Eve of Change

Three days later.

The existence of Asgard and the brutal war between extraterrestrial civilizations sparked widespread discussion and repercussions across the world. The massive public debate and the responses of various nations became the focus of attention.

Yet amid this upheaval sweeping the globe, the first to bear the brunt of it was a previously unknown female astronomer.

Miss Jane Foster, who worked for Umbrella, had published several papers long ago expounding her unorthodox, seemingly absurd astronomical theories—ideas once dismissed by mainstream academia as nonsense, but now thoroughly proven true.

The obscure nobody once mocked by others had transformed into a rising scientific star. Standing in the White House briefing room, Jane still had not fully processed it. Below her sat Department of Defense generals, the president’s closest advisers, and the Secretary of State—figures many people might never meet in their entire lives—quietly seated like students.

"Either the world or I must be crazy." Jane rubbed her forehead.

Everything had happened too fast, almost unbelievably so. She had originally been preparing to leave for London, England, to observe astronomical phenomena, but S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Black-Suited Agents had brought her directly to the White House, the center of power in the country.

She had secretly called Daisy, hoping Daisy’s wealthy boyfriend could help. She had turned to Harry Osborn because the Red Queen had told her that Sean was not in New York at the moment. He had left for an Arctic expedition a week ago and cut off contact with the outside world.

After her brief encounter in New Mexico, Jane had no favorable impression whatsoever of those Black-Suited Agents. Only after being approached by all sides for help did she understand that everything stemmed from Asgard.

The entire world was seeking more information about Asgard. The global broadcast three days ago had abruptly ended after the Golden Sentinel and Thanos left together. No one knew the outcome of that war, nor did they know whether alien spacecraft might appear beyond this blue planet at any moment.

As if reliving the Cold War of the last century, a tense and oppressive atmosphere spread across the globe. The shadow of war hung over humanity’s heads. Ordinary people might not have felt it deeply, but those standing at the top of the pyramid, the powerful figures who determined the course of the world, had all begun to act.

As a global special organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. naturally faced questioning and demands from the World Security Council. Fury had no choice but to report Asgard’s existence and the limited information they possessed, along with Miss Jane Foster, the astronomer who had come into close contact with Asgardian civilization.

"Asgard is an ancient civilization. It is said that they descended upon this planet when Earth was still in the primitive age of tribal savagery. This is also the true origin of Norse Mythology…"

Jane began recounting what she knew. In truth, most of it had been voluntarily told to her during her contact with Thor. As for that Asgardian Prince, she had no idea how he was doing now.

"According to the Asgardian worldview, they believe that nine realms exist within the Milky Way, connected by the branches of Yggdrasil—the World Tree. Earth is called Midgard, and we are known as Midgardians."

"What obvious differences are there between them and us?" a Department of Defense general asked.

"Asgardians have organ systems broadly similar to ours. The differences lie more at the microscopic level. For example, they age slowly, possess strong regenerative abilities, rarely suffer physical degeneration, and have low fertility… It is said that a trained warrior’s body density can reach three times that of a human’s."

Jane paused briefly before continuing, "According to the records of Norse Mythology, Asgard truly did leave traces on Earth long ago. They possessed advanced spatial technology and had reached humanity’s current technological level thousands of years ago."

"But what is worth considering is that Asgardians have not been governed by economic or political activity as we have. They have retained more of a medieval character, such as traditional hereditary monarchy, using force to maintain order in surrounding regions, and lacking developed currency exchange and a complete industrial system…"

"That sounds like a regression of civilization," the Secretary of State said with a frown.

It sounded like the life of ancient Norsemen. Judging from the global broadcast footage, Asgard’s technological level was quite strange. They possessed advanced spatial transportation, built space sailboats and energy cannons, and had energy weapons, yet their methods of warfare remained stuck in the Middle Ages. Or rather, they lacked weapons of mass destruction, which was why they had been steadily driven back before the Chitauri army.

"No civilization is perfect. Take the once-brilliant Mayan civilization—they did not even have a basic prototype of the wheel, such as a rolling log. Perhaps Asgard is the same. They possess powerful bodies, but their technological and social development has stagnated," Jane said, shaking her head.

