"Michael, hello? Why are you so dazed?" Mark's voice broke through my reverie, snapping me back to the present moment.
"I'm fine," I replied, forcing a smile despite the turmoil churning within me. "Just lost in thought, I guess."
Deep down, I knew that I couldn't afford to show any signs of weakness. I had to maintain my composure, fearing that my friends might see me as a weird guy if I revealed the truth about my newfound abilities.
As I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. It was as if invisible eyes were following my every move, observing me with a keen interest that sent shivers down my spine.
"Seems like I'm the only one who can see this transparent window," I thought to myself, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Well, isn't this just typical? Just when I thought things couldn't get any weirder."
But despite my apprehension, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through my veins. The transparent window, hovering in the air before me, felt like a world of infinite possibilities.
"I always read in novels and comics about a system where the system guides its host to achieve greatness," I mused, my gaze fixated on the window before me. "This is my golden finger, my chance to make a real difference in this world."
"This is it," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "My journey begins here."
As I walked towards our classroom, I mentally addressed the system, curious about its capabilities and how it could assist me on my quest.
As the translucent window materialized before me, displaying the message about the Spider-Man system, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through my veins. This was the moment I had been waiting for – my chance to make a real difference in this world.
With a sense of determination burning in my chest, I nodded to myself, my resolve unwavering. "Yes, I want to access the beginner pack," I declared confidently to the system, my voice steady despite the excitement bubbling within me.
Instantly, the translucent window expanded, revealing a trio of beginner packs tailored specifically for my journey. My eyes widened as I took in the options before me – the Spider-Man sixth sense, Spider-Man crawling, and the remarkable ability to produce organic webs, just like Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man.
With a sense of awe coursing through me, I selected the beginner packs one by one, feeling the rush of power and potential surge through my veins with each choice. This was my chance to harness these extraordinary abilities and use them to aid me in these world.
As I used the beginner packs, I could feel changes happening in me, like I was waking up powers inside me. It was so cool, like nothing I'd ever felt before.
But then, a message appeared on the system interface, catching my attention. "Host, you will be the first Spider-Man in this world in 1947, as Peter is still not born in this world. When Peter becomes Spider-Man in 1962, the plot of Spider-Man will begin. Your role for now will be to fight criminals and save the world as the only Spider-Man for the time being."
The weight of those words sank in, and I realized the enormity of the task ahead of me. I was the only Spider-Man in this world, the first of my kind, and it was up to me to protect the innocent and uphold justice until Peter Parker took up the mantle in the future.
With the Spider-Man system now at my disposal, I embraced my role as the sole Spider-Man, ready to face whatever challenges came my way.But along with this responsibility came another crucial task – mentoring Peter Parker and shaping him into the legendary hero known as Spider-Man.
"Hello, Host. I am your AI companion within the Spider-Man system," the AI greeted me with a warm smile(emoji). "My purpose is to assist you on your journey and provide guidance as needed."
I nodded in understanding, feeling grateful for the AI's presence. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Jonathan, but you can call me... well, Michael, because I'm not Jonathan anymore. I'm Michael Wilson," I introduced myself with a chuckle.
The AI nodded in acknowledgment. "Understood, Michael. How may I assist you today?"
I paused, pondering my next move. I had so many questions and so much to learn about this world and my role within it.
"Tell me about Peter Parker," I finally said, my voice tinged with curiosity. "What can you tell me about him, and how can I best prepare to mentor him?"
The AI nodded, its holographic form shimmering with data as it began to speak. "Peter Parker is a remarkable individual with a keen intellect and a strong sense of responsibility. He will face many challenges in his journey to becoming Spider-Man, but with your guidance, he has the potential to become a true hero."
"Michael, don't worry," the AI reassured me, its soothing voice cutting through my uncertainty. "It's still 1947, so you still have time. For now, you should focus on gathering more experience and spreading your name, as you are going to be the first Spider-Man in this world."
I nodded, a sense of relief washing over me. "Thank you," I replied gratefully. "That's good to know. I'll make the most of the time I have and do everything I can to prepare for what lies ahead."
"Hello, hey Michael, we are already in the classroom," said Mark, interrupting my thoughts.
"Oh, sorry, sorry!" I exclaimed, trying to cover my distraction. "Haha, I was just imagining things, like how I want to finish reading that comic that I read. Ahahaha," I laughed awkwardly, attempting to bullshit my way out of the situation.
Chris raised an eyebrow, giving me a knowing look. "You should pay attention to your surroundings, Michael," he said jokingly.
"Yes, sir," I replied with a mock salute, playing along. "I'll try to keep my head out of the clouds."
As the lesson began, I tried to focus on the teacher's words, but my mind kept drifting back to the translucent window of the Spider-Man system. The potential it offered, the power it granted me – it was both exhilarating and overwhelming.
But despite the distractions, I managed to absorb some of the lesson, taking notes and participating in discussions when prompted. I knew that I couldn't afford to let my newfound responsibilities overshadow my studies, especially with Brad and his cronies lurking around every corner.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson, I gathered my belongings and prepared to face the rest of the day. Mark, Emily, and Chris caught up with me, their chatter filling the hallway.
"Hey, Michael, wanna grab something to eat at the cafeteria?" Mark asked, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
"Sure, sounds good," I replied, falling into step with them as we made our way down the crowded hallway. As we walked, we engaged in light conversation, discussing everything from the latest superhero movies to our plans for the upcoming weekend.
But just as we rounded the corner and approached the cafeteria, the translucent window of the Spider-Man system suddenly popped up before me, interrupting our conversation.
"Tutorial quest: Defeat Brad and his goons in the cafeteria. Reward: 1000 points," the message flashed across the screen, catching me off guard.
I glanced around, but Mark, Emily, and Chris seemed oblivious to the message hovering in the air before me.
My heart pounded in my chest as I considered the implications of the quest. Brad and his cronies were notorious for causing trouble, and confronting them in the cafeteria would undoubtedly draw attention – attention that I wasn't sure I was ready to handle.
But then, a sense of determination washed over me. I couldn't let fear hold me back, not when there were innocent people depending on me to stand up to bullies like Brad.
To be Continued