The last thing I remembered was the blinding headlights.
Now, I was staring at a ceiling I didn't recognize, in a bed that wasn't mine, in what appeared to be a cramped studio apartment that definitely wasn't the dorm room I'd fallen asleep in last night.
"What the hell..." I muttered, sitting up slowly. My head felt weird—not painful, just... different. Like my brain had been defragmented or something.
The apartment was small but functional. A kitchenette occupied one corner, a tiny bathroom door stood ajar to my left, and the window showed a cityscape that made my breath catch.
That was New York City. But not quite the New York I knew.
I stumbled to the window, pressing my face against the glass. The skyline was familiar yet foreign—buildings in slightly wrong places, advertisements for companies that seemed almost right but not quite. And there, dominating the landscape in a way that made my heart race, was a tower with STARK emblazoned across it in massive letters.
"No way," I whispered. "No fucking way."
As if responding to my rising panic, something flickered in my peripheral vision. I spun around, but there was nothing there. Then it happened again—a translucent blue screen materializing in the air before me, floating impossibly in three-dimensional space.
═══════════════════════════════════════
SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE
═══════════════════════════════════════
Welcome, User: Alex Carter
You have been selected as the host for the ULTIMATE DATING SYSTEM
Analyzing current situation... Analysis complete.
CURRENT STATUS:
Location : New York City, Earth-199999 (MCU)
Date : March 15th, 2008
Your Status : Fully integrated into this reality
SYSTEM FEATURES UNLOCKED:
► Status
► Relationships
► Skills
► Quests
► Inventory
Additional features will unlock as you progress.
Your mission: Form genuine connections with the heroines of this world. The stronger your bonds, the more powerful you become.
Good luck, Alex Carter. Your new life begins now.
═══════════════════════════════════════
I stood frozen, my hand halfway to the floating screen. This couldn't be real. This had to be some kind of lucid dream, or maybe I was in a coma after that car accident, or—
My fingers brushed the text, and the screen flickered, replacing itself with a new display.
═══════════════════════════════════════
STATUS
═══════════════════════════════════════
Name : Alex Carter
Age : 25
Level : 1
Title : None
Harem Size : 0 Girlfriends
EXP : 0/100
Next Milestone : [HIDDEN]
CORE ATTRIBUTES:
STR (Strength) : 10/100
AGI (Agility) : 10/100
END (Endurance) : 10/100
INT (Intelligence) : 15/100
CHA (Charisma) : 25/100
LCK (Luck) : 15/100
CHARM : 30/100
SPECIAL STATS:
Sexual Stamina : 10/100
Emotional Intelligence : 15/100
Combat Prowess : 5/100
Magical Affinity : 0/100 [LOCKED]
Cosmic Awareness : 0/100 [LOCKED]
RESOURCE POOLS:
HP (Health Points) : 500/500
MP (Mana Points) : 0/0 [LOCKED]
CP (Charm Points) : 1000/1000
SP (System Points) : 0
Available Attribute Points : 0
═══════════════════════════════════════
"This is insane," I breathed, but I couldn't deny what I was seeing. More importantly, I couldn't deny what it meant.
I was in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 2008. That meant Tony Stark hadn't even become Iron Man yet—that happened in May if I remembered correctly. The entire MCU timeline stretched out before me, and apparently, I had some kind of system that wanted me to... date superheroines?
A hysterical laugh bubbled up from my chest. Of all the isekai scenarios, of all the possible systems, I got a dating sim system in the Marvel universe.
I mentally navigated to the Quests section, curiosity overwhelming my disbelief.
═══════════════════════════════════════
QUESTS
═══════════════════════════════════════
MAIN QUEST: Build Your Harem
Description : Form genuine connections with Marvel heroines across the multiverse. The system rewards growth—discover new milestones as you progress!
Current Progress : 0 Girlfriends
Completed : None
Next Milestone : ???
Passive Bonuses : [None - Get your first girlfriend!]
───────────────────────────────────────
ACTIVE QUESTS:
[NEW!] First Steps in a New World
Description : Acclimate to your new reality and establish a foundation for your journey.
Objectives:
□ Explore your apartment and inventory (0/1)
□ Check local news and confirm the date (0/1)
□ Establish a source of income (0/1) □ Meet your first potential love interest (0/1)
Rewards : 500 SP, +2 to all stats, Basic Survival Kit
Time Limit : 7 days
───────────────────────────────────────
DAILY QUESTS: [LOCKED]
Unlock Condition : Complete "First Steps in a New World"
═══════════════════════════════════════
I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. Okay. Accept the premise: I was in the MCU with a dating system. Panicking wouldn't help. I needed information, I needed a plan, and I needed to figure out what resources I actually had.
Starting with the apartment itself seemed logical.
