Marvel : The God Of Punishment System

The post-disaster reconstruction efforts moved forward with remarkable efficiency. New York had essentially transformed into a massive construction zone, with the cityscape undergoing a complete metamorphosis. Skyscrapers sprouted from the rubble like steel forests, and the constant sounds of rebuilding filled the air from sunrise to sunset.

But beneath this facade of progress, the New York government teetered on the edge of financial collapse. Despite generous federal funding allocations for reconstruction, their coffers ran dry. Years of accumulated city reserves had evaporated, leaving municipal accounts barren.

Of course, none of this concerned Jason in the slightest.

The Avengers headquarters, comfortably positioned across the river from Manhattan proper, had mostly escaped the destruction. Jason sealed himself in his private chamber, silently communing with the system to claim his hard-earned divine reward.

[Congratulations on receiving the reward: Becoming a God through Faith. ]

Through the system's knowledge transfer, he immediately grasped the mechanics of this extraordinary ability. Exactly as the name suggested, Jason could ascend to godhood by cultivating devoted followers and harvesting their faith!

Of course, these "believers" weren't traditional religious adherents. Rather, when someone placed sufficient trust and admiration in him, the system recognized them as a faithful follower.

The instant he received the reward, an immense surge of power flooded his being from seemingly nowhere. This was accumulated faith generated by countless souls he'd saved during New York's repeated crises and the recent global catastrophe.

His mental calculations estimated at least one million believers had already formed this power base.

These faith energies immediately converged within his soul, slowly coalescing into a glowing seed of divine potential. Jason closed his eyes, extending his consciousness to examine this new phenomenon.

These faith energies bore remarkable similarity to the fear power the serpent had absorbed, yet contained something fundamentally different – the hopes and aspirations of his believers.

Delving deeper into the collective consciousness of his followers, Jason discovered their fundamental wish: a peaceful, stable existence free from constant apocalyptic threats.

With a focused thought, the faith seed underwent rapid transformation. It sprouted roots, burst forth with shoots, expanded exponentially, ultimately evolving into a magnificent tree that dominated his soulscape.

The World Tree. Jason recognized its nature instinctively.

The metamorphosis continued. Nine crimson fruits appeared throughout the branches, arranged at varying heights. One suddenly trembled violently before exploding into nebula-like cosmic dust. The particles swirled, condensed, and reformed into a perfectly spherical golden orb.

This was... the First God Domain.

Jason extended a finger experimentally. A shimmering portal materialized before him. Stepping through, he found himself transported to a valley that epitomized paradise itself.

Crystal-clear springs meandered through verdant landscapes, ancient trees towered majestically, songbirds filled the air with melody, and vibrant flowers painted the ground in rainbow hues. The entire realm breathed with poetic beauty.

His divine senses instantly mapped the entire domain. The God Domain resembled Earth in fundamental ways – a complete planetary sphere! However, only a hundred-mile radius surrounding his location bloomed with life. Beyond this oasis lay endless deserts and the lifeless Dead Sea.

Within this realm, he wielded absolute creative authority. A mere thought could shift seasons, reverse time, or reshape reality itself!

Though currently limited to this hundred-mile sanctuary, Jason understood that expanding the kingdom required only more faith energy. As believers multiplied and their devotion strengthened, the World Tree would flourish, gradually transforming the entire planet into a living paradise.

Returning to the material world, Jason's brow furrowed with contemplation. The sheer magnitude of this reward exceeded all expectations.

Perhaps calling it a "reward" oversimplified matters. The system had essentially provided a divine master key, allowing him to harness faith power that had accumulated through his prior heroic actions.

Without his established reputation and massive following, this gift would've been as valuable as a handful of attribute points.

But still...

Had he essentially stolen accumulated faith from established deities? The thought gave him pause.

Earth's traditional gods had remained conspicuously absent during recent catastrophes. Maybe... maybe they wouldn't notice one ambitious mortal collecting their scattered faith?

Better exercise caution regardless. No telling what kind of temperament these cosmic entities possessed.

He moved to the window, watching a Blackbird fighter streak across the sky – the Avengers departing for another mission.

Jason stroked his chin thoughtfully. Technically speaking, the Avengers did siphon away some of his potential believers. In this era of frequent disasters, superhero fans were guaranteed devotees.

Should he eliminate the competition?

The notion dissipated as quickly as it formed. The Avengers effectively served as his employees, generating reputation and followers through their heroic deeds.

Besides, analyzing his current following revealed room for massive growth. Despite saving millions, only a fraction had achieved true believer status. The market remained far from saturated.

Solo expansion would prove painfully slow. Although the Avengers claimed some followers, overall he profited from their operations. This was still a growth market – no need for cutthroat competition over scraps.

But when market saturation eventually arrived, difficult choices would need making. The graves of superheroes should be dug early.

Earth could support only one supreme deity:

The Savior Jason!

…

After President Darius Freeman and Vice President Barden's deaths in the basement tragedy, House Speaker Michael Penn assumed the presidency. His first act? Calling Jason to express profound gratitude.

Their initial conversation remained pleasantly superficial, lasting mere minutes.

Days later, Penn called again. After exchanging pleasantries, he broached the real purpose of his call.

"Uh... Mr. Jason, I must inquire – are Captain America and Iron Man currently in your custody?"

Jason's eyebrows arched with amusement. Finally remembered those two, did we?

These were America's premier superheroes – icons of national identity. One represented nostalgia for simpler times, the other embodied cutting-edge innovation and limitless wealth.

Though neither matched Jason's unprecedented status, both possessed substantial heroic potential.

He'd been debating their fate for days.

The simple solution involved execution or permanent imprisonment. But such brutality would waste their value entirely.

Professor X's deep scan of Stark's mind had revealed disturbing anomalies. Strange energies protected the billionaire's consciousness, making thorough examination impossible without reducing him to a vegetative state.

Jason already suspected the manipulation came from Mephisto. Exposing this connection was easy – but retaliation required careful planning.

So both Steve and Stark remained in limbo while Jason contemplated optimal strategies.

Penn's voice crackled through the receiver. "I need to understand... what exactly did they do during the invasion? How severe were their actions?"

Jason leaned back lazily, propping his feet atop his desk.

"Then let me share the Avengers' official findings on the matter. Former member Captain America Steve fell under the hammer's mind control during the serpent's resurrection. He personally demolished six major buildings, damaged over eighty residential homes, and devastated three entire city blocks. His rampage caused thousands of casualties, with a confirmed death toll exceeding six hundred. Had Professor X not intervened precisely when he did, Steve would've easily topped one thousand deaths."

Audible gulps echoed through the phone. Penn had grown up amid post-WWII Captain America propaganda – the star-spangled hero had been his childhood idol until political aspirations replaced such innocent admiration.

Never had he imagined witnessing the icon's catastrophic fall from grace.

After collecting himself, he pressed anxiously, "And... what about Iron Man Tony Stark?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.

New : Marvel With Spider Power and Omnitrix

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~