Marvel: A Man with a System

Whew, what a day. It felt good to unwind after all the stress he had built up.

And Bella? She was cute. And sexy.

Shaking off the lingering thoughts, he hailed a taxi back to his apartment. Once inside, he stretched, exhaled, and decided it was time to get ready for work.

--

--

After settling into his apartment, David leaned back on his couch, staring at the ceiling. His mind buzzed with thoughts about the future his revenge, his survival, and the chaos that would unfold in the coming years.

First, he needed a base of operations. Somewhere secure, discreet.

His primary goal remained unchanged: revenge. Those who had threatened him would pay. He would also uncover the truth behind his mother's death. And once he got his revenge, because he would, no matter the cost—what came next?

Shifting through his memories, he mapped out the events to come. Next year would bring the events of Iron Man 3. After that, S.H.I.E.L.D. would crumble from within. Then came Age of Ultron, an AI nightmare. He could only hope it didn't spiral into a What If…? scenario.

Then there was Civil War, followed by the real war—the war against that purple potato who could wipe out half the universe with a snap of his fingers.

And beyond the big battles, there were other stories unfolding—Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Spider-Man… and so on, all of them navigating their own struggles in this chaotic world.

Still, something always bugged him. Why did so few of them show up when Thanos came knocking? It was almost as if the war had been kept a secret from the rest of the world.

But for now, he decided to handle things as they came. His top priority was protecting himself. 

Thankfully, he had the system. As long as he kept moving forward, he would only grow stronger with time.

Curious, he finally decided to ask the system about itself. "Alright, system. Time we had a little chat."

The system responded in its usual neutral tone.

[State your inquiry, Host]

David exhaled, choosing his words carefully. "I want to know more about you. What exactly are you? How do you work?"

[Access Denied.]

He blinked. "What?"

[User lacks the required clearance level to access system information.]

David's brows furrowed. "Clearance level? What's that supposed to mean?"

[System clearance determines the level of information and functions available to the user. Higher System levels unlock additional system capabilities and knowledge.]

That was… unexpected. He had assumed the system would simply grow with him, not that it had locked functions behind some kind of security clearance. "And how do I increase my clearance level?"

[System Points (SP) can be used to upgrade the system to obtain clearance.]

It made sense in a way, but it also meant he was still in the dark about what the system was truly capable of.

"Alright… how many points do I need for the next level?"

[2,500 SP required to upgrade from System Level 0 to System Level 1.]

David groaned. "two thousand five hundred!"

[Correct.]

David snarkily replied, "That was not a question... Sigh". He rubbed his temple. "And what exactly do I get at Level 1?"

[Insufficient clearance to provide details.]

David clenched his jaw. "Of course. Figures."

The system remained silent. He sighed, forcing himself to calm down. Complaining wouldn't get him anywhere.

"Fine. Whatever. I'll focus on getting stronger first. Alright, system. Give me my current status."

The system complied instantly, displaying his stats in front of him.

[STATUS]

[Name: David Arthur Brown

Age: 23

Race: Human

Strength: 11

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 18

SP: 33

Skills: Hand-to-Hand Combat Mastery, Parkour Mastery, Hacking Mastery, Perfect Recall, Cooking Mastery

Inventory: Glock 17 (5 Mags, Leg Holster), $100,800 Cash, Knuckle Dusters (Hidden Knives) – 2 nos, Bullet Time (Skill Card)

Character Assimilation: Nil

Missions:

Primary Mission: Revenge

Objective: Make those responsible for your mother's murder pay.

Time Limit: 1 year

-Rewards: 500 SP, A Skill, Mystery Box

Side Mission:

Display your hacking skills.

White hat hacking: 0/10

Time limit: 1 month.

Rewards: +5 intelligence, 100 System points]

After contemplating for a while, David exhaled. His mind was clear now, but clarity wasn't enough, he needed a plan.

He leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling, absently tapping his fingers against his knee.

His body felt slightly improved, thanks to the system's stat boosts. But raw stats alone didn't make him skilled with his skills. Skills mattered.

And that meant practice. "Alright," he muttered to himself, sitting up straight. "How do I make this work?"

He began mapping it out in his head.

Hacking wasn't just about knowing how to break into a system, it was about having the right tools and knowing when to use them. His current laptop? it was good but not nearly secure enough. He would use his current laptop as a backup one.

If he wanted to sharpen his skills, he needed a proper setup. A high-end laptop with customized security software, encryption tools, and a VPN setup. He'd also need disposable phones for untraceable access points.

A real challenge. Reading theory would help too. But he needed real-world practice, testing himself against low-risk systems first.

A safe way to operate. No matter how good he got, a single slip-up could put him on someone's radar. Proxies, fake IDs, secure servers. He ran a hand through his hair. "Shit. That's a lot to set up."

Next it was his Hand to hand Combat Mastery. It was not much but he had improved, but there was a difference between knowing a move and executing it flawlessly under pressure.

"Shadow boxings' a start," he murmured, picturing himself moving through drills. He could practice combinations, footwork, breathing. But that only got him so far.

He needed real opponents. Someone who could push him, force him to adapt, make him react instead of just executing techniques from memory.

The problem? Sparring at a gym or an underground fight club would draw attention. If he improved too fast, people would start asking questions. He needed to be careful.

Maybe he could find a private trainer—someone who didn't ask too many questions. Or a low-key fight club where new faces weren't unusual.

Then Parkour, which was different. He needed space. An environment with obstacles, drops, and tight spaces. Somewhere he could build muscle memory, improve his landing control, and test his endurance.

