Marvel: Starting from the Snap

###

There was no need for speculation or further explanation.

The events unfolding before Luke's eyes aligned perfectly with a scene deeply etched in his memory.

The great turning point of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's third phase, where the Avengers faced their most devastating defeat. The event that rippled across the cosmos—a cataclysm known as the **Decimation Crisis**!

"How did I end up here, at this moment?"

Though this was his first experience with transmigration, Luke, having been shaped by countless 21st-century fictional works, quickly came to terms with the bizarre reality.

He accepted his circumstances faster than most might expect, but what truly baffled him was the timing—why now, at such a critical juncture?

In other novels, transmigrators usually encountered Spider-Man or stumbled upon Tony Stark. Even with Thanos looming as an existential threat, those protagonists often had time to prepare and grow stronger.

But not Luke. He was thrown directly into the thick of the **Decimation Crisis** without any warning or preparation.

"Wait a minute…"

A chilling thought crept into his mind, sending shivers down his spine.

"Could I also be at risk of being snapped into ash?"

The moment this thought surfaced, it became impossible to suppress.

Luke's breathing grew erratic, and his body trembled uncontrollably—not from the onset of the Decimation, but from the visceral fear of an unknown and inescapable death.

"Calm down… Calm down!"

Leaning against the wall, Luke slowly slid to the floor, his gaze fixed on the shards of broken glass scattered nearby. Taking deep breaths, he tried to steady himself, as if remaining physically calm could shield him from the omnipotent Infinity Stones.

He knew this was purely psychological, but with no options at hand, Luke could do nothing but sit there, awaiting whatever fate had in store.

The chaos outside continued unabated—the wailing sirens of police cars, the panicked screams of women—it was a symphony of despair.

Luke prided himself on his resilience, but in this moment, he realized he had overestimated his courage.

"Maybe I should just… give up."

A sudden, fatalistic thought surfaced.

Life and death were beyond his control, and even if he were snapped into ash, he would theoretically return in five years with Tony Stark's sacrifice.

A strained smile tugged at his lips, as if this comforting lie could steady his fraying nerves.

But his gaze soon wandered to the bed—a sight that made his heart skip a beat.

"What the…?"

Luke froze, his attention drawn to the dark ash spread across the sheets.

Piecing together the events from the moment he awoke, he realized he had completely overlooked a chilling detail: he had been lying atop a bed covered in human-shaped ashes.

With a jolt, Luke shot to his feet and rushed to the bed. The closer he got, the more details came into focus—the ashes distinctly outlined the silhouette of a human body.

After a moment of stunned silence, Luke turned his gaze toward the refrigerator. Several photos were affixed to its door. One depicted a cheerful, bright-eyed Asian man.

Without hesitation, Luke grabbed the photo and rushed to the bathroom.

Standing before a shattered mirror, he stared at his fractured reflection—his own face staring back at him, yet it filled him with unease.

Holding the photo beside his face, he compared the smiling visage to his reflection.

"F***…"

The realization hit him like a freight train.

No wonder he hadn't received any memories or experienced any discomfort adapting to this world. He hadn't transmigrated into another body; he had appeared in this world, taking over the home of someone who had just been **snapped out of existence**.

But what did that mean for him? If the original owner of this body had been obliterated by the snap, could Luke still be revived in five years?

He didn't dare dwell on the implications.

All he could do was wait for the unknown to unfold.

---

Time crawled by agonizingly slowly. Each second felt like an eternity. Luke fixated on his hands, terrified that at any moment, they might dissolve into nothingness.

Eventually, he noticed the light inside the apartment dimming. As he came to his senses, he realized the worst was over—the Decimation Crisis had passed.

A soft breeze flowed through the shattered window, carrying with it the cacophony of chaos from the world outside. Despite the ongoing turmoil, Luke felt a profound sense of relief.

Collapsing onto the sofa, he finally allowed himself to relax.

"So…" he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, "I… survived."

But alongside the relief came a surge of determination.

Clenching his fists, Luke vowed silently:

This feeling of helplessness—of having my fate decided by someone else—will not happen again. I survived this time, but what about the next? Or the one after that?

Strength. The ability to control my own destiny. Without it, I'll always be at the mercy of forces beyond my comprehension.

---

Suddenly, the shrill sound of a ringing phone shattered his thoughts.

Turning toward the noise, Luke saw the phone lying beside him.

The caller ID read **A-GL**, a cryptic designation he couldn't decipher. But whoever it was, they had to be connected to this apartment's original owner.

Luke hesitated.

He was now an undocumented presence in this world, a ghost with no identity. Taking this call could expose him and bring unnecessary trouble.

But at the same time…

In chaos, there is opportunity.

After a moment's deliberation, Luke picked up the phone and answered.

The voice of a middle-aged woman immediately filled his ear:

"Agent Kaya, glad to see you're alive. Report your status immediately."

---

*(Chapter End)*