Chapter 1: The Otaku Who Fell to Earth
The first thing Meliodas noticed was the smell.
Hot dogs. Car exhaust. Garbage. Perfume. Sweat. Weed. Pizza. All of it mixed together into a fragrance that could only be described as New York City™.
The second thing he noticed was the taxi heading directly toward him at approximately forty miles per hour.
"HEY! WATCH IT, PAL!"
Meliodas threw himself backward, his body moving on instinct—no, faster than instinct. One moment he was standing in the middle of a crosswalk like an idiot, the next he was on the sidewalk, heart hammering, lungs burning, brain screaming WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL.
The taxi driver flipped him off and kept driving.
Meliodas sat there, on the dirty sidewalk of a city he'd only ever seen in movies, wearing clothes that definitely weren't his, in a body that felt wrong and right at the same time.
'I was just... I was eating noodles. I was watching Seven Deadly Sins. I choked. I died.'
'I DIED.'
'And now I'm—'
[SYSTEM ONLINE]
[WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LIFE, REBORN ONE]
[CURRENT LOCATION: NEW YORK CITY, MANHATTAN]
[PRIMARY UNIVERSE: MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (WITH SELECT COMIC ELEMENTS)]
[CURRENT DATE: 2008]
Meliodas stared at the blue text floating in his peripheral vision.
"I have a SYSTEM?"
[AFFIRMATIVE. YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED A CYOA-BASED POWER SYSTEM UPON REINCARNATION.]
[YOUR PREVIOUS LIFE AS AN OTAKU HAS REWARDED YOU WITH EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS WORLD.]
[USE IT WISELY.]
A homeless man shuffled past, muttering about the government and lizard people. He didn't seem to notice the floating text or the kid having an existential crisis on the sidewalk.
Meliodas took a deep breath.
'Okay. Okay. I'm in Marvel. 2008. That means...'
His otaku brain kicked into gear.
'2008. Iron Man came out in 2008. That means Tony Stark is currently in a cave, building the first suit. Or maybe he just got out. Timeline's fuzzy. But the important thing is—Thanos isn't here yet. The snap isn't for another ten years. I have time.'
He paused, a flicker of something deeper passing through his mind.
'Wait. Why am I here? Did some god just... pluck me from my apartment and throw me into Marvel for fun? Is this punishment? Reward? Some cosmic joke?'
He looked around at the bustling city. The chaos. The life. The sheer vibrance of it all.
'...Honestly? I don't care. This is AMAZING.'
The existential questions could wait. He was in Marvel. With a system. This was literally every otaku's dream.
A grin spread across his face—a grin that made him look simultaneously cute and slightly unhinged. His features, he was beginning to notice, were... different. There was something almost otherworldly about them, a blend of sharp and soft that caught the eye in ways he didn't fully understand.
If someone had taken the noble elegance of Artoria Pendragon and mixed it with the adorable charm of Rimuru Tempest, then aged that mixture into a young man who looked like he belonged in an anime, that would be close.
His hair was short but with enough length to frame his face, dark and silky, falling in a way that seemed deliberately styled even though it wasn't. When wet, he suspected it would look entirely different—perhaps even alluring in a way that made him uncomfortable to think about.
'Note to self: Never let my hair get wet near anyone attractive. That's protagonist bait.'
He stood up, brushing dirt off pants that looked suspiciously like they came from an anime character's wardrobe. Black slacks, dark shirt, a coat that was slightly too dramatic. Someone—the system?—had dressed him like a protagonist.
[CHARACTER CREATION DETECTED: INCOMPLETE]
[YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED BASE PHYSICAL FORM.]
[ADDITIONAL POWERS AND ABILITIES MUST BE SELECTED VIA CYOA MENU.]
[OPEN MENU? Y/N]
"Yes. Absolutely yes. Open the menu."
---
The world around him faded—not completely, but enough. The sounds of the city became distant, muffled, like someone had put cotton in his ears. Before him, a massive interface unfolded, filling his vision with text and options.
