Chapter 10: Chapter 9: Concerns

I am up on the roof. The stars could barely be seen despite the smog and city lights.

Someone comes up and sits next to me. 

“Hey, kid,” Oliver says. 

I sigh. I want to say I’m not a kid, but from my most recent experience… “Hey,” I say dejectedly. 

We sat there for some time. 

“Do you think I’m wrong?” I ask. 

“No, I don’t,” he says. 

“But I’m not right.”

“No, you’re not.”

“So what am I?”

“What do you think?” he asks, concerned.

“That I’m just a kid. A kid with great power and can do whatever he wants.” 

“Ha! You’re not a brat, kid.”

I look at him strangely. 

“You’re young. Younger than others expect you to be. That means they’ll know you can mess up. You don’t have the experience. But it’s not like you take it for granted.” 

“So then the problem is I’m inexperienced?”

“For some of them, yes.”

“And others?” 

“We know you’re trying your best with the hand you’ve been dealt.”

“But that’s not enough?”

He winces. “You made a mistake, that's all. Recognize that and apologize. Then move forward.”

“I… I don’t know what I did wrong.”

“Just think. It should come to you.”

I think back to what they said. They aren’t soldiers, or a well oiled team. They don’t like being given targets to execute, or roles to slot in. They don’t like the dirty work, or what it will take to save the world. 

‘What it will take’ huh? 

I ask Oliver a question I should’ve when we first met, “Why did you accept being summoned?”

He gives me a side glance and smirks. “That is the right question.” He stands and starts walking away. I watch him go, struggling to think of something to say. 

“Whatever it was, thanks for helping me and answering my call.”

He waves a hand without looking back. 

I had always assumed they all knew what I would need of them to be a hero. To help save lives. Maybe they do, or maybe they have their own notions. But it’d probably be a good idea to start by asking. 

 

Back in the living room, the team was all waiting for me. Oliver must’ve said something. 

I take my place in front of everyone and say, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did and I shouldn’t have ran away. Thank you for being patient with me. I don’t know what it is like for you to give up your lives and be here with me, but I do thank you. I can’t do this without help.”

The room is quiet. Some look like they want to say something, others look the opposite. 

“Darkseid destroyed Earth,” Oliver says. “For those that don’t know, imagine an uglier version of Thanos with the same drive to do evil. Anyway, the Earth was toast and was set adrift in space dying, slowly. Then I heard a voice. It told me if I wanted to live and what I would like in return. All I could ask for was my family to be safe. And then I get implanted with knowledge about a kid wanting to save the Earth. A different Earth with different heroes, but the morals were there. How could I not give my everything?”

“Thank you for telling me,” I say sincerely.

Tanya speaks up next, “John, my partner, died. He was the best soldier and I was assigned to him as a handler of sorts. Anyway, I was left in his suit wondering what would happen next, being unable to cry. The voice made me more and gave me a new assignment. But I wanted more. So when you gave me a body, I decided to be different. Real…”

“And I’m glad you are. Here and real.”

Betsy says, “Slaymaster killed me. Apparently he has a problem with me enough that he goes to other realities to kill me. I asked for justice and the voice said another version of me killed him.”

“I died on a job and just wanted my sword back,” Zannah says as soon as Betsy is finished.

Before anyone else could speak I raise a hand.  “I died. I don’t know why or how, but I saw this as my second chance. To do good and save people. To be a hero. …I hope you all can help me with that.”

No one responds, but when I look at each of their faces I can tell who is more amenable. 

“I’m not saying you have to do whatever I tell you to. I want to work with you. Be a proper team. But make no mistake, our first goal is taking down Hydra. Then Thanos. Then whoever else decides to mess with the Earth. This is our home and I will see it protected.” 

The group seems to accept my conviction. They know themselves what is needed to accomplish such grand goals. 

 

-One week later-

[Reporting…

743 deeds completed, 671 D-rank, 65 C-rank, 7 B-rank.

960 D-ranks converted to 80 C-ranks, 150 C-ranks converted to 20 B-ranks, 40 B-ranks converted to 4 A-ranks.

Balance: 33 D-rank, 6 C-rank, 6 B-rank, 6 A-rank

Templates Fully Assimilated:

Pietro Maximoff, aka Quicksilver (Marvel: extended mcu)

Thomas Wayne, aka Batman (DC: flashpoint)

Peter Parker, aka Spiderman (Marvel: noir)

Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning(DC) 

Lucas Bishop, aka Bishop(Marvel: Earth-1191)

You are reading story Marvel with a System at novel35.com

Hashirama Senju, aka the First Hokage(Naruto)

Vlad Dracula, aka Dracula(Dark universe)

Daisy Johnson, aka Quake(Marvel: mcu)]

 

I figured out that I can complete one A-rank and one B-rank per week. Usually this is because the A-ranks are more complex or diverse in their abilities. But I expect it could also be system shenanigans. 

