can't change your fate."

It was true—Lynch could help Thor.

He could help him deal with his brother, but Thor could probably handle that on his own.

But changing Thor's destiny?

Lynch couldn't do that!

Thor's father Odin was nearing the end of his lifespan—what could Lynch do?

Was he supposed to pull out a life-extending pill?

He didn't know how to make pills.

Lynch's abilities only allowed him to take Odin out early, not prolong his life.

Prevent the destruction of Asgard?

That would mean fighting Hela, who was almost infinitely powerful within Asgard!

Lynch wasn't sure he could beat Hela on Earth, let alone in Asgard!

To defeat Hela without destroying Asgard?

Lynch thought, "I don't know how to do that. Better go find the Ancient One."

The Ancient One had the mirror dimension; she could trap Hela in there, cutting her off from Asgard's power and saving Asgard.

And as for breaking up with his girlfriend—Lynch, being a die-hard bachelor, wasn't about to give relationship advice!

Just go for it?

Love her so much you're willing to go to jail for her?

Learned that, did you?

Kidding aside, there was no way Lynch could fix Thor's relationship troubles.

As for his mother's death, Thanos' snap—Lynch could intervene, but the outcome wasn't guaranteed.

Who knew what the future held?

"Just help me... that's enough..."

Thor seemed more and more drunk, his body going limp as Lynch held him. His speech was becoming incoherent.

"I'll help you, but first, you need to change yourself."

Otherwise, how could Lynch help him without his hammer?

"Yes... yes, then you... you teach me... how to get... stronger."

Stronger?

Lynch thought, "I get stronger by absorbing sunlight, could you do that?"

"I have a system, you don't."

"No, I don't know how to..."

"I knew it..."

Thor said, staggering as he spoke.

"You don't want... to teach me... because... we have nothing... to do with each other, right..."

Don't think drunk people lack logic. In fact, they often have very sharp logic, and Thor, in his drunken state, clearly zeroed in on Lynch.

Then, swaying, he suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud.

His face twisted, tears welling up in his reddened eyes as he solemnly swore:

"I, Thor, prince of Asgard and god of thunder, swear to serve you for life, as long as you promise to change my fate..."

Lynch was dumbfounded.

What was Thor doing?

This proud man, who bore the name of a god, kneeling before me, swearing to be my servant?

A servant? Maid?

No way, that's disgusting!

"Get up..."

Lynch quickly pulled Thor to his feet and threw him onto the couch.

Thor still wasn't giving up, struggling to get up and kneel again.

This is too much!

A thousand-year-old god kneeling to me—how much life would that cost me?

With no other choice, Lynch had to restrain Thor and reluctantly agreed to his strange request.

"Fine, you'll be my disciple then. Think of me as your teacher, okay?"

Lynch didn't really know what to do, just trying to pacify Thor as best he could.

Before long, with Lynch's promise, Thor slowly drifted off to sleep.

With no other options, Lynch called a car to take Thor to Jane's place.

Watching Thor sleep on Jane's bed, Lynch sighed to himself.

Good student, your teacher can only help you this much.