And Meliodas, professional otaku, CYOA enthusiast, and certified power-fantasizer, felt his soul leave his body.
'It's beautiful.'
---
[PROTAGONIST — FREE]
{Embracing the role of a Protagonist, you are a veritable powerhouse, a force that the world itself recognizes and bends before. Your initial capabilities are awe-inspiring, hinting at the monumental events and encounters you will define and shape.}
Rewards:
· 1 Reward Token
· 20 Hero Shards
· 5 Destiny Shards
· 3 Free Items
· 2 Free Traits
---
Meliodas didn't hesitate. "Select."
[PROTAGONIST CONFIRMED]
[REWARDS ADDED TO INVENTORY]
---
[BODY FORGE — FREE (GIFT)]
{Accept the gift, don't be a fool. Strengthen your body, decide who you are.}
{[Sacrifice Hero Shards to gain power]}
---
Meliodas read the "don't be a fool" line three times. It felt like a trap. It felt like the system was daring him to refuse.
"I've read enough isekai to know you always take the mysterious gift. Always."
[BODY FORGE ACTIVATED]
A warmth spread through him—not painful, but intense. Like every cell in his body was being examined, catalogued, and optimized. He could feel it working, could sense the changes happening on a level deeper than thought.
When it finished, he looked down at himself.
Same height. Same basic build. But better. The kind of better that made you stand up straighter without thinking about it. The kind of better that made people look twice.
He needed a mirror.
[CHARISMA: △ ADDED VIA BODY FORGE]
---
[RACE SELECTION]
{Human — Free}
{Standard. Reliable. Versatile. No penalties, no bonuses beyond what you earn.}
Other races available but locked behind additional shards or quests.
---
"Human. Gotta be human. I need to blend in."
[RACE: HUMAN CONFIRMED]
---
[CLASS SELECTION]
Costs in Hero Shards. Current Hero Shards: 25
---
Meliodas scanned the options, his min-maxing instincts blazing to life.
{Knowledge Mage — 5 Shards}
{Allows you to identify any kind of magic or object. Doing so will teach you anything you can know about said object or magic. Like wikipedia on steroids.}
· Magic: △
· Intelligence: △△△
{Shadow Mage — 3 Shards}
{You can summon the dead and make them serve you. You can summon up to twenty undead soldiers, animals or creatures. They follow your every command. After two weeks an undead will crumble to dust and you need to replace them.}
· Magic: △△△△
· Charisma: ▼▼▼
{Dragonkin — 12 Shards}
{There is dragon blood inside you. You are able to summon dragon wings to fly up to thrice your running speed. Your body grows stronger and more durable and you look more draconic. You can spew fire/ice/acid/thunder based on the kind of color of the scales you've chosen.}
· Strength: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
· Constitution: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
· Agility: ⚡⚡
{Forgotten Warrior — 12 Shards}
{You can summon a sentient and magic armor at will. The ghost of this armor is one of the most famous heroes of this world, he will guide you with words of wisdom and courage. The Armor grants you immunity against any kind of gravitational or mind control magic.}
· Strength: ⚡⚡⚡
· Constitution: ⚡⚡
· Charisma: ⚡⚡
{Chitin Slayer — 10 Shards}
{Your body is covered by chitin at all times. This very lightweight material doesn't boost your defenses but grants you inhuman flexibility and agility. You can dash mid-air and run at walls with ease. You also got small wings that allow you to glide.}
· Strength: ⚔️
· Agility: ⚗️⚗️⚗️⚗️⚗️
{Diplomat — 3 Shards}
{You can sense what others feel about you and the words you speak. Once per day you can undo something you've just said. If someone breaks a contract they made with you, they will suffer from bad luck for a year.}
· Charisma: ⭐⭐⭐
{Spirit — 6 Shards}
{Glowing lines appear all over your body. You are granted regeneration, wounds recover within minutes, a limb regrows within a few hours. Those with a weak mind are more inclined to follow and even pray to you.}
