Chapter 2

It's odd, being in a marvel universe where everything seems normal. I mean I am in the middle of times square and from the looks of it. Around me are thousands of people going about their daily lives. Not a care for the superpowers and monsters that I know lurk around the corner. Just the great hustle and bustle of Capitalism! I take a deep breath through my nose, just taking it all in. 

Yea that was a bad choice, place stinks. Well time to go and get a job, I guess. My system demands it! I check my pockets, only now realizing that I showed up fully clothed, lucky me because I know my late wife would have loved to play a joke on me by making me naked. It's the little things you have to appreciate ya know. In my back pocket is a wallet with a debit card, credit card and drivers license as well as a social security card. Everything I need honestly. My license shows my height at a nice even 6'8" and a light weight of 200 pounds. I am fairly skinny at this point, need to work on that.

My front pocket has a cell phone. I pull it out and boot it up. It looks like a standard smart phone, black with touch screen. The start screen is odd though, System Mobile is the name on the front. Huh. There are a few apps on it, I will not add more because I get sucked easily into games. Gotta focus on the grind to become powerful. The apps are texting, contacts, maps and system interface and personal bank. I also have the internet. Perfect, everything I need.

I open my system by thinking status.

Name: Zachary Brown

Age: 18

Level: 1

Exp: 0

STR: 10

DEX: 7

AGI: 9

DUR: 5

VIT: 20

INT: 11

WIS: 12

Quests: Work work work work.

Quest Work work work work: Get a job ya bum!

Ok that works. I pull up my phone and open the System app. It says the same thing. Good to know I can open it both ways just in case. Next up is my bank, but first I see a text message from my wife... odd.

'Hey honey! So because you went so basic on the system you got a little bonus to start your life. A nice easy $300,000. Get yourself a place to stay and start your journey. I love you!' Becca.

By the Gods I love that woman. I double check my bank app and see 300k sitting nicely. Ok time to open the internet and look for an apartment or something.

I find a bench and sit down looking at places to rent, I don't need something extravagant, just a place to rest at the end of the day. After a half an hour of searching I find a nice one bedroom one bath in the middle of the city, right next to the library actually. Only thing is that its 2 grand a month. Pricy but it'll do. I send an email from my email account that I set up real quick to schedule a look for today.

As I wait for a reply a homeless man sits down next to me. I assume he's homeless due to the ragged clothes he's in.

"Beautiful day isn't it?" He asks good naturedly.

"Absolutely! How are you sir?" I reply.

"Fine. Just fine. Just need to rest these old bones ya know?" He says with the same attitude.

"Oh I get it. Gotta rest every now and again. Hey I happen to be new here and need something to eat. Know any good places?" I ask.

"Yea! Couple blocks towards the Library and you'll find a good hole in the wall pizza place. Real mom an pop place. Best Pie you will ever get." He says happily.

"Really? Well how about we go share some slices then? Least I can do." I say.

"I would but I don't really like handouts honestly." He says slightly offended.

"Well that wasn't what I was doing now was it? Its payment for being helpful. I understand the pride though. I would probably be that same way." I say calmly. Don't want to be rude after all, I am assuming he's homeless.

"That sound fair to me then!" He says getting excited. "I know I'm homeless but I do have my pride. Just trying to get back on my feet."

"Hey I get it. let's go though. I'm starving." With that we head get up and start walking.

On the walk we talk for a little just getting to know each other. His name is Dan and he's 35 years young. Hit a rough patch with his wife leaving him for another man and taking him for everything he has. Sad reality that we live in. Good guy though, from what I can tell.

Soon enough we reach the place, it's called Pizza Dreams. When we arrive we order an x-tra large pepperoni and go to sit down and wait. While waiting I notice how short staffed the place is.

"Hey Dan?"

"What's up?" He asks.

"Why don't you try working here? they seem short staffed, and anything helps right?" I ask.

"Uhm... Yea that's not a bad idea actually. I just never thought about it cuz I guess I never really considered it a good job." He says. "Well look at me being an asshole now."

I chuckle a little at how close minded we all can be. Shortly after our pizza arrives and we dig in. Oh by all that is holy this is the best thing I have ever eaten! So cheesy and greasy. Just everything you want in a pizza and done to perfection. Sure I can feel my heart clogging up as we speak but damn.

