The Man of Steel

"Superman? Hmm, I like it! He shall now be called SUPERMAN!"

The Grandmaster loudly proclaimed but Benjamin ignored him as he was questioning his System.

System! How is this guy here!? Isn't he a DC character!?

[Host, it isn't impossible for one or two characters from other universes to end up here in the Marvel universe. There is always some magical phenomenon, spatial rift, or other mambo jumbo that would cause such situations.]

Well…yeah. But still! Isn't it too much to have Superman end up here!? What kind of situation happened for him to appear here of all places!?

[In this instance, Kal-El had just escaped in a pod from Krypton's destruction when an anomaly occurred, creating a temporary passageway from that DC universe to this Marvel universe. Moreover, he didn't end up on Earth, but was found by the Collector instead. Curious about this 'alien' that was from another universe, the Collector took him in and put him on display. One day, the Grandmaster found the boy had extraordinary abilities and challenged the Collector in a game with Kal-El as the prize. Naturally, he won over the Collector and took Kal-El to Sakaar, where he was raised into a gladiator who would fight for him till death!]

Hearing the story from the System, Benjamin fell speechless.

Although the System summarized it quite a lot, Benjamin could tell that many things should've happened in between.

It may as well be a story on its own spanning a hundred chapters or something!

But…what kind of anomaly can create such a situation?

It shouldn't be just an accident or something, right?

[Correct. The reason for the anomaly was that a System Holder had transmigrated to that DC universe at that time and replaced the original Kal-El.]

…

Benjamin was speechless again.

He couldn't help but wonder if the same thing happened when he arrived to this world…

Did he also kick out the 'original' Benjamin Freed and stranded him in some unknown universe?

[Host does not need to worry. The System is the Ultimate Marvel System! It is not like those weak and trash Systems that causes side effects! When you transmigrated here, you did not replace anyone. Reality was simply rewritten such that 'Benjamin Freed' exists before your arrival.]

Benjamin was surprised to hear that.

Does that mean…he doesn't actually have any parents who died in an accident in this world?

[Correct. It is merely the 'background story' for your identity as it is the most convenient.]

I see…

Benjamin was silent for a while as he was in deep thought.

After some time, he asked.

System…who was it that transmigrated me and gave me the Ultimate Stud- err Ultimate Marvel System? Also, why?

[...Host does not have sufficient permission at the moment. However, it is close. Host doesn't need to worry about these things at the moment. In time, you will know the truth.]

Figures.

Benjamin sighed and shook his head.

Anyway, it is always this template when asking a System where it came from.

Forget it. When the time comes, I'll ask the guy myself and if he doesn't answer properly, I'll beat it out of him!

[...]

The System let out an imaginary sweat.

[Host, you…well, nevermind. See how you beat him when you know.]

Benjamin stopped paying attention to the System and turned to focus on the match.

Looking at Superman and Thor fighting, they seemed to be even at the moment. Every time Superman shoots his laser eyes, Thor shoots his lightning.

When Superman uses his freeze breath, Thor just shrugs off the ice and uses his hammer to create a whirlwind to attack.

Superman continues to use his freeze breath and froze the whirlwind but Thor uses the frozen whirlwind as cover as he smash it, sending frozen debris flying everywhere towards Superman.

If there was one thing Superman could use against Thor, it was the fact that he has superspeed while Thor's speed aren't up to par.

So while it looks like an even fight right now, Thor was slowly losing.

"AAAHH! STOP RUNNING AROUND!!!"

Thor shouted and raised his hammer high up as he gathered lightning then smashed it onto the ground, creating a shockwave of lightning all around him.

Superman was blown away to the walls of the arena where a small crater formed.

However, it wasn't enough to knock him out as soon, Superman charged towards Thor once more.

Against a frontal assault, Thor wasn't afraid and swung his hammer to meet Superman's fist.

*BOOM*

An explosion occurred in the middle of the arena and both Thor and Superman were flung to opposite sides of the walls.

The whole site fell silent as they awaited the outcome with bated breaths.

When the dust cleared, both sides were still down for the count!

It was a tie!

