...Earth...
The first thing Meliodas noticed was the smell.
Hot dogs. Car exhaust. Garbage. Perfume. Sweat. Weed. Pizza. All of it mixed together into a fragrance that could only be described as New York City™.
The second thing he noticed was the taxi heading directly toward him at approximately forty miles per hour.
"HEY! WATCH IT, PAL!"
Meliodas threw himself backward, his body moving on instinct—no, faster than instinct. One moment he was standing in the middle of a crosswalk like an idiot, the next he was on the sidewalk, heart hammering, lungs burning, brain screaming WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL.
The taxi driver flipped him off and kept driving.
Meliodas sat there, on the dirty sidewalk of a city he'd only ever seen in movies, wearing clothes that definitely weren't his, in a body that felt wrong and right at the same time.
'I was just... I was eating noodles. I was watching Seven Deadly Sins. I choked. I died.'
'I DIED.'
'And now I'm—'
[SYSTEM ONLINE]
[WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LIFE, REBORN ONE]
[CURRENT LOCATION: NEW YORK CITY, MANHATTAN]
[PRIMARY UNIVERSE: MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (WITH SELECT COMIC ELEMENTS)]
[CURRENT DATE: 2008]
Meliodas stared at the blue text floating in his peripheral vision.
"I have a SYSTEM?"
[AFFIRMATIVE. YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED A CYOA-BASED POWER SYSTEM UPON REINCARNATION.]
[YOUR PREVIOUS LIFE AS AN OTAKU HAS REWARDED YOU WITH EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS WORLD.]
[USE IT WISELY.]
A homeless man shuffled past, muttering about the government and lizard people. He didn't seem to notice the floating text or the Japanese kid having an existential crisis on the sidewalk.
Meliodas took a deep breath.
'Okay. Okay. I'm in Marvel. 2008. That means...'
His otaku brain kicked into gear.
'2008. Iron Man came out in 2008. That means Tony Stark is currently in a cave, building the first suit. Or maybe he just got out. Timeline's fuzzy. But the important thing is—Thanos isn't here yet. The snap isn't for another ten years. I have time.'
'I have TIME.'
He stood up, brushing dirt off pants that looked suspiciously like they came from an anime character's wardrobe. Black slacks, dark shirt, a coat that was slightly too dramatic. Someone—the system?—had dressed him like a protagonist.
[CHARACTER CREATION DETECTED: INCOMPLETE]
[YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED BASE PHYSICAL FORM.]
[ADDITIONAL POWERS AND ABILITIES MUST BE SELECTED VIA CYOA MENU.]
[OPEN MENU? Y/N]
"Yes. Absolutely yes. Open the menu."
---
The world around him faded—not completely, but enough. The sounds of the city became distant, muffled, like someone had put cotton in his ears. Before him, a massive interface unfolded, filling his vision with text and options.
And Meliodas, professional otaku, CYOA enthusiast, and certified power-fantasizer, felt his soul leave his body.
'It's beautiful.'
---
[PROTAGONIST — FREE]
Embracing the role of a Protagonist, you are a veritable powerhouse, a force that the world itself recognizes and bends before. Your initial capabilities are awe-inspiring, hinting at the monumental events and encounters you will define and shape.
Rewards:
· 1 Reward Token
· 20 Hero Shards
· 5 Destiny Shards
· 3 Free Items
· 2 Free Traits
---
Meliodas didn't hesitate. "Select."
[PROTAGONIST CONFIRMED]
[REWARDS ADDED TO INVENTORY]
---
[BODY FORGE — FREE (GIFT)]
Accept the gift, don't be a fool. Strengthen your body, decide who you are.
[Sacrifice Hero Shards to gain power]
---
Meliodas read the "don't be a fool" line three times. It felt like a trap. It felt like the system was daring him to refuse.
"I've read enough isekai to know you always take the mysterious gift. Always."
[BODY FORGE ACTIVATED]
A warmth spread through him—not painful, but intense. Like every cell in his body was being examined, catalogued, and optimized. He could feel it working, could sense the changes happening on a level deeper than thought.
When it finished, he looked down at himself.
Same height. Same basic build. But better. The kind of better that made you stand up straighter without thinking about it. The kind of better that made people look twice.
He needed a mirror.
[CHARISMA: △ ADDED VIA BODY FORGE]
---
[RACE SELECTION]
Human — Free
Standard. Reliable. Versatile. No penalties, no bonuses beyond what you earn.
