“Shit! What terrible weather.”
Above the pitch-black sea, lead-gray clouds rolled low, accompanied by roaring thunder.
Between the crests of the waves, a battered fishing boat struggled violently, its hull listed and mast tilted, like a withered leaf on the verge of being swallowed whole.
The captain stood on the deck, staring out at the raging waters.
Clinging tightly to the railing, he cursed under his breath.
He couldn’t turn back—not when his hold was packed full of illegal immigrants, commonly known as human cargo.
*Rumble~*
The thunder grew increasingly frantic as a wave over ten meters high violently tossed the boat onto its peak, then slammed it downward into the abyss.
*Clang!*
In a narrow compartment at the bottom of the hold, a previously unconscious young man was violently thrown off his bunk, his head cracking sharply against the floor.
“Hss… Damn, that hurts!”
Luke Lane clutched the back of his head and pushed himself up, his heavy eyelids fluttering open.
“Where am I? Didn’t I die in a plane crash?”
He felt his chest and neck in disbelief.
His fingertips registered real warmth and a steady heartbeat.
His last memory was of the airliner plummeting in zero gravity, ultimately plunging into the freezing ocean…
[Ding! Welcome to the Marvel Universe. The Ultimate Shock System has been activated!]
Right then, a cold notification chimed in the depths of his mind.
At the same time, a semi-transparent screen floated before his eyes:
[Name: Luke Lane] [Cards: None] [Items: None] [Shock Value: 0]
“The Marvel Universe?”
Luke frowned, rapidly processing the sudden surge of information flooding his mind.
Sure enough, he had transmigrated—and into the Marvel Universe, no less.
The so-called Shock System allowed him to accumulate Shock Value by orchestrating shocking events, which could then be used in the shop to exchange for rare chests.
“I never thought something like transmigration would actually happen to me.”
After sorting through the information, he leaned back against the edge of the bunk, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar cabin cluttered with junk and reeking of mold and salty brine.
[Ding! Starter Gift Pack issued. Would you like to open it?]
“Open it!”
He didn’t hesitate for a second.
Judging solely by the violent rocking of the vessel and the endless crashing of waves outside, he knew he was adrift at sea.
But why was he here?
Who were these people on board?
Was he in danger?
He had no idea.
Right now, the most critical task was finding a way to stay alive and escape, and the system was his only leverage.
[Ding! Opened successfully. Congratulations, Host, you have received: Silver Chest × 1!]
The moment the prompt ended, a metallic chest glinting with a chilly silver sheen materialized out of thin air.
Luke took a deep breath.
With a thought, he eagerly opened the chest.
The next instant, a flash of white light burst forth.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have received item: Mask of Nija. Can be used to summon Shadowkhan Ninjas.]
[Shadowkhan Ninja: Versed in ancient battle tactics and ninja weaponry, possessing swift agility, spy infiltration, and stealth assassination capabilities—an extremely versatile covert force.]
[Received item: Necklace of Lies. Allows free alteration of true appearance and unlocks three abilities: Fire Control, Damage Transfer, and Danger Sense, while enhancing balance and physical agility. Note: Emotional swings will be significantly amplified while worn.]
[Received 5-Star Card: Bai Yifei (Marquis of the Blood Wardrobe). Skills: Ice Manipulation, Gu Poison Techniques, Grandmaster Swordsmanship.]
As the stream of notifications faded, Luke couldn’t help but curve his lips upward.
“A Silver Chest actually yielded all this!”
Without delay, he selected the Marquis of the Blood Wardrobe card.
The card dissolved into a beam of red-gold light, plunging into his forehead in an instant.
In that moment, a biting, majestic power exploded from his dantian, surging like a frigid tide through all four limbs and every meridian.
He slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles popping softly.
The world suddenly became crystal clear to his senses: the rhythm of the waves, the aftershocks of the thunder, the hushed voices from the deck, and even the heavy breathing of distant sailors… everything was vividly distinct.
Meanwhile, outside the door.
