Sign-In to the Multiverse: A Marvel Story Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Arrival (2024)

Ian felt the cold, hard surface beneath him before he opened his eyes. A dull ache radiated from the back of his head, where he must have hit it when he fell. When he finally forced his eyes open, he was greeted by a dim, unfamiliar room. A small, cluttered apartment, from the looks of it, with clothes strewn haphazardly over a worn couch, and a table covered in papers and takeout containers.

But this wasn't his apartment. His apartment was a small, neatly kept one-bedroom in Chicago. This… this was definitely not that.

Ian pushed himself up onto his elbows, his head still throbbing, trying to make sense of the situation. The first thing he noticed was the sound. It was a low hum, like the ambient noise of a city, but different from the one he was used to. More alive, more chaotic. His heart began to race as he stumbled to his feet, unsteady, disoriented.

Where the hell was he?

He staggered over to the window, pulling back the heavy curtains with trembling hands. The sight that greeted him nearly made his knees buckle. The skyline outside was unmistakable—tall skyscrapers reaching up to the heavens, the dense urban jungle of New York City. But not just any New York. Right in the middle of the skyline, gleaming in the morning light, was Stark Tower.

No, it couldn't be.

Ian's breath caught in his throat. He had seen that tower a thousand times before—on screen, in the Marvel movies. It was Stark Tower, the iconic home of Tony Stark, Iron Man himself. But how…?

A wave of nausea hit him, and he had to grip the windowsill to steady himself. The thought was absurd, impossible. This was the real world, not some fantasy land. But there it was, Stark Tower, as real as the ground beneath his feet.

His pulse pounded in his ears, a cacophony of fear and disbelief. It didn't make sense. He had gone to bed in Chicago, in his own bed, but now he was… here. Wherever here was.

Ian stumbled back from the window, his mind racing. This had to be a dream—a vivid, hyper-realistic dream. Maybe he had hit his head harder than he thought. Maybe he was in a coma. But even as he tried to rationalize it, a small, insistent voice in the back of his mind told him this was no dream.

As he took a few shaky steps back from the window, the room seemed to spin around him, disorienting him further. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to wake up, to find himself back in his own bed. But when he opened his eyes again, nothing had changed. He was still in the unfamiliar apartment, Stark Tower still looming outside the window.

"Okay, okay… think," he muttered to himself, trying to calm the rising tide of panic. "There has to be an explanation for this."

He glanced around the room again, looking for anything that might give him a clue. His gaze fell on a small mirror hanging on the wall. He hurried over to it, needing to confirm at least one thing—that he was still himself. The face that stared back at him was indeed his own, though his hair was a mess and his skin was pale, almost sickly.

But then, just as he began to feel a small sense of relief, something else caught his eye. A blue, glowing screen had materialized in front of him, hovering in mid-air like a hologram.

Ian froze, his breath catching in his throat. The screen was filled with text, strange symbols and numbers that he had never seen before. It looked like something out of a video game interface, except far more advanced.

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**[Welcome to the Marvel Cinematic Universe]**

**[Sign-In System Activated]**

**[First-time Sign-In available]**

---

He stared at the screen, unblinking. It was impossible, yet there it was, floating right in front of him. Marvel Cinematic Universe? Sign-In System? What the hell was going on?

For a moment, Ian considered ignoring it, hoping that if he just closed his eyes again, it would disappear. But his curiosity—and the sheer absurdity of the situation—got the better of him.

"Sign in," he whispered, feeling a bit foolish for talking to what might as well have been thin air.

To his surprise, the screen reacted immediately. The text shifted, and a new list of options appeared, glowing softly in the dim light of the apartment.

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**[Congratulations! You have signed in at your Starting Location: New York City.]**

**[Rewards: Choose One]**

1. **Mjolnir's Worthiness:** Gain the ability to wield Mjolnir and all the powers of Thor.