I also found out no one hates me. Well, I knew some of the group liked me and the others were only just acquainted, but I’m just glad we don’t have any bad blood between us. Some tension, yes, but nothing that can’t be worked out. 

Mizuki, Iaian, and Hekate didn’t know about Hydra and deeds, so they didn’t like being told to kill them without knowing why. Understandable. After I explained, with proof, the amount of crimes they commit (Attempted world domination, Conspiracy, Brainwashing, Kidnapping, Blackmail, Torture, Espionage, Weapons dealing, etc.) they understood. Hekate, though, decided on not going on anymore missions.

Alexander had come from one of the Dark Phoenix timelines. He was a bit disillusioned with the whole hero business currently. Understandable. But not ideal. I hope that after he sees the danger coming he’ll step up, but I probably have to think of another path for him. 

Which brings us to the Ice Queen: Emma Frost. She wants to remake the Hellfire club. I ain’t about that. But we compromised, she can help make an organization that will be a leader in industry. It will make a lot of money and be important to the world (which is what she wants) but also give most of its funds away as charity (something I requested). 

But that still leaves us down three compatriots, so I’m goin’ shopping. 

 

[Rolling…

2x D-rank: Scrappy-Doo(Scooby-Doo), Mercy Graves(DC)

3x C-rank: Mizuki Touji(Naruto), Tiger Claw(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Sean Cassidy(Marvel)

3x B-rank: Frigga(Marvel), Kazuya Aoi(Freezing), Xi'an Coy Manh(Marvel) 

2x A-rank: Erza Scarlet(Fairy Tail), Yoruichi Shihoin(Bleach)

Balance: 31 D-rank, 3 C-rank, 3 B-rank, 4 A-rank]

 

*Sigh* I got a talking dog. Why do I bother with D-ranks?

Mercy could be useful, or she won’t care about me at all because I’m not some world-dominating scrooge. Maybe Emma could use an assistant? 

Mizuki? That creep? No, thank you.

Some man-tiger werebeast? No, thank you. 

I’ve never heard of Sean Cassidy or Banshee before now. I guess that shows I much he’s worth.

And so we go to B-rank, with… Frigga. No, wait, superhuman physiology and sorcery, I can dig it. 

Kazuya, the mc? Isn’t he kinda weak without anyone else for whom he can support? Unless… Oh, look at that. I can buy stigmata from the store. Now should I tell Tanya?

Xi’an, another telepath. Also a teen. I’ll just template her. 

Now for the good stuff. Erza? Of course I like her but without the armor and weapons… OH MY GOD her magic makes it so all the armor and weapons she has is brought with her! I’m so templating her!

Yoruichi! Hell yeah! Finally someone I can summon. 

Before that though, I forgot I have a reroll. Best get rid of the Freezing mc. Don’t want to be a harem protagonist.

 

[Reroll used…

Kazuya Aoi(Freezing) removed

Rolling..

Shikamaru Nara(Naruto)]

 

Oh, he could be good for strategizing. Let’s find out.

 

[Summoning… Yoruichi Shihoin(Bleach, Shikamaru Nara(Naruto)]

 

The two appear suddenly. Yoruichi is wearing an orange overshirt that contrasts nicely with her chocolate skin and dark purple hair. Shikamaru is wearing a green flak jacket and a forehead protector of the allied shinobi force. He is pale and has his hair done up in a spiky ponytail. 

“Welcome, Yoruichi-san, Shikamaru-san!” I say. 

“‘Sup,” Yoruichi says.

Shikamaru just stares at me. 

I stare back. 

“Troublesome,” he mutters.

“Ha ha, maybe,” I say. “Anyway, I have called for your aid to defeat a dastardly foe known as Hydra.”

“Those guys that infested Shield, or whatever?” Yoruichi asks. 

“Exactly. Their plans are many, and diabolical.” I go on to describe some of their crimes. 

“Tch. Humans,” Yoruichi tsks. 

“Well, yes, but they are dastardly aliens too ya know?”

“Right, there is that.”

“What a drag,” Shikamaru says his signature line. 

“Don’t worry, that’s all later. For now we are going to an amusement park. Family tradition,” I say, smiling. 

We gather up everyone and get ready to leave. Before that though I ask Emma if she’d like an assistant. She says yes so I summon Mercy Graves as well. Then we head off.

You can find story with these keywords: Marvel with a System, Read Marvel with a System, Marvel with a System novel, Marvel with a System book, Marvel with a System story, Marvel with a System full, Marvel with a System Latest Chapter