Earth 199999 (ie Marvel Cinematic Universe), 2008, USA, New York City, Manhattan island, Clinton District. (Clinton is often referred to as the "Hell Kitchen.")
On a commercial street near Clinton Park, an 18-year-old Asian teenager hurried into the alley, took a bunch of keys from his jacket pocket and opened the back door of a small shop.
This seemingly ordinary teenager bore a striking golden tattoo on the back of his right hand—a radiant five-pointed star one big, and 4 more small ones on its side, just like the five-star red flag of China.
After entering the store, the probably Chinese boy quickly locked the back door and turned, and went straight to the basement of the store.
Once the basement door was firmly locked behind him, the teenager strode to the center of the dimly lit space, where he eagerly unloaded his backpack. From it, he retrieved six apple-sized crystal balls, each exuding an aura of significance.
With utmost care, he positioned one of the balls on the floor, his gaze fixed on them intently, aware of their profound connection to his destiny.
Upon closer inspection, the colorless and transparent crystal balls, identical in size, each housed a distinct golden five-pointed star within. Ranging from one to seven stars, only five stars were amiss among them.
Filled with anticipation, the teenager outstretched his arms dramatically and called out, "Come forth, Shenron! Grant my wish!"
A fleeting breeze swept through the basement, yet nothing seemed to shift...
Baffled, the teenager furrowed his brow, then, with renewed determination, he knelt down, placing his right hand with the five-star tattoo alongside the six crystal balls. "Shenron, heed my call! Fulfill my desire!"
As his voice echoed, a sudden burst of electric light flickered above him before plunging the basement into darkness.
In the engulfing shadows, seven radiant white lights sprang from the floor, illuminating the six-pointed crystal ball and the youth's marked hand simultaneously. Transforming into a singular entity, the seven lights coalesced into a luminous, serpent-shaped beast—its form a fusion of various majestic creatures.
Disappointed by the beast's modest size, the teenager mused aloud, "Is this all? In Dragon Ball, Shenron was the size of a building..."
Undaunted by the boy's comment, Shenron hovered in midair, his regal form emanating power as he proclaimed with mechanical precision, "State your wish. Any desire can be fulfilled, but only one..."
Eager with newfound hope, the youth inquired, "Can any wish truly be granted?"
Shenron affirmed, "Indeed."
"Excellent!" The boy's face lit up with excitement. "Shenron, return me to my original world!"
Shenron:"Apologies, such a feat is beyond my power..."
Stunned, the boy's disbelief turned to exasperation, "What's this about any wish then? You boastful beast!"
Shenron explained, "Your essence resides in the Marvel world. I can't transport your physical body, only your soul."
Undeterred, the boy persisted, "Then send my soul back to my former body!"
"Regrettably, I cannot..."
Frustrated, the boy seethed, "Why not?"
"In your world, you are dead..."
Defiantly, the boy argued, "But resurrection is common in Dragon Ball! Why the limitation here?"
"You are not from Dragon Ball universe. Only within the parameters of that universe can life be restored."
Silent contemplation enveloped the boy, his desperation palpable. "Can I inhabit a dying body, then, as I did before in the Marvel world?"
Shenron solemnly replied, "No. your soul is integrated within the Five Star Dragon Ball has made separation untenable.Once forcibly separated, it will severely damaged. Your soul won't be able to occupy any body, time will diminish your essence till it fades..."
"…"
The teenager became completely desperate, slammed his hand on his knees, and muttered hopelessly: "I can't go back, I really can't go back!"
"Dad! Mom! Your son has disappointed you!"
He screamed on the ground and cried out lout! His original name was Gurun. He was not from this world, not even from the world of Dragon Ball. To him, they were just world from film and animation. He never thought that one day, he would be a soul bringing the Dragon Balls to the Marvel Universe.
Gurun was a native Chinese. After crossing over, his soul floated for a while before landing on body of a dying young man. Fortunately, the new body was also that of a Chinese. At first, he knew nothing about it. But after a while, he regained only a few memories from the original owner who had sudden death, and adapted quickly to his new identity. His name was Rex Lee.
Rex Lee was second generation Chinese American, whose parents were killed in an air crash, leaving him with a flat and a small Chinese restaurant in New York.
At 1st, because of the amount of information he had gathered, he thought he was still in his original world, just a few years later perhaps. That lasted until he saw talking about the "late hero, Captain America" and news about Tony Stark on TV. He was shocked to find out that he there were heroes and villains all over this world, the world of Marvel!
Living in this world, and being an America, was dangerous enough. But no… he had to be in New York… NEW YORK!
How many tragedies have occurred in this city that he knew from the Marvel story? Hulk vs. Abomination, Captain America vs. Winter Soldier, SHIELD vs. Hydra, Avengers vs. Alien army in the Battle of New York, Defenders League Battles… and so on, they were countless! !