2. **Vibranium Weave Suit:** A custom-made suit of Vibranium, tailored to your body with advanced defensive and stealth capabilities.

3. **Pym Particle Vials:** A set of 10 Pym Particle vials, allowing you to shrink or grow objects and yourself at will.

4. **Arc Reactor (Prototype):** A fully functional, prototype Arc Reactor designed by Tony Stark, wearable and capable of powering advanced tech.

5. **Mystic Arts Initiate:** Basic knowledge of the Mystic Arts, with a beginner's spellbook and access to the Sanctum Sanctorum.

---

Ian's jaw dropped as he read the options. These were no ordinary rewards. These were the kinds of items and powers that only existed in the most outrageous fanfictions. Mjolnir's Worthiness? Vibranium Suit? Pym Particles?

He had to be hallucinating. There was no way any of this could be real. Yet, everything in front of him, from the detailed descriptions to the glowing blue text, felt all too real. He reached out a hand, hesitating only for a moment, and touched the screen. It was intangible, like touching air, but his hand seemed to interact with it nonetheless.

A cold, thrilling realization settled over him: This was real, as real as the room around him. He wasn't in a dream, and he hadn't gone insane. Somehow, he had been transported into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this… this system, whatever it was, was his lifeline.

His mind raced as he considered his options. Each reward was incredible in its own right, offering powers or items that could make him a force to be reckoned with in this world. But which one to choose?

Mjolnir's Worthiness was tempting. To wield the power of Thor, to command the thunder and lightning—it was the stuff of legends. But did he really want to tie himself so closely to the Asgardian path? It was a heavy responsibility, one that came with more than just physical power.

The Vibranium Suit was another strong contender. A custom-made, nearly indestructible suit with stealth capabilities? That was practically a license to become a superhero. But without the combat skills or training, would he even be able to use it effectively?

Pym Particles offered versatility—shrinking or growing at will could be incredibly useful, and they were tied to the quantum realm, something he knew would play a huge role in the future. But there were only ten vials. What if he used them up too quickly or made a mistake?

The Arc Reactor… Ian's heart skipped a beat. The thought of having a piece of Stark tech literally in his chest, powering him and any tech he might develop, was beyond exciting. But it was just a prototype. Who knew what kind of bugs or limitations it might have?

Then there was the Mystic Arts Initiate. The world of magic was vast and powerful, and having even basic knowledge could open up doors to incredible possibilities. But magic was dangerous, unpredictable, and required intense study and discipline.

He weighed his options carefully. Each one was a game-changer, but Ian needed to think strategically. What was the safest bet in a world where super-powered beings and cosmic threats were the norm? What would give him the best chance to survive and maybe even thrive?

After what felt like an eternity, Ian made his choice.

"I choose… Mjolnir's Worthiness."

The screen flashed, and a sudden surge of energy pulsed through his body, knocking the breath out of him. For a moment, he felt as though he was being struck by a bolt of lightning, but without the pain. Instead, it was a rush of power, a primal force that seemed to awaken something deep within him. His skin tingled, his muscles burned with newfound strength, and for a split second, he felt invincible.

As the sensation faded, Ian found himself gasping for breath, his heart pounding in his chest. But he felt different—stronger, more confident, as if a part of him had always been holding back and was now unleashed.

He didn't have Mjolnir, the legendary hammer of Thor, but he knew with absolute certainty that if he ever found it, he could lift it. He was worthy.

Ian stood there for a moment, basking in the afterglow of the transformation. The sheer power he felt coursing through his veins was intoxicating, and for the first time since he had woken up in this strange new world, he didn't feel afraid.

This was real. All of it. And he had just taken his first step into a much larger universe.

As the blue screen faded away, Ian took a deep breath and steadied himself. He had a lot to figure out—where exactly he was, how much time had passed, and what he was going to do next. But he had something most people in this universe didn't: the power of a god, the ability to grow even stronger, and knowledge of what was to