New York, Queens – Alex's POV
Ten free pulls.
Ten chances to either become a god… or a cosmic punchline.
If I knew anything about my luck, I already had a good idea which one it'd be.
I sat up, cracked my knuckles, and stared at the glowing word hovering before me: [Gacha].
"Alright," I muttered. "Let's see what kind of cosmic scam you're running."
A cheerful ding rang in my head — the kind of sound that felt like it belonged in a mobile game designed to drain your wallet.
[Initiating Gacha sequence.]
[Remaining pulls: 10]
Light swirled before my eyes, blending gold, silver, and blue in a dizzying storm. The energy built up with an almost smug intensity — like it already knew I'd regret this.
Then, with a soft chime, the result appeared.
[Template Acquired: Yuuki Rito]
I blinked. "…Yuuki what now?"
The name didn't ring any bells. I wasn't exactly the encyclopedia of every Japanese protagonist ever created.
A smaller tooltip appeared underneath:
[Template Summary: Yuuki Rito — Human with comedic potential, unintentionally charismatic, paradoxical luck.]
I stared blankly at the text.
"Comedic potential. Great. So my first pull officially makes me… funny?"
My eyebrow twitched. "Awesome. Maybe I'll defeat villains with stand-up routines."
I squinted at the rest of the description. "Unintentionally charismatic… sure. Whatever that means. And 'paradoxical luck'? Yeah, that sounds like a tomorrow problem."
For now, it all felt like the system had just handed me a participation trophy.
Still, I exhaled through my nose, halfway between a sigh and a laugh. "So… my first draw gives me the personality of a sitcom extra. Perfect start."
[Template stored: Pending Assimilation.]
[Remaining pulls: 9]
I leaned back on the bed, staring at the flickering hologram.
A faint hum filled the silence of my room, the kind that comes after you've just realized the universe might actually be trolling you.
"Well, that was useless," I muttered. "Let's see if the next one gives me something that doesn't sound like a social handicap."
I swiped my hand through the glowing interface.
[Second draw in progress…]
Another pulse of light. This one sharper — quicker.
The system chimed again.
[Ability Acquired: Advanced Computer Skills]
I blinked. Then blinked again.
"Wait, that's… actually useful?"
A new tooltip scrolled open:
[Ability: Advanced Computer Skills — Mastery of computer systems, programming, cybersecurity, and digital analysis. Proficiency equivalent to an elite-level hacker.]
I stared, a slow grin tugging at the corner of my mouth.
"Okay, now we're talking. This one actually makes sense. Finally, something that won't make me trip into a love triangle or a punchline."
For the first time, the possibilities started to feel… real.
If I was in the Marvel universe — and this was the real deal — being good with tech wasn't just a hobby. It was survival.
"Guess I'll be the guy who hacks Stark Industries before Tony even notices," I said, smirking. "Or, more realistically, the guy who fries his laptop trying."
[Ability stored.]
[Remaining pulls: 8]
I rubbed my hands together, adrenaline sparking just enough to replace the creeping dread.
"Alright, System," I muttered. "You've got my attention. Let's see what else you've got."
[Third draw in progress…]
The holographic lights spun again, bright and dramatic — too dramatic for something that probably wasn't going to change my life.
The swirl pulsed gold this time, which, in any other game, meant something good. My heart actually skipped a beat.
The panel flashed.
[Reward Acquired: 10,000 USD (Cash)]
I blinked.
"…Wait, seriously? Cash? Like… actual paper money?"
The grid of my inventory shimmered, and one of the empty squares now displayed neat stacks of crisp hundred-dollar bills, bundled and gleaming under imaginary light.
I stared at it in disbelief. "You've gotta be kidding me…"
Of all the things to get from a multiversal Gacha, my grand prize so far was… literal money. Not a magic sword, not a fancy gadget — just cash. Good old, completely normal, absolutely mortal money.
Then again… I wasn't exactly complaining.
I let out a short laugh. "Alright, Gacha, I see you. You know how to bribe a guy."
