Chương 2: A New Beginning!?
My goal for most chapters are for them to be a minimum of 3k words. It's to mostly give myself a sense on how long or how short events I plan in the future would affect the length of every chapter.
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First thing you should do when waking up in a unfamiliar setting is not to panic. Those old enough to drink should master this skill when going beyond your limits and end up not going home. Second is no doubt your body is stiff from sleeping on a rough surface so you gotta gently stretch your limbs to identify-!
CRACK
"AHHHH! CRAMP! CRAMP IN LEG!!"
Cobalt eyes went comically wide as the pain of his leg attacked his senses. His calf muscles tightened hard like a spring lock, sending him rolling around the floor in a awkard circle.
In 2 minutes, though felt like a eternity for him, his cramp finally began to subside enough for him to curl up in on himself whimpering and focus on the bigger picture. "God that sucked. Where am I?" He took in his surroundings to find himself in behind a counter.
Behind the counter were empty shelves made of what appears to be mahogany and polished to give it a shine. The floor under him was also a polished wood with a dark brown that went nicely with the mahogany. "So all that happened…was real?" Looking down on himself, his previous clothes were gone and replace by a white t-shirt and black shorts. Nothing else.
Deadpanning he slowly got up, making sure not to trigger another muscle cramp, grumbling. "If I'm suppose to be some super dimensional guy owning a shop, I should have more clothes to work with than this!"
He sighed and ruffled his gray hair and went to scan the rest of the shop…wait. Gray hair? Blinking he looked up and notice his blackish brown hair was now a ash gray from what strands he can see. "I guess it's a way to differentiate myself from my previous life. Potential anime worlds mean anime hair I guess."
The counter was a black marble and had a computer to the right and was directly in the middle of the back wall of the shop. It was build in a shape of a square box so all walls were the same size. If he were to guess from floor to the ceiling was about fourteen feet(4.2672 meters) and each wall could be estimated at 40 feet(12.192 meters).
Decently big with the walls having shelves on both ends with the middle split to show a window of the outside. Thats when he remember another factor and knocked a fist into a hand. "Thats right! I'm in my own world now!" Going around the counter, he peaked through and was assaulted by a sight he couldn't even imagine.
The sky was sunny out with the sun at the very top, no doubt meaning it's the afternoon, but despite it being day the colors of space never went away. A few clouds floated about in a great sea of blue, purple and pink. Stars were blinking and shining in packs, some bigger and some smaller picture clear. In this world Pollution does not exist. This alone allowed Cobalt to experience the breathtaking scene before him. Looking down the ground around was all grass as far as he can see, swaying lazily in the wind.
Compare to his city, where the sky was always cloudy, stars barely showing, it would be comparing comparing trash to a art piece. There simply is no competition. "I can't wait to see what night looks like!" Grinning he decided it's time to see the rest of the shop and get started.
Having a floor plan roughly sketched in his head he ban to inspect the rest of the space. In the back wall is his counter, two doors behind with one having the symbol of a bed and another having a fork and spoon crossed over. His bedroom and kitchen no doubt.In front of the counter was little shelves for candy or something along those lines he presumes. On the right side of the room of the black wall was a universe bathroom so he took a quick peak and was surprised to see a clean bathroom with white tiles, a toilet, a sink and mirror. Basic stuff if it wasn't for the shower box in the corner.
"I can offer showers I guess? Some world do get some people dirty." Checking the mirror he noticed his gray hair was short and was not styled like he had when working back in his previous life. His eyes a dark amber is now a deep blue. He wouldn't mind much until he realized something was wrong. He looked to the left. Then the right.
"MY EYES ARE STARS!?" That's right! Deep in his eyes his pupil was surrounded by specks of little lights that seem to move where he looked. A deep sapphire blue with flecks of sparkles. He cringed.
"What anime is this even based on? Sailor moon? They don't have sparkling eyes?" In 2017 the current mainstream anime's can be summed up as a gaggle of genres. From the second season of My Hero Academia, Food Wars third plate, Tanya the Saga of Evil, anime as mostly all over the place. Thats not all. From what he remember, that talking voice mentioned games and shows even movies.
