It was so easy, really, they don't even try, what a bunch of lazy bums, and here I thought Edna would be the only one with movement problems. Both guards were just sitting beside the front door playing what I could only guess would be this world's equivalent to clash of clans.
Well, I can't complain too much, I got out easily and only took 1 minute and 20 seconds of my invisibility timer.
Now comes the hard part, I was only able to wear a t-shirt with some holes as a mask, truly pathetic, and I am also a kid walking aimlessly at night looking for some thugs to… kill.
Yeah, I understand what I'm doing, but I have to, what am I supposed to do if not this? I need points, and I won't wait until the age of heroes arrives to get them. I want power, and I'll kill to get it, well, kill bad guys of course.
*Sigh*
Come on, I've walked for 3 hours again! Are you really telling me that there is no crime to fight in the most dangerous city in the cinematic universe?
*Thud*
*Crash*
"I'm sorry!"
The panicked voice echoed through the alley, sharp and desperate.
'Hallelujah! Finally! What do we have here?'
Two goons. One frail man, and a classic case of wrong place, very wrong time.
"You think you could just walk away from this?!"
A fist smashed into the downed man's face. His face crumpled further.
"I'm sorry! Please, I didn't mean to! I-"
Another punch cut him off mid-beg.
"Didn't mean to? You killed Ricky, you piece of trash! You think 'sorry' is going to bring him back?!"
"It wasn't my fault! I swear! I didn't know!"
A harsh kick drove into his ribs. He coughed as bile and blood splattered onto the pavement.
"Didn't know?! You sold us poison, man! Ricky's dead because of you!"
"Please! I... I didn't know it was contaminated! I didn't know!"
His voice cracked, every word was soaked in desperation.
"Bull! You knew exactly what you were doing. You wanted to make a quick buck, and now Ricky's gone!"
Man, this is absolutely brutal. How is he still conscious? Looks like a drug deal gone sideways.
I think I just saw a tooth fly.
Lovely.
"I swear! I didn't know it would happen like this! I-I got it cheap, okay? I just needed the money!"
"Cheap? Ricky's life wasn't cheap, you scumbag! You didn't even bring the full sum! What am I going to tell the boss!?"
"We should end this right here brother," one of the thugs muttered, pulling a knife from his jacket. "Then loot his place."
"No, please! Don't kill me! I can make it up to you! I'll get you money! I'll get you anything you want!"
They stepped closer as the man started to crawl backward while sobbing.
Then it happened.
*Vreeee-WHOOM*
*Shwaaaash*
Everyone froze, and just stared with wide eyes as two beams of light, sliced straight through the gut of the man on the right.
Side to side, in less than a second.
He didn't even get time to process it before his body toppled to the ground.
The crying man's wide, bloodshot eyes just stared at the man that landed beside him.
"I... I can't feel my legs!"
His scream ripped through the alley, laced with absolute terror. His fingers clawed at the ground as his strength began to leave him. He turned with the last bit of energy he had, only to see it.
His legs.
Behind him.
Twitching on the ground a meter behind.
His mind began to stall, at that moment he turned his head in time to watch his companion spasm, as those twin lights moved again, this time straight through his partner's chest.
"So it was a blade..."
Those were the last words that came out of his mouth before the void swallowed him.
.........
Uhhh, I'm gonna puke.
What the hell is this smell?
This energy blade is way too strong.
Cutting through them felt like... like cutting through a piece of butter.
Only their bones gave a tiny resistance.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]: You have made a small change to the storyline +15 Points
[SYSTEM NOTICE]: You have made a small change to the storyline +15 Points
"I was right! Now... I just need to test something."
I said as I approached the last man.
"Th-Thank y-y-you!" he stuttered through tears, trying to stand, but his limbs didn't listen.
"T-They were going to k-k-kill me… but you appeared and saved meee..."
He gave a shaky smile, inching away from me while still trying to act grateful.
