Pain.
Then… darkness.
Then—light.
Adam gasped as consciousness surged back like a tidal wave. His body jolted upright, eyes wide, lungs screaming for air. He clutched his chest, the sharp memory of twisted metal and blood-stained pavement still vivid.
"I… I died. Right after the credits…"
His eyes darted around. Tall buildings. Neon signs. A hot dog stand. Yellow cabs. The air smelled like gasoline, sweat, and old pizza.
New York City. But not just any New York.
It was MCU New York.
[System Installation Complete.]Welcome, Adam.Installing: Emotion Engine v1.0...Binding user soul to new timeline...Timeline Confirmed: Marvel Cinematic UniverseYear: 2009 – FebruaryStatus: One year before Tony Stark's abduction.
"...No way."
Adam staggered back, nearly tripping over a trash bin. His heart thundered. He knew this place. Every corner. Every plotline. He'd just watched Avengers: Secret Wars in theaters the night before. Spent four hours online ranting about Kang theories. And then—on his way home, crossing the street—screech, horn, and—
Black.
Then this.
"…I actually got transmigrated to the MCU," he whispered, stunned. "God, you have weird taste in humor."
[Starter Package Activated]Reward: +5 Intelligence, +2 CharismaTitle Gained: "Awakened One"
Passive Perk: Basic Emotional Insight – Can sense minor emotional fluctuations in others.Starting Inventory: $2,000 Cash, Fake Identity (Adam Kane), Small Apartment (Hell's Kitchen)
He took a shaky breath, then laughed—a manic, disbelieving sound.
"I'm in Marvel. I'm in Marvel. One year before everything begins." His eyes sharpened. "Before Tony gets kidnapped. Before the world finds out gods, aliens, and time travel are real."
[System Reminder:]Your rewards are triggered by emotional responses toward you.Tracked Emotions: Happy, Angry, Intrigued, Love, Hate
Stronger emotions = Better rewardsRewards include: Stats, Skills, Talents, Money, ItemsEmotions can be sourced from a person's past, present, or future.
Adam felt chills crawl across his skin.
"That means… If I make Tony Stark admire me… I can get genius-level intelligence. If Steve Rogers respects me... I can get Super Soldier stats. If Wanda ever… loves me…"
He trailed off, his mind spinning.
"...I'm going to become unstoppable."
He spent the day testing the system. First, he charmed a hot dog vendor with an innocent compliment.
[Minor Happy Detected:
+$20 Cash]
[Minor Curiosity Detected:
+1 Cooking Skill]
Adam smirked. "Alright. Basic stuff works. But this isn't what I'm here for."
Later, he slipped into a nearby university lecture pretending to be a late-add transfer. On stage was none other than Dr. Erik Selvig, discussing quantum stellar alignments.
Adam raised his hand.
"What happens when gravimetric pulses from a collapsed realm interfere with temporal stabilizers during an Einstein-Rosen Bridge formation?"
Selvig froze. So did the room.
[Medium Intrigue Detected – Erik Selvig]Reward:
+2 Intelligence
Talent Fragment: Astrophysics (12%)
Future Anchor Planted – Emotional Connection Logged
Adam walked out of the hall grinning. "Hook, line, and Nobel laureate."
That night, in a rundown Hell's Kitchen apartment, he stood in front of a broken mirror, staring at the version of himself that would one day stand beside gods.
[Current Stats:]Strength: 4
Intelligence: 12
Stamina: 5
Charisma: 4
Luck: 0 (Progress: 0/10)
apparently im week sinse normal humen has 10 stats in each only my intelligence is a little better.but i have time .
"I've got one year," he murmured. "One year to collect knowledge, power, wealth—and build a foundation strong enough to shake Thanos himself."
He grabbed a notepad and started scribbling.
"No one's dying in Endgame if I can help it. Not this time."
He looked at his reflection again.
"I know this story inside-out. Now? It's mine."