· Charisma: ⭐⭐⭐
· Constitution: ⭐⭐⭐
{Mastermind — 3 Shards}
{Once per week you can tell someone a lie they will believe, unless they have physical proof. You are able to detect any lies and can find out people's fears and secrets just by talking to them for long enough. Even if it is just smalltalk.}
· Charisma: ⭐⭐⭐
{Alchemist — 3 Shards}
{You gain the knowledge of a master alchemist. You are able to craft health and mana potions. Potions that function like grenades, smoke grenades or flashbangs. Crafting a single potion takes roughly two hours.}
· Intelligence: ⭐⭐⭐
{Blacksmith — 3 Shards}
{You gain the knowledge of a master blacksmith. You are able to enchant weapon and armor with magic. Magic weapons never rust and can't break. Magic armor regenerates itself over time and never rusts. If you know other schools of magic, you can enchant them with the chosen type.}
· Strength: Δ
· Constitution: Δ
· Intelligence: ΔΔ
{Heart — 23 Shards}
{You cannot die. When you are killed, you will be resurrected after 48 hours. The only enemy you have left is time or really well designed prisons.}
· Constitution: Δ×21
{Beginner — 1 Shard}
{All your physical attributes are boosted by a slight amount. You can only choose this class if you do not choose any other class in this section.}
· Strength: ⚔️
· Agility: ⚙️
· Constitution: ⚙️
· Intelligence: ⚙️
---
Meliodas stared at {Chitin Slayer}.
'Five levels of Agility. FIVE. That's not a boost, that's a whole new tier of existence.'
He looked at {Knowledge Mage}.
'Identify anything. Learn everything. In Marvel, knowledge is power. Literally. Knowing how someone's power works is half the battle.'
He looked at his shard count: 25.
'Chitin Slayer (10) + Knowledge Mage (5) = 15. Leaves me 10 for later. Perfect.'
[CLASSES CONFIRMED: CHITIN SLAYER + KNOWLEDGE MAGE]
[COST: 15 HERO SHARDS]
[REMAINING: 10 HERO SHARDS]
The moment he confirmed, he felt it—a shift in his very being. His muscles remembered how to move in ways they never had before. His eyes saw the world differently, tracking potential trajectories, calculating distances, reading the flow of traffic and pedestrians like a dance.
And in his mind, a library opened. Empty now, but ready to be filled.
---
[TRAIT SELECTION]
You have 2 Free Traits from Protagonist. Additional traits cost Hero Shards.
---
The list was extensive. Meliodas read quickly, his otaku brain processing options at lightning speed.
{Reshape — Cost: ?}
{Change gender and appearance at will. Must remain human. Charisma boost.}
{Fit — Cost: ?}
{Always in best shape regardless of diet or exercise. Charisma boost.}
{Wings — Cost: ?}
{Fly at twice running speed. Agility boost.}
{Attractive — Cost: ?}
{Considered very attractive. Charisma boost.}
{Champion — Cost: ?}
{Luck is always on your side. Never wrong place wrong time.}
{Endurance — Cost: ?}
{Sprint for hours. Hold breath 30 minutes. Constitution boost.}
{Leader — Cost: ?}
{People follow you. Allies fight without fear. Charisma boost.}
{Talented — Cost: ?}
{Can learn any magic with a teacher. Magic boost.}
{Rush — Cost: ?}
{Once per minute: 5 seconds of 90% slowed time. Agility boost.}
{Samurai — Cost: ?}
{Master one medieval weapon. Intelligence boost.}
{Expertise — Cost: ?}
{Master one field of expertise. Intelligence boost.}
{Third Eye — Cost: ?}
{See alignment: blue = friend, red = foe/betrayer. Charisma boost.}
{Float — Cost: ?}
{Float at half walking speed. Comfy.}
{Dark Vision — Cost: ?}
{See in darkness.}
{Regeneration — Cost: ?}
{Fast wound recovery. Lost limb = week. Heavy wound = day. Constitution boost.}
{Aware — Cost: ?}
{Always know if allies are in danger. Charisma boost.}
{Height — Cost: ?}
{Change height (half to double). Strength boost.}
---
Meliodas rubbed his chin. "Free traits first. Fit is mandatory—never having to work out? Yes. And... Champion. Luck protection is too good to pass up."
