Interdimensional Window SHOPping (A System Apocalypse Short Story)

The normal process of being teleported through time and space – and potentially dimensions, Nick was never entirely sure, – was instantaneous. You placed your hand on the Shop orb which was often linked to a Settlement orb, though not always, and then Bam! You were there.
Not this time.

Instead, Nick felt his body twisted and pressed, the very fabric of his reality torn apart and put together, microseconds stretching into an eternity each. In his mind’s eye, or perhaps it was his real eyes, he saw portions of his old life flashing by. A loving wife, working on a trailer with his father, long hours playing poker with friends.

Then, his present one, mixing in. The poker players transformed from his friends into monsters from the deepest myths. Adam grew long, pointed ears, his natural ombre skin darkening even further to the colour of a cloudy, moonless night. Leo suited his name, growing fur and fangs, his nose and mouth elongating into a muzzle, his ponytail transforming into tawny mane. Down by his right, Sam turned into a pixie, shrinking down so that she was barely taller than the wooden table.

Monsters crept along the edges of the table, hiding in the shadows of cheap IKEA lamps. Goblins, guai, werewolves, harpies. More. So much more. In the distance of the half-solid room, the windows of this dream world silhouetted even larger, nastier creatures. One shadow in particular kept coming, closer and closer.

Just before the windows broke apart as a Jabber’wocky crashed through, reality snapped back into place.
Nick staggered, hand raised in fear to deflect the massive monster.

Reflexive motion turned into swaying nausea and he had to breathe fast and deep, as he struggled to control his body. Thankfully, Class Resistances came into play moments later, snapping into place and stabilizing his physical form. Dimensional Shopper, for all its various negatives, was meant for such trips.

Not his first Class but resetting from ‘Junk of All Trades’ was no big loss. If he had a choice when the apocalypse started and the System arrived, he would never have taken it. The fact that there was a choice, but he’d not known to take it, Nick ignored with ease and practice.
Some regrets weren’t worth returning to.

Anyway, the Class reset was part and parcel of his new career.

Intra-Dimensional Travel Shock Resisted!

“Are you doing well, valued customer?” the voice was filled with concern, perfectly tuned and pitched to set one at ease. Female, older and matronly and Midwestern, it was like a warm hug of a voice.

