"Yeah, yeah, like I told you, she's a nice girl. You should meet her, David. How long have you been single now? More than three years? You're already 24, man," Tommy, my friend, said as he sat next to me at the bar, drinking.
"I don't know, man. It's just that... I like to relax, you know? A girlfriend doesn't sound bad, but... I don't know. Maybe in the future. For now, I just wanna chill and have a drink," I said, casually sipping my beer.
"Alright, alright, it's your decision. I won't bug you about it anymore," Tommy said with a sigh, taking another sip from his glass.
I sighed and looked down at the cold beer in my hand.
A while ago, I transmigrated into this world after I was murdered during a robbery. I got stabbed... and I woke up in this body when it was 17 years old. I had transmigrated into David Miller's body. At first, everything was terrifying and confusing. I had no idea where I was, but luckily, the memories of this body flowed into my mind.
The world I ended up in was the Marvel universe. I remember searching online and finding stuff about Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, the Avengers, all of that.
At first, it was fascinating—but then I realized I was just a normal guy. No powers, no X-gene, not a super-genius, nothing. I was completely normal.
Just some random dude who got transmigrated after dying in a robbery. I tried doing different things to survive in this crazy world—believe me, I tried a lot—but... I eventually gave up. None of it worked. I even almost died once because of my own stupidity while trying something risky.
Man... I wish they had given me some kind of superpower or something...
Even a crappy system would've been something, but nope. Nothing. Just a normal person with a normal family in an absolutely abnormal world.
While I was drinking, I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check the time.
"Alright, I'm heading home, man. It's getting late," I said as I got up from my seat.
"Okay, bro. One day I'm gonna find you the perfect girl for a lone wolf like you," he said, raising his glass.
I sighed and waved goodbye, leaving the bar.
"Lone wolf, huh? Nah, I just like relaxing. Someday I'll find a girlfriend or something," I muttered to myself as I walked through the city on my way back to my apartment.
Right now, I don't have a job. I'm unemployed. I've been doing commission art online to make some easy money. Luckily, I'm pretty decent at drawing.
"Damn... next time I need to set more limits on my commissions. Although... those furries pay really well," I said with a small smile. I was already starting to feel sleepy.
After a few minutes, I arrived at the building where my apartment was.
"Spectacular, spectacular, Spider-Man~" I sang a little tune as I walked down the hallway.
I walked up to my apartment door and pulled the key from my pocket.
"Spectacular~" I mumbled the song as I slid the key into the lock and opened the door.
But suddenly, a door next to mine opened, and a woman stepped out—my neighbor, Julia.
"Oh, David, you're here! Oh, wait a second, I have something to give you!" she said, quickly turning back into her apartment.
I blinked in confusion. Something to give me? That's... okay?.
A few seconds later, Julia came back holding a small package. It was about the size of a toy box, but taller than it was wide. It was wrapped in green paper. It felt light, but there was something inside that made a soft noise when she moved it.
"A man told me to give this to you when you came home. Said it was a gift. He said he was a relative," Julia said, handing it to me. I took it.
A gift? From a relative?
"Oh... well, thanks, Julia," I said with a smile. She nodded and slipped back into her apartment. As she did, I heard a kid yelling inside. She already has kids. Must be a pain to leave them alone—they can definitely cause trouble.
I sighed and stepped into my apartment, closing the door behind me as I made my way to the living room.
I tossed the package onto the couch and plopped down beside it.
"Haaaa... home sweet home..." I said with a sigh of relief.
I glanced over at the package, then picked it up. I stared at it for a few seconds and said, "Maybe it's from Uncle Arthur. Last time he sent me a fishing rod... I've never used it, but maybe I will one day..."
I tore off the green wrapping paper and found a small wooden box inside. It looked a bit old, but it was well-maintained.
I opened it—and inside was a green mask, with a note placed right on top.
I looked at the note and picked it up, reading what was written on it.
[You don't know me, but I know you, David. I know who you really are, but I won't tell you anything about me. You'll have to figure that out yourself. Haha. Anyway, I've got you a little something—with some tweaks. Took me a while to put it together since I've been busy doing other stuff. This is your gift. It's a special mask, one with unknown potential. Your imagination will be able to use it in interesting ways. Hope you enjoy it.