[FIT SELECTED]
[CHAMPION SELECTED]
"Now, what to buy..."
He checked the costs:
· {Rush}: 3 Hero Shards
· {Third Eye}: 2 Hero Shards
· {Regeneration}: 3 Hero Shards
· {Endurance}: 2 Hero Shards
· {Reshape}: ? (locked, requires quest)
'{Reshape} is locked? Interesting. Maybe later.'
He had 10 Hero Shards left.
'Rush (3) + Third Eye (2) + Regeneration (3) = 8. Leaves 2.'
'Perfect.'
[TRAITS PURCHASED: RUSH | THIRD EYE | REGENERATION]
[COST: 8 HERO SHARDS]
[REMAINING: 2 HERO SHARDS]
---
[FREE PERKS — QUEST REWARDS]
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[DUE TO YOUR STATUS AS A REBORN OTAKU, YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE FOLLOWING FREE PERKS:]
{Adorable — Free}
{You are Adorable. No matter what you do or say, people will find you completely adorable. You can be covered in blood and people will still find you too cute to resist, if a bit creepy. This affects your subconscious actions and both conscious actions and physical appearance to a limited degree. You can toggle this Perk on and off.}
{Smouldering — Free}
{You will always experience dramatic moments where you smoulder—whether it's while admiring a breathtaking sunset or locking eyes with a formidable opponent. These moments also include simple poses made to highlight your good side. These intense, captivating moments are never unnoticed; there will always be someone nearby to witness and appreciate your presence.}
{Well-Adjusted — Free}
{You won't lose your sanity or rationality under any circumstances unless you're being controlled by a power. And even if you somehow did, no matter the circumstances, you will never lose your humanity and empathy. Your team, family, or friends will always be there to bring you back from the abyss. Your personal issues are much easier to work through and even without help you'll be able to get through them in time. This might take a while if it's bad, but you'll make it out eventually. This also makes you highly resistant to mental health problems and emotional manipulation, though not completely immune. You're also really good at helping others through their issues, and it'll stick more often than not as long as you can get through to them.}
{'Plot' Armor — Free}
{You have plot armor. Not the invincible kind, but the kind that means you won't die randomly. You'll survive as long as there's story left to tell. Fate conspires to keep you alive until your narrative reaches its natural conclusion.}
{Conflicted Prediction — Free}
{Any attempt to predict your future, read your fate, or foresee your actions returns conflicting results. Prophets get headaches. Precogs see static. Fate itself seems uncertain about what you'll do next.}
{Theme Song — Free}
{You gain a theme song or even multiple theme songs that can either come from an unknown source or your mind. You can even have a song for every emotion you're currently feeling. It can be any song or even an unknown song that fits the current situation. You're not limited by the number of songs you possess and can even add more songs later on. The songs you play can be selectively heard by whomever you choose. You can choose to switch your theme song whenever you wish. You can also choose to disable this if you no longer want to.}
---
Meliodas blinked as the perks settled into place.
'I'm... adorable? I can toggle that? That's going to be useful for misunderstandings.'
He tested {Adorable} by toggling it on.
A woman walking past did a double-take, then smiled warmly at him for no apparent reason.
He toggled it off.
She blinked, looked confused, and kept walking.
'...This is going to be fun.'
---
[ITEM SELECTION]
You have 3 Free Items from Protagonist.
---
The weapon list appeared, and Meliodas's eyes went wide.
