A Gamers rise in Marvel

Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel or any other work of fiction.

Chapter 7: Summon back the fire Witch

Waking up with shooting pain in my back always sucks. After we set up the lab he will be sleeping there. I bought a bed and I want it dammit.

Maybe it's the fatigue talking from yesterday. I also ate some people... that was neat.

The days following me retrieving sterns are sure to be less eventful. I hope. Please SYSTEM let me have a break to plan and Scheme!

Like I said. It's out of my hands.

Besides, isn't it fun like this?

I..I..guess so? Most people wouldn't consider the last two days of fun.

But you aren't most people, are you?

Point taken. Yesterday was fucking awesome.

Getting up from bed, I get dressed and eat another arm of the dead soldiers. Eating normal food just isn't in my budget for now. Speaking of budget. I really need some, like right now.

I like my inventory's organized and mine is an over-cluttered mess right now.

I got up much earlier than Sterns, so I had a bit of free time before I had to speak with him. Leaving him a note at the bed telling him my plans, I leave the apartment.

The quickest route for money right now is to sell the Shield Agents Equipment to Deadshot. But I'm not too sure he can be trusted. Mainly because while Cadmus didn't exist here, Shield may very well have replaced them. If Floyd has had any Dealings with Shield in the past, then he may still be in contact with them. If I go sell their equipment to him then he may rat on me.

What I need Is leverage against him. He already has some on me as he saw my Inventory. Should I threaten his Daughter? No that would make him hate and sabotage me. Thinking about it, maybe his Past is hidden with no agency knowing his Identity. After all, He's using his first name and is also running an illegal gunship. I know some agencies have little morals, but I'm sure they wouldn't just leave such a skilled marksman alone while knowing he's smuggling weapons.

Fuck it, I'm much stronger than yesterday. If he tries something then I'm smashing his skull in and robbing him completely. I'm just gonna walk up to him and ask directly.

With my new resolution, I make my way to his shop in Harlem.

/

Jesus this place is ruined. It wouldn't be a lie to say this place looks like a war zone. Wrecked cars and buildings scatter the place, some still on fire. Roads split apart with the giant footprint here and there. I understand now why the Sokovia Accords were a thing, not that I support them In any way.

The accords were a standard political move to gain more Power abusing some tragedy as the cause for it. While the motivation made sense, it was incredibly hypocritical as well. Blaming the Avengers for the destruction they tried to prevent while guilt-tripping them was just cruel.

Especially as the people responsible for the accords, were much worse in my opinion. The WSC tried to nuke New York and think they have the moral high ground. And let's not even start with Ross. His actions yesterday are proof enough of my point.

These types of people are the ones I Hate the most in marvel and my old world. The type that think they are always in the right while anyone opposing them are evil. They then use this world-view, where they're the heroes, to justify any actions they make.

And marvel has a lot of them. Magneto, Professor X, Nick fury, hell even Iron man later on.

And I know for sure that when the time comes, that all of them will target me.

Isn't that really bad?

I mean they're all more powerful and influential than you.

That's true but I have something that gives me the ultimate edge against them.

And that is?

Knowledge baby. I know the biggest secrets of this world and am not afraid to use them.

If Hydra comes after me then all I have to do is sick Shield on them. If the avengers come then I'll jump-start the civil war. It'll be even better if I have double agents everywhere.

Darling Peter is just the first of many that will work for me.

For making contingency plans +5 WIS

/

Finally reaching Floyd's shop, I'm glad to see it undamaged. Let's hope that he and his daughter are fine. I was always skilled in Psychological warfare and had an uncanny interest in methods for "breaking" people. Let's see if I still got it.

Using my stealth and invisibility ( in a nearby alley, of course, I can't be seen vanishing in the street after all), I enter his store. Holding the chime at the door to prevent me from being noticed, I walk inside.

Entering the store I see him watching the news with a little girl sitting on his lap.

Guess I worried for nothing. But this does complicate my plan to threaten him. Looks like I'll have to be a bit more subtle.

Dropping my invisibility in his blind spot, I break the silence:" Morning Lawton! You doing good?"

Without missing a beat, he whirls around reaching for a gun in his Jacket before he spots me.

He doesn't calm down though. And that's on according to plan.

You see Floyd's one of the best Assassins on the planet. And an Assassin won't make it far if he doesn't notice someone sneaking upon him.