Other races available but locked behind additional shards or quests.
---
"Human. Gotta be human. I need to blend in."
[RACE: HUMAN CONFIRMED]
---
[CLASS SELECTION]
Costs in Hero Shards. Current Hero Shards: 25
---
Meliodas scanned the options, his min-maxing instincts blazing to life.
Knowledge Mage — 5 Shards
Identify any magic or object. Learn everything about it instantly. Intelligence boost.
Shadow Mage — 3 Shards
Summon twenty undead servants. Last two weeks. Massive magic boost but Charisma penalty.
Dragonkin — 12 Shards
Dragon wings. Elemental breath. Massive Strength and Constitution boosts. Agility boost.
Forgotten Warrior — 12 Shards
Sentient magical armor with ghost mentor. Immunity to mind control. Balanced boosts.
Chitin Slayer — 10 Shards
Superhuman agility. Wall-running. Mid-air dashing. Gliding. Strength boost, FIVE LEVELS of Agility.
Diplomat — 3 Shards
Sense emotions. Undo one thing you said per day. Contract breakers get bad luck. Charisma boost.
Spirit — 6 Shards
Fast regeneration. Glowing lines. Weak minds follow you. Charisma and Constitution boosts.
Mastermind — 3 Shards
One unprovable lie per week. Detect all lies. Learn fears/secrets from conversation. Charisma boost.
Alchemist — 3 Shards
Master alchemist knowledge. Craft potions. Intelligence boost.
Blacksmith — 3 Shards
Master smith. Enchant weapons and armor. Strength, Constitution, and Intelligence boosts.
Heart — 23 Shards
Cannot die. Resurrect after 48 hours. Twenty-one levels of Constitution.
Beginner — 1 Shard
Small boost to all physical stats. Only available if no other class is taken.
---
Meliodas stared at Chitin Slayer.
'Five levels of Agility. FIVE. That's not a boost, that's a whole new tier of existence.'
He looked at Knowledge Mage.
'Identify anything. Learn everything. In Marvel, knowledge is power. Literally. Knowing how someone's power works is half the battle.'
He looked at his shard count: 25.
'Chitin Slayer (10) + Knowledge Mage (5) = 15. Leaves me 10 for later. Perfect.'
[CLASSES CONFIRMED: CHITIN SLAYER + KNOWLEDGE MAGE]
[COST: 15 HERO SHARDS]
[REMAINING: 10 HERO SHARDS]
The moment he confirmed, he felt it—a shift in his very being. His muscles remembered how to move in ways they never had before. His eyes saw the world differently, tracking potential trajectories, calculating distances, reading the flow of traffic and pedestrians like a dance.
And in his mind, a library opened. Empty now, but ready to be filled.
---
[TRAIT SELECTION]
You have 2 Free Traits from Protagonist. Additional traits cost Hero Shards.
---
The list was extensive. Meliodas read quickly, his otaku brain processing options at lightning speed.
Reshape — Cost: ?
Change gender and appearance at will. Must remain human. Charisma boost.
Fit — Cost: ?
Always in best shape regardless of diet or exercise. Charisma boost.
Wings — Cost: ?
Fly at twice running speed. Agility boost.
Attractive — Cost: ?
Considered very attractive. Charisma boost.
Champion — Cost: ?
Luck is always on your side. Never wrong place wrong time.
Endurance — Cost: ?
Sprint for hours. Hold breath 30 minutes. Constitution boost.
Leader — Cost: ?
People follow you. Allies fight without fear. Charisma boost.
Talented — Cost: ?
Can learn any magic with a teacher. Magic boost.
Rush — Cost: ?
Once per minute: 5 seconds of 90% slowed time. Agility boost.
Samurai — Cost: ?
Master one medieval weapon. Intelligence boost.
Expertise — Cost: ?
Master one field of expertise. Intelligence boost.
Third Eye — Cost: ?
See alignment: blue = friend, red = foe/betrayer. Charisma boost.
Float — Cost: ?
Float at half walking speed. Comfy.
Dark Vision — Cost: ?
See in darkness.
Regeneration — Cost: ?
Fast wound recovery. Lost limb = week. Heavy wound = day. Constitution boost.
Aware — Cost: ?
Always know if allies are in danger. Charisma boost.
Height — Cost: ?
Change height (half to double). Strength boost.
