Marvel: The Witcher

It was a brisk afternoon, the kind where the trees fluttered in the wind like fleeting confessions. Kaycee adjusted the strap of her book bag, the weight of textbooks and practice case files pulling her shoulder down as she stepped off the curb. The café was behind them now, the last lingering warmth of a coffee in the cold air between them.

They had met there by chance, or perhaps by fate's hand guiding hand. She had been sipping her coffee distracted, amidst the flurry of cases she had to memorize for the next class. He had been sitting at a nearby table when she noticed him, possibly the most attractive man she had ever seen.

Tall and lean, with a sharp jawline, pale almost ethereal skin, and white hair that falls around his shoulders in untamed waves.

Jaxon was so mesmerizing that I didn't notice I was staring until he snapped his head towards me. In surprise, I jumped my chair, reflexively turning back around and acting as if I hadn't just been staring at a stranger.

However, who abruptly snaps their head at someone staring at them, like a possessed actor in a low-budget horror film? There was no need for him to do that, especially in a coffeehouse.

Hmph, whatever.

A brief encounter had turned into a conversation about future glory, discussing everything from investments to legal doctrines, as though they'd known each other for years.

But now, the moment was ending.

"I should get back to campus," Kaycee said, her tone carrying the weight of responsibility. "My Professor will have my head if I miss even a minute of his lecture. You understand right..."

He smiled, a half-smile, a kind of rueful acceptance. "I do. And I've got a library to get to anyway. Too many things to look up, not enough time."

Kaycee nodded, her eyes softening as she looked at him. He seemed like someone she would have liked to know better—someone with a quiet intensity, who wore his thoughts like a second skin without a second thought. But life, as it always did, was tugging at both of them, pulling them in different directions.

"You don't seem like the kind of person who spends all day in libraries," I said, trying to keep the goodbye light. "I'm not sure I believe you."

he shrugged its the truth," he said, adjusting the sleeves of his leather jacket and looking at me as if considering something. "Perhaps one day I'll let you on a few secrets," he said with a mysterious smile looking at his sleeve.

"One day?" I asked.

Now making eye contact with me again "Ah, my bad, definitely one day," he corrected himself with a strained smile. "After all, you are my partner now, so my secrets will become your secrets too."

With another flutter in my chest, I can't help but think that he's flustering me on purpose.

"Maybe," my voice was soft, almost wistful. I felt the truth in it. There was something in the way he said it—like they were both content with the fleeting nature of their brief encounter. No encounter lasted forever.

I hesitated for a moment, then extended her hand. "It was nice meeting you Jaxon. here's my number, by the way, call me as soon as you get the chance."

"Smiling," he retrieved my business card from my hand, but it was at this moment I realized briefly, how vascular his hand really was I should've noticed earlier but I was too distracted by his overwhelming personality.

"Take care, Kay."

May I address you as such?

With a nod and a smile, I readily agreed.

"And you too, Jax. Best of luck at the library."

He chuckled softly."Luck... just what I need."

With one last look, I closed the door to the cab, feeling the weight of her responsibilities on her shoulders like an old coat. She stepped briskly and signaled the cab driver to depart, the noise of the city faded around her, and yet, in the back of her mind, there was a quiet space where Jaxon's abashed smile lingered, a small mark left by their shared encounter.

Jaxon watched her go, then turned in the opposite direction. The library was only a few blocks away, but his steps felt slower than they had before. Maybe it was the unexpected warmth of the afternoon, or maybe it was the simple truth that, for a brief moment, he'd connected with someone—a stranger who had filled a gap in his heart he hadn't known was there, like a bookmark on the first page of his new life.

Entering the library, Jaxon quickly made his way to the computer section, his mind racing with questions and curiosity. The world around him didn't feel alien but was very much so, He needed answers—answers that only the vast depths of knowledge only the internet could offer.

The flickering glow of the monitors beckoned him like a lighthouse in a storm. He sat down at one of the terminals, fingers trembling slightly as he typed. His mind kept returning to a frightening thought: Marvel wasn't just one universe—it was a multiverse, a sprawling web of realities, each one potentially stranger than the last. Every conceivable cosmic horror, apocalyptic event, and hidden dimension seemed to have a place within this endless web of realities. How could one world—one universe—contain so much? And yet, here he was, pulled into it somehow, caught in the coattails of its mysteries.

As the search engine loaded, Jaxon thought of all the dangers, the heroes, the villains, and the ever-shifting cosmic forces that populated this multiverse. From ancient gods to artificial intelligence that threatened entire timelines, from universe-ending events to pocket dimensions lost in time, the possibilities felt endless. He needed to find out where he fit into this vast, chaotic expanse—before something found him first.

Letting out a shiver at the thought, Jaxon quickly pushed the idea aside. I don't want some horror to find me... 

Mommy help...

 At that point, the only one who could help would be the One Above All, if even he could be reached. The sheer scope of power that existed in this universe—no, this multiverse—was overwhelming, and the thought of being caught in its web was enough to make his skin crawl.

