Marvel's Strongest Mage

Legends say Mjolnir was forged in the heart of a dying star, molded from Uru metal, its handle carved from the branches of Yggdrasil itself. Odin's enchantments made it more than a weapon—a divine key, bound to the will of the worthy.

But legends often lie. And today, Thor revealed a deeper truth.

Before Mjolnir was forged, there were others.

Prototypes. Experiments. Three of them, born of the same Uru metal but incomplete—failed attempts to bind the power of a dying star. The cores ruptured, unstable. Only Mjolnir survived. But the remnants remained.

One of them had chosen Daniel.

"Since it recognized you," Thor said, his voice steady, "then it is yours."

Daniel blinked, stunned. The hammer had resisted him moments ago, trembled in his grasp, desperate to return to Thor. And yet, now... this?

He hadn't asked for it. Hadn't even considered it. This wasn't a gift—it was a burden. A tether to Asgard. A potential chain.

Because while this hammer was incomplete, its power was not. Uru metal, rare and ancient, rivaled even Vibranium in durability. And unlike Mjolnir, it bore no enchantment of loyalty. No safeguards. It was raw.

"Belongs to me?" Daniel murmured.

Thor only nodded.

Daniel hesitated. Accepting this meant stepping into the eye of the storm. It meant aligning himself—however indirectly—with Asgard. Thor might be generous today, but Odin could revoke that mercy. The gods were fickle.

Still, he took the hammer and bowed, saying, "Thank you."

The room mistook his gratitude for awe. None of them could see the calculations racing behind his eyes. This was more than a weapon. It was leverage. It was protection. As long as he wielded it, no one could move against him easily. Not SHIELD. Not even Thor.

Unless Thor reclaimed it.

But would he? Asgard was on the brink of Ragnarok. Thor had bigger battles to fight.

And Daniel had a plan.

He would let Werner Reinhardt die. Publicly. That name, that legacy, would vanish. In its place: Daniel Whitehall, military hero, newly anointed wielder of Asgardian power.

This hammer was his alibi. His redemption.

So he tucked it away and followed the others into the meeting chamber.

They sat. Across from him, Thor.

Daniel's expression sharpened. "Start from the beginning."

Thor sighed. Around them sat Coulson, Stark, Erik Selvig, Darcy, Jane—all listening.

"My brother," Thor said quietly, "manipulated events. Odin banished me. I awoke here. Then Loki found me. Told me Odin was dead. That he is now King of Asgard."

The words hung in the air, charged.

Daniel narrowed his gaze.

He knew this dance. In every timeline, Loki fought for the throne. And always, Odin's shadow loomed.

But one word stuck out. Awakened.

Had Thor been dormant inside Donald Blake all this time? Had Odin planned this from the start?

Jane paled. She had suspected. But confirmation hurt.

"So," Coulson said slowly, "what now?"

"I must return to Asgard," Thor replied. "But Heimdall does not answer."

He turned to Daniel.

"I need a wizard. One who can open the path."

"Wizard?" Coulson echoed, confused.

Tony grinned. "Old term. We say magician now."

Then both looked at Daniel.

The room followed.

Thor frowned. "You? A magician?"

Daniel shook his head.

"No. Not a magician. A Rune Wizard."

Thor sat up in his chair in shock, "A Rune Wizard?!"

Daniel nodded. "I've studied runes since I was young. I command twenty-four. But beyond that, there is no earthly inheritance."

Thor's face lit with hope.

Daniel raised a hand.

"That doesn't mean I can help. Runes are complex. Returning to Asgard requires precision—more than I may possess."

But Thor smiled.

"Then let me show you what you don't yet know."

Daniel's brow furrowed. Thor's confidence was infectious, but Daniel understood better than most: magic had a cost. And paths to Asgard were not easily walked.

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