1. Beginning

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

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Patrick had always been an avid hiker, finding solace in the rugged terrain and breathtaking views that only the mountains could offer. On this particular day, he had set his sights on conquering a towering peak that had been calling his name for months. He had meticulously packed his gear, double-checked his supplies, and set out before the break of dawn, eager to take on the challenge that awaited him.

Patrick had always been drawn to the mountains. There was something about the challenge of climbing to great heights that appealed to him. He loved the feeling of accomplishment that came with reaching the summit, of standing on top of the world and taking in the breathtaking views.

As he made his way up the steep slopes, Patrick marveled at the beauty of the natural world around him. The crisp mountain air filled his lungs, invigorating him with each breath he took. The sun cast a warm glow over the landscape, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange as it rose higher in the sky. He felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over him, knowing that he was exactly where he was meant to be - in the heart of the wilderness, surrounded by nothing but the raw, untamed beauty of nature.

*Huuuu* He let out a big gush of air from his mouth as he thought,' I will start watch the Dragon Ball Z series once again from the beginning. It's been quite a time since I watched an episode of it.'

Patrick decided and started ascending the mountain after a small break.

However, as he continued his ascent, the terrain grew increasingly treacherous. Loose rocks and slippery patches made each step a precarious one, and the howling wind seemed to echo warnings of the dangers that lay ahead. But Patrick was undeterred, his determination overriding any sense of fear or doubt that threatened to creep into his mind. He pressed on, his gaze fixed firmly on the summit that loomed in the distance, a beacon of hope and accomplishment that drove him to keep moving forward.

But fate had other plans in store for Patrick that day. As he reached a particularly steep section of the mountain, his foot slipped on a loose rock, sending him tumbling down the unforgiving slope.

"Oh, f*ck," Patrick shouted out loud.

Panic and adrenaline surged through his veins as he desperately tried to gain a foothold, but it was no use. The ground seemed to rush up to meet him, and then everything went dark.

When Patrick opened his eyes, he found himself in a state of weightlessness, suspended in a vast, empty white space. Confusion and disbelief washed over him as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He looked down at his hands, only to find that they were translucent and ethereal, like a wisp of smoke in the wind. It was then that he realized - he was no longer in his physical body. He had passed on from the mortal realm and now existed as a soul, untethered from the world he once knew.

As he gazed around at the vast, empty expanse, he noticed a peculiar sensation coursing through him, a sort of ethereal energy that seemed to pulse and thrum in harmony with the very fabric of this mysterious place. It was as if he had become a part of something far greater than himself, an integral piece of a cosmic puzzle that defied all rational explanation.

Time held no meaning in this peculiar realm, and yet Patrick felt a profound sense of serenity and contentment settle within him. There was no pain here, no fear, and no worries – only a profound, all-encompassing sense of peace that seemed to emanate from every corner of this boundless expanse.

As he grappled with this newfound revelation, a sudden influx of information flooded his consciousness. Words appeared before his eyes, glowing in a mesmerizing shade of blue, as if projected onto an invisible screen.

[You have died.]

The words appeared before his eyes in bold, blue letters, as if they were being projected onto an invisible screen. Patrick blinked in disbelief, unable to comprehend what was happening.

'Yeah, no shit Sherlock,' Patrick thought.

[You have been given a chance to transmigrate in the world of Marvel.]

The words persisted, as if they were being spoken by an automated voice. Patrick shook his head, trying to dispel the surreal feeling that had settled over him.

[You are given an opportunity to inherit the abilities of three powerful individuals from different worlds.]

As he gazed at the blue words, three rectangular cards materialized before him. One of the card was shining with a golden hue and the other two were greyed out.

The golden card exuded a radiant glow, and as he focused on it, he could make out the image of a man embedded within its surface. It was Admiral Kizaru, a character from the anime world One Piece.

[Touch the golden card In order to embed the abilities of the character from the card in your soul.]

He reached out tentatively, his translucent fingers hovering over the golden card. As if in response to his touch, the card dissolved into a radiant light that merged seamlessly with his soul form. A rush of energy surged through him, filling him with newfound strength and vitality. He felt a connection to the abilities of Admiral Kizaru coursing through his being, and a surge of excitement rose within him.