The space was about four hundred square feet total—barely larger than a decent hotel room. But as I searched through it, I found it was fully furnished and stocked with basics. The closet contained clothes in my size, the kitchen had food, and the bathroom had toiletries. On the small desk near the window, I found a wallet.
Opening it revealed an ID card with my face on it—listing me as Alex Carter, 25, with an address matching this apartment. There was also a debit card, some cash (about three hundred dollars), and what looked like a social security card.
"The system really did integrate me completely," I muttered, pocketing the wallet.
A laptop sat on the desk, and when I opened it, it was already logged in. I pulled up a web browser and checked the date: March 15th, 2008. Various news sites confirmed it. The biggest tech stories were about something called the "iPhone" that had come out last year, and there was ongoing coverage of the presidential primaries between Obama, Clinton, and McCain.
But I wasn't looking for normal news. I typed "Tony Stark" into Google.
The results were immediate and extensive. Stark Industries, weapons manufacturing, genius billionaire playboy philanthropist—all the expected results. Recent articles mentioned he was on a trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate new weapons systems for the military.
"That's happening soon," I said aloud. "Like, probably within the next few weeks. That's when everything starts."
Which meant I had a narrow window of opportunity. If I wanted to establish myself before the superhero age truly began, I needed to move fast.
═══════════════════════════════════════
[Quest Objective Complete!]
✓ Check local news and confirm the date (1/1)
Reward Granted:
System Points : +50 SP
═══════════════════════════════════════
The notification appeared and faded quickly. At least the system was tracking my progress.
I turned my attention to the Inventory section, curious what I might already have.
═══════════════════════════════════════
INVENTORY
═══════════════════════════════════════
Storage Capacity : Unlimited
Note: Items stored in system space are frozen in time.
CURRENT CONTENTS:
MISCELLANEOUS (3 items):
► Smartphone (Enhanced) x1
Untraceable, unlimited data
Access to system functions
Cannot be hacked or traced
► Credit Card (System-Linked) x1
Linked to system-generated funds
Current Balance: $50,000
Replenishes monthly based on quest completion
► Starter Guide Book x1
Contains basic information about the system
Recommended reading for new users
EQUIPMENT: Empty
CONSUMABLES: Empty
QUEST ITEMS: Empty
═══════════════════════════════════════
I mentally selected the smartphone, and it materialized in my hand—sleek, black, and far more advanced than anything that should exist in 2008. The screen showed various apps, including one labeled "SYSTEM" that presumably gave me access to all these menus without the floating screens.
The credit card appeared next, solid and real in my palm. Fifty thousand dollars. That was... more than enough to work with for now.
Finally, I pulled out the guidebook. It was a slim volume, maybe fifty pages, with "ULTIMATE DATING SYSTEM - USER MANUAL" embossed on the cover.
I settled onto the bed and started reading.
The guidebook was surprisingly comprehensive. It explained the basic mechanics I'd already figured out—stat growth, affection systems, skill acquisition—but it also included crucial information about how the system operated.
First: The system wasn't mind control. It enhanced my natural charm and created opportunities, but genuine connection required actual effort. The affection meters measured real emotions, not artificial ones.
Second: The system drew power from the concept of love itself, treating it as a fundamental force of reality. The more genuine connections I formed, the more I could tap into that power. It was weirdly philosophical for what amounted to a supernatural dating sim.
Third: While the system provided quest guidance and rewards, it wouldn't hold my hand. I needed to navigate social situations, build relationships, and handle the consequences of my choices. The system was a tool, not a crutch.
Fourth, and most importantly: The system was designed to help me survive and thrive in this universe. Many of my potential love interests would be in constant danger. Growing stronger wasn't just about power fantasy—it was about being able to protect the people I cared about.
That last part resonated with me. I'd read enough fanfiction and watched enough Marvel content to know how brutal this universe could be. The Battle of New York. The Winter Soldier crisis. Sokovia. The Snap. If I was going to build relationships with people in this world, I couldn't be dead weight.
═══════════════════════════════════════
[Quest Objective Complete!]
✓ Explore your apartment and inventory (1/1)
Reward Granted:
System Points : +50 SP
Current Total : 100 SP
═══════════════════════════════════════
I checked the time on my new phone: 2:47 PM. I had the rest of the day to start establishing myself. The quest wanted me to establish income and meet a potential love interest within seven days. Both were challenging but doable.
For income, I had a significant advantage: metaknowledge. I knew what companies would explode in value, what technologies would take off, what events would shake the markets. The system had given me fifty thousand in starting capital. If I invested wisely...
I opened the laptop again and searched for online brokerage accounts. Within thirty minutes, I had an account set up and funded with ten thousand dollars from my system card. The rest I'd keep liquid for living expenses.
