Chapter 97: The Legend of Doctor Strange

In a dark corner of the universe, a deep, ominous voice resounded.

"Earthlings are far from as weak as we imagined."

"They're resilient, defiant, and unwilling to be ruled."

"And worst of all, they have an Asgardian on their side. He has offended us more than once."

A large, burly figure sat up, slowly turning with a sinister smile spreading across his purple face.

"He won't have a chance to be arrogant much longer. Odin is aging, and when he's gone, Thor will pay for his insolence."

"Additionally, it appears that the traitor, Nebula, is hiding on Earth as well."

"Let her be. She, too, will pay the price for her betrayal."

 "Cheers!"

The Avengers gathered in the banquet hall of Stark Tower to celebrate their victory. Originally, Tony had suggested a nearby Shawarma joint, but Thor recommend something else.

As they relaxed, Thor lifted his glass. "Tomorrow morning, I'm taking Loki back to Asgard for judgment. What's next for everyone?"

"Oh, what else can I do but cry in secret," Natasha joked, pretending to wipe away a tear, though her tone was filled with mock frustration.

Thor chuckled. "Come on, everyone knows you're the Black Widow, a legend in your own right!" Natasha rolled her eyes, smirking.

Jane Foster chimed in, resting her chin in her hand, "There's a rare celestial phenomenon happening soon. Once you leave, I can finally get some research done." She flashed Thor a playful grin.

Tony raised his glass. "I promised Pepper that after all this, I'd finally take some time off from the suit and spend it with her."

Thor looked thoughtful, then asked, "Have you ever thought about removing the shrapnel from your chest? The reactor keeps you alive, but it consumes more energy to power the suit. Surely you don't plan on living with it forever?"

Tony's smile faded, and he shook his head. "I've thought about it, believe me. But the shrapnel is deeply embedded and fragmented. It would be a risky, intricate procedure, and most doctors won't take the chance."

Thor thought for a moment, then reached for his phone. "You need the best surgeon. And I think I know just the one." He dialed.

"Hello, Dr. Palmer?"

"Yes? Is this… Thor?" a woman's voice replied, sounding surprised.

"It's me. I have a question: is there a surgeon named Strange at your hospital?"

"Are you talking about Dr. Stephen Strange? He's one of our top surgeons. His skills are exceptional, but he's still relatively unknown. How did you hear of him?"

"Let's just say he has the chance to make his name known worldwide. If he succeeds, everyone will know who he is."

Dr. Palmer hesitated, intrigued. "May I ask who the patient is?"

Thor grinned. "Tony Stark. Is Iron Man famous enough?"

When he hung up, Stark raised an eyebrow. "Did you say his name was… Strange? Who is this guy? I've never heard of him."

Thor laughed. "Trust me, if anyone can help you, it's him. Though I'll warn you—he has a bit of a temper and an ego to match. Sort of like you used to be. And, unlike me, he's not exactly known for his patience."

"Oh, sure," Tony scoffed. "And since when are you easygoing?"

Thor recalled the last time he had spoken to Dr. Christine Palmer. She had treated Jane during her coma, and though he hadn't thought much of it then, he remembered her handing him a card with her full name.

It hadn't seemed important at the time, but Dr. Palmer is a colleague of none other than Stephen Strange—future Sorcerer Supreme, master of the Mystic Arts, and appointed successor of the Ancient One. Aside from his remarkable magical abilities, Strange's medical skills were equally renowned. In the future, he would even handle cases as complex as War Machine's spinal injury. Thor couldn't help but marvel at the coincidence, wondering if fate had a hand in bringing Strange into Tony's life.

As the night wound down, the Avengers, now full and content, sat together watching the evening news.

The anchor appeared on screen, saying, "While this alien invasion caused significant losses, this team of heroes—the Avengers—has given people hope and a reason to celebrate."

The screen switched to a montage of street interviews.

"I love you, Thor!" a blonde woman screamed into the camera..

"Oh my god, I met Captain America! I want to marry him!" squealed a young woman on screen. Steve blushed, feeling his true love for Bucky exposed once again.

Another clip showed an ecstatic bystander. "We thought we were done for, then this Hulk showed up! He's incredible! I used to think he was just a monster, but I see him as a hero now!"

Bruce Banner was visibly taken aback, feeling the Hulk inside him warm with pride at the unexpected praise.

Finally, a stern-faced politician appeared. "These so-called 'superheroes' have left the city in ruins. They caused this damage, yet they just walk away. I believe they should be held accountable for their actions!"

The Avengers fell silent, sobered by the sharp criticism.

Thor's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the screen.

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