บท 5: Chapter 1 - Marvel (1)
"The greater the power is, the harder the trials are. Few of the greediest humans ever survived once the 'immunity' delay ended. Regardless of the allies, they made beforehand." The incomprehensible entity said, its countless eyes looking directly at the soul shaped like a human in front of it.
The scene was nothing out of the ordinary for dead humans selected to be 'champions' of the 'Watchers'. In short, they were mere puppets that were placed in some random universes and then observed for the enjoyment of the omnipotent higher-dimensional entities.
Twisted were their actions for some, normal for others, and simply incomprehensible for most after all, how could they understand what motivates them?
They can't even imagine them, for a mere race that is unable to even wrap their mind around the concept of infinity, their limitation was more than obvious as they are unable to confront them, condemned to be forever puppets.
However, this thought did not even sadden this soul. No, you could say that he accepted a long time ago that he would be subject to the whim of entities whose nature is so far beyond his comprehension that it would not even be fun to fight against them.
Though that did not mean that he would simply throw away his pride in front of an inevitable death.
Thankfully, he would not have to as he was made aware of the full deal given to himself.
"The higher my wish is, the higher the enemies will be..." He repeated, pondering on what power or technology he should choose to have a higher chance of surviving.
The weight of the unknown universe he would have been thrown to was nonexistent as the entity announced that it would be one of the infinite versions of the multiverse known as Marvel.
While he was not a huge fan of animes and mangas, he would say that his knowledge of comics is way more profound.
"Now that I think about it... Why can't I remember my old life?" He suddenly asked the entity, internally wondering if he was not but a freshly made soul whose goal would be to entertain them.
Not that he would truly ponder much about it, but his curiosity still asked for satisfaction.
He was not the kind to mull over things he has no power over. If they give him a chance to live a new life with a power that could help him stand a real place in the universe, then who was he to spit on it?
"Fret not. You truly are a lost soul that was rescued from nonexistence. Your memories concerning your relationship were deemed to be counterproductive and would have slowed you down. Humans tend to be extremely emotional creatures." It answers the same second, probably able to read through the soul's thoughts.
Probably that the whole process was nothing more than entertainment for Them once again since they should have been able to know what he would choose beforehand.
However, it was virtually impossible to know without asking and the soul didn't wish to spend more time with them, afraid of them simply choosing to erase him because he took too much time to answer.
Thankfully, he didn't have to think more about the designated power. The only power he knew as the back of his hand and was able to certify to be good in all circumstances was...
"I want to be the prime conduit of the perfect mix between Positive Speed Force and Negative Speed Force. Call it the Complete Speed Force." He said, his featureless visage turned toward the amass of pure energy.
"Very well. As to permit your body to adapt to your power, your initial race 'human' was changed to 'Homo Superior' also called 'mutant'.
Now you will be sent to the body prepared to host your soul. The immunity delay will be lifted when They will decide to. Try to not die too fast, for their enjoyment."
With that last sentence, the soul was incapable to react or even comprehend what happened, his consciousness fading the second it stopped talking.
---
Lying on a bed, a caramel-skinned man would have been described as peacefully sleeping.
His torso uncovered by the blanket on his feet showed his sculpted body, a work of art some would have said.
The only problem was that he did not give any sign of being alive. His torso was still, not breathing any oxygen. Even his blood was stopped... or was it?
To the regular human eye perhaps it was.
The truth was that it was simply too fast for any normal person to even see his chest rise up and down due to the unknown speed at which it was moving.
Suddenly, the statuesque body released a deep breath of air, breaking the illusion of being a work of art.
His eye fluttered open, letting the warm sunlight meet his deep blue eyes.
Not wasting any time, he immediately sat up before leaving the comfort of his bed.
Every muscle on his body seemed to thrum with pure power even though his actions were calculated and minimal. Simplistic even as he calmly walked up to the room's wall where a full-body mirror was mounted.
"That's good enough." He said, carefully making sure to be accustomed to the body's memories, slightly recognizing his face in the reflection.
Soon enough, he opened his muscular arms wide, observing his reflection in the mirror.
It didn't take long for him to feel the unfamiliar feeling deep inside him, almost distant, and take a good grasp of it as a savage grin made its way up to his handsome and sharp face.
The scene would have made most eyes widen in shock as gray lightning came to life around him. Surrounding him in an almost possessive and protective way, the lightning seeped in and out of his body, increasing his physical capability each second.
However, it was not the man's primary goal as more than feeling his brain capabilities expand beyond the mere limits of a human being, he felt power coursing through his veins.
So much power in fact, that he felt like he could run around the world in less than a second.