We each eat half and finish in like 5 min. Seriously it's that good. With a full belly we each leand back with satisfied looks on our faces.

"Excuse me!" I called out to the worker.

A middle aged man comes over, clearly tired from working all day. "What can I do for you?" He asks.

"Well My friend here is a little down on his luck and I couldn't help but notice you are short staffed." I say throwing Dan under the buss.

"Yea... Only me and my son work the restaurant." The man says while looking Dan up and down.

"Well why don't you and Dan here talk? I wont speak for him just trying to help a brotha out ya know?" I say amicably. With that I pay for the meal as they start talking and head out to sit on a bench in front of the place.

About 30 min later Dan comes out looking like he just got a lot of weight off his shoulders. "Thanks Zach. He gave me a job. 4k a month starting off. Its more than I could have hoped for honestly." He said.

"No problem. Well Ill leave ya here Dan. I just got an email about the place I'm trying to rent. Here's my number. Go ahead and call if you need anything." I say and give him my number.

"Will do and thank you again."

With that I head to the library where I was meeting up with the landlord of the apartment I was going to rent. I saw him standing on the front of the steps of the library waiting for me. After talking to him briefly we walked two blocks to the apartment. It was a nice small little thing. Fully furnished with a washer and dryer even. I just needed to get pillows and sheets, some cookware and other little things. Oh, and clothes. I really need more clothes.

We finalize everything and I pay for 2 years upfront. I would rather not have to worry about anything honestly. Makes life easy. Sure it was 48k but at the same time I still have 252k left over well about that since the pizza was 10$. Now I just need to find a way to make a lot of money. Probably gonna buy stock in Stark enterprises. I know they have troubles after Tony gets kidnapped in 2008. So two years to get a job and save up to buy a shit ton of stonks!

Well time to go shopping. There is a Walmart right across the street. After a quick trip I get the essentials and a couple pairs of clothes, just some jeans and short along with button up shirts and t shirts. I take it home and look online for any job openings.

After looking online for about an hour I find an opening at the library. The only prerequisites are to be able to read and have a high school diploma. Lucky for me that was included in my reincarnation package. All digital but still legal and all anyone needs. Well I know what I'm doing. I change into a button up shirt and head out to the library.

After a 15 min walk I arrive and honestly, I did not realize how large it is. I walk in and am greeted by the Librarian on duty. We get to talking and I can tell she is super excited for me to apply. Apparently no one wants to work at a library. Well after applying and a2 min interview, yea they are that desperate. I get hired to fill shelves and organize the library, monotonous work but essential here. The pay is good too. 4.5k a month. Gonna be able to save a decent bit. I also didn't have to come to work till Monday, today is Friday so I have plenty of time to get things started. 

I left and looked up a gym to start improving myself body wise. I get a free membership to the library and I'm hoping that reading will help improve my mind stats. There is a gym about 3 blocks away from my apartment, so I head that way to get a membership.

It's a gym that has a martial arts instructor as well. The style is boxing, karate and muay tai. A good all around martial art. I won't be the type of hero that uses weapons honestly, I just like the feel of hitting stuff with my hands., so this is perfect for me. Membership for the gym is 100$ a month or 1000 a year, discount if you do a contract. The martial arts is the same so I pay 4k for two years of each.

With all that out of the way I head back to wally world and get myself some workout clothes. Drop them off at the home and head back to the library. Time to do some studying.

At the library I decide to start with history. This lasts me till Monday when the classes at the gym starts. Lucky for me my system does work like I hoped. I gained 2 points in Int and 1 in Wis during this time. I imagine that once I hit 20 everything will slow down drastically for me.

My phone pings and I see a notification from the system.

SYSTEM: Correct Zach. The amount you will gain will drastically decrease until you practically can't gain any more. You can but it won't really matter at that point. The best way to increase when you reach that level will be to assign stat points. The level will probably be around 60 in each point besides Vit. Have a great day also congrats on getting the job! you get 50exp. I mean its a job so why would you expect more.

Sweet. Good to know... again with the sass but not too bad I guess. Well now that its Monday it's time to get to work. I have the gym after work so everything is set for now!