Chapter 3: A New World of Superhumans

Himawan stood motionless, his mind still reeling from the influx of knowledge that had just integrated itself into his brain. The understanding of genetics, biology, and the manipulation of life itself, courtesy of Doctor Genus, was now second nature to him. His thoughts buzzed with new ideas, new possibilities. The world that had once seemed so ordinary was now a canvas for his intellect. Yet, as much as his mind churned with ambition, there was an undeniable reality staring him in the face: this was not his world. This was the Marvel Universe—a realm filled with superhumans, gods, and monsters.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but his heart continued to race. The gravity of the situation was beginning to settle in. He wasn't in his old laboratory, surrounded by familiar tools and equipment. He wasn't an Earth-bound scientist anymore. He had been reborn, cast into a universe where the rules were different. Here, power didn't come from knowledge alone; it came from strength, from abilities that defied the natural order.

And yet, Himawan wasn't afraid. He had never been one to shrink in the face of the unknown. If anything, this new world thrilled him. It was a place where science could go beyond the boundaries he had always known, where the impossible was a daily occurrence. The streets around him bustled with life, people going about their routines, but the air crackled with an energy he could feel in his bones. It was the pulse of a world that had adapted to the extraordinary.

Himawan's gaze traveled upwards, scanning the horizon. He could see them—the heroes, the ones with powers beyond comprehension. Flying through the sky, leaping between buildings, darting from one crisis to the next. They were symbols of strength, protectors of this universe. In his old life, such beings had been nothing more than fiction. Here, they were real. Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor—all names he had once thought existed only in the pages of comics, now actual people, living, breathing, fighting. He watched as they soared above the city, effortlessly navigating the chaos that seemed so commonplace in this world.

His eyes narrowed as he thought about what the system had told him. The Scientist Template System wasn't just a tool for gaining knowledge—it was a means of survival, a weapon to ensure that he could hold his own in this universe of superhumans. He couldn't afford to be ordinary here. The very thought of being powerless in a world like this, of being subject to the whims of those who wielded strength beyond human capacity, sent a surge of determination through him.

"This world is dangerous," Himawan whispered to himself, his voice steady but laced with a cold edge. "But it's also full of opportunity."

He began to walk, his steps slow and measured, as he took in the details of his surroundings. The city was both familiar and alien. Skyscrapers, cars, the hum of people living their lives—all things he knew. But then there were the differences, the subtle hints that this wasn't the Earth he remembered. Billboards advertised Stark Industries, SHIELD agents patrolled the streets, and in the distance, he could see Avengers Tower, a monument to the superhuman protectors of this world. The sight of it made his pulse quicken. Heroes like the Avengers were the dominant force here, their presence woven into the fabric of everyday life.

But with their presence came a question: What was his place in this world?

Himawan had always prided himself on his intellect. He had pushed the boundaries of science on his Earth, never satisfied with the status quo, always striving for more. But here, intellect alone might not be enough. In this universe, strength and power were often the deciding factors in survival. It wasn't just about outsmarting his enemies anymore—it was about outpowering them.

The system had already given him a starting point, the knowledge of Doctor Genus, a man who had sought to create the perfect human through science. But Himawan's goals were broader than that. Genus had been limited by his own ambitions, content to tinker with biological evolution. Himawan wanted more. He wanted control, mastery over this new world and the forces that shaped it.

As he walked, the system's voice echoed in his mind once more.

"The world before you is one of conflict. Superhumans, gods, mutants, and monsters—all struggle for dominance in a complex web of power. You must navigate this world carefully. Your knowledge will be your greatest asset, but you must also understand the forces at play."

Himawan nodded to himself, processing the system's words. The path forward was clear. He would need to understand the dynamics of power in this universe. He needed to learn who the major players were, the ones who controlled the flow of events. The Avengers, SHIELD, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four—these were the groups that shaped the fate of this world. If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to thrive, he needed to understand them, perhaps even manipulate them.

But first, he needed resources.

His mind worked quickly, formulating a plan. In his old life, he had built a career from nothing, relying on his intelligence and drive to carve a place for himself in the scientific community. Here, it would be no different. The knowledge of Doctor Genus was already proving useful. Genus had been a master of bioengineering, and with that expertise now firmly implanted in Himawan's mind, he had the tools he needed to begin his work.

He just needed a lab. A place where he could experiment without interference. And money—he would need a lot of it to fund his research.

As these thoughts swirled, he found himself walking deeper into the city. The streets became narrower, less crowded. The towering buildings gave way to smaller, older structures. It was a district that had clearly seen better days, a place where the sheen of the modern world hadn't quite reached. Himawan could see people moving in the shadows, huddled in doorways, their clothes tattered and their faces worn with exhaustion.

He paused for a moment, observing the scene. Even in a world filled with gods and heroes, there were still those who lived on the fringes, struggling to survive. The irony wasn't lost on him. For all the power that existed in this world, there were still cracks—places where the light didn't reach. And where there were cracks, there were opportunities.

Himawan's lips curled into a thin smile. This would do for now. He had always thrived in the margins, working in the shadows where others feared to tread. If he could build a foundation here, in the forgotten corners of this world, he could start to accumulate the resources and influence he needed. And from there, the sky was the limit.

His thoughts drifted back to the heroes he had seen flying overhead, their powers on full display for all to see. They represented strength and justice, a force that upheld the status quo. But Himawan wasn't interested in playing by their rules. He had his own goals, his own vision for the future. And in this world of superhumans, he would carve out his own place of power—by any means necessary.

"This world may have its gods, its heroes," Himawan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "But soon, they will learn that science is the greatest power of all."

With that, Himawan turned down a side street, his mind filled with dark, ambitious plans. The system was his guide, and now, with the knowledge of Doctor Genus coursing through his veins, he was ready to begin his conquest.