Marvel: Soul King

"Lod?"

Frank had a vague sense that something was amiss. "That mask... is it serious?"

To him, Lod had always seemed so composed, as if the world itself was under his control.

However, this was the first time Frank had seen Lod with such a heavy expression, and being always observant, Frank immediately sensed that this wasn't a simple matter, so he realized he might have severely underestimated the danger involved.

"You wouldn't understand," Lod sighed while shaking his head, and he didn't bother to explain because, even if he did, Frank likely wouldn't grasp it, and it was that serious.

Frank felt a pang of regret because if he had been more perceptive and found a way to counter Bullseye sooner, they wouldn't have let Kingpin escape, and things wouldn't have spiraled to this point.

However, Frank misunderstood the situation because Lod's grave expression wasn't due to the mask or even Kingpin.

What truly troubled him was the mask's origin because the name and the behavior of the mask resembled the Stone Mask from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, a manga where the main antagonist, Dio Brando, had used it to become a vampire and a nemesis to the Joestar family.

On the surface, it seemed fine, but when you thought about it a little deeper, it was troubling.

Where was he living at the moment?

The Marvel Universe!

Or, to be precise, what Lod believed was the Marvel Universe.

However, the Stone Mask belonged to an entirely different universe and continuity, and this begged the question: How could an artifact from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure appear here?

If the mask in Kingpin's possession really was the Stone Mask, it confirmed one thing, which was that this wasn't just the Marvel Universe—it had merged with others.

And for Lod, a transmigrator whose greatest advantage was knowing the plot, this was a devastating blow because his knowledge could be diminished—or worse, completely irrelevant.

Worse still, if universes were merging, there might be ones that directly conflicted with his powers as a Shinigami.

Just dealing with Death and Hell in this universe was challenging enough, and now, this!

Lod's gaze hardened as he made up his mind.

'The plan needs to accelerate. There's no time left for slow growth!'

Initially, he had wanted a peaceful life and to gradually develop his strength, but fate wouldn't seem to allow it because the world itself seemed to push him toward rapid growth.

---

Lod calmed himself and analyzed the worst-case scenario.

If the mask was indeed the Stone Mask, it meant the Marvel Universe had merged with others, so the storylines would spiral out of control, and Lod's only option was to become stronger before being exposed.

Suddenly, the hardened gaze vanished, and a small smile crept onto his face.

'Despite the situation not being ideal, the situation is exciting!'

The unexpected sense of urgency made Lod feel exhilarated, and his muscles trembled with anticipation.

"Frank," Lod called with his voice being commanding.

"If you let Kingpin escape, you'll handle it. No problem, right?"

Frank squinted and scrutinized Lod because something felt different about him.

He was the same person, yet somehow more resolute, and that inscrutable air reminded Frank of someone else—Nick Fury.

"Don't worry," Frank said solemnly. "Since I let him escape, I'll take full responsibility."

With that, he turned to leave, presumably to track Kingpin.

"Wait."

Lod tossed him a small black pill. "Take this portable Gikongan. You can't stay in your Soul Reaper form all the time."

Since Frank couldn't always appear in his spiritual body, Lod had Nemu create a portable Gigai for him.

"Gikongan?" Frank inspected the black pill curiously. "What is that?"

"Uhh... My bad, it's a portable Artificial Soul Pill," Lod explained further.

"How does it work? Do I swallow it?"

"Ah, did I forget to explain?" Lod blinked innocently.

"You didn't," Frank said flatly, though the twitch in his eye betrayed his irritation because Lod's unreliability was nothing new to him.

Lod scratched his head awkwardly. "My bad... Been busy lately."

Frank sighed. "Just explain it now."

"Ahem!" Lod cleared his throat. "A Gigai or Faux Body is a vessel for a Soul Reaper to interact with the living world, so you can think of it as a container for your soul."

"Got it," Frank said, and pointing at Lod, he asked, "Is your body a Faux Body too?"