---
Meliodas rubbed his chin. "Free traits first. Fit is mandatory—never having to work out? Yes. And... Champion. Luck protection is too good to pass up."
[FIT SELECTED]
[CHAMPION SELECTED]
"Now, what to buy..."
He checked the costs:
· Rush: 3 Hero Shards
· Third Eye: 2 Hero Shards
· Regeneration: 3 Hero Shards
· Endurance: 2 Hero Shards
· Reshape: ? (locked, required quest)
'Reshape is locked? Interesting. Maybe later.'
He had 10 Hero Shards left.
'Rush (3) + Third Eye (2) + Regeneration (3) = 8. Leaves 2.'
'Perfect.'
[TRAITS PURCHASED: RUSH | THIRD EYE | REGENERATION]
[COST: 8 HERO SHARDS]
[REMAINING: 2 HERO SHARDS]
---
[ITEM SELECTION]
You have 3 Free Items from Protagonist.
---
The weapon list appeared, and Meliodas's eyes went wide.
Cleaver
This axe cuts through five times the distance you actually swing it, allowing you to attack whole groups of enemies with one swing.
Siren
This magic greatsword protects you from assaults at night. Whenever something approaches you with ill intent while sleeping, the weapon will emit a sound to wake you and your allies.
Steel
This massive greatsword can destroy whole walls but requires a lot of strength to wield. Carrying this weapon makes active casting of magic impossible.
Bloodedge
Cutting someone with this weapon will lead to their destined death. After receiving a wound from bloodedge the victim will die after 24 hours.
Moonsing
This sword adapts to its user, it can shapeshift into a small dagger or a large greatsword.
Reflection
This sword possesses the power to reflect any energy-based attacks or spells directed towards its wielder. It creates a shimmering barrier that absorbs the energy and sends it back at the attacker.
---
Meliodas stared at Bloodedge.
'Destined death? Twenty-four hours? That's... that's actually terrifying. I don't want to kill anyone that easily.'
He looked at Reflection.
'Energy reflection. In Marvel. Where half the enemies shoot lasers and beams. This is BROKEN.'
Moonsing for versatility. Dagger for stealth, greatsword for combat.
Siren for safety. Because in Marvel, sleeping is when you're most vulnerable.
[ITEMS SELECTED: REFLECTION | MOONSING | SIREN]
Three items materialized at his waist, sheathed in ways that shouldn't be comfortable but somehow were. Reflection was a beautiful blade with a mirror-like finish. Moonsing was currently in dagger form, compact and deadly. Siren was... massive. A greatsword that looked like it weighed more than he did, but when he touched it, it felt light as air.
'Magic weapons. Nice.'
---
[QUEST SELECTION]
You must choose at least three quests. Maximum five. Quests grant Destiny Shards.
---
TUTORIAL: First Blood
Defeat your first enemy in combat.
Reward: 1 Destiny Shard
TUTORIAL: Making Friends
Successfully befriend one person in the new world.
Reward: 1 Destiny Shard
NORMAL: Training Montage
Spend 100 hours training your abilities.
Reward: 3 Destiny Shards
NORMAL: Knowledge Seeker
Identify 50 different objects/abilities with Knowledge Mage.
Reward: 3 Destiny Shards
NORMAL: Wall Crawler
Run on walls for a cumulative total of 10 miles.
Reward: 2 Destiny Shards
NORMAL: Urban Explorer
Visit 20 distinct locations in New York City.
Reward: 2 Destiny Shards
NORMAL: Money Matters
Acquire $10,000 through legitimate means.
Reward: 3 Destiny Shards
CHALLENGE: Shadow Boxing
Defeat an opponent without using your weapons.
Reward: 5 Destiny Shards
CHALLENGE: Info Broker
Learn a secret that matters to someone powerful.
Reward: 5 Destiny Shards
---
Meliodas selected carefully.
TUTORIAL: First Blood — Free shard, inevitable.
TUTORIAL: Making Friends — Free shard, necessary.
NORMAL: Training Montage — Grindable, safe.
NORMAL: Knowledge Seeker — Synergizes with Knowledge Mage.
NORMAL: Wall Crawler — Synergizes with Chitin Slayer.
[QUESTS ACCEPTED: 5/5]
---
[WORLD EVENT SELECTION]
Choose the nature of your arrival.
Balanced
The world you find yourself in is balanced. Danger and harmony go hand in hand. There are areas that should be avoided, but also safe cities with happy citizens.
