Reborn as the God-Emperor in Marvel

What happened after Thor regained Mjolnir was far more complicated than what Solomon had described to Bayonetta. He had given her a shortened version of events. Especially after receiving Bayonetta's "pleasant punishment" for staying out all night, Solomon had no desire to talk about anything else—at that point, even the thought of Thor had been wiped from his mind.

It's important to understand that spellcasters wear intricate attire. The uniform from Kamar-Taj merely had its hem shortened to allow for easier movement, but Solomon had also donned a cloak made from holy relic fabric. The dust stirred up by Thor's storm, when he spun his hammer, required quite a bit of effort for Solomon to clean off. And that wasn't even considering the debris that flew around when Thor destroyed the Destroyer armor. If Solomon hadn't maintained his shield to block the storm of sand and wind, he would've ended up with half of New Mexico's desert in his hood.

During all that, Solomon had to endure Tony Stark's relentless questioning. Tony's interest in Solomon was even greater than his curiosity about the Destroyer. He kept pestering Solomon, almost breaking his concentration while he was casting a spell to clean himself.

Solomon hadn't even decided how to get back at Nick Fury yet.

"You can't take this," Agent Coulson said as he arrived in a car, alone. He greeted Tony Stark briefly before addressing Solomon. "Solomon Damonet, I don't know why you're here, but Director Fury has ordered me to prevent you from taking this item."

"Hmph, so Nick Fury told you my name but left out the rest of the details?" Solomon was so annoyed he almost laughed. Thanks to his facial disguise spell, the others couldn't see his expression. "I suppose that doesn't violate our contract. That old fox doesn't dare to face me himself? He should know by now that I can find him if I want."

"What contract?" Tony Stark chimed in, but no one paid him any attention.

"I've investigated you before, but that was many years ago," Coulson replied calmly. "During the Salem incident, when Senator White was robbed, and in the town fire, you caught my attention. Then there was the murder in Colleen Town—every piece of evidence pointed to you."

He glanced at the pink diamond ring on Solomon's right hand. "I imagine that's Senator White's ring. I don't know what your relationship with Director Fury is, but my orders are clear: the Destroyer armor stays."

"You really went all out, Agent Coulson," Solomon said, lifting the disguise on his face. Now that everyone present knew his name and appearance, there was no point in hiding. "I appreciate your dedication, but I've already struck a deal with your boss. Your investigation is over."

"That mission led to my being scrutinized too," Coulson said, his face still expressionless. He didn't reveal too much in front of Tony Stark. "But that's ancient history. S.H.I.E.L.D. is in control of this situation now."

Nick Fury had pushed Solomon to act because, from the start, Solomon had made his boundaries clear, and Fury had tested just how far those boundaries could be stretched. Constant testing, inching closer to the limit without crossing it—this was something S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were taught. It was a mandatory lesson for every agent: how to manipulate someone you can't fully control. 

It's like trying to pet a stray cat—you reach out slowly, and just when it's about to bite, you pull back. To a skilled hand, the cat will eventually allow itself to be touched. This method, when applied to ordinary people, might be called PUA (pick-up artistry), but the techniques taught by S.H.I.E.L.D. were far more advanced.

By revealing his limits too quickly and communicating too much with Nick Fury, Solomon had allowed Fury to understand his character. Fury knew that even if he truly angered Solomon, the sorcerer wouldn't lash out at innocent people. Solomon would come directly for Fury himself. That's why Fury had sent Coulson to deal with Solomon. Fury knew that Solomon, being a man of his word, would not act recklessly, especially in public.

Fury's tactic was simple: he could always argue that he was acting for the safety of the public, ensuring that the Destroyer armor wouldn't pose a threat to ordinary lives once its purpose had been served. This reasoning worked perfectly, especially when dealing with an organization like Kamar-Taj, which held duty and responsibility in high regard.

