The beeping of the heart monitor faded into nothingness. For the first time in 22 years, Zane felt weightless. The ache in his chest, the fire in his joints, the constant, gnawing pain—they were gone.
And so was everything else.
Zane opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by an endless expanse of black. It wasn't the kind of darkness he was used to—it wasn't cold or empty. It was alive, pulsating faintly, as though the void itself were breathing.
He floated, untethered, his hospital gown replaced by something unfamiliar: a plain white shirt and dark pants, comfortable and clean.
"Am I… dead?" he whispered, his voice carrying into the vastness as though the void itself were listening.
"Yes, you are," a voice said with amusement.
Zane turned sharply, searching the void. "Who said that? And what are you?"
"Me, silly," the voice replied, and a figure materialized before him.
She was like something out of a dream—or a fevered nightmare. Dressed in an extravagant jester's outfit of red, blue, and hints of purple, the figure grinned at him with unrestrained glee. Her movements were fluid and whimsical, as if she were a puppet pulled by invisible strings.
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"Hello, human! My name is Jestara, the Harlequin Muse. Goddess of joy, mischief, and entertainment," she declared, performing an exaggerated bow. Bells on her outfit jingled softly with her movements.
"Hi… Jestara," Zane said cautiously. "Can you tell me why I'm here?"
Jestara twirled in place, her grin widening. "Oh, it's quite simple! You lived a sad little life, and I couldn't just leave you like that. So, I'm here to give you a second chance! Three wishes and a brand-new world to explore. A world of fun, adventure, and chaos!"
"A new world?" Zane repeated, hope flickering in his chest. "What kind of world?"
"The MCU," Jestara said, clapping her hands. "But in an alternate universe!"
Zane's brief hope crashed and burned. "The MCU is dangerous," he said, his voice tinged with fear.
"Exactly!" Jestara giggled, clapping again. "That's what makes it fun! But don't worry, dear Zane—I'm not throwing you in unprepared. That's what the wishes are for!"
Zane hesitated. "Can I think for a minute?"
"Of course! But don't take too long. Nothing too overpowered, though. If everything's too easy, it wouldn't be fun!" Jestara said, her voice practically a sing-song.
Zane's mind raced. The MCU wasn't just dangerous—it was lethal. He needed abilities that would let him survive, and maybe even thrive, in such a chaotic world.
After several minutes, he nodded. "Okay. For my first wish, I want the powers of Archer—Shirou Emiya—from Fate/stay night."
Jestara's grin stretched impossibly wide. "Oh, I love that choice! Done! But," she added with a wagging finger, "you'll only have his two short swords and bow. No excessive stockpiling of weapons. Gotta keep it interesting!"
Zane considered this. Even with the limitation, the powers were solid:
Magic Resistance to shield against magical attacks.Clairvoyance for ultra-accurate vision and long-range sniping.Mind's Eye (True) to calmly assess and escape danger.Magecraft and Projection Magecraft for creating weapons and tools.And, of course, Unlimited Blade Works, a Reality Marble that embodied a world of endless blades.
"That's fine," Zane said, his confidence growing. "Those abilities will work."
"Excellent! Now, what's wish number two?" Jestara asked, leaning forward eagerly, her bells jingling in anticipation.
Jestara grinned as she twirled, her bells jingling softly in the void. "Well? What's next? You've got one solid wish already—don't keep me waiting!"
I took a deep breath, letting my thoughts wander. My first wish had given me the tools to fight, but I needed more than just weapons. I needed power—the kind of power that would let me survive and thrive in a universe as dangerous as the MCU.
One name came to mind. A character whose abilities had turned him into a godlike figure in his world.
"For my second wish," I said, my voice steady, "I want the powers of Sung Jinwoo from Solo Leveling."
Jestara stopped mid-spin, cocking her head to the side with an amused smile. "Oh? Sung Jinwoo's powers? That's quite the request. You realize his power could throw the balance completely out of whack, right?"
I shrugged. "I know. But his abilities fit perfectly with what I need."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then nodded. "Alright, fine. But to keep things interesting, you'll only get a few of his abilities: Umbrakinesis, Shadow Extraction, Shadow Preservation, and Shadow Exchange. That's non-negotiable."
"That's fine," I said quickly. "Those are the ones I wanted anyway."
With a snap of her fingers, Jestara unleashed a surge of energy that rippled through the void. Shadows swirled around me, flickering like flames before settling into a faint, pulsing aura. I felt a strange connection to them, as though they were alive—a part of me.
Shadow Extraction: I could now extract the shadows of the fallen, transforming them into loyal soldiers to join my ranks.Shadow Preservation: My new army could be stored away safely, and I could sense the world through their eyes and ears whenever I wanted.Shadow Exchange: Distance was no longer an obstacle; I could teleport to any location where my shadows lingered, traveling in an instant.Umbrakinesis: The shadows obeyed my will, twisting and reshaping into weapons, shields, or anything else I needed.
Jestara clapped her hands, her grin wider than ever. "Now this is exciting! You're turning into quite the wildcard, Zane. A blade-master with an army of shadows at your command? I can't wait to see what you'll do."
I smirked, the weight of my new powers settling comfortably within me. "Thanks, Jestara. Now, let's talk about my final wish."
My final wish was easy to make. After all, the MCU was filled with beings who could twist the minds of even the strongest heroes. I wasn't going to take any chances.
"For my last wish," I said, meeting Jestara's gaze, "I just want immunity to all mind-control abilities."
Jestara's grin widened, her bells jingling with approval. "Oh, that's a smart one! I like it. No pesky mind tricks for you—done!" She snapped her fingers, and I felt a subtle shift, like a wall settling into place within my mind.
"Now," Jestara said, her tone turning almost serious, "before you go, there's one more thing I need to tell you." She leaned in close, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "The higher beings in the Marvel universe—the Celestials, Watchers, and whatnot—they won't notice you. You're flying under their radar. The only exception is the One Above All. If they want to interfere, well…" She shrugged with an exaggerated flourish. "That's above even my pay grade."
I nodded, grateful for the edge. "Got it. Thanks, Jestara."
Her grin returned in full force. "Try to have fun, okay? I'll be watching you, but I won't interfere. Unless," she added with a wink, "it gets really boring. Can't have that, now can we?"
I chuckled despite myself. "I'll do my best to keep things entertaining."
With that, Jestara snapped her fingers one final time. The vibrant void around me began to fade, darkness rushing in like an unstoppable tide.
"Good luck, Zane," Jestara's voice echoed in the blackness. "Welcome to your second life!"
Then my vision went black.