[MC POV]
Death is not what I expected it to be. A burning abyss with every flavor of torture and brutal and true to their nature demons or an eternal paradise with apathetic yet compassionate angels. Those were options given in the Bible and presented in church and Sunday school. Yet here I float without a body in a void of chaotic colors and eternal silence with just my mind as my companion with those intrusive thoughts as my companions.
I don't how long it's been, how time even works here, is time even a thing anymore. Was my existence pointless after all, Did the atheist get it right?
Before I could even further down the rapid that rabbit hole a being made of pure light appeared in front of me. He said nothing, but then again he or she or whatever had no mouth it eyes for that matter.
"How intriguing. I've watched as you spend millennia in my domain yet your mind remains intact. See forces in their primordial form or not passing on to their respective afterlives or simple loneliness usually gets to a mortal mind in a few days. The willful ones a year maybe two and those with truly righteous or truly evil dispositions who believe in cause wholeheartedly, the zealots a decade or two at best."
That info dumb had me not panicked like I should have been. After all, what would that achieve, Yes I was surprised but my capacity for emotions at this point was infinitesimal. At least now I know the afterlife was real. I just didn't cut.
"No, you made the cut, It's just once in a while a soul slips into the void and enters another being domain outside of their reality cluster"
Oh well... I hardly cared at this point a millennia in the void will do that to you.
"I have a proposition for you, as a reward for making this long and allowing me to win a bet."
"Go on," I thought since I had no mouth and this being could read my mind.
" I send you to another reality cluster one from your memories at random with abilities from a different cluster. In exchange for your memories of your past life and of your time in the void as an experiment of sorts," he said
A mouth had manifested on his face and a smile that would make that statue in solo leveling shit itself adorned its face.
"Can I pick which cluster my powers come from since where I'm going is random"
"Hmmm fine but I'll be picking the abilities. I want them to coincide with one another seamlessly. No Viltrumite BS or Kryptonian hacks. Simple done right with the potential to grow. The best kind of entertainment" stated the being with passion.
"How many abilities will I be given" I asked
"Depends on which cluster you pick" replied the being.
I could feel something stir in me, excitement. It's been a while since I've felt something. Then again I'm a soul with its consciousness intact. So that stuff about the heart and brain being the source of emotions is BS, it's the soul. Now whichever cluster I pick will most likely be eliminated from the random option to be sent to. So that allows me to eliminate a potential danger but I also need to pick a verse with abilities with growth potential and versatile abilities.
"I choose Marvel the comic verse specifically Universe 61, not the MCU" I made sure to specify.
"Smart as expected from a soul surviving millennia in my branch of the void" chilled the being.
He then began tubing his hang on his....chin I guess.
"I've got it. You've got the mentality of a perfect predator. Taking calm instinctual action. I'll build a base to harness that."
"Ok lay it on me"
"You'll be given five things from the Marvel Comics cluster. Nothing drab and tasteless like the Sentry Serum or the Infinity stones or Gamma Radiation powered super strength
" stated the being flatly before taking on a cheerful tone.
"First a strong base your body has the traits of the combination of Super Soldier Serum that Captain America was given, The Heart Shaped Herd taken by the Black Panthers, and the...Mythical potion ingested by Kraven the Hunter that was created by Calypso" started the being with chuckling to himself.
"This will gift you a physique far above peak human and firmly in the realm of superhuman. If you don't slack off and train a body granted these gifts. I dare say the outcome with be most intriguing" said the being
Hmm, Captain American plus Black Panther plays Kraven the Hunter was an odd year somehow a perfect mix of the Super Soldier Serum which granted peak human physiology, and The Heart Shaped Herb grants the same with a greater focus on dexterity and agility the biggest boost was the potion which granted enhancement in the superhuman category and surpassed the previous two. Together they complement and enhance one another and create something spectacular.
"I see you have taste, good. Now for the final two abilities. The mutant abilities of Victor Creed and.... Hank McCoy. Both are better known by their monikers Sabertooth and Beast." said the Being
That was an interesting combo, to say the least. But with previous boons, I could perhaps bring out even greater potential for both abilities. Sabertooth granted BS regeneration that is after that the bloody Wolverines add in claws from his fingers and toes instead of between the knuckle with I honestly preferred, with The Beast's Telepathic Resistance making a frightening combo no matter where he was sent, except Warhammer 40k because fuck that and fuck Tyranids he rather fights a Xenomorph any day.
"Where am I being sent" I asked
"Hmmm.. DC Comics Cluster and I'm Including Young Justice to add spice" said the Being
"The boons have granted, do you have any questions before the reincarnation begins and your memories are purged," asked the being.
"Is the Heart-Shaped Herd still connected to Bast or in this case the DC counterpart?" I asked because I'm not looking to deal with an Egyptian Cat God.
"You continue to impress mortal and No all the benefits non of the attachments although it with grant you minor Cosmic Awareness and thus the ability to sense the Divine and those blessed by them and objectives either created by or cursed by them."
"Nice, alright I'm ready, enjoy the show..um what's your name by the way," I asked
"Hmm you can understand it in the tongue of void gods like me but in mortal tongue, it translates to Meruem," said the now-named Meruem before a snap echoed in the void and everything went dark.