章 2: [The Man Who Changed History] - Prologue - An Unexpected Meeting
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As a soul floated in the infinite darkness, it felt lost and confused. A sense of disorientation had taken over, leaving the entity questioning its whereabouts. Amid the abyss, a sudden thought emerged, "Is this heaven?" The soul paused, contemplating the idea. However, the gloominess that surrounded it made the notion seem unlikely. "Nah," the soul muttered, "I am pretty sure I am in hell."
Despite the soul's certainty, it couldn't shake off the uneasiness of the situation. It had imagined hell to be a place filled with fire, demons, and endless suffering. Yet, the darkness was the only company it had. "Why is it so dark?" the soul pondered. The lack of any visible forms of torture or agony was confusing. "Shouldn't people be wailing and gnashing their teeth?", it wondered aloud.
"You are in neither of them," a voice echoed in the emptiness, causing the soul to jolt with surprise. Swiftly, it turned around in search of the source, only to find nothingness staring back at it. Bewildered, the soul spoke out, "Who the hell are you?" Hoping for a response, the soul waited in silence.
As if in response to its call, a being of pure light emerged from the void. Its radiance was blinding, yet comforting at the same time. The soul gazed upon the divine figure, unable to look away. The being seemed to take pleasure in the soul's bewilderment, as it stood there, amused by its reaction.
With a sudden realization, the soul exclaimed, "Y-Y-You are God!" Its mind racing with thoughts, it finally understood the gravity of the situation. "Holy ****," the soul gasped, "God is real! T-Then heaven and hell are real! Then it means t—"
But before it could finish its train of thought, the being interrupted, "No! I am not God." The soul's excitement was momentarily dampened, but it quickly regained composure, realizing that the being's admittance didn't diminish the magnitude of the situation. "Then, it is even more amazing!" the soul exclaimed. "If you aren't God, then it means that you have the power as that of a God since I am talking to you right now."
The being's genderless face formed a serene smile as if it knew something that the soul didn't. The being spoke with a commanding voice, "I am not God. I am what you know as The One Above All!"
The soul's ethereal mouth hung open in disbelief, and its form trembled with shock as it spoke. "Holy Shit! Y-Y-You are real! How the hell can you be real?!?!" The soul struggled to come to terms with what it was witnessing. The being in front of it had always been a fictional character, a mere concept, but now it stood before the soul as a tangible being.
As the reality of the situation sank in, the soul realized that this changed everything it had ever known. "This changes so many things that I know," the soul exclaimed. "Since you are here, then it means that The Presence is real, The Living Tribunal is real, and so many other fictional people are real!"
The soul felt as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a world beyond its imagination. It was as if everything it had ever read or watched had become a reality, and it was now a part of that reality. The being smiled, knowing the weight of the revelation the soul had just experienced. It was the beginning of a journey that would challenge everything the soul had ever known.
With a soothing tone, The One Above All spoke, "Yes, so calm down. We have some things to talk about."
The soul, realizing the gravity of the situation, immediately composed itself and replied, "So, what are we going to talk about?"
The being smiled at the soul's eagerness to know more. "We are going to talk about your journey," it said. "You have been selected for a purpose, and I am here to guide you on that path."
The soul's curiosity was piqued, and it eagerly awaited the being's words. It felt a sense of excitement and apprehension, wondering what kind of journey it was about to embark on. The One Above All's presence was calming, and the soul felt at ease in its company.
The One Above All spoke, "Meeting with me should have given you an inkling of some of the things I want to talk to you about, right?"
The soul nodded in understanding, and The One Above All continued, "Yes, you are going to be transmigrated to my universe. And before you ask what type of universe it is, let me clarify some things for you.
I have created countless universes and have watched the creation and destruction of countless beings and things countless times. For eons, I have been an observer, watching over my creations with a detached interest. But after a while, it all became too predictable, too mundane. I longed for something new, something different.
So, I made a new plan, a plan that involves beings like you."
The soul was stunned. It had never imagined that it would be a part of The One Above All's grand plan.
