In southern New York, Brooklyn sprawls as a straight, spacious, yet neglected street. As night falls, distant commercial streets, office buildings, and residential structures illuminate with a dim glow.
Beside a crossroads outside East Fulaibash, a young man, clad in a plaid shirt and jeans, stealthily squats. His name is Goofy, an unemployed young man who originally did not belong to this world.
Eighteen hours ago, Goofy awoke from a dream, finding himself in an entirely unfamiliar reality. Simultaneously, a foreign memory invaded his mind—this is America, akin to a certain Western country in his original world. Moreover, many familiar "celebrities" populate this world, such as Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, and Norman Osborn—characters from comics and movies are now real in this dimension. Goofy, too, has become a member of this world.
However, Goofy, bound by a "superhero system," can upgrade by acquiring other people's "worship points" or "admiration points," thereby enhancing his various attributes. The excitement of traveling with the system proved overwhelming, causing Goofy to collapse. As a senior otaku, he detests traveling, especially to the Marvel world that constantly faces destruction.
Yearning for his own world, Goofy simply wishes to return, sit on his sofa, open a bottle of beer, and watch superheroes on TV rather than become one himself. Thus, Goofy resolves to go back to his original world. Fortunately, there's a potential loophole in the "superhero system": after the host Goofy's death, he can return to his original world before the crossing.
Yet, the superhero system is rooted in positive energy, adhering strictly to core values. It prohibits all behaviors detrimental to the physical and mental growth of the host. Smoking, alcohol abuse, self-discipline, self-mutilation, and other harmful habits are strictly unenforceable. The system takes control automatically if the host tends to harm itself.
Similarly, actively picking quarrels, provoking trouble, and endangering others' safety are explicitly prohibited. Goofy cannot instigate passersby in the Marvel world to kill him, thus forcibly dying. Despite these constraints, self-sacrificing behaviors are allowed by the system, particularly if the host is protecting others, public safety, or collective property.
In this "simple" Brooklyn area, the task of dying heroically appears too straightforward. For instance, the crossroads in front of Goofy, known as "Death Crossing," connects East Frybash, a renowned black district, and the infamous dirty nightclub "Dark Frontier" in the southern district. Drunk driving, drug driving, and unlicensed driving prevail, earning this intersection the notorious nickname of "Death Crossing."
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In the first half of the year, 19 traffic accidents occurred at this intersection, resulting in two fatalities. Despite deploying a considerable police force, no cars have come tonight. The unruly nature of those around him convinces Goofy that this "junction of death" is his portal back to the real world.
The hazy night, like a deadly bell, descends as nocturnal animals in the city gradually lose their senses. Subwoofers roar in the distance, vulgar cursing echoes from East Fuleiba, and passersby cautiously navigate the brink of hell on the sidewalk.
Goofy, fixedly staring at the intersection, eagerly awaits a speeding car to fulfill his desperate plan. Frustration builds as he questions the law-abiding nature of Brooklynites and longs for the thrill of danger.
Finally, after nearly five hours, LED headlights approach, accompanied by the violent roar of a sports car from the southern district. Four pedestrians are nearby, with a young nurse wearing earphones oblivious to the impending danger. A smile creeps across Goofy's face as he admires her fearless spirit.
The engine's roar intensifies as the yellow sports car runs the red light, heading straight for the crosswalk. At this critical moment, Goofy, like a cheetah, jumps around the crowd in three swift steps, reaching the nurse on the sidewalk with a timely warning.
"Be careful!"
The nurse, initially shaken by the headlights, is saved by Goofy's swift intervention. The cry is short-lived, replaced by relief as Goofy pushes her out of harm's way. The yellow sports car brakes urgently, leaving black tire lines on the ground, and collides with Goofy.
Rolling around, Goofy endures the silence that follows. After a brief moment, terrified screams erupt from the crowd, assuming a fatal accident has occurred. However, much to everyone's surprise, Goofy, knocked into the air, struggles to his feet.
"Damn, I didn't die."
Despite the intense pain in his left elbow, Goofy remains conscious and determined. Disappointed that his sacrifice was unsuccessful, he turns angrily towards the yellow sports car that ran a red light and hit someone.
At this moment, the driver timidly climbs out of the car. With numerous onlookers, a hit-and-run is not an option. The strong, middle-aged Hispanic man, smelling of alcohol from "Dark Frontier," attempts to apologize.
Rushing forward, Goofy picks up the middle-aged man's collar, disregarding the pain in his left arm.
"How did you drive?"
The middle-aged man, apologetic, attempts to express regret with a heavy tongue. However, Goofy's next words silence him completely.
"How come you can't even kill someone?"