Chapter 1: A New Power in a Deadly World
"I've actually been transported into the Marvel Universe?"
Standing on a chaotic street in Harlem, New York, Ethan Hunt stared in stunned disbelief at the monster known as the Abomination as it tore the city apart.
Just a few moments ago, he'd been watching a Marvel movie, muttering to himself how ridiculous it was that Thanos could wipe out half the universe with a single snap of his fingers.
That was all it took.
One little complaint, and his body disintegrated into ash, just like the heroes on the screen.
When he came to his senses, he was here, in the heart of the Marvel Universe. Having seen the movies, Ethan knew exactly how terrifying this world was. Superheroes were a dime a dozen, and supervillains crawled out of the woodwork at every turn.
Hulk and Abomination would throw down in massive street brawls without a moment's notice. Portals would rip open in the sky, spitting out aliens hell-bent on either conquering humanity or wiping Earth from the star charts. Under the streets, creatures like the Lizard lurked in the sewers, alongside countless other hidden monsters.
To say this world was dangerous was a gross understatement.
CRASH! BOOM!
The Abomination seemed to hate everything it laid its eyes on, smashing anything in its path, whether it was a person or a car.
"AHHH—"
"Help me!"
"RUN! THE MONSTER'S COMING!"
"Somebody help, I'm trapped in my car!"
"Quick, get inside the buildings!"
Panic gripped the citizens. Some ran for their lives, others were paralyzed by fear, their legs giving out from under them. The wounded cried out for help as chaos reigned.
Watching the Abomination get closer and closer, Ethan didn't hesitate. He turned and ran.
Though he was a former MMA world champion, none of that mattered against a monster like the Abomination. Running was his only option.
He hadn't gotten more than a few steps when something fell from the sky, hitting the ground with a deafening crash that left a deep crater in the asphalt.
A cold sweat broke out on Ethan's skin. He had missed being crushed by inches.
ROOOOAAAR!
A low, guttural roar echoed from the crater, radiating an aura of pure, terrifying rage.
BAM!
A massive green hand shot out from the pit, slamming onto the ground with enough force to splinter the concrete. A moment later, a hulking green giant pulled itself from the wreckage.
Seeing the creature's familiar form, Ethan gasped, "The... The Hulk."
ROAR!
The Hulk let out a furious bellow, the force of it sending Ethan flying. He crashed to the ground more than ten meters away, his body a mess of pain. His arm was broken, his eardrums felt shattered, and a sharp, throbbing pain pulsed through his skull.
Before Ethan could even process what had happened, the Abomination charged.
It barreled forward, each heavy footstep cracking the very ground it ran on. Not to be outdone, the Hulk met the charge, his own power shaking the street with equal ferocity.
Caught directly between the two behemoths, Ethan executed a desperate, clumsy roll to the side of the road, narrowly avoiding being trampled into paste. Even so, the shockwave from their collision slammed into him, throwing him against a wall.
Pfft—
Ethan coughed up a mouthful of blood.
As he watched the Hulk and Abomination continue their destructive battle, moving further down the street, he swore a silent oath. "I'll remember this. For the pain you've caused me, I'll pay you back a hundred times over."
[Ding! Gene Extraction System has been activated.]
Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
A system?
Ethan wasn't a huge reader of web novels, but he knew what a system was—the ultimate cheat, the golden ticket given to protagonists. He never imagined he'd get one himself.
"System, can you make me stronger?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with a desperate excitement.
[Ding! This system allows the Host to extract the genes of other beings to become stronger.]
"How do I extract them?" Ethan demanded, his heart pounding. The hope of revenge was now within reach.
[Ding! The target must be willing to allow you to extract their genes. Note: You must be in physical contact with the target during the extraction process.]
"Uh..."
"Are you kidding me, System?" Ethan shot back in frustration. "In the Marvel Universe, everyone with powers guards them jealously. Who in their right mind would willingly let me extract their genes?"
[Ding! You can beat them into submission until they are willing. Or, you could earn their trust and gratitude. The method is up to the Host's discretion.]
"Can I extract genes from animals? Like an ant or something?" Ethan asked, grasping at straws.
[Ding! Negative. The Host can only extract genes from humanoid lifeforms.]
"Damn it," Ethan muttered. "How am I supposed to get genes from anyone powerful?"
DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!
A military helicopter swooped low, unleashing a hail of gunfire on the Abomination, who had climbed onto a nearby rooftop.
Seeing this, Ethan suddenly recalled a key moment from The Incredible Hulk movie. After a brutal fight, the Hulk beats Abomination into submission, leaving him broken and motionless on the ground.
An idea sparked in his mind. Perhaps he could use Abomination's all-consuming hatred for the Hulk to his advantage.
Ignoring the searing pain, Ethan forced himself to his feet and began to follow the helicopter.
Just as he predicted, the Abomination swatted the helicopter out of the sky. It crashed into the ruins of an old building nearby. Ethan quickly ducked into a damaged apartment block, his eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.
He was waiting. Waiting for the moment the Hulk would finally bring the Abomination down.
"HULK SMASH!"
The furious roar reached Ethan's ears, followed by a tremor that shook the entire block. The savage roars of both monsters echoed through the night.
This is my chance, Ethan thought. He scrambled out of his hiding spot and blended into the terrified crowd, his gaze locked on the fight. He saw the Hulk wrap a thick iron chain around the Abomination's neck, pulling it tight.
The Abomination struggled violently, but he was too weak to break free.
Just as the Hulk was about to choke the life out of his foe, a woman's voice cried out, "Stop!"
It was Betty Ross.
With a look of deep reluctance, the Hulk paused. He let go of the chain, and his rage began to slowly subside.
This was it. Ethan began to slowly, carefully, make his way closer to the downed Abomination.
At that moment, another helicopter arrived, shining a blinding spotlight on the Hulk. Agitated and angered by the light, the Hulk roared one last time before leaping away, disappearing into the darkness. Everyone's attention was on the fleeing green giant.
No one was looking at him.
Ethan seized the opportunity. He ran to the Abomination's side and whispered urgently, "Blonsky, I have a way to kill the Hulk. But first, you have to willingly let me extract your genes."
The weakened Abomination turned his head, his beast-like eyes fixing on Ethan with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.
"What's your plan?" Abomination rasped, his voice weak and laced with defeat. If he wasn't so utterly broken, he would have swatted this insignificant human into a bloody pulp without a second thought.
"I extract your genes, and I'll become as strong as you," Ethan explained quickly. "Then, we can team up and destroy the Hulk together. What do you say?"
Abomination didn't answer immediately, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Ethan saw the hesitation and pressed on. "Don't worry. Extracting your genes won't harm you in any way. I just need your consent. Your willing consent."
"Fine," the Abomination grunted. "I agree."
A wave of triumphant joy washed over Ethan. He quickly placed his hand on the Abomination's massive body and commanded inwardly, System, extract the Abomination's genes and fuse them with me!
[Ding! Abomination's genes successfully extracted. Initiating fusion.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully fusing with the Abomination's genes.]
As the system's voice faded, a terrifying power surged through Ethan's body, transforming him from the inside out.
"AHHHH!"
A bloodcurdling scream tore from his lips.
It felt as if every bone, every muscle, and every cell in his body was being violently ripped apart and stretched. The agony was so intense it was worse than death.