Chapter 45 : The pitch

Hello everyone ! Hope you're having a good day. I'll start by singing my praises if you guys and gals don't mind.

You can read more of my twisted and unfinished stories on my Patréon page. Simply search for Cathbel on their website. What ? Not much for a sale's pitch ? Sorry… It's true. I'll also take stones, read reviews and comments so feel free to leave some here or on Patréon !

Now, the book of the day… actually, it's a manga : Kaiju n.8. The beginning really made me laugh out loud. It gets a bit darker and more serious over time. Still, there's also it's fair share of moments of levity. Plus, the anime started airing so go check it out !

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I'm sitting at my desk at home, thinking about life in this world. There's nothing I'd like more than to live a calm and easy life. It's quite different from my former life. Actually, it's the opposite. My old life felt boring and I dreamed about a life of adventure. In fact, many times I'd thought about reincarnating in Marvel or DC… Now that it's happened, I want to return to my boring life !

I guess it's true that we're never satisfied with our lot in life…

I remember when my X-gene awakened… With the mutation my body underwent and no powers in sight, I felt cheated. More than that I was terrified to live forever disfigured. That's why I joined the Morlocks… Before reality crashed on my head. Even in a society of people that would be rejected, someone with no powers was still on the fringe. Used and abused by the more powerful willing to use their powers to affirm their importance.

Still, since I know what to expect, or at least have some idea, I can't slack off in my training. And having allies like my friends at school is a boon too ! Facing the threats of this world will be easier in a group. Unfortunately, there's also the other side of this equation too… If people know we work together, the enemies of one might become the enemies of the others. Like Cory and Hyde. Or Peter and his rogue's gallery.

Thankfully, at the moment, Peter hasn't really started his vigilante activities beyond stopping the common street criminals. In fact, I'm a little surprised by this… In the Ultimate comics, Spider-Man seemed to live one adventure after the next, with his enemies being 'born' in succession. Green Goblin, Kingpin, Electro, Doctor Octopus, etc…

Well, I guess there's a lot of things they can't really put in comics. Like the day to day civilian life of superheroes… Sure, we get snippets, here and there. But most of it happens off screen, so to say. Also, this reality may also differ greatly. My presence, and the fact that Peter's now part of a team changes things.

Anyways, I need to grow stronger. And we need money. As High Schoolers, none of us make much money. Peter's family isn't exactly rolling in dough. Same with Doreen. As for me and Cory ? Well, Cory's feeling indebted to mom and dad for taking her in, so she doesn't ask for much. And I'd rather find a way to make my own money. It'd be awesome if I could fund Peter's ideas and he makes a career out of it ! Working part time for the Daily Bugle, the newspaper which is always writing bad things about him is… Well, it must feel pretty awful sometimes. Not that he does, at the moment. At least, I don't think he does…

I shake my head and gather my thoughts. Tonight is important and I have to be ready mentally… Because tonight is the night which might decide whether or not I'll be able to make money off of my powers !

* * * * *

I walk alongside a bald woman at a respectable distance. She's wearing monk garments and although her posture and movements were relaxed, even graceful, she exudes… power ! Maybe that's because I know who she is, but I can't help the feeling of intimidation suppressing me.

Perhaps it also has to do with the fact that this conversation and visit will determine the future of my plans. And unlike Uber-smart protagonist with near omniscient intellect, I don't have other genius plans to make easy money. Well, not exactly easy… Far from it actually : it'll demand a great deal of work and dedication on my part. And hundreds, thousands perhaps more hours of coding…

We're walking a flat plain, covered in greenery. The Ancient One is glancing around, her expression unreadable. Then, she looks at her own body. One word escapes her lips. One word that encourages me :

« Fascinating… This doesn't feel like Astral Projection. »

Her sentence is as much a confirmation that it is a question :

« It is and it isn't… The goal of this world is for people to experience another life, basically. That's why I had you fill out the character sheet, so that your astral projection could be contained and protected by your avatar in this reality. » Looking at her form which was pretty much what she was in reality, I comment : « I expected at least a little change. » Much lower, I add : « Hair, maybe ? »

The woman chuckles :

« I am comfortable with myself and my choices. » Then, she changes the subject back to me : « Do you know ? I've been a witness to this conversation, and its variations quite a few times in the past. And yet, I find myself the same question I watched myself ask over and over : What is the true goal of this dimension ? Is it for you to become a God ? Or to enslave people to the distractions of your beautiful and perfect world ? »

I scoff at this. This world won't be perfect. And it won't be mine. At least, I don't want it to be. I'm hoping it's gonna become a world of its own one day far into the future. But I'm also hoping to draw power from it, as sorcerers usually do with the energy of other dimensions. It's why I've searched for a deserted, empty one after all and that I'm working on filling it.

« If you've watched this conversation then you know my answer. » I pause to think and mutter : « Unless me knowing you know what I'm supposed to say influences me to change it ? » I shake my head. « Sorry about that. As I was about to say. I might be the Creator of this world, but I won't become a God. As for enslaving people… While it isn't my goal, I can't pretend that it won't happen. If I'm successful in my endeavor, people might want to start spending more time here than in our world. »

I make another pause as I look around. There's not much, really… A vast plain, a blue sky, mountains in the distance. I wonder if it's a scenery I could see in Mongolia or in really flat countries like this ?

« What I want from this place is… more power indeed. But not for the sake of power. If it were up to me, I'd be content to live my life recluse, ignoring everything around me. Unfortunately, the nature of this world won't just let me be. Villains will cause senseless mayhem, aliens will invade, cosmic threat will try to engulf reality as we know it. And, of course, people, even well intentioned ones, will make mistakes. I might… no, I'll most certainly make my fair share. »

The Ancient One looks around once more and comments :

« It's really barren, here… » Then, she turns to me and asks : « What exactly to you expect from me ? »