Back on Earth, Thor paid a visit to Ant-Man, who had just been discharged from the hospital.
Scott Lang had been through quite an ordeal. Prolonged use of his giant form during the battle against Thanos had taken a heavy toll on his body. On top of that, he had been controlled by the Mind Stone and later hypnotized by Mantis' powers, leaving his mind in a delicate state. Though the immediate danger was gone, the lingering effects of the Mind Stone's influence had yet to fully wear off.
Normally, a skilled sorcerer could cleanse such lingering effects with relative ease. However, Scott's recovery had been entrusted to Hawkeye, who—despite his many talents—had his own unorthodox approach to handling such situations.
Hawkeye, having once been mind-controlled by Loki, swore by a method he believed to be the most effective: physical purification. After all, it had worked for him when Thor "freed" him with a well-placed strike aboard the Helicarrier.
Scott, however, was less appreciative of this method. Though it may have jolted his mind back into focus, it left him nursing a series of bruises that kept him in the hospital for weeks.
The moment Scott was discharged, he made a beeline for Dr. Hank Pym. He had made a promise to help Pym find his long-lost wife, Janet van Dyne, who had been trapped in the Quantum Realm for decades. The search, delayed by Thanos' invasion, had been put on hold during the crisis. Now that things had settled, Scott was eager to make good on his word.
Thor had no interest in interfering with the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp. While Scott and Hope were valuable allies on the battlefield, Thor preferred to leave their adventures in the mortal realm untouched.
"Mortals fight their battles. Gods intervene only when necessary," he muttered to himself as he left.
The same logic applied to his approach with Spider-Man. Though Thor had a fondness for Peter Parker, he wasn't about to lend a hand with Vulture or Kingpin. After all, those battles were Peter's to fight.
Back at his manor, Thor whispered, "Red Queen."
A small, holographic figure appeared before him. She resembled a young girl, her expression calm and voice carrying an eerie artificiality. "Yes, boss. What are your orders?"
Thor examined her thoughtfully. "I suppose I should call you Alice, right? After all, you were based on her childhood."
The Red Queen tilted her head, surprised by his knowledge of her origins. "Yes, boss. Please input your first directive."
Thor paused, smirking to himself before programming a rather peculiar protocol: Protect all women who share more than a friendly relationship with Thor.
The Red Queen blinked, her expression unreadable. "…Understood."
Time passed. Five years slipped by like a fleeting dream.
For the Asgardians, whose lives spanned millennia, five years was barely the blink of an eye. On Earth, however, those years carried weight, bringing change and quiet recovery.
The Great War in New York had been a turning point. What was once considered the stuff of science fiction—Star Wars, superheroes, and alien invasions—had become an everyday reality. The world had shifted into a new era.
From the Ultron crisis to the Sokovia Accords, Wakanda's emergence onto the world stage, and finally, Thanos' invasion, humanity had seen more upheaval in a few years than in most of its history. The line between fiction and reality had blurred, and the world had grown accustomed to the extraordinary.
Superheroes, once viewed with suspicion and distrust, were now an integral part of society. Peter Parker, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, had become a household name in New York, loved by children and praised by doting aunts. Despite never showing his face, his cheerful demeanor and unwavering dedication had made him a local celebrity.
Thor, of course, maintained his own legion of admirers. Unlike Spider-Man, Thor's fans ranged from wide-eyed children to swooning adults, drawn by his larger-than-life heroics and regal charisma.
The death of Thanos marked the end of an era.
For Earth, it was a moment of quiet triumph. After years of near-constant crises, the planet finally found a semblance of peace. The frequent global threats that had defined the previous decade seemed to vanish overnight.
In truth, the reason was simple: Thanos' demise had sent a message. The Titan's death, delivered by the hands of Earth's heroes, had established the planet as a force to be reckoned with. Few races in the galaxy dared to provoke Earth, especially now that it had joined the Nova Corps alliance.
Even the most cunning intergalactic troublemakers understood the risks. Earth wasn't just home to the Avengers and Wakanda—it was a proving ground for heroes who had bested threats like Ultron and Thanos. To challenge Earth was to court disaster.
Small-scale conflicts still arose from time to time, but they were little more than footnotes in the grand narrative. Local issues were handled efficiently by S.H.I.E.L.D., now under the leadership of Phil Coulson.
Tony Stark had also been busy, working tirelessly to improve Earth's defenses.