I woke up in that dump called "Motel Star," feeling like I'd slept on a pile of bricks. Sunlight sneaked through the busted blinds, and I stretched until my joints creaked like an old bike. After yesterday's factory demolition with the new Purple Wave and Spider Sense on Jedi mode, I felt like the king of New York. But, damn, a king without cash and breakfast ain't much of a king.
"System, you got anything for me?" I muttered, yawning. "'Cause if not, I'm hitting up pancakes and letting Marvel sort itself out."
SYSTEM RESPONSE: NO NEW TASKS. SUGGESTION: SEEK ADVENTURES IN THE CITY OR TRAIN SKILLS.
CURRENT POINT BALANCE: 30.
"Adventures? Sure, but food first," I scoffed, pulling on my boots. "I ain't saving the world on an empty stomach."
I left the motel, passing the receptionist who glared at me like I was walking bad luck. I strutted down the street, purple hair flowing like a shampoo ad. Spider Sense Level 2 tingled lightly—not danger, just a "something's brewing" vibe. In New York, that's just Tuesday.
I found a pancake joint downtown. Neon sign read "Pancake Paradise," and the smell of maple syrup nearly knocked me over. I plopped at the counter, ordering a stack with whipped cream. The waiter, a skinny dude with a hipster beard, stared at my purple nails.
"Yo, you one of those… superheroes?" he asked.
"Superhero?" I snorted, spearing a pancake. "Buddy, I'm Juri Han. I don't save the world, I just make a mess. But if you want, I can kick your ass with style."
He laughed and walked off, shaking his head. I was chowing down, feeling like a god, when Spider Sense pinged again. I turned and saw… a pink hurricane. Gwenpool, in her candy-colored costume, burst into the joint, waving a donut like a flag.
"Juri! My purple ninja!" she squealed, plopping down next to me uninvited. "What's up? Found Thor yet to compare hairdos?"
"Pinky, for real?" I sighed, setting down my pancake. "You here to steal my food or you got something better?"
"Better?!" Gwenpool practically bounced, her pigtails flopping. "Hear that, New York? Juri Han says donuts are boring! But seriously, I'm hitting a superhero festival in Central Park. You in? They've got show fights, hot dogs, and maybe even Deadpool!"
"Deadpool?" I raised an eyebrow, feeling this was getting good. "The chimichanga guy with the dumb jokes? Hell yeah, I'm in. But if he tries stealing my pancake, he's eating a Purple Wave to the face."
Ding!
NEW TASK: JOIN THE SUPERHERO FESTIVAL AND STEAL THE CROWD'S ATTENTION!
REWARD: +40 SYSTEM POINTS, POTENTIAL NEW SKILL.
"Oho, the system wants a party too," I muttered, chugging my cola. "Alright, Pinky, lead the way. But if it's lame, you're buying the hot dogs."
---
Central Park looked like Comic-Con on steroids. Crowds everywhere, booths selling Avengers merch, kids in Spider-Man and Iron Man costumes. In the middle was a ring where "superheroes"—probably local cosplayers—did show fights. Gwenpool dragged me through the crowd, yapping like a wind-up toy.
"Look, a sword booth!" she pointed at a stall with plastic katanas. "Want one? It'd match your purple vibe!"
"Pinky, I've got Purple Wave that wrecks walls," I scoffed, firing up the Feng Shui Engine until my eye flashed purple. "Why do I need plastic when I'm a walking weapon?"
Suddenly, the crowd surged, and a guy in a red-and-black suit with two katanas and a mask like a pizza-emoji hybrid jumped onto the ring. Deadpool. The crowd went nuts, and he started waving like a rock star.
"Hey, fans! Ready for the Deadpool Show?!" he yelled, doing a pirouette. "Today, I'm smashing some losers, eating tacos, and maybe finding Wolverine for coffee! Who wants to see me kick ass in 4K?"
"Oho, this guy's like me but with a bigger ego," I laughed, nudging Gwenpool. "Think he can handle Juri Han?"
"With you?!" Gwenpool squeaked, clapping her hands. "It'd be like two comics colliding! Get in the ring, show him up!"
Didn't need to tell me twice. I leaped onto the ring, landing with a purple eye flash and a smirk that screamed "get ready to lose." The crowd roared, and Deadpool tilted his head at me.
"Well, damn, a purple ninja with a sexy accent!" he said, drawing a katana. "Who're you, babe? New X-Men? Or Catwoman on acid?"
"Juri Han, dude," I shot back, dropping into a fighting stance. "Not X-Men, not Catwoman, just me. Ready for a kick that'll send you to another comic?"
"Ooo, feisty!" Deadpool laughed, doing a flip. "Alright, babe, show me what you got. But if you lose, you're buying tacos!"
"Tacos? You're buying when I wreck you!" I growled, triggering Purple Pulse. I charged, and the crowd started chanting "Juri! Juri!" Spider Sense Level 2 caught his move—katana swing right—so I used Dance Dodge, weaving like an anime ninja. I nailed him with a precision kick to the gut, sending him into the ropes.
"Ow! That was like a mule kick on steroids!" Deadpool yelled, getting up. "Where'd you get those legs? Training with Chun-Li?"
"Chun-Li? Please, I'm Juri Han!" I laughed, coming at him again. Purple Wave was ready—my hands glowed, and I fired an energy wave right at him. He dodged, but the wave smashed a chunk of the ring, and the crowd lost it.
"Okay, that was cool!" he admitted, firing his pistol. Spider Sense pinged, so I flipped out of the way. "Ha! Ninja, where'd you get those moves? eBay?"
"From the System, dude!" I shot back, landing another precision kick. He grazed my arm with his katana, but regeneration patched it up in seconds. "Gotta try harder, Pizza Face!"
The fight went on—he threw quips, I threw kicks. Finally, I unleashed a combo: Purple Pulse, Dance Dodge, and Purple Wave. The energy wave blasted him out of the ring, straight into a hot dog stand. Mustard splattered everywhere, and the crowd roared with laughter.
"Alright, purple, you win!" Deadpool stood, wiping off mustard. "But you're buying tacos 'cause I was sexier!"
"Keep dreaming, katana-boy!" I laughed, hopping off the ring. Gwenpool ran up, handing me a donut.
"Juri, that was epic!" she squealed. "You're like a shonen anime heroine! We grabbing tacos with this guy?"
"Only if he pays," I winked at her.
Ding!
TASK COMPLETED: STEAL THE CROWD'S ATTENTION AT THE FESTIVAL!
REWARD: +40 SYSTEM POINTS
NEW SKILL: PURPLE WHIRL (SPINNING AREA ATTACK FROM FENG SHUI ENGINE)
CURRENT POINT BALANCE: 70.
"Purple Whirl? System, you know how to deliver!" I laughed, heading off with Gwenpool and Deadpool for tacos. New York was wild, but with Juri Han in the game? This was just the start of the party.