---
"Balanced. I don't need apocalypse-level on day one."
[WORLD EVENT: BALANCED CONFIRMED]
---
[FINALIZING CHARACTER CREATION...]
[SPAWNING IN 3... 2... 1...]
The menu faded. The sounds of New York rushed back. And Meliodas stood on a sidewalk in Manhattan, three swords at his waist, powers he didn't fully understand humming in his veins, and absolutely no idea what to do next.
A pigeon landed on a nearby trash can and stared at him.
"Hey," Meliodas said.
The pigeon continued staring.
"Got any advice?"
The pigeon shit on the trash can and flew away.
"...Thanks."
---
The first hour was... disorienting.
Meliodas walked. That was all he could think to do—walk and observe. His Knowledge Mage activated constantly, feeding him information about everything he looked at.
That fire hydrant: Standard New York City model, installed 1997, last serviced 2005, currently operational.
That street sign: Cast iron, manufactured in Pennsylvania, installed 1989, replaced previous sign damaged by vehicle collision.
That man: Human male, approximately 45 years old, construction worker based on calluses and tan lines, currently heading to lunch.
It was overwhelming. His brain was processing information at speeds he couldn't consciously follow, feeding him summaries and details automatically.
'This is going to take some getting used to.'
He passed a newsstand and froze.
The headline: "STARK INDUSTRIES CEO MISSING IN AFGHANISTAN"
'Tony. Tony's in the cave right now. Building the first suit. This is... this is actually happening.'
He bought a paper with money that appeared in his pocket when he reached for it—the system, probably—and read the article.
'Ten bucks says he's already built the Mark I. Ten bucks says he's about to become Iron Man.'
'And I'm here. In New York. With powers and swords and absolutely no plan.'
---
The second hour was less disorienting and more what the hell do I do now.
Meliodas found himself in a park. Central Park? Maybe? His geographical knowledge of New York was limited to what he'd seen in movies and Spider-Man comics.
He sat on a bench and watched people.
Couples walked hand in hand. Kids ran screaming after a soccer ball. An old man fed pigeons despite the sign saying not to. A woman jogged past in expensive athletic wear, earbuds in, completely oblivious to the world.
'Normal people. Living normal lives. And somewhere out there, a purple alien is collecting rocks to wipe out half of existence.'
'I have to do something. I have to—'
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATED]
[Knowledge Seeker: 12/50 identifications]
[Urban Explorer: 1/20 locations visited (Manhattan Street)]
[Wall Crawler: 0/10 miles]
'Right. Quests. Start small.'
He stood up and started walking again, this time with purpose.
---
The third hour brought him to a neighborhood that felt different. Less polished. More real. The buildings were older, the people more varied, the energy more... alive.
Harlem, his Knowledge Mage supplied. Major cultural and economic hub of African American life in New York City. Current demographic: mixed. Notable residents: past and present.
He was passing a brownstone when Third Eye activated.
Red. Faint red, coming from three figures across the street. They were watching the brownstone—watching it with the kind of focus that meant trouble.
Meliodas slowed, pretending to check his phone, but watching them through his peripheral vision.
'Purple Dragons', his mind supplied, piecing together clues from their clothing, their tattoos, their posture. 'Local gang. Small-time. Usually operate in Manhattan. Targeting this building?'
He looked at the brownstone. Ordinary. Unremarkable. But there was something about it—a warmth he could feel even from here. A protective energy.
'Someone lives there. Someone with power. And these guys are planning something.'
He should walk away. He should mind his own business. He should—
The three gang members crossed the street.
Toward the brownstone.
Toward the door.
Toward whatever—whoever—was inside.
'Damn it.'
Meliodas moved.
---
Chitin Slayer activated instinctively. The chitin flowed over his body like liquid—not armor plates, but a second skin with subtle texture. It looked organic, almost alien, but it felt like him.
He crossed the distance in less than two seconds.
The first gang member never saw him coming. One moment he was reaching for the door, the next he was on the ground, completely unconscious, a precise strike to a nerve cluster Meliodas hadn't known existed until Knowledge Mage supplied the information.
The second spun, reaching for a weapon.
Rush activated.
Time slowed by 90%. The gang member's hand moved like it was through molasses. Meliodas stepped inside his guard, tapped the exact spot on his neck that would shut down his nervous system, and stepped back.
Rush ended (5 seconds).
The second man crumpled.
