Lusborn sat at the dining table alone, his plate of fried eggs, bread, and tea in front of him.
He ate slowly, his ears tuned to the news broadcast still playing in the background.
The voice of the anchor droned on about the aftermath of the Hammer Industries incident, the casualties, and the destruction left behind.
But his mind was elsewhere, calculating, planning. He knew that this world was unlike the peaceful life he once led.
Here, danger lurked at every corner, and power was the only thing that guaranteed survival.
Peace?
In a world with cosmic threats, godlike beings, and mad titans? That was a joke. The only way he could have true peace was by becoming powerful enough that no one would dare disturb him.
His ability held limitless potential.
If he could transform into any creature—fictional, mythical, or unknown—then the possibilities were endless.
Actually if his theory was correct, then he could outright just create creatures from his imagination.
Because if he could turn into even creatures unknown so long as HE knew them, it means he can outright imagine of a creature and viola.
Yet, the major drawback was clear: his body was pathetically weak.
It couldn't handle the strain of high-grade transformations, forcing him into a fragile state after shifting.
That needed to change, and fast.
He needed a body that could withstand anything, something on par with or even surpassing Captain America in just three days.
That's how long he gave himself.
Three days to reach peak human condition or beyond. It was a near-impossible task under normal circumstances, but Lusborn was anything but normal.
Considering he could transform into creatures that can adapt and evolve, though theoretically, the adaption would be due to the transformation and tied only to the transformation's cells, he was going to find a way for it to affect even his real cells.
If he could do that, then this would be way too easy.
Not because it was too powerful or that it was his target, no, this was just his starting point.
He had to have this kind of strength to start his other plans, plus there he would be able to accept the strain of most low level supernatural creatures.
And with that, his path to strength would be greatly reduced.
Now, there were many methods to accelerate his growth.
The problem? Most of them would cost him his humanity— not like becoming crazy or something, but either by permanently altering his genetics or forcing him into a new, unrecognizable form.
That was a line he refused to cross, well at least for now.
After all he was aware that remaining human, physically, and becoming insanely strong, were two things apart.
But right now, he would try to keep it, maybe make a few tweaks here and there but without completely changing.
Because no matter how strong he became, he wanted to remain human, at least mentally. There was something grounding in that.
Something that kept him sane in a world filled with monsters.
The second issue? Secrecy.
Whatever he planned to do, it had to be done in complete isolation.
He couldn't afford prying eyes or government agencies sniffing around his business. For that, he needed a place—somewhere remote, hidden, and secure.
And to acquire such a place, he needed one thing: money. A lot of it.
Lusborn's current job as an engineer at Hammer Industries paid decently, but 'decent' wasn't going to cut it.
He wasn't looking for a paycheck; he was looking for financial freedom—millions, preferably hundreds of millions, even billions.
That kind of money would allow him to operate without restrictions, purchasing whatever he needed without any issues.
Money. He needed a lot of it.
And not from petty thugs or costumed villains or even villain companies like the kingpins and the like.
Too messy. Too risky.
He needed clean, efficient funding. Banks. The thought settled in his mind. A legal, well-established bank.
Why? Because banks had more money than they could count.
They were overflowing with cash.
A few hundred million would be a drop in the bucket. And insured. No one really got hurt in the grand scheme of things.
And most importantly, it was the fastest, most efficient way to fund his plans without leaving an obvious trail.
The cleanest.
If you ask me, the one watching over Lusborn, I think that's a really good thought process.
Now that the decision was made, Lusborn shifted his thoughts to the execution. He had to be methodical.
The plan needed to be clean, seamless, and leave zero traces.
Step one: Infiltrate a bank with a massive vault, preferably one that handled both digital and physical currency.
These kinds of banks usually had a lot, a lot of cash. Something he needed.
As for how he would infiltrate without being noticed... never seen cameras that capture mosquitoes.
Pretty simple, right?
Step two: Secure an isolated location. He needed a place where he could work in peace, somewhere entirely off the grid.
Buying a property outright was risky, so he'd have to go through black market channels. It was more expensive, but it guaranteed anonymity.
