After the bearded Barbie left, Patch couldn't wait to open the virtual panel of the Main God Space to check the two functions it mentioned.
A series of descriptions appeared before his eyes—
Main God Divinity: A superior rule-based divinity that forms naturally in the endless cosmos. This divinity possesses two universal attributes—time and space. Once the new Main God's energy level reaches a certain threshold, it will automatically activate.
"So basically a passive skill like in League of Legends, huh? Why make it sound so fancy?"
Patch muttered and continued reading.
Skill Exchange: All skills, knowledge, and abilities from the infinite worlds created by the Main God—including superpower skills, mystical knowledge, extraordinary skills, and technological expertise. Since the previous Main God only created a technological world, to compensate the new Main God Space's host for the loss, the Blue and White Society's Resource Management Department has granted access to four world systems for skill exchange.
All skills in this function must be exchanged using Exchange Points converted from extraordinary energy. The new Main God Space host is encouraged to keep striving.
Accessible worlds: Resident Evil, World of Warcraft, The Witcher, and League of Legends.
"What, only four worlds?"
After reading the entire description, Patch was speechless. Staring blankly at the gray ceiling, he sighed weakly. "My dream of defying fate hasn't even started and it's already over."
After the wave of disappointment, he forced a smile. "Well, at least it's still a pretty great cheat. These four worlds are way better than whatever garbage that last Main God left behind."
"Wait, hold on." A flash of inspiration crossed Patch's mind.
He clearly remembered that the bearded loli had recharged him with a thousand Exchange Points before leaving.
"Hehe, let's see what I can get…"
He eagerly tapped the Skill Exchange panel and began browsing the virtual catalog.
Barely two minutes later, he was dumbfounded.
"Advanced Artificial Intelligence: Red Queen – from Resident Evil. Cost: 100,000 points."
"T-Virus Mutation Version – from Resident Evil. Cost: 50,000 points."
"Sargeras' Frozen Throne – from World of Warcraft. Cost: 250,000 points."
"Windstrider – Fist of the Heavens – from World of Warcraft. Cost: 180,000 points."
"Heart of Doomsday – from The Witcher. Cost: 180,000 points."
"Morellonomicon – from League of Legends. Cost: 200,000 points."
...
After seeing the list, Patch felt utterly defeated.
Looking at the endless strings of zeros behind each artifact, he wondered—was there a single thing here he could afford?
"What a scam! A total scam! Why are all of these high-end artifacts? Can't there be a few cheap ones?"
Spreading his hands helplessly, he stared at the panel with dead fish eyes full of despair.
"Sigh, the revolution has yet to succeed, comrades must keep working." With a bitter face, Patch prepared to close the panel.
Just as he lifted his hand, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Dear young Main God, do not lose heart, do not despair."
"Noble as I, the former Main God, Kibadaye Tqianglovsky, foresaw your predicament and prepared a newcomer's gift pack just for you! For only one thousand points, you can obtain a supernatural ability beyond your dreams!"
"Come, young one, exchange it now!"
—From the noble and great Main God, Kibadaye Tqianglovsky.
Patch froze mid-motion. As the voice faded, a new page popped up in front of him.
"What's this?"
He leaned closer and read aloud, "The True Grimoire of the Wizard Orando Andres Gugol."
That's right—a book projection appeared before him, its title glowing faintly.
"Looks pretty powerful," he murmured.
Without hesitation, Patch redeemed it—after all, he didn't have any better options.
His one thousand points instantly dropped to zero, and a black-covered book flew out from the void, landing in his hands.
The cover was wrapped in swirling black mist, and within the haze, a vague human face seemed to appear and disappear.
Ignoring it, Patch eagerly flipped through the pages.
The text was written in a language he had never seen before—yet somehow, he could understand it perfectly.
"I knew it, there's no way something this good comes without a catch." After skimming the book for more than an hour, Patch slammed it shut in frustration.
"Damn it! It's just a beginner's guide for apprentice wizards, and it has such a pretentious name!"
"Are you kidding me?!" He tossed the so-called grimoire onto the bed and walked out the door.
---
After having lunch in the orphanage cafeteria, Patch was about to return to his room when the elderly priest Magellan, leaning on his cane, called out to him.
"Patch, come to my office for a bit."
"Alright, Grandpa Magellan."
Patch hurried over to help the frail old man and supported him into the office.
"Patch, you feel a little different today."
After sitting down, Magellan rested his cane beside him and spoke kindly.
Having just regained the sealed memories of his previous life, Patch's demeanor had indeed changed.
Surprised by the priest's sharp perception, Patch decided not to say too much.
"Grandpa Magellan, it's probably just your imagination. I'm still the same Patch—nothing's changed."
Magellan smiled, shaking his head. Then he changed the subject. "Patch, you'll be leaving the orphanage in a few months. Have you thought about what you'll do next?"
According to U.S. law, children raised in orphanages must leave at sixteen and find work to support themselves—since sixteen was considered legally independent.
Patch was only a few months away from that age, meaning he'd soon have to live on his own.
"I don't know," Patch said with a bitter smile. "I'll just go with the flow. I'm sure I'll find something."
"Patch, what kind of job you do doesn't matter. This is a free country. As long as you protect yourself and don't harm others, I'll be content."
Magellan stood up, patted Patch's shoulder gently, and smiled.
"I will," Patch nodded firmly.
In the orphanage, both Sister Mavis and Father Magellan had always treated him kindly. The old man, a veteran who had survived the battle against the Nazis in World War II, lived by one strong belief—peace.
He knew the wounds left by war were not only physical but also psychological.
Although America was in an era of peace, crime was still rampant. Magellan didn't want Patch to fall into darkness due to hardship, so he reminded him earnestly.
"That's good," Magellan said, relieved by Patch's answer.
"Grandpa Magellan, if there's nothing else, I'll get going now."
The priest nodded gently.
But just as Patch turned to leave, something on the wall caught his eye—and he froze in shock.
"Grandpa Magellan… what's that?"
Following Patch's gaze, Magellan looked at the wall, where a poster was hanging.
On it was a muscular man in a tight blue combat suit decorated with stars and stripes. In his hand, he held a shield, posing heroically.
"Captain America! What about it?" Magellan asked, puzzled by Patch's reaction.
Captain America. Captain America!
Patch's mind exploded. It felt like millions of galloping horses thundered through his brain.
He didn't believe for a second that this nearly ninety-year-old man was a Marvel comics fan.
That meant only one thing—
"Captain America, Steve Rogers, was a symbol of spirit for soldiers of my generation," Magellan said. "He defeated the Nazis, destroyed Hydra. Back then, he was the idol of every ordinary soldier like me."
"Patch, you've seen that poster countless times since you were little. Why are you so shocked?"
"I even remember when you were seven, you swore you'd become someone like Captain America!"
Magellan's words confirmed Patch's worst fear.
Even after leaving the office, Patch's mind was still spinning.
Rushing to the orphanage's only computer, he frantically searched online.
"Captain America, Tony Stark, World War II, Hydra…"
"This—this is actually the Marvel world."
"This is the freaking Marvel world—with Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor… all of them!"
"My god!"