The third—the one with the reddest aura, the one whose intentions were genuinely malicious—had a gun.
He raised it.
Meliodas's hand went to Reflection. The sword sang as it left its sheath, the mirror-like blade catching the afternoon light.
"Drop it," Meliodas said.
The gang member's eyes went wide. "What the—who the hell are you?"
"Someone having a very strange day. Drop the gun."
The man's finger tightened on the trigger.
Rush was on cooldown. 55 seconds left.
Meliodas moved anyway.
Five levels of Agility meant he didn't need time slow to be fast. He crossed the distance in a blur, his free hand knocking the gun aside as Reflection came up—
He stopped the blade an inch from the man's throat.
The gang member froze. The gun clattered to the ground. His red aura flickered, weakened by fear.
"Please," he whispered. "Please don't."
Meliodas looked at him. Looked at the two unconscious men. Looked at the brownstone door, still closed, still safe.
"Leave," he said. "All of you. Leave and don't come back. If I see you here again, I won't stop the sword."
The man ran.
Meliodas watched him go, then sheathed Reflection. The chitin receded from his skin, disappearing back into... wherever it went.
'I just did that. I just—'
The brownstone door opened.
A wall of a man stood there. Six foot five, built like a brick shithouse that had been eating smaller brick shithouses, with arms that could probably bench press a car. His eyes were old—ancient—and they studied Meliodas with an intensity that made him feel like a bug under a microscope.
"The Purple Dragons," the man said. His voice was deep, rough, the kind of voice that had yelled orders across battlefields. "They've been circling for weeks. You just solved that problem."
"Uh. I just... they were going to..."
"I know what they were going to do." The man stepped aside. "Name's Poppy. Come inside before someone calls the cops and we have to explain why three gang members are sleeping on my stoop."
Meliodas hesitated.
Then he followed Poppy inside.
---
The inside was warm. That was the first thing he noticed. Warm and lived-in and safe. Worn furniture, home-cooked smells, the faint hum of protective magic he could sense with Knowledge Mage.
Half a dozen people lounged around—a girl reading a book, two guys playing cards, an older woman knitting something aggressively comfortable.
"New kid," Poppy announced. "Just put down three Purple Dragons outside my door. He's staying until I figure out if he's trouble or not."
Everyone stared at him.
The girl with the book—blonde, intense, with eyes that missed nothing—spoke first. "Three? By himself?"
"They had a gun," Meliodas said weakly. "I had a sword."
"You have a sword?"
"Three swords. Technically."
The card players exchanged glances. The knitter kept knitting, but her lips twitched.
Poppy gestured to a chair. "Sit. Explain. Who are you?"
Meliodas sat.
And for the first time since waking up in New York, he told the truth.
"My name is Meliodas. I woke up in this city about three hours ago with no memory of how I got here, three magic swords, and powers I don't fully understand. I saw those guys about to do something bad, and I couldn't just... stand there."
Poppy studied him for a long moment. "No memory?"
"None. Just... instincts. And the swords."
'Technically true. He didn't remember being Kaito. He remembered being Kaito, but that was different. That was another life.'
The knitter—Mama Rose, he'd learn later—spoke without looking up from her work. "He's telling the truth, Poppy. At least as he knows it."
Poppy grunted. "Magic user?"
"Witch," Mama Rose said. "And he's got something around him. Something... new. Like he was just born, but also not."
Meliodas blinked. "You can sense that?"
"I can sense lots of things, child. Sit still and let me finish this row."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[QUEST UPDATE: TUTORIAL - Making Friends]
[PROGRESS: 1/1]
[REWARD: 1 DESTINY SHARD]
[QUEST UPDATE: TUTORIAL - First Blood]
[PROGRESS: 3/1 (OVERKILL)]
[REWARD: 1 DESTINY SHARD]
[BONUS: EFFICIENCY REWARD — ADDITIONAL 1 DESTINY SHARD]
'Overkill? I didn't even kill anyone!'
[EFFICIENCY REWARD: NEUTRALIZING THREE THREATS WITHOUT FATALITY IN FIRST COMBAT]
[WELL DONE]
---
An hour later, Meliodas had a bed.
It was small, in a shared room, with a mattress that had definitely seen better decades. But it was a bed. In a safehouse. With people who hadn't kicked him out.
Poppy had given him the basics: this place was for "weird cases." Mutants hiding from registration. Magic users who'd burned bridges. People who'd fallen through dimensional cracks and couldn't go home. Everyone here had a story. Everyone here had nowhere else to go.
