"Are you really okay? I haven't seen you in a month! I'll stop by to visit you this week," my aunt said in a worried voice on the other end of the line.

  "I'm fine, Aunt, thanks for asking. I can't wait to see you, but maybe it's better to postpone a little longer. How about next week?" I replied, feeling a mix of shame and frustration as I looked at the state of my apartment.

  I needed to do something about that mess. I didn’t want my aunt to know that, besides being unemployed, I was also a lazy person who couldn't even tidy up his own place.

  After another five minutes of conversation, I agreed to her visit on Friday.

  Even though she disagreed, she said she would introduce me to a friend who managed a marketing company—just in case I was still unemployed when she came.

  I was grateful for the offer, but at the same time, I felt a little embarrassed about needing her help to get a job.

  Given her insistence, I just silently agreed and sat down on the couch, reflecting on the poor choices that had brought me to this point.

  Lost in thought, I heard a voice in my head.

  [Activating Game Creation System]

  [0%, 9%, 16%, 38%, 57%, 89%, 100%.]

  [System successfully activated.]

  [Reward for activating the system: Starter Pack.]

  Before I could react, a blue crystal ball appeared in the air. Reflexively, I reached out to stop it from falling.

  As soon as I touched the crystal ball, I heard the voice in my head again.

  [Would you like to open the starter pack?]

  The voice asked.

  "Yes...?" I answered without thinking.

  [Opening starter pack]

  [Congratulations! You have received the Game Creation Workshop.]

  [You have received an Empty 2D Game Card.]

  [Free Engine Coupon.]

  [You have received 500 Creation Points.]

  Two strange cards fell into my hand, and as soon as I touched them, a bright blue screen appeared in front of me.

  I could feel a subtle vibration in my arm as the screen displayed the descriptions of both cards.

  [Item: Empty 2D Game Card]

  [Description]: This card can perfectly copy all information from a 2D game. Once used, the game's information will be displayed in the game editing workshop.

  [Warning]: It is important to remember that the copied game cannot be published in the same world it was extracted from.

  [Item: Free Engine Coupon]

  [Description]: This coupon allows the user to choose a game engine completely free of charge from the system's store.

  I still hadn’t fully understood, but it seemed like I had awakened one of those systems that appear in novels and anime.

  However, my system was different from those overpowered ones I had seen online. While others were "Supreme Cultivator System" or "Multiverse Emperor," my system plagiarized games.

  It may sound like I'm complaining, but I’m not. Having a system is better than not having one at all. And with the gaming market booming this year, creating a game could make me a lot of money.

  And that was exactly what I needed at the moment.

  *"Wait... It says I can't publish in the same world...?!"* I was stunned by the revelation.

  Did this mean I could publish games in other worlds?

  Could I copy as many games as I wanted without worrying about lawsuits or anything like that? This possibility excited me even more.

  As I was thinking about which game to choose, the system answered my previous question.

  [Yes, the copied game can be published in a different universe. Currently, only one universe is available.]

  I was stunned. I could barely believe it.

  "How do I create a game?" I asked the system enthusiastically.

  The system responded.

  [To create a game, you first need to go to the Workshop, create a project, and develop it based on the available models.]

  Creating a game from scratch sounds like a really difficult task, doesn’t it? After all, games are built on carefully crafted stories and worlds—not to mention all the programming involved. I was sure I didn’t have the necessary skills for that.

  Fortunately, I received this wonderful surprise gift!

  The Empty 2D Game Card!

  With it, I could copy ready-made games and publish them without worrying about all the technical details.

  Even though it was just a 2D game, there were hundreds of excellent options, including some that had been nominated for Game of the Year awards.

  "How do I use the card?" I asked.

  [The way to use the Empty Card is to hold it and think of the desired game.]

  Simple and easy.

  The only problem was: what kind of 2D game could succeed in another universe?

  Unsure, I asked the system.

  "What is the universe where I can publish?"

  [The only available universe is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You can unlock new universes by completing missions.]

  "!!!???"

  "Marvel Cinematic Universe?" I repeated, trying to process the information.

  This was beyond amazing! As a superhero movie fan, I was completely thrilled.

  However, my excitement soon faded.

  I began to realize how difficult it would be to create a game in this universe, filled with superheroes, wizards, and aliens with godlike powers.

  Ordinary people usually don’t waste their time playing games, especially when so many incredible things are happening in the world.

  It took me a moment to calm down and think clearly, and I realized that the most important factor was the year in which the Marvel universe of the system was currently set.

  After the events of Iron Man 1, heroes and supervillains started appearing like popcorn. But before that, the Marvel world wasn’t much different from my own.

