Marvel: The game I made invaded reality

**Free City, Hell's Kitchen, Merlin's Mod Shop**

It was August, and the weather was scorching. During the day, the streets were almost deserted, but by nightfall, people from all walks of life began to emerge in every corner of Free City.

Sin and luxury walked hand in hand.

In the brightly lit, expansive garage, a sloped steel-plated car rested on a workstation. A young man in blue overalls held a welding torch, meticulously reinforcing the joints.

The vehicle had an odd appearance. It resembled a Formula 1 car, with a low chassis and only a bare steel frame. But the most notable feature was the front section, shaped like a shovel.

As the rolling door slowly rose, accompanied by the rumble of a motorcycle, a man in a black leather jacket, with a circular bullseye tattoo on his forehead and a crazed grin, rode into the shop.

After entering, Bullseye dismounted from his now silent motorcycle. He glanced at the young man, focused on his welding, and refrained from interrupting. Instead, he leaned against a seat, idly playing with darts as he waited.

The blinding flashes of light from the welding made Bullseye squint. To be honest, for someone used to focusing on precision, he didn't appreciate such eye-searing brightness.

White smoke from the welding rose slowly and was eventually sucked away by the exhaust fan, mixing with the outside air.

With a final sizzle, the young man finished the last weld. He removed his protective goggles and turned to look at his visitor.

"What's up?" The young man placed the goggles on a nearby workbench and walked over to a fridge in the corner. He grabbed a bottle of Coke and took a swig, casually tossing another bottle over.

Bullseye caught the bottle, opened it, took a sip, and glanced at the young man. Despite his deep features and messy black hair, which fell carelessly across his forehead, there was still a hint of high school innocence to him.

But Bullseye didn't dare underestimate him.

The young man's name was Merlin Shaw, the owner of this mod shop. In Hell's Kitchen, anyone who could maintain a storefront was no ordinary person.

Though Merlin wasn't very old, he was a vehicle modification expert. His armored car, "The Reaper," was well-known in Hell's Kitchen, and his shop had a solid reputation.

In addition to car modifications, he also dealt in weapons. While not the largest dealer in the area, everything he sold was high-quality and highly functional.

"How much of your explosive ammo do you have left? My boss wants all of it," Bullseye said, crushing the can and tossing it perfectly into a nearby trash can.

"Oh, and we'll need a couple of .50 cal sniper rifles," he added. "Also, an Evil Overlord."

Merlin raised an eyebrow at the mention of the laser weapon. Explosive rounds and .50 cal rifles were one thing, but the Evil Overlord was a laser weapon—perfect for stealthy assassinations.

Of course, it wouldn't be cheap.

In the real world, the Evil Overlord wasn't the flawed weapon it was in *GTA V*. Here, it was a top-tier piece of tech.

"Yeah, we're planning something big. So, how much for everything?" Bullseye asked, not offering further explanation.

"You're already running Hell's Kitchen, and you're still doing assassinations?" Merlin quipped. He motioned for Bullseye to follow him into the back lot of the shop.

In the yard, several modified cars were parked side by side, their sleek exteriors and futuristic designs catching Bullseye's eye immediately.

The vehicle that grabbed his attention the most was a completely black, heavily armored vehicle. Its oversized front end featured a massive mouth-like grille, and from the front, it looked almost like a seahorse. Its sleek design radiated futuristic vibes.

"You even modded a Batmobile? How's it perform?" Bullseye asked, unable to resist stroking the car's body in awe.

"I call it the Vigilante. Just need to finish the engine," Merlin replied.

"How much for it?" Bullseye asked, curious.

"Between one and three million. If you can get me some plutonium, I could give you a discount," Merlin said with a grin.

Plutonium, a key material in atomic energy, was also a necessary component for certain vehicle technologies, especially in the *GTA* universe.

Obtaining such a regulated substance was no easy task. But for Bullseye's boss, Kingpin, it probably wouldn't be a problem.

"Plutonium, huh..." Bullseye noted mentally.

"By the way, aren't you starting school soon? How's that dart order coming along?" Bullseye asked as they continued toward the warehouse.

Merlin was known for his exceptional craftsmanship in forging weapons, especially darts, which suited Bullseye's precision needs.

"Almost done," Merlin said. "If you want, I can make some bat-shaped darts. You wanna try those out?"

"Sure, but only if you can get some tungsten alloy. Can't cheap out on the nostalgia," Merlin teased.

"Deal," Bullseye responded.

...

"We've got three boxes of explosive rounds left, thirty-six rounds total. Six boxes of armor-piercing rounds, seventy-two rounds total... two .50 cal sniper rifles..." Merlin listed as they went through his inventory.

These weapons were in high demand, so stock was limited.

"As for the last Evil Overlord rifle, it's already reserved. You'll have to wait about a week if you want another," Merlin added.

"Alright, pack it up!" Bullseye said.

...

After seeing Bullseye off, Merlin checked the time, switched off the lights in the garage, hung up a "Closed" sign, and rode off on his Ducati 916, leaving Hell's Kitchen behind.

The red Ducati cut through the streets like a streak of crimson, the wind roaring in Merlin's ears. He leaned into the ride, a spark of excitement flickering in his eyes.

Merlin wasn't originally from this world—or, more accurately, his soul wasn't.

In his previous life, he had been an extreme sports enthusiast with a passion for shooting and racing games. His favorite was *GTA V*, followed closely by *Resident Evil*, *Call of Duty*, and *Halo*.

During an underground racing event, he met his end, plunging off a cliff to his death.

But for some reason, perhaps a clerical error on the part of Death, he woke up again—this time in Free City, in the body of a high school student from Queens.

The original Merlin Shaw had been killed after his father, a resident of Hell's Kitchen, had died, leaving him a target for his enemies.

When Merlin took over this body, he also received a system: the Ninth Art Tech System. Through it, he could release games and acquire the technology from them based on their impact.

The first game the system gave him was *GTA V*, one of the most popular open-world action-adventure games—a "model citizen simulator."

Naturally, it became a massive hit, quickly sweeping across the internet.

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Note: I'm translating on the go as I read, so, if you want spoilers, I don't know.😅