{Cleaver}
{This axe cuts through five times the distance you actually swing it, allowing you to attack whole groups of enemies with one swing.}
{Siren}
{This magic greatsword protects you from assaults at night. Whenever something approaches you with ill intent while sleeping, the weapon will emit a sound to wake you and your allies.}
{Steel}
{This massive greatsword can destroy whole walls but requires a lot of strength to wield. Carrying this weapon makes active casting of magic impossible.}
{Bloodedge}
{Cutting someone with this weapon will lead to their destined death. After receiving a wound from bloodedge the victim will die after 24 hours.}
{Moonsing}
{This sword adapts to its user, it can shapeshift into a small dagger or a large greatsword.}
{Reflection}
{This sword possesses the power to reflect any energy-based attacks or spells directed towards its wielder. It creates a shimmering barrier that absorbs the energy and sends it back at the attacker.}
---
Meliodas stared at {Bloodedge}.
'Destined death? Twenty-four hours? That's... that's actually terrifying. I don't want to kill anyone that easily.'
He looked at {Reflection}.
'Energy reflection. In Marvel. Where half the enemies shoot lasers and beams. This is BROKEN.'
{Moonsing} for versatility. Dagger for stealth, greatsword for combat.
{Siren} for safety. Because in Marvel, sleeping is when you're most vulnerable.
[ITEMS SELECTED: REFLECTION | MOONSING | SIREN]
Three items materialized at his waist, sheathed in ways that shouldn't be comfortable but somehow were. Reflection was a beautiful blade with a mirror-like finish. Moonsing was currently in dagger form, compact and deadly. Siren was... massive. A greatsword that looked like it weighed more than he did, but when he touched it, it felt light as air.
'Magic weapons. Nice.'
---
[QUEST SELECTION]
You must choose at least three quests. Maximum five. Quests grant Destiny Shards.
---
{TUTORIAL: First Blood}
{Defeat your first enemy in combat.}
Reward: 1 Destiny Shard
{TUTORIAL: Making Friends}
{Successfully befriend one person in the new world.}
Reward: 1 Destiny Shard
{NORMAL: Training Montage}
{Spend 100 hours training your abilities.}
Reward: 3 Destiny Shards
{NORMAL: Knowledge Seeker}
{Identify 50 different objects/abilities with Knowledge Mage.}
Reward: 3 Destiny Shards
{NORMAL: Wall Crawler}
{Run on walls for a cumulative total of 10 miles.}
Reward: 2 Destiny Shards
{NORMAL: Urban Explorer}
{Visit 20 distinct locations in New York City.}
Reward: 2 Destiny Shards
{NORMAL: Money Matters}
{Acquire $10,000 through legitimate means.}
Reward: 3 Destiny Shards
{CHALLENGE: Shadow Boxing}
{Defeat an opponent without using your weapons.}
Reward: 5 Destiny Shards
{CHALLENGE: Info Broker}
{Learn a secret that matters to someone powerful.}
Reward: 5 Destiny Shards
---
Meliodas selected carefully.
{TUTORIAL: First Blood} — Free shard, inevitable.
{TUTORIAL: Making Friends} — Free shard, necessary.
{NORMAL: Training Montage} — Grindable, safe.
{NORMAL: Knowledge Seeker} — Synergizes with Knowledge Mage.
{NORMAL: Wall Crawler} — Synergizes with Chitin Slayer.
[QUESTS ACCEPTED: 5/5]
---
[WORLD EVENT SELECTION]
Choose the nature of your arrival.
{Balanced}
{The world you find yourself in is balanced. Danger and harmony go hand in hand. There are areas that should be avoided, but also safe cities with happy citizens.}
---
"Balanced. I don't need apocalypse-level on day one."
[WORLD EVENT: BALANCED CONFIRMED]
---
[PROMISES SECTION]
{Define your journey and earn broken shards for each promise you make. When you break a promise, you lose a random class, trait, or item you own. You may choose 7 per section.}
{Make promises to gain Broken Shards}
---
Meliodas read carefully. 'Promises. If I break them, I lose things. Risky... but Broken Shards are currency too.'
He scrolled through the options.
