Chapter 10: Structural Integrity and System Surprises – Or, "My Brain Hurts, But At Least I Can Break Anything Now."
The climactic moment of the HYDRA reveal arrived with the force of a battering ram made of truth and suppressed evil. Natasha's plan was simple: upload all the damning data, all the evidence of Project Insight and HYDRA's deep roots within S.H.I.E.L.D., to the public internet, revealing it to the world. And Adam, of course, was right there, providing his unique brand of assistance.
' This is it. The big show. The grand finale of 'S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Nazi Years.' And I get a front-row seat. My job? Make sure no one gets in Natasha's way. Or, more specifically, make sure everyone who tries to get in her way takes a very long, very unscheduled nap. My 'King's Haki' is about to get a workout. '
The Triskelion became a war zone. HYDRA agents, no longer hiding in plain sight, swarmed the building, desperate to prevent the data leak. Steve, Sam, and Natasha were in the thick of it, fighting for their lives and for the truth. Adam, like a mischievous phantom, moved through the chaos, his presence marked by the sudden, inexplicable collapse of agents. He was a non-lethal, highly effective disruptor.
He'd focus his King's Haki on groups of agents, sweeping his hand dramatically, yelling things like, "Behold, the power of collective unconsciousness!" or "Naptime, losers! Don't forget to dream of puppies!" He left a wake of bewildered, unconscious bodies, piled up in hallways, slumped over consoles, or gently sliding down walls. It created confusion, diverted attention, and provided crucial openings for his allies.
At one point, he found himself facing a particularly large, heavily armed squad led by a grim-faced Agent Sitwell. Sitwell, unknowingly, was about to become the star of Adam's next performance.
"Stiels! Stand down!" Sitwell barked, aiming his weapon.
Adam merely grinned, sweeping his arm in a grand gesture. "Agent Sitwell, you're looking a little tense. Perhaps you need to relax. Take a load off. Experience the sheer bliss of… involuntary slumber!"
A wave of King's Haki washed over the squad. Sitwell's eyes widened in alarm, then glazed over. He slumped forward, his face landing squarely in a bowl of lukewarm tapioca pudding he'd been carrying (don't ask). His entire squad followed suit, collapsing around him like a house of cards, some snoring softly.
' Mission accomplished. Agent Sitwell, enjoying a tapioca dream. You're welcome, world. I save lives, and I make sure bad guys get dessert on their faces. '
As Natasha completed the upload, the truth began to spread like wildfire. Screens across the Triskelion, previously showing S.H.I.E.L.D. security feeds, flickered and then displayed the raw, unedited footage and documents of Project Insight. The entire world would know. The sheer scale of the deception was staggering, and the impact was immediate.
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Plot Event: HYDRA exposed (full). GP earned: 10,000. ]
Adam stared at the notification, his breath catching in his throat. Ten thousand GP. That was a game-changer. An Epic Draw. He felt a surge of exhilaration, mixed with bone-deep exhaustion. He'd done it. He'd played a part in dismantling HYDRA.
' Ten thousand GP! That's like winning the lottery, but instead of money, I get… what? A cosmic toaster? A skill that lets me talk to squirrels? Or something genuinely useful? Please be useful. My life depends on it. And my future dates with Wanda, for that matter. '
He tapped the draw button, his heart pounding. The animation for an Epic Draw was even more dazzling than a Rare one, a kaleidoscope of light and energy. It spun, building suspense, before finally settling.
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: [Epic Skill Card] Structural Grasp (Fullmetal Alchemist) acquired. Recipient: Adam. ]
Adam blinked. Structural Grasp. The ability to understand the structural weak points of any object. Not just how to build something, but how to deconstruct it. How to find the precise point of failure. How to make something fall apart.
He felt a rush of information flood his mind, like a blueprint downloaded directly into his brain. He could suddenly "see" the stress points in the wall beside him, the precise angle at which a pillar would collapse, the weak seam in a steel beam. It was an intuitive understanding, a geometric and material genius.
' Okay, this is… surprisingly powerful. And equally terrifying. I can make things break. Like, scientifically break. This isn't just about pranks anymore; this is about strategic demolition! I could probably take down a building by touching it in the right spot. Or, you know, just collapse a particularly annoying cubicle wall. So many possibilities! So much potential for accidental property damage. '
He was still reeling from the influx of information when he heard a crash from the Avengers gym. He instinctively knew what it was. Thor. Probably trying to lift something too heavy, or accidentally throwing a Mjolnir-sized tantrum.
Curiosity piqued, Adam headed to the gym. Sure enough, Thor was looking bewilderedly at a newly acquired, ridiculously over-engineered punching bag that had inexplicably torn itself free from its reinforced moorings and was now swinging precariously. Tony, meanwhile, was yelling at JARVIS about structural integrity and quality control.
"What's the problem, gentlemen?" Adam asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"This blasted punching bag seems to have… dislodged itself," Thor boomed, looking genuinely confused. "It was quite sturdy moments ago!"
"It was designed by Stark Industries, Thor! It's supposed to withstand a direct hit from a tank! What did you do?!" Tony demanded, glaring at the bag.
Adam walked up to the swinging bag, a mischievous glint in his eye. He reached out, his new skill tingling in his fingertips. He could see it – the barely perceptible hairline fracture in the reinforced chain link, the exact point of weakness in the carbon-fiber casing where repeated impacts had finally created a critical stress point. He concentrated, channeling a tiny bit of mental energy, subtly pushing at that precise weak spot with his newly acquired Structural Grasp.
With a loud CRACK, the remaining chain link snapped, and the punching bag plummeted to the floor with a thud, narrowly missing Tony's foot.
Tony stared at the bag, then at Adam. "Did… did you just break my unbreak-able punching bag just by looking at it?"
Adam shrugged, innocent as a lamb. "Must have been a design flaw, Tony. Or perhaps Thor's magnificent Asgardian strength simply revealed its inherent weakness. Some things are just destined to break. It's the circle of life, you know? The entropy of the universe." He tried to suppress the smirk that threatened to split his face. ' Oh, this is going to be so much fun. I can make anything break. Think of the havoc! The carefully orchestrated chaos! The perfectly deconstructed desserts! '
He grinned, the adrenaline still coursing through him. He had King's Haki for mass incapacitation, Newt's Suitcase for magical retreats, Basic Cooking Mastery for delicious diversions, Go-Away-Green for instant swamps, Smoke Pellets for dramatic exits, and now, Structural Grasp for precisely engineered destruction. He was becoming a walking, talking force of nature, a cosmic vandal with a flair for the dramatic.
The HYDRA threat was mostly neutralized, at least for now. But the world was still a dangerous place, and Adam Stiels was more than ready. He was armed with powers, pranks, and a perpetually sarcastic outlook. The next challenge would involve a certain artificial intelligence, a pair of twins, and possibly, an ultrabot. And Adam was ready to meet them all. Preferably with a well-timed nap. Or a strategically collapsing piece of furniture.
A Special Message to My Amazing Readers!
To keep In Marvel With My Gacha System growing and deliver more chapters faster, I've launched a Patreon! Join today for 5$ unlock 20+ additional chapters and become a vital part of this story's journey. Your support means the world!
you can read also 20+ chapters of "Arrowverse: I'm a Hero"+"The Boys: I'm the New Hue, I Need More V" and "legends of tomorrow : Im a Legend Now"
Click here to dive deeper: [patreon.com/TheFinex5]