MARVEL: CARD EXTRACTION SYSTEM

[Daily Roulette has been reset.]

The roulette wheel was reset every day at midnight. So getting the notification while I was awake meant that it was already late.

"Another day, another chance to get something amazing on the roulette wheel. I wasn't lucky yesterday, but today is definitely a new day."

At that moment, it was my second day with 15 spins on the roulette wheel, and with each spin, the chance of winning something useful was 10%. Statistically, I should get at least one thing on every spin, but who knew what fate had in store for me today.

This time, the roulette wheel stopped on empty spots three times before finally lining up with a glowing symbol at the top of the wheel. The message appeared on the screen:

[You have received the "Batman Grappling Hook" Uncommon Weapon Card!]

"Okay, this is better than what I got yesterday, but it would have been more useful sooner. Still, I might think about keeping it if nothing better comes along."

After that, the roulette wheel spun a few more times. Just as I was about to be disappointed again and regret spending 300 card points, the roulette wheel stopped and a new message appeared for me.

[You have received the Common Skill Card "Nimble Evasion (Gleen, The Walking Dead)"!]

[Skill: Nimble Evasion

Description: Allows the user to move extremely efficiently through hostile and dangerous environments, increasing their stealth by 50% in turbulent, dirty, and devastated environments. In addition, the zombies around you won't hear you unless you get too close.

Rating: Common.

Assimilation: Not started.]

This was the first card that talked in numbers about how effective the skills were. This one was probably so different because it wasn't a technique that required training like the others, nor was it a skill like the Unusual Skill cards I received a few minutes ago, this was simply an effect card.

"System, does this card have more defined statistics because it's an ordinary skill card?"

[Exactly. Common skill cards don't just depend on skill, they also depend on luck a lot of the time, so there's a chance that even if the skill is active, the promised effects won't be fulfilled.]

"I think I've got it... Since I'm a cautious person, I'd normally like to keep this, but I don't think I'll run into any zombies on Earth-616, so I think I'll sell this card for the first time to try to get some of the..." While I was still talking, I had an idea. "Wait, this skill might be useful in a certain world."

I already had the idea of going to a Marvel world where the heroes had failed, a world a little more dangerous than Earth-65, so that I could have more freedom, the chance to get better missions, and more generous rewards. So getting this zombie skill was a good complement to my idea.

"System, how many card points do I currently have?"

[Balance: 3700 Card Points.]

"Completing my mission with Gwen gave me 5,000. I spent 1,000 to buy the Capture Card and 300 to spin the roulette wheel... I'd like to leave some money to buy items that might be useful in the next world, so that I'm not completely dependent on luck... Um, I think I've made my decision. System, which Marvel universe has zombies and is the one I have the best chance of surviving in?"

[I calculate that Earth-2149 from the comics is the one you have the best chance of surviving, but you won't be exempt from very high risks and it's highly advisable that you don't go to that universe.]

"Are you advising me? Is it really that dangerous?"

[The dangers of Earth-2149 are not only ordinary zombies, but also heroes turned into zombies.]

"And you think I don't know? But now I'm curious about something, System... From what I vaguely remember of Marvel's zombie comics, the zombies in them retain some memories, feelings, and some can even talk and think, but that doesn't happen in the animated Earth-2149. So why is Earth-2149 safer in the comics?"

[Because the animated Earth-2149 has a zombie Thanos with all the Infinity Gems.]

"Yeah, you have good point. Have a good night."

Tired, I went back to bed. The day had been full, and now I just wanted to turn off. Even though the zombie universe was on my mind, a part of me knew that I needed to rest before making any decisions.

"I'm not going to think about zombies right now... tomorrow is a new day."

I turned on my side and adjusted the pillow under my head. The sofa was old and uncomfortable, but in the state I was in, sleeping on the floor would have been acceptable.

The next morning...

'Smell of... scrambled eggs? I hadn't felt that in a long time.'

It wasn't a dream, it was real.

I sat down on the sofa and rubbed my face to get rid of my eyes. My eyes immediately went to the small kitchen of the apartment. And there she was. Gwen was stirring a frying pan with casual skill, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." She said, not even needing to turn around to know I was awake. "I went through your fridge, but... surprise, there's nothing useful in there. So I'm improvising."

I blinked again, trying to understand what was going on. Gwen. In my kitchen. Cooking eggs. The sight was still a little unbelievable.

"Are you... making breakfast?" was all I could manage to ask.

"More or less. I'm trying to salvage what's left of these eggs. I don't even know if they're any good, but considering you don't have many other options around here, it'll have to do."

The irony in the way she spoke made me smile. "Is my fridge that bad?"

She turned around and leaned against the counter, spatula in hand. "Bad? Bad would be a compliment. I think you need to go shopping. Like, urgently. If you want to survive another week."

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