The Grandmaster was shocked.

"No! It can't be! How is it a tie!?"

Benjamin smirked.

"Well, it can't be helped. Seems like no one won this round. Shall we make another bet then?"

 While he looked confident on the outside, inside, he sighed in relief.

Good thing he was fast and used his Soul Stone discreetly to make Superman fall asleep. Otherwise, they would lose and this trip would be wasted.

The Grandmaster frowned on his words.

He could tell that this guy was upto something.

"Forget it. I won't gain anything when I win. It's not worth the trouble. Take your people and get out of my planet."

"Don't be like that. How about this then? If you win, we stay as your…gladiators. If we win, you'll buy our prisoners at twice the price and we take Superman with us."

"Oh?

The Grandmaster was tempted.

He thought for a moment before nodding.

"Very well. But I decide the game."

"Fine."

Grandmaster grinned.

"The game shall be a race! Prepare your race cars tomorrow. The game will start in the afternoon."

Hearing that, Nightcrawler was shocked.

"Hey! We don't even have a race car! And you're holding the game tomorrow!?"

"Not my problem."

Grandmaster laughed as he turned to leave.

"Heh, if I were you, I'd make myself comfortable here. After all, you will be staying here after the game ends. Hahahaha!"

Voyager also turned around and waved at them.

"Good luck with the game tomorrow! I'll be participating in it as well!"

After the two left, Nightcrawler asked anxiously.

"What do we do!? We don't even have a car! Can we use the spaceship instead? Maybe we can add wheels on it to pass it off as a car."

"Hey! Hands off my spaceship! No one will be modifying anything on my ship!"

Starlord quickly said.

"Yeah! What he said! But just for your information, it is MY ship!"

Rocket Racoon added.

Starlord facepalmed and sighed.

At the side, Carol was quite relaxed.

"Why are you fussing so much? Did you forget that Ben has that car of his that roadkilled Thanos?"

"Ah, that's true."

Nightcrawler remembered the scene and finally sighed in relief.

Daredevil turned to Benjamin and asked.

"Can you get it ready for tomorrow?"

Benjamin smiled.

"Don't worry. I brought it with me. When the time comes, we just have to win. Anyway, I don't think a car with Infinity Stones would lose."

"That's true."

Everyone nodded and couldn't help but pity Grandmaster.

That guy still looked smug when he left. He has no idea that he just dug his own grave.

"More importantly, why did you request that Superman guy? You also seem to know him?"

Iron Fist asked.

"Hmm, not so much as know him. It's just that that guy shouldn't be from this universe. I'm worried about simply leaving him here. Who knows what kind of side effect his existence could bring? It's better to have him close so we can be ready when something comes."

Actually, it would be better to toss him back to the DC Universe.

But was that possible?

[It is possible.]

Can you open a portal to the DC Universe, System!?

Benjamin asked in surprise.

[Host can buy the World Gate in the System Shop and input the coordinates. The only thing the Host needs is the coordinates of the DC Universe, which the System cannot provide.]

Benjamin glanced at the store and looked for it.

The price…well, as expected, it's pretty expensive. However, he could still afford it…

But then, where are we supposed to get the coordinates?

[Kal-El's ship should have some residual spatial coordinates on it which you can extract using the Quantum Analyzer in the System Shop.]

…System, why do I feel like you're using this as an opportunity to advertise items to make me spend MP on?

[...Host is imagining things. Other than that, the System can try to connect with another System in the DC Universe and ask it for cooperation.]

Huh? You can do that?

[The System does not have this function, but as the Ultimate Marvel System, it is easy to communicate with other Systems in a different universe.]

Benjamin was a bit surprised.

It's the first time Benjamin saw the System flex so much of its capabilities.

Although Benjamin doesn't really get it, it sounds pretty impressive.

It seems it's not just the Ultimate Stud System for nothing.

[...]

Ahem. Anyway, we'll do it tomorrow after we win.

It's better to still ask Superman's opinion.

If he wants to stay in this universe, then there's no need to do all those things.

[Very well.]

"Alright. Let's go get Thor and find a place to rest."