[🌀 INITIATING COMPATIBILITY TEST: αζ7/3✶...]
[⚡ RUNNING REQUIREMENT CHECK: Σ9-ψλρ⇥ SUCCESS.]
[♻️ PROTOCOL 747-Δ#63φ5₮ — ACTIVATED]
OPENING 🌐 SHARING MODE with Host_74736
[🔒 ALLOWING PERMISSION FOR FORCED LINK TO ψ_--"≠-₮"⧖... ☠]
Merging... 🔥
Merging... ⚙️
Merging... 🧬
[⚠️ Warning: Fragment Loss Detected — Code_ryoRΔ5⌖7_#]
Recovering missing sectors... 🧩
Rebuilding neural pathways... ♻️
Searching... ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
(Trace unstable... ψλ¢%)
Searching deeper... 🔍
SEARCHING... 🔍
Searching... 🔍
[✅ Alternate Pathway Secured: ∆⊠⇌47⇔33⊕✦]
Deploying overwrite sequence... ⚙️
Recalibrating system matrix... ♢
Synchronising cognitive threads... ✣
Merging... 🌪️
MERGING... ⚙️
Joining ¶Ω♪≠∞℅-‹"‡‽.. ❖
[✅ CONNECTION STATUS: √ COMPLETE]
[🔔 Host Sync Ratio: 98% — Minor Drift Tolerated]
[🌑 Side Note: "Residual echoes detected... negligible threat."]
---
I blinked.
Ned seemed to be saying something, but his voice was somewhere in the background. It felt like a broken radio signal — distant, unimportant.
Without thinking, I straightened my back, eyes locked onto the screen only I could see.
Seeing the connection status, the words slipped out of my mouth before my brain caught up:
"It... it worked."
Ned leaned in, probably seeing the surprised expression on me.
"Peter? What worked? What's happening, man?"
I barely heard him.
The data was still sinking into my head, layer by layer, like an ocean pouring through a straw.
"Two," I said in a voice low, a little too calm, since I still couldn't believe it, and repeated,
"I got two."
He blinked.
"Two what? Bro, you're making no sense!"
I didn't answer him, but my thoughts were only to myself. Apparently, the second system seemed to be some type of mercenary system.
I was going to check it, but was disturbed, since it seemed my classmates had some other plan.
"Have you finally lost your mind, Parker?" my nemesis — or Peter's school nemesis — Flash Thompson said, sliding my lunch as he sat in front, looking down at me.
I didn't need to look around to know the whole room had locked in — eyes watching, attention dialled to max. Drama incoming. Nobody was stepping in though. Being brave in high school was like volunteering for homework — rare and deeply suspicious.
Flash doing his usual "I own this place" routine? Nothing new. Most students had learned not to mess with him unless they came with muscles, backup, or serious main character energy. Gwen? She was safe not because she was a girl, but because her dad was a cop. Even Flash wasn't dumb enough to push that button.
The girls had their own version of chaos. Just last week, someone nearly started a war over a braid.
Peter's bullying had taken a nosedive after Aunt May passed. The usual crap — the pranks, the shoves — they all just… paused. Like someone unlocked "Pity Mode" in Flash's head.
But pity doesn't run forever. Especially when there's no Gwen, who had finally broken her record of attendance.
"No, there's still time for that. What do you want?" I replied, taking my cola can and taking a sip.
Now this was weird for him, and it could be seen from his face — someone replying casually to Flash?
"Physics assignment. You should have done it, right?" he tried to take back what you could call his 'respect' by placing his hand on my shoulder, like he didn't want me to stand.
Classic trick.
Sighing internally, I easily counteracted his force and stood up while backing my chair. "You can take it — if you'll return it."
A smirk formed on his face. "Have you forgotten how things work, Parker?" he said, raising his fist.
"Flash, I won't do it again," I said, removing his hand and grabbing his wrist — Flash's eyes twitched — surprise, maybe even pain letting him feel this was the real deal.
Before he could do anything, I closed the distance and leaned close to his ear.
"If you don't want everyone to know about your father… stay away from me."
I pulled back just enough to catch the look on Flash's face — eyes wide, jaw slightly slack. Panic? Disbelief? Maybe a cocktail of both.
Seems I hit the mark.
I'd been watching — the way he moved like something hurt, the quiet sighs when he thought no one was listening. Little things his buddies never noticed. Then it clicked. A panel from an old comic I'd read. Two days of paying attention and the puzzle came together.
Flash was being abused.
Not that it changes everything.
I'm not some saint out here handing out forgiveness like candy. Not after what he's done to Peter. But if he hasn't laid a hand on me, I'm not about to hit first .
I just want him to stop.
"Don't let your friends become me," I said, just loud enough for him to hear.
Then I grabbed my stuff and left my seat.
Eyes on me seeing the unexpected development.
Ned caught up instantly, eyes darting between me and Flash, who was still frozen like someone hit pause.
"What did you say to him?" Ned hissed, keeping pace.
"Just told him I'm done playing his little games."
"And he just took that?" Ned looked back again, eyebrows climbing. "C'mon, did you catch him in bunny PJs or something? You've gotta tell me what his kryptonite is. I swear, I won't tell a soul."
"Forget about that. Want to build some LEGO later?" I changed the subject. No point dragging Flash's pain into the open.
"Yes! Let's meet at my place," Ned lit up instantly. "I haven't touched it since last month."
"Let's meet tomorrow," I said, settling it right there. I'd check the system back at home—my mood had shifted too much to focus here.
In silence and peace, I'd see what changes it would bring to me.
**************
How should this Mercenary system works with multiverse travel, mission, gacha etc