(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny.
Or reflects your mood.
Which will encourage me…
….
Raja glanced at the digital clock on the wall before quickly grabbing his car keys from the kitchen counter.
“Right…
Grandpa and Grandma should be landing any minute now.”
According to Raja’s memories, his parents were both senior engineers working at Stark Industries.
As expected, they had become occupied with an important project and couldn’t make it to the airport.
So the responsibility naturally fell to him.
A few minutes later…
A sleek yellow Chevrolet Camaro rolled out of the apartment complex and merged into New York’s busy traffic.
As Raja drove through the bustling streets, he couldn’t help but admire the city around him.
The towering skyscrapers.
The endless sea of yellow taxis.
The giant digital billboards.
This was the city that never slept.
The city where legends were born.
Somewhere in this concrete jungle lived Tony Stark, Peter Parker, Doctor Strange, Matt Murdock, the Fantastic Four, and countless other heroes and villains.
“…Let’s hope I don’t run into any of them today.”
Knowing his luck, the moment he finished saying that, Loki would probably descend from the sky.
Fortunately, the drive remained uneventful.
“…”
“…”
“…”
John F.
Kennedy International Airport.
Raja stood near the arrival gate as passengers steadily streamed out.
His eyes searched through the crowd until they landed on two familiar figures.
An elderly woman with kind eyes and a warm smile waved enthusiastically the moment she spotted him.
“Raj!”
Without waiting another second, she hurried over and wrapped him in a tight embrace.
“My dear grandson!
You’ve grown taller again!”
Raja smiled warmly as he hugged her back.
“I missed you too, Grandma.”
Standing a few steps behind her was an elderly man with neatly combed gray hair and the unmistakable posture of someone who had spent decades in military service.
Even in retirement, his back remained perfectly straight.
His sharp eyes immediately scanned Raja from head to toe before narrowing.
“Hmph.”
“When was the last time you had a proper haircut?”
Raja couldn’t help but laugh.
Even in another universe…
Some things never changed.
Whether it was his original grandfather or this world’s version of him…
The first thing they noticed wasn’t whether he had eaten well or slept enough.
It was always…
His hair.
Instead of replying, Raja walked forward and unexpectedly hugged the old man.
“…”
The old man stiffened.
His arms remained awkwardly at his sides.
This…
Was unusual.
Normally, Raj would simply grin, argue back, and start complaining about how hairstyles were a form of self-expression.
A hug?
That was new.
After a few seconds,
The old man’s expression softened ever so slightly before he awkwardly patted Raja’s back.
“…Good.”
He quickly stepped away as though nothing had happened.
“Hmph.”
“At least you’ve learned some manners.”
Raja only smiled.
He knew the truth.
This man simply wasn’t good at expressing affection.
The old man’s eyes quietly observed his grandson.
‘Something feels different…
Did something happen?’
‘Has my son been neglecting the boy because of work?’
His brows furrowed.
‘That fool…
Always buried inside Stark Industries.’
‘If he’s making my grandson feel lonely…
I’ll give him an earful the moment he gets home.’
Having silently reached his conclusion, the old soldier nodded to himself.
Raja, completely oblivious to his grandfather’s train of thought, wheeled their luggage toward the parking area.
After loading everything neatly into the Camaro’s spacious boot, he helped both of them into the car before driving back toward Manhattan.
Nearly an hour later…
The Camaro entered the underground parking lot of Raja’s apartment building.
After carrying the luggage upstairs, Raja gave his grandparents a quick tour of the apartment.
His grandmother looked around in amazement.
“This place is beautiful.”
His grandfather simply nodded approvingly.
“It’ll do.”
Raja smiled before checking the time.
“I have to leave.”
“Mom and Dad should be home in about an hour.”
“They’re looking forward to seeing both of you.”
His grandmother nodded with a smile.
“Don’t worry about us.”
“We’ll wait.”
His grandfather crossed his arms.
“Focus on your studies.”
“I don’t want to hear that you’re slacking off.”
“I know, Grandpa.”
After saying goodbye, Raja hurried back downstairs.
Midtown High School…
By the time Raja reached the school, the morning classes had already ended.
“Great…”
“My first day, and I’m already late.”
He drove into the student parking lot before spotting an empty space beside a gleaming red luxury sports car.
Raja raised an eyebrow.
“Ferrari?”
