The pounding in Arthur's head was gone, replaced by a crystalline silence. His lungs felt as if they had just been cleansed by a cool, arctic wind, and every muscle in his body felt loose and refreshed. The translucent menu, now hovering before him, was the only lingering remnant of his surreal experience. It was simple, elegant, and impossibly clean.
[Name: Arthur Steele]
[Title: None]
[Level: 1]
[Stats]
Strength: 8
Endurance: 9
Agility: 7
Intelligence: 25
Charisma: 15
Luck: 10
[Skills]
Legal Insight (Passive)
Rhetoric (Passive)
[Log]
Event: Player Transmigrated.
Event: Restoration Protocol accepted.
[Inventory]
Starter pack
This is impossible. It's a hallucination. It has to be, he thought. He reached out a hand, his fingers phasing through the translucent screen without resistance. Except, the headache is gone. And my thoughts… they're so clear.
He began to pace the length of his apartment.
"Tony Stark is real. The Avengers… they're going to happen. S.H.I.E.L.D. is out there. Hydra is hiding in plain sight."
He ran a hand through his hair. "What am I supposed to do? Run and hide? Warn everyone? Who would even believe me? 'Yeah, I'm from another universe, and I know Thanos is coming.' They'd lock me in a padded cell. No, I have to be smart. I have to play this carefully."
He stopped and turned back to the menu, a new resolve hardening in his features. He had to figure this out. He wasn't a hero, but he had a power no one else did: foresight.
"Okay, this is real." Arthur's mind was a whirlwind of impossible clarity. He was in the MCU. The full weight of the truth settled over him, cold and heavy. This wasn't a game. It was real.
His gaze darted to the date on his phone—January 2010. The kidnapping, the ambush—it was all going to happen in a matter of weeks.
He looked at the menu again, his eyes lingering on the Stats tab. "What does this even mean?" he muttered to himself. He focused on the screen, a new window appearing.
[Stats: A quantitative representation of your capabilities. Average human baseline is 10.]
He tapped each stat, a new explanation materializing with every touch.
"Strength… 8. Below average. Great," he sighed. "Endurance… 9. Agility… 7. So, I'm a weak, uncoordinated nerd. This is great for a world with literal gods." He laughed, a dry, humorless sound.
His eyes found Intelligence. "25? What is that even based on?" A new screen popped up in response.
[Intelligence (25): Your ability to process information, analyze complex data, and retain knowledge. Your mind has been enhanced to access and organize your memories with perfect clarity.]
"Perfect clarity," he repeated, the words a quiet revelation. He could remember everything—every legal precedent, every meeting, every movie plot.
[Charisma (15): Your ability to influence and persuade others. Your subtle social cues are more effective. You can build rapport more easily and convey your arguments with a natural confidence.]
[Luck (10): Your ability to influence favorable outcomes. The average human baseline, suggesting you can rely on your other abilities rather than chance.]
Arthur felt a strange sense of validation. The system was confirming what he had already suspected—his brain, his natural skills, had been supercharged. But what about the physical side?
The notification was clinical, almost insulting. He was weak. His knowledge of the future was his greatest strength, but physically, he was just a regular guy. He wasn't a fighter, and he knew that would be a problem eventually.
A sudden, sharp thought crossed his mind. Was there any way to... check for a threat? He focused on the system, willing it to provide a new command. A small magnifying glass icon materialized at the bottom of the screen. He tapped it.
[Threat Analysis: Your ability to detect and assess danger. Requires an active connection to your senses. Tap to scan your immediate surroundings.]
He tapped the screen.
[Threats Detected: None]
[Status: All clear. No immediate danger.]
Arthur let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He tapped on a new icon that had appeared with the Threat Analysis screen, a small magnifying glass with a question mark on it.
[Scan: Point your focus at a person, object, or location to receive a detailed analysis. Caution: Some high-value targets may be protected from a full scan.]
He looked around his apartment, his gaze settling on his crumpled suit jacket on the floor. He focused on it and mentally prompted the system to scan it.
[Object: Men's Business Suit Jacket (Stark Industries Legal Team, 2009 model).]
[Condition: Poor. Stains detected. Wear and tear consistent with heavy use.]
[Material Composition: Wool blend (70%), polyester (30%).]
[Recommendation: Dry cleaning and mending recommended for professional appearance.]
Arthur smirked. The system was clinical and dry, but it was incredibly thorough.
He walked into his home office, a small room with a large wooden desk. He powered on his laptop and began to do a quick search. The news headlines confirmed what he already knew. Reports about Stark Industries' latest projects were everywhere. There were interviews with Tony Stark about the company's new missile systems and a brief mention of a planned trip to the Middle East for a demonstration.
Just as he was about to pull up his own account history, his phone rang. The screen showed a familiar name: Mark. It was unusually good timing, almost as if it were a coincidence.
"You're not in the office, Arthur," Mark's voice said, sounding slightly annoyed.
"Pepper wants us to hop on a call. The Jericho missile contract just got greenlit. She's a monster this morning, trying to get this finalized before Tony's trip."
"I was just about to pull up the master contract," Arthur said, his voice calm and confident. He felt a strange pull from his Charisma stat, as if he were influencing the tone of the conversation. "Tell her I'll have the amended contracts ready by tomorrow."
"You'll be a lifesaver," Mark said, relief clear in his voice. "She said you were a solid guy when you got in early on the AccuTech litigation. You've got a good reputation with her."
He hung up, the words of the conversation echoing in his mind.
"Well good to know I won't be fired anytime soon. Future Mrs Stark for the win; Yayy!!' he sighed.
He looked at the legal document on his laptop screen, the Jericho contract glowing with an ominous significance.
A new notification appeared in his peripheral vision.
[Reminder: Starter Pack Available. Check Inventory.]
He went to the Inventory tab and tapped the box icon. A new, triumphant window appeared as the icon shimmered and dissolved.
[Starter Pack Contents]
Fitness Regimen: A digital file containing a rigorous workout and diet plan.
Self-Defense Manual: A digital manual that provides a step-by-step guide to basic self-defense and evasion techniques.
Map of Safe Houses: A digital map of pre-selected safe houses and contacts.
"Self-Defense Manual," he said, his voice a low murmur. He focused on the icon, a new menu popping up.
[Self-Defense Manual: Contains a comprehensive guide to Krav Maga, Wing Chun, and basic hand-to-hand combat principles. Includes defensive and evasive maneuvers for unarmed threats and bladed weapons. Training will require consistency to achieve proficiency.]
A sardonic smile touched his lips. "At least I won't die in an alleyway."
He tapped the screen again. "Now, what about this?" he whispered, his eyes on the final item. He focused on the Map of Safe Houses icon, and the System provided a detailed response.
[Map of Safe Houses: A Network of Survival]
[Description: A digital map containing the locations of a network of survival caches and safe houses across the United States. These locations are off-the-grid, with power and basic provisions for short-term residency. Access is granted through a unique biometric signature recognized by the system.
[Note: This network is not tied to any government or private organization. It is an independent, global grid of assets for individuals seeking to disappear. It is not intended for long-term use.
[Warning: The locations are subject to change. Regular updates are recommended for security purposes. The network is for evasion, not offense. Attempting to use these locations for combat or espionage will void their intended purpose and may result in the forfeiture of access.]**
"There goes my plan to hide away. Damn you.. System" he grumbled.