Chapter 1: The Last Ride & The Unveiling
The world exploded in a kaleidoscope of shattered glass and mangled steel. Adam Stiels didn't even have time to scream. One moment, he was humming along to the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack, mentally recasting Groot as a sentient, walking weed dispenser, and the next, a drunken semi-truck driver decided his lane was merely a suggestion. The impact was absolute, brutal, and mercifully quick. A fleeting thought, "Damn, I didn't even get to see Avengers: Endgame," was his last.
Then, there was nothing. Not darkness, not light, just… nothing. A profound, echoing emptiness that defied description, a quiet that screamed louder than any noise. Adam, or what he presumed was Adam, floated in this boundless non-space, a disembodied consciousness, utterly bewildered. Was this it? The afterlife? It felt less like pearly gates and more like a cosmic timeout.
"Greetings, Adam Stiels."
The voice wasn't a voice. It was a resonance, a vibration in the fabric of the void itself, formless yet distinct, ancient yet immediate. It had no gender, no emotion, only presence.
Adam, ever the Stiles, couldn't help himself. "Oh, hey there, existential dread. Took you long enough to show up. Is this the part where I get judged by a giant space-squid, or do I just float here until my brain short-circuits from sheer boredom?"
A ripple went through the void, something akin to a chuckle, though it lacked any human warmth. "You are… resilient. And your understanding of your predicament, while flippant, is not entirely inaccurate. You are at the precipice between realities. Your previous existence has concluded."
Adam blinked, or felt like he blinked. "Realities? So, no giant squid. Just… multiversal travel brochures? Is this like, a cosmic tourism agency? Because I gotta say, the decor is a bit minimalist for my taste."
"Your essence is compatible with a reality in need of… subtle adjustment. A reality you possess foreknowledge of. Your resilience, your insight, and your capacity for loyalty have marked you." The resonance paused. "You are offered a single boon, a wish, to aid your transition. Choose wisely. Its nature will shape your path."
A wish. A single boon. In a reality he had foreknowledge of. It clicked with the force of a thousand Thor's hammers. Holy. Shit. This wasn't just an afterlife. This was the afterlife. The kind you read about in bad fanfiction and dream about when you're bored at work. He was getting transmigrated into a fictional universe!
His mind, a hyperactive squirrel in a caffeine factory at the best of times, went into overdrive. MCU. He knew the MCU inside and out. Every plot point, every character arc, every major disaster. He knew who lived, who died, who turned evil, who saved the day. This wasn't just a wish; this was a cheat code.
He could wish for powers. Super strength, flight, magic. But the MCU was already lousy with that. He'd just be another overpowered brick-wall, easily targeted by the likes of Thanos or Dormammu. He needed something more. Something to truly change things. Something to leverage his meta-knowledge. Something to build.
And then, it hit him. Like a literal lightning bolt from a blue god. The idea was audacious, ambitious, and utterly perfect for a guy who binged Arrowverse shows and loved the concept of team building.
"Okay, Big Guy," Adam addressed the ethereal entity, a manic grin spreading across his incorporeal face. "I know exactly what I want. I wish for a… a Guild System. Yeah! A comprehensive system, divided into Guild Master and Guild Member functionalities. It needs a point system – Guild Points, or GP, for everything. Conversion of real-world money and salvaged items into GP. A 'must see to invite' rule for new members, because strategic recruitment is key."
He rattled off details, his thoughts racing, refining the concept. "As Guild Master, I need total control: adding/deleting members, viewing their loyalty, seeing their skills, and yeah, a 'kill at will' feature for absolute last resorts, no matter how morally ambiguous. I need a robust GP management system – I get a cut, say 30% from conversions, 50% from my assigned missions, 30% from member-assigned missions. And a 'point sink' where I can use GP to repair, heal, or buy information directly from the system."
The void rippled again, a flicker of what might have been surprise. This entity probably dealt with wishes for infinite power or endless wealth, not… organizational structures.
