After finishing our 6 months of gruelling training, I felt like we actually had to start getting stronger. Well, we were getting stronger until now, but that part was a bit more like a preparation, to get our bodies strong enough to endure what we will go through sooner or later.
Our fighting styles, though unique and strong, aren't much to show in the grand scheme of things. Even with our 1.5x stat gain multiplier, right now, we're still nothing compared to people like Hawkeye and Black Widow.
My goal is to get on the shield's radar by the invasion and to do that, we'll definitely need powers.
Peter's covered. He's about to get spider-fied any day now. Honestly, I'm not even worried. With or without my interference, that spider bite is practically a universal constant. A "canon event," if you will. You could drop this dude in the Jurassic era and a radioactive T-Rex would bite him. It's fate. Or he's just a totem being, but ill think about totems and shit later.
Hell, his class is going on a field trip to Stark Industries soon, and if I had to bet money, that's where it'll happen. I always wondered how MCU Peter got his powers without Oscorp around. Maybe the spider went on a stroll through the arc reactor and came out shooting lasers. That's my headcanon now.
The real issue is me.
I've got no powers, no connections, and no clear way to get either. So far, the quests my system gives out have been decent for grinding, but nothing game-breaking. My hope is that if I keep completing them, I'll eventually get a real ability. I'm not asking for much-just a little ki blast or something, y'know?
Right now, me and Pete were on our way to the park where we always ran in the mornings, to discuss our future plans with him. We all hated this place because it gave us PTSD, but it still naturally became our hangout spot. Something about trauma building character.
From the distance, we could see a tall, fit, tan-skinned guy with a short wolf cut waving his hand at us. It was Ned. It was amazing to see how much he changed just by losing some weight! His glow-up was almost as good as mine when I moved into this world. Almost.
We all gathered at a picnic table and got into serious mode.
"Alright, boys," I started, "up until now we've been training just to survive. Now, we train to dominate."
Peter and Ned immediately groaned in protest.
"Hey, we've improved, man. Don't downplay our work," Peter muttered.
"Yeah," Ned added, cracking his knuckles. "I've got abs now."
I rolled my eyes. "Okay, cool, congrats on your abs- but let me put this into perspective. What do we do if someone pulls a gun on us? What about if multiple people pull multiple guns? What if the two green monsters from harlem come knocking?"
That shut them up real quick.
"First step, is Ned, I'm going to need you to hack into this organization called Shield. It's short for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistic Division. That's a secret government group, kind of like the SCP foundation in real life."
Both Peter and Ned looked amazed, equally at the actual topic and how I somehow got ahold of this information.
"Okay, fine. I found this out while looking on the dark web." I sigh. Of course, I've never been on the dark web before. I can't just tell them I knew from my past life. "Anyways, Ned, I need you to forge me and Peter's fake identities as freshly requited agents, and sign us up for special training, from either someone called Natasha Romanoff or Clint Barton."
They still looked a little sus, but went on with it.
"How long do you think it's gonna take you, Ned?" Peter questions.
"I gonna be honest, probably like my whole lifetime if I'm trying to hack into their main database seeing how I'm a novice hacker and they're, you know, a secret government megacorporation or something. But..." Ned pauses to build anticipation.
"But if I wanted to get something like base level clearing and sign you guys up as regular recruits, probably a week. I can probably finish by the time of our Stark Industries field tri-" He suddenly gets cut off.
"No." Me and Peter say in unison.
Ned blinked. "...Huh?"
Peter jumped in. "Dude. I've been looking forward to this field trip for months. We're starting that spy shit after."
"Fine, fine." Ned shrugged. "More prep time for me, I guess."
I exhaled. I had a whole monologue ready about "once-in-a-lifetime opportunities" to guilt Peter into going, but hey-this works. That gives us a few days to chill before Part 2 of Hell Training: SHIELD Edition.
-o-
Just then, some guy came sprinting toward us. Tan skin, lean frame, short curly hair. Looked vaguely familiar. We'd sparred with him a few times during training.
"Joe?" me and Peter said in unison.
The guy stopped, wheezing from the run. "Name's John, actually," he panted. "Guys. Look. Something big's about to go down." He handed Peter a flier.
We looked it over, and I swear I could hear the universe laughing at me.
Probably the One Above All up there, sipping cosmic tea and going, "Heh."
From the picnic table next to us, I heard light chuckling. An old man in a flat cap and black shades was giggling to himself. He looked eerily familiar… whatever. Focus.
More importantly: the flier.
On it, in loud, dramatic font:
"To all 16 fighters scouted by our amazing staff! You are hereby invited to our Annual Totally Legal Fight Club! A single-elimination tournament with 16 competitors. The winner will face the reigning champion- winner of the past 4 tournaments- for the title of Strongest Fighter in America!"
In the background, behind the bold letters, was a shadowy figure wearing a black mask and golden crown. His face was hidden, but I could see the distinct studs on his bare chest.
My stomach flipped.
I knew those studs.
And just to make things worse, at the bottom of the flyer, in minuscule fine print:
"We are not liable for any injuries, maiming, dismemberment, or death incurred during the tournament. By participating, you agree to these terms."
Yeah. Totally legal.
Me and Peter locked eyes.
"We gonna…?" he asked hesitantly.
"of course not-" [DING]
[Quest Alert!: Punch First, Regret Later.]
[Due to your outstanding growth and unique fighting style, you and your party have been invited to an annual underground fighting tournament, to challenge the title of the strongest underground fighter. Attend the tournament.]
[Reward: Personalized weapon based on performance]
Gulp.
"Never mind, we're going." I answered immediately.
DARN YOU ONE ABOVE ALL!!!
The giggling of the old man in the background got louder, but I paid it no mind.
(a/n This chapter was kinda filler, but you gotta get ready for the tournament arc. its gonna be fire with a bunch of cameos. Also, rest in peace Stan Lee.)