I keep staring at my hands.
That feeling… it's still there.
Like something's waiting for me to use it again.
"…Okay."
I focus.
Not hard—just enough.
The same instinct from before comes back. That invisible push. That pressure behind my thoughts.
I turn my head slowly toward the sword.
"…Let's try something."
I reach out—without moving.
Nothing happens for a second.
Then—
The sword shifts.
Just a little.
"…No way."
I focus harder.
The feeling sharpens.
The sword lifts.
Slow at first. Heavy. Like I'm dragging something through mud with my mind.
"…Come on…"
It rises higher.
Off the ground.
The weight is still there—but it's different now. Manageable. Like I'm holding it from somewhere else.
"…Yeah… okay."
I pull it closer and angle it behind me.
It settles there, hovering slightly before dropping against my back with a dull weight.
"…That's… actually insane."
I glance at my hands again.
"…Esper."
Yeah.
This is definitely better than swinging it like an idiot.
I turn back toward the two guys.
They're still down.
"…Right."
I walk over.
Slow. Careful.
I crouch next to the one in the blue hoodie first.
"…Sorry about this."
Not really.
I pat him down.
Wallet.
I open it.
"…Three hundred."
Cash.
Clean.
"…I'll take that."
There's an ID too.
I pull it out and look at it.
"…Trevor Scott."
I pause.
"…NY?"
I flip it over.
Same thing.
"…New York?"
I glance at his face.
Then back at the ID.
"…Yeah. That tracks."
I move to the second guy.
Less lucky.
"…Fifty bucks."
I pocket that too.
"…Could be worse."
—
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED]
[FIRST ROBBERY]
[REWARD: +50 MP]
—
I blink.
"…Seriously?"
—
[YOU HAVE ENGAGED IN BEHAVIOR CONSISTENT WITH CHAOS GENERATION]
—
"…They tried to rob me first."
—
[OUTCOME REMAINS VALID]
—
"…Right."
I stand up slowly.
Then pause.
"…Wait."
Something clicks.
I look back down at the guy.
"…New York."
I look around the alley again.
"…That would explain the trash."
I step back, thinking.
"…Accent too."
Yeah.
They definitely had that New York sound.
"…So I'm in New York."
I look at my hands again.
At the sword behind me.
At the system.
"…But which New York?"
That question sits heavier than it should.
"…Because this doesn't feel normal."
I walk toward the alley exit.
"…System. Powers. Giant sword."
I step out onto the street.
And freeze.
Cars.
Noise.
People.
Normal.
Too normal.
"…Huh."
I glance back at the alley.
Then forward again.
"…Wait."
Something feels off.
"…New York doesn't have this many alleys."
At least… I think so.
I frown.
"…Manhattan? Brooklyn?"
I step further out, scanning the street.
"…Or am I just guessing at memories I don't even have?"
I shake my head slightly.
"…Focus."
Then I see it.
Across the street.
A building.
A sign.
Big.
Bold.
Impossible to miss.
DAILY BUGLE
I stop walking.
"…No way."
I stare at it.
"…No way."
I look around again.
At the people.
At the city.
Then back at the building.
"…Spider-Man."
The word comes out slowly.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
I exhale.
A short laugh slips out.
"…Okay."
I rub the back of my neck.
"…System."
—
[YES]
—
"…What universe am I in?"
—
[INSUFFICIENT DATA]
—
"…Figures."
I look back at the Daily Bugle.
Then up at the skyline.
"…Marvel."
I let that settle.
"…I'm in Marvel."
A pause.
Then—
"…Yeah."
A small grin forms.
"…I'm actually in Marvel."
That should probably scare me more than it does.
Instead, I just feel… alert.
Like everything suddenly matters more.
Aliens. Gods. Superheroes.
And me.
A guy who woke up in trash with no memories.
"…Great lineup."
I shift the sword slightly behind me. It's still heavy, but with the esper thing, it's manageable now. Not comfortable—but usable.
"…First problem."
I look down at myself.
Dirty clothes. Smell like garbage.
Cash in my pocket.
No ID.
"…Second problem."
I glance around.
People everywhere. Cars passing. No one paying attention to me.
"…Third problem."
I don't know the year.
I don't know what's happening right now in this world.
"…Am I pre-Spider-Man? Post? Middle of some invasion?"
That matters.
A lot.
"…System."
—
[ACTIVE]
—
"…Any missions?"
—
[NO ACTIVE MANDATORY OBJECTIVES]
[OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE: GENERATE CHAOS]
—
"…That's not helpful."
—
[CLARIFICATION: USER IS FREE TO ACT]
—
"…Right. Do whatever I want."
I look back at the Daily Bugle.
"…Tempting."
Spider-Man.
If he's around, then things are already complicated.
If he's not—
"…Even worse."
I start walking.
No real direction. Just moving.
"…Think, Norbit."
I've got powers.
I've got a weapon I can barely use.
And I'm in a city where people can throw cars and shoot lasers.
"…Step one: don't die."
Seems like a good start.
I pass by a storefront window and catch my reflection.
I stop.
"…Huh."
I lean a little closer.
warm tan skin
that contrasts with my jet-black hair—thick, slightly messy
"…So that's me."
My eyes stand out immediately.
A vivid, unnatural green.
Clear. Bright. Almost… too clean compared to everything else about me.
"…Charming Eyes."
I tilt my head slightly.
"…Yeah. Pretty useless."
