Chapter 1: Transmigration into the Unknown
Evan Mercer sat in a dark alleyway, his back resting against a cold brick wall as the scent of damp concrete and cigarette smoke filled his lungs. His clothes were damp, the night air biting against his skin.
He didn't move immediately. Instead, he focused on his breathing, controlling it, steadying his thoughts. Panicking wouldn't help.
The last thing he remembered was working a late-night shift at the data center. It had been like any other night—monitoring high-end servers, running diagnostics, ensuring no critical failures. Nothing unusual.
Then the power surge hit.
An explosion of blue lightning crackled through the air, and before he could react, it struck him directly.
The pain had been beyond anything describable. It wasn't just physical—his very consciousness had been torn apart. His mind dissolved into something less than matter but more than nothingness. For an instant, he had existed as pure energy.
And now…
He was here.
His rational mind immediately ran through possibilities.
Was this a dream? Unlikely. His senses were too sharp, too detailed. No dream had ever felt this real. Was he dead? If so, the afterlife looked suspiciously like a bad part of town. Had he been transported somewhere? That theory seemed plausible.
Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet. His body felt… normal. No lingering pain from the electrocution.
He took in his surroundings. The buildings around him had an old-fashioned look, like something from half a century ago. The cars parked along the street weren't modern—they were massive, chrome-covered machines with tail fins and boxy designs.
His stomach tightened.
He needed confirmation.
He walked toward a newspaper stand at the street corner, his hands steady despite the turmoil in his mind. He grabbed the top newspaper and scanned the date.
February 7, 1963 – President Kennedy Addresses Mutant Concerns
His grip tightened on the paper.
1963.
His thoughts accelerated. He wasn't just in the past—he was in a world where mutants existed.
Marvel.
Before he could fully process the implications, a sudden ping echoed in his mind.
A translucent blue screen materialized in his vision, floating in the air before him.
[System Initialization Complete.]
[Welcome, User: Evan Mercer]
[Passive Evolution System Online]
Evan stilled.
A system?
More text appeared.
[System Overview]
Passive Evolution: The user evolves automatically, enhancing abilities over time. If the user possesses a passive ability, it will be added to the system and can be trained at will. World Travel System (Locked): Unlocks after reaching a certain evolution stage.
His pulse steadied.
This wasn't a game system that gave him superpowers out of thin air.
No, it simply took what he already had and evolved it.
And right now, he had nothing.
His eyes darkened. He wasn't a mutant—at least, not yet. He was still just human. If he wanted abilities, he needed to acquire them first.
His mind immediately adjusted strategies. He wouldn't get stronger just by existing. He needed abilities before the system could evolve them.
That meant his first priority was getting something worth evolving.
Getting Home
Now that he had a clearer understanding of the situation, his next step was finding shelter.
His hand instinctively went to his pockets. Empty. No ID, no money. Nothing.
He needed a way to blend in.
His gaze flicked toward a drunk man stumbling out of a bar across the street. His wallet was barely hanging from his coat pocket.
Evan didn't hesitate.
Moving smoothly, he walked past the man and brushed against him, slipping the wallet out in one fluid motion.
The man barely noticed, mumbling to himself as he wandered down the street.
Evan stepped back into the alley and checked the contents.
A driver's license. A couple of dollars. More importantly—an address.
1182 Westbrook Avenue, New York City.
It was a lead.
Settling In
Navigating the city was surprisingly easy. His rational mind adjusted quickly, mapping out routes, avoiding unnecessary risks. He blended in, walking with confidence, avoiding attention.
Within twenty minutes, he arrived at a modest apartment building. It wasn't luxurious, but it was functional.
Using the stolen key, he entered.
The apartment was small—a single bed, an old radio, a cluttered desk. The closet had clothes that fit.
Evan exhaled, locking the door behind him.
Finally. A place to think.
Checking the System
Now that he had privacy, he sat down and called up the system screen.
His Status appeared.
[User Status: Evan Mercer]
Age: 23
Mutant Ability: None
Passive Abilities: None
Evan's gaze hardened.
The system wouldn't just hand him anything. It had potential, but he needed to earn his abilities first.
That meant his first goal was clear—find a way to obtain a passive mutation.
He had options. Black market genetics, mutant hideouts, underground experiments.
But before that…
He needed information.
He turned to the radio, tuning in.
The voice of a news anchor crackled through the speaker.
"The rising tension between humans and mutants continues to grow. Reports of new mutant incidents have surfaced across the country, with many questioning how the government plans to respond. Meanwhile, Charles Xavier has called for a peaceful resolution, stating—"
Evan leaned back, absorbing every word.
The world was changing.
And he was going to change with it.
He wasn't just some random person thrown into a dangerous universe.
With passive evolution, he would become something far more.
He wouldn't just survive.
He would thrive.