These days, if you cross into another world without a cheat ability, you'd almost feel embarrassed to introduce yourself.
And if that world happens to be the Marvel Universe a place where danger lurks behind every corner then stepping in without a cheat is basically volunteering as cannon fodder. Surely, whatever great cosmic being sent him here couldn't possibly be bored enough to watch him die a thousand humiliating deaths.
System, what's the first world? And what's my mission?
Alex Carter accepted the "I-have-a-system" setup in less than three seconds. After all, if he could take the idea of waking up inside Marvel in stride, then getting a system thrown in was just the natural package deal.
System: "Countdown initiated. The first world is Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Mission details will be provided upon arrival. Host has nine minutes and forty seconds to prepare."
The voice in his mind was flat and mechanical, utterly devoid of emotion.
"Damn it!"
Even though the exchange happened telepathically, Alex couldn't stop himself from cursing out loud.
If it had been one of the old-school Godzilla flicks, fine, maybe he could manage. But Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters? Monsters the size of skyscrapers roaming free, nuclear blasts like fireworks, humanity clinging to survival… His flimsy human body wouldn't even make it past the opening credits.
This thing isn't a system. It's a broken toy here to mess with me!
Nearby, young Wanda and Pietro stopped their crying, startled by Alex's sudden outburst. They looked up at him, wide-eyed half fearful, half confused.
"It's nothing. I was just… a little frustrated." Alex forced a smile and reached out to ruffle their hair, trying to ease the tension.
System, can I swap missions? Come on, I'm a rookie here. Dropping me into Godzilla 2 right away is a bit much, don't you think? He knew begging was pointless, but hey, maybe the stupid system would glitch and cut him some slack.
System: "Analyzing host's abilities. Current stats: slightly below average human standard. Probability of survival in Godzilla: King of the Monsters: 0.0000001‰. Mission parameters being recalibrated. New world: Titanic."
"YES!"
Alex scooped Wanda up in his arms and spun her around, laughing like a madman.
Wanda blinked, utterly baffled by his sudden joy. Pietro quickly pulled his sister back, watching Alex with a mix of suspicion and wariness.
Has this guy lost his mind?
But Alex's grin only widened. Titanic! Now this was more like it.
James Cameron's masterpiece, based on real history, had once swept the entire film industry, scooping up awards like candy. Sure, the ship sank in the end, but compared to facing off against world-ending kaiju, a sinking boat was child's play.
Especially for someone who already knew the entire plot by heart.
The mission has to be something simple rescue a passenger, recover the Heart of the Ocean necklace, maybe even seduce Rose if the system's feeling cheeky. Not a bad deal at all.
And speaking of Rose Kate Winslet in her prime, before she picked up that infamous "Fat Winslet" nickname well, if the system wanted him to play Jack's role, Alex could hardly complain.
"You two stay here. I'll be back in a bit," he told the Maximoff siblings, glancing at the countdown. Seven minutes left. Without waiting for their response, he clambered down through a hole in the floor.
Getting up had been a struggle earlier, but climbing down was easy. The drop wasn't even three meters he could have just jumped.
"Pietro… is Jack-brother stupid?" Wanda whispered after staring blankly at the empty spot.
"Maybe. He might've hit his head," Pietro muttered, scratching his temple. If he really wanted to use the bathroom, the third-floor toilet was still working fine. Why climb down two floors just to find another?
Meanwhile, Alex sprinted to his bedroom and began gathering supplies.
Yes, Titanic was the definition of a beginner mission, but it was still his first official crossover. Preparation was everything.
First: weapons.
Though his late parents had been Chinese by blood, they'd lived in Sokovia for over a decade. In a place riddled with crime and instability, having firearms wasn't optional it was survival.
Two Beretta 92 pistols and four extra magazines.
Sure, they wouldn't do much against missiles raining from the sky, but on a 1912 passenger liner? More than enough.
Next: money.
Alex opened the safe and pulled out a few gold bars. His parents had always been the type to squirrel away savings, and their foresight paid off now. The safe was stuffed with cash and bullion, but only the gold would be useful in 1912. Dollars from the 21st century would stick out like a sore thumb, but gold? That was universal currency.
He strapped a fruit knife from the kitchen to his belt, then rushed to the storage room to look for a life preserver. Sure, he was ninety-nine percent confident he could survive the sinking, but what if the system decided to dump him straight into the iceberg collision? Better safe than sorry.
But just as his hand touched the storeroom door
System: "Preparation time ended. Transmission in three… two… one…"
The world spun. Alex's vision blurred as a storm of light streaks tore past him. His skull buzzed, nausea rising in waves. He squeezed his eyes shut, recognizing the symptoms instantly.
So this is what they mean by time turbulence. Guess I'm too weak to withstand it right now.
System: "Ding! Host transmission successful. You have ten minutes to blend into the environment. Main mission will be announced afterward."
Alex opened his eyes then immediately gagged.
"What the hell is that smell?"