"Yep," Lod replied. "But yours is portable and more advanced, so just blow into it like a balloon, and it'll take shape."

"Blow... like a balloon?" Frank gave the pill a dubious look with his eye twitching again. "Are you sure this thing can become my body?"

"Try it and see," Lod said while showing a clearly amused face.

Reluctantly, Frank placed the pill near his lips and blew, and the pill expanded like a balloon until—pop!

It burst, forming a body identical to Frank's.

However... "Are you kidding me?" Frank snarled. "This is my original body!"

The Gigai still had bullet holes and bloodstains because Nemu had apparently repurposed Frank's corpse.

Lod coughed awkwardly. "Well... think of it as recycling. Efficient, right?"

"LOD!" Frank's jaw clenched with his teeth grinding audibly, and he was certain Lod had done this on purpose.

"Relax!" Lod waved dismissively. "It's just a minor hiccup, so it won't happen again."

"You said that last time," Frank muttered darkly, donning the Gigai.

"I mean it this time," Lod said while being clearly unconvincing.

Frank snorted as he headed out. "I'll find the mask and bring it back."

"Good luck," Lod said and sipped his tea. "Don't disappoint me, Frank."

After sending Frank off, Lod calmed his mind and carefully pulled out a lottery ticket from the cabinet.

This lottery ticket wasn't something ordinary. Acquiring it from California had taken considerable effort and planning.

It was a Mega Millions ticket from 2010, the one that had won the $266 million jackpot with the numbers 9, 21, 31, 36, 43, and the Mega Ball 8. This ticket had been sold in Pico Rivera.

Perfect!

Being a transmigrator had its perks.

Lod prayed to it silently for luck and then carefully closed the cabinet.

---

"Brother... what are you doing?" Nemu, while rubbing her sleepy eyes, saw Lod acting strangely and muttering words as if possessed.

"Don't talk, Nemu!" Lod's face was solemn, and his expression was filled with reverence. "I am praying for the power of the Gacha Gods!"

"Gacha?" Nemu's eyes lit up. "I've seen that on TV. It looks delicious!"

Tap!

Lod tapped Nemu lightly on the head and scolded her, "Don't spout nonsense. The Gacha Gods aren't something you eat. They're something you worship!"

"Oh... Nemu understands." Nemu pouted, her cheeks puffing up in grievance. She watched with curiosity as Lod continued his strange ritual.

Once his mystical operations were complete, Lod eagerly opened the system shop.

[Confirmed. Detected 1,000 low-grade souls in possession.]

[Would you like to initiate the lottery?]

"Yes!" Lod chanted while rubbing his hands in anticipation.

He hoped the system would be generous this time and grant him something that could actually ensure his survival.

---

"Yo-ho-ho!"

As expected, Kisuke appeared, holding a wooden box and grinning mischievously.

Every time Lod saw Urahara's face, he felt an overwhelming urge to punch him because that smug look beneath the bucket hat was infuriating beyond reason.

One day, Lod swore to summon this guy in reality—not for his abilities, but just to punch him and wipe that smug grin off his face!

After venting his inner frustrations, Lod's attention returned to the wooden box, which suddenly shook violently and burst open.

Boom!

A dazzling golden light erupted from within.

"Holy crap, I got something good!" Lod's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped involuntarily. In all his previous lottery draws, he had never witnessed such a spectacular display.

What did this mean?

The ritual had worked!

The power of the Gacha Gods was real!

Suppressing his excitement, Lod checked the Gacha results.

[—

- Blue: Seele Schneider

- Blue: Shinigami Women's Association Special Edition Magazine (featuring rare Unohana Retsu)

- Purple: Dimensional Reverse Membrane

- Purple: Medium Crystallized Reiatsu Orb x1

- Gold: Schrift—The X-Axis

- White: Sternritter Elite Guard Uniform

- Purple: Pure Quincy Bloodline

- Purple: Hadō #96: Ittō Kasō (one-time use)

- Purple: Quincy Cross

- Gold: Soul Distribution: Flawless Healing 

—]

"Hail the Gacha Gods! Hahaha!"