Of course there is still the classics like Naruto, Bleach, One piece and so on. Wonder if One Piece ever finished? Maybe there's a way to update his knowledge and maybe watch new stuff he missed from…you know death.
Accepting his new eyes he looked in the middle of the shop. Intead of more wooden shelves there was glass displays. Empty of course but in the were a velvet carpet of some kind no doubt to showcase his future rare and expensive stuff. Fancy.
Finally, the entrance was two big glass doors with two glass panels on either side. Beneath the windows were foot tall(30.48 centimeters) stages that can fit about four human sized mannequins. His shop, he noticed was a create to not fit a single theme but multiple. From snacks from a gas station to potentially a drug store or even a armory.
"Gotta amit this is getting exciting. Only places left to check is my room and kitchen. Though." He stared at the front door. He witness the outside through a sheet of glass and was in awe. So what it'll feel if he can…go outside?
Gulping, he placed his hands on both doors and slowly pushed them.
.
.
.
"They're pull aren't they? God damnit!" His face blazed, fueled now by embarrassment of his blunder he pulled the door handles violently and a rush of everything hit him at once.
The smell was the first thing he noticed, a scent of morning dew grass permeated the air. No gas from bustling cars, no odor from trash bins or litter. The smell wasn't corrupted by human selfishness. The breeze felt never ending, barely strong enough to move grass yet wrapped around him in a warm hug. It was slightly chilly with warm winds, opposite to how it was during summer. It was like the world is in a constant state of spring. Fresh and living.
This was worth accepting this position. His bare feet touch the cool grass, shivering slightly from the moisture it produced, and took everything is. Maybe in the future he can add more to the scenery as despite how soothing the area is, it could use of trees or flowers. Maybe animals one day. With the sun shining down on his he felt he hit paradise.
"Paradise…yet I'm alone." Cobalt muttered with a bitter smile. In a vast world like this, he was alone. His friends and family are left behind as he embarked on a journey to a whole new world. "How selfish is that? Thinking about being in a wonderful place like this, leaving behind everyone." His eyes grew misty, making his way back inside. He was offered a second chance and took it. He had no right to cry when he was the one who accepted the terms. Who knows? Maybe he can't send a message one day to them. He never did get to make a will, though he didn't expect to die at seventeen.
In a more somber tune, he closed the doors and walked to the counter. Raising both hands he slapped his cheeks hard. Pain blossomed but his resolve needed a start up! "I can't be thinking like this! I won't waste my time moping about the past. I can now only move forward to a brighter future! And I'll make sure others can have a future too!"
Marching to his room he opened the door to see a fairly big room. A large king bed in the corner with teal sheets and navy blue blankets and pillows. A dresser next to it with a digital clock on top. Another corner was a empty desk with a office chair neatly in front of it tucked in. A window to the out side was over my bed showing the back of the building. It appears that the entire building is all square. No doubt so for future upgrades I can either expand vertically or had rooms around. A closet with a mirror on the door revealed the only clothes he had was ones currently on, while a personal bathroom was next to it with a tub intstead of a shower box.
Finally is the kitchen. Walking it the left wall had a dish washer, a sink with a garbage disposer. To his right was a metal counter with most cooking utensils hanging on a rack. Above cabinets filled with pots, pans, plates, you name it.
The back wall had two stoves with each having four areas to cook along with a deep fryer to the right and a small counter to the left. Lastly was the massive double fridge for meat and ingredients. Though when opening he realized its was void of anything.
Now worry started to settle in. No extra clothes, no food and no money to even buy stuff. "Am I playing Don't Starve? Hoe can I live like this?" Cobalt grumble and made his way to the final thing that can give him hope. The computer.
It was a standard monitor with a pc hooked up under the counter with a classic office keyboard and mouse. Nothing to crazy and from peering into the pc it wasn't meant for gaming as it had the most basic part you can get. "Wonder if I can monopolize graphics cards. Shit give me a marvel or dc universe and I'll hook you up cheap." Could be fun, have Batman and Spiderman running to him for techno stuff though it wasn't his forte, he can still sell the stuff. Ooh, maybe give Batman vibranium and give Black Panther sister Nth metal and have the geeks discover what overpower shit they can make. Or fuck himself over if it turns out to be Injustice and or god forbid Albion.