Brushing off the moment of despair, Jaxon refocused. He needed answers. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a second, before he typed the word mutants. That was a good place to start. Being a mutant in the Marvel Universe could be both a blessing and a curse. The allure of gaining superhuman powers was obvious, but Jaxon knew better than to be fooled by the surface appeal. Mutants, in this world, were more often than not hunted, feared, or exploited.

He'd seen enough of the X-Men movies to know how it went. Powers were more a liability than a gift. Some mutants could barely control their abilities, while others were forced to hide who they were, just trying to survive in a world that hated them. The concept of mutation, of powers beyond human comprehension, was fascinating—but living with it in the Marvel Universe was a nightmare. The endless battles, the prejudices, and the constant threat of death from foes or governments, all played out in a world where the line between hero and villain was constantly blurred.

Jaxon's mind wandered as he scrolled through pages of information about mutants—heroes like Wolverine and Professor X, but also darker figures like Magneto, whose hatred for humans was both tragic and terrifying. The world wasn't kind to those who were different. Jaxon couldn't shake the nagging feeling that if he didn't tread carefully, he might find himself on the obscure side of that line.

There was no going back. He was in this world now, and whether he liked it or not, the multiverse had a way of torturing those who stood out. For example, Spider-Man. I sympathize with his plight, but the writers for Spider-Man are sadistic bastards. 

The question now was what kind of mutant should pose as? And more importantly, could he survive long enough to find out?

Thinking this, Jaxon's mind suddenly clicked, the weight of his realization settling in. I almost forgot… The golden finger. That strange sensation that had been with him since he'd arrived in this universe—an odd, almost instinctive feeling that something about his existence here was different. How does this thing work?

Moments after having that thought, a word popped into his head, as if whispered by some unseen force. It was simple, and yet it carried a weight to it. Just think of the word 'Gacha'…

Without second-guessing himself, Jaxon did just that. The moment he thought the word, something shifted in the air around him—a beat of silence later the expected happened.

A panel, translucent and shimmering, materialized before him, hovering just above the keyboard. His heart skipped a beat. The words on it seemed to pulse with an eerie glow, like some cosmic vending machine offering a chance at fate. I knew something like this was coming, but damn…

"Ding."

The soft, almost musical sound echoed in his mind as he read the message that appeared on the panel:

[Click here to pull your first multiversal Gacha for free.]

Jaxon blinked, unsure whether he was dreaming or actually staring at a reality-defying interface in front of him. A free pull? For something that could offer him anything? His hands hovered uncertainly over the screen. What was a multiversal Gacha even supposed to be? Was it some sort of lottery for powers, or perhaps an item that could help him navigate this strange reality?

His breath hitched. It was as if the universe itself had decided to offer him a lifeline—or a trap. The possibilities were endless. Was this how he'd start to navigate the complex, dangerous world of the multiverse? Or would it drag him into something far worse than he could imagine?

There was no going back now. He had come this far. Taking a deep breath, Jaxon pressed the ethereal glowing button.

Click.

DING, DING, DING! 

[GACHA 1: MINECRAFT HOTBAR]

Processing...

GRANTED: Minecraft's hotbar is a row of 9 slots at the bottom of the Host's POV that displays the Host's currently stored items, anything can be stored. The host can quickly switch between these items using intent to access.

[GACHA 2: OMNILINGUALISM]

Processing...

GRANTED: With this power, someone can instantly and perfectly understand and speak any language after hearing it or seeing it written down a single time. 

[GACHA 3: INDESTRUCTIBALE DIGESTION]

Processing...

GRANTED: the ability to eat anything, this unique power is more useful than it may seem. No cell could ever hold he who consumes all, and no walled fortress could ever remain completely secure. If you can eat it can be digested.

...

I don't know what I was expecting, but this? This is rather tame, considering that I could have gotten anything just now. It could have been something crazy like the ability to fly or shoot fireballs from my hands, but nope. Omnilingualism. And honestly, it's not bad. In fact, it's probably one of the most practical abilities anyone could ask for.

The more I think about it, the more I realize how incredibly useful this is. Translators are always in high demand, right? Not just in the big international companies, but also for small, local things like tourist services and international events. If I wanted, I could just step into any conversation, anywhere in the world, and be understood. Every. Single. Language. That's insane.

I could walk into a market in a random corner of the world, start chatting with the vendor, and they'd be baffled. "How does this guy know my language?" They'd ask, probably thinking I'm some kind of secret agent. And then I could ask for the best food they've got, and the next thing you know, I'd be eating for free like that one guy on YouTube. It sounds ridiculous, but hey, at least I won't ever go hungry again that Indestructible digestion one as well.

And then there's the part that's more for my peace of mind—no more losing things. I mean, sure, Minecraft's hotbar is just 9 slots but it's better than having none, but the thought of being able to keep everything in perfect order, always knowing exactly where my essentials are? It's strangely comforting. It's not even about having infinite storage it's about my peace of mind surly this will be coming in handy in the future.

So, yeah. I might have been expecting something a bit more exciting, but in terms of practicality, I'm starting to think I just won the lottery of abilities. A world of languages at my fingertips, and never a moment where I'd struggle to find food—or lose my keys. I guess sometimes, it's the simplest things that make life really, really interesting.