At this moment, Lod was utterly convinced of the power of the Gacha Gods and mentally bowed in admiration.

No more complaints...

It worked! The Internet knew best!

---

Scanning the rewards, Lod paused as he noticed something peculiar.

"Is the system trying to make me a Quincy?"

Out of the ten items, six were Quincy-related, making it feel as if the system was nudging him toward adopting a new persona.

[—

1. Seele Schneider: A Quincy blade that vibrates at high frequencies. It absorbs spiritual energy and weakens opponents by draining their Reiatsu.

2. Pure Quincy Bloodline: Grants access to Blut Vene for defensive enhancement and Blut Arterie for offensive power, allowing the channeling of spiritual energy through blood vessels.

3. Quincy Cross: A conduit for forming spiritual bows and weapons, shaped by the user's will and strength.

4. Sternritter Uniform: Stylish attire symbolizing elite status. It looked far superior to a standard Shinigami uniform, even without a haori. 

—]

Lod first examined the Quincy blade he had received. "A Quincy-exclusive weapon," he muttered. "Its power depends on the opponent's Reiatsu. In this world, though, even beings without Reiatsu can destroy captain-class Shinigami. Not great, but not bad either."

Next, his eyes went to the Pure Quincy Bloodline, which granted two essential skills: Blut Vene and Blut Arterie. These abilities allowed him to temporarily act as a Quincy.

The Quincy Cross was also a significant addition, functioning similarly to a Zanpakutō but tailored for Quincies. Most of them used it to form spiritual bows.

Lastly, there was the Sternritter Elite Guard Uniform. Lod grinned. It looked incredibly stylish, and he had always admired the Quincy uniforms when he watched the anime.

[—

Dimensional Reverse Membrane: Created by Aizen, this substance could temporarily or permanently seal someone in an alternate dimension, depending on their Reiatsu level. 

—]

"Great item!" Lod exclaimed while grinning. This could be a lifesaver. It could stall powerful enemies, buy him time, or even seal threats indefinitely.

[—

Schrift—The X-Axis: Granted by Yhwach to Lille Barro, one of his elite Sternritters, this Schrift allows the user to pierce anything in a straight line between themselves and their target. It ignores all defenses and erases space along its path, making it impossible to block or deflect. 

—]

To put it simply, Lod considered this ability nearly invincible. Any projectile fired with this Schrift would pierce everything in its path without exception.

In essence, it was a rule-based ability akin to gravity or the flow of water—an unstoppable force.

[—

Hadō #96: Ittō Kasō: A forbidden Kido spell that unleashed devastating destructive power. It took the form of a massive fiery blade erupting from the ground, incinerating everything within its range. 

—]

'A sacrificial Kido spell,' Lod thought, 'pure devastation condensed into one attack.'

---

The final reward caught Lod's attention.

Soul Distribution: Flawless Healing

At first, he was puzzled. This skill hadn't appeared in the Bleach series.

But as he read its description, confusion turned into excitement:

[—

Soul Distribution: Flawless Healing

By physical contact, the user could transfer a fragment of their soul into another person to mend physical injuries or mental deficiencies over time. This soul fragment stabilized the recipient's spiritual void, fostering gradual recovery.

During this process, all the recipient's knowledge, skills, experiences, and talents were imprinted onto the shared soul fragment. If the user chose to reclaim the fragment, the recipient's soul would collapse instantly, resulting in irreversible death. 

—]

"This... this is Yhwach's ability!" Lod's heart raced as his mind reeled.

Soul Distribution: Flawless Healing was a skill Yhwach had used to distribute fragments of his soul to others, enabling him to recover his power over time.

