The first thing I saw was a list of disciplines. Eight of them, like skill trees in some RPG, only instead of virtual abilities, these were quite real, potentially lethal knowledge. They didn't just hang in the air, but seemed engraved with light on the dark background of the interface. Each had a short but comprehensive description.
Herbology (Power of Nature), a discipline focused on using plants to create healing and enhancing compounds. My first thought was skeptical. Herbology? Sounds like a class name in a wizarding school, something for overachieving girls and nerds. I imagined endless hours grinding some roots with a mortar and pestle. But then it hit me. This is the Marvel world. A world where in Wakanda grows a heart-shaped herb granting superhuman strength, and somewhere in space roam living trees. I immediately understood we're not talking about daisies and plantains here. Most likely, I'd have to chase after some "lunar chamomile" growing once in a hundred years on Himalayan peaks, or "whispering moss" from Asgard's caves. Promising, without doubt. Creating serums that increase strength or regeneration is a direct path to the major leagues. But with logistics there could be, to put it mildly, problems. I'm a poor student in Hell's Kitchen. I'd barely scrape together subway money, let alone an expedition to Tibet. So yes, tempting, but this is a game for the rich and influential. Setting aside for now.
Chemistry (Transformation of Matter), the science of mixing substances to obtain new, often dangerous compounds. Now this is more like it. No abstract alchemy with miracle herbs, philosopher's stone and transmutation of lead into gold. In theory, quite specific formulas, reactions and reagents. Chemistry is the foundation of everything. From household cleaning poison to the most sophisticated poisons and explosives. This is both the sticky web that Spider-Woman pins bandits to walls with, and acid capable of burning through a bank vault. Dangerous? Absolutely. I'm not a chemist, and one mistake, one wrong drop or extra degree when heating could cost me this miserable apartment, or even my life. I vividly imagined how from an accidental spark my hovel turns into a small branch of hell with poisonous smoke and furniture scraps on the walls. But the potential is enormous. And most importantly, accessibility. Many reagents, albeit in crude form, can be obtained from ordinary household goods. It's risky, dirty, but doable. Definitely noting mentally.
Explosives (Controlled Chaos), the art of creating and using explosive substances. The name spoke for itself. Straightforward and unvarnished. Not "pyrotechnics," but precisely "explosives." I mentally imagined headlines in the Daily Bugle: "Mysterious Bomber from Hell's Kitchen Strikes Again!" No, thanks. Attracting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s, FBI's and other men in black's attention wasn't in my plans. I'm a builder by nature, not a destroyer. But... the cynical, practical part of my consciousness immediately offered another thought. Explosives aren't just bombs. It's also smoke grenades for retreat, flash-bang grenades for disorienting opponents, and shaped charges for breaching armored doors. It's a tool. Powerful, terrifying, but a tool. Learning recipes was worth it at least for general development and understanding how this crap works. To know what to expect from others. So I'm not planning to create for now, but studying is mandatory.
Smithing (Art of Metal), metal processing for creating armor and weapons. Here the craftsman in me awakened. The line vibrated, touching something deep inside. The smell of red-hot metal and coal, the deafening but rhythmic crash of hammer on anvil, the hiss of heated steel plunged into water... I almost physically felt it. This was mine. Real, honest craft. But reality immediately doused with cold water. A forge. In my studio apartment? Here even working with a power drill is already a problem with neighbors, not to mention a furnace that would burn out all wiring and start a fire. This is a goal for the distant, very distant future, when I have my own garage or workshop. A dream worth striving for.
Gunsmithing (Thunder and Steel), creation and modification of firearms. Hmm. I'm in the USA. Here you can buy a gun at the corner supermarket, if you have a permit, and sometimes without one. Spending time and resources creating a flintlock steampunk pistol that's inferior to factory models is foolish. I'm not a gunsmith, and my homemade gun will most likely explode in my own hands. But what if recipes offer something... exotic? A railgun in rifle format? Plasma cutter? Electromagnetic accelerator shooting ball bearings? Or at least just modifications: creating the perfect silencer, non-lethal ammunition, smart scopes. Now that's a different conversation. This direction heavily depends on what exactly the system offers. For now, on the "look at" list, and screw it that all disciplines are on this list, hah.
Electrical (Spark of Life), taming the power of electricity to create amazing devices. In a world where Tony Stark lives, this direction is one of the key ones. Electricity is the language modern technology speaks. It's both weapon and defense, and energy for future projects. From a simple taser to the most complex microchips, power sources like the arc reactor or even EMP generators. The potential is limitless. But the entry threshold, I suspect, is extremely high. This isn't just connecting "plus" to "minus." This is physics, mathematics, circuit engineering. Though, considering where specifically the recipes will come from, I vividly imagined diagrams that would have a point "charge from Thor's lightning" or "connect to the Tesseract." Definitely need to study in more detail, but for some reason I'm sure without a foundation from other disciplines, like Mechanics, I won't get far here.
Mechanics (Movement and Logic), designing and creating complex mechanisms and automatons. Now this, yes. This is mine. This isn't fixing stools, but creating something truly complex. Mechanics is the skeleton of any device. It's gears, levers, drives, hydraulics. It's the foundation for everything else. Want to make a cool gun? You need mechanics. Want to assemble a robot assistant? Mechanics. Exoskeleton? Again it. Unlike smithing, here you can start small. Disassembling old technology, digging through junkyards, creating something from improvised materials. This is a direct and understandable path for me to creating useful gadgets and tools that will make my life and work in other areas easier. Again, everything depends on resources and a workshop, but you can start on a shoestring, as long as recipes allow. This is the foundation.