Something I just proved to be capable of. Without saying a word I've shown to him how dangerous I am. He's less likely to double-cross me now knowing that I'm not to be underestimated.

Manipulation levelled up to 76

Obedience with Deadshot +20 (20)

"so it's you kid, here to return that hunk of Junk? Sorry but I don't accept refunds." he tries to normalize the situation. Pretty sure that he's a bit worried now. Good.

Turning to his daughter he says:" Zoe why don't you go play in your room, looks like we got an early customer."

the little girl hugs him and rushes to a door leading upstairs. Probably their apartment then.

With his attention now on me, I say: " She's adorable, yours I take it? "

"Yeah, she's mine. 8 years old now..." he pauses staring at me. "Neat trick getting in here. Not many people can sneak up on me. I'm more interested as to what you were trying to say with that!" He says while getting a bit angrier.

Damn, he really is good, figuring that out so fast. Well, time to go all-in then.

"As to be expected of the great Deadshot, nothing gets past you." I smugly say. As soon as I said this nickname, he already started pointing his gun at me.

"What do you want, I don't care if you're a brat. You're clearly more than that, so talk!"

Crap I better defuse this.

"Look I'm not threatening you. You knew too much about me, so I did some digging into you." I try to calm him.

"What the hell are you saying, I don't even know your name!"

"But you do know that I am abnormal. And I have a feeling you know exactly what happens to people like me when we get found out. Can you blame me for being scared!"

"I..no I guess I can't." He calms down. Looks like I finally got through to him.

Obedience with Deadshot +5 (25)

Reputation with Deadshot +30 (30) for inciting his sympathy

"So what do you want?" he asks. Back to his normal self now.

"I want to make a simple deal" before he can stop me I continue: "A simple one. You keep quiet about me, and I keep quiet about you. Other than that, business as usual. Does that work for you?"

"if that's all you want then fine. No offence, but the less I'm involved with people like you, the better."

"Well fine then. Come on let's go downstairs"

We make our way to the basement once again.

"So what are you actually here for. I did mean it when I said no refunds" Floyd repeats.

"I'm aware. And I'm actually selling some stuff."

"Selling? Then why didn't we do that upstairs"

Not answering I open my inventory and dump all off the shield equipment on his Counter. I only kept one of the knives and a pistol holster which I wanna put in my Jacket.

Looking quite surprised, Floyd starts inspecting the Equipment. He shouldn't be able to discern where they came from, as I removed all emblems and logos on the Equipment. Let's hope that's enough.

Though he questioned the origin of the Equipment, he was willing to take them. My excuse was that I looted some of the Soldiers who died in the fight yesterday. After that, I kept asking about his daughter whether they were ok yesterday and that if they ever need help that I'm available. I don't actually care about him or his family, I just wanted to kiss up to him to improve my Rep.

After leaving the pawnshop, I checked my notifications.

78.530$ acquired.

Reputation with Deadshot +15 (45)

Turns out that shield agents have some pretty great gear on them. Our Tax dollars hard at work.

Well, not mine. Because.. you know... I don't pay taxes.

Moving to a quiet alley, I finally use the build&Buy menu to purchase the Warehouse for 50.000$.

After that I'm shown various modifications I can buy to improve it.

Hmm, I have about 48.940$ left. Should be enough for anything decent.

I also come up with a proper idea to hide the lab with the Basement option. It reminded me of the Meth lab from Breaking bad which was hidden under an industrial laundry.

I think I'm just gonna use that. Put the lab in the hidden basement and a business in the warehouse.

I purchase the basement for another 10.000$. Apparently, The GAME just magically does the construction without anyone noticing. After that, I throw in an internet connection for 5.000, which is supposedly permanent. Yay.

Using the remaining 25.000$ out off 33.940, I purchase a few computers and a rudimentary Security system. Some cameras and motion sensors. Anything better is out of my budget.

It will be suspicious for an empty warehouse to have so much security, so I will have to look for a suitable enterprise soon enough. That can wait for later.

Now its time to build a lab.

/

By the time I was home, Sterns was already awake and taking apart one of the fridges. Apparently, his new Intellect was just bubbling to be used on more than just Cellular Biology.

He also agreed that we move his bed to the lab instead of staying here. Something about not being near his work giving him a bit of Paranoia. He even agreed to take the old bed.

And Just like that Sterns became Minion of the month. He's also the only minion, but who cares about technicalities.