He stepped out of the Camaro and glanced at the emblem.
“Figures.”
According to Raja’s memories…
That belonged to Harry Osborn.
The heir to Oscorp had an entire collection of luxury cars.
In fact, it wasn’t uncommon for Harry to arrive in a different vehicle almost every day.
“Being rich really does solve a lot of problems.
Who am I to complain…”
Locking his car, Raja slung his backpack over one shoulder and began walking toward the main building.
Students filled the hallways, chatting animatedly as they moved between classes.
Everything appeared perfectly ordinary.
Until…
A noisy commotion echoed from the corridor near the lockers.
A crowd of students had gathered in a circle.
Curious, Raja walked closer.
When he finally reached the front…
He sighed.
“Of course.”
Standing in the center was Flash Thompson, surrounded by his usual group of friends.
Opposite him stood a familiar boy with messy brown hair, glasses, and an awkward expression.
Peter Parker.
Flash shoved Peter lightly against the lockers with a smug grin.
“So, Parker…
let me guess.”
“You were late because you were saving another bunch of pigeons?”
The surrounding students laughed.
Peter adjusted his backpack and gave an awkward smile.
“Actually…
I was helping an old lady carry her groceries.”
Flash rolled his eyes dramatically.
“See?”
“I told you.”
“Always playing the neighborhood charity case.”
More laughter erupted.
Raja watched the scene silently.
‘Seriously…
You’re Spider-Man.’
‘A guy who can stop speeding trains, hold up collapsing buildings, dodge bullets, and bench-press cars…’
‘Yet you’re still letting Flash push you around?’
Then again…
Raja understood why.
Peter wasn’t weak.
He was simply protecting his identity.
Unfortunately…
Flash Thompson mistook restraint for weakness.
And today…
Raja had just walked into the middle of their usual routine.
Raja paid absolutely no attention to the commotion.
Flash Thompson could continue acting like the king of Midtown for all he cared.
Without sparing the group another glance, he walked toward the locker beside Peter’s.
Click.
He entered the combination from memory before opening it.
Inside were neatly arranged textbooks, notebooks, a few family photographs, and several sticky notes reminding Raja about assignments.
He placed his backpack inside before glancing at the class schedule taped to the inside of the locker door.
“First period…
already missed.”
“Second period is Physics.”
“So next is…”
He reached in and picked up the required textbook.
Just as he was about to close the locker…
“Ding!”
A familiar mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
“Host has encountered important character(s).”
“System activation complete.”
“Starter Gift Pack detected.”
“Would the Host like to open it?”
Raja blinked caught off guard.
“…Right.
I completely forgot.”
He had been so busy adjusting to this world that he hadn’t even asked whether every system cliché came with a beginner’s gift.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
“Open it.”
The surroundings instantly dissolved.
“….”
“….”
“….”
When Raja opened his eyes again, he found himself standing inside an enormous library that stretched endlessly into the horizon.
Towering bookshelves reached toward an invisible ceiling, each shelf containing ancient tomes, glowing scrolls, crystal tablets, and objects from civilizations he couldn’t even recognize.
Countless cards floated through the air like leaves drifting upon an invisible breeze.
Some were bronze.
Some silver.
Some gold.
Others shimmered with colors Raja had never seen before.
The atmosphere felt sacred.
Timeless.
Almost as if every legend from every universe had been preserved within these halls.
The System’s voice echoed throughout the vast library.
“Welcome to the Legacy Archive.”
“Beginning Starter Gift Draw…”
The floating cards accelerated.
They spun around Raja at incredible speed, becoming a brilliant storm of light.
One after another they shot past him.
Bronze.
Silver.
Gold.
Gold Red.
Gold Silver.
Platinum.
…
The entire library suddenly fell silent.
Every card froze.
Only one continued drifting forward.
A dazzling Platinum Card.
It slowly rotated in front of Raja.
Its surface glowed with crimson flames.
The image gradually became clear.
A skeletal figure engulfed in infernal fire.
Burning chains wrapped around his body while hellfire consumed the very air around him.
Behind the Spirit stood an immense demonic being whose eyes burned like miniature suns.
The card displayed a single name.
“Zarathos”
Beneath it, lines of text appeared.
Once an angelic spirit, later transformed into one of the most feared Spirits of Vengeance.
Through betrayal, imprisonment, and countless ages of conflict,
Zarathos became a legendary entity whose existence shook both Heaven and Hell.
