An ancient being, Layla, who had survived through countless eras, now spent her time sharing tales of ancient gods in the shadowy depths of the grave. Her stories spoke of times long forgotten, of beings that walked the cosmos before the stars took their places in the sky. It was a recounting that felt like unearthing lost lore from the cracks of history itself. Naturally, Charlie, who thrived on the unknown and sought power to face it, listened intently, absorbing each word during a quiet meal amidst his cold, air-conditioned room.
As he listened to Layla's account of the ancient gods, beings she claimed to be powerful beyond comprehension, a quiet unease settled into his mind. If the entity she described was truly as enigmatic and omnipotent as she implied, then even Charlie, who had faced supernatural threats and cosmic challenges before, knew he might be out of his depth. He could sense that he wasn't ready for such a confrontation. Not yet, at least.
It wasn't that Charlie hadn't dealt with the extraordinary before. The world he operated in, with its blend of science, mysticism, and ancient beings, was filled with encounters that blurred the line between reality and legend. But Layla's descriptions of the gods she had encountered thousands of years ago seemed to suggest something far beyond that.
Though there is a saying, "The end of science is theology," and in the world of American comics, it often holds true that brilliant scientists could eventually challenge even the mightiest of ancient deities, the reality was more daunting. The real problem wasn't understanding these beings—it was having enough power to stand up to them. And as the saying goes, "All fear comes from insufficient firepower." Right now, Charlie lacked the kind of firepower needed to contend with gods. He simply wasn't at that level yet.
Of course, these ancient beings from beyond the stars were only mentioned by Layla, and her account could hardly be considered absolute truth. Yet, Charlie had always been one to approach such warnings with caution. He believed in the philosophy of preparing for the worst, even if it meant planning against something that might not even exist. It was better to be prepared and wrong than unprepared and caught off guard. So, while he doubted some of her words, he took them seriously enough to know he couldn't afford to be complacent. He needed to develop and strengthen himself—fast. After all, that had always been his approach to survival.
The previous night, after spending countless hours grinding through monster encounters in the digital realms, Charlie's game character had leveled up once more. It was a small but significant step forward, and now, it was time to unlock new skills.
As the experience bar filled, Charlie navigated back to the main interface, watching as his account leveled up automatically. The Auto-Hack system was relentless, not allowing players to exploit loopholes or glitches. It offered no opportunity for stacking up skill draws to unleash in one massive wave, hoping to score top-tier heroes like Superman later on.
Skill draws were tied directly to leveling up. When a player reached a new level, they had to make their selection immediately, with no room for delays or saving opportunities for later. The idea of stockpiling hundreds of draws and using them in a single burst was just a fantasy. Instead, Charlie had to make each choice count as it came.
He decided to stick with Spider-Man for his character draws. There was a logic to it—Spider-Man's pool of skills was mostly exhausted, which meant that the chances of drawing one of the few remaining powers he lacked, like the proportionally enhanced spider strength, were higher. And that power was precisely what he had his eyes on.
[TL Note - Didn't he already get that? Or am I tripping??]
Spider strength was no ordinary ability. It meant superhuman arm strength, starting at ten tons, with enough raw force to stop an uncoupled train in its tracks. The allure of such power was irresistible. With Spider-Man's skill pool nearly emptied, Charlie was optimistic. Just a few skills remained unclaimed, and he felt his chances were strong.
He prepared for the draw—one targeted pull and four random draws—hoping for the best.
As the animated effects flashed across the game screen, anticipation coiled tightly in Charlie's chest. He watched the spinning lights with a sense of both excitement and dread.
After analyzing the state of the Spider-Man skill pool, Charlie was confident. Most of the essential skills had already been unlocked, and it felt like the system was almost guiding him toward a successful draw. The idea that he could miss seemed laughable—how could he possibly draw the wrong skill from a nearly empty pool?
The result flashed across the screen:
Camera Mastery (from Spider-Man). Peter Parker developed an unparalleled ability to take selfies, a skill refined through years of working at the Daily Bugle, capturing shots of himself as Spider-Man to pay the bills.
Charlie stared at the screen in silence, his expression deadpan. "..."
There were no words. What could he even say? For a moment, he wondered if the game itself was mocking him. He had drawn a skill that would have been useful for a photojournalist but was utterly useless in the face of cosmic threats.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, though his frustration boiled beneath the surface. Maybe this skill could find a use in the future? Photography was a legitimate art form, and with the rise of advanced camera technology, who knew when the ability to snap the perfect picture might come in handy?
Besides, he still had the four random draws. Surely, those would fare better...