"Actually if I get any variant of marvel or dc that's not the cinematic universes I'm quite le fuck~."
Booting up the pc it ask for to create a account with my name, birthday and…alignment? "What I can choose to be fuck all evil or god loving good?" Eh not his thing.
Don't get him wrong both sides are fun. Playing fallout as a dick is great, GTA you literally play as three criminals, well two criminals and Trevor(who is a league of his own), Infamous with choosing to be good or badass with red lighting, and etc. on the other side being good is also entertaining such as Undertale saving the monsters while enjoying there vast personalities, Bioshock saving the little sisters, Resident Evil 4 saving a dog that will come back to help you for saving it. While most games that have mortality system would cater more for you to be evil doesn't mean being good is t fun.
He doesn't see himself as good or evil. He hates some people for being unredeamable like Joker or even Superman in Injustice. The hell you mean you killed Shazam? I don't care if he didn't know he was a child I bet you would do it agian! Superman is not a bad character but the narrative that if he would ever lose his city and girl to a villain would send him on a god trip is wild to me.
So if he were to choose what alignment he was, it would be chaotic Neutral. Shit even some villains can be better to hang with then some heroes. He fall more with anti-hero then hero or villain.
Finishing up his account the computer home page appears. Flashing to the right was a icon of a envelope with number 3 on top. "I'm guessing the Manual? Please be the manual."
[mail Call]
You have 3 unread messages!
>Getting started
>Starter Pack
>Shop Function Manual
"Thank God!"
^Getting Started
Good afternoon Cobalt! Hope you had a good sleep. As you can see everything is up and ready to go for your future adventures into the unknown. To start off I left you $3000 USD to began your business in venture. If you explored before opening the mail note that any essentials are added when activating the starter pack. The Manual is also add that'll explain everything about your new home! Remember I'll be watching, respectfully of course, and have fun!
~#^€£]¥\
"Thank you mysterious voice! Could ya at least leave a name for me to call you?" As he said that another mail popped up.
>No :D
"Bastard!"
^Starter Pack
Please choose what you wish to sell first:
-Snacks Tier 1
Snacks from all around that grant minor passive buffs. Includes chips, candy, soda. Cheap
-Accessories Tier 1
Basic accessories that grant temporary minor passive buffs. Includes Wristbands, Armbands, hats, glasses.Cheap
-Clothes Tier 1
Basic clothes that grant minor passive buffs. Include shirts, pants, undergarments. Cheap
Skills/Spells scrolls Tier 1
One use scrolls that anyone can use. Includes Utility Skills, Utility Spells. Cheap-Moderate
Note you can only choose one. Other options will be available in the future.
Cobalt hummed as he went over his choices. Three out the four focus on granting a form of small stat increase or passive ability. Snacks can be easy to sell due to the wide variety of preferences can be satisfied. The tiers probably imply they will eventually unlock future and better stuff in that catagory. Accessories is a bit tougher as not everyone are into that kind of stuff but seeing how it can grants benefits he can spin a tale to sell them or efficiently. Clothes are sorta the same but if you know in most media, the one outfit trend tends to run amok. Especially if I get super hero customers or medival world inhabitants. Now skills and spells are no doubt a game changer. Even the most basic of power can be used usefully and probably sell better too and probably the fastest way to make money. Though it can also be harder to sell to those who don't or won't use magic.
"If I were to pick a path it would be the scrolls or snacks. Clothes and accessories are great and all but not every world is life and death and I can sell them for those who have everyday life's to live. Even worlds that are in the past benefit from some sorce of food and drink or a nifty tool/shortcut."
He scratched his head in though glancing between the two. Finally a saving grace appeared in the form of a message.
>Flip a Coin
Impatient bastard die. What coin can i possibly-. A glint caught his eye and saw a coin that definitely wasn't on the counter. Picking up a tick mark appeared on his head. Heads was a eggplant and tails was a peach. "You fucking HENTAI!!" He flung the coin away only for it to somehow bounce off a display case, onto a light on the ceiling, hitting a window, and slammed into his forehead.