We used an empty Id to get to my warehouse, as Sterns wasn't quite ready for the public eye meaning we couldn't hide his giant head. There's also the fact that Shield and the Military are probably after him.

The warehouse was nice and inconspicuous, blending perfectly into the environment. It was also owned by the newly created Fradirig. CO, A Shell company made by SYSTEM. The name is the French words for"French" and "ruler" stuck together. It's safe to say I gave SYSTEM a talking to after that. making a name should have a bit more effort than that.

At least she didn't take a name from mythology, who knows what deity we might offend.

Setting up the lab in the basement took about 4 hours. Taking things apart is always easier than putting them together.

Now the lab is finally finished. Sterns immediately started working on cultivating Blonsky's blood to see if we can get the super-soldier leftovers out of it. And boy did he break out into laughter when he found out just what was in Blonsky's blood.

With Sterns busy, I got to work using the computers we bought. Its time to finally use that Programming 62 and Hacking 36 I inherited from my old life. My main goals were to find a new source of income as well as an alternative to Blonsky's Blood as a primer. We don't know If we can recreate it and even then the results might be just as bad. We don't need uncontrollable beasts.

I've also broached the subject of human experimentation to Sterns. He wasn't just fine with the idea but downright happy. I guess Mice got a bit too boring for him at the college.

When the time comes I'll probably start abducting the homeless for that purpose. And if I recall correctly, every shady Organisation gets their guinea pigs like that. Might as well do it too.

Back to the main problem now.

Money. We don't have it, we need it.

A Primer. We might have it, we need it.

Looking through the web I find my solution. Advanced Idea Mechanics aka A.I.M. The guys who made Not Just super soldiers, but FLAMING super soldiers. Sure some of them blew up, but I'm sure Sterns could help out in improving the formula. Looking through their information I realise they have a similar problem. They need money.

Turns out that AIM is still in its early stages. That being a think tank looking for investors. Aldrich Killian is still the scruffy Dork we saw in the Flashback of iron man 3 instead of the handsome supervillain from later. That gives him a lot of potential for growth. The plan is for me to be the one to help him out of that slump instead of himself. Then he will undoubtedly be loyal to me while also being a competent villain.

What's also interesting is that Maya Hansen once asked Dr. Sterns to join them as they believed he could greatly advance their Projects. Looks like I have another Opportunity there.

Hacking some low-level Government servers( Nothing big or Shield comes knocking ) I see why they're still so small. In the Original timeline, AIM blew up in size due to Stark industries and Hammer tech pulling out of the weapons business. But here they are struggling, as the government is unsure of giving them any contracts. They think that Stark might start selling again soon. Therefore they don't want to change Suppliers until anything is final.

Looks like this Quest just bumped up in my priority's.

Ensure the creation of Iron man

Rewards: Necromancy Grimoire, 80000 Xp

Failure: Death

New Bonus objective: cause AIM to profit from the Power vacuum.

Bonus reward: 50 REP / OBE increase with Aldritch Killian, Maya Hansen and all members of Advanced Idea Mechanics

With my new goal in mind, I get to work. It's quite easy to hack AIM's Computers, I guess they aren't that paranoid yet. Someone like Stark would catch me instantly. But this little is no match for me.

Finding the folder titled "Extremis" gives me everything I need to continue. They have already started human testing in secret. Illegal by the way. That's good, it gives me Blackmail material.

They have the basic formula down but haven't created any stable Specimens, perfect for us to swoop in and save them. And if I get them military contracts as the quest eluded to, then it'll be even better.

Using my access to find Killian's private phone number is far too easy. When I get these guys under my control, then well be rehashing all of their security. This was way to easy.

Using my phone and a voice modulator running on the computer I start the call to dear Aldritch.

"Hello? Who is this."

"Dr Killian," a deep menacing voice says." I would like a moment of your time for a business proposition."

"If you have business with AIM then please contact us through the official channels, not my private phone." he retorts rather rudely. Guess I'm gonna stomp on that attitude before he even starts.

" I called you on your phone because I didn't think you would want to discuss your exploding test subjects over open calls." And like that he will squeal. "And don't bother denying it, I have your records. Every little secret about Extremis is in my hands." Now let's see what he has to say.

"Who...who are you? What do you want from me? Money?" Killian says in a panicked tone.

"Calm down Dr. Killian. If I wanted to expose you then I would have. So I ask you are there Sirens closing in?"

