Chapter 1: I Can Be a Divine Stick?!
I had just experienced a memory fusion, and my mind was still swollen, a faint tearing pain throbbing through my head. I had integrated the memories of two lives and realized one shocking truth: I had crossed over.
This world was disturbingly familiar—a world of conspirators and madmen, where annihilating humanity seemed like a plausible hobby. Marvel. I was in the Marvel Universe.
But something was different. The Marvel I knew from comics and movies didn't quite match this one. There were no superheroes, no Avengers. Captain America was the lone exception, yet even he wasn't the superhero legend I remembered. Officially, he was a brave soldier who had died heroically. The government spun his story as one of courage and sacrifice, carefully omitting the existence of the super-soldier serum.
To the public, Captain America wasn't a superhuman symbol—just a determined soldier, a propaganda tool immortalized in statues and school textbooks. His superhero identity? Erased. The world idolized him for his bravery, unaware of the truth.
As I grappled with the implications, a voice echoed in my mind:
"The comic system is online. Marvel world loaded. Binding host: Jason Walker."
I froze, my thoughts grinding to a halt.
"Welcome, host. To start, you have been granted a free comic series—the Captain America series. The income earned from publishing comics will be converted into points, which you can exchange for items and abilities within the system."
My heart raced. Was this real? Did I actually have a golden finger?
I'd taken over the body of someone with the same name as me. This Jason Walker had a peculiar background: Chinese-American parents, both deceased, leaving him a hefty inheritance. Among his assets was a publishing house he'd kept afloat while graduating from MIT at a young age.
"Haha! I knew crossing over would come with perks!" I laughed, my earlier disorientation replaced with giddy excitement.
"Host," the system continued, "for every dollar earned through comic sales, you gain one exchange point."
The implications hit me like a truck. Comic sales were now my lifeline. And the system had just handed me the Captain America series on a silver platter.
Captain America was already a cultural icon, meticulously curated by the government. His image adorned schools, libraries, and public spaces, cementing him as a symbol of unwavering patriotism. Yet I knew the hidden truths—the layers the public was blind to.
I grinned, a wild idea forming in my mind. I could draw comics to reveal those truths, weaving the Marvel universe into existence before its heroes had a chance to appear.
"Hahahaha! If I exchange my points wisely, I could become a god in this world—a prophet shaping its destiny!"
Fueled by this revelation, I said eagerly, "Extract the Captain America series and prepare to start drawing."
At my command, drawing tools materialized: boards, brushes, and everything I needed. A surge of inspiration overwhelmed me, and I felt like a conduit for something divine. My hands moved as if possessed, sketching tirelessly through the night.
When daylight broke, I finally stopped, staring at the fruits of my labor. The comic depicted Steve Rogers' humble beginnings, from a scrawny young man volunteering for the army to his transformation into Captain America.
Satisfied, I grabbed the completed pages and made my way to the publishing house. The Marvel world wasn't ready for what I was about to unleash.
Would the public realize that these comics foretold their future? Would the heroes rise as I predicted? I couldn't wait to find out.