"Tell you w-what," he continued, hiccuping through sobs. "The big g-guy over there... he has an e-e-envelope... with a lot of money. W-Why don't you..."
*Shwaash*
Less than a second later, his head hit the concrete separated cleanly from his body.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]: You have made a small change to the storyline +15 Points
Still counted, is it everyone? That's a terrifying thought, he didn't seem like a killer but gave the same points. At any rate, there's three less scumbags taking up space in this world.
Now let's check your wallets, that envelope and let's get out of here. I still have more than half of my invisibility timer left so I should be safe.
I also just found out that the moment I attack my invisibility will cease to work, so going forward I'll have to plan ahead taking this into account.
*Sigh*
So this is my life once again? Well… at the end of it all I'm still like a hero, right?
......…..
(Next Day)
I'm dying… of sleep.
Godammit Edna, one day, is all I ask, just one, why am I the only one pulling weeds first thing in the morning?
Well, whatever, it's just one day, no problem, I can take it, besides it's really hard to be mad considering yesterday's haul, $2,555 dollars.
Guess who is able to get a cab now? This guy! That's who.
Also, I need a cellphone if I want to stay in contact with Peter, MJ and Gwen. I can't let more than a week pass before talking again.
Finally I have to choose what to do with this:
[System Points] : 75
Yeah my gamble worked but… those are some really tiny numbers, I don't think this is going to be a good idea to earn points in the long run. Is it because they were not important characters? I need many more points. Weapons, armor and augments are all pretty neat, but I know what I'm going to need more than anything.
AI Integration (Cortana) 15,000 points (Blueprint 3,750 points)
It's her, Cortana, she will allow me to do so much more, and most importantly, become invisible. "Shield" and Hydra will be watching, and soon enough every corner of the globe will have eyes on everyone. I'm not planning to reveal my identity so I'll need someone to cover my tracks, and that someone can only be her.
I know I'll never get enough points to buy it fully, but I'll manage with just the blueprint, given the instructions I got from my last blueprint, with enough money I should be able to get the required materials to get her.
The big question is, what can I do to change the storyline in a more impactful way? I'll have to gather more information, for now, my next move should be to make Peter and Gwen meet and see how many points I'll earn.
......…
It took another week to set up this reunion, between getting a cellphone, convincing Mr. Stacy to drag me out of this hellhole, and making Gwen swear not to tell anyone I was an orphan. I was finally here, just one minute away from seeing whether this little move would score me some serious points.
"Ok kids, I'll be back for you at six, have fun."
"Thank you, Mr. Stacy".
"See ya, Dad!" Gwen waved enthusiastically at the retreating car.
"Let's go."
*Knock* *Knock*
Alright. It's time. Let me see those numbers. Come on, open sesame!
"Hey Dom! And hi... you must be Gwen."
[SYSTEM NOTICE]:You have made a moderate change to the storyline. +400 Points awarded.
…
Well… already?
All I did was bring her early. They just met before their canon timeline, how does that shake the multiverse enough to warrant four hundred points?
"Dom! Close your mouth and let's move! What are you gawking at?!"
Gwen's voice snapped me out of my shock as I stood frozen at the entrance like an idiot.
"Sorry, sorry. I just... got one of those déjà vu things".
"Oh really? You are a wizard now, Harry?"
She grinned, clearly pleased with her own joke.
"Haha," Peter laughed, stepping aside and gesturing us in.
"Real funny, little devil".
I still can't believe Harry Potter exists in this universe too. And the first movie dropped just a month ago? This timeline is unreal.
"Peter, call MJ! Let's have some fun!"
.................
I did have fun.
Yeah, sue me.
It's rare I get to relax and just enjoy myself.
Peter had finally fixed his computer and had a few games loaded up, and to my surprise, MJ and Gwen got along, that alone felt like a miracle.
I tried not to think about this too hard though.
