Jim Lake Jr. wasn't a morning person. Never had been, probably never would be. But today? Today felt different. When his alarm blared through his room, Jim groaned and swung his hand to slap the snooze button— CRACK.
His eyes snapped open That didn't sound right. Jim turned his head, and his stomach dropped. His alarm lay in pieces on the floor, the top completely crushed like someone had smashed it with a hammer. What the...?"
His brain felt foggy, like he had just woken up from a fever dream. Everything around him looked normal, but something about his body felt off. He swung his legs over the bed— and his feet hit the floor sooner than expected. Jim frowned, standing up. The moment he did he felt it— his clothes were tighter.
His pajama shirt clung to his chest, his sleeves squeezing around his forearms, and his pants felt snug in a way that definitely hadn't been the case last night. Then, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
He froze; Jim stared. He looked... bigger, not dramatically, but definitely different. His shoulders were broader, his arms more defined, and his neck was thicker. He lifted his shirt, revealing his torso that was leaner but also noticeably more muscular than yesterday.
What the hell?" then, the floating blue text appeared
[Marvel Template System Activated]
Current Template: Captain America (Tier 1)
Physical Adjustments:
Height Increased: +3 inches
Muscle Density Enhanced: +20 lbs. of Lean Mass
Strength Increased (Above Peak Human - Minor)
Stamina Increased
Faster Reflexes
Improved Combat Instincts (Minor Boost in Reaction Time)
Jim stumbled back. What— what is this?" He blinked, half expecting the words to disappear. But they just floated there, mocking him with their calm matter-of-fact explanations. This was real.
He ran a hand over his face. "Okay. breathe. Freaking out isn't going to help." ...But how was he not supposed to freak out?! He had grown three inches overnight. His muscle's had somehow bulked up without him even trying. And this weird system thing was the cause of all of this.
He needed to get dressed now. He still needed to eat breakfast and go to school. Jim grabbed the loosest hoodie he owned. His jeans were snug, but they fit— barely. He gave himself another glance in the mirror. Still him. just... a slightly upgraded version. "Okay," he muttered. "Just act normal."
By the time Jim made it to the kitchen, his mom was already gone for work, as expected. A note was stuck to the fridge.
Late shift again! Have a great day at school and a great breakfast. Love you! ❤️ – Mom
Jim smirked, shaking his head. His mom is amazing, but cooking was not her strong suit. that is usually his job once learned how he is pretty good at it. His stomach growled, so he grabbed some eggs, cheese, and bread, moving on autopilot. Within minutes, breakfast was ready.
He took a bite— and immediately stopped. Whoa. His taste buds exploded. The eggs tasted richer. the cheese sharper the toast somehow perfectly crispy.
Enhanced Senses Detected. Adjusting to Super-Soldier Physiology.
Taste: Sharpened
Smell: Sharpened
Sight: Slightly Improved
Hearing: Slightly Improved
Jim exhaled slowly. "Okay. so, I'm stronger. And my senses are sharper. Not weird at all." He finished eating, grabbed his backpack, and headed outside, where toby was already waiting.
"Yo, Jimbo!" Toby greeted him, taking a huge bite out of his breakfast burrito. Jim hesitated. He wanted to tell toby, but how did he explain waking up buffer and taller overnight? "Not much," Jim lied.
As they walked, Jim noticed something else was off. He was faster. Not like super-speed fast, but his normal walking pace felt way quicker than before. He had to force himself to slow down so Toby wouldn't notice. But Toby did notice something.
"Dude," he said, squinting at Jim. "Did you get taller?" Jim tensed. "Uh...maybe?" Toby kept staring. "Nah, man, you definitely got taller. and wait—" He looked closer. "Are you working out now? your shoulder's look huge."
Jim forced a laugh. "Uh... growth spurt?" Toby gave him the biggest side-eye. "that's one hell of a growth spurt, bro." Jim sighed. "Can we just—forget about it?". Toby snorted. "Fine, fine. But I am going to get you diet plan later."
Jim exhaled in relief at that. As they neared the bridge, something shifted. A weird pressure settled in Jims's chest, like something was pulling him forward. The area under the bridge was wrecked— chunks of concrete, shattered pavement, like something huge had torn through here.
"Dude, what happened here?" Toby muttered. Jim barely heard him. His wars buzzed, his senses screaming at him that something was here. And then— a whisper "Jim Lake Jr." Jim froze. Toby stopped too. "Did... you hear that?"
Jim nodded slowly. "Yeah." They turned toward the rubble. And there— half buried under broken concrete— was a glowing blue amulet. Jim swallowed hard. The voice had called his name. Toby looked at him, wide-eyed. "Uh, dude? that thing just— just talked to you."
Jim stepped forward, heart pounding. This thing wanted him.? taking a deep breath, he reached down and picked it up. Nothing happened. No glowing light, no dramatic explosion— just silence.
"...Huh," Toby muttered. "That was underwhelming." Jim stared at the amulet in his hand, feeling the faintest hum of energy beneath his fingers. Something told him this was just the beginning. But for now... it was just a normal looking piece of metal.
An: so, a little update I am still writing this and i am working on chapter 2 works been pretty hectic and was taking up a lot of my time but I am going to keep working on this I'd also like to know if everyone wants Jim to tell Tobey about the system or not I'll leave it up to a vote voting will end on Monday midnight