NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 1: Arrival
[New York ]
The midday sun beat down on the concrete jungle of New York, its light glinting off the steel and glass of a thousand skyscrapers. High above the cacophony of the city, on the flat, gravel-strewn roof of an otherwise unremarkable apartment building, a complex magic circle shimmered into existence. The air crackled with unseen energy, the intricate patterns of the circle too elaborate, too alien, to be deciphered by any human eye.
With a soft thud, a teenager materialized within the circle's fading glow. He was of average height, with a mop of untamed, woody brown hair and eyes the vibrant green of spring leaves. His features were handsome in a commonplace way, the kind that blended easily into a crowd. He wore a slightly rumpled, everyday outfit – clearly not designed for interdimensional travel.
"Have I… arrived?" he muttered, his voice barely a whisper lost in the city's ambient hum. He looked around, taking in the unfamiliar skyline, a forest of towering buildings that dwarfed anything he'd ever seen. He clenched a fist over his heart, the fabric of his shirt bunching under his fingers. "I'll do my best, everyone," he thought, the words a silent promise. Memories, sharp and painful, flooded his mind – the events that had forced him from his home, his world.
[Flashback - The Deal]
…A cavernous space, echoing with the weight of ages. A colossal red dragon, scales shimmering like a thousand rubies, regarded a figure shrouded in shadows.…
"I require a specific human from your world," the shadowed figure stated, its voice a silken whisper that somehow filled the vast chamber. "In exchange for this… individual… I will guarantee the neutralization of EXE." The threat hung in the air, unspoken but understood.
The red dragon's voice rumbled like a distant earthquake. "He is yours."
…Kuoh Academy, under siege. The air crackled with oppressive magical energy.…
"Bring out the Red Dragon Emperor!" a demanding voice boomed, and the very ground trembled under the weight of immense pressure.
…A desperate farewell, filled with unspoken emotions.…
"Kaichou… I swear I'll return."
…Confusion and a chilling explanation.…
"Why me? I don't understand!" The teenager, Issei, had pleaded.
The shadowed figure's voice, surprisingly calm, answered, "To be frank, I am a dimensional trader. My power lies in traversing realities, transporting goods… and brokering deals." A brief pause. "A client of mine desired a new element for their universe. In return, they offered to safeguard your own from any future incursions by EXE. You see, my client thrives on the unique energies generated by alterations in fate and time… and your displacement provides a significant surge."
…A final, desperate question, and a dismissive gift.…
"Can I… can I ever go back?" Issei asked, just before a new magic circle engulfed him.
"That is not my concern," the voice replied carelessly. "But here – a parting gift, to ease your transition. Haha!" Then, darkness, and the dizzying sensation of interdimensional travel.
[Present - Rooftop Contemplation]
Issei shook his head, trying to clear the lingering disorientation. The solid feel of the rooftop gravel beneath his feet was a stark contrast to the swirling chaos of his memories. Was it all real? he wondered, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. Did I truly leave everything behind? My home, my friends… all for someone else's amusement?
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic. He needed a plan. "First things first," he muttered to himself, glancing around the rooftop. "Figure out where I am, and… and then…" He trailed off, the enormity of his situation threatening to overwhelm him. "…and then figure out how to get off this roof. That's a start, at least."
[Avengers Headquarters - The Meeting]
Meanwhile, miles away, in the sleek, high-tech confines of Avengers Headquarters, a tense meeting was underway. Holographic displays flickered around a central conference table, showing the faces of various individuals participating remotely.
"Strange, what's the emergency?" Tony Stark asked, his voice laced with a mixture of impatience and genuine concern. He was dressed casually, clearly interrupted from something more enjoyable – specifically, lunch. "Couldn't this have waited until after I'd finished my shawarma?"
On one of the screens, the stern face of Doctor Stephen Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, materialized. "I detected a… disturbance," Strange began, choosing his words carefully. "A faint demonic signature, but that's not the primary issue. The problem is the concentrated draconic energy that accompanied it. A significant surge."
"So, what, Strange?" Tony quipped, leaning back in his chair. "Demon? Dragon? Sounds like your usual Tuesday. Why the all-hands meeting? Do you have more than just... speculation, please tell me it is more than that."
Strange sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Tony, if you'd let me finish… I initially believed it was a relatively straightforward supernatural incursion. Something I could handle. But my instincts told me otherwise. I performed a scrying ritual to gather more information, and… the results were unsettling, to say the least."
"This… entity," Strange continued, "can best be described as a walking, talking planetary-scale weapon. Without delving into the specifics of the spell, I can tell you this: we have approximately seventeen minutes before his emotional state destabilizes. When that happens… imagine a combination of the Hulk's rage and Thor's raw power, but with a seemingly limitless capacity for escalation."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Even through the holographic displays, the gravity of Strange's words was palpable. Everyone present understood the sheer destructive potential of both Hulk and Thor; a being combining their strengths was a terrifying prospect.
A voice, identified by a small "4" icon on its screen, broke the silence. "Strange," Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) said, his tone thoughtful, "couldn't we simply… banish this entity to another dimension? Or perhaps contain it before it reaches this critical state? Surely the situation isn't entirely hopeless."
Tony couldn't resist a smirk. "Reed, for a certified genius, you're missing the obvious. If Strange could handle this solo, we wouldn't be having this meeting. Clearly, he needs our collective expertise, or at the very least, our assistance."
"Unfortunately, Tony is correct," Strange admitted, a hint of weariness in his voice. "This individual's power is directly tied to his emotional state. Any direct action against him – an attempt to banish him, restrain him, even talk to him aggressively – risks triggering a catastrophic emotional outburst. Essentially, he'll panic and… explode, with the force of a Hulk-level rage."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "Our best course of action," he continued, "is to utilize an empath or a powerful telepath to calm him, stabilize his emotions. Then, we can contain him and determine a long-term solution."
"I recommend a collaborative effort," Strange concluded. "Contact the X-Men. They have individuals with the necessary skills to soothe this… person. The Avengers can provide secure housing and support until we can devise a more permanent plan."