Ding!
>Ha, dick head! That's snacks by the way
One day. One day I'll drag you out your perch at wherever you live. And beat the living hell out of you.
>You have chosen Snack Tier 1. Please look into the Manual to understand progression. Loading in products…
Placing Items…
Loading complete.
You can now sell:
-Mint gum -Cola
-Spicy gum -root beer
-Fruity gum -water
-chocolate Bar -Raspberry Soda
- white chocolate Bar
-strawberry chocolate Bar
-chocolate Wafer
-Vanilla wafer
-Strawberry wafer
-cheese puffs
-Potato chips
-barbecue Chips
-sweet kettle popcorn
-chocolate Pocky
"Holy!" In a flash of light the front of the counter changed. Now filled with all the named sweets as well as a small refrigerator appeared on the left of the counter now filled with the drinks.
Picking up a generic chocolate his mind registered what it is.
Chocolate Bar
$1 USD
1 Store Credit
Effect: Grants [Minor Regeneration]-> 10 minutes
+2% Speed->3minutes -> Stacks five times
Resets one consumed more
Builds [Sugar Rush]
He winced at the rush of information that entered his head. It was instant and slightly unpleasant. "Thats gonna take getting use too. Alrighty then last message."
He clicked on the lady mail, while noticing a new icon appeared of a book with a red ribbon.
^Shop Fuction Manual
Owner Cobalt. Please take this information to heart as it'll be vital to your journey.
First is Finances. Every month you will have to pay a a upkeep to replenish your products. For the first month it's free but that's the only time you get. You don't have to worry about paying for water or heat as it's a byproduct of the shop. Every week you'll be taxed 10% of your earning to 'feed' the shop. Yes while paying for bills isn't a issue, you still need to manage the shop as if it's a part of you. It's continued existence relies on you and you it.
Next is the products. As you can see products follow a tier system. After selling a amount of the product you can buy the next tier and the next, etc. Note that you spend money to upgrade quality of the items with some unlocking 'brands'. Though they won't be brands from your world as copyright is a issue in every universe and too much of a hassle to deal with. Though once a item unlocks a brand, it will become cheaper to replenish and can earn more income.
Next is costumers. The costumers is NOT always right, so don't worry about denying or proving a costumer wrong. This does not give you the right to abuse them of course, though do note you have the right for self defense. If you find a customer is being unruly or refuse to follow your rules you can set a ban timer till you believe is right to let them back in. Now as you know, costumers are the blood of the shop. They hold the the very life essence in them. Money. More money come in the longer the shop can funtion. More money come in new opportunities can be given.
The computer is the heart of the shop. This is where everyone is manage. Renovations, upgrades, account management, all. Here you can also keep track of the costumers that come in but for now you can only view who shows up. Later functions can be added. Lastly a market app to buy yourself essentials will be added. From clothes to entertainment. You can use money you gain to support yourself. Though remember this. If you event run out of money.
Y O U D I E
Keep track of okay. You been given $3000 USD to begin with. Make use of it well.
Finally the world. The world is the reflection of the shop. The more you progress the more the world does as well. Eventually the world will molded by you to be what you wish it to be. A concept. It will birth itself anew and become a concept that reflects you and the shop. Will it be hope? Will it be death? Or even greed? It is up to you.
That is all. The Manual will be here at anytime to be reviewed if needed and wish to see you prosper. Any questions can be ask through the Manual owner support once you ever unlock communications. Have a good day.
"I…I…".
Cobalt stood completely white with wide eyes. Time moved surely as the windows dimmed to a low sunset. Truly what a sight the sunset must be-
"IF I GROW BROKE I DIE!?"
Yes. What's sight to be behold.
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I didn't want to make a system as it's been done before so I tried this approach. Coming up ideas to fill in for a system was quite tricky as I had to remember to differentiate between having a system and having a computer system is like.
Let me know what would your first product would be. I'm curious what you will come up with. Critique is welcomed and appreciated.
Have a good day~
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