"No... Not yet. One day perhaps but that goal is still out of my grasp." He said aloud, shaking himself out of his power-tripping trance.
"It is easy to lose oneself through a power that seemed godly when compared to one of the humans. However, I still have much to do as the various threat lurking throughout the universe could squash me like a bug." The man reminded himself, going to the bathroom to take care of his human necessities.
---
Around an hour later, he could be seen walking through a luxurious penthouse in New York.
In his hand was a simple American I.D. bearing his picture.
"Markus Freeman, 21 years old. Born the 14 February of the year XXXX in France. Why am I in America then?" He wondered, putting it back into his jeans' back pocket.
Time seemed to slow down around him as his eyes darted around the vast living room he was standing in.
A second went by and he was somewhere else, several electronic devices on the table he was suddenly sitting at.
Opening the portable computer, he entered the password that his body seemed to instinctually know before reading the different conversations he had in his mailbox.
The whole memorization process and information sorting took but a few seconds before he took the phone from the table and put it into his pocket, his mind still on the new information.
'It was fuzzy in my mind but it looks like a single look is enough to help me remember most information about a topic. So, I simply inherited a bunch of money from an uncle I didn't know I had, and some shares in a few societies.'
Going to his black leather couch to relax for a few seconds, he continued to think about his next moves.
He has to train hard to attain a more than decent level to be comfortable when confronting the 'trials' they are supposed to summon.
Unfortunately, he is unable to know which form they will take or even when they will begin.
That thought made him spring to his feet, a sense of urgency bringing his motivation through the roof.
Not even talking about the infamous world-level threats lurking everywhere in the world and the universe waiting for their time to wreak havoc.
"I don't have time to waste relaxing like that. Since there is no need to work for money or manage any kind of business, I have all the time in the world to train my 'Complete Speed Force'. Good thing I asked to be a conduit, that guarantees my potential speed to be high enough to easily travel through time.
That should be my last card if things go south."
With that said, he took his keys before heading to the door, taking the elevator toward the common garage.
Since the ones living in the building were high-profile people, they each had several luxurious cars in their designated places. To access this level through the elevator, it was needed to have the sole card given to each owner. It is made to reduce the chances of the antics and expensive cars being stolen.
Not that Markus cared much about these metal scraps. After all, he is faster.
Taking one of the less attention magnet cars he had in his possession, a black custom Ferrari Monza SP1, with tainted windows, he blasted through New York City's roads, his reaction time allowing him to expertly move through the circulation without any problem.
Fortunately, he did not meet any policemen otherwise it would have resulted in an immediate car chase. Not one that they could have won, of course, their cars were not capable of keeping up with his.
Soon enough, he ended up at one of the few properties his uncle left him.
Leaving the car parked carelessly in the relatively low-reputation neighborhood, Markus entered the huge warehouse with the magnetic card used to unlock the heavy metal door.
Contrary to what it looks from the outside, the inside was extremely well furnished. It was supposed to be some kind of training facility for some mercenaries before he passed away.
However, it was not the gym-like warehouse that was interesting.
For the few notes he left, what truly was worth his replacement was the basement.
Easily locating the hidden metallic hatch he unlocked it with another card which opened to a deep ladder.
Once inside, the hatch automatically closed. The darkness and repeated sound of his feet moving down the metal steps would have scared quite a few but Markus who was more than capable of seeing in the pitch-black darkness, and helped by the occasional lightning bolts from his body was unaffected by the small journey.
Finally reaching the end of the ladder, Markus' eyes were easily accustomed to the sudden brightness that accompanied the automatic lights.
It was supposed to be some kind of deep underground bunker. He did not have the time to do much except install some lights and computers connected to the various cameras around the warehouse.
"That does not look extremely civilian-like. Was he doing some weird things? I didn't find anything that would indicate so thought. Even the various sources of his fortune looked legal."
Markus said, looking around for a while.
"Anyway. It is the perfect place to train for now due to the lack of any cameras since it is quite a spacious place. I could build a treadmill of some sort which should be easy thanks to my enhanced mind... I hope."
His mind wondering toward his basement's development projects, and his body was busy stretching and flexing his muscles.
"Let's try this."
Using the Speed Force to slow down the flow of time around him, gray lightning bolts came to life making a slow humming noise echo through the empty basement.
"The negative speed force could be used as a costume, which should be equal if not superior to Flash's. Since my Complete Speed Force is relatively superior to both, the only problem I have is controlling it. Once I can do so and move without putting my identity in jeopardy I will immediately go 'fight crime' though it won't be for the same reason spider man does.
As his uncle said, with great power comes a great... hunger for more power.
Fine... Maybe he never said that. That does not mean that the quote is any less true."
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