Step three: Acquire high-tech equipment. Some of it he could buy legally, but the truly advanced tech—the kind that would accelerate his research and modifications—had to come from the black market.
Countries with looser regulations would be ideal for this. Russia, the Middle East, or even some parts of Africa and Asia had access to experimental technologies that he could repurpose.
Not because he couldn't create it himself, but he had a vision of creating really really advanced tech that is thousands of years from this era.
After all he had transformations with that kind of knowledge.
But for that, he needed the present tech to help him in the building of other tech, that's pretty basic, so... yeah.
Step four: Begin development. With the resources, he could then transform into creatures with unparalleled intelligence, ones capable of designing and engineering tools beyond human comprehension.
He didn't just want to become strong physically; he wanted to enhance himself scientifically.
His ability gave him access to knowledge beyond human limits—he just needed the right transformations and viola, he would have some really high tech.
And with that kind of tech, he can then collect a lot of DNA from really useful creatures and getting the ultimate serum.
Something with unlimited growth potential but also keeping him human.
Step five: Testing. He estimated this phase would take a week at most if he worked non-stop something he had no problem with.
In his old life, he was used to working for days on end without rest, pushing his body and mind to the absolute limit. This would be no different.
His plan was set.
He finished his meal, stood up from the dining table, and exhaled deeply.
His mother, still watching the news, cast a brief glance in his direction, but he ignored her.
He had long stopped caring about whatever guilt or regret she harbored.
Whatever damage had been done between them was irreparable. She sighed, clearly used to his cold demeanor, and returned her attention to the television.
Lusborn didn't care. He had far bigger things to worry about.
With his mind fully focused, he took his plate to the sink, washed it quickly, and then turned toward the stairs.
It was time to prepare.
It was time to take control of his future.
Lusborn stepped out of the house and onto the sidewalk, inhaling the fresh but slightly damp air.
The sky above was cloudy, with patches of the sun peeking through the gaps, casting a soft golden glow over the city.
A strong breeze whistled through the streets, tugging lightly at his clothes, sending discarded paper and leaves scuttling along the pavement.
It wasn't aggressive, just enough to make him consider going back for a coat, but he decided against it.
His first priority was replacing his lost phone and lines, and for that, he needed to head to town.
They lived in a more secluded area in Astoria, a rather peaceful neighborhood.
Walking steadily, his footsteps were nearly in sync with the rhythm of the city, blending into the morning rush of pedestrians.
Eventually, he arrived at the nearest train station, boarding a train heading directly to Jamaica, Queens.
The moment he stepped off, he took a brief pause to observe his surroundings.
The place was bustling, but it looked very different from what he remembered in his previous life.
He had lived in New York for a few months back then, but this world, this Marvel reality, was significantly more advanced.
Stark Industries had clearly pushed technology decades ahead, and while the city still had its usual grit and chaos, there was an undeniable polish to it.
Giant holographic billboards, sleek automated transport systems, and cleaner streets than what he was used to—it was the same yet distinctly different.
However, Lusborn didn't let this distract him; he was here for a purpose.
As he walked, he eventually spotted a medium-sized electronics store with a modern aesthetic—large glass windows displaying the latest tech, bright lights, and an air of professionalism that seemed welcoming.
With no particular reason to hesitate, he entered.
Almost immediately, he was approached by a trio of store attendants, young women eager to make a sale.
Lusborn entered the electronics store, his eyes scanning the layout. He wasn't interested in the eager sales pitches.
He spotted a display of prepaid phones near the back and headed straight for it.
He chose a basic model, paid in cash at a self-checkout kiosk, and slipped it into his pocket.
He then moved to a less crowded aisle displaying laptops. He selected a high-end Stark Industries model, noting the specifications.
He approached a single sales attendant, a middle-aged man engrossed in a handheld device, and quietly requested the laptop.
He paid in cash, again, declining the offer of a store card or email receipt. He took the laptop, thanked the attendant curtly, and left the store.
With his tech needs covered, it was time to take the next step.
There were many places in Astoria where he could have bought a new phone, but he had an ulterior motive for coming to Jamaica.
And after buying his new phone, he walked to a coffee shop, sat down and pretended to be busy on his phone.