And the rest of the work? That was about mending the relationship. Fury knew that after Solomon calmed down, he'd have to offer some compensation. Solomon had the unique ability to enter the Triskelion (S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters) or even the White House at will. Fury couldn't afford to completely antagonize him. He sent a message, almost like an apology. Fury knew they weren't friends, and after what had happened, he would have to pay a price—but he preferred to pay on his terms.

"Detected inbound fusion strike!" was Solomon's response.

He needed to do something to warn Fury not to get clever with him. Solomon wasn't going to let this slide, nor was he someone who could be manipulated like a pet cat. If Fury had tricked him once, Solomon was going to pay him back in kind, trapping S.H.I.E.L.D. in the process.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. should know what's appropriate and what isn't," Solomon said. "I'm not interested in showing you what Nick Fury saw."

But then Solomon had a sudden idea—one that could hit Fury where it hurt. Fury didn't yet understand the true significance of the Destroyer armor. It was a weapon that Odin had used to repel the Celestials, second in importance only to Gungnir, his spear. If S.H.I.E.L.D. insisted on holding onto the armor, they would inevitably face conflict with Asgard when Odin came to reclaim it.

Solomon didn't know whether Asgard would retrieve the armor via the Bifrost or send soldiers, but he suspected the former. Asgard had no military rights on Earth, and Heimdall's omniscient sight couldn't be blocked by any bunker or shield S.H.I.E.L.D. could build. The Bifrost, a cosmic weapon capable of destroying worlds, could penetrate anything, no matter where they hid the armor.

So how could Solomon push Nick Fury's greed to the point where he wouldn't let go of the armor? Simple: by exaggerating its power while saying nothing about its importance.

And so, Solomon began to lavishly praise the armor.

"This is the most powerful armor forged by the All-Father," Solomon said. "Its history predates the birth of human civilization, and it contains the power of countless gods. That power is immense—greater than you can imagine. Don't be fooled by the fact that Thor damaged it. That's because Loki couldn't tap into its full strength. Given time, it will repair itself."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. can ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands," Coulson replied patiently. "The Destroyer armor is safe with us. We'll store it in the Sandbox—no labels, no archives. No one will ever know it exists."

Solomon was certain Coulson was wearing an earpiece and that Fury was listening to everything. The fox was walking right into the trap.

"I don't know where the Sandbox is, but I can assure you, if Heimdall wants to find the Destroyer, he will. Even if you bury it in the Earth's core or launch it into the sun, Heimdall can see it," Solomon said, deliberately omitting the fact that the Bifrost could bypass any defense. If Fury knew the truth, he might give up the armor, and Solomon needed him to hold onto it.

"Then, the Bifrost will descend upon Earth once more," Solomon added. This was true, but he didn't mention that the Bifrost could land directly on S.H.I.E.L.D. or send someone instead.

He then presented Fury with an unacceptable choice: "The best option is for me to take it and avoid the All-Father's wrath falling upon Earth."

And a more reasonable one: "If S.H.I.E.L.D. insists on defying the gods and bearing the consequences, fine—take the Destroyer armor. But the fallout is on you."

Solomon had fulfilled his contractual obligation of delivering a warning, though he hadn't given the whole truth.

"I'll submit your report," Coulson said. "But for now, S.H.I.E.L.D. is in control of the Destroyer armor. Your concerns have been noted and will be taken seriously. Our experts will thoroughly examine your opinions, and a final decision will be made after careful consideration."

Nick Fury had chosen the second option, though it was through Coulson's mouth. The more Fury wanted the armor, the tougher Coulson's stance became. This choice was precisely what Solomon had expected. Despite being fully informed of the risks, Fury's greed meant he would never let go.

Solomon guessed that Fury's leverage with Asgard lay in Jane Foster. Fury knew of her research and would support it. As Thor's girlfriend and potential Asgardian queen, Fury believed her influence could sway Asgard's actions. When the time came for Asgard to reclaim the armor, Fury thought he could negotiate while reaping the scientific benefits of studying the Destroyer.