Now came the interesting part.
I knew Apple was a good long-term investment—the iPhone would revolutionize everything. Google was already public and would continue growing. Amazon was still primarily a bookstore but would become a titan. Netflix was still mailing DVDs but would pioneer streaming.
But the really interesting opportunity? Stark Industries itself. After Tony Stark became Iron Man and shut down the weapons division, the stock would crater temporarily before recovering even stronger. If I could buy during that dip and hold...
For now though, I made conservative investments—spreading the ten thousand across several tech companies that I knew would appreciate significantly over the next few years. It wasn't a get-rich-quick scheme, but it would provide steady growth and prove I understood the market.
═══════════════════════════════════════
[Quest Objective Complete!]
✓ Establish a source of income (1/1)
Reward Granted:
System Points : +100 SP
Current Total : 200 SP
NEW FEATURE UNLOCKED:
Financial Dashboard
Track your investments through the system
Real-time market data and analysis
Portfolio optimization suggestions
═══════════════════════════════════════
Three objectives down. One to go: meet a potential love interest.
That was the tricky one. I couldn't just walk up to random women on the street. Well, I could, but that wasn't exactly "meeting" someone in a meaningful way. I needed to go somewhere, do something, create an opportunity for organic interaction.
But where? And with whom?
I pulled up the Relationships section to see if it offered any guidance.
═══════════════════════════════════════
RELATIONSHIPS
═══════════════════════════════════════
Active Relationships : 0
NEARBY POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS:
[Scan feature unlocked at Level 5]
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The system detects several potential connections within New York City. Explore the area to increase your chances of meaningful encounters.
Suggested locations:
► Coffee shops and cafes
► Libraries and bookstores
► Parks and public spaces
► Cultural venues (museums, galleries)
► Stark Industries public areas
Note: Forced encounters rarely lead to genuine connections. Be yourself and let relationships develop naturally.
═══════════════════════════════════════
Stark Industries was interesting, but I had no legitimate reason to be there and security would be tight. The other suggestions were more realistic.
I checked my appearance in the bathroom mirror. The face looking back at me was mine but somehow... better. Same basic features, but more symmetrical, more refined. My starting Charisma of 25 was apparently above average, and it showed. I wasn't movie-star handsome, but I was definitely attractive.
A shower and change of clothes later, I felt more human. I dressed casually but well—jeans, a button-up shirt, decent shoes. The kind of outfit that said "I have my life together" without trying too hard.
It was nearly 4 PM when I left the apartment. The building was a typical New York walk-up in what appeared to be Hell's Kitchen based on the street signs. Not the safest neighborhood, but not the worst either.
The city hummed with life around me as I walked. Yellow cabs honked at each other, street vendors called out their wares, and people rushed past with the characteristic New York determination to be somewhere else immediately.
I found myself drawn to a small coffee shop two blocks from my apartment. "The Grindhouse" announced the sign, and through the window I could see a cozy interior with mismatched furniture and local art on the walls. More importantly, it had a decent crowd without being packed.
The bell chimed as I entered, and the scent of fresh coffee enveloped me. I approached the counter where a barista with purple-streaked hair was working the espresso machine.
"What can I get you?" she asked with a professional smile.
"Large americano, please. Black."
"Coming right up. That'll be three-fifty."
I paid, took my receipt with my order number, and found a seat by the window. The coffee shop had free WiFi according to a sign, and I still had research to do. While I waited for my drink, I pulled out my new phone and started searching for information about current events in the Marvel universe.
Most of it aligned with what I knew. Stark Industries was the dominant weapons manufacturer. SHIELD existed but was largely unknown to the public. The X-Men were either very good at staying hidden or didn't exist in the MCU timeline. The Fantastic Four hadn't gained their powers yet. Spider-Man was still a child.
This was the calm before the storm. The pre-superhero era when the world still made sense.
"Americano!" called the barista.
I retrieved my coffee and returned to my seat. As I sat down, the bell chimed again and someone new entered the shop.
She was striking—not conventionally beautiful perhaps, but with the kind of presence that drew the eye. Dark hair pulled back in a practical ponytail, sharp eyes that scanned the room with practiced ease, and a leather jacket that suggested she was more comfortable in action than sitting still.
What caught my attention, though, was the subtle way she moved. Balanced, efficient, aware of her surroundings in a way that screamed training. Military or law enforcement, definitely.
She ordered something complicated involving multiple shots of espresso and very little milk, then turned to survey the seating options while she waited. Her eyes passed over me, paused, came back.
Our gazes met for a moment. She gave a slight nod—the universal stranger acknowledgment—and I nodded back.
Then her phone buzzed. She checked it, frowned, and answered. "Yeah?" A pause. "I'm off duty, Clint. Whatever it is can wait until—" Another pause. Her frown deepened. "Fine. Twenty minutes. Send me the location."