The system hinted at three related skills:

- Soul Distribution: Holy Inscription 

-Soul Recall: Dormant State 

- Soul Recall: Sanctification 

Unlocking all of these would eventually grant Lod Yhwach's ultimate power—The Almighty. 

---

Out of sheer excitement, Lod raised his arms, spreading them wide above his head as if he were embracing the sun, and shouted, "Praise the Sun... I mean the Gacha Gods!"

Lod exhaled deeply, though his excitement continued to bubble inside him.

With Soul Distribution, loyalty was no longer a concern. He could recruit subordinates freely without worrying about betrayal.

As he gazed at the Sternritter uniform in front of him, Lod's smile grew even wider.

It seemed the time for the Quincies to rise had finally come!

---

The following day, a piece of shocking news dominated the front pages across New York City.

Overnight, Kingpin Tower had been utterly devastated. Kingpin himself had vanished, and his infamous enforcer, Bullseye, was discovered brutally dismembered, his remains scattered across the building. It was rumored to be a retaliation from some unknown enemy.

The untouchable criminal empire of the Kingpin crumbled instantly.

The news spread like wildfire through Hell's Kitchen.

Kingpin was gone. The man who ruled with fear and control over the entire district was no longer in power.

For the first time in years, Hell's Kitchen felt the tremors of his absence, and every gang began plotting their next moves.

---

In a small law firm nestled in the heart of Hell's Kitchen…

"Hey, Matt, did you catch the morning news?" A slightly overweight man with golden curls approached another man while clutching a cup of coffee.

The other man turned around with his face in a flat deadpan, and said nothing.

Even indoors, Matt wore sunglasses that hid most of his face. His sharply defined features hinted at his good looks, though his demeanor stayed reserved.

"Ah, sorry, sorry…" Foggy apologized, flustered. "You act so normal sometimes that I forget you're blind."

"It's fine." Matt shook his head slightly. He was used to Foggy's occasional slips.

"This is huge news!" Foggy sipped his coffee, visibly excited. "You'll never believe it, Matt!"

"Big news?" Matt raised an eyebrow. "Alright, now you've got me curious. Spill it, Foggy."

"You know the guy they call the Kingpin of Crime?" Foggy asked.

Hearing that name, Matt's expression darkened. His entire body tensed.

Crack. Crack.

Unintentionally, Matt clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Hey, Matt?" Foggy noticed his friend's reaction and patted him on the shoulder. "You good? Did he do something to one of our clients?"

"I'm fine." Matt forced a smile and exhaled deeply, releasing the tension in his hands. "You haven't told me what happened yet."

Foggy hesitated. "Are you sure? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"I said I'm fine." Matt's voice carried an edge as he stared through his sunglasses. "Now, what's the news?"

"Alright, if you say so…" Foggy relented. "Kingpin Tower got hit last night. The place was destroyed, no survivors left. Bullseye and Kingpin are both… gone."

Before Foggy could finish, Matt abruptly stood up, the metal armrest of his chair snapping under his grip.

Foggy's eyelid twitched violently. "Did you just break the armrest… with your hand?"

Matt grabbed Foggy's arm, his urgency spilling over. "Bullseye and Kingpin—what happened to them?"

"Ow, ow, ow!" Foggy yelped, trying to pull free. "Damn it, Matt, let go! You're gonna snap my arm too!"

"Sorry!" Matt released him immediately, guilt washing over him.

"Damn, you're like a human vice grip! Losing your eyesight must've given you freakish strength," Foggy muttered, rubbing his arm, now marked with purpling fingerprints.

"Foggy, focus. Tell me everything."

"Fine," Foggy grumbled. "Bullseye was ripped apart, his body parts were found everywhere. And Kingpin… no one found his body. He's probably still alive."

Matt froze, a mix of emotions stirring within him. "Bullseye is dead?" Relief and disappointment clashed inside him, the man who had been his sworn enemy was gone, but it didn't feel like a victory.

