Bleeding out.
Shallow breaths.
A strange yank in his stomach and the world disappeared, leaving his body behind.
Mark, now in a ghostly form, looked around the empty black void. After a moment a white orb of light appeared before him.
The orb bathed him in light, and he felt a strange emptiness from it. The feeling grew into a pulling sensation as several colored orbs of light slowly drifted out of his chest, and gathered around the orb of white light.
He somehow recognized each light as his knowledge and connection to a different world. There were dozens, some larger and brighter than others. They formed a pattern around the white orb and many of the small orbs of light merged into larger multi colored orbs before taking their place as well.
A moment passed before the white orb flashed and words came into his mind, 'Choose primary cross-multiversal anchor world.'
The understanding of what it wanted was conveyed into his mind with a clarity words could never match. This was not a normal post death occurrence. Mark had been unknowingly 'volunteered' for a non-optional trip to another universe. He was going, like it or not. Though at least he could choose where.
That was the good news.
The bad news? Multiversal barriers have been damaged in some idiot's attempt to consume a universe and transcend to godlike power or something. Now multiple worlds are at risk of total annihilation. And apparently part of the solution requires an external visitor to a possibly collapsing universe.
'Oh joy.'
The colored orbs had ordered themselves by brightness. He could feel a stronger connection to the brightest lights. But two stood out from the rest, Marvel and DC. Both very appealing to him and normally very dangerous worlds, but there was a non-zero chance his destination would implode shortly after he arrived anyway.
Mark could not help but grin. His choice was important and would effect everything that followed for him. However, he had already died once anyway so he could not really complain. Why not just choose the world he wanted to see the most?
The white orb waited before him. Mark clearly had to make a decision before getting any more information.
So, Marvel or DC?
He already knew it had to be one of them. He probably even knew enough to survive a little while in those worlds. He was even a little exited.
Mark liked the DC heroes more but the Marvel world always seemed more interesting to him. Before he could talk himself out of it, Mark reached out and touched the red Marvel orb.
-----
Earth: Location Unknown, Date: Unknown
Mark groggily opened his eyes. He had a body again and felt like he was going to be sick. He was laying in what looked like a vacant park as the sun started lighting up the sky. He also had no idea where he was.
He tried to remember what happened and received a final information download, along with something else. Mark had come across several stories with systems before his death and was generally not a fan. Now he had a system of his own. Using his new knowledge, a screen appeared in his vision.
He was looking at a character screen of himself.
Name: Mark Smith
Race: Human
Age: 17
Equipped Template:
-None
Traits:
-None
Powers:
-None
Disciplines:
-None
Skills:
-None
Items:
-None
"17? What the hell?", He was in his thirties when he died. Mark quickly checked himself over. He appeared to be himself but his old scars and marks were gone. This was not his original body.
'Well, a new younger body could only be a good thing right?' As he thought this he pulled out the only item from his pockets. A letter, that he read with slowly dawning horror.
MIDTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
67-01 110th Street, Forest Hills, Queens, NY 11375
Phone: (718) XXX-XXXX
Date: September 12, 1988
To: Mark Smith
Subject: Orientation and Counseling Meeting
Dear Mark,
We are pleased to welcome you to Midtown High School. To ensure a smooth transition into your new classes and to provide guidance on course placement, graduation requirements, and extracurricular opportunities, you are requested to meet with your school counselor.
Meeting Details:
Date: Thursday, September 22, 1988
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Counselor's Office, Room 203
Please bring this letter with you for verification purposes. If you are unable to attend at the scheduled time, contact the Counseling Office at the number above to arrange an alternative appointment.
We look forward to assisting you as you join our school community.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Anna Brown, School Counselor
Midtown High School
'Seriously? High school? Oh, and it's Peter Parker's school as well.'
Before he could let himself lose his cool, he took a long, deep breath.
If he never showed up, that could lead to a missing person case. He did not want that kind of attention. Maybe there was a reason for this, but he did not even know what day it was and just put the letter back in his pocket. The system was more important right now.
The information that came with the system covered its features, and he had a sinking feeling that easy street was not going to be his path in this life.
'So much for my power fantasies.'