“Boss, the kid we fished up yesterday is awake.”
“Go check his background. If he’s got no money, bundle him up with the rest of the snakes and sell him to Madame Gao.”
“Heh, that watch on his wrist looked pretty flashy. I bet he’s loaded.”
…
“As expected of the Marvel Universe. What a lovely local atmosphere.”
Listening to the conversation outside, Luke glanced down at his empty wrist and let out a dry laugh.
*Tap, tap, tap…*
Footsteps approached from afar, coming to a halt right in front of the door.
He swiftly put on the Mask of Nija and stood silently beside the door.
The moment the door swung open, he looked up with a smile.
“Surprise!”
“You…”
The sailor at the door’s pupils shrank.
Just as he opened his mouth, two dark figures burst forth from the shadows along the cabin wall!
One locked his throat and muffled his mouth, while the other ducked low and lunged forward.
A kunai flashed with cold light, piercing straight into his heart with lethal precision.
“Mmf!”
Bloody bubbles gurgled in the sailor’s throat.
His eyes bulged wide, filled with horror and disbelief.
[Shock Value from Sailor Tom +0.01]
“Damn, 0.01? Nobodies really aren’t worth much.”
Luke gave a soft scoff.
According to the system, the amount of Shock Value generated depended on the individual; the heavier their destiny, the higher the points harvested.
The Shadowkhan ninja holding the corpse laid it down gently, while the other neatly unclasped the wristwatch, dropped to one knee, and presented it with both hands.
“Nice work.”
Luke took back his watch, put it on, and casually removed the mask.
Items drawn from the system automatically bound to him; he could command the Shadowkhan at will without wearing the mask, and with zero burden.
The sea wind howled.
Waves crashed one after another, keeping the hull in a state of violent motion.
Obeying his silent command, the two Shadowkhan ninjas dragged the corpse away, sinking into the dark shadow of the corner until there was no sound left.
Luke took a few steps over to the porthole, leaning close to the grime-covered glass to gaze out at the roaring sea.
“How far is this damn place from shore?”
“I’ll let you guys breathe a little longer.”
The churning waves made him temporarily suppress the urge to massacre the crew right away.
No one could say for sure how far they were from land; even if the Shadowkhan ninjas could drag him through the shadows, the travel time remained unpredictable.
After considering it for a moment, he retrieved the Necklace of Lies.
With a ripple across his body, he transformed into Sailor Tom.
Slipping into a clean crew member’s coat left in the cabin, he headed out the door.
…
“Tom, how was the haul today?”
As soon as he stepped out, a burly man with a gin-blossom nose waddled over, gut protruding.
His eyes fixed greedily on the watch on Luke’s wrist.
He grinned, revealing crooked yellow teeth as a blast of foul alcohol breath blew toward Luke’s face.
Frowning with disgust, Luke turned his head away and flicked his finger.
An exotic Gu bug darted straight into the man’s mouth.
“Ugh… Ergh…”
The greedy expression on the big man’s face froze instantly.
His eyes rapidly went dull, and he stood rigid as if his spine had been removed.
“What is this boat doing? Where is it headed?”
Luke asked casually.
“A smuggler boat. Takes people to New York.”
The man answered numbly, his pupils hollow and lifeless.
“How much longer until New York?”
“About half a day.”
“Take me to the captain’s cabin.”
The corners of Luke’s lips curled up in a cold smile.
New York?
Perfectly suited to his plans.
A city overflowing with superheroes—any disturbance he made would send Shock Values skyrocketing.
He followed the big man all the way into the captain’s cabin.
Just as the captain opened his mouth to question them, Luke quietly implanted a Gu seed inside him.
“Full speed ahead.”
“Also, no one is allowed near the captain’s cabin.”
He leaned lazily back in the captain’s chair, glancing sideways at the dazed captain with an offhanded tone, as if ordering a glass of water.
“Yes.”
The captain nodded stiffly, grabbed the intercom receiver, and repeated the order word for word.
Luke half-closed his eyes, propped his feet on the desk, and quietly began calculating.