"And Kingpin?" Matt pressed on.

Foggy shrugged. "He's missing. Maybe he escaped. No one knows for sure."

Matt frowned deeply, gripping his cane tightly. "Hell's Kitchen is about to implode."

"Implode?" Foggy frowned, confused. "How's that a bad thing? The guy was pure evil!"

"I want Kingpin gone more than anyone." Matt's voice was low, tinged with bitterness. "But not like this. His presence kept the worst criminals in check. Without him, it'll be open season."

Though Kingpin ruled through fear, his control over the criminal underworld created an uneasy balance. Hell's Kitchen was chaotic, but without that balance, it would descend into something far worse.

Matt grabbed his cane and headed for the door. "Foggy, cover for me with Liz. I'm out for the day."

"Wait! Aren't we supposed to visit the station?"

"You handle it."

"This is your case!"

"Sorry. Coffee's on me next time."

"You still owe me from last time!"

"Next time for sure."

And with that, Matt disappeared down the hall.

---

Matt Murdock.

By day, he was a blind lawyer, advocating for justice in the courtroom.

By night, he was something far more.

Daredevil.

A name whispered by the people of Hell's Kitchen.

A devil who hunted the guilty under the cover of darkness, bringing justice where the law failed.

Though blind, Matt's other senses were heightened to extraordinary levels.

Tonight, his heart weighed heavy. With Kingpin gone and the criminal world in chaos, Hell's Kitchen faced its greatest challenge yet.

He didn't know if he could stop the storm alone.

But he would try.

Because he was Daredevil.

He stood for justice.

And he would never back down from evil.

Matt's face grew serious. "No matter what… Whoever you are, I won't let you destroy this place."

---

Night had fallen.

The moonlight poured from the sky like a transparent veil, enveloping Hell's Kitchen in an eerie glow.

As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the order of the day came to an end. In its place, the chaotic and brutal night order of Hell's Kitchen emerged.

Ordinary people vanished from the streets, and the shops on both sides were tightly shut. It was as though the residents had long anticipated that this would be another sleepless night filled with violence and mayhem.

In the shadows and corners, figures moved stealthily. As time passed, the number of people gathering on the streets increased. The chilling tension of imminent violence filled the air, suffocating and unmistakable.

"Kingpin is dead!"

"Charge! Take his territory!"

"No one can stop us tonight!"

"This is Hell's Kitchen!"

"Follow me!"

"Screw you, Delmar! I'll chop off your dick tonight!"

"Come on, who's afraid of who, Daniel you motherfucker?"

"Yeah, your mom—"

"Kill him!"

"Charge! Take him down!"

Two gangs roared furiously, brandishing various weapons as they clashed in a frenzied melee.

Ever since Kingpin had seized control of the crime world, their wild instincts had been suppressed under his iron rule. Tonight, however, with his absence, they were finally free to indulge in their primal urges.

This scene played out in every corner of Hell's Kitchen, on every street.

There was burning, killing, looting, and smashing.

It was like a deranged carnival where everyone reveled in chaos and destruction.

The wailing of police sirens was incessant.

A significant portion of New York's police force had been dispatched to Hell's Kitchen, swarming into the area. It seemed that the upper-level politicians had foreseen the chaos that would erupt after Kingpin's disappearance.

Bang, bang, bang...

---

Matt, clad in his red bodysuit, darted across rooftops under the cover of darkness.

As he had expected, Hell's Kitchen, without Kingpin's iron grip, had plunged into complete madness.

"Help—!"

A sudden scream from below made Matt pause. Without hesitation, he rushed toward the source of the sound.

In a dark alleyway, a woman was cornered against a wall by several burly men. Her desperate cries for help echoed through the night.

"Hehehe..." One of the men grinned lecherously, his eyes brazenly wandering over the woman's figure. "Hey, gorgeous, why not have some fun with us?"

The other men joined in, surrounding the woman as they blocked her escape. Their faces were lit with malicious excitement.

