Chapter 2: True Ability

Gwen's POV (Point of View)

I was a little reassured by the voice, knowing that I at least had a choice in which soul to absorb. I could plan according to the ones that suited me the best, even if it was very likely that I would eventually absorb them all.

After thinking about it, right now, my physical strength is already good, sure, not much compared to the likes of Hulk and Thor, but above many superheroes.

And with the spider sense, it gives me super intuition, so at least I wouldn't be caught off guard like most superheroes, and I would be able to quickly adapt to my new power.

But before envisaging what kind of role I want to play, let's see what kind of person I could absorb, preferably one who gives me strong fighting skills and the ability to use the web and my instincts in a fight more efficiently.

Speaking of which, I couldn't help but wonder if I already had the ability in my body or if I needed to create Web-Shooters.

I instinctively raised my hands, making the motion to release it, and sure enough, it worked. I didn't need to waste my time dabbling in this and that.

Though I had to erase any trace of it before my new mother came to check, that could wait. I asked the voice in my mind, "What kind of soul can I absorb now?"

Well, although the term «soul absorb» doesn't sound great, it's the only thing I can do now. Also, I think I need to give that voice a name.

[Master, although you have just gained a body, you can start the process whenever you want. The souls are already yours, just shielded as you want to affect what you consider the main soul.]

I nodded; that much I already understood. I was just wondering if I needed to wait some time or anything like that, but since I could start immediately, I asked, "Okay, show me the souls I can start with."

[Okay, Master, here are the souls that you can currently start with without any risk:

Amir Kaftan: An actor from a parallel normal Earth who was assassinated (Estimated complete absorption time: 29 days)

Akashi Seijuro: A talented basketball player and intelligent human being who was killed in a truck accident (35 days)

...

...

...

Azael Baraka: A talented writer in another world known as Gloryhunter (40 days)

Mikasa Ackerman: A strong humanity fighter in a world where Titans exist who sacrificed herself for her loved ones (40 days)]

I had only one word after reading the different souls I could absorb and how long each would take: developed.

I was doubting if the multiverse the voice was talking about was from movies, anime, comics, and other works from my previous life, and it seemed that I was right.

If I could combine the powers of different characters, that would be really overpowered, as some powers are weak individually, but when combined with others, they become something entirely different.

I looked at the current options and only a few caught my attention: Akashi Seijuro and Ryota Kisei from the Kuroko world, that writer whose absorption time was the longest, and Mikasa from the Shingeki No Kyojin world.

Apparently, all the souls I had were from people who could be considered dead in their world, which at least eased a little bit of the guilt I felt.

Although I felt that absorbing Mikasa's soul was the best choice for me, I spent more than five minutes thinking about it, in case I missed something.

Anyway, it's not like these souls would disappear later or anything, I could always absorb them if I wished.

I looked at the clock, it was 3:00 AM, the middle of the night. Since Gwen had fainted just after returning from the school trip, saying she had already eaten and was tired and wanted to sleep.

Since there was some time before morning and this was probably the best time, as no one should waste a chance to become stronger in the Marvel world where anything could happen at any moment.

I said, "I choose to start absorbing Mikasa's soul."

The voice didn't reply, but I started feeling some changes in me. Some kind of memories began pouring into my mind, and I felt like I was about to faint. I only resisted until I reached my bed from the mirror.

As I collapsed onto the bed, the rush of memories became more vivid, almost overwhelming. I was no longer Gwen Stacy for a moment.

I was Mikasa Ackerman, standing amidst Titans, blades in hand, slashing and dodging with the precision of a predator honed by countless battles.

Her emotions rushed into me, almost dominating me: Mikasa's will to protect Eren no matter what, her determination, her pain, and everything.

Now, I almost understood why I subconsciously created some kind of self-protection mechanism.

...

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

I opened my eyes and found myself in my room, in the bed just like before fainting. Since I didn't see anyone, I was thankful that I hadn't woken anyone while absorbing Mikasa's soul; I thought I had been screaming at that time.

Speaking of Mikasa's soul, I didn't seem to feel any change in my body or inside me. It was only after recalling her that I remembered the memory from last night, Mikasa's memories before her death.

After that, I stopped the alarm that was ringing and prepared myself for school, and most importantly, meeting my parents.

Even though I had Gwen's memories, I was still me. It felt weird usurping someone else's place, dining with their family as if nothing had happened.

But then, it couldn't be considered usurping since the original Gwen was dead due to the spider bite, and now, I'm Gwen.

Unlike before, I always felt lazy when thinking about going to school, which made me take more time preparing. But now, even if I felt lazy, I did everything without any sense of reluctance.

It was the first time I realized how Mikasa's soul affected me, because what I was doing was according to her discipline and instinct, something neither I nor the original Gwen had.

Sure enough, as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing my hair, I caught a glimpse of something different in my reflection. My posture had changed, more poised, more grounded. My movements were deliberate, efficient.

My instinctive movements were a little like those of someone who has worked in the military when facing a superior—straightforward, without any nonsense.

I sighed and murmured, "Well, that's my instinctive move. I will eventually control them and return to normal."

Still, it shows how absorbing a person's soul affects me. If I had absorbed all these souls before, I would likely never have been myself.

Speaking of which, as if a flash of inspiration hit me, I thought of two crucial things: absorbing other people's souls and traveling through the multiverse.

I said to the voice, "Hey, you said before that my soul gained the ability to travel through different universes and that I could absorb other people's souls. Doesn't that mean I can travel through the multiverse or absorb other people's souls?"

[Affirmative, the ability to travel in the multiverse is the master's soul ability. As for absorbing other souls, it's an ability every soul has once it leaves its body.]

[As long as a soul severs its connection with its body—meaning death—the master can absorb that soul.]

After receiving the response, my mouth couldn't help but twitch. It seems that I made a mistake absorbing the souls of others before. Now, I need to kill them. What a troublesome thing.

Still, I've already started looking forward to traveling in the multiverse, going to different worlds. But before that, let's solve my current problem—meeting Gwen's parents.

END OF THE CHAPTER

If you're enjoying the idea, let me know by sending Power Stones or commenting, and well, what kind of Gwen do you want to see?

-Superhero

-Anti-hero