Charlie's breath caught as he read the next result:
Spider Power (from Spider-Gwen). In her parallel world, Gwen Stacy possessed powers similar to Spider-Man, including the proportionally enhanced spider strength, granting her a baseline arm strength of over 15 tons, with an upper limit that defied calculation.
For a moment, Charlie didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
It seemed like some cosmic joke. From a skill pool that was nearly exhausted, the targeted draw had gone astray. Yet, in a twist of fate, the random draw—a shot in the dark—had landed perfectly on one of the rarest, most valuable abilities.
It was almost like the universe was teasing him, giving him the unexpected in exchange for his careful planning. Life, he mused, was truly unpredictable, filled with ups and downs that kept even the most seasoned player guessing.
The next two skills were less impressive: a basic combat proficiency and an assassination specialization. These were skills that almost every street-level hero possessed in some form. In fact, combat skills like these were so common that they made up a large portion of the skill pools.
Once, such abilities would have been a godsend in the early stages of his journey. But now, with his mastery of advanced martial arts, including techniques learned from Cassandra Cain—the undisputed master of hand-to-hand combat—even the best combat skills seemed like child's play. They were simply redundant in the face of his current expertise.
But the final draw offered a surprise that made his heart skip a beat:
Healing Factor (from Wolverine). This ability gave Wolverine near-immortality, allowing him to recover from any injury as long as his body wasn't completely obliterated.
Charlie's eyes lit up with excitement.
This was a jackpot, the kind of skill that transcended all others.
Wolverine's healing factor wasn't just another regenerative ability—it was the gold standard, the very benchmark against which all other self-healing powers were measured. In a world filled with advanced technology and sorcery, Wolverine's healing factor stood as a near-miracle, coveted by all. It could make its user practically unkillable and extended one's life span far beyond normal limits.
With this, the Adamantium skeleton he had unlocked earlier was no longer just a heavy burden. Now, whether he wanted to embody Spider-Man's agility or Wolverine's relentless durability, he had the means to do so. Even if he lacked a few specific abilities, his wide array of skills meant he could adapt to almost any situation.
Of course, he wasn't about to equip the Adamantium skeleton just yet. It came with drawbacks—Magneto, for instance, would become a much bigger problem, and even mundane things like airport security would become a nightmare. If not for the indestructible claws, he would have left the skeleton gathering dust in his inventory.
But the new skills? He couldn't resist trying them out. As soon as he equipped them, a surge of power flooded his body. He felt his physical strength increase dramatically, as if every muscle had been amplified with new energy. Externally, he looked the same, but inside, he felt like a coiled spring ready to unleash untold power.
The spider strength coursing through him was intoxicating—a feeling of limitless potential, as though he could lift a car with one hand or tear through steel. He felt like he could challenge a freight train just for fun.
And the healing factor—it was like a rebirth. The moment he equipped it, he felt a wave of rejuvenation wash over him, easing old aches and injuries. Even the minor damage from years of gaming—like his nearsightedness—vanished instantly, replaced with a crystal-clear vision that was better than anything he remembered.
Rushing to the window, Charlie pulled back the curtains and scanned the skyline. With his enhanced eyesight, he could see into distant buildings, noticing a couple engaged in a private moment far across the way.
"...Great, just great," he muttered, quickly drawing the curtains. The universe, it seemed, had a sense of humor.
But despite the awkwardness, the power he felt was undeniable, like a fresh start. It was as if his body had been restored to its prime, better than it had ever been before.
Curious about the effects, Charlie unequipped the healing factor and monitored his condition closely. To his surprise, he remained in perfect health. His vision stayed sharp, and Friday's diagnostic scan confirmed that his physical state was the best it had been since she started tracking him.
A grin spread across his face.
It made sense. The healing factor wasn't some temporary illusion—it was a true, physical restoration. Wounds healed, cellular damage repaired; even if he unequipped the skill, the results remained. He could theoretically equip it, heal up, and then switch back to other skills without losing the benefits.
It was a miraculous tool, and he couldn't help but think of all the possibilities it opened up. Maybe, just maybe, it could even help him endure those long, sleepless nights as he continued to grind away in pursuit of power.
In his more whimsical moments, Charlie had wondered about using physical enhancements to maintain energy levels during long gaming sessions. But the game developers had clearly anticipated such loopholes. Any attempts to use strength-based abilities for endless stamina were blocked by the game's mechanics. Only the strength gained from actual physical training mattered in the long run.
And speaking of progress, his latest account upgrade came with an unexpected new feature.
Curious, Charlie opened the details page to inspect the upgrade. His eyes scanned the screen, widening in surprise when he saw the bold lettering of the new feature:
Tech Modules!?