Walking through the ocean depths is unexpectedly peaceful. Everything is silent, save for the rhythmic, heavy thud of my own footsteps and the crushing weight of the darkness.
I allowed my processing unit to drift. I thought of everything: how I arrived here, the surge of information hardwired into my skull, and my own strange detachment. I've accepted this new reality surprisingly easily. Whether this is a coma or a descent into madness, does it really change anything? I was a dead man walking in that cell; being granted this metallic new beginning feels, quite frankly, freeing.
I took the time to properly investigate the System. Even though the data was pre-installed in my mind, I needed to get a physical grip on my capabilities. After a few minutes of diagnostic testing, I mapped out the core factors.
First: My System has no AI. There are no snarky conversations or guiding voices. It can answer specific technical queries, but the responses are static and pre-recorded. I am alone in here.
Second: The points are absolute. I could acquire anything. I could even buy a tactical nuclear device to be housed in my chest if I ever feel truly suicidal. From mechanical upgrades to experimental weaponry, everything has a price.
The most important detail appeared as my massive head tilted toward the glowing light-blue HUD:
{The host may choose three B-level upgrades or new components as a beginner gift.}
I'm no fool. Whoever threw me into this meat grinder doesn't actually care about my well-being. This "gift" is a preparation. It means I will face a threat long before the first point-patch arrives next week. He gave me these tools for one reason: survival.
A Kaiju? That was my first thought. But in a reality where the Hulk exists, is a giant monster really that much of a threat?
Navigating was simpler than expected. My radar and the system map synced perfectly. As I began my long climb toward the surface, I felt the tension rising in my chassis. I pre-emptively activated the Plasmacaster-01 in my left hand, the hum of charging energy vibrating through my arm.
I watched the depth gauge steadily drop: 2000... 1950... 1800 meters. Suddenly, a crimson blip flared on my radar. Something was moving directly in front of me. I froze, leveling the Plasmacaster and unsheathing the chain sword in my right grip.
To my surprise, the whatever that thing is it didn't attack me. The creature seemed more concerned with reaching the surface than fighting a giant metal man. I shadowed it, maintaining a wary distance as we breached the "ocean's embrace."
I expected many things, but nothing prepared me for the sight of the surface. I froze. I was looking at a city—or what used to be one. It was a dead, grey apocalypse, abandoned years ago.
It seems that the Kaijus had been here long before me, and for some reason, a world populated by Avengers and mutants was losing?
How is that possible? Where is the Ancient One? Where is Odin? The Sorcerer Supreme should have been able to seal the Breach and be done with it.
My internal monologue was cut short as two figures rose from the ruins. They were "small" for Kaijus—roughly 50 to 55 meters. One resembled a bloated octopus; the other was a feline-like nightmare with four eyes.
The feline charged with terrifying speed, while the octopus seemed more interested in retreating toward the water. I didn't panic. The cat was smaller than me, and I knew the golden rule of combat: never stop moving unless you're built to take the hit. But I had a better plan.
As the feline lunged, I gave it exactly what it wanted. I thrust my left arm forward. Like a mindless predator, it latched on, its teeth grinding against my armor. I allowed it to maul the limb for a split second—just long enough to stabilize its position— while my other hand activated as a huge sword formed before driving my it through its spine. I felt the vertebrae snap. It tried to scramble away, but its lower body was already paralyzed.
I pressed the barrel of my Plasmacaster against its skull. I fired until there was no head left to identify.
I was about to move in for a "triple-check" decapitation when a massive tentacle slammed into my chest. The force was astronomical; my massive frame was sent reeling backward.
My doubts vanished when I saw it. The octopus had somehow doubled in size, now towering over me. I began to seriously question the physical laws of this universe.
'How?! It was so small just a second ago!'
I scrambled to my feet. I did what any sane man does when facing a larger animal than himself : I used a gun.
I transformed both limbs into Plasmacasters and began a rolling retreat. I discovered that while I didn't know my exact top speed but I was definitely faster than a land-walking octopus. I kept blasting while running away from the beast like a pro-gamer.
"Hahaha! Catch me if you can, you fat animal!"
I noticed water leaking from the holes I was plasting in its hide. It hadn't grown ; it had enlarged itself with seawater. Talk about steroid abuse.
As I led the beast on a chase, a red blur streaked across my optics. I zoomed in. There he was, in all his tiny, billionaire glory: Tony Stark.
Before I could have a "fanboy" moment, hundreds of Iron Man suits swarmed the octopus. The individual damage was minimal, but the distraction was perfect. The octopus shrunk back down to roughly 70 meters as it lost its water tension.
Seizing the opening, I deployed both chain swords and charged the overgrown takoyaki. I leaped, landing squarely on its mantle, and began a frenzied stabbing motion. In the back of my mind, I could almost hear a rhythmic "Ora ora ora!" echoing.
Once it stopped twitching, I delivered a few more precautionary stabs and planted a heavy metal foot on its head. Victory!.
But then, a metaphorical punch hit my mind. I felt a foreign presence probing my processor, trying to override my motor functions. I felt myself losing control.
'Iron man is he?….No! He's trying to hack me!'
I didn't hesitate. I accessed the System and burned my first beginner gift.
[Upgrade Selected: Anti-Hacking (MAX)]
Instantly, my mind cleared. Nice try, Jarvis for an Ai brother you are betraying me for humanity…Traitor!
I looked at the lead suit—the one I assumed was Tony—and decided it was time to bolt. I sprinted for the shoreline. He tried to breach my firewalls a few more times on the way down, but the System held firm. I dove, returning to the crushing silence of the deep.
The Aftermath
[Tony Stark (Iron Man) POV]
"How in the world...?"
"Jarvis, check my vitals. Am I hallucinating? Do I have toxins in my system?"
"No, sir. Your readings are normal."
"Then that was...?"
"A mech, sir. Do you wish to review the footage?"
Tony stared at the spot where the giant had submerged. How? That thing should collapse under its own weight. Who built it? SHIELD? No—if Fury had a toy that big, he wouldn't have waited for the nuke orders.
"Jarvis, has anyone else seen this?"
"Searching... It appears several survivors in the ruins recorded the engagement. The footage is already trending; it has hundreds of thousands of views and is skyrocketing, sir."
With increased confusion Stark flew toward the Helicarrier, a simmer of anger beneath his confusion. Who has this tech? And why did they wait until the world was already screaming to help?
Millions would still be alive.
[Alexander (MC) POV]
I finalized my remaining gifts as I settled into the dark.
1. Anti-Hacking (Max)
2. Anti-Magnetic Field Technology (No way I'm letting Magneto toss me around like a tin can.)
3. Repair Robots (A swarm of 10 maintenance units.)
I modeled the repair bots after "EVE" from Wall-E. They aren't combat-ready, but they live in a specialized chamber in my chest. They "eat" salvaged any form of metal to repair me from any damages.
In short they are my repair crew
I found a sunken ship near the coast and laid my massive form beside it. The ten "cuties" drifted out, beginning to tear the ship apart, recycling the decayed steel into fresh plates for my bitten arm and dented chest.
It was funny watching them work. One actually smacked another over the head to take its spot to fix my armour. I watched them and felt a strange sense of relief.
It's good not to be alone.
[Nick Fury POV]
"What exactly am I looking at?"
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(A/N):must read: Hello everyone I don't know if you are from my other fanfics or new but let's have a chat
Soul of metal is a very old project that I wrote the first two chapters off and then gave up on.
But I decided to post them to see the support for the idea and to consider the possibility of revival of the story from my shelf.
And the first two chapters quality maybe bad but I just rushed polishing them to be honest.