In addition to the character screen, there was an empty page for viewing his future templates, and the shop page which he accessed immediately.
But instead of the store...
You have made your first visit to the shop. Choose one of the following random items for free:
-Senzu Bean x3
-Nightwing Template - Equip time: None
-Aragorn Template - Equip time: 7 Days
Relief washed through Mark when seeing a free gift, all his attention on the options.
'Interesting. Although this is not exactly what I was hoping for. Hm, a Senzu bean's magical healing is no joke but also the worst option at the moment. I need to get stronger. Nightwing is the obvious choice right? No super powers but very capable. Aragorn though, why the equip time? He is strong yes, but... wait. Aragorn is the king of Gondor... a Numenorean.'
Mark's eyes widen with realization, 'Holy crap. 7 day equip time makes more sense now. Numenoreans are blessed with long life, greater vitality, and Aragorn could also use a little healing magic right?' He was starting to get exited.
'Nightwing is way more acrobatic and very skilled in combat. That said, Aragorn was 87 years old during the events of the movies and had spent decades fighting the forces of Sauron.' The more he thought about it the more interested he got.
'Aragorn had not immediately jumped out at me before, but now?' Mark's grin was simply devilish. Mark chose the Aragorn template and equipped it immediately.
He had not seen a system like this before but it had some potential. Templates that require time means it is altering the body in some way. In this case it must be to alter his race to Numenorean over the course of a week. Only after any equip time can he begin training any skills and powers from the template.
Mark does not get any skills or powers automatically. Turns out, in the real world if your body is suddenly flooded with power, you will ether experience the wonders of cell death and a very unpleasant last few hours of life, or your body will simply explode, possibly disintegrate. 'Who would have guessed easy power was unrealistic.' he thought to himself.
So only templates he can survive equipping at the time are sold in the store. That goes for the powers, disciplines and items too. If he wanted to get stronger it was going to take one step at a time, no short cuts.
His system store could stock ten items and having chosen his free gift the store was now open:
Current Points: 0
1. Character: Morrigan Aensland(1/3 Power)(Darkstalkers) - 32 points
2. Discipline: Psyker(Warhammer 40K) - 8 points
3. Power: X-Gene(Marvel) - 8 points
4. Template: Mr. Hercule Satan(Real Name: Mark)(DBZ) - 2 points
5. Template: UNSC Marine(Halo) - 2 points
6. Item: Spell Scroll: Hypnotic Pattern(D&D) - 2 points
7. Item: Potion of Healing(D&D) - 2 points
8. Item: Beretta 92FS Pistol x2(Silvered Bullets) - 2 points
9. Mundane Object: Long Sword - 1 point
10. Mundane Object: Key to an Abandoned Building - 1 point
"Huh." That was the only reaction he could muster.
'First of all, why include the note that Mr. Satan's real name is also Mark?'
He knew Morrigan from the 4 part anime. She was strong, but he did not really know if she is a good investment or not. She might make life more interesting if she is not simply hostile. He had no idea if a character was automatically friendly or not.
Mark would not touch psyker powers with a ten foot pole, no thank you.
And the X-Gene? It is not from a template so he could literally get anything. Most mutants end up more mutant that super powered.
He could not buy anything at the moment regardless, and the store only restocks every three months.
'I need to think about this for a while. I can make plans regarding the store later.'
At last he stood. He had a date with the Midtown High School counselor and that meant he was probably somewhere in or near Queens. After all, there is no point in setting him up like this without making sure he is close enough to the school. It was probably even the meeting day.
Then the obvious struck him. He had no money. Or place to live. Or food.
Would school provide him lunch? He was not sure, but he could ask the counselor. If he got free lunches maybe high school would be worth the trouble. Worst case it would keep him alive long enough to find a part time job or something.
But sleeping arrangements could be a problem. He was not sure how best to handle that.
The store had a 'key to an abandoned building' but that did not fill him with confidence. Abandoned could still mean left by the owners and now it has become a villain's secret lair. This was still the Marvel world after all.
Opening the store page again, he tried to get some more information. Unfortunately none was forthcoming.
'Well, one problem at a time. I still have a date that I am suddenly much more invested in.'