{Loyal}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Help all your recruited allies to reach their personal quest.}
{Human}
{Grants: 3 Broken Shard}
{Unlock no classes.}
{Basic}
{Grants: 3 Broken Shard}
{Unlock no traits.}
{Empty}
{Grants: 3 Broken Shard}
{Unlock no items.}
{Cursed}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Choose at least five drawbacks.}
{Owner}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Buy or build a home for yourself somewhere in the world.}
{Captain}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Buy or build a ship.}
{Title}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Earn a title from someone in high position.}
{Integration}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Become a citizen.}
{Speedrun}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Complete your quests and world event within one year.}
{Pacifist}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Do not use violence unless absolute necessary.}
{Matchmaker}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Help two Allies fall in love with each other.}
{Best Friend}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Become very good friends with an ally.}
{Rival}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Become rivals with one of your allies.}
{Love In}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Start a relationship with an ally.}
{Love Out}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Start a relationship with a location exclusive character.}
{Marriage}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Propose to a ally or location based character.}
{Completionist}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Solve five quests.}
{Smart}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Solve five quests without using violence.}
{Cruel}
{Grants: 1 Broken Shard}
{Solve five quests only by using violence.}
---
Meliodas considered carefully.
'I don't know who my allies will be yet. Can't promise {Loyal} or {Best Friend} or any of the relationship ones.'
'{Owner} is doable. Eventually.'
'{Title} is doable. Marvel has plenty of high-position people.'
'{Completionist} is basically guaranteed.'
'{Smart} fits my style—I don't want to murder everyone.'
'{Integration}... become a citizen? In Marvel? That's actually smart.'
He selected carefully.
[PROMISES MADE: OWNER | TITLE | COMPLETIONIST | SMART | INTEGRATION]
[GRANTS: 5 BROKEN SHARDS]
---
[STATS OVERVIEW]
{The following values represent your innate abilities. Equipment and companions are not taken into account, it's about the performance of your very body and mind.}
[STRENGTH: D]
{Based on your fitness, as strong as a human can be.}
[CONSTITUTION: D + (Regeneration)]
{Based on your fitness, as durable as a human can be. + Fast healing}
[AGILITY: ? (CHITIN SLAYER)]
{FIVE LEVELS above human maximum. A lightning bolt. Without the use of traps or magic, only someone as agile and fast as you can hit you.}
[CHARISMA: D + (Fit + Body Forge + Adorable)]
{You are as charismatic as you are. + People find you approachably cute. + You can toggle adorable on demand.}
[MAGIC: D + (Knowledge Mage)]
{You have almost no to zero magic. + You can identify magic.}
[INTELLIGENCE: D + (Knowledge Mage)]
{You are as intelligent as you are. + New knowledge enters your mind upon identification.}
---
[DRAWBACKS SECTION]
{For every limit you place upon yourself, you shall gain a shard of power, a fragment of strength that can be used to aid you on your journey.}
{[Choose up to 10 Drawbacks]}
---
Meliodas read through each one carefully.
'No. No. No. HELL no. Maybe... no. Definitely not.'
He paused at {Restless Nights}.
'Cannot sleep alone? That's... that's actually manageable. I'll be making friends anyway. And it forces me to not be a lonely edgelord.'
He selected it.
{Restless Nights} — 1 Hero Shard
He looked at {Magnet}.
'Twice as likely to encounter danger? In Marvel? That's either suicidal or free XP. With my agility and regeneration... maybe worth it.'
{Magnet} — 2 Hero Shard
He looked at {Recharge}.
'Two hours of meditation per day. I can do that. Good habit to build.'
{Recharge} — 1 Hero Shard
He looked at {Unarmored}.
'I have chitin and regeneration. Armor is optional. Free shard.'
{Unarmored} — 1 Hero Shard
Total drawbacks: 4. 5 Hero Shards gained.
He had 2 Hero Shards remaining. Now he had 7.
'Nice.'
