Ch-12: Rolling the Bones: A Gacha Gamble

Opening the [Gacha], Ethan came face to face with a shiny roulette wheel segmented by numerous small lines, each representing a variety of items available in the drawing pool. 

The blue flames in his eye sockets simmered and focused on two rectangular boxes beneath the wheel.

[Spin x2]       [Spin x1]

Without much thought, Ethan opted for the first option, appreciating the convenience of it.

As his gloves finger touched the button, the wheel began to spin. A few seconds later, it stopped abruptly, and two shiny little stars flew out from the wheel, expanding in front of Ethan's vision to reveal their descriptions.

[Congratulations, you have obtained "1☆ Random Character Summon Card"]

[Congratulations, you have obtained item card "Wrist Mounted Rope Dart"]

Ethan's mind raced with thoughts. The summon card excited him immensely; the possibilities were thrilling. As for the rope dart, it could prove quite useful in both navigation and combat, especially in the tight confines of the sewer.

But first, he needed someone who could scout outside the sewer, someone capable of gathering information about their surroundings. The character summon seemed the perfect solution.

Eager to see what the summon card would bring, Ethan used it immediately. A bright light appeared, condensing into a card. As the light dissipated, a blue box materialized in his vision.

[Congratulations, you have obtained a summon card "Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth (Prime Earth)"]

Ethan stared at the card depicting a middle-aged man in a butler costume, glowing before him. His non-existent breathing quickened, and the flames in his eyes burned brighter. 'Alfred Pennyworth... the legendary butler who once bested Superman. This is incredible.'

He decided to use the card right away, and in an instant, the man himself appeared before him. Ethan's excitement surged—this was the first time he saw a fictional character come to life.

The man standing before him was middle-aged with a slight receding hairline, but even under his butler costume, the signs of knotted muscles were visible. Ethan was momentarily stunned by the sight, brought out of his stupor only when Alfred introduced himself with a slight bow, placing a hand on his chest.

"Master Blackett, Alfred Pennyworth at your service. How may I help you?"

Ethan calmed himself before speaking. "Mister Alfred, welcome. Can you tell me about yourself?"

"Certainly, Master Blackett. My full name is Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth, but you can call me Alfred. I am an ex-soldier and spy, and I also worked as a stage actor for a few years. Now, I have been assigned to assist you in your endeavors, whatever they may be," Alfred said respectfully.

Ethan raised his non-existent eyebrows, thinking to himself, 'His past matches what I know about him, but what about his present?'

"Alright, I will call you Alfred. So, Alfred, tell me what you know about Bruce Wayne?"

If this Alfred had memories of helping Batman, then he must have some knowledge about his gadgets and gizmos. Who knows when they could prove useful.

"Ah, Master Bruce," Alfred began, a nostalgic gleam in his eyes. "When I was summoned here, Master Bruce was but a child of four years and I had only recently entered the Wayne household."

Ethan listened intently, noting Alfred's deep connection to the Wayne family.

"Young Master Bruce," Alfred continued, "was a spirited and inquisitive child, always eager to explore and learn. I remember vividly the first day I met him. He was in the garden, attempting to climb a tree far too tall for his young limbs. His determination was palpable even then. I had only been with the Waynes for a few months, just settling into my role as caretaker and protector of the young master and the household."

Ethan could almost see the scene unfolding in his mind. Alfred's voice was filled with affection and a hint of melancholy, speaking volumes about his dedication to the Wayne family.

"I began working for the Waynes after my father, Jarvis Pennyworth, died," Alfred continued. "It was a role I took on with great pride, knowing that I was following in my father's footsteps. Master Bruce was a bright light in those early days, a constant reminder of why I had chosen this path."

Ethan understood now that this Alfred had not yet witnessed Bruce's transformation into Batman. The knowledge and experience of Gotham's greatest detective and his arsenal of gadgets were not something Alfred could provide. However, Alfred's steadfast loyalty and skills were invaluable in their own right.

"I see," Ethan replied, processing the information. 'You won't be able to replicate Batman's gadgets, but your skills and experience will still be incredibly useful.'

Ethan then asked another question, wanting to gauge Alfred's awareness of their current reality. "What do you know about this world?"

Alfred's eyes looked up as if recalling something. "I have no memory pertaining to this world. However, Master Blackett, I was informed by the guide that I can share your memories if you wish."

'That's convenient,' Ethan thought. 'Especially since he is completely loyal to me. And, I won't have to educate my future summons about everything from scratch.'

"Alright, do you know how I can share my memories with you?" Ethan inquired, and Alfred nodded.

"Indeed, Master Blackett," Alfred began in his refined, British accent. "The guide mentioned that we must be in physical contact. Once that is established, you need only to think about the memories you wish to share, and a prompt should appear in your vision."

"Very well," Ethan responded, stepping forward. His gloved hand reached out and rested on Alfred's shoulder.