Feared by demons, opposed by Mephisto, and worshipped by cults such as the Blood, his memories were stolen and his power sealed within successive human hosts throughout history.
Raja stared at the card.
“…Zarathos…
The original Ghost Rider.”
The System responded before he could ask the question lingering in his mind.
“Host need not worry.”
“Every Character Template granted by the System exists through a mutually agreed Legacy Contract established before acquisition.”
“No template may seize control of the Host’s body, soul, mind, or consciousness.”
“The Host remains the sole master of all inherited abilities.”
“The consciousness of every template may communicate with the Host if permitted, acting only as mentors, companions, or advisors.”
“Hostile possession is impossible.”
Raja finally released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
“So…”
“I don’t have to fight Zarathos for control?”
“Negative.”
“Template Synchronization commencing.”
The Platinum Card exploded into countless streams of crimson light.
They rushed toward Raja.
Hellfire erupted around his body.
His bones creaked.
His muscles trembled.
His soul seemed to resonate with an ancient, overwhelming force.
Yet…
There was no pain.
Instead…
He felt power.
Raw.
Endless.
Primal.
The sensation lasted only a few seconds.
Then another notification appeared.
“Template Acquired”
[Character: Zarathos
Rarity: Platinum
Synchronization: 40%
Status: Active]
The library slowly dissolved.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Midtown High School….
Everything returned in an instant.
Raja found himself standing exactly where he had been moments earlier.
Physics textbook still in his hand.
No time had passed.
“…That was convenient.”
He casually pushed the locker door shut.
Bang!
“AAAAAH!”
A loud scream echoed through the hallway.
Raja frowned before reopening the locker.
Standing beside him, Flash Thompson was clutching his right hand.
One of his fingers had been caught between the locker door and the metal frame.
The fingertip had turned bright red, and a thin trail of blood slowly trickled down his hand.
“…”
Raja glanced at the injured finger.
Then at the locker.
Then back at Flash.
Without saying a word, he closed the locker again.
This time making sure it locked properly.
Click.
Nearby, Peter Parker had already taken off his glasses and was hurriedly wiping them clean, staring at Raja with a bewildered expression.
‘…Did that really just happen?’
Raja simply adjusted the textbook under his arm and turned to leave.
Behind him…
“FUCK!”
“SHIT!”
“DAMN IT!”
Flash’s string of colorful vocabulary echoed throughout the corridor as he continued shaking his throbbing hand.
At that exact moment…
“Ding!”
A green notification appeared before Raja’s eyes.
[Experience Gained
Flash Thompson
Importance Rank: Minor Supporting Character
Reward: 35 XP
Current XP: 35 / 100.]
Raja’s eyebrows rose.
‘Thirty-five experience just for meeting Flash?
Not bad…’
Unfortunately…
Flash wasn’t about to let him walk away.
“HEY!”
Raja stopped.
He slowly turned around.
Flash glared at him while cradling his injured finger.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!”
“Were your eyes somewhere else?”
Several students instinctively stepped back, sensing another confrontation.
Raja looked at Flash.
Then at the locker.
Then back at Flash again as if the answer were simple.
His expression remained perfectly calm.
“I’m curious.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“Who, in their right mind, keeps their fingers exactly where someone is about to close a locker?”
“…”
“…”
For a brief moment, the hallway became eerily quiet.
A few students blinked.
One girl covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Even Peter looked momentarily speechless.
Flash’s face flushed crimson.
“You…
You did that on purpose!”
Raja shrugged his shoulders.
“If I wanted to hurt you on purpose…”
He glanced meaningfully at Flash’s finger.
“…I don’t think you’d still be standing.”
Before Flash could explode, a stern voice interrupted the brewing conflict.
“What’s going on here?”
A middle-aged teacher walked down the hallway, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
The gathered students scattered almost immediately.
Flash clicked his tongue in annoyance before backing away.
“You’re lucky.”
Raja merely nodded.
“So are you shithead.”
Without waiting for another response, he turned and calmly walked toward his classroom, leaving behind a furious Flash Thompson and a thoroughly confused Peter Parker.
*******************************
(Author note:)
I hope you guys give me your opinion and idea’s.
Weekly Twice Chapters will be uploded…
Wednesday…
And Thursday…
–>
Don’t forget to review guys…