The two greyed-out cards still lingered before him, seemingly waiting for him to make his choice. He knew that these cards held the potential for even greater abilities, but they remained shrouded in mystery. How could he unlock them? What adventures lay ahead in the world of Marvel that would enable him to access these powers?

[Interact more with the plot of the Marvel world, and the greyed cards will unlock in due time.]

The blue words answered as they seem to have sensed Patrick's thoughts.

[The abilities from the card can never be copied or stolen by anyone else. The power of the abilities of the character acquired by you will be only 40% of the peak power the character has reached in his particular world.]

'40%? Well it's better than nothing,' Patrick was glad that he had a good head start.

[The required knowledge and experience about the use of the abilities of the unlocked card will be transferred now.]

Soon a series of information entered into Patrick's brain, helping him understand the efficient way to use Admiral Kizaru's abilities including his Devil Fruit.

'If I can use the power of Devil Fruit without actually eating it, then what about the water weakness?' Patrick wondered.

However the blue words didn't bother answering his query and continued displaying another series of information.

[The abilities acquired through the card would have no limit and can be developed limitlessly.]

'Now that's fu*king exciting!' Patrick exclaimed.

Marvel had various powerful characters that could even destroy planets if they wanted. Although Peak Kizaru was strong he wasn't strong enough to deal with the top characters of the Marvel Universe. That is why Patrick was happy that with enough training he could catch upto those people and even surpass them.

[You will occupy the body of a person named same as you in the world of the Marvel. The required changes to the body of that person in order to properly accomodate your soul and newly acquired abilities will began after a minute of your transmigration.]

As Patrick read that, the two grey cards which were still hovering before him scattered into tiny grey lights and then fused with his soul.

[In order to properly track the effectiveness of your training, you will be provided an information panel that will record the proficiency of your abilities. The information panel will not provide any other help. It will not provide you any experience points, neither any tasks nor any rewards.]

'Well I am glad that I don't have to fulfill any compulsory system tasks or anything,' Patrick nodded.

Suddenly a black cube appeared in front of Patrick. It was pitch black in colour and looked quite durable.

[This black cube as two important uses for you. Firstly, it will help you to absorb energy from special types of energy sources. The energy absorbed would then help you to increase the lifespan of your soul and your body. The energy absorbed will be measured in number of units. Secondly, it consists of a mechanism which will help you to travel to different worlds after consuming appropriate units of energy.]

'That's quite a gift,' Patrick thought.

[Currently the lifespan of your soul is two weeks. Which means that you have only two weeks left to live before your soul will be eradicated. As for the body you are going to occupy in the Marvel world has the lifespan of only two days. The black cube given to you is an important token on which your life is dependent. Use it wisely]

A jolt of shock passed through Patrick as he comprehended what the blue words meant. Still he had already died once, so he kept his calm and decided to read the blue words which were constantly appearing in front of his eyes.

[The cube will be linked to your soul. It's size can be increased or decreased. Though the cube is not indestructible. Proper care should be taken to ensure that the cube is safe. The cube has an infinite capacity as it can absorb infinite number of energy units. However the time required to absorb the energy units from a specific energy source will depend upon your strength. Once the process of energy absorption is interrupted, the cube cannot absorb the energy units from the same energy source for two years.]

'Quite a few rules. Once I enter the Marvel world, the first thing I need to do is to search for an appropriate energy source. Otherwise I will lose my body in two days and my soul will be eradicated within a week,' Patrick thought solemnly. 'Well the cube is a good thing for me too. Once enough energy units are absorbed, the cube has the power to make me immortal after all,' Patrick chimed as he had found a silver lining in such a serious scenario.

[In order to absorb the energy units from the energy source, you have to maintain a contact between the cube and the energy source. The cube as a function which helps the you to detect the appropriate energy source around you which can be absorbed by it. The current detection area of the cube is one metre. The range of detection area will increase with the increase in your strength.]

The black cube which was hovering before Patrick, approached him and then entered his soul.

Patrick felt a tickling pain in his soul which vanished within a few seconds as the cube merged with Patrick's soul.

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