Chapter 5 Home

"Ah, I already know that I receive the award after defeating Brad and his goons," Michael mused to himself, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "And also, I got an additional award too! Hehehe, 200 exp points. Sheesh!"

Just as he revelled in his thoughts, a notification from the system rang in his mind.

"Congratulations, host! You've completed one of the tutorial quests. You receive an additional award of 200 exp points."

Michael chuckled inwardly at the timing. "So it's only one of the tutorial quests, huh? Well, I'll have to check it later after I go home. But not now; I'm still in school after all. I don't want my friends to think of me as a lunatic, staring off and losing myself in thoughts. Hehehe."

"Hey, Michael, wait up!" a familiar voice called out from behind him. Michael turned to see his friend Mark jogging to catch up with him, a grin plastered across his face.

"Hey, Mark, what's up?" Michael greeted him with a smile, grateful for the distraction from his swirling thoughts.

"Not much, just wanted to congratulate you on your epic showdown with Brad and his goons," Mark said, clapping Michael on the back. "That was seriously impressive, dude. You totally owned them."

"So, you're heading home now?" Mark asked, adjusting his backpack. "Mind if I come with you? It's been a week since I visited your place, and I kinda miss hanging out with Aunt Ember and Uncle Ed."

Michael grinned, appreciating Mark's eagerness to spend time with his family. "Sure thing, Mark. I'm sure they'd love to see you again. Let's go."

With Mark by his side, Michael set off towards home

Before he could make contact, however, the door swung open, revealing his mother Emberly standing on the threshold, a warm smile gracing her lips.

"Michael, dear, you're home early," she exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and delight. "And Mark, too! What a wonderful surprise."

"Hi, Aunt Ember" Mark greeted her warmly. "I wanted to come by and say hello. Plus, I have a lot of respect for Uncle Ed. He's not only the captain of the police force, but he's also known for his incredible detective skills and combat prowess."

Emberly chuckled, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. "Well, aren't you just a charmer, Mark? It's lovely to see you both. Please, come in."With a warm welcome from his family, Michael and Mark stepped into the cozy interior of their home.

"Uncle Ed, you won't believe what happened at school today," Mark began excitedly, turning to Michael's father, Edward Wilson, who was sitting across from him in the cozy living room. "Michael totally owned Brad and his goons in the cafeteria. It was like something out of a superhero movie!"

(Note: Yes there is a tv and movie in these timeline, Really guys? this is Marvel Universe of course it's different from our world)

Edward raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Is that so? Well, I must say, I'm impressed, Michael. Standing up to bullies takes courage."

Michael shifted uncomfortably under his father's scrutinizing gaze, feeling a flush of embarrassment spread across his cheeks. He wasn't used to being praised.

"Yeah, it was pretty intense," Michael admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I couldn't just stand by and let them bully other kids. Someone had to do something."

Edward nodded, a proud smile spreading across his face. "That's my boy. Always standing up for what's right, no matter the cost. You have a strong sense of justice, Michael, just like me."

Mark leaned forward, his eyes wide with admiration as he addressed Edward Wilson, Michael's father."Uncle Ed, I've heard so much about your exploits," Mark began, his voice filled with awe. "I heard about how you fought against some badass mafia back in the day. And your combat prowess? It's legendary!"

Edward chuckled modestly, a hint of nostalgia creeping into his expression. "Ah, those were different times, Mark. I did what I had to do to protect the city and its people.

Mark's excitement bubbled over as he leaned in closer, hanging onto every word Edward spoke. "Uncle Ed, Do you have any stories you could share? Like, what was the toughest fight you ever faced?

Edward's gaze softened, his mind drifting back to memories of past battles fought in the shadows of the city streets. "There was one particular encounter that stands out in my mind," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "It was a dark night, and I found myself outnumbered and outgunned. But I refused to back down. I fought with everything I had, relying on my training and instincts to see me through."

As he recounted the tale, a small voice in the back of Edward's mind whispered, I need to tell them about my greatest achievement. They'll admire me more if they know. Clearing his throat subtly, Edward continued, "And you know, there was one moment in that fight when everything seemed lost. But then, I rallied my strength, tapped into my inner reserves, and turned the tide of battle in our favor."

He paused for a moment, allowing the significance of his words to sink in. "I can't disappoint them," he thought to himself, "they look up to me."

Mark's eyes widened with awe, hanging onto every word as he leaned in closer. "Wow, Uncle Ed, that's incredible! You really are a true hero."

Edward smiled inwardly, satisfied that his embellishment had achieved the desired effect. "Thank you, Mark. It's moments like those that define who we are and what we're capable of."

As the conversation continued, Edward couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell within him. After all, sometimes a little exaggeration was necessary to maintain the perception of being a hero in the eyes of those who looked up to him the most.

As we kept chatting, I felt proud listening to Dad's stories about his adventures. Even if he might've stretched the truth a bit, it was cool hearing about his bravery.

Suddenly, Mom's voice called from the kitchen, saying dinner was ready. The smell of her cooking made my stomach rumble.

Mom popped her head into the living room, spotting Mark, and invited him to join us. Mark looked super grateful, and I was glad he was staying.

We all shuffled into the dining room, excited for the meal. Sitting around the table, I felt happy to be surrounded by family and friend.

After enjoying a delicious dinner with his family and Mark, Michael couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. As they finished their meal, Mark glanced at the time and reluctantly announced that he had to head home.

"Thanks for having me over, Michael," Mark said, standing up from the table. "And thanks for letting me geek out over your dad's stories. They're seriously awesome."

Michael grinned, feeling a surge of warmth at his friend's words. "Anytime, Mark. You know you're always welcome here." 

With a final wave goodbye, Mark headed out the door, leaving Michael alone with his family once more. As he helped his mom clear the table, Michael's thoughts drifted back to the notification from the Spider-Man system he had received earlier.

Ai: design your own Spider-Man costume to fully embrace your role as a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

 reward:1000 points additional award:?

"Create my own Spider-Man costume, huh?" Michael muttered to himself, excitement bubbling in his chest. " Finally, this is the first step to become a real superhero Spider-Man."

To be Continued