Ten thousand bucks wasn't exactly Tony Stark money, but it was real, tangible, and — for the first time since I woke up — actually useful.
Food, clothes, maybe even a new computer to go with my shiny new 'advanced computer skills' ability.
I could almost feel my inner broke college student crying tears of joy.
"Guess I'll call this one the 'survivor's bonus,'" I muttered, grinning as I closed the panel. "Still a scam though. You're just the kind that throws money at your victims first."
[Reward stored in Inventory.]
[Remaining pulls: 7]
I took a deep breath and leaned back, the grin refusing to leave my face.
"Alright, System. You've got my attention now. Let's see if you can keep it."
[Fourth draw in progress…]
The light this time was different — darker, with a faint green tinge, almost as if the system itself was winking at me with mischief. The energy whirled faster, pulling at the edges of my vision like it wanted to make me dizzy.
A chime rang out — deeper, more resonant than the previous ones. The text appeared:
[Template Acquired: Leech (Earth‑58163)]
I blinked. "Leech?… Wait a second…"
A tooltip slid into view:
[Template Summary: Leech — Mutant. Ability to nullify the powers of nearby superhumans. High strategic value in combat, particularly against powered opponents. Limited offensive capabilities.]
Recognition hit me. "Oh… I know this guy! He's that kid from X‑Men: The Last Stand! The one who cancels mutant powers."
Then my eyes caught the world tag: Earth‑58163.
"House of M… right. That explains a lot. So this isn't just some random mutant — it's that Leech. The one from the world where mutants ran everything."
I stared at the text for a moment, the implications sinking in. "Okay, that's… actually useful. Not flashy, not destructive, but strategic."
I could almost feel the gears in my brain turning. Nullifying superhuman abilities in a world like this? That could save my life… or at least keep me from becoming a human pin cushion.
"Of course," I muttered, "it comes with zero offensive capabilities. Because why fight when you can just ruin everyone else's fun?"
Still, I couldn't help but grin. This wasn't a gimmick — this was a real pull.
[Template stored: Pending Assimilation.]
[Remaining pulls: 6]
"Alright, Gacha," I said under my breath. "Now we're talking. Let's see if you can keep up the streak."
[Fifth draw in progress…]
The light twisted into sleek metallic hues — silver, neon blue, and hints of magenta — like something straight out of a cyberpunk dream. It swirled faster, humming with a confident, almost cocky energy.
A sharp chime rang out, and the result appeared:
[Item Acquired: Arasaka CyberDeck]
I froze. "Wait… that's from Cyberpunk 2077, isn't it? No way."
The corporate logo glowed faintly on the holographic display — unmistakably Arasaka. "Holy crap. I know that world. The corporate dystopia, chrome arms, people hacking their own souls. You're telling me I've got one of their decks?"
A tooltip unfolded below:
[Item Description: Arasaka CyberDeck — Ultra‑high‑performance laptop from the world of Cyberpunk 2077. Always charged, equipped with cutting‑edge software, capable of interfacing with any computer system, network, or digital environment.]
I blinked. Then blinked again. "Wait… this is actually insane."
Finally — something that fit perfectly with my Advanced Computer Skills. I could see it now: sneaking into systems, bypassing firewalls, downloading information before anyone even realized I existed.
I rubbed my hands together, grinning. "Alright, System — this is what I'm talking about. Forget the participation trophy; this one's a game‑changer."
[Item stored in Inventory.]
[Remaining pulls: 5]
A shiver of excitement ran down my spine. "Okay… things are starting to get interesting."
[Sixth draw in progress…]
The holographic lights swirled more subtly this time — calmer, less dramatic. No golden glimmer, no neon flash. Almost as if the system was sighing, handing me a quiet gift that said, "Don't get too excited."
A soft chime sounded, and the result appeared:
[Ability Acquired: Photographic Memory]
I squinted. "Photographic… memory? Huh. Well, that's… actually useful, I guess."
A tooltip popped up:
[Ability Description: Photographic Memory — Perfect recall of anything seen or read. Ideal for technical study, code analysis, and retaining complex multiversal data.]