"What kind of being am I?" the soul asked, its voice quivering with anticipation.
The One Above All smiled. "A being with free will," it said. "A being who can shape the destiny of my universe and a being who can make a difference."
The soul felt a surge of excitement. But, it was also taken aback by the revelation that it was not the first to be chosen for The One Above All's experiment. It wondered what had happened to the others, but the mention of the one who had asked for the "Sex System" made it realize that not all of them had been wise or cautious.
"Did anyone else make it?" the soul asked, hoping to hear a positive answer.
TOAA shook its head. "Unfortunately, none of them managed to survive for much longer," it replied. "They were not prepared for the challenges that awaited them, and they made mistakes that cost them dearly."
The soul felt a sense of foreboding, realizing that it would face the same challenges and dangers that the previous candidates had encountered. But it also felt a sense of determination, knowing that it would do everything in its power to succeed where others had failed.
"And why did you choose me?" the soul asked, curious about why it had been selected.
TOAA smiled. "I asked Stan, and he instantly forwarded your name," it said.
The soul's ethereal eyes widened in surprise and disbelief as it asked, "Stan Lee chose me?"
TOAA gave a nod and confirmed, "Indeed, he did. After observing your journey and accomplishments in your world, both Stan and I believe that you have what it takes to thrive in my universe as well. Your determination and resilience in the face of adversity have caught our attention and led us to select you for this unique opportunity."
The soul's expression changed to curiosity as it asked, "So, which universe will I be transmigrating to?"
"The universe I have selected for you is one of the most tumultuous and dynamic universes out there. It is teeming with mutants, Inhumans, aliens, and superheroes, making it a hub of endless possibilities," replied TOAA.
"Why such a chaotic universe?" the soul asked, feeling a sense of injustice.
"To procure your soul, I had to make a deal with a being and it came with a heavy price tag. However, I assure you that this universe is not without its rewards. You will be granted the intelligence and knowledge from your past life, which will serve as an invaluable asset in your new journey," explained TOAA.
The soul asked TOAA if it would have to face formidable foes like Knull or strive to become a powerful Sorcerer Supreme.
TOAA chuckled at the soul's apprehension and put its worries to rest, assuring it that there were no grand expectations to fulfill. "No, you don't have to do anything like that," TOAA replied with a hearty laugh. "All you have to do is just live as you would normally do."
The soul was skeptical of such an easy task, unsure if there was a catch to this proposition. "That's it?", it asked in disbelief.
With a reassuring smile, TOAA confirmed that it was indeed that simple. "I am always fascinated by the decisions people from your dimension make," TOAA explained. "Every person that has been sent has never taken the same decision at the same point in life. So, all you have to do is live your life your way."
The soul let out a sigh of relief, feeling reassured by TOAA's words. It paused for a moment, contemplating its next question. "What about the cosmic beings?" it asked, its voice tinged with concern.
TOAA raised an eyebrow in response. "What about them?" he asked curiously.
The soul frowned slightly. "Well, they'll surely notice that I'm from a different dimension. Won't they try to capture me or enslave me or something?"
TOAA's expression turned serious. "I have no control over the actions of cosmic beings. However, I can give you any power you desire to help protect yourself. But you should know that once you leave here, you are responsible for your fate. Whatever choices you make are entirely up to you. I will simply observe from afar."
The soul let out a heavy sigh, feeling a sense of unease at the thought of facing powerful cosmic beings in the new universe it was transmigrating to.
"I understand that I can't expect you to be responsible for me as if I am your special creation or something. However, I have reservations about encountering cosmic beings who hide behind veils and manipulate others to serve their interests," the soul said.
TOAA's expression shifted slightly, and it raised its glowing eyebrows in response. "Are you talking about my daughters?" it asked, a hint of amusement in its voice.
The soul hastily shook its head. "No, absolutely not!" it replied. "I was just referring to some of the storylines I've read."
TOAA suddenly laughed echoing through the void as it enjoyed the soul's reaction, and the soul couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. However, it tried to mask its nervousness with a forced chuckle.
