Aubrey awoke to the sound of chanting. Crimson light danced across his skin. Symbols shimmered under his feet. He was standing—no, floating—above a blood-drawn summoning circle.
"He comes!" shouted a robed cultist. "Our god arrives!"
Aubrey blinked. "I what now?"
That's when the walls blew inward.
A blur of motion—Kid Flash. Psychic waves—Miss Martian. Superboy tore through cultists like tissue paper while Robin landed from the shadows, staff raised. Young Justice had arrived.
"Secure the summoners!" Robin shouted.
Aubrey stumbled back as magic and chaos erupted around him. "Hey, hey, I'm not with them!"
Too late. The system kicked in.
[MONSTER-CORE SYSTEM ONLINE.]
Purple light surged through his body. His skin hardened. Limbs elongated. A monstrous form enveloped him—alien, terrifying, and undeniably powerful.
The team turned toward him.
"New threat!" Superboy called.
"No, wait—!" Aubrey tried to speak, but the voice that came out was guttural, beastly.
Robin leapt forward—but just as his staff struck Aubrey's monstrous form, the system pulsed again.
[THREAT LEVEL: LOW. TRANSFORMATION REVERSING.]
A bright flash.
The monster vanished.
In its place stood a boy—bare, pale-skinned, long crimson hair cascading down his back, and glowing violet eyes. His figure was androgynous enough to confuse the entire room.
"...Is that a girl?" Kid Flash asked.
"Definitely not what was here a second ago," Robin muttered.
Aubrey blinked, looked down, screamed internally, and said, "Hey, so can someone tell me where I am?"
Cultists gasped. "He shed his divine shell!"
Aubrey, cape barely covering him, sighed. "Oh no. They're still doing this."
He stepped forward, trying to sound commanding. "Mortals! You have summoned me!"
Superboy raised a brow. "Bringer of what?"
Aubrey hesitated. "...Vibes."
Miss Martian turned away. Robin pinched the bridge of his nose.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: You are being perceived as a false god. You have no pants. Suggested action: smile. Bluff. Hope for the best.]
Aubrey smiled awkwardly. "I'm not hostile! I just… don't know what's going on and would really appreciate some pants."
Back at the team's transport, Aubrey sat wrapped in a spare jacket, hair still glowing faintly, violet eyes darting across the unfamiliar world. Cultists were in cuffs. The team sat around him, watching closely.
[SYSTEM FULLY ACTIVE.] Welcome, User: AUBREY VALENTINE. Primary Form Unlocked: [???] Tutorial Available.
"Alright," Aubrey muttered, eyes flicking to the unseen text hovering in his vision. "Let's see what you've got."
The hum of the transport was oddly calming. Maybe it was shock. Or maybe Aubrey was just too tired to panic anymore.
He stared at the faint HUD still flickering just behind his vision. Purple, sleek, and way too smug.
[MONSTER-CORE SYSTEM v1.0]Welcome again, Aubrey Valentine.You are now a registered: [Rogue-Entity: Class Unknown]Your transformation potential: High.Threat level: Also high. Maybe chill out a little.
Would you like to begin the tutorial?☑ Yes☐ No, I prefer dying confused.
Aubrey mentally selected Yes.
INITIATING CORE WALKTHROUGH.Your body has been rewritten based on your subconscious interpretation of "cool monster powers" and "anime hair." You're welcome.Your appearance has been optimized for awe, confusion, and minor gender envy.
"Okay, now you're just bullying me," he muttered aloud.
Robin glanced back. "Talking to your god voice again?"
Aubrey smirked. "Obviously, Now don't bother me mortal." He said full of sass
Core Mechanics Unlocked:• Transformation Slot: 1/3 Active• Current Form: ??? [Locked: Analysis Pending]• Traits: [Shapeshift], [Energy Emission], [Divine Aura – False Positive]• Stat Boost: Unquantified• System Evolution: Based on Experience and Interaction
Additional Notes: Your form was unintentionally triggered due to high-stress divine summoning. Please avoid future blood rituals if possible.
"Duly noted," Aubrey thought to himself.