"You can stay," Poppy had said. "But you work. You train. You pull your weight. And if you turn out to be trouble—" He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
Meliodas had nodded.
Now he lay on the lumpy mattress, staring at the ceiling, running through everything that had happened.
'I'm in Marvel. I have powers. I just fought actual gang members and won. I have a place to stay. I have—'
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[NEW OPTIONS UNLOCKED]
[ADDITIONAL CYOA PURCHASES AVAILABLE VIA DESTINY SHARDS]
A new menu appeared:
---
[CYOA EXPANSION — DESTINY SHARD PURCHASES]
Current Destiny Shards: 4 (1+1+1 from quests, 1 from overkill bonus)
---
[Mental Defense — Cost: 20]
Your mind is a protected fortress. Perfect recall. Immunity to mind reading, memory alteration, temporal effects.
---
[Runscript — Cost: 10]
Possess a spell book on demonic runes and their uses in rituals. Warning: unguarded minds may be driven mad attempting to read it.
---
[Dapper — Cost: 10]
Own a set of exquisite clothes. They take on any design or shape you desire. Mundane armor can be assimilated. Self-repair. Full body protection regardless of coverage.
---
[Pocket Space — Cost: 5]
Possess a simple pocket dimension with 15 cubic feet capacity. Cannot store living beings. Time does not move inside. Each purchase adds another 15 cubic feet.
---
[Indistinct — Cost: 5]
People are less likely to notice your appearance unless you draw attention. Images drawn or taken of you are never clear. Can toggle effect at will.
---
[Scry — Cost: 5]
Obtain brief impressions of historical memories or sensations concerning beings and objects you observe. With objects: learn makers, users, history. With living beings: learn general life-history or sense of location.
---
[Titan — Cost: 20]
Transform to titanic size. Crush humans underfoot. Strength and durability scale appropriately. Cannot use movement abilities in this form. Limited to 10 minutes in most realities.
---
Meliodas read through the options, his mind racing.
'Dapper. Pocket Space. Scry. Those are affordable. Those are useful.'
'Mental Defense and Titan are endgame. Later. Much later.'
He had 4 Destiny Shards. Not enough for Dapper (10) or Runscript (10). But Pocket Space (5) was close. Scry (5) was close. Indistinct (5) was close.
'One more quest. One more shard, and I can buy something.'
He smiled in the darkness.
'This is going to be fun.'
---
The next morning, Meliodas woke to the smell of cooking and the sound of arguing.
"You can't just—he showed up YESTERDAY—"
"And he put down THREE Purple Dragons before breakfast. That's more than you've done all month."
"That's not FAIR, I've been—"
"You've been playing cards."
"I've been STRATEGIZING."
Meliodas stumbled out of his room to find Tandy—the blonde girl with the book—arguing with one of the card players while Mama Rose calmly made pancakes.
Poppy sat at the table, reading a newspaper like nothing was happening.
"Morning," Meliodas said.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Tandy's eyes narrowed. "You. We're sparring after breakfast."
"We are?"
"You need to prove you're not a liability."
"She means," one of the card players said, "that she's mad you did something cool and she didn't get to do anything."
"I do NOT—"
"Sparring sounds fun," Meliodas interrupted quickly. "I'd like that. I need to learn how to actually fight instead of just... reacting."
Tandy blinked, thrown off by his willingness. "Oh. Well. Good. After breakfast."
Mama Rose slid a plate of pancakes toward him. "Eat, child. You'll need your strength."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[QUEST PROGRESS: Training Montage — 0/100 hours]
[SPARRING SESSION DETECTED: POTENTIAL PROGRESS]
Meliodas dug in.
'One day in Marvel, and I've already made friends, fought gang members, and earned pancakes.'
'Not bad for a dead otaku.'
---
END OF CHAPTER 1
---
Chapter 2 Preview:
The sparring session with Tandy did not go as expected.
Neither did the discovery that someone in the safehouse had been keeping secrets.
And when Meliodas finally saved up enough Destiny Shards for his first purchase, the choice he made would change everything—including his understanding of what his powers could really do.
Somewhere in the city, a man in a cave finished building a suit of armor out of scrap metal.
Somewhere in space, a mad titan smiled at his collection of stones.
And in Harlem, a boy with three swords and a system was about to learn that in Marvel, nothing stays quiet for long.
---