Damian's eyes fluttered open, and sounds of far-off oncoming traffic and muffled voices filled his eardrums. He blinked against the bright sunlight filtering through the window-no feeling, groggy.
'Where the hell am I?' he was thinking, trying to shake off fogginess. He looked around and saw that he lay on a bed in a small, rather dingy apartment. The walls were bare of any decoration, the furniture was just a couch, a table, and a couple of chairs. It looked like one of those cheap one-bedroom flats, which you rent on a shoestring budget.
Damian sat up much more slowly, running a hand through his dark hair. "So this is it, my new life."
The weight of what just happened still lingered in his mind. The crash, the god, the Villain's Code-it was so much to take in. Now, here he was, tossed into this universe. Which universe? The god had said something about Marvel, but the MCU was something huge, with too much inside: heroes, villains, events that could rip entire worlds apart.
'I need to figure out what time I'm in,' Damian mused, swinging his legs off the bed. He rose up, the strange-yet-somehow-familiar weight of his new body unfolding. It was as if this body had already been his to begin with. 'May as well see if there's a calendar or something around.'
He scanned the small apartment for anything that could tell him what year it was. A cheap-looking smartphone lay on the table. Damian picked it up, pressing the button on its side. The screen flickered on.
"August 10th, 2012," he muttered, his voice low and inquisitive. 'August 2012? That's right around the time of the first Avengers movie… Just after Loki's invasion of New York.'
Damian huffed low, a twisted smirk playing on his lips. "So, I'm in the MCU, huh? Right on the verge of some serious world-altering events. This could be fun."
The Villain's Code. He needed to understand more about this "system" the god had mentioned. Damian frowned, remembering the god's words about his new role as a villain. "What was it again? Some kind of artifact meant to shape me into the ultimate villain?"
'Villain's Code, appear,' he thought, focusing his mind.
Nothing happened.
He let out a frustrated sigh and muttered out loud, "Villain's Code!"
Before he knew it, a transparent screen appeared in front of him and just sort of hovered there in mid-air.
[Villain's Code Activated.]
The words glimmered across the screen in front of him. Damian lifted an eyebrow. "Took you long enough."
[You do not need to shout. Simply think the command, and I will appear.]
'Oh, I see. You respond to thoughts,' Damian thought, wearing a smug look on his face as he tried out the system.
[Correct.]
"Alright, show me the interface. I need to get familiar with how this thing works."
The screen shifted, showing several tabs and sections—Status, Inventory, Missions, Skills. It looked almost like a video game interface. Damian felt a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
"Status first," Damian muttered, navigating to the tab.
A detailed breakdown of his current stats appeared,
[Status
Name: Damian
Title(s): Variable, The True Villain, Villain Code Wielder, Reincarnator
Race: Human
Tier: 10-B (Normal Human)
Skills: None
Age: 20 (Earth Standard)
]
'Damn, I'm just a normal human now,' he thought, clicking his tongue. 'No powers, no strength, nothing. But that's going to change soon, right?'
[New Gift Unlocked: Villain's Template System Activated.]
'Villain's Template? What the hell is that?' Damian furrowed his brow.
[The Villain's Template can inherit other characters' skills and abilities throughout dimensions. A template has been randomly selected for you.]
The system's screen flickered and presented the name: Sasuke Uchiha Template Unlocked.
Damian's eyes widened in surprise. "No way. Sasuke? From Naruto?"
[Correct. You have gained access to Sasuke Uchiha's abilities.]
'Now we're talking,' Damian thought, excitement bubbling within him.
The screen flickered once more to show him a list of abilities that had been added onto his status.
[Skills Unlocked:
Sharingan-Three Tomoe, Level 1
Chidori
Taijutsu-Mastered
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu (Level 1)
Lightning Style: Chidori (Level 1)
Genjutsu-Basic Level
]
Damian continued grinning down at the list of new powers. 'Sharingan, huh? This is going to be interesting.'
He couldn't help but feel his confidence soar now that he had some real abilities to work with. Testing out the Sharingan or using Chidori in battle made his blood rush with anticipation.
'Let me check my status again,' Damian thought.
[Status
Name: Damian
Title(s): Variable, The True Villain, Villain Code Wielder, Reincarnator
Race: Human
Tier: 9-A (Small Building Level)
Skills:
Sharingan (Three Tomoe, Level 1)
Chidori
Taijutsu (Mastered)
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu (Level 1)
Lightning Style: Chidori (Level 1)
Genjutsu - Basic Level
]
'9-A, huh? That's an uplift, ' Damian thought, satisfied, nodding. 'Small building level. I'm already stronger than most normal humans.