What Fury didn't realize was that Thor's true queen would be Sif, not Jane Foster. In matters of state, Odin wouldn't show Thor any favoritism.

"Are you serious?"

 Tony Stark's eyes widened. "You're going to stand here and play bureaucratic games, Coulson? We're supposed to be coming up with a solution! If you can't handle it, get Fury here—someone who can solve this."

"Sorry, these are my orders," Coulson replied.

"Fine, but I want access to research it," Tony said, glancing between Solomon and Coulson. "That's the least you can do, right? I should be able to study it before a decision is made."

"But S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't have the authority to make that call. Given your rank, Agent Coulson, there's only so much I can say to you."

[Contract complete: truth clarified regarding magical matters.]

With that, Solomon turned and left, ignoring Tony's attempts to follow. If S.H.I.E.L.D. disassembled the Destroyer armor, then each piece would draw a separate strike from the Bifrost. But to make this happen, Solomon needed to visit Asgard to retrieve the diplomatic document Sif had taken. That document had to be filed in Kamar-Taj.

However, before doing that, Solomon needed to consult the Sorcerer Supreme. The final decision on the armor's fate wouldn't just lie with Odin—it would also involve the Sorcerer Supreme. Odin certainly wanted the armor back, but Earth was the Sorcerer Supreme's domain. Only after receiving her instructions would Solomon know how to proceed.

He opened a portal to London, bought some fries, and then portaled to Kamar-Taj headquarters to meet the Ancient One.

After hearing Solomon's report, the Ancient One expressed no strong opinions about the fate of the Destroyer armor. Whether S.H.I.E.L.D. studied it or Odin reclaimed it, Kamar-Taj had achieved its objective. The rest no longer mattered.

"Thor will make a fine king of Asgard," she said, placing a cup of honey-sweetened tea in front of Solomon. After years of mentorship, their tastes were quite similar now. "By 'fine,' I mean in regard to Earth, not Asgard. He lacks the decisiveness of a ruler, but he values life in the Nine Realms. That's enough—his growth is well-timed."

"Master, was all of this part of your plan?" Solomon asked as he sipped the cold tea. "I can't shake the feeling that something is off. Why would Thor and his hammer end up on Earth instead of anywhere else in the Nine Realms?"

"That was Odin's doing," the Sorcerer Supreme replied, without hesitation shifting the blame to Odin. "Because Kamar-Taj is here."

"I suspect that's not the only reason," Solomon pressed.

"Alright, I may have played a small part," the Ancient One admitted with a hint of resignation. "Most of the Nine Realms are already under Asgard's control, except for Jotunheim and Muspelheim. Earth, however, is special because of my presence. Here, only a handful of people know about Asgard and Thor. For Thor to experience life as a mortal, Earth was the perfect choice. For that, I made a small deal with Odin."

"A deal?"

"Yes. The deal was that Thor would become a guardian of the Nine Realms rather than a conqueror like Odin," the Ancient One said, omitting part of the conversation. "Odin had no choice but to agree—he's running out of time."

"So, about Jane Foster… I didn't even need to use the love potion I made, and I didn't see any other sorcerers from Kamar-Taj there," Solomon asked hesitantly.

"That may just be destiny, Solomon," the Ancient One said, her expression unchanged as she added another spoonful of honey to his tea. "Jane Foster was destined to meet Thor and fall in love with him. I didn't interfere, but it happened as it was meant to. Perhaps that's what destiny looks like."

"That's… unsettling," Solomon said, gulping down the now overly sweet tea. If the Ancient One added any more honey, he feared he'd get diabetes.

"This is a lesson you've yet to grasp: the despair of confronting destiny," the Ancient One said, slightly displeased by Solomon's avoidance of sugar. "Now, go take a bath. You've missed a whole day of lessons, and Dormammu hasn't seen you all day."

"Alright, alright," Solomon said, raising his hands in surrender. "Today, let's go with this story: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I'm sure Faltine will enjoy it—he's never heard it before."

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