This woman was stunning, with long hair cascading over her shoulders, a curvaceous figure, and a plunging neckline paired with a miniskirt. Beauties like her were a rare sight in Hell's Kitchen.

The thugs, just imagining their intentions, were already drooling.

As low-level gangsters, they rarely had the opportunity to interact with women of such beauty. At most, they could only steal glances at their boss's girlfriends.

But this woman was even more stunning than any woman their bosses had ever flaunted.

"I'll go first!" The largest of the group shoved the others aside, asserting his dominance.

"No... no, please, I beg you... let me go," the woman pleaded, her voice trembling with fear.

She was pale, her face drained of color, clearly aware of what awaited her. A beauty like her, assaulted by such brutes, would likely lose more than her dignity.

But it was evident that these men had no intention of sparing her. Their wicked grins only grew wider.

This was the classic damsel-in-distress scenario.

Matt was exasperated—not at the need to save someone, but at the sheer frequency of these incidents. He had rescued over a dozen women just this month alone.

Why did this always happen to him?

"Help me! Someone save me!" The woman's cries snapped Matt out of his thoughts.

"Damn it!" He cursed under his breath, hesitated no longer, and leaped down from the rooftop.

Justice descended from above!

The man who had just reached out to touch the woman was struck by a staff.

Crack!

The force broke the man's arm and bent them at an unnatural angle.

"AAAHHH!" The man crumpled to the ground and clutched his mangled arm and screamed in agony.

"Sorry," Matt said calmly with his voice steady and cold. "As long as I'm here, you won't lay a finger on this lady."

A man in a red bodysuit, wielding a metal staff, stood before them.

"It's him!" One of the thugs shouted in alarm, "That freak in the mask and bodysuit who beats us up at night!"

'Freak in a mask and bodysuit?' Matt frowned, puzzled for a moment, but quickly realized they were referring to him.

"Yeah, it's him! Last time, he broke our boss's leg!"

"Me... a freak?" Matt's eye twitched in irritation. Without a word, he swung his staff hard.

Thwack!

The thug was sent flying, crashing into the wall, his two front teeth knocked out in the process.

'This wasn't revenge. No, definitely not. Well, maybe just a little, for the insult.'

"Kill him!" the first thug roared. "Take this freak down!"

Numbers brought courage.

The thugs exchanged glances, emboldened by their numbers. There were five of them against one.

Even if he was tough, could he handle five men armed with knives?

They charged with malicious grins, already envisioning the masked freak lying dead at their feet.

Thud! Crack! Smash!

Within moments, the five thugs were sprawled on the ground, clutching broken limbs and wailing in pain.

Matt had dispatched them with ease.

Given his years of training, these small-time thugs were no match for him, even if there had been ten more of them.

"Get lost!" Matt growled, his voice sharp and commanding. "If I see you again, it won't just be broken limbs!"

"Y-Yes, we'll leave!" The thugs scrambled away, enduring their pain as they fled.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" Matt asked, turning to the woman.

"I... I'm fine..." she replied, her voice trembling with lingering fear.

"That's good." Matt nodded and prepared to leave. "Be careful from now on."

"Wait!" The woman called out urgently, "I'm still so scared. Could you... walk me home? I live nearby."

"This..." Matt hesitated, glancing at the chaos around them. He had more pressing matters to attend to tonight.

"Please!" Her voice quivered with sobs, and her teary eyes pleaded with him.

Matt fell silent for a moment.

It wasn't safe for her to walk alone, and if her home was nearby, it wouldn't take long.

"Alright," he agreed. "Let's go."

"Thank you!" The woman threw herself into Matt's arms, holding onto him tightly.

"Uh... ma'am?" Matt, flustered, blushed slightly.

But as he stood there, a glint of murderous intent flashed in the woman's eyes!

TN: I let my inner goblin out editing the Gacha part, lol.

(End of Chapter)