"N..No there aren't."

"Exactly. Now do please listen because you could gain a lot from my offer. I propose a partnership and the means to complete Extremis."

"b..but how. The formula is unstable, we just don't have the means to finish I, then how could you?"

"Well if you're so curious then I have to answer. Have you heard of the two monsters that ravaged through Harlem yesterday?"

"Well... yes. I heard through my contacts that they were a new kind super-soldier that got out of control. Where are you going with this."

"What if I told you that I had the scientist and the genetic data responsible for those new creations. As well as the only remaining samples of the original Erskine Formula."

"If.. that's what you're offering then yes. God that could truly be the key to finishing Extremis. You said you wanted a partnership, what would that entail?" He asked me, fully interested in my deal.

"All in good time Doctor. This call was merely to peak your Groups interest and to set up a meeting. Face to face. You may only bring one other member of your Company. Come to this Address in New York City. We will be awaiting you at 3 pm on Wednesday next week. Do you object?"

"N...No I don't. That works perfectly, I will be there, I'll take Dr Hansen with me to discuss our deal."

"This concludes our call, Dr. Killian, see you in a week," I say while hanging up.

Manipulation levelled up to 79

"That went well it seems?" Dr. Sterns says from behind me. It seems he started listening in halfway through the call.

"It did indeed. I've just secured an alternative primer for our research. Do you remember a Dr, Maya Hansen?" Stern nods to me. "well she and the company she works for have been working on some enhancements themselves. Its a genetic modification using Nanotechnology. It will allow the human body to heal any wounds instantaneously, as well as granting the ability to create temperatures going up to 2000 degrees Celsius. The problem is that the current version isn't stable and tends to detonate the test subjects."

"And that's where I come in. Oh my, I can barely wait. That sounds absolutely fascinating. If we get it to stabilize, then it would be a far better substitute than that old formula Erskine made."

I grin at his reaction. Looks like he is sold on the idea.

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Leaving Sam in the lab, I go to finish some unfinished business. Mainly getting training from Colleen. She was quite surprised to see me. It seems she had been worried that I got hurt yesterday. I quickly assured her and asked for my first lesson. Thanks to my newly acquired eidetic memory, I was learning ridiculously fast. I helped the other students whenever Colleen was busy with another or I had some free time. Using this opportunity I employed both telepathy and Manipulation to get them to trust both me and Colleen more. It didn't take long after that for them to take the lesson seriously, finally putting in some effort.

Three hours passed quickly and the final students are now gone, leaving only me and Colleen in the Dojo.

"You really surprised me today, are you sure you haven't had training before? You are in top shape that's for sure."Colleen tells me, quite impressed with my progress.

"Nope, I do have an eidetic memory, so learning is incredibly easy."

"Never knew it was that good... You know this is pretty awkward but.. I still don't know your name."

"Oh? I thought I mentioned it. Meh doesn't matter. I'm Jeanne Dark, It's a pleasure to meet you Colleen-sensei." The added sensei does the trick, as her face immediately lights up.

"It's nice to meet you to Jeanne and thank you for all your help today. I've never seen my students so passionate before."

"It was nothing. Just a little encouragement really. The rest was all you miss Wing." I say, sucking up so I can get my Rep gains.

While helping tidy up the dojo, I also inspect my notifications

Manipulation levelled up to 82

Telepathy levelled up to 31

Martial arts Lv 23 created, added to CQC

CQC levelled up to 27

Reputation with Colleen Wing +25 (65)

Perk awarded "Brawler buddy": Warriors without weapons will seek your guidance and companionship. ( Rep gains with martial artists multiplied by 3)

Obedience with Colleen Wing +15 (25)

Overall pretty good. Having guinea pigs to test my social skills really paid off after all.

"Well, it was fun Colleen. See you tomorrow." I happily say while leaving the dojo.

God, I hate pretending to be something I'm not. I know that it's worth the effort, but still.

This is why I like sterns actually. The dude saw me eating a corpse and he didn't even flinch. Those are the people I need working for me.

Someone like Colleen though...she's honestly just naive and easily fooled. At first, I thought she might be useful, something which is being reevaluated now. She doesn't have any influence in the Hand, being oblivious to their true nature. And her use as a teacher will soon also be gone for me...

Colleen Wing. Whatever will I do with you? She knows my name so I'll probably keep an eye on her

as well.

For now, she isn't important. I have something really special planned for tonight.