[DRAWBACKS SELECTED: RESTLESS NIGHTS | MAGNET | RECHARGE | UNARMORED]
[HERO SHARDS GAINED: 5]
[TOTAL HERO SHARDS: 7]
---
[ADDITIONAL PERKS — HERO SHARD PURCHASES]
Current Hero Shards: 7
---
Meliodas looked at the expanded perk list from the second CYOA document. Some of these were insane.
{Blank — Cost: 5 SP / 10 CP}
{You become a blind spot for Thinkers. Powers that predict the future cannot account for your actions; clairvoyants that peer into the past or watch over the present cannot search for you; people trying to conjure up information about you using only their power would find nothing.}
{Trumped the Trump — Cost: 5 SP}
{Any powers and internal power supplies you possess cannot be drained, suppressed, weakened, stolen, copied, altered, controlled, reproduced, or otherwise manipulated against your will.}
{Mental Barrier — Cost: 5 SP / 5 CP}
{You become immune to powers that directly affect your mind, emotions, or senses. This also protects against perception filters, hypnotic tinker-tech, body control or possession, and all forms of memetic hazards.}
{Powered Sustenance — Cost: 2 SP}
{You no longer need to eat, drink water, breathe, or exercise as your power will sustain your body.}
{Immortality Failsafe — Cost: 3 CP}
{This perk eliminates any issues that may arise from an infinite, or just extremely long, lifespan. You'll never be susceptible to boredom, ennui, and listlessness unless you wish for it.}
{Only A Sith Deals in Absolutes — Cost: 5 SP}
{When powers of an absolute nature clash, you choose which wins, whether yours or another's. You may also choose to have it switched at any time or have the effects simply cancel each other.}
{Noctis Cape — Cost: 3 SP}
{You have no need to sleep, you'll constantly be alert and awake. You also have an infinite and perfectly eidetic memory.}
{Fan Service — Cost: 10 CP}
{Your appearance has been overhauled to become an idealised version of yourself. Nothing can ever tarnish your looks. Any wounds heal perfectly without scars.}
{Manton Protected — Cost: 5 SP / 10 CP}
{The inside of your body is protected against influences that attempt to target it. You also gain some measure of resistance to esoteric attacks like instant death or erasure.}
{Holding Back — Cost: 5 SP}
{Every single aspect of your powers, strength, and perks can be selectively toggled and dialed to the point they can be turned completely off. You can scale your destruction down to cause mild concussions.}
{Hidden Strength — Cost: 3 SP}
{You can selectively conceal your true capabilities. No device or ability will be able to detect your hidden powers.}
---
Meliodas's mind raced.
'CP must be Character Points. Maybe I earn those later. SP might be System Points—different currency.'
He had Hero Shards, not SP or CP. These were for later.
'But {Fan Service}... that's ten CP. Combined with {Adorable} and my current look... I'd be unstoppably cute.'
He laughed at the thought.
---
[CURRENCIES OVERVIEW]
{There are three currencies that hold a special value.}
{[Hero Shards]}
{Hero shards are unlocked in the [You] section and can be used to improve or change your body and skillset.}
Current: 7
{[Destiny Shards]}
{Destiny shards are unlocked in the [World] section and can be used to change the world, recruit allies or define laws.}
Current: 5 (from Protagonist)
{[Broken Shards]}
{Broken shards are a small currency that you get when you make a choice in the [World] section that makes the world more dangerous or darker.}
Current: 5 (from Promises)
---
[FINALIZING CHARACTER CREATION...]
[SPAWNING IN 3... 2... 1...]
The menu faded. The sounds of New York rushed back. And Meliodas stood on a sidewalk in Manhattan, three swords at his waist, powers he didn't fully understand humming in his veins, and absolutely no idea what to do next.
A pigeon landed on a nearby trash can and stared at him.
"Hey," Meliodas said.
The pigeon continued staring.
"Got any advice?"
The pigeon shit on the trash can and flew away.
"...Thanks."
---
The first hour was... disorienting.
Meliodas walked. That was all he could think to do—walk and observe. His {Knowledge Mage} activated constantly, feeding him information about everything he looked at.