His best bet? Abandoned buildings. Warehouses, factories, empty lots, places where he could move freely without an audience.

He chuckled to himself. "Would be easier if I had Spider-Man's powers. But nah, gotta do this the hard way."

David rubbed his chin, his gaze flickering to his inventory. Bullet Time.

The name alone was enough to make his heart race. If it worked the way he imagined, slowing down time in crucial moments which was probably the most valuable skill he had. But how the hell was he supposed to train something like that? "Guess I'll find out."

He pulled up his system interface and hovered over the Bullet Time (Skill Card). With a deep breath, he clicked on it.

--

--

[Later that evening]

David set out to find a concealed place to train. Somewhere abandoned. Quiet. A place where he could practice hone his skills by himself without worrying about prying eyes.

It took him a couple of hours of scouting, walking through the city with his hood up, hands in his pockets. He avoided active construction sites—too many workers, too much security. Instead, he focused on places left to rot.

Eventually, he found the perfect spot, an abandoned warehouse. It was away seemed to be hidden among some buildings.

The building was massive, its metal walls rusted, its windows shattered, but it still stood strong. Inside, open floors stretched wide, with old steel beams crisscrossing the ceiling. The structure had multiple levels, perfect for his practice.

This'll do.

David carefully explored the place, scanning every corner. The dust was thick, but there were no recent footprints, no signs of squatters. No security cameras either. It was secluded, untouched.

Then, while checking the far side of the warehouse, he found something interesting.

A concealed hatch.

It was wedged between two large crates, covered in dust and debris. At first, it looked like just another section of the floor, but when he ran his fingers along the edges, he realized, it was a door.

David crouched down, gripping the handle. He pulled and it barely budged.

"Heavy as hell."

He adjusted his stance, gritted his teeth, and heaved with all his strength. Slowly, the hatch lifted, revealing a dark opening beneath. A set of metal stairs led downward, disappearing into shadows.

"What the hell is this?"

His heart pounded as he pulled out his phone, turning on the flashlight. Carefully, he stepped down.

The air inside was stale, thick with dust. A bunker.

The room was small but sturdy, the walls reinforced with thick concrete. A metal table sat in the center, rusted but still intact. There were empty shelves, a broken chair, and an old power box with no electricity.

But it was empty. No signs of recent use. Just an abandoned bunker, hidden beneath the warehouse.

David exhaled.

"This is perfect."

With a little work, this place could be a use for him. A place to train. A place to hide for a while if things ever got bad.

David spent the next hour scouting every inch of the building.

He walked the perimeter first, checking for anything unusual. The place was still and silent, abandoned for who knows how long.

Still, he took no chances.

Inside, he checked every corner, every possible entry point. The warehouse had multiple exits.

He took extra time around the bunker hatch, making sure it was well-hidden before closing it again.

Once he was satisfied that no one had been here in a long time and more importantly, that no one was watching him, he decided to train.

David shrugged off his jacket, cracking his knuckles. His body had grown a bit strong thanks to the system, but strength alone didn't mean efficiency. He needed control, speed, and fluidity. Slow, precise movements at first. He focused on his stance, feeling how his body moved, how his muscles responded.

Then, he picked up the pace. Jabs, crosses, hooks, elbow strikes. He moved across the warehouse floor, dodging imaginary attacks, countering with swift combinations.

His movements picked up better than before, more refined, but he wasn't satisfied.

I still need a real opponent.

For now, he would have to rely on his own. But he decided to buy some training equipments and since he has an inventory he can just move whatever he wants

After a short break, David moved on to parkour.

David took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders as he scanned the layout of the warehouse. It was perfect.

High ceilings. Steel beams crisscrossing above. Rusted scaffolding lining the walls. Stacks of wooden crates scattered across the floor. A second level with open walkways, some broken, some intact.

He started with basic warm-ups.

A few sprints across the main floor, loosening his muscles. Jump squats. Wall presses. Shoulder rolls. Once he felt limber, he moved on to actual training.

Vaults first.

He spotted a waist-high crate and launched himself over it, hands barely touching the surface.

Thud. His feet landed smoothly.

Speed vault. Kong vault. Lazy vault. He practiced each one, focusing on keeping his movements efficient.

Next, he tested his climbing skills.

There was an old storage rack against the far wall—about ten feet high. He ran toward it, planted his foot against the metal, and pushed up, grabbing the edge and hoisting himself over.

Easier than I expected…

He dropped down and tried again, increasing his speed each time.

Once he got comfortable, he moved to the steel beams above.

Climbing up to the second floor, David reached an exposed steel beam that stretched across the warehouse. It was about a foot wide, sturdy enough to hold him, but narrow enough to be dangerous.

Let's see how good my balance is.

He stepped onto it, arms outstretched slightly to stabilize himself. The beam was cold under his shoes, every step requiring complete focus.

Halfway across, he crouched down, testing his center of gravity. Then, slowly, he stood back up.

Feeling confident, he picked up the pace.

A quick sprint to the end— then, without stopping, he jumped to the next beam.

His body reacted faster than his mind, arms adjusting instinctively. He landed on his feet, swaying slightly before stabilizing.

Damn… that was close.

The adrenaline rush was real.

He continued jumping between beams, increasing his confidence with every movement. Then, for an added challenge, he dropped down to a hanging position, swinging himself forward before letting go and rolling onto the catwalk below.

He grinned.

Yeah… I can get used to this."

This warehouse… this was his training ground now.

To Be Continued.....