She had once discussed this issue with Sean. He believed Asgard had entered the twilight of its civilizational development and could only rely on past accumulation to maintain the status quo.

"Then how do you explain magic, Miss Foster? You mentioned that word more than once in your report," one of the president’s advisers asked.

"Do you know the concept of Tacit Knowledge?" Jane asked in return.

It was proposed by Michael Polanyi: human knowledge came in two forms. What people usually called knowledge could be expressed through written language, maps, and mathematical formulas. That was only one form. The other could not be systematically articulated, such as certain knowledge concerning one’s own actions.

If the former was regarded as explicit knowledge, then the latter could be called Tacit Knowledge.

The most typical form of Tacit Knowledge was "language." Most people would never fully understand all the grammatical rules of the language they spoke, yet that did not hinder them from using it proficiently.

Take bats, for example. They used sonar to fly and hunt. Humans found this ability astonishing. Even now, the radar systems created through humanity’s collective ingenuity still lagged behind bats’ innate sonar in many respects. This was a form of "Tacit Knowledge," born from natural evolution and unrelated to intelligence itself.

For Thor, the divine power within his body was much the same. He could control and wield it effortlessly, as though it were instinct, while to humans, it was a scientific principle difficult to explain.

Perhaps this Asgardian Prince could not even solve high school math problems or understand electromagnetic induction, but that did not prevent him from commanding thunder and lightning.

After two hours of briefing and questions, Jane provided detailed information. At the very least, it allowed many people present to form a basic outline of Asgardian civilization.

When she walked out of the White House carrying a large stack of documents, dark clouds had gathered overhead, and a fine rain began to fall quietly.

The world was about to undergo tremendous change. The thought flashed through Jane’s mind.

Asgard.

The supreme realm once regarded by the Nine Realms as the domain of the gods had now become a field of collapsed ruins. Amid broken walls and shattered structures, warfires burned through magnificent golden buildings. Even the celestial palace standing atop the mountain had not escaped disaster.

Silent grief and indignation filled the skies above the nation. For the first time, the naturally brave Asgardians had suffered a crushing defeat. They had driven out the Dark Elves ten thousand years ago and defeated the Frost Giants a thousand years ago. Never had they tasted the pain of defeat.

After Odin inherited the throne, he had led his legions in conquest across the Nine Realms, unstoppable in every direction. He had earned supreme glory and brilliant victories, allowing Asgard to call itself the protector of the Nine Realms.

But the Chitauri army’s invasion and the arrival of Thanos, the Cosmic Overlord, had crushed all of Asgard’s pride and honor beneath their feet, grinding them into the mud!

God King Odin had been gravely wounded, Queen Frigga had sacrificed herself, and Thor had fallen into despair… The entire nation was plunged into mourning. Had the Black Order and Chitauri army not fled in panic at the last moment, the name Asgard might have been erased completely.

Thor entered the palace carrying his war hammer, grief etched across his resolute face. Just yesterday, he had held his mother’s funeral. A small boat carrying Frigga’s belongings had sailed toward the abyss beneath the World Tree. His weakened father had fired the flaming arrow, setting the vessel alight and carrying away their longing.

The entire nation mourned.

They mourned not only the fallen queen, but also the family and friends they had lost. Their peaceful paradise had been burned by war, and the flames of hatred surged ever higher.

"Father."

Thor knelt beneath the throne and looked up at the King of Asgard. The old man, once imposing and majestic, leaned against his seat, his breathing weak.

As he stared at that face covered in white hair and deep wrinkles, Thor had never felt so clearly that his father was old, no longer able to lead Asgard forward with all his strength.

"Is Thanos dead?" Odin asked softly.

The Black Order and the Chitauri army had suddenly departed. It was surely closely connected to the Cosmic Overlord. Who had won that earth-shattering, terrifying battle?

"I don’t know. Heimdall only saw them reach the edge of the Nine Realms." Thor shook his head. "That desolate planet collapsed and shattered. Other than that, there was nothing."

"Time is the greatest enemy."

Odin sighed. If he had not grown old and his strength had not declined, how could he have suffered such a crushing defeat?

He beckoned Thor over, calling his eldest son before the throne. Then he said in a deep voice, "Asgard needs to change. It has stood still for too long. It is time for us to establish new ties with the outside world."