That fire hydrant: Standard New York City model, installed 1997, last serviced 2005, currently operational.
That street sign: Cast iron, manufactured in Pennsylvania, installed 1989, replaced previous sign damaged by vehicle collision.
That man: Human male, approximately 45 years old, construction worker based on calluses and tan lines, currently heading to lunch.
It was overwhelming. His brain was processing information at speeds he couldn't consciously follow, feeding him summaries and details automatically.
'This is going to take some getting used to.'
He passed a newsstand and froze.
The headline: "STARK INDUSTRIES CEO MISSING IN AFGHANISTAN"
'Tony. Tony's in the cave right now. Building the first suit. This is... this is actually happening.'
He bought a paper with money that appeared in his pocket when he reached for it—the system, probably—and read the article.
'Ten bucks says he's already built the Mark I. Ten bucks says he's about to become Iron Man.'
'And I'm here. In New York. With powers and swords and absolutely no plan.'
---
The second hour was less disorienting and more what the hell do I do now.
Meliodas found himself in a park. Central Park? Maybe? His geographical knowledge of New York was limited to what he'd seen in movies and Spider-Man comics.
He sat on a bench and watched people.
Couples walked hand in hand. Kids ran screaming after a soccer ball. An old man fed pigeons despite the sign saying not to. A woman jogged past in expensive athletic wear, earbuds in, completely oblivious to the world.
'Normal people. Living normal lives. And somewhere out there, a purple alien is collecting rocks to wipe out half of existence.'
'I have to do something. I have to—'
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATED]
[Knowledge Seeker: 12/50 identifications]
[Urban Explorer: 1/20 locations visited (Manhattan Street)]
[Wall Crawler: 0/10 miles]
'Right. Quests. Start small.'
He stood up and started walking again, this time with purpose.
---
The third hour brought him to a neighborhood that felt different. Less polished. More real. The buildings were older, the people more varied, the energy more... alive.
Harlem, his {Knowledge Mage} supplied. Major cultural and economic hub of African American life in New York City. Current demographic: mixed. Notable residents: past and present.
He was passing a brownstone when {Third Eye} activated.
Red. Faint red, coming from three figures across the street. They were watching the brownstone—watching it with the kind of focus that meant trouble.
Meliodas slowed, pretending to check his phone, but watching them through his peripheral vision.
'Purple Dragons', his mind supplied, piecing together clues from their clothing, their tattoos, their posture. 'Local gang. Small-time. Usually operate in Manhattan. Targeting this building?'
He looked at the brownstone. Ordinary. Unremarkable. But there was something about it—a warmth he could feel even from here. A protective energy.
'Someone lives there. Someone with power. And these guys are planning something.'
He should walk away. He should mind his own business. He should—
The three gang members crossed the street.
Toward the brownstone.
Toward the door.
Toward whatever—whoever—was inside.
'Damn it.'
Meliodas moved.
---
{Chitin Slayer} activated instinctively. The chitin flowed over his body like liquid—not armor plates, but a second skin with subtle texture. It looked organic, almost alien, but it felt like him.
He crossed the distance in less than two seconds.
The first gang member never saw him coming. One moment he was reaching for the door, the next he was on the ground, completely unconscious, a precise strike to a nerve cluster Meliodas hadn't known existed until {Knowledge Mage} supplied the information.
The second spun, reaching for a weapon.
{Rush activated.}
Time slowed by 90%. The gang member's hand moved like it was through molasses. Meliodas stepped inside his guard, tapped the exact spot on his neck that would shut down his nervous system, and stepped back.
{Rush ended (5 seconds).}
The second man crumpled.
The third—the one with the reddest aura, the one whose intentions were genuinely malicious—had a gun.
He raised it.
Meliodas's hand went to Reflection. The sword sang as it left its sheath, the mirror-like blade catching the afternoon light.
"Drop it," Meliodas said.
The gang member's eyes went wide
---