Story #1 Chapter 1

Pretending to be a Kryptonian in DC

CHAPTER 1: Is this a joke?

'I Died' This was the first thought that crossed Michael's mind when he began floating in this void.

This realization would make most people lose their wits. Why? Well, the answer is obvious, fear of the unknown. Now that you are dead what will happen to you? Did heaven and hell exist? And if not then what was next?

Such thoughts would be considered normal yet these were the least of his concern. Now Michael wouldn't say that he wasn't worried about his destination because he was. It just wasn't the thing pecking at his conscience at the moment. No, he had bigger troubles and they had to do with how he died. Remembering it made him cringe mentally in embarrassment.

'Why did I have to go like that? Of all the ways to die did I really have to get smashed by a vending machine!?' Michael couldn't help but vent his frustrations mentally especially when he had even seen the sticker on the machine warning against shaking beforehand. Yet he just had to ignore it but come on it's not like he thought the damn thing would actually fall.

'Ugh, I can already imagine my family joking about this at the funeral.' Michael's family weren't bad people by any means but they were prone to having some dark humor.

"Hey, you were pretty spot on! They did in fact joke about it at your funeral and will do so for the next couple of years" Said a loud voice that suddenly shook the void around him.

Shocked to hear someone besides himself, Michael turned quickly and saw a man sitting comfortably with a gentle smile. Instantly he realized that this person was most likely god since this was the only thing that made sense to him in this situation but what left him truly surprised was his appearance. It was ordinary… he looked like a guy you would pass by in the street and not take a second glance at.

"Well, kid that's the point. It would suck to travel the multiverse if everyone fell at my feet all the time. At least like this, I can enjoy each world without being bothered."

Pondering on that Michael felt that explanation made sense. Celebrities already have this problem with some who even regret becoming famous but that's beside the point. What really matters is what's going to happen next. He wasn't worried earlier but now he can't help but worry a little. Facing the man he mentally prepared for whatever happened next.

"Are you god? And are you here to judge me?" Michael asked already pretty confident that he knew the answer to his first question.

"Yes, but when it comes to judging that would be a no."

'No? Well, that wasn't what I had expected. I thought for sure that I'd be judged right now. So if that's not the case then why am I here?' Whatever the reason he had a feeling it wasn't good.

"That would be due to a mistake. You see your world runs on something called the reincarnation system where souls are both created and reused. To flow in an infinite loop keeping life and death balanced but this system though efficient is old. So every now and then mistakes are made, such as right now. You see you were meant to be wiped and reintegrated into your world but instead, you were shot out."

A mistake? Michael couldn't help but shake his head at that. Why was it always a mistake? 'I Hate those tropes where somehow God or unexplainable beings mess up. What's next god will say I can't go back.'

"Hey spot on again that's exactly the case and before you complain there is a good reason for this. You see every soul is marked by the system but when you were removed you lost that mark and now the system sees you as an outsider. Trying to put you back would just end up activating its defenses leading to your soul being completely destroyed."

"Then what's going to happen to me?" He couldn't possibly stay in this void; there was absolutely nothing there besides him. If things remained this way then he'd end up going crazy.

"I was just going to ignore you at first and let the creatures of the void have you but I've decided against that after seeing some of the stories you used to read in your memories. They are quite interesting and look pretty fun so how about it. Would you like to experience life in a new world?'

Hearing how god casually read his memories made him feel violated but it's not like he could do anything about that and besides it seemed like this was his only chance. Looking back at God Michael replied without hesitation "Yes, I'd like to go to a new world!"

"Great, great! Give me a moment, I just need to see where I can send you. Ugh nope, not here. Ohhh definitely not here, ah here we go this one might work." Having found what he was looking for, God turned back to him and asked "How do you feel about the DC Universe?"

DC… As far as danger went it was pretty bad but it wasn't without its positives. The world despite appearing modern is actually quite advanced in tech so getting his hands on something cool wouldn't be too hard. Heroes would also be cool to meet even if he thinks their no-kill rule is dumb.

"Yes that sounds alright to me but can I know which DC verse I'll head to first?" This was a must before anything. Things would get really bad if it was a world with the Batman who laughs.

"The version I'm sending you too is one your world isn't all too familiar with. Although some of your films have been pretty accurate and could be said to be of that verse, there are some changes and more heroes than those films show."

'Hmm so basically I'm left with some of the more basic meta knowledge and will just have to figure things out as I go. Which I'm fine with as long as the universe isn't apocalyptic.

"Now onto our second point of business. Like those fanfics you read I can't send you empty-handed or you might die quickly which would make my efforts worthless. So in light of that, you'll get one wish but it cannot be something OP. That universe doesn't belong to me and the owner of that verse is already being lenient letting you even arrive."

Owner of that verse? He must be talking about the presence 'Well at least it looks like the presence is allowing me to come so I'll try to refrain from wishing for something like the Omnitrix'

Going into thought Michael came up with a couple of decent ideas but they would at most put him at the destroying level. What he wanted was something strong that barely hovered in that gray zone right before OP. 'Well I guess I could always wish for that it's not like it's breaking the rules and it's only a simple race change'

"God I wish to be a Kryptonian that made it onto earth like Superman" Kryptonians were a powerful species that hardly had any rivals. This might be OP but Kryptonians also have weaknesses like Kryptonite and magic making it a sort of gray zone.

