"System," Matt asked, "some people in this world have unawakened powers—like Inhumans. If I bond with someone like them… will I get their power already awakened? Or just the potential? What exactly gets copied?"
The System replied instantly:
[Only existing traits can be copied.]
[If the target has not awakened their powers yet, the Host will receive their unawakened potential—enhanced by the multiplier.]
Matt blinked.
"So… if I bond with someone before they awaken their powers, I only get their potential, and the actual powers stay sealed until I awaken them?"
[Affirmative.]
Matt let out a long sigh.
"Figures… nothing is ever that easy."
He lay back on the pillow, thinking hard.Then another worry came to his mind.
"What if I copy someone's powers… and later our relationship gets worse?" he asked."Like, what if they hate me later? Or we grow apart? Or one of us dies? Does the bond break? Do I lose the powers?"
The System answered without hesitation:
[Nothing will happen.]
[Once a trait is copied, it becomes a permanent part of the Host.]
[Even if the relationship breaks.]
[Even if the target loses their powers.]
[Even if the target dies.]
Matt blinked again.
"…Damn."
That was actually reassuring—and slightly terrifying.
"So the moment I copy something… it's mine forever?" he confirmed.
[Yes, Host.]
A slow smile spread across Matt's face.
"Okay… okay, that's actually good. It means I don't need to babysit people forever."
He rubbed his hands together.
"But still… getting someone to 70% affection first is the hard part."
The System stayed silent—probably judging him again.
Matt stared at the ceiling.
"If I play this smart, I only need one huge bond every year. One person with insane potential."
"Is there any super hero or Villain that I can form bond with?" mumbling he took out his phone and begun to scroll through it.
Matt kept staring at the ceiling for a few seconds.
Then he sat up.
"Is there any superhero or villain I can realistically form a bond with right now?" he muttered.
He picked up his phone and started scrolling through the news.
Mostly normal stuff.
Politics.
Crime reports.
Stock market updates.
"There's no one right now," Matt sighed as he put his phone away.
"By the way, System… don't you have some kind of newbie gift pack or something similar for me?" he asked.
[I do.]
Matt blinked.
"Wait—you have one? Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked, sitting up on the bed.
[Host did not ask.]
Matt stared at the System screen for a moment, speechless.
He decided not to comment on that.
"…Okay," he said calmly. "What is it?"
The screen flashed.
[Host has been given an opportunity equal to scoring good affection with someone.]
Matt frowned slightly.
"…What does that mean exactly?"
The System replied immediately.
[Host will be given a special opportunity.]
[This opportunity allows the Host to gain the affection of someone who is on the verge of dying.]
Matt raise his brow.
"…On the verge of dying?"
[Yes.]
[If the Host is able to save that person, their affection will automatically rise to 100% in most cases.]
Matt sat up straight.
"So… an instant full-affection bond?"
[Correct.]
"Who is it?" Matt asked quickly.
[That has not been decided yet.]
[To determine the target, the Host must spin the Gacha Wheel.]
A new interface appeared in front of him.
A large, glowing wheel filled the screen, divided into many sections.
Each section had blurred names and locations.
Matt swallowed.
"So this is random?"
[Yes.]
[Targets may include ordinary humans, enhanced individuals, future heroes, or future villains.]
[Chance-based outcome.]
Matt stared at the wheel.
If he got a normal person, the reward would be small.
If he got someone special… this could mean a great start.
"…No pressure," he muttered.
He took a deep breath.
"Okay, System," Matt said."Spin the wheel."
The wheel began to spin.
Light and symbols blurred together as the names flashed too fast for Matt to read.
His heart beat faster with every second.
Then—
The wheel stopped.
A single name appeared in clear text.
KORA
Below it, another line appeared:
Location: Afterlife
Matt frowned.
"…Kora?" he muttered. "Who is that?"
The System replied calmly:
[Kora is the elder sister of Quake (Daisy Johnson).]
[She is an Inhuman with powerful energy manipulation abilities.]
Matt's eyes widened.
"Quake's sister… She had a sister?"
The System continued:
[In the original timeline—the one the Host is currently living in—Kora committed suicide due to fear of hurting others with her powers.]
[In an alternate timeline, she was manipulated by the antagonist Nathaniel Malick and later committed several serious crimes.]
[However, she eventually turned to the bright side and even helped S.H.I.E.L.D.]
Matt nodded slowly.
"Hm… what are her power levels?" he asked.
The System replied:
[You may think of her as similar to Captain Marvel.]
[However, Kora manipulates pyro-energy, while Captain Marvel manipulates light energy.]
[Additionally, Kora's powers are innate, unlike Captain Marvel's powers, which were gained through an accident.]
[Therefore, Kora's potential is significantly higher than Captain Marvel's.]
Matt took a sharp breath.
"…Okay. Then I'm saving her. Probably," he muttered.
[Confirming mission.]
[Is the Host ready?]
Matt nodded.
A swirling portal appeared in front of him, glowing with blue energy.
Without hesitating any longer, Matt stepped forward—
—and walked into the portal.
Matt felt the ground disappear under his feet.
The next second—
He was thrown forward.
He stumbled—and crashed straight into someone.
"Ah—!"
Both of them fell to the floor.
The gun clattered away, sliding across the room.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Matt realized what had just happened.
He had landed on Kora, pinning her down and stopping her from pulling the trigger.
They were frozen in a very awkward position.
Matt's face was only inches away from hers.
Kora's eyes were wide with shock.
Her face was wet with tears.
She looked broken… scared… desperate.
Matt's brain screamed.
Oh no.This is bad.This is very, very bad.