[System Points]: 475
Seriously... why did bringing Gwen here shake the timeline so hard? That's a mystery for later me to solve, because right now, yeah, I know that look.
"Okay, okay! I have the best idea ever!"
Gwen bounced up, eyes gleaming with mischief. You could practically hear the chaotic energy revving up.
"That look means trouble."
"Uh..." Peter's concern practically leaked out of his face.
"Gwen? What idea?" MJ sat cross-legged on the floor, sketchpad resting on her knees.
"It's gonna be fun! Dom, back me up here!"
She clapped her hands together like a mad scientist in a lab.
"Let's head outside, grab some creepy crawlies, and freak people out!"
"Insects? Like... real insects?"
MJ's face paled immediately. She shrunk back like Gwen had just said rats.
"That sounds... kind of gross."
"That... doesn't sound like a good idea," Peter mumbled, clearly uncomfortable.
"No way! It's genius!" Gwen turned to me, daring me with her eyes.
"Dom, come on, tell me you're in!"
"Well... sounds like fun. I'm in."
As if I could say no. One "no" and she'd never speak to me again.
"Come on, Peter, MJ it's just a harmless prank. It'll be fun!"
"I-I don't know... bugs aren't really my thing."
Peter looked away, fidgeting.
Ha. If only you knew.
"Yeah, no thanks."
MJ held up her sketchpad like a shield.
"I'd rather keep sketching than touch anything slimy or crawly."
"Ugh! You two are such babies!"
Gwen groaned and grabbed my arm, already dragging me toward the door.
"Fine. Dom and I will handle the fun while you two sit here being boring."
"Wait a second!"
MJ set her sketchpad aside and stood up.
"I'm not letting you two run off and do something fun without me."
"I... guess I'll come too. Just... don't get into trouble."
Peter sighed, clearly surrendering.
"Ha! I knew you couldn't resist."
Gwen smirked as she opened the door.
"Come on, let's go scare some people!"
.........
"I'm really sorry."
Gwen sat on the sidewalk, knees to her chest, face buried.
Damn.
Everything had been going so well.
I'd never tried scaring people with bugs before, and shockingly it was kind of fun. Right up until Gwen threw a bug at MJ's dad.
Yeah, that ended up as you would expect.
Now we were outside, and inside? MJ was probably trying to tune out the constant and furious yelling, the kind no kid should ever have to hear.
"It's not your fault, her father's just a monster."
I placed a hand on Gwen's back. She flinched but didn't move, I wish things hadn't ended like this, can I even get everyone together again after this?
No point in lamenting I have to move forward.
"It's not the first time this happens, MJ will be fine," Peter said quietly, staring at the pavement.
"I think we should call Mr. Stacy Gwen, it's late anyway. We can always come back another day."
She didn't say a word.
Just handed me her phone. No sass, no grin, or a plea for more time.
I almost sighed.
This must've hit her harder than she'd let on.
Fine, I'll call.
.........
I can't stand this.
We've only known each other for two weeks, but having this little chatterbox so quiet? Feels wrong.
Really wrong.
We were almost at the orphanage. George and I both tried light jokes, casual questions... anything.
Nothing worked.
She just stared out the window.
I guess only time will help. I'll be sure to call her later.
"Thank you again, Mr. Stacy, and sorry about everything."
I gave him a sad smile as we pulled in.
"It's fine, Dom. No worries, do try to keep in touch."
He looked at Gwen as he spoke, concern in his eyes.
"Sure thing. Bye, Gwen. Talk to you later."
"Dom… can you give me MJ's number?"
Gwen finally looked up eyes focused, burning with something fierce.
"I... sure. Here you go."
I scribbled the number onto a notepad George handed me.
"Thank you. See you later, Dom."
She stepped out without another word.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]:You have made a moderate change to the storyline. +600 Points awarded.
"What the f—"
That was the only sound I made the entire night.
All I did was give her a number.
What the hell happened?