Damian continued staring out the window, his mind a maelstrom of thoughts. The city seemed so calm, so blissfully oblivious to what storm was to come. Once more, that dark smile tugged at his lips, but he mustn't give in to it quite yet. He was empowered now, yes; but then again, this was only the beginning.
"Villain's Code," he thought again, paying attention to the system. "Show me the synchronization rate for the Sasuke template."
In front of his eyes, a new screen popped up:
[Template Synchronization: 5%]
'Five percent?' Damian raised an eyebrow at such a slow start. "So, I'm only able to use a fraction of Sasuke's abilities for now?"
Correct. Your current synchronization with the Sasuke Uchiha template is at 5%. As synchronization increases, advanced abilities and upgrades will be unlocked. At 100%, full mastery of the template will be achieved.
Damian moved around the small apartment, his fingers touching his chin as he thought over the implications. "So, I need to earn synchronization.and until I do, I'm stuck with just the basics?"
[Yes, and as the synchronization goes on, your Sharingan will evolve, and techniques will be available to you. In time, you shall have all the weapons of this template.]
"Great," Damian muttered with sarcasm. A spark of excitement, though, still managed to well underneath his frustration. "And how do I increase the synchronization rate?"
This will be better achieved through such activities as battle, training, and missions available through the Villain's Code. Events considered critical to your nature as a villain will also speed up your synchronization.
He stopped his pacing and let that information settle. "So, I have to act like a villain. and take on missions."
His eyes returned to the status screen-the soft glow of synchronization at the bottom of it. The power of the Sharingan, currently at 5%, was nothing compared to what it could become: Mangekyō Sharingan, Eternal Mangekyō, even Rinnegan-locked behind that barrier. It frustrated him that he knew what he could achieve but was helplessly stuck with this meager incremental process.
'This world doesn't have time for any slow progress,' Damian thought with a sneer. I need the power now.".
He focused on the skills he already had. The Three Tomoe Sharingan, even at this level, was a powerful tool; the enhanced perception and reflexes it gave him, along with the ability to memorize basic techniques, were nothing to sneeze at. Fireball Jutsu and Chidori were so iconic, but there was so much more he wanted to unlock. The mere idea of using Amaterasu-or even the fearsome Susanoo-made his fists clench in anticipation.
But I have to be patient. Rushing into a situation like this can only get me killed, and besides, this is MCU-land, which means one wrong step and I'm up against a Thor or the Hulk.
A plan began to formulate in his head. If synchronization increased with training, missions, and acting the role of a villain, then he needed to get started on that straight away. He'd have to be careful in his battles he chose, target the weaker opponents while building himself up to take on the real powerhouses of this universe.
'But first, I need to get accustomed with this body and these abilities. Even at 5%, the Sharingan should prove a serious advantage over regular humans.
Damian turned away from the window and walked towards the door, paused a second weighing his choices. He really couldn't just walk out into the city without a plan. If he was going to set up himself as a villain, he needed to do it with precision.
"Villain's Code," he thought, calling upon the system once more. "Show me my first mission."
The screen flickered and a new tab opened:
[Mission: Test of Power
Objective: Kill three enemies in combat.
Reward: Gain 2% synchronization
Failure: Lose synchronization. ]
Damian's eyes narrowed. "Three opponents, huh? That is easy enough."
[Note: This mission needs to be completed within 48 hours.]
He wasn't bothered about the time limit; it was the loss of what would happen if he failed that bothered him. He would lose synchronization, which would set him further back than he already was, and he couldn't afford that. He had to win, and he needed to do it fast.
Part of him wondered if he should start small-perhaps by picking off some low-level criminals. Another part of him wanted a real challenge, though-the part that really seemed to be embracing the inner villain.
'Maybe a gang or a small group of armed thugs would be more fun,' Damian mused. 'They're tough enough to be a challenge but not so powerful that I'll risk blowing my cover too early.'
He was getting excited at the thought of his new talents in actual combat. He could already imagine it his mind-the blur of the movements around him as his Sharingan kicked in, the crackling sound of Chidori ripping through the air. His fists were already clenching in anticipation.
But he had to do this intelligently. The Villain's Code was molding him into something other than a common thug. He was meant for great things, for power. He would become the best villain this world has ever seen, but for that, he needed to be calculated to the last detail, precise.
"Alright," Damian muttered to himself. "Time to get to work."
He clutched the low-cost smartphone from the table and shoved it in his pocket. As he turned to reach for the door, a sharp pulse of energy coursed through his body, and he froze on the spot.
[Warning: The synchronization rate remains low. Extensive use of the Sharingan and high-level techniques will put stress on your body.]
Damian smiled, enjoying how the challenge seemed to seep from the system's words. "Don't sweat it. I'll be fine."