Chapter One: A New Beginning

Ethan woke up in a dark, unfamiliar room. The floor beneath him glowed faintly with a grid of red light, pulsating like a heartbeat. As he sat up, trying to make sense of his surroundings, a calm, mechanical voice broke the silence:

"System activated. Welcome, Player."

"What the...?" Ethan muttered, looking around. Suddenly, a translucent window appeared in front of him, floating in mid-air:

{System: Player in the DC Universe}

[Main Mission: Save the DC Universe from impending chaos.]

[Side Missions: Assemble a team of powerful allies (minimum: 5).]

[Rewards: Skill points, unique abilities, and special relationships with allies.]

Before he could fully process the information, another notification popped up:

{First Mission: Survive in Gotham City for 24 hours.}

[Rewards: 100 Skill Points + One Starter Ability]

[Penalty for Failure: Permanent Death]

"Gotham? As in Gotham City? Wait… am I in the DC Universe?" Ethan's heart raced as he pieced things together.

The voice spoke again, emotionless but commanding:

"The countdown begins now."

Suddenly, the dark room vanished, and Ethan found himself standing in a dimly lit alleyway. The cold air bit at his skin, and the faint glow of old streetlights illuminated the cracked pavement. Distant screams echoed through the night, sending chills down his spine.

"No time to panic. If this is real, then Gotham is the worst place to start."

A new window appeared before him, offering a choice:

{Select Your First Ability:}

[1. Enhanced Durability – To withstand attacks and endure battles.]

[2. Stealth – To evade enemies and move undetected.]

[3. Charismatic Persuasion – To turn foes into allies.]

Ethan hesitated for a moment before selecting the third option: Charismatic Persuasion. If he was going to survive in Gotham, he needed allies—and fast.

The moment he made his choice, a strange warmth coursed through his body. A notification flashed:

{Ability Unlocked: Charismatic Persuasion - Level 1}

Before he could think further, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the alley. Ethan turned to see three men approaching, their faces grim and their weapons glinting in the faint light.

"Well, well," one of them said, grinning wickedly. "What do we have here? A lost little lamb in our territory?"

Ethan forced a smile, masking his fear. "Time to test this new ability."

To be continued...