Chapter 4: “The Message from Beyond”

[SYSTEM STATUS: ACTIVE]

Host: Peter Benjamin Parker (a.k.a. Ethan Grey)

Level: 3

EXP: 850/1000

Current Quest: "The Ripple Effect" (In Progress)

Objective: Open the Multiversal Device

Threat Level: Increasing…

Late Night – Peter's Room

The cube sat in Ethan's hand like a heartbeat—cool, metallic, and pulsing faintly with blue veins of light. Despite its small size, it felt heavy in a way that wasn't physical. It carried weight, not just in mass but in meaning.

Ethan's thumb hovered over the central indentation, his pulse syncing with the device's rhythmic glow.

Do I really want to know?

But the real question was—could he afford not to?

With a deep breath, he pressed the center of the cube.

[SYSTEM ALERT: Device Activated]

Warning: Unstable Multiversal Energy Detected.

Shielding Protocols Engaged… Failed.

Brace for Cognitive Sync.

A blinding flash engulfed the room.

Ethan's vision blurred as his mind was ripped from his body—not physically, but like his consciousness was being pulled through a kaleidoscope of fractured mirrors. Colors bled together, shapes twisted, and voices echoed in languages he didn't understand.

And then, suddenly—clarity.

He wasn't in his room anymore.

Somewhere in the Multiverse

Ethan stood in an endless void—a space between spaces. Stars flickered like dying embers in the distance, floating islands of debris suspended in nothingness.

In the center of it all stood a figure cloaked in shifting shadows, their face obscured by a mask that looked like it was made of broken glass, fragments reflecting different realities.

The figure spoke, their voice layered—like multiple versions of themselves speaking in unison.

"Peter Parker… but not."

Ethan swallowed hard. "You're the one watching me."

"Yes. We are the ones who maintain the flow. The custodians of time. The architects of order."

Ethan's fists clenched. "You mean the ones messing with me."

The figure tilted its head. "You are the anomaly, Ethan Grey."

Hearing his real name jolted him like a slap to the face.

"You weren't meant to be here. Your presence fractures the strands of reality."

Ethan's mind raced. "Then send me back."

The figure's mask flickered, showing glimpses of other faces—versions of Ethan, versions of Peter—some heroic, some monstrous.

"We can't. Not without consequences."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Then why am I here?"

The figure's voice dropped lower, colder. "Because someone put you here on purpose."

[SYSTEM ALERT: Hidden Quest Unlocked – "The Puppet Master"]

Objective: Discover who manipulated your reincarnation.

Reward: System Upgrade: Administrator Privileges (Locked)

Failure Penalty: Permanent Timeline Corruption.

Ethan felt the weight of those words crush him.

This wasn't an accident.

But before he could ask more, the figure raised a hand. The void trembled as cracks of light split the darkness.

"One last warning," the figure said. "Every choice you make ripples outward. Heroes will fall. Villains will rise. And when the time comes, you'll have to decide—"

"Decide what?" Ethan snapped.

The figure leaned closer, its voice a whisper that echoed louder than a scream.

"Whether to save this world… or break it."

Snap—Back to Reality

Ethan jolted awake in his room, drenched in sweat, gasping for air like he'd been drowning.

The cube was gone.

But a new icon flashed in his system interface—a symbol he'd never seen before. A small, flickering crown.

[SYSTEM UPGRADE AVAILABLE]

New Feature Unlocked: System Override Protocol (Beta)

Warning: Incomplete. Use at your own risk.

Override?

His mind raced. The system had always been the one controlling him—issuing quests, setting penalties.

But now?

Now I might control it.

The Next Day – Midtown High

Ethan felt different. Not just physically, but mentally. Like his brain was processing information faster, his senses sharper, his instincts stronger.

But there was no time to enjoy it.

Because Nova was waiting for him at his locker, leaning casually like nothing was out of the ordinary.

"We need to talk," she said, her voice low.

Ethan glanced around. "Pretty sure we covered that when you tried to punch my face in."

Nova didn't smile. "They're coming."

Ethan frowned. "Who?"

She leaned closer, her eyes serious. "The Collectors. The ones who clean up anomalies like you."

Ethan's blood ran cold.

[SYSTEM ALERT: New Threat Detected – "The Collectors"]

Threat Level: Extremely High

Objective: Survive First Contact.

Reward: Unknown

Failure Penalty: Erasure from the Timeline

Nova's voice dropped to a whisper. "You thought saving Uncle Ben was the problem? That was just the first ripple."

Ethan swallowed hard, his mind spinning.

If that was the first ripple…

What the hell is the tsunami?

[End of Chapter 4]

Would you like me to continue with Chapter 5, expand on the Collectors, or develop Ethan's new system abilities?