"And the Guild Master Store," Adam continued, practically vibrating with excitement. "Ten times the items of a regular member store, refreshing every two days. Unique stuff: Devil Fruits, high-tier skill books, genetic enhancements, rare blueprints, information packets. And an auction system, so I can auction off stuff to members, fostering competition and raking in more GP for the Guild!"
He took a mental breath, then outlined the member side. "Guild Members convert their stuff to GP, they get a Guild Store with less inventory but still good stuff: skill books, serums, potions, equipment. An Attribute System that grows organically, not through levels. Missions – assigned by me, or by members to other members, all with my GP cut. And, maybe, some Guild fees for powerful members to keep things balanced."
He leaned in, or projected the feeling of leaning in. "And finally, it needs to level up. Based on member count: Level 2 at 10 members, Level 3 at 100 members with Recruiter, Quartermaster, and Strategist roles unlocked. Level 4 at 500 members with advanced global oversight. And Level 5 at 1000 members, unlocking multiversal watch, exploration, and the highest-tier items. This isn't just a power-up, Big Guy, this is a foundational framework for surviving and thriving!"
The ethereal entity was silent for a long moment, the void pulsating almost imperceptibly. "A… comprehensive request. Unprecedented in its scope. Most seek direct power, not the means to organize it." There was a hint of curiosity now. "Very well. Your boon is granted. The 'Guild System' shall be woven into your essence, adapting to the laws of your chosen reality."
Adam grinned. "Awesome! So, when do I wake up? Please tell me it's before Ultron. I've got plans for that guy. And for Wanda. Oh, man, Wanda! I gotta save Wanda!"
"A warning, Adam Stiels," the resonance deepened, losing its earlier neutrality. "Your foreknowledge is a double-edged sword. Every action you take, every deviation from the established timeline, creates ripples. Some will be small. Others… will be waves. Be prepared for unintended consequences. This reality, and indeed the multiverse, is not a script to be followed, but a living, breathing tapestry. Your interference will unravel and re-weave it in ways you cannot fully predict. And the threads… they will remember."
The last word echoed, stretching into an infinitely long hum that vibrated through Adam's very core. It was a cold, stark warning, sobering him just a touch. Unintended consequences. Threads remembering. Kang the Conqueror, probably. Or worse, the TVA. Right. No time for reckless abandon. This was a long game.
The hum intensified, becoming a blinding, all-consuming light, not painful, but overwhelming. He felt a wrenching sensation, like being squeezed through a straw made of pure energy. His disembodied consciousness snapped back into form, into a physical vessel, a dizzying jolt that knocked the breath out of him.
Beep… beep… beep…
The sound was insistent, rhythmic. The smell of antiseptic stung his nostrils. A dull ache throbbed in his head, a ghost of the car crash, but fading quickly. He blinked, his eyelids heavy, and then forced them open.
Fluorescent lights. A sterile white ceiling. The steady rhythm of a heart monitor. He was in a hospital.
He tried to move, found his limbs stiff but obedient. He shifted his head, his neck protesting with a dull stiffness. A window to his left showed a clear, bright sky. Early afternoon, perhaps.
A small, sleek, almost invisible interface flickered into existence directly in front of his eyes, overlaid on his vision, yet not obstructing it. It was translucent, made of what looked like shimmering blue energy.
[Guild System Activated – Level 1]
[Guild Master: Adam Stiels]
[Guild Points (GP): 0]
[Guild Members: 0]
[Current Reality: Earth-199999 (MCU Prime) – Detected]
[Current Year: 2011 – Detected]
[Proximity Alert: Thor Odinson – Detected (Approx. 2.7 Miles South-West)]
Adam's breath hitched. 2011. Thor Odinson. That meant…
"Oh, you beautiful, chaotic, glorious bastard of a universe," he whispered, a wide, slightly insane grin splitting his face. "Adam Stiels is in the house. And this time, I'm not just watching from the sidelines."
The adventure had truly begun.