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A Simple Life
Mark Carson lived a quiet, uneventful life. At 29, he worked as a data entry clerk, spending his days staring at spreadsheets. He had no close family, few friends, and little to look forward to each day beyond a simple meal and the occasional weekend movie.
Mark's life came to an abrupt end one rainy evening. On his way home, a car skidded on the wet road, hitting him before he could react. Darkness engulfed him, and just like that, his unremarkable existence came to an end.
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A Thousand Years Alone
When Mark opened his eyes, he wasn't in heaven or hell. He was in an endless, empty void. The darkness stretched infinitely in all directions, with no sound, no ground, and no sense of time.
At first, he was confused, then terrified. Days, weeks, or maybe years passed—he couldn't tell. With no distractions, Mark was left alone with his thoughts. Slowly, he began to adapt. He reflected on his life, his regrets, and the choices he'd made.
Decades blurred into centuries. Mark pondered every question imaginable: the meaning of life, the nature of reality, and what lay beyond this void. The loneliness was crushing, but it hardened him. The Mark who entered the void was not the same man who emerged from it.
After what felt like a thousand years, a voice echoed through the void.
"Initialization complete... Welcome to the Multiverse Nexus System."
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The System
Mark flinched, startled by the sudden interruption. A glowing panel appeared before him, displaying a series of words:
[Multiverse Nexus System activated.]
[Traveler: Mark Carson.]
[Time in Void: 1,000 Years.]
"W-What is this?" Mark stammered, his voice hoarse from centuries of silence.
The system responded coldly, with no emotion:
"You have been selected to become a Traveler. Your destination: the Marvel Multiverse."
Mark frowned, unfamiliar with the term. "Marvel? What does that mean?"
The system ignored his question and continued:
"The Multiverse Nexus System provides access to infinite potential. Strength, knowledge, and power can all be yours—but only through effort. Your journey begins now. Prepare for traversal."
Before Mark could ask anything else, a vortex of light engulfed him. The void vanished, and Mark felt his body being pulled through space and time.
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Arrival in Marvel
Mark awoke gasping for air, his body sprawled on the grass. He blinked against the bright sunlight and quickly realized he was no longer in the void. He felt the earth beneath him, heard the rustle of trees, and saw people walking nearby.
Sitting up, he noticed the towering skyscrapers in the distance. A newspaper lying nearby caught his eye. Picking it up, he read the date: January 2000.
Before he could process what was happening, the system's screen reappeared in his vision:
[Universe: Marvel Multiverse, Earth-199999.]
[Timeline: Year 2000.]
Mark's confusion deepened. He didn't recognize this world or its significance, but something about it felt... off. The system interrupted his thoughts again.
[Traveler Status Initialized.]
[Physical Strength: Average Human.]
[Abilities: None.]
[Potential: Infinite.]
The words "Potential: Infinite" stood out. Mark clenched his fists, determination welling up within him. He had spent a thousand years preparing for something—he just hadn't known what. Now, in this strange new world, he had an opportunity to make his life count.
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A Fresh Start
The system provided no guidance or answers beyond its simple prompts. If Mark wanted strength, he would have to earn it. If he wanted to survive in this unknown world, he would need to learn its rules.
Standing up, he began to explore his surroundings, his mind racing with possibilities.
He didn't know what challenges lay ahead, but for the first time in a thousand years, Mark felt alive.
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Mark's Status
As the day ended, the system displayed his current status:
[Traveler: Mark Carson]
[Universe: Marvel Multiverse, Earth-199999]
[Timeline: Year 2000]
[Physical Strength: Average Human]
[Abilities: None]
[Potential: Infinite]
[Objective: Survive and Grow Stronger.]
Mark looked at the panel with a resolute expression. "If potential is infinite, then I'll make myself unstoppable. No one's stopping me this time."
With that, he stepped forward, ready to carve his path in this new world.
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