Prologue: Second Chance
The cold night wrapped around him as he patrolled the empty streets of the private neighborhood for the umpteenth time. Ezequiel, the only security guard in the area, knew every corner of those luxurious houses that would never belong to him. A 24-year-old young man with dark hair and black eyes, of average appearance and height. Life had not been easy for him: the eldest of five siblings, with an abandoned degree in chemistry and a financial situation that barely allowed him to stay afloat. However, that night, everything changed forever.
An unexpected noise shattered the monotony. Silent, Ezequiel approached one of the houses, where the shadow of an intruder moved quickly. Without thinking twice, he intervened. There was a struggle, a sharp blow to his chest, and suddenly, everything went dark. His last thought was for his family... hoping they would be okay.
---
"Connection reestablished..."
Ezequiel opened his eyes. He was no longer in the neighborhood. There were no houses, no streets, no cold night air. In front of him stretched an infinite void, resembling outer space, with distant lights twinkling like stars. The strangest thing was a transparent screen floating before him, with bright letters that seemed to be written just for him.
"Ezequiel, you have died in your world."
The message hit him like a hammer, but the screen continued displaying text without giving him time to react.
"Your sacrifice has been acknowledged, and as a result, you have been granted a second chance at life in a random fictional world. Before proceeding, you will receive a balance of karma points based on the life you lived. The accumulated amount reflects your actions, decisions, and legacy in your previous world."
Ezequiel swallowed hard. The screen flickered and displayed a number:
[2375 karma points]
"Your life was average, with good intentions and decent actions, but without standing out beyond the ordinary. You can use these points to acquire skills, characters, or objects from various fictional worlds or spend them on a random draw."
Torn between caution and curiosity, Ezequiel decided to take a risk.
— "I'll use the points for a random draw," he said, his voice echoing in the void.
"The random draw will cost 2000 karma points. Do you confirm your choice?"
Without hesitation, he nodded. The screen flickered, and a massive roulette appeared with multiple categories: powers, characters, weapons, abilities. As it spun, the speed was so high that the options blurred into streaks of color, but familiar names slowly started appearing: Goku, Saitama, Kratos, Spiderman, Superboy...
Ezequiel's heart pounded as the roulette slowed down. Finally, it stopped on an icon with a large red "S" on a black background.
"Character template acquired: Conner Kent (Superboy), Young Justice – Season 1 version."
Ezequiel stared in amazement as the screen detailed his new condition: he would possess Conner Kent's abilities up until the end of the first season, with the potential for his powers to grow over time by absorbing more sunlight.
— "Does this mean I can become as strong as Superman?" he asked.
"Over time and under the right conditions, your power will continue to grow. The template only determines your starting point."
He sighed in relief but then looked at the remaining numbers on the screen.
— "Can I use the remaining points to ensure my family has a good life after my death?"
"Request accepted. The remaining points have been assigned to guarantee the well-being of your loved ones in your previous world."
"Next step: World selection."
Another roulette appeared, this time showing names of different universes: DC, Naruto, Marvel, Dragon Ball... Finally, fate was decided:
"Selected world: Marvel Universe (AU)."
Ezequiel felt a knot in his stomach as he saw the confirmation.
"In this new world, you will not have a pre-established identity. You will have to create your own path."
— "Great... no pressure," he muttered, trying to process the situation.
A strange sensation enveloped him. A dizziness, a pull in his stomach, and suddenly, darkness...
---
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in that infinite void. He was inside a dilapidated building, with crumbling walls and broken windows. Everything was covered in dust and mold. Next to him was a black duffel bag he didn't remember having before. With trembling hands, he opened it and found two sets of clothes inside: a short-sleeved black T-shirt with a red "S" on the chest, a brown belt with a metal buckle, dark blue military-style cargo pants, brown military boots, and another black T-shirt with the same red "S," accompanied by black fingerless gloves.
Intrigued, he approached a broken window, and his reflection in the dirty glass made him hold his breath. His face had changed. The person staring back at him was no longer his average self but a young Caucasian man with short black hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a full-body white suit with a red "S" on the chest, just like the one Superboy wore when he was found in Cadmus. His muscular structure was firmer, stronger... he was no longer himself. Now, he had the appearance of Conner Kent.
— "No way... this is real."
As he tried to process the situation, a persistent question lingered in his mind: What am I supposed to do now?
He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and looked at the city that stretched beyond the broken windows. This was his second chance... and he wasn't going to waste it.
---
End of Prologue.