Shock Value couldn’t simply be farmed effortlessly; it was tied to the onlookers’ degree of involvement and personal stakes.
That shut down his shortcut of mass-harvesting through internet broadcasts.
He either had to create grand spectacles to drag as many people in as possible—where even if each person only contributed 0.01 points, a massive base would yield an incredible total;
Or he had to target individuals with heavy destinies: politicians, tycoons, or those superheroes flying around in suits and lightning.
…
Half a day passed.
The violent, apocalyptic tempest from earlier had completely dissolved, leaving the sea calm and quiet, as if that apocalyptic storm belonged to another lifetime.
A chilly crescent moon hung in the night sky, mirroring the brightly lit cityscape of New York in the distance.
“Boss! We reached New York, but why hasn’t our contact shown up yet?”
A skinny sailor burst through the door, only to freeze dead in his tracks.
The golden goose they had fished out yesterday was sitting grandly in the main seat, while their own captain stood on the side with a blank stare, looking like a puppet on a string.
“Who the hell are you?!”
“Boss, what’s wrong with you?!”
The skinny sailor frantically drew the pistol from his waist and fired a shot straight at Luke’s chest.
*Bang!*
The brass bullet screeched through the air, spinning rapidly as it tore through the wind.
“Too slow.”
Luke didn’t even raise his eyelids.
Catching the bullet effortlessly between two fingers, he brought it to a complete standstill in midair.
*Gulp.*
The skinny sailor swallowed hard and spun around to flee.
But the bullet was faster.
With a flick of Luke’s wrist, the brass round shot backward, moving thirty percent faster than before.
Human skull was as fragile as an eggshell before it.
A bloody hole erupted in the middle of the skinny sailor’s forehead, splashing a mix of blood and brains across the deck.
The gunshot alerted the rest of the crew.
More sailors rushed over, their scalps going numb at the sight of the bloody carnage before drawing their guns and aiming them at Luke.
“Think you’ve got numbers on your side?”
He let out a light chuckle, shifting his thoughts.
Gaps in the deck, dark corners of the bulkhead, shadows beneath the rigging… countless Shadowkhan ninjas emerged silently, spreading out like ink dispersing in clean water.
“Leave none alive.”
Gazing at the faces twisted and rigid with fear, Luke’s voice remained calm without a single ripple of emotion.
A few minutes later, the wailing and begging fell completely silent.
Leaning against the ship’s railing, he gazed at the radiant, neon-lit skyline of New York in the distance, a slow smile spreading across his mouth.
“Hello, New York.”
Two hours later, the smuggler boat moored at the shore.
Several Coast Guard patrol boats cut through the waves as they approached.
Dazzling searchlights pierced the pitch-black night, pinning the worn-out fishing boat in their glare.
“This is the Coast Guard.”
“Fishing vessel ahead, stop immediately and submit to inspection.”
“Repeat, fishing vessel ahead, stop immediately and submit to inspection.”
After repeating the call several times, the fishing boat remained deathly silent, resting motionless by the dark waters.
“Board it and check.”
Onboard the patrol boat, Squad Leader Gibson frowned deeply and gestured to the officers beside him.
The patrol boat pulled alongside smoothly, and several fully armed Coast Guard officers leaped onto the deck.
“Captain… there’s no one on board.”
A moment later, a Coast Guard officer stared into the empty cabin, his hand trembling slightly around his radio handset.
“Impossible!”
…
[Shock Value from Coast Guard Officer +0.02]
[Shock Value from Coast Guard Officer +0.02]
[Shock Value from Coast Guard Squad Leader Gibson +1]
…
When the system notifications chimed in his ears, Luke stopped briefly in his tracks as he walked down a dark alleyway, raising his eyebrows in slight surprise.
After leaving the smuggler boat, he had come straight to the infamous Hell’s Kitchen, intending to scout out a few capable subordinates.
After all, having transmigrated into the Marvel Universe, he didn’t even possess an ID card, leaving his hands tied at every turn.