God raised his eyebrow at this and slowly shook his head "Sorry but that'll be a no. You understand the potential of Kryptonians and I can already see your mind running figuring out ways to push it further. But you were technically right about being in a gray zone so I'll give you something similar to make up for it and I'll throw you some mental protection"

'Something similar? Wait I don't want something similar let me choose something else I still have other ideas' However, before Michael even got the chance to protest god simply waved his hand causing everything to black out.

.

.

.

In a dimly lit alleyway lay a young man sound asleep. He had dark wavy hair and pale skin that looked like he hadn't seen the sun in a while. Despite the unhealthy color of his skin he still carried a unique handsomeness that would draw attention. But it was hidden beneath guck and grime.

Suddenly the young man began stirring in his sleep as if waking up from a bad dream. 'What is this…' He asked himself, noticing some pain coming from his stomach. 'Wait I can feel?' The feeling was something he had lost in the void. What was there to feel? He wasn't alive and even if he was Michael doubted if he'd feel anything in nothingness."

Opening his eyes Michael began scanning the area and immediately noticed a rancid smell that filled the alleyway. It was like someone decided to mix crap with cigarettes and then proceeded to smear it all over the walls during the summer.

'Wait did God really send me here without letting me change my wish?' He questioned while hoping that this wasn't the case but the more he looked around the more clear the situation appeared. To make things worse it also looked like he was sent here as a homeless.

Sitting up he rested his head against the wall feeling dejected by his start which could only be described as rough. 'At least god gave me mind protection so I won't be getting Xaviered anytime soon but what I really want to find out is this gift'

If it was good then his current situation wouldn't matter at all as he could change things around but if it was something weak then he'd be in for a rough time.

Ding Ding

Hearing the sound Michael turned to the source and found a strange screen floating in front of him.

[Congratulations you have been gifted the Almost a Kryptonian Template System]

[Opening first template! Homelander will you accept?]

[Y/N]

"…"

Almost a Kryptonian? Homelander? Was this a joke? In what world is Superman and Homelander even comparable? Michael wanted to reject it after that but he knew he couldn't. This was his one chance and beggars couldn't be choosers especially not in this verse. Reaching forward Michael tapped Yes.

The moment this happened Michael felt a warmth spread throughout his body. Previously he was feeling super weak and hungry but now he felt stronger than he ever has. As if he'd shed his mortal shell and ascended to godhood!

His senses also became extremely heightened but this came at a cost. "ARGHH!" Michael screamed as he clutched his ears in pain. Increasing your feeling of touch or taste was one thing. Even increased sight wasn't too bothersome but hearing and smelling everything within miles was not.

It was only after several minutes of suffering did those sensations slowly calm down, as he regained some semblance of control. Michael was still experiencing everything like before but he was able to tone down some of the background noise to manageable levels.

"Ahh that's definitely going to sting later… couldn't that screen have given me a warning?" Michael asked himself after letting go of his ears. When he did this he heard a familiar noise from the screen alerting him to its presence. Turning to the side Michael saw that it had completely changed and switched over to a sort of status screen from video games.

[Michael Cross] [Race: Supe]

[Age: 19]

-Shielded Mind

[1st Template: Homelander]

Superhuman: Strength - Durability - Speed - Stamina - Hearing - Smell

Heat Vision

X-Ray Vision

Flight

Healing Factor

[2nd Template: Locked]

[3rd Template: Locked]

Reading the screen Michael realized that he may have underestimated Homelander a bit. By no means was he Superman but that didn't take away the various abilities he had that were the same as the man of steel albeit on a weaker scale. Besides, with this, he wouldn't need to worry about getting killed by some random villain attack. Which definitely eased some of the fears he had up to this point.

What really got Michael's attention were those two locked templates. Thinking back to the name of the system he recalled that it called itself the Almost a Kryptonian system and with Homelander being his first unlock it made it pretty clear that they probably had Superman Knockoffs.

If this was true then this was a huge game changer. Over the years there have been many writers who have made their own Superman knockoffs. Some are more impressive than others. Such as Sentry or Ikaris from Marvel.

The only thing he didn't understand was what he needed to do to unlock those other templates and nowhere on the screen did it describe what he needed to do. Basically meaning he'd need to experiment on his own if he wants to unlock them. Which will take time but it's fine. He wasn't even used to his current template. So there wasn't really a point in pushing it, not when he had other things to figure out. Like his new identity if he had a place to stay and money.

But based on the hunger he experienced when he arrived and the obvious amount of grime and smell coming from him he doubted he had anything like the last two. Checking himself Michael began tapping all over and found a wallet.

It looked like it might've been nice at one point in time but time and rough areas had gotten the better of it leaving it tattered like its owner. Checking its contents Michael found his ID and even a driver's license. 'At least I have this stuff but what's this…' reading the city on the license he learned exactly where he was.

Gotham City

'Ah, I should have realized it by the rancid smell in the air and all the grime.' There was only one city this bad in all of DC and that was Gotham. Some comics tried to explain it saying that the city was literally cursed and in others, there was apparently a demon sealed. Either way, the city was just a hell hole that no one should willingly live in.

"But for someone like me who has no cash or place to stay? It's heaven." Michael muttered with a slight smirk. He could rob as many thugs as he liked here without feeling bad and there were tons of abandoned buildings to sleep in so a roof wasn't a worry.

Walking out of the alley Michael couldn't wait to make easy money but stopped when people began covering their noses around him.

'First I'll wash myself in the river…'