Ethan concentrated on the essential memories he had about the Marvel universe. He started with the first Captain America movie, then moved on to Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and the first Avengers film. He included details about mutants, Inhumans, Skrulls, and Nick Fury. His goal was to provide Alfred with enough information to identify key characters, locations, and timelines.

He waited for the prompt to appear, but seconds ticked by with nothing happening. As more time passed, even Ethan, with his calm demeanor, felt the situation becoming awkward.

'What the hell is going on? Damn it!' he cursed internally, his jaw parting in an expression of repressed frustration.

Alfred released a polite cough, drawing Ethan's attention. "I believe, Master Blackett, that the memory share might require direct physical contact," Alfred suggested in his characteristic, measured tone.

Ethan's eye flames flickered in realization. "Direct contact, right. Let's try again."

Ethan adjusted his grip, this time retracting his glove and placing his skeletal hand directly on Alfred's shoulder. He concentrated once more, focusing on the memories he intended to share. Moments later, a faint, translucent prompt appeared in his vision, confirming the connection.

[Do you wish to share these memories with your summon?]

[Yes] [No]

Ethan chose yes.

Alfred's eyes momentarily glazed over as the memories transferred. When the process was complete, he straightened and gave a slight nod. "Thank you, Master Blackett. The information is quite comprehensive. I shall use this knowledge to assist you to the best of my abilities."

Ethan nodded, relieved that the transfer had finally worked. "Good. Now we will have a clearer picture of what we're dealing with, once you are outside."

"So, what are my orders, Master Blackett?" Alfred inquired, his voice steady and respectful, embodying the quintessential British butler.

"Well, the first thing you have to do, Alfred, is go outside and gather all the essential information needed to know where we are," Ethan instructed. "Once you do that, gather some essential items and check out a place where I can live safely, away from any prying eyes. And here," He paused, then mentally reached into his inventory, summoning a handful of the jewelry he had taken from the dungeon. "take this with you. It will be useful."

Alfred accepted the jewelry with a nod, his expression remaining composed.

Ethan watched as Alfred tucked the jewelry away with practiced ease, his movements precise and unhurried. "Your discretion in this matter is crucial, Alfred. We need to stay under the radar for now."

"Understood, Master Blackett," Alfred responded, his tone unwavering. "I shall proceed with the utmost caution and efficiency. You can rest assured that I will return with all the required information and resources."

Ethan nodded, feeling a sense of reassurance. Alfred's competence and loyalty were invaluable assets in this unfamiliar world. "Thank you, Alfred. I'm counting on you."

"Of course, sir," Alfred replied, offering a slight bow. "I shall not disappoint."

With that, Alfred turned, ready to make his way out of the sewer but stopped in his tracks before he could take a step.

"I guess you will have to show me the way out, Master Blackett. I can't see in this darkness as well as I could see you, for some reason," Alfred said, his voice carrying a hint of wry amusement typical of his demeanor.

Ethan heard the request and realized he had overlooked a critical detail. The sewer was pitch black to normal human eyes, contrasting starkly with the dull monochrome world he saw through his skeletal vision. Additionally, he hadn't moved much since waking up, meaning he was just as unfamiliar with the exit as Alfred.

Deciding it would be best to explore the sewer, especially in case he needed a quick hideout, Ethan first looked around and then chose a direction to move forward in search of an exit.

"Alright, follow me," Ethan instructed, taking the lead.

His slime boots muffled the sound of his steps significantly, a feature he appreciated as he mentally praised its inventor. Now, the only distinct noise in the otherwise quiet sewer was the steady, formal tapping of Alfred's leather boots. 

As they moved through the dark, damp passageways, Ethan took note of the layout. The sewers were a labyrinth of intersecting tunnels, each one almost indistinguishable from the last. The occasional drip of water echoed through the air, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Ethan's thoughts wandered as he led the way, pondering the next steps. Finding a secure base was paramount, but so was understanding the intricacies of the world they were in. 

His knowledge of the Marvel universe was extensive, but reality often deviated from fiction, and he needed accurate, up-to-date information.

Alfred, on the other hand, remained silent, his presence a comforting constant. Having someone reliable at his side made the uncertain future a bit more bearable for Ethan.

After what felt like an eternity of navigating the dark tunnels, Ethan finally spotted a faint glimmer of light ahead. Quickening his pace, he approached what seemed to be an old, rusted ladder leading up to a manhole.

"Here we are," Ethan said, gesturing towards the ladder. "This should lead you out."

"Very good, sir," Alfred responded, his voice steady. "I shall ascend then."

Ethan stepped aside, allowing Alfred to climb the ladder. The butler moved with practiced ease, despite the damp rungs and confined space. After a few moments, Alfred pushed open the manhole cover and peered out cautiously before climbing the rest of the way up.

____

A/N: A smaller chapter compared to the others, only 1847 words. 

Hopefully, I captured Alfred's character somewhat correctly. It's hard for me to write how characters talk, had to do some reading, hopefully it's bearable.

Btw Vote.