The lighter flicked open, a small flame dancing to life. A quick snap shut, and the flame vanished. Open, ignite. Close, extinguish. Over and over again, the cycle repeated.
John glanced at the system interface.
Gacha Points: 29
His eyes shifted to the clock on the wall. 23:59. The second hand ticked forward, and as the new day began, the number in his display shifted.
Gacha Points: 30
"Finally," he muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
It had been a month since his last gacha draw. Today, he was ready to take another shot.
As soon as the points hit 0, ten cards materialized before him.
Jason Todd
The first and most exciting reward was the character card of Jason Todd, aka, Red Hood. Formerly a Robin trained by Batman himself, Jason Todd possessed an impressive range of skills. From business acumen to weapons mastery, expert martial arts, and advanced computer hacking (second only to Nightwing or Barbara Gordon), Jason was one of DC's most formidable fighters.
In his pre-death state, Jason had already achieved peak human condition. After his revival via the Lazarus Pit, he gained healing abilities and slowed aging. Perfect for template.
Nobita's Glasses
"Useless," John muttered, holding the glasses with mild disdain. "But I'd trade anything for that blue cat."
The possibilities of Doraemon's futuristic gadgets filled his mind. From time machines to reality-manipulating tech, Nobita's world was a treasure trove of black technology.
Dodge Charger R/T
The next card revealed Dom's iconic car from Fast and Furious. "Damn, I miss Brian," John thought, a pang of nostalgia hitting him.
Contract Card x7
The description intrigued him. These cards allowed him to make others his summon without summoning them through gacha, they could be used to bring characters from other worlds if he ever visited them.
Vibranium Shield
It was unmistakable: Captain America's iconic shield. Though it lacked Steve Rogers' star-spangled paint, it was the same indestructible Vibranium marvel.
"What design should I go for?" John mused, already imagining his customization options.
Revive Card x1
This card could bring someone back to life within a month of their death, provided their DNA was intact.
John's excitement was short-lived when he noticed a glaring exception: It won't work on the host.
"Seriously? Racist gacha system!" he groaned. "How could you betray me, your loyal host?"
Koromon Card
This turned out to be a standard collectible card, not one to summon the adorable Digimon. John sighed, mildly disappointed.
Chocolate Frogs x7
Again from the wizarding world, "It's just a coincidence, right?" John muttered, wondering if the gacha had a hidden agenda.
$10,000,000 USD
Again money
Boo Stone Collection
The final item made John chuckle. It was a set of colorful stones straight from Shin-chan. " Honestly, sometimes it feels more like an adult show than a kids' one," he said remembering sinchan behaviour.
Initially, John's plan was to acquire at least two or three templates and travel to game of thrones and train before dealing with AZI. But the Jason Todd template changed everything. With it, he could handle them much more easily.
Without hesitation, he used the template.
Jason todd 1%
He then activated the system function unlocked in last gacha. Instantly, his body began to transform.
His hair shifted from orange to short, jet-black strands. His eyes turned a sharp green, and his height extended to at least six feet. His physique grew more muscular, his lean form resembling someone who had been honed through rigorous training. His clothes, stretched to their limit, looked ready to burst at any moment.
John glanced at his reflection, smirking as he took in the changes. "Just like someone trained by Batman," he thought, admiring the defined muscles visible beneath his shirt.
Without wasting time, he pulled out another card: the Background Customization Card.
Graduate. Orphan. Inherited wealth. Just the basics.
Carefully, he selected every detail he needed to craft the perfect backstory. When the system tallied the cost, it came to 8 million USD.
"Alright, then," he muttered, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Name's Jason Todd."
Soon some cards appear infront of him, driving licence and other IDs.
*************
S.H.I.E.L.D Headquarters
Agent Coulson moved quickly through the halls of S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters. Rarely did he have much downtime, and today was no exception. He had just returned from a mission in North Dakota when an urgent call from Fury interrupted his brief respite.
Upon receiving clearance, he entered the briefing room and immediately noticed Maria Hill seated at the table.
"Sir," Coulson said, addressing Nick Fury, who was standing by a table, focused intently on a set of photographs spread before him.
Without turning, Fury waved a hand, gesturing for him to take a seat.
Coulson sat down, his curiosity piqued. Fury finally straightened, picking up one of the photos and sliding it across the table toward him.
"I've got a mission for you," Fury said, his tone measured.
Coulson picked up the photo and froze. His eyes widened as he recognized what was depicted: a block of ice with something—or someone—encased inside. The faint outline of a star-patterned shield was unmistakable.
Taking a deep breath, Coulson looked up at Fury. "Sir... is this what I think it is?"
Fury nodded. "It was discovered yesterday. We believe he's still inside—possibly alive, possibly not, given his condition."
Coulson understood immediately. The weight of the revelation hung in the air.
"What are your orders, sir?" he asked, his voice steady despite the excitement bubbling beneath.
"I want you to lead a small, specialized team to recover him. Keep it discreet—this doesn't leave the circle," Fury instructed, his single eye piercing.
"Yes, sir," Coulson replied with a determined nod. He glanced back at the photo, his lips curling into a small, almost reverent smile.
This was more than a mission—it was a piece of history, a symbol. And now, it was his responsibility.
Maria Hill shook her head, turning to Fury, who seemed lost in thought again. "Sir, you know the council will intervene," she said, her tone cautious.
Fury didn't flinch, his response sharp and immediate. "I know. That's why Coulson is leaving now."
He leaned forward, his gaze intense as he continued, "Despite Ross's failures, he proved one thing: creating a Super Soldier isn't the problem anymore. In fact, the attempts keep getting better. Luckily, Ross is too busy chasing his green monster to notice this."
Maria frowned, understanding the subtext. Fury was playing a high-stakes game, and he knew the council would have its own agenda.
"If that beast," Fury added, "could ever be controlled, it'd be more dangerous than Steve ever was. But Steve isn't just about the serum."
Maria raised an eyebrow, waiting for Fury to elaborate.
"The council might want his blood—hell, they'd give anything for it—but they won't touch him. Why?" Fury paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Because he's not just a super soldier." His voice lowered, almost reverent. "He's Captain America."
Maria exhaled, nodding slightly. Fury was right. Steve Rogers wasn't just a relic of the past—he was a symbol that even the council would think twice about exploiting openly.
"And that," Fury said, leaning back with a small smirk, "is what makes him untouchable."