[Ding! Please designate your Age.]
Before I could even process the excitement and shock that was displayed in my eyes, I saw the phantom keyboard change to a numpad. It now waited for me to enter a numerical value. It really is giving me freedom to choose.
I know this is a popular theme amongst certain isekai-style stories. It is called age regression, if I recall correctly?
I didn't have to think hard about this. For one, very simple reason.
Puberty SUCKS.
Plain and simple.
I refuse to become a teenager again and go through that hell where you can't control your hormones. It's a thousand times worse once you begin high school where you mingle with a bunch of girls. Yeah, no thanks.
"Set target Age: 18.", I answered without hesitation.
[Ding! You have set your Age: 18.]
[Ding! You may now designate your next parameter.]
[Ding! Please designate your mode of transference.]
[Ding! Reincarnation has become unavailable.]
"Mode...of transference?", I uttered. Interesting.
This is pointing toward how I will be brought into the MCU. There's various ways to do so.
The Gamer System immediately ruled out Reincarnation, as I set my target age eighteen. You can't really reincarnate, and suddenly skip eighteen years. That's not how Reincarnation works. You start out as a baby again, and I don't want to go through that either. Not for me.
Reincarnation was just one mode of transference. I was curious to see what the other ones were available to me, and I didn't have to wait long to find out. More Gamer Notifications came through, telling me what I could choose from.
[Ding! You can choose from the following: Transmigration, or Transfer.]
[Ding! After the choice is made, you may be given additional parameters to designate.]
"Transmigration or Transfer, huh? I'm pretty familiar with both of these terms. It's basically saying if I want to give up my present body or not.", I said, interested in what to do here.
Let's say I choose Transmigration. I could become any MCU character of my choosing. Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, the list goes on. I've seen plenty of stories attempt this. Some succeed, some fail. And some even become Tony Stark to enhance his scientific capabilities in an attempt to become a better person at the end.
But I'll say this right now. I do not enjoy being someone else. I'm me! End of story.
Pass. Transmigration is out. I still want to be my own person, thank you very much.
So that leaves one option.
"Set mode: Transfer.", I responded.
I will not become someone else, nor will I start life over. At the end of the day, I'm me. The one change is I'll regress my age, and become eighteen again. It can't get any more ideal than that.
[Ding! You have designated your mode of Transference.]
[Ding! You may now designate your starting location.]
"Wait. Seriously?", I said, becoming shocked once again. To think this Gamer System will even let me choose where I want to start...
How customizable can you get? Sheesh. And you'd be surprised with what I am considering here. Regardless, I've already made up my mind where I will start.
Almost every story I read either chooses New York City, or some random Hydra base they attempt to break free during some lame revenge plot about how they'll take Hydra down. I don't like being surrounded by crime. Both Shield and Hydra are known to lurk around places you don't want to be at. Plus, New York City is home to the Ancient One.
You're practically placing a target on your back. Heading into the lion's den. I could use idioms all day long, but starting out in New York City is a no go for me. I'll move there, and potentially fight in the Chitauri War when the time comes. I want sufficient strength to do so first!
That doesn't mean I'll be heading eastward, either. No, I'm thinking more local.
"Set starting location: Los Angeles.", I answered.
As far as the MCU goes, Los Angeles is home to one of the biggest industrial cities in all of the United States. It includes high-tech machinery, and also has the presence of the United States Military.
Further down south a city called Long Beach, which just so happens to be where Stark Industries is based out of. And not just any part of Stark Industries. It is where its headquarters are located. Roughly around a thirty-minute drive from LA.
It is also the very same site where Iron Man clashes against his first villain, a guy called Obadiah Stane. That happens after Tony Stark successfully gets rescued and pulled out of Afghanistan after being attacked by a terrorist group called the Ten Rings. On top of all of that, it is also where Tony says his most iconic line, "I Am Iron Man"!
Further northwest from Long Beach is Malibu, another thirty to forty minute drive. It is known for its famous beaches and homes to various celebrities, so it would make sense for someone like Tony Stark to own a private residence there. From there, it's simple math really.
All signs point toward Los Angeles! I won't be in the direct line of fire, but it will be close enough where I can watch the MCU unfold. A solid plan if you ask me.
Plus, I'll get to have Tony Stark as my closest neighbor. In terms of the MCU cast, that is. By setting the time to 2006, there's a good chance I'll get to see him before he gets kidnapped.
I do not know whether or not I will use this period to save Tony Stark. Yes, I am a nerd for a good hero and villain story, but I'm not looking to become a vigilante or anything. This is my life to live how I want to.
Along this line of thinking, there is one thing I would like to point out. In the MCU in particular, there are events called canon events. They are points in time that you absolutely cannot change, no matter what. If you do, you trigger what are called incursions. They create branches, no longer befitting the Sacred Timeline. Earth-616 is of utmost importance to the TVA.
While I may be getting a Skill to go under the radar of such organizations and people, if I interfere in just the slightest amount, I could have many wandering eyes that I don't want. I consider Tony Stark becoming Iron Man and him saying that iconic line at the end one such canon event. I do not plan to change that.