A couple walking past glance at me.
Then look again.
I notice it.
"…Wait."
They look away quickly.
"…Okay. Not completely useless."
I step back.
"…Still not worth 100 points though."
I keep walking.
A newsstand comes into view up ahead.
Papers stacked everywhere.
I head straight for it.
"…Hey," I say, grabbing one.
The guy behind the stand barely looks up. "Two dollars."
I hand him the cash.
"…Thanks."
I step aside and open it.
First thing I check—
Date.
"…Okay…"
Good.
Current.
Modern.
No weird future tech headlines.
No "aliens invaded yesterday" type stuff.
"…That's reassuring."
I flip through quickly.
Crime. Politics. Usual stuff.
Then—
A headline catches my eye.
SPIDER-MAN SPOTTED IN QUEENS
"…There it is."
I stare at it.
"…So he's active."
That narrows things down.
Not exact timeline—but enough.
"…Good to know."
I fold the paper and tuck it under my arm.
Then—
A scream cuts through the street.
Sharp. Panicked.
People turn.
I do too.
"…Well."
I exhale.
"…That didn't take long."
Down the block—
A guy is running.
Fast.
Shoving people out of the way.
Something clutched in his hand.
Behind him—
Someone's yelling.
"Thief! He took my bag!"
I watch for a second.
People scatter.
No one steps in.
"…Of course."
I glance at the system.
No prompt.
No mission.
Nothing.
"…So this is on me."
I look back at the running guy.
Then at the crowd.
Then down at my hand.
That same feeling is still there.
Waiting.
"…Alright."
I drop the newspaper.
"…Let's test this properly."
I step forward.
Raise my hand slightly.
Focus.
The world sharpens.
The movement. The distance. The timing.
"…Got you."
I push.
Not wildly like before.
Controlled.
Directed.
The force hits him mid-step.
Not enough to launch him—
Just enough.
He trips.
Hard.
Slams into the pavement.
The bag goes flying out of his hand.
People gasp.
The street pauses.
I walk up slowly.
"…You picked the wrong day."
He groans, trying to get up—
I push again.
Short.
Sharp.
He stays down.
"…Yeah. Stay there."
The woman runs up, grabbing her bag.
"Oh my god—thank you—"
I shrug slightly.
"…No problem."
She looks like she wants to say more, but I'm already turning away.
No need to stick around.
No need for attention.
Behind me, people start talking.
Looking.
Whispering.
"…Yeah."
I keep walking.
"…That's going to spread."
—
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED]
[MINOR INTERVENTION]
[REWARD: +50 MP]
—
I don't stop.
"…Helping people counts as chaos?"
—
[UNEXPECTED OUTCOME GENERATED]
—
"…Fair enough."
I glance up at the city again.
At the buildings.
At the endless movement.
"…Marvel, huh."
A slow breath leaves me.
I keep walking.
I don't look back at the crowd. Don't slow down. Don't stick around long enough for questions.
That's rule one, I think.
If I'm going to do things in a city like this, I don't want a spotlight on me.
"…Yeah, let Spider-Man deal with that."
fog in my head isn't as thick anymore. It's still empty—no memories—but my thoughts feel clearer. Faster. Less… delayed.
"…Good. I'd rather not be a walking blank slate."
I keep moving down the street, blending in as much as I can.
Which isn't easy.
Because I'm still carrying a seven-foot nightmare on my back.
"…Okay, that's a problem."
People are starting to notice.
Not openly. Just glances.
Double takes.
One guy actually slows down, staring like he's trying to figure out if I'm part of some cosplay event.
"…Yeah, no. This isn't going to work."
—
[NOTICE: USER IS CURRENTLY CARRYING AN EXPOSED WEAPON]
—
"…Oh, now you care."
—
[QUERY: WOULD USER LIKE TO STORE WEAPON IN RING FORM]
—
I stop walking.
"…Ring form?"
—
[CONFIRMATION: ITEM CAN BE COMPRESSED INTO A PORTABLE STORAGE STATE]
—
I blink.
"…You can do that?"
—
[CLARIFICATION: USER DID NOT PREVIOUSLY INQUIRE]
—
"…You didn't tell me."
—
[USER DID NOT ASK]
—
I stare ahead for a second.
"…You're kind of annoying."
—
[STATEMENT IRRELEVANT]
—
"…Yeah, that checks out."
I glance around.
No one paying too much attention right now.
"…Fine. Do it."
—
[CONFIRMED]
—
The sword shifts behind me.
No warning.
No light show.
It just—
Disappears.
I flinch slightly.
"…Okay—"
Something cold slides onto my finger.
I look down.
A ring.
Dark metal. Simple. No design.
But I can feel it.
The sword is still there.
Just… stored.
"…That's actually useful."
I flex my hand.
The weight is gone.
Completely.
"…Yeah. I like that."
I start walking again, a little more relaxed now.
"…You should've led with that."
—
[NOTED]
—
"…You're not actually going to change anything, are you?"
—
[NEGATIVE]
—
"…Figures."
I shove my hands into my pockets, feeling the cash I took earlier.
"…So what now?"
I glance up at the buildings.
The noise.
The people.
"…I'm in Marvel."
That still sounds insane.
"…Which means any random day could turn into a disaster."
Aliens.
Robots.
Psychos in costumes.
"…And I'm here with a system that literally rewards chaos."
I let out a breath.
"…That's not a good combination."
———