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  "What is the current date in the Marvel universe?" I asked the system.

  [February 24, 2008]

  I sighed in relief.

  "And how much time is left until the beginning of Iron Man’s story?"

  [Three months until Tony Stark is kidnapped.]

  Perfect!

  Right now, everything in that world was as normal as it should be. There were probably still plenty of people addicted to video games.

  I needed to secure a large number of loyal players before the Marvel universe turned into chaos!

  Without further hesitation, I commanded the system to open the Game Creation Workshop!

  Before my eyes, a strangely familiar door appeared in the air.

  It looked like any other door, yet at the same time, it had something that made it peculiar.

  As I stepped through it, I was instantly transported into a vast, mysterious room with a futuristic design.

  The translucent surfaces, with a soft blue hue that seemed to emit its own light, reflected my silhouette as I walked toward the center of the room.

  The floor and ceiling were made of a material that resembled digital data, glowing in a bright blue tone, rippling beneath my feet and curving smoothly up to the ceiling.

  It felt as if I had stepped into the setting of a sci-fi movie.

  My eyes scanned the room, marveling at every detail, when suddenly, a holographic screen appeared in the middle of it. The system's gentle voice echoed through the space.

  [Welcome to the Game Creation Workshop! Would you like a quick introduction?]

  "Yes."

  As soon as the system started its tutorial, a series of options appeared.

  [Main Menu: Here you can access all system functions.]

  [Game Manager: Create, edit, and remove your projects here.]

  [Tasks: Missions will be generated according to the host's progress. At the moment, only one mission is available.]

  [System Store: All items needed to create a game are available here.]

  [Multiverse Store: Here you can buy items from other universes.]

  The system's functions weren't too different from what I expected, but the Multiverse Store caught me off guard.

  Curious, I selected the option, but to my disappointment, all the items in the store were grayed out, and a message appeared on the screen.

  [A connection to another universe is required.]

  I felt a little disappointed upon realizing I needed to publish a game before I could explore the store.

  "Let's see here..." I murmured, pondering for a moment as I held the empty card in my hands.

  I kept thinking about the best game to start with. Since I wanted a game that would be a hit even in another universe, I ended up choosing one that, even 25 years after its release, was still considered by many to be the best in its genre.

  The image of a dark castle atop eerie hills began to imprint itself onto the card. The game's name slowly appeared, written in a clear yet imposing font.

  Castlevania: Symphony of the Night!

  Yes, the game I chose as my first project was none other than Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, released in 1997 and still widely played today.

  Maybe it was the system's effect, but as I looked at the card, I could feel a chilling atmosphere taking over me. It was as if the game itself was emanating a sinister energy through the card.

  "Incredible..." I sighed, feeling a mix of surprise and excitement at the card's effect.

  [Use the "Castlevania" game card as a model?]

  The system asked.

  "Yes."

  The card in my hands shattered into several pieces, which suddenly transformed into holographic data that flew toward the screen.

  Soon after, a new screen appeared.

  [(Game Manager Menu)]

  [Create]

  [Edit]

  [Delete]

  [Game/World Rules]

  [Templates]

  I carefully examined the available options and immediately selected "Templates." That’s when I found a template named "Castlevania (Complete)."

  As soon as I clicked on the option, a message appeared.

  [Do you wish to turn the "Castlevania (Complete)" template into a new project?]

  I could barely contain my excitement and answered "yes" without a second thought.

  Suddenly, hundreds of holographic objects and items began flying out of the Castlevania template. Intricate environments, sinister enemies, rare items, character sprites. It was as if everything had come to life before my eyes.

  The iconic opening music started playing, and an oppressive sensation filled the room as the image of Dracula’s castle emerged.

  Even though it was just a holographic castle, it was frighteningly realistic. Everything was so vivid and intense that it felt like I was truly inside the world of Castlevania.

  But as I looked around, my excitement began to turn into concern.

  I didn’t understand a thing about those complex programming codes—I had never studied anything about it before.

  Just as my worries reached their peak, the system's voice interrupted my thoughts.

  [It has been detected that you lack sufficient knowledge to develop a game.]

  "Great, now I’m going to lose the system. I should have studied programming!"

  I started cursing my life until the system spoke again.

  [Your knowledge is insufficient.

  Recommended purchase:

  Basic Programming - 50 points

  Intermediate Programming - 400 points

  Advanced Programming - 2000 points

  Master Programming - 50000 points]

  I let out a relieved sigh and looked at the skill list for a moment, choosing the one that best fit my limited budget of 500 points.

  [You have purchased the skill 'Intermediate Programming.']