I crossed my arms, exhaling slowly. "So… no explosions, no lasers, just me remembering everything I've ever seen. Riveting."
Still, I had to admit — paired with my other skills, it was a power move. The kind of quiet advantage that wins wars before they start.
I rubbed my temples and gave a half‑smile. "Alright, System. Not amazing, not useless. Just… practical. The adult part of me approves. The teenager part's bored."
[Ability stored.]
[Remaining pulls: 4]
I leaned back, the faint hum of the interface filling the room.
"Okay," I murmured. "Not bad. Let's see if the next one actually makes me feel like a hero… or just continues this cosmic joke."
[Seventh draw in progress…]
The holographic lights swirled again, this time with a faint red undertone, almost teasing me. The chime that followed wasn't cheerful — it was sly, like it knew something I didn't.
[Ability Acquired: Harem King]
I froze, staring at the floating text. "…Harem King? Really?"
A tooltip appeared:
[Ability Summary: Harem King — Exceptional charisma and influence in romantic matters. Allows the user to maintain multiple consensual romantic relationships simultaneously, and subtly ensures that all parties involved accept and tolerate the situation. Highly effective in social manipulation and personal conquest.]
I blinked, half in disbelief, half laughing. "Okay… let me get this straight. The system just gave me… this?"
Sarcasm immediately took over. "Because, of course. After all the useful stuff — advanced hacking skills, a mutant who cancels powers, cash — my grand prize is… the ability to manage a multiple‑romance empire. Fantastic. Just what every survival-minded college student needs in a multiversal apocalypse."
And then… the unease hit. The name, the description, the way it was handed to me like it was completely normal. Conquest Gacha. Suddenly, it clicked — this wasn't just a loot system. There was a pattern. Influence. Persuasion. Control. The system wasn't giving me random abilities; it was testing, shaping, preparing me for something bigger. Something strategic.
I rubbed my temples, leaning back on the bed. "Of course. My life is a slot machine of powers, and now I'm officially the 'charmer of the apocalypse.'"
The more I stared at the hologram, the more the room felt… off. The colors of the interface seemed sharper, the energy behind it heavier, as if the system itself was aware of what it had just handed me.
A chill ran down my spine. "Alright… Conquest Gacha," I muttered, voice low, "you're starting to make sense. And I'm not sure I like it."
[Ability stored.]
[Remaining pulls: 3]
I swallowed hard. Three more pulls. Three more chances for the system to prove just how… weirdly purposeful this Gacha really was.
For a moment, I hesitated. My hand hovered above the glowing panel, the soft hum of the interface sounding almost alive — like it was waiting for me to choose to continue.
I took a deep breath. "Alright then," I said quietly. "Let's see how deep this rabbit hole goes."
[Eighth draw in progress…]
The light this time wasn't flashy. No golden shimmer, no neon streaks. Just a calm, steady green glow that felt… expectant, like the calm before a storm.
A soft chime echoed in my mind. The result appeared:
[Ability Acquired: Seed of Potential]
I squinted at the name. "Seed of… Potential? Sounds like a motivational poster."
A tooltip slid into view:
[Ability Description: Seed of Potential — The user's cum is imbued with extraordinary vitality. Any partner who receives them internally experiences a slight increase in their natural potential, enhancing physical, mental, or latent abilities.]
I blinked. "…Wait. So, it only works if I actually sleep with someone? And only that person gets the boost?"
I leaned back, hands on my head, a mixture of disbelief, awkward amusement, and faint horror crossing my face. "Of course. Not only do I get to juggle relationships like a circus performer, but apparently I can now… biologically boost people. One person at a time. With sex."
The more I thought about it, the more the pattern became clear. Harem King, Advanced Computer Skills, Photographic Memory, Seed of Potential. These weren't random. The system was giving me tools to influence, manipulate, and bend others to my will — directly or indirectly.
A faint shiver ran down my spine. The Gacha wasn't just a game anymore. It was a blueprint. And I had the first pieces of the puzzle.