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Ryan was the definition of an ordinary working stiff, an anonymous cog in the machine grinding through soul-crushing overtime day after day.
No family, no girlfriend.
But at least he owned a small apartment outright, no mortgage, no landlord, A rare win in an otherwise dull life.
He did not smoke, did not drink, did not socialize.
His only real hobbies were replaying old-school games, mostly Diablo in offline mode, and binge-watching TV shows, especially superhero movies.
Quiet and reserved as he was, he still carried a childish dream of becoming a superhero himself. One look at the glass display case in his apartment, filled with bargain-store knockoff Iron Man and Spider-Man figures, made that obvious.
That day was no different from any other.
Ryan stood on the subway platform, waiting for his train, while Logan played on his phone. The movie was nearing its end when a scream suddenly cut through the station.
"Someone help, A baby."
He looked up just in time to see a stroller tipped over onto the tracks as the tunnel lights flared and an incoming train roared closer.
Without thinking, Ryan sprinted forward and jumped down. He yanked the baby free and shoved the child back up onto the platform, where several people immediately reached down and pulled the infant to safety.
By his own calculation, he had enough time to climb back up.
But as he pushed off the platform,
His shoelace snagged on something.
For a split second, his body jerked violently.
Then everything went weightless.
It felt like his body was flying ahead while his mind lagged behind, struggling to catch up, until a blinding white flash swallowed everything.
---
Time shattered.
In what felt like an instant stretched into eternity, Ryan could see individual bullets frozen in midair. He could see the twitch in Logan's eye and the splintered tree trunk impaling his chest.
And in the distance,
Dafne Keen.
No. X-23.
This was the exact scene playing on his phone.
Then who was he supposed to be.
X-24.
The clone who dies in seconds.
Was he about to be erased from existence?
Before he could process anything, a cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[Diablo System initializing. Initialization complete.
Top-tier reward acquired. Full Restoration Elixir. Restores one hundred percent health and mana.
Warning: Error detected. Fusion mismatch. Hell energy not found. Recalibrating.
Adjustment complete, Item converted. Physical Restoration Serum returns the body to peak condition.]
A new prompt appeared.
[Main Quest issued.
Option One. Inject the serum into the dying Wolverine, James Howlett,
Reward, Heart of Mercy, Unlock Genetic Roulette.
Option Two: Use the serum on yourself, continue life as a disposable weapon of Alkali-Transigen.]
Did this even require thought?
Freedom alone made the choice obvious.
"Option One."
A syringe filled with glowing purple liquid appeared in his hand and plunged into Logan's neck.
At the same instant, time snapped back to full speed.
"Ah, that hurts, that hurts."
The incoming bullet slammed into Ryan's head.
Something web-like burst outward, followed by a violent explosion.
Nanobombs.
Even Logan's skull would not survive a direct detonation.
X-24 collapsed to the ground, clutching his head. He was no longer roaring like a beast; he was screaming in pain.
It was the first sound he had made that was not animalistic.
X-23 lunged forward, claws extended.
Logan shot out an arm and stopped her cold.
He felt incredible.
For the first time in years, his body felt alive. Every cell screamed with energy, like cracked earth finally soaked by rain.
And it all started from that single injection.
Logan ripped the syringe out of his neck and tossed it aside. With one motion, he snapped the wooden stake impaling his chest and yanked it free.
The wound sealed shut before their eyes.
He rolled his shoulders and flexed his neck.
He had not felt this good in decades.
Laura stared at him, stunned.
Was he healed.
Logan stepped forward and looked down at the man kneeling on the ground.
"Who are you," he asked.
Ryan cautiously tilted his head, terrified that his brain might spill out.
"Me," he said weakly.
"I do not even know anymore."
"Am I X-24"
"Or just some nobody who worked himself to death."
And on top of all that, there was a system.
Ryan almost laughed.
Who are you?
No, do not bother answering, I already know who you are.
You are Wolverine.
Logan.
And her too.
X-23. Laura.
But seriously, what the hell is going on?
Logan and Laura exchanged looks, neither of them knowing what to do next.
Kill him? That was impossible, Whatever he was, this man had just saved Logan's life.
Let him live? He was the same clone who had killed Charles.
Before either of them could decide, Ryan took a sharp breath and straightened his posture.
"Go, now," he said firmly. "They will be here soon, Take the kids, cross the border, and survive."
"I will stay behind and slow them down."
His gaze shifted to the children gathering nearby.
"They do not know how to fight, they do not understand right and wrong, and they do not know how to survive."
"You do."
"That is your responsibility as an X-Man, teach them."
Ryan turned away before either of them could respond.
He climbed onto a nearby vehicle, sliced off a mounted machine gun using his claws, slung it over his shoulder, then grabbed two more rifles before walking back the way he had come.
"Hey," Logan called out. "If you need a name, call yourself Jimmy, Jimmy Halstead."
Ryan paused, raised one hand, and made an OK gesture without turning around.
Then he disappeared over the hillside.
---
"Dad," Laura said quietly, "he is going to survive, right?"
Logan looked at her, then nodded.
Around them, the other children slowly gathered. After what barely counted as a battle, they were finally beginning to control their abilities, even if only clumsily.
Ryan had been right, They did not know how to fight, they did not know how to hide.
Without guidance, they would only escape one nightmare to fall into another.
They needed a teacher.
Logan rested a hand on Laura's head.
"He will."
"Kids, get moving, Search them, Take anything useful, Cash, watches, weapons, ammunition, Everything."
"What is all this for?" one of the younger boys asked.
"This," Logan replied, "is how we survive. This is how we build something better. First lesson, Waste nothing."
With that, Wolverine began stripping the battlefield of anything that might keep them alive tomorrow.
---
As for Ryan, he sat calmly along the mountain road, right where the pursuers would have to pass.
"Walking away like that looked cool," he muttered, "but I really should have grabbed a few grenades."
He exhaled slowly.
"Alright. Time to figure out this system. How did I even get here?"
The interface opened.
Crude, Minimal, Functional.
---
[Name]: Ryan / Jimmy Halstead
[Level]: 1
[Biological Age]: 1
[Abilities]: Accelerated Healing, Feral Senses, Enhanced Smell, Advanced Hand to Hand Combat, Bladed Weapon Mastery
[Equipment]: Memory Imprinted Adamantium
[Attributes]
Strength: 32
Coordination: 46
Willpower: 22
[Techniques]: None
[Remaining Roulette Spins]: 2
[Main Quest Completion]
1. Save the Dying Wolverine: Completed
2. Continue the Bloodline: Completed
Ryan stared at the screen for a long moment.
Then he smiled.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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