The air in the school courtyard didn't just smell of dust and the faint scent of stale lunch; today, it was thick, metallic, and acrid. Aarav Sharma, all of seventeen years and a slight fifty-five kilograms of skinny Indian boy, didn't have time to process the smell. He only had time to move.
He wasn't a hero. He was a nerd. A quiet, unassuming kid from Patna, Bihar, whose real life existed in the pages of Manhua and Manga, the cinematic explosions of Marvel and DC, and the endless, captivating lore of Fate/Stay Night and Dragon Ball. His secret weapon wasn't a Kamehameha or a Noble Phantasm; it was an encyclopedic knowledge of fictional power scaling and a desperate, burning desire to see the final chapter of One Piece.
The man, a crazed, wide-eyed fanatic with a homemade vest of explosives, was mere feet from the main gate where fifty-plus children were flooding out after the final bell.
Not today. Not on my watch, Aarav's mind screamed in a perfect, fictionalized action movie monologue.
He didn't run away. He didn't shout a warning that would only hasten the inevitable. Aarav did the one thing a lifetime of reading heroic tales prepared him for: he intercepted.
With a desperate, clumsy tackle born of pure adrenaline, he didn't aim for the man's legs or arms. He aimed for the center mass, pulling the bomber off his feet and away from the dense crowd, towards the lonely, empty school library wing. He heard the muffled, furious shriek of the fanatic and then, the high-pitched, terrifying sizzle.
The world dissolved in a blinding, deafening white-hot flash. The last sensation Aarav felt was not pain, but the cold, hard certainty that at least the little girl who dropped her textbook wouldn't have to grow up without her mother.
The Void and The Dimensional Auditor
When Aarav opened his eyes, he was not surrounded by blinding light or screaming fire. He was floating in a soothing, infinite Void, like the empty panel between comic book pages.
A figure sat before him, cross-legged, floating effortlessly. It was genderless, ageless, and radiated an oppressive, quiet power that made the air feel heavy. The being wore simple, flowing white robes and its expression was serene, yet focused, like a cosmic accountant balancing the books of existence.
"Hello, Aarav Sharma," the being's voice resonated, not in his ears, but in the marrow of his bones. "I am the Dimensional Auditor, and you, my young man, have just caused a rather significant ripple."
Aarav, remarkably calm for a recently deceased seventeen-year-old, floated up and gave a small, respectful nod. "Am I… dead?"
The Auditor chuckled, a sound like distant wind chimes. "Physically? Absolutely. Spiritually? You're a beacon, boy. A small human life exchanged for fifty-two others. An excellent trade in the cosmic ledger."
He gestured, and a shimmering, translucent ledger materialized between them, written in golden, shimmering script.
"You died saving life, without thought of reward or fear for yourself. A rare and pure act of heroism. It earns you a prize," the Auditor announced, tapping the ledger. "Most choose a comfortable transition, but I've reviewed your file—all of your manga, anime, and webnovel history—and I believe you'd prefer an alternative."
Aarav's soul gave a hopeful, impossible lurch. "An alternative? Like… a second chance?"
"Precisely. A complete reincarnation. You will be placed in a fictional universe of your choice, a new life, with all your memories intact, and three wishes to shape your destiny. The catch? You have to agree to an ongoing cosmic contract: continue to be a force for good. Do you accept?"
"Yes! A thousand times, yes!" Aarav practically shouted, his whole existence buzzing with excitement.
"Good. Now, the fun part. Where do you want to go?"
Aarav's mind, the repository of a thousand universes, went into overdrive.
"I choose the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)," Aarav declared, the name echoing in the Void. "And I want to be born there, say, ten years before the first Iron Man movie."
The Auditor gave a slow, approving nod. "A strong foundation. You want to be a player before the game officially starts. Excellent. Now, your three desires. Choose wisely. They must be powers you can grow into. No immediate omnipotence."
The Three Desires
Aarav took a deep breath. This was it.
"My first wish is for power," Aarav stated, his voice now firm and resolute. "I want the Saiyan Bloodline from Dragon Ball. I want the knowledge of Son Goku's complete fighting skill set, from his time with Master Roshi to his training with Whis. And I want the potential to reach all his transformations, up to Super Saiyan 5."
The Auditor raised a translucent eyebrow. "Super Saiyan 5 is an established fan-theory level of power. Approved. However, the Saiyan gene is dormant. You will have to train hard and earnestly to unlock your first transformation. Is that acceptable?"
"Perfectly acceptable. Hard work is the only way to earn true power," Aarav replied.
"Very well. First wish granted. What is the second?"
"My second wish is for the Gate of Babylon," he announced. "Access to every Noble Phantasm—every weapon, every mythical artifact—from all of Earth's history, past and future."
The Auditor tapped his chin. "A massive power. To prevent you from dominating the world on day one, we will introduce a power lock. The Gate will open bit by bit. Initially, only common weapons will be available. Strong Noble Phantasms will only be unlocked by completing significant acts of heroism or by reaching major milestones in your Saiyan power. Do you agree to a slow, controlled unlock?"
"I agree," Aarav said, grinning widely.
"And your final wish, Aarav Sharma?"
"My third and final wish is for Universal Travel. I want the ability to travel to any and all fictional worlds I have ever read in manga, manhua, and webnovels, watched in anime, or played as a game," he declared. "The ability will be controlled, only activating after my current mission is complete. In the MCU, I will be locked in until after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. After that, I want to be transported to the DC Universe."
The Auditor's serene face broke into a genuine, cosmic smile. "To live a life not just as a hero, but as a true dimension-hopping adventurer. A bold choice."
He clapped his hands once, the sound ripping through the Void.
"The three wishes are granted. Saiyan Bloodline and skills. The Gate of Babylon with a gradual unlock. And the freedom to be a Chrononaut of Fiction."
A faint, blue light began to envelop Aarav.
"Your life begins now, young hero. Go forth and enjoy the chaotic, wonderful life you've earned."