Step in the Shadow Issue 2
June 5th, 2005
Astoria, Queens, New York
It's been weird waking up and realizing not only are you in a different universe but also back in time. I must've pinched myself like twenty times but everything stayed the same.
Even though the date was 2005, the tech was early 2010s compared to my Earth. You'd figure that with men like Reed Richards, Dr Doom, and Hank Pym, it'd be more advanced but no, I guess Reed Richards is useless.
Looking around the converted warehouse, I noticed details I had missed earlier. Every object here felt familiar, yet just out of reach, I can see it through the new memories but haven't connected them. It was an unsettling comfort if such a thing existed. The loft was open clean and tastefully furnished. It showcases the exposed brick, high ceilings, and matte black metal finishes around. With a huge library office pace that has the walls lined with shelves of antique books—everything from Occult Theory to Ancient Myths of the East, with some advanced physics and chemistry thrown in. A nice area that's off to the corner with a prayer mat facing Mecca.
This looks like something straight out of a dream or an expensive renovation you see on HGTV.
I head towards the kitchen to put a fresh pot of kettle on. Even though I wasn't tired that tired hour ago when the movie ended. I feel sluggish right now. I wonder if it's just crossing over another multiverse that drained me or would it be every time I used the dark force for teleportation? I'll have to add it to the list to figure out.
I grabbed a notebook from the nearby desk, flipping through sketches and notes that I must have drawn up as Amir. The ideas for shadow-based techniques were familiar, sketched out in detail—plans for teleportation through darkness, tendril manipulation, and even ways to cloak my presence entirely. Before diving deeper, though, I needed a plan. One thing Amir and I shared was a pragmatic outlook; as much as I'd fantasized about powers, the thought of plunging into this world blind was unsettling. No amount of new skills would change that.
First thing first I'm going to get involved with Marvel bullshit eventually, but I'm going to have to do it on my terms. No way I'm getting involved in shit above my pay grade. Like House of M, and with my perks from the you I should be safe from reality warping or I'd get my memories from the past life erased if I overestimated, and either way I should be fine. I don't remember how they solved the situation in the original comics I only remember the tie-in ones. Tony Stark was meh, Spider-Man getting fucked over like usual and Fantastic Four was decent. It ends with Wanda warping reality so her children can be real and the whole No More Mutants. I remember more about the aftermath of Decimation and how it led the government to start planning to create the Superhero Registration Act waiting for something like the Stamford Incident to push it forward. The rising tension between mutants and everyone else.
Second thing, I have to learn how to control my powers before House of m is over just in I somehow get involved and I have to create a rough timeline of Marvel comics I remember even though I only stopped reading after Secret Wars in 2015. Aside from a few comics from my favorite characters like Daredevil, Iron Fist, and anything from Hickman. I also have to take a page out of Cyclops and Batman's book and create contingencies to take down villains and superheroes with everything I know about their power's weakness and how to take them down. The number of times superheroes fight each other like in Civil War, Avengers v X-Men, and Civil War 2, or were brainwashed or mind-controlled is crazy.
After what felt like hours, I took a deep breath looking down at the filled-out journal with an outline I decided it was time to stretch before I went crazy.
The setup was basic but functional: free weights, a heavy bag, and a wooden training dummy that looked like it had seen better days. A few foam mats covered the floor in the corner, making it an ideal space for sparring or kata practice. My gaze fell on the worn training dummy, and an idea sparked.
"Alright," I muttered to myself, stretching out my fingers. "Let's see how far I can push this."
I focused on my hands again, pulling the dark energy from within me, this time with more intent. The tendrils returned, thick and purposeful, lashing out at the dummy. The first strike was clumsy; the shadow wavered, dissipating before making contact. I gritted my teeth, recalibrating, trying to recall every fight scene I'd ever studied or watched.
The next attempt was sharper. The shadow tendrils struck true, leaving thin grooves on the dummy's surface. It wasn't much, but it was progress. I began experimenting, seeing how far the shadows could extend, how quickly they could move, and how many I could summon at once.
By the end of the session, I was drenched in sweat, but I felt accomplished. The dummy was scarred and battered, and while my control wasn't perfect, the shadows felt more natural now. I collapsed onto the mats, breathing heavily, my mind racing with possibilities.
Trying to get the feeling of the dark energy simmering within me, waiting to be drawn out. I focused on my hand, trying to call forth just a wisp of shadow. At first, it resisted, like a muscle that hadn't been used in years. Then, with a bit more focus, the shadows around my fingers began to thicken and coalesce, forming a thin tendril. It swayed as if caught in an unseen breeze, then twisted and hardened into something like obsidian glass.
A thrill ran through me. I could feel the tendril, feel the shadows responding to my intent as if they were an extension of my thoughts. I released the shadows, watching them dissolve back into the room around me, feeling a strange emptiness in their absence. It was addictive, I realized, this power that obeyed my will but always seemed to hunger for more.
I grew more excited the more I played around with the shadow, to test it out. I realized it was different from how Darkforce from Chi Manipulation.
Chi Manipulation was similar to how Chakra worked in Naruto. It was a life force that was from the inside, felt like a sea that flowed and waned and went through your body. It boosted stamina, physical strength speed, and healing. Most people never tapped into it and the few that could, Steve Rogers, Matt Murdock, and Shang Chi, only had small pools and were trained to use it through mentors to guide them. Danny Rand was built differently. Danny Rand's chi pool was enhanced by the immortal dragon Shou-Lao. Thanks to that they had more chi to power his attacks, create portals, and such. With his knowledge from Kun Lun and Book of the Iron Fist which tips from previous generations of Iron Fist. I can create a better training and nutrition regimen. Even though Amir or should I say I regularly worked out and was healthy, there was a difference between being fit enough to be a vigilante.
I took a deep breath, letting the tendrils of shadow fade completely as I stood. The realization that my power wasn't just a gift but a responsibility hit me like a freight train. This wasn't just about surviving this new world. If I was going to carve a space for myself here, I had to do more than rely on borrowed memories and half-formed plans. I needed discipline.
After catching my breath, I grabbed the journal again, flipping to a blank page. I jotted down everything I'd learned so far:
Shadow tendrils: Responsive to intent but require focus. Effective range ~10 feet (so far).
Energy cost: Fatiguing but manageable.
Construct durability: Weak; must improve concentration for solid forms.
Potential vulnerabilities: Hunger-like sensation when overused. This could lead to dependency.
By the end of the session, I was drenched in sweat, but I felt good. The dummy was scarred and battered, and another book started while my control wasn't perfect, the shadows felt more natural now. I collapsed onto the bed and planned on getting some sleep before running it back tomorrow.