  Suddenly, a flood of information overwhelmed my mind. The headache was unbearable, but it quickly passed, leaving behind a deep understanding of programming codes.

  As I looked at Castlevania’s files, I started seeing them from a new perspective. I realized I could significantly improve the game, and now, I had the skills to do so.

  But even with my newly acquired knowledge, I could tell that updating Castlevania would still be difficult for me.

  Without hesitation, I used the free engine coupon and entered the system store, searching until I found a high-quality 2D engine.

  The Sky Engine was by far the best option in the store, and thanks to the coupon, it was completely free.

  It had advanced features, far superior to the best engines available on the market. Best of all, it allowed the development of both 2D and 3D games.

  [Do you wish to open the 'Sky' program?]

  "Yes."

  A floating screen appeared beside me, the size of a tablet. Among the various Sky options, I selected the one that intrigued me the most.

  Suddenly, a surge of Castlevania game files flew toward me. They were all the game’s sprites.

  [Would you like to update the sprites?]

  "Yes."

  The automatic sprite update was one of Sky’s most attractive features. This function not only improved the game’s graphical quality but also its fluidity.

  With this, Castlevania was more than ready to be launched in another universe. But I still wanted to implement many other improvements in the game.

  [Update in progress... 1%...]

  [Estimated time: 26 minutes]

  26 minutes to upgrade an entire game’s graphics! If the programmers at Konami knew about this, they’d have a heart attack.

  "Now it's time to work some real magic!"

  For me, the most important function of Sky wasn’t related to programs, physics, or game sprites.

  What made me choose it was the ability to adjust the atmosphere. When I used the empty card, I felt a chilling sensation that sent shivers down my spine. And when the castle appeared, the oppressive atmosphere enveloped me completely, as if I were truly in the presence of the Lord of the Night, Count Dracula.

  I wanted the players to experience that same feeling.

  I wanted to give this castle a sense of the unknown—something that would provoke curiosity and apprehension in the players.

  So, using Sky Engine’s full potential, I began working to modify and update Castlevania, adding new sounds, music, visual effects, and even altering some castle areas to create a sense of mystery and challenge for the players.

  With these modifications, the game's atmosphere was gradually transformed to make players feel completely immersed in it.

  "Now I need to update the mechanics, map design, and add a few more items."

  Determined to make Castlevania the best game ever released in the Marvel universe, I got back to work.

  +

  (Meanwhile, in the Marvel Universe)

  New York, Central Plaza.

  Ethan and Tyler were sitting on a bench in Central Plaza, watching people walk by and birds flying overhead.

  The sun was shining brightly, and a cool breeze was blowing from across the street. Both were dressed in light clothes suited for the pleasant weather.

  Ethan had blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. He wore a white T-shirt and jeans, while Tyler wore a plaid shirt and jeans. Tyler had brown hair, green eyes, and a light beard.

  As they looked around, Tyler turned to Ethan and asked, "So, man? What have you been up to since the last time we met?"

  "Not much, to be honest," Ethan replied, shrugging. "Just working and playing games a bit. What about you? How’s life?"

  "I’ve been working too, but I started doing yoga. It’s amazing, it really helped me relax and relieve stress," Tyler explained enthusiastically.

  "Ah, I tried yoga once, but there were only women in the class. I felt kind of out of place, you know? So I stopped going," Ethan said, taking a sip from his water bottle.

  "Don’t worry about that, man. It happens. But I got used to it pretty quickly. Besides, there are several yoga studios for men here in the city. You should try it someday," Tyler suggested, giving Ethan a friendly pat on the back.

  "Who knows? Maybe I will," Ethan replied, laughing.

  They sat in silence for a moment, watching people pass by.

  Ethan sighed again.

  "You know what I really want to do? Play paintball."

  "That would be a great idea. I think this plaza would be an amazing place for a game," Tyler replied.

  Ethan nodded, smiling.

  "Definitely. It would be you and me against the whole world!"

  "We’d win with a little effort," Tyler said.

  The two friends kept chatting about casual things and enjoyed the day together, while the city's noise created a lively and vibrant atmosphere around them.

  Ethan suddenly said,

  "You know that magical feeling that sometimes guides us to make decisions? Well, I had one of those this morning."

  "You mean intuition?" Tyler asked, curious.

  "Exactly. I woke up with the feeling that the right thing to do was to spend this week playing video games."

  Tyler laughed.

  "In the end, you just want an excuse to game all week, don’t you?"

  "Maybe."

  Ethan admitted, laughing along with his friend.

  Ethan could never have imagined that, beyond his intuition being right, among celestial beings, aliens with divine powers, and sorcerers capable of controlling time, he was the only being in the universe to sense that magical feeling.