By the way, you'll have to learn how to use it at first, duh. You might lose control if you use it for too long. I don't recommend pushing it too far—it'll do more harm than good if you do, and yeah, you could lose control. But one day, you'll be able to master it and make it yours.
For now, think of it as just a slightly naughty mask. That's all.
AA-]
What the hell...?
I looked down at the green mask that looked like it was made of wood. Then I glanced back at the note.
This mask… looked familiar.
I set the page aside and grabbed the mask again, staring at it for a few seconds.
I swear I've seen this somewhere before... I just need to remember...
I got up with the mask still in my hand and headed toward the bathroom. Once inside, I stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection.
Black hair, brown eyes... above-average looks, I guess, but I'm not anything special.
I looked at the mask in my hand again—and suddenly felt a chill.
I flipped it over and kept staring. Damn...
"Ah... okay, calm down, David. Just... just put it on," I told myself with a shaky smile.
I closed my eyes and slowly put the mask on.
I waited a few seconds... but nothing happened. I didn't feel anything, didn't hear anything.
"Oh, nothing happened—"
I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was… my face?
Only now I had huge white teeth and a large, green, bald head. My entire face was green.
I froze.
"The mask..." I finally remembered where I'd seen it before.
I looked at my reflection, eyes wide with shock.
I didn't feel strange. I felt totally normal. I looked down at my hands—they were normal, not green or anything.
Am I gonna go crazy slowly?
But no—I didn't feel weird. I felt like I always do. But my face looked so freaking bizarre.
"Ah..." I muttered, pointing at my foot.
"Uh... bang?"
Suddenly, a hole appeared in my shoe, and blood started leaking out like I'd just been shot in the foot.
"OH SHIT—oh... it doesn't hurt." I thought I was about to collapse from the pain, but... nothing. No pain at all.
I watched the bloody hole in my foot heal itself right before my eyes—even the shoe repaired itself.
"Ha... haha... hahaha... imagination, huh?" I said with a growing smile. This was... incredible.
I rushed out of the bathroom and into the living room. I flopped onto the couch and stretched out my arms. I grabbed the box the mask had come in and closed my eyes.
"Okay... imagine."
I reached into the box.
"Something... amazing!" I grinned and felt my hand grab onto something. I opened my eyes—and saw a grenade in my hand.
"Oh..." I muttered. Thankfully, it wasn't active.
"So... I can alter reality or something?" I said, trying to figure it out.
I looked at the grenade and waved it.
"Abracadabra!"
In an instant, the grenade vanished. "Oh!"
I pulled out my phone and looked at my reflection on the screen.
I moved my hand to my face and laid my palm over it. I closed my eyes and slowly swiped my palm across my face, imagining it changing.
"Something cool... how about this?"
I opened my eyes and saw my face had changed. Black hair, Japanese features, a medical patch covering one eye. I looked at myself and smiled.
"It really... worked..."
I touched the patch over my eye and lifted it—and there it was: red iris and pupil, black sclera.
Ken Kaneki. A ghoul.
I stared at my eye. It looked exactly like his. Identical.
"Shapeshifting..." I mumbled to myself.
I opened my mouth and stuck out my tongue—it looked normal.
Then...
My other eye changed too, turning into a ghoul's eye—same red and black colors.
So technically... I can shapeshift and use different powers?
If that's really possible... oh man, this is gonna be so freaking awesome.
I ran my hand across my face again, and a few seconds later, I saw my face return to normal—well, my green, bald face.
I looked at my teeth. They were huge.
"Well... since I have powers now... a little night walk wouldn't hurt!"
-
-
-
"Steve walks warily down the street~" David sang as he skipped a bit while walking down a dim alley.
He was holding a compass that pointed steadily in one direction. "As always! My amazing imagination helped me make an amazing gadget! The great and incredible Thief-Finder! Super useful in New York!"
He reached into his pocket and, just like magic, pulled out a can of Coca-Cola. He popped it open and took a sip with a satisfied grin. "Haaa... delicious! I'm really getting the hang of this."
He flashed a bright smile, his perfect white teeth shining under the streetlight as he glanced at the compass in his hand. "Heh... this thing is seriously handy."
He strolled down the alley a bit more—until he heard something.
He quickly ducked behind a trash can and peeked out to spot his targets.
Two guys in black clothes stood together, checking the contents of a bag. Obvious thieves.