She hung up, looking annoyed. When the barista called her name—"Natalie!"—she grabbed her drink and headed for the door.
As she passed my table, she paused. "Word of advice," she said, her voice low. "This neighborhood's going to get interesting in the next few months. Might want to keep your head down."
Before I could respond, she was gone, the bell chiming in her wake.
I sat there, coffee halfway to my lips, processing what just happened. That woman had been... someone. Someone trained, someone connected, someone who knew things.
The name "Clint" and the way she moved, the casual warning about the neighborhood getting interesting...
"No way," I muttered. "That couldn't have been her."
But as I focused on the system interface, I found something interesting.
═══════════════════════════════════════
RELATIONSHIP UPDATE
═══════════════════════════════════════
New Contact Logged: Natalie Rushman
Affection : 1/100 [Stranger]
Status : Brief encounter
First Impression : Neutral
Note: Insufficient interaction to establish full profile. Further meetings required for detailed relationship tracking.
This person registered as a potential connection.
═══════════════════════════════════════
I stared at the notification. Natalie Rushman. That was the alias Natasha Romanoff used when she infiltrated Stark Industries in Iron Man 2. But that wasn't supposed to happen until 2010, two years from now.
Unless... unless the timeline was different. Or she was already in deep cover in New York. Or maybe she just used that alias generally.
The system had registered her as a potential connection. Which meant she was someone significant, someone who could potentially become part of my journey in this world.
The question was: who was she really, and how could I engineer another meeting that didn't seem forced or creepy?
I spent another hour in the coffee shop, thinking and planning. The quest wanted me to meet a potential love interest, and while I wasn't sure if that brief encounter counted, it was something. More importantly, it proved that this world was full of opportunities if I stayed alert.
As I finished my coffee and prepared to leave, a new notification appeared.
═══════════════════════════════════════
[Quest Objective Complete!]
✓ Meet your first potential love interest (1/1)
───────────────────────────────────────
Quest "First Steps in a New World" COMPLETE!
───────────────────────────────────────
REWARDS GRANTED:
System Points : +500 SP
Total SP : 700 SP
All Core Stats : +2
New Item : Basic Survival Kit added to inventory
NEW FEATURES UNLOCKED:
✦ Daily Quests now available
✦ Shop now unlocked
✦ Skill System activated
───────────────────────────────────────
LEVEL UP!
Level 1 → Level 2
Attribute Points : +5 (Available to distribute)
═══════════════════════════════════════
I felt it immediately—a rush of energy through my body, like drinking a perfect cup of coffee mixed with the post-workout high. My mind felt sharper, my body more responsive. The +2 to all stats was subtle but noticeable.
Standing outside the coffee shop, I checked my updated status.
═══════════════════════════════════════
STATUS
═══════════════════════════════════════
Name : Alex Carter
Age : 25
Level : 2
Title : None
Harem Size : 0 Girlfriends
EXP : 0/200
CORE ATTRIBUTES:
STR (Strength) : 12/100
AGI (Agility) : 12/100
END (Endurance) : 12/100
INT (Intelligence) : 17/100
CHA (Charisma) : 27/100
LCK (Luck) : 17/100
CHARM : 32/100
Available Attribute Points : 5
═══════════════════════════════════════
Five points to distribute. I needed to think strategically about this. In a world of superheroes and cosmic threats, I'd need combat ability eventually. But in the immediate term, my greatest assets were my mind and my social skills.
After a moment's consideration, I allocated the points: +2 INT, +2 CHA, +1 LCK.
My intelligence would help me with planning and strategy, leveraging my metaknowledge. Charisma was crucial for the system's core purpose. And luck... well, in a universe with reality stones and cosmic entities, I'd take all the luck I could get.
═══════════════════════════════════════
Attributes Updated:
INT (Intelligence) : 17 → 19/100
CHA (Charisma) : 27 → 29/100
LCK (Luck) : 17 → 18/100
═══════════════════════════════════════
The changes settled into place, and I felt that same rush of clarity and confidence. The world seemed slightly more manageable, possibilities more visible.
I checked the time: nearly 6 PM. The sun was starting to set, painting the city in shades of orange and gold.
I had seven hundred system points, new features to explore, and a whole universe of possibilities ahead of me. Tomorrow, I'd dive deeper into the system, check out the shop, and start planning my next moves.
But tonight? Tonight I'd order some takeout, explore my new neighborhood, and come to terms with the impossible reality of my situation.
As I walked back toward my apartment, dodging evening pedestrian traffic, I couldn't help but smile. This was insane. This was impossible. This was terrifying.
But damn if it wasn't also exciting.
My new life in the Marvel Universe had officially begun.