Besides, it will be two whole years in the future, it isn't like I have to make the decision right away. Who knows, with the endless potential of the Gamer System, I could grow so strong to challenge the TVA themselves. Wouldn't that be something? I could potentially achieve a feat that Loki couldn't!
I digress. Until then, I'll be busy exploring the Gamer System to its full potential.
While thinking that, I saw more Gamer Notifications come through.
[Ding! You have designated your starting location.]
[Ding! Congratulations! Your parameters have been designated.]
[Ding! You may now view your Status Window.]
"Ooooh!", I happily exclaimed. That was the last little bit of information I needed to give to review my Status Window.
It goes without saying I don't need to say much about what a Status Window is, right? They come in all shapes and sizes, depending on what world you are brought into. They become tailor-made. And I am excited to see what mine has to offer!
You can't spell Gamer System without Status Window, haha!
Before jumping the gun, one question lingered.
"I...don't need to speak the command to open my Status Window every time, do I?", I murmured, wondering if that was the case here.
Again, I was greeted with absolute silence.
"Fantastic.", I sighed.
Still, I didn't let that dishearten me. I kept my word choice particular there. I didn't exactly say the command to see if it would open. Instead, I stopped talking, and took in a deep breath.
'...Open Status?', I thought.
Right then and there, I saw the phantom keyboard vanish. A different blue screen appeared. On it was basically my game character. I wanted to shout into the heavens right then and there. But that'd make me sound crazy, so I didn't do that.
I don't have to shout the command. Thank god!
Just my thoughts alone are enough to open my Status Window.
Let's have a look, shall we?
Now that I think about it, I never said my name, did I?
The name's Myles Alexander! A pleasure.
Anyway, the information showed up. I decided to have a look through it. Yeah, it's definitely a Gamer System, alright.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Myles Alexander
Age: 18
Level: 1 (0/10)
Total EXP: 0
Location: San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles
Time: March 1st, 2006
Weather: Sunny, 42*F
Inventory: Locked
Skill: Soul Protection (SSS)
HP: 100/100 MP: 10/10
STR: 1 VIT: 1 DEX: 1
INT: 1 WIS: 1 LUK: 1
Points: 10
[Ding! As a token of appreciation for becoming the next Gamer, you may receive a beneficial reward if you invest all your Points into Luck before you initiate your Transfer.]
That's...a first. Is this a once only kind of thing?
Unlike other Systems, the Gamer System is purely mechanical. I do not have to worry about it being tied to some random being that will try to annoy me at every corner. Maybe it's rewarding me, so I don't have to think twice about it. And since I didn't need to speak the words to activate a command, I don't think I need to say anything to use Stat Points for that matter either.
Sure enough, As if responding to what I wanted to do, I saw the next Gamer System come.
[Ding! You have used all 10 Points!]
[Ding! Current LUK: 11.]
[Ding! You are feeling lucky.]
[Ding! Through a special Action, a new Skill has been generated.]
[Ding! You have received SSS Rank Skill, Points Doubler!]
[Ding! Your Status has been updated.]
"Excuse me?", I exclaimed, becoming shocked again. Is that what I think it is!?
Without hesitation, I went ahead and opened my Skills page and reviewed the two Skills I now have.
[Soul Protection - SSS]
Erects a protective and undetectable barrier around your soul, masking it in its entirety. Not a single god-like being will be able to detect you unless you make your presence known.
Special Effect: You can endure one fatal blow. Upon receiving it, fully recover HP and MP, and remove all harmful effects. (Once only). This will only trigger against god-like beings.
[Points Doubler - SSS]
Every type of Point you earn is doubled.
"That's f*cking insane...", I murmured.
Seriously, you don't know how broken this Skill is.
No matter what kind of Point I earn, it gets doubled. One becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight, and the cycle continues. This practically halves my leveling speed, while gaining double the profit!
And it doesn't sell itself short to only Stat Points. Notice how it says "Point", and not just "Stat Point"? Experience Points also count as a type of Point. Proficiency Points also count as a type of Point. I wouldn't be surprised if recovering my HP or MP would also be considered a type of Point. The list goes on!
I'm getting this Skill, knowing that the MCu is very dangerous to live in. There's the entire universe out there. No, it has the Multiverse with an infinite amount of threats lurking inside it around every corner. So yeah, I guess it can get that serious. This Skill should help offset any weaknesses that I may get in the coming future.
[Ding! The door is now open. The life you once knew will come to an end.]
Wooosh!
I felt a deep pressure resonate from within my body, making me stiff. BUt I didn't back down. I knew what this meant.
Turning around, I saw a huge spatial distortion now in my bedroom. A portal, if one would call it. It was akin to looking into outer space with the abyss staring right back at you. I knew I couldn't back down from this.
My family, my friends. I will pray for you. Good luck out there.
Once I stepped inside the portal, my sight vanished, consumed by darkness.
THE END!
Haha, just kidding.
Let the grind begin!