"Nice! My first test subjects for trying out my powers. I've gotta use them smartly... and avoid getting caught," David whispered to himself.
"Oh man... that chick didn't even have that much cash. Damn it... She was hot, though. We should've had a little fun with her..." one of the thieves muttered bitterly.
The other guy shrugged, "Hey, at least we got some money. We'll have our fun another time."
"Yeah, okay…"
David grinned and made his move.
"Buurp."
A burp echoed through the alley.
"..."
The entire place went dead silent.
David slowly looked down at the can of Coca-Cola in his hand, glaring at it like he was about to murder it.
"WHO'S THERE?!" one of the robbers shouted, yanking out a knife.
"Ah... meow?" David replied, voice high-pitched and innocent.
"..."
"SON OF A BITCH, GET OUT HERE OR I'LL KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!" the thief screamed, rage boiling in his voice.
"Okay, okay! Geez, relax, man," David said, standing up and stepping out from behind the trash can.
"Is that... a mask?" the robber standing next to the one with the knife said, confused—and then burst out laughing at David's face.
"Hey, I know I'm good-looking, no need to flatter me," David said with a smirk, one of his sparkling white teeth catching the light just right, which weirdly made the thieves pause.
"Who are you?!" the one with the knife demanded, pointing it straight at David.
"My name...? You really wanna know—"
"Do you want me to stab you?"
"Okay, okay, chill, dude... I'm... Steve..." David said, dragging out the name dramatically, moving his lips in slow motion with a fake serious voice.
"..."
"...Is this guy high?" the knife-wielding robber asked his partner.
"I don't know, man... just stab him," the other replied without hesitation.
The robber with the knife looked at him and said, "Alright, stabbed."
He lunged forward, trying to stab David, but David quickly stepped back, dodging the attack. He tossed the things he was holding to the ground. David didn't really know how to fight—he'd never actually been in a real fight before. Still, he clenched his fist and threw a crude, untrained punch straight at the guy's face.
The punch landed.
The robber flew backward, crashing into a nearby trash can and landing in a heap on top of it. His face was bloodied, his nose obviously broken.
"Shit... super strength, huh?" David said with a grin.
The other robber just stared, frozen in place, horrified at the sight of his partner knocked out and bleeding.
"Holy..." he muttered, eyes wide with shock and fear.
"W-wait, dude! T-take the money if you want! Just don't hurt me!" the guy stammered, throwing the bag down in front of David.
David looked at him with a blank expression.
"Ah... nope," he said casually.
He started walking toward the trembling thief, a smile forming on his green face. The man backed away in small, shaky steps, clearly terrified.
David stopped in front of him. The guy had his back to the wall now, shaking like a leaf, eyes locked onto David's.
"You know something...? I feel normal... but at the same time, I feel different" David said casually, placing a hand on the man's shoulder.
The thief's eyes welled with tears.
"P-please, man... don't kill me," he begged, his voice trembling as tears ran down his cheeks.
"Tch... dude, I'm not gonna kill you. You know Batman?" David asked with a friendly grin, patting the guy's shoulder like they were old buddies.
"B-Batman...? N-no..." the man stammered.
"Oh man, you seriously need to brush up on your comic book knowledge. He's a vigilante, but he doesn't kill," David said, still smiling like they were just having a chill conversation.
The guy's shoulders relaxed just slightly. He gave a nervous, shaky smile, starting to feel a tiny bit of relief.
"Haha, I'm not gonna kill you, dude!" David laughed lightly.
"Haha—"
The guy's laugh was abruptly cut off when David's knee slammed into his stomach.
"Argh..." the robber doubled over in pain, breathless, feeling like he was going to throw up.
"Batman roughs people up, but he doesn't kill. That's something, right?" David said cheerfully—and without warning, he threw a punch straight into the man's jaw.
*Crack.*
The robber's jaw snapped from the blow. Blood immediately spilled from his torn lips as the skin split. He collapsed to the ground with a thud, completely unconscious.
Blood dripped from his mouth, pooling beneath his head.
"Good... Mission 1: Completed!" David said with a big grin.
"Now, let's move you guys for the police!" he added, reaching into his pocket and pulling out another can of Coca-Cola.
He popped it open, took a sip, and smiled.
"Haaa! yummy dummy!"