I stared at the screen in anticipation. The display showed ten golden cards.
[Congratulations, one bonus card has been found.]
Correction—eleven golden cards now filled the screen.
[Due to this being your first Gacha, the Gacha System has altered the probability of some categories.]
"Well, don't keep me waiting. Show me what I got, and give me something big!" I said, practically vibrating with excitement.
[Item: 3X Giant Jawbreakers (Ed, Edd n Eddy)]
My disappointment was immeasurable. I frowned.
Sure, it was a classic cartoon, but why?! I wanted something badass, not some massive hard candy I couldn't even fit in my mouth.
[Item: Bat Grapple (Batman Arkham Series)]
Better… but kind of limited. I wasn't Batman, I didn't have his body. I definitely didn't have the core strength to use it properly.
[Item: Complete Herb Set (Resident Evil Series)]
Say what? Finally, something useful. Green to heal, blue to cure, and red that enhances the red or blue. I suddenly froze.
Wait… could I grow them? I needed to do some research. How hard could it be to grow some herbs?
[Item: Ghost's Combat Uniform (Call of Duty)
Awesome. I hadn't played COD in a while, but you never forget Ghost. I wondered if Ghost's character existed in this world's version of COD. Would make a pretty cool cosplay if it did.
[Schematic: Stimpak (Fallout Series)]
Another BS video game healing item. But… it wouldn't be easy. From what I could guess, schematics only gave me the knowledge to build it. No materials, no samples. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too hard to make.
[Skill: Ezio's Free Running, Parkour, and Climbing (Assassin's Creed Series)]
Parkour time! I'd always wanted to try free running but never had the courage. Hopefully, Ezio's skills would change that. It'd suck to be a parkour master who's afraid of heights.
[Ability: Sheldon Cooper's Eidetic Memory (Big Bang Theory)]
I'd always wondered how that worked. Would I have to try and recall something, or would I just… remember everything automatically?
[Template: Bob Belcher (Bob's Burgers)]
". . . . What the fuck." My brain froze.
"What the hell, System?! No disrespect to Bob—decent father and even better cook—but seriously?! He's a normal guy! No powers! No special skills!"
[Template: John Nolan (The Rookie)]
Okay, that was better. At least he had basic firearm training… but still, I wasn't satisfied. The Bob Belcher template really threw me off. It just didn't make any sense.
[Template: Dexter Morgan (Dexter)]
I wasn't sure how to feel about this one. He was a serial killer. Then again, he did know Judo and Jiu-jitsu… that could definitely come in handy in a fight.
[Summon: Om Nom (Cut The Rope)]
I stared at the screen in silence as a long-forgotten memory surfaced. Even if I ended up regretting it, I knew I had to do it.
"System, summon Om Nom."
Om Nom's POV
It was dark, cramped, and lonely.
"This brings back some old memories," a voice said.
A voice? Where did it come from?
The world around me began to shake, as if everything was being picked up and carried away.
"What the hell, there are no air holes. How the hell is he supposed to breathe?"
A crumpling noise echoed through the space.
Then, for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw light.
"Aww, aren't you a cutie," The Voice said again.
The light was blinding at first—my vision was hazy—but when it cleared, I saw it. A massive creature. Its appearance was strange and confusing.
"Let me get a closer look at you."
The creature grabbed me and lifted me up into the air.
It had long, thin limbs. Unsettling, really.
"You are the weirdest thing I have ever seen, and I already love you. You can call me Leo. You're going to be living with me now."
So, its name was Leo.
He pulled me in close, hugging me tight.
It was a new and strange feeling… but it was nice. Comforting. Warm. Safe.
It felt like home.
I don't know why, but I hugged him back.
Leo's POV
We hugged for nearly thirty seconds before a faint growling interrupted the moment.
I raised a brow and smiled. "Sounds like somebody's hungry… and I think I've got something you'll love."
I sent a mental command to the System. A blue light appeared in the air,the same kind that appeared when Om Nom was summoned. The light took the shape of three orbs and, in a flash, transformed into three massive jawbreakers.
"If I remember correctly, you only eat candy. Hopefully, you like these. Just try not to chip a tooth."
I placed one jawbreaker in front of him and the others on the table.
I couldn't help but examine him more closely. He was weird… but cute.
About the size of a basketball, green skin, four tiny stubs for feet, a single antenna on top. Two massive eyes so close together they practically merged into one. And then—razor-sharp teeth.
Om Nom sniffed the jawbreaker cautiously. He seemed to like the smell, but still checked it. He tapped it with a stub. Solid.
Another test: a lick.
As his tongue grazed the candy, his eyes widened in pure amazement.
One word filled the air around him: delicious.
He pounced on the jawbreaker, licking it like there was no tomorrow.
"You like it, huh? Just be careful. It's pretty—"
My eyes widened as Om Nom opened his jaw.
"Don't!"
Too late.
Om Nom bit down… but to my shock, his jaw didn't break.
Nope. The jawbreaker cracked. A chunk snapped right off.
He stared at it for a split second, then quickly stuffed it into his mouth and started suckling like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I should've seen that coming… in the game, he did crunch and swallow those red and yellow candies.
I cracked my fingers and stretched my back and forearms.
"System, can you show me my card?"
[Item: Bat Grapple (Batman Arkham Series)]
[Item: Complete Herb Set (Resident Evil Series)]
[Item: Ghost's Combat Uniform (Call of Duty)]
[Schematic: Stimpak (Fallout Series)]
[Skill: Ezio's Free Running, Parkour, and Climbing (Assassin's Creed Series)]
[Ability: Sheldon Cooper's Eidetic Memory (Big Bang Theory)]
[Template: Bob Belcher (Bob's Burgers)]
[Template: John Nolan (The Rookie)]
[Template: Dexter Morgan (Dexter)]
I examined the cards on the screen.
I was going to need everything I could get if my plan had any chance of working.
Now, you might be wondering—what's my plan?
Allow me to explain.
The Marvel Universe was dangerous. The question was: how the hell was I supposed to survive?
So I decided to take notes.
Take Iron Man, for example.
Tony was untouchable—partly because he was filthy rich, and partly because he was a super-genius.
The Hulk? Undefeated. Pure strength beyond anything else.
Doctor Doom? Basically a terrorist. Yet the government never arrested him. Why? Because arresting Doom meant war with his country.
So, if I wanted to survive Marvel, I needed money, smarts, and power. Lots of it. I also needed a personal army—so no one would dare mess with me. That part could come later.
"System, I want to use—wait. I want to activate every skill, ability, and template. Please."
[Are you positive you wish to use the following cards? (Y/N)]
"Yes," I said without hesitation.
I regretted it instantly.
A sharp pain shot through my skull. My vision blacked out.
My mind went blank.
Not again.