[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE. GOOD MORNING, HOST.]
Atlas blinked. Sunlight filtered through a canopy of hanging plants, dappling the hardwood floor with shifting patterns. The scent of rosemary and mint mingled with the earthy aroma of potting soil and something faintly reptilian—the musky comfort of a bearded dragon dozing beneath a heat lamp. He lay on a bed that felt too big, the mattress firmer than he was used to, sheets crisp against his skin. This wasn't a dream. Or if it was, his senses were all too convincing.
He sat up, his limbs moving with a strange lightness. Each movement felt both familiar and not, as if his body was a new instrument he'd only just picked up. Across the room, a mirror caught his eye: reflected back was a teenager with tousled blonde-brown hair and hazel eyes wide with confusion and awe. Posters of Tony and Howard Stark plastered the wall behind him—authentic, comic-style, not the actors, he noticed with a jolt.
"So I wasn't dreaming," he murmured, a crack of excitement slipping into his voice. "God actually sent me to the MCU."
A sharp spike of pain drove through his skull, scattering his thoughts. Memories—some familiar, some not—poured in: a graduation cap tossed high, sunlight on a lizard's scales, the easy laughter of parents now gone. His life here was nearly a mirror of the one he'd left behind, save for the details. Nineteen, not twenty-five. Queens, not Florida. Parents, once biologists, now remembered as geneticists—gone two weeks before his arrival but leaving him a comfortable inheritance. A bearded dragon for a pet, something he'd always wanted but never had. It was all so similar, and yet so different.
He shook his head, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. That was a nice trip down memory lane, but there were more pressing matters. Focus, Atlas. You're in the Marvel Universe now.
Just before waking, he remembered hearing a voice—a calm, mechanical tone. It said, "Host?" He whispered the word aloud, feeling the weight of possibility.
AFFIRMATIVE, HOST. SYSTEM SCANNING BIOLOGICAL AND COSMIC ANOMALY.
A progress bar flickered across his vision, accompanied by a subtle, synthetic chime:
10% [PROCESSING BIOMETRICS]
30% [CATALOGING ANOMALIES]
50% [ANALYZING ENERGETIC SIGNATURES]
80% [SYNTHESIZING DATA]
100% [SCAN COMPLETE. Data Interface Ready.]
The interface solidified, data streaming in:
[STATUS]
Name: Atlas
Species: Starborn (Anomaly Detected)
Age: 24 (Biological)
[PHYSICALS]
Strength: 5
Constitution: 5
Agility: 5
World Size: 0.5 × Greenland (Incipient)
[RESOURCES]
Points: 0 (Unallocated)
MP (Mana/Prana): 200/200
[SKILLS & ABILITIES]
• World Seed (Passive)
• Soul Recycle (Active - 0 MP)
• Dimensional Gate (Active - 50 MP)
Starborn? World Seed? Soul Recycle? Dimensional Gate? Atlas stared, mind racing. "Hey, System," he called out, rubbing his eyes. "What is a Starborn? And what do these skills do? I thought I was just getting a basic system."
AFFIRMATIVE, HOST. Processing queries. Displaying detailed explanations for designated terms.
The Starborn—or Astra-sapiens—are a sentient humanoid species. Their unique physiology is a tri-part synthesis of organic matter, concentrated energy, and raw biomass. This genetic makeup, stemming from ancient Celestial lineage, allows their bodies to generate and contain vast amounts of energy, comparable to a main-sequence star. A notable feature: the ability to store objects or energy within specialized internal organs—a living, cosmic battery with built-in inventory.
Atlas digested this, a faint grin on his lips. "Okay, so I'm a cosmic battery with a pocket universe. And the skills?"
THESE ARE NOT ACQUIRED SKILLS, HOST. THEY ARE INNATE ABILITIES TIED TO YOUR EXISTENCE AS A STARBORN AND THE NATURE OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF. THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT LEVEL 1 (BASIC PROFICIENCY).
[World Seed]: The active core of your being. This allows you to cultivate and expand the internal void within you (currently 0.5x Greenland) into a self-sustaining pocket dimension—your own world. Use it to absorb energy, grow your planet, and create lifeforms whose evolution is tied to your world's progression.
[Soul Recycle]: When you kill a lifeform—intentionally—you gain a soul fragment automatically processed by the system. Three fragments can generate a new, blank-slate creature for your world. No memories, just a fresh start.
[Dimensional Gate]: Instantly travel between your world and external realities (fictional universes) via the 'World Travel' function. Travel costs Points, with higher-risk worlds demanding more.
Atlas scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over a stack of dusty textbooks. "Alright, System: break it down for me. How do these functions actually work?"
AFFIRMATIVE, HOST. DISPLAYING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS:
[1. Currency & Progression:]
You possess Points (P), earned by missions, defeating lifeforms, or reaching milestones. Main missions: 450–1000 P. Sub-missions: 50–200 P. Points are used to expand your planet, upgrade items, travel, or shop. Each upgrade increases in cost by 100 P. You begin with 250 Points.
Atlas whistled. "So I get paid for being proactive, but things get pricier the more I upgrade?"
CORRECT. COSTS INCREASE WITH EACH UPGRADE.
[2. World Travel (Dimensional Gate):]
Travel to alternate realities. Worlds are ranked by Star Level: 1–2★ (low power) like Demon Slayer: 1,000 P, 3–4★ (high risk) like Naruto, One Piece: 2,000 P, 5★ (god-tier) like Dragon Ball, Fate: 4,000 P. Your body and mind fully transfer upon travel.
Atlas's eyes sparkled. "If I want to go Super Saiyan, I'd better save up!"
CORRECT. HIGHER RISK, HIGHER REWARD.
[3. Planet/System Mechanics:]
Your internal world is powered by MP (Mana/Prana): 200 max. Abilities consume MP. Planet evolution is achieved by fulfilling conditions—energy absorption, quests, or installing a core. Growth increases your strength and MP cap.
He pictured the world within him, its boundaries stretching as he grew stronger. "So the bigger my world, the stronger I get?"
AFFIRMATIVE.
[4. System Functions (Summary):]
You possess ten core functions:
Interface: Track progress, skills, missions
Player Status: Monitor points, MP, world data
Ability/Skill Progression: Level up with use
Storage: Inventory
Shop: Buy items, skills
Mission Assignment: Manage quests
World Travel: Dimensional Gate
Soul Recycle: Collect soul fragments
Wheel of Worlds: Use tokens for random rewards (items, companions, bloodlines)
World Management: Shape your internal ecosystem
Atlas blew out a breath, equal parts awe and disbelief. "So I'm a cosmic gardener with portal powers and a soul recycling plant inside me. Not bad for a fresh start."
CORRECT. SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE. WELCOME TO YOUR NEW EXISTENCE, HOST.
A smile crept over his lips as he stared at the floating interface. For the first time since arriving, Atlas felt ready—maybe even excited—for whatever this new world would throw at him.