Arin Aether woke with a sharp gasp.
For a second, he didn't know where he was. His eyes stared blankly at the gloomy ceiling above him while morning light spilled weakly through the dusty curtains. The room was small, quiet, and unfamiliar.
Then—
AGHH—!
A sudden, stabbing pain tore through his skull.
Arin's hands flew to his head as he doubled over, teeth clenched. It felt like someone had ripped open his mind and poured molten memories directly into it.
Images. Voices. Lives.
A sudden accident…
A quiet funeral…
Move to new York City…
An orphan…
A lonely apartment…
Midtown High School…
Names, faces, places, emotions—everything crashing into him like a storm.
His breathing turned heavy.
"Stop—slow down—!"
But the memories didn't listen.
They kept coming , sharper, faster, until it felt like his skull would split in half.
Minutes passed.
Or maybe it was seconds.
He couldn't tell.
Eventually, the pain began to fade—leaving behind a heavy, ringing silence.
Arin lay still, staring at the ceiling again, sweat cold on his forehead. His heartbeat slowly settled, steady and controlled… far calmer than someone who had just been mentally overloaded.
Two sets of memories merge into his mind .
One belonged to Arin Aether, the young man who died.
The other belonged to Arin Aether, the orphan boy who live in New York.
And now… both lives were his.
He exhaled softly.
"…So I really have been reborn."
He pushed himself upright, moving with deliberate calmness. The headache lingered, but the confusion was gone. Everything made sense now—where he was, who he was, and why this world felt unfamiliar.
Arin walked toward the window and pulled back the curtains.
What he saw make him more shocked as he look at tall building through window.
A tall building with Stark label appear in his view .
A police vehicle marked GCPD rushed past beneath.
A billboard flashed an ad for LexCorp.
And in the far distance another building name oscorp industries…
Seeing this he wasn't a normal world and especially after getting his previous life memory .
He was certain this world he much more than he initially through .
Marvel, DC and many more movie world which he can't even imagine as Countless universes overlapping into a single universe.
Arin's expression change to that of nervous as he reborn in dangerous world where normal people like him died frequently.
Then—a soft chime echoed inside his head.
Ding.
System loading 1..20..40..70
.. 80..100%
A translucent blue panel appear in front his eyes.
[ COUNTER SYSTEM ACTIVATED ]
Host: Arin Aether
Age: 20
Status: Reborn Anomaly Detected
Power -F
Counter Value: 0
Inventory
System mall
Arin blinked once.
Then fill with excitement .
Ding ! host travel to world of cinematic mutiverse , a universe filled with magic, science and adventure.
Then Another line appeared.
[ SYSTEM FUNCTION ]
You can gain Counter Points by changing major events in this world .
Influence the plot.
Break the plot.
Rewrite the plot.
The more chaos you cause…
The stronger you become.
Arin's lips shifted into joyful smi.
"So I get reward for ruining storylines… how
Interesting."
Arin then look at mirror besides his bed , looking at reflection in the mirror: a twenty-year-old boy with black hair, piercing eyes, and slightly tan skin .
Fleeing dirty and sweat on his body he went to bathroom to clean himself.
After washing up, Arin sat on the edge of his bed and grabbed the cheap-looking smartphone lying on the table. The screen flickered once before turning on,
"Let's see where exactly I've landed…"
He opened the browser and typed casually.
Gotham City events today.
Results appeared instantly.
"Joker sighting confirmed."
"Batman stops armed robbery in downtown Gotham."
Arin's hand froze.
"…Batman ."
He swallowed, continuing to scroll.
"LexCorp stocks rise."
"Metropolis may see Superman tonight."
"Vigilante known as Spiderman spotted swinging near Times Square."
His fingers trembled slightly—just slightly.
On the surface his face stayed calm, blank, controlled.
But his heart?
It beat faster.
Harder.
He checked Marvel-related names.
Stark Industries.
Oscorp.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
He recognized every single name, every reference.
"No way… no way… this is too much."
The more he scrolled, the more his stomach tightened.
This world wasn't exciting.
It was terrifying.
Heroes and villains blew up cities like they were toys.
Common people died in crossfire every day.
A random alien invasion or meta-human attack could turn any street into a battlefield.
Even if he pretended to be calm… deep inside, he was terrified.
"What if a villain attacks New York tomorrow? What if an Avenger battle breaks out on my street?"
His mind raced.
Danger was everywhere.
And he?
He had nothing.
No powers .
Just a high school boy strength and a system he barely understood.
"…System," Arin whispered, voice low but steady. "Do I have anything that can help me survive?"
A clear chime answered him.
Ding!
[ NEWBIE PACK AVAILABLE ]
Would you like to open it?
His worry evaporated instantly.
"Yes. Open it."
Ding!
[ NEWBIE PACK OPENED ]
Congratulations, host has received:
✔ Psychic Power (Level 1)
Can lift, pull, or control objects with the mind.
(Current max weight: 200 kg)
✔ Data Eye
Can scan any person and reveal:
• Attributes
• Danger level
• Role in the story
• Original plot relevance
✔ $1,000,000 USD
Store in system investory.
✔ Body Enhancement Serum
Improves physical strength, stamina, agility, and reflexes beyond normal human limits.
Arin stared at the list, stunned for a moment.
Psychic powers.
A scanner eye.
A million dollars cash.
A physical improvement serum.
Slowly… very slowly… a breath of relief escaped his lips.
His shoulders dropped slightly.
His chest loosened .
The panic inside him began to melt away.
"With this… I'm not helpless anymore."
He gripped the edge of the table, grounding himself.
He was still in a dangerous world.
Still surrounded by gods, monsters, and superhuman threats.
But now, for the first time since waking up…
He didn't feel like prey.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Good. Now at least I can protect myself."
But deep down, he was thrilled about his new life.