/

It's dark out by the time I reach the lab again. Looking over briefly, I see Sterns still setting up some of the finer pieces of equipment in his lab. Don't want to be sloppy after all. As Sterns will be living in the lab for the immediate future, I took the liberty of taking one of the fridges in my apartment and installing it in Sterns section of the basement.

With that done I finally start with my own project. That being the summoning of my first servant.

Using some white paint I found in my apartment earlier, I start painting the summoning circle in an empty area of the lab. We originally designated this part as the testing area for our experiments. As we aren't using it for that just yet, I thought to make some use of it first.

Drawing the circle is harder than expected. Small details such as writing in Latin and various runes make it so much harder. My personal issue was the fact that I needed a PERFECT CIRCLE. I had to restart 3 times because of this.

Half an hour later with most of the circle now finished, I am busy finishing the last details.

Sterns joined halfway through and has been watching ever since.

He finally breaks the silence when I finish: "Judging by the Latin I'd think this is to conjure or summon something. Am I close" he theorizes. That Intellect is really impressive. got to make sure he doesn't actually learn any of my magic. While I'm fine with him learning magic from marvel, my magic is entirely mine. The less other people know about it, the better.

Standing up I answer him: " Very close actually. I'm summoning a Familiar of sorts, which would help us dearly. There's strength in numbers and we don't have many after all."

"You have a point. I have to say that everything you do truly is exciting. Tell me, what exactly are you summoning? " he asks me with an excited tone. He is really rocking the mad scientist vibe. Pretty good as his comic book version was terrifying. Someone who earned the name "Leader" would never have worked for me.

Preparing my self for what I'm about to I shut him up."You will see a minute, now let me concentrate."

Removing the Holy Cross of Órleans from my inventory, I feel the words fill my mind. I move in front of the circle and start to chant:

Let silver and steel be the essence.

Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.

Let be the crimson flames what I pay tribute to.

Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.

Let the four cardinal gates close.

Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate.

Let it be declared now; your flesh shall serve under me, and my fate shall be with your sword.

Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail.

Answer, if you would submit to this will and this truth.

An oath shall be sworn here.

I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven;

I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell.

From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power,

come forth from the ring of restraint, protector of the holy balance!

I see the Circle activate and feel my Mana Flowing into it

Summoning Soul from the throne of Heroes...Success

The light in the circle grows brighter.

Constructing Homunculus shell...Success

A form is slowly materialising in the circle

Implanting Servant into Artificial body...Error

Before I can react to the message, I see the homunculus ripped to shreds and vaporise

Searching alternate solution...

Dammit this all going wrong. Stop this already! No matter what I do, the circle still draws my Mana away.

"Sterns take cover now! Something went wrong, I can't stop it!"

while hesitating a bit, he eventually moves and hides behind one of the tables.

Solution found

Oh thank god for that.

Compatible Body found.. now implanting Servant

Wait a second. Does that mean?

Answering my question I see the swirling energy of the circle compress and focusing on my direction.

This will hurt won't it?

Most probably

Fuck my life.

Servant injection... Success

The energy blasts into me, knocking me off my feet. With nothing else going on, I get up and think.

That wasn't so ba-

Error... more than one soul detected in target body...

Searching solution...Solution found

Assimilating Soul...in progress.

What! What do you mean assimilate!

Gamers mind activated

Gamers mind activated

Gamers mind activated

Gamers mind activ-

Error

Error

As soon as the first error message appears, I find my skull assaulted. I can't make sense of what's happening. Everything hurts... why does it hurt so much. This pain it's like I'm..Í'm...Burning.

Burning my body... my flesh.. it hurts...I see it. They're burning me!Why are they doing this? I don't.. I don't deserve this. They...I tried to save them...why won't they help me …oh Lord, please.. Save Me!... I can't take this pain... It's too much … I can't take it... They betrayed me...they...the people... they...They have to pay! They have to Burn ! I will have my Justice ! I will be AVENGED!

Assimilation complete

/

Authors note: Boy that took me a while again. Sorry If the dialogue in the first part is a bit janky. I was really hating how that turned out.

Now then. Next chapter will be the last one with twelve year old Jeanne. And after that, we have our time skip finally. Once again I hope you enjoyed this. Please review, it really does help to get some feedback.

This chapter's title was based on a song stuck in my head actually.

Summon back the fire witch,

to the court of the crimson king