A few minutes later, a woman with long, dark hair came from the back briskly and made her way out of the coffee shop.
There she is. He looked on.
Looking at her, Lusborn couldn't help but wonder on the working of the universe.
He almost teared up just seeing her, but a smile adorned his lips.
But not wasting time, Lusborn stood up, left the payment and a small tip on the table and made his way out.
Stepping out onto the busy street, Lusborn's focus shifted. He glanced across the street, spotting the woman.
And without hesitation, he started following her at a distance, blending into the flow of pedestrians.
Until, she made her way into York College. Seeing this, his smile widened, and with just sigh, he walked away.
"So you followed me even in this life?" he muttered with a smile.
Anyway, now that he had accomplished what brought him here, he decided to continue onto the next phase of the plan.
He needed to conduct some research, and for that, he required anonymity.
There were too many prying eyes in this world, and Lusborn had no intention of alerting the wrong people by making suspicious searches on his personal device.
Government agencies, private corporations, and underground factions all had their ways of monitoring digital activity.
If he wanted to look into sensitive topics without raising red flags, he needed a more discreet approach.
That led him to Hell's Kitchen.
Hailing a taxi, he soon found himself in one of the most infamous districts in Marvel's New York in just half an hour.
Hell's Kitchen was a breeding ground for crime, corruption, and lawlessness, making it the perfect place for him to move unnoticed.
If there was any part of the city where people didn't ask questions, where anonymity was a way of life, it was here.
The taxi ride wasn't long, and once he arrived, he stepped out onto the rough, uneven pavement.
The air smelled of smoke, grease, and something faintly metallic, probably blood.
The streets were lined with old buildings, neon signs flickering above bars, pawn shops, and shady establishments that catered to all sorts of clientele.
People moved about with sharp eyes, some in a hurry, others lingering as if waiting for trouble to find them.
Lusborn ignored all of it, walking with a casual but deliberate pace, his eyes scanning for what he needed.
A few minutes later, he found it—a dingy internet café tucked between a liquor store and a repair shop.
The internet cafe was a dive – dimly lit, smelling of stale smoke and desperation.
Perfect.
Steeling himself, he pushed open the glass door and stepped inside. The scent that greeted him was overwhelming—a mix of cigarette smoke, stale coffee, unwashed bodies, and fried food.
The lighting was dim, the overhead fluorescent bulbs flickering occasionally as if deciding whether or not to give out entirely.
Rows of outdated computers lined the walls, each one accompanied by a rickety chair and a desk covered in graffiti and old drink stains.
The hum of machines and the occasional click of a keyboard were the only sounds, aside from the muffled conversations of the few patrons scattered around the room.
Walking up to the front counter, he handed over some cash to the middle-aged man with greasy hair and a yellowing undershirt.
He expected Hell's Kitchen to be a haven of anonymity, a place where no one asked questions. He was wrong.
The attendant eyed him suspiciously, his hand hovering near a baseball bat under the counter. Even here, it seemed, strangers were unwelcome.
Lusborn sighed resigned, slightly raising his hands as he looked at the man.
The attendant seeing this, he sighed in relief and passed a small receipt with a login code to Lusborn who was looking at him intently.
"What? You looked like those trouble makers," the man told Lusborn with a shrug.
Lusborn just shook his head slightly, with the transaction complete, Lusborn moved to an empty terminal near the back, away from prying eyes.
He pulled out the chair, wincing as it let out a loud creak under his weight, then powered on the computer.
As the old machine whirred to life, he leaned back slightly, exhaling.
Now, it was time to begin his research.
...
I apologise for the late updates but I had some shit I had to take care of first. Though I promise I will be updating frequently now.
Unless otherwise.
Also, would like to thank many of you that have given me a lot of new ideas to try out in this fan fic as Lusborn has a lot of potential.
But now I have a different problem.
He will grow strong, pretty strong, and very quickly that most of the events in X men and Marvel [MCU] will be child's play for him.
And that is where you guys come in.
I am not well versed with comics so I will need your help on some of the events that would be very interesting for him to pass through.
I need anything, anything at all so long as it is interesting. Though you will have to tell me where I can get more infor on that event and all that shit.
Anyway, thanx.