"So, tell me, which type of 'golden finger' do you want? I got everything, from superhuman strength, teleportation, superhuman speed to systems, viewing the future, bloodlines, etc.", TOAA began listing out abilities as if he was a seller in the fish market.
The soul thought, 'If I have a golden finger from the start, won't it be too easy? Everything would be monotonous. Yes, at first, I would feel joy in defeating the villains but... after some time, it... becomes repetitive. No villain would be able to match me in power if I use a system, for example, and continue powering up at a lightning pace.
And, frankly, I am not too interested in those heroes and villains since I already know their whole lives. Maybe, I would be excited to see them in real life. But... I am more interested in the mechanics of their powers. I am interested in the scientific aspect of it. Like - What was the Super Soldier Serum made of? What made it so special? What was Erskine hiding in his mind that he would rather die than write down it's formula? Or.. What is the difference of Mutant or Inhuman DNA from a normal human DNA? I've always wondered about it. Or.. Or.. What is the structural composition of Adamantium? Or that of Vibranium?
A true scientist has his own ego and pride. I would very much use my own creations to empower myself than depend on others. Because... if I already became stronger than Captain America from the start, I won't be as excited to decipher the SSS formula than when I would be if I was weaker than him because I could make a new SSS serum –my version and use it on myself. That! That would be the most fulfilling thing I would ever feel.
I could make my own unique metal, and combine it with Vibranium and Adamantium to create something entirely new and use it to craft my armor. But then, if I was already too powerful, what would be the use of armor? I would be like Thanos and slap villains around like he did to Hulk.
Another important thing - TOAA said it had already sent people from Earth and they had died. So, he didn't send or help them. He left them to their devices. They were merely pawns in his game. I want to be something more than a here pawn. If I could make him think of me as more interesting, then that would be my greatest achievement before entering the universe.
According to the comics I read, the mystery intrigues him and he likes uniqueness. If I am more unique than the rest, he would pay more attention to me. How can I be more unique than the rest? How? How? H–Aha! I know!
What's more unique and daring than to stand in front of the supreme creator of Marvel and deny his offer with a straight face!!! That!!! Hahaha!!! Would 100% make me more unique than the rest!!! Of course, because nobody would have even thought of rejecting his offer. They would've instantly jumped at the chance. Because, as a fellow human, I know people mostly, are greedy and want to have a comfortable life. Who would be so mad to be offered a chance to live comfortably only to deny it?! Hahaha!! Me! That person is me!! The difference between me and them, is that I use my brain more often.
Also, it aligns perfectly with what I want to experience in the Marvel universe. I am not going there to defeat the villains, make the superheroes my fanboys or the female characters my fucktoys. No!!! I am going there to discover it's secrets!!
I–have–fucking–decided!!'
As the soul considered the various abilities TOAA was listing out, it finally came to a decision. "Nothing," it said firmly, surprising TOAA.
"What?" TOAA asked, taken aback.
"I want nothing," the soul repeated. "I will rely on my abilities to gain power in the Marvel universe. I don't want to depend on external sources to gain power when I'm there. I can find other ways, such as ingesting a serum or stealing a certain red and golden armor."
TOAA looked doubtful. "You could easily die," he cautioned.
The soul shrugged confidently. "Higher risks, higher rewards," it said, ready to take on the challenge. Being sent to one of the most chaotic universes was a risk in itself, but it was a risk the soul was willing to take.
As the moment of departure approached, the soul felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. TOAA smiled and asked, "So, are you ready?"
The soul took a deep breath and looked around for a bit before answering confidently, "I am ready."
With a wave of TOAA's finger, the soul suddenly curled up like a newborn fetus. In an instant, it vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but a faint glow behind.
As the soul traveled to its destination, TOAA watched intently. After a moment, it turned back, speaking to no one in particular, "Even if you didn't want anything, I can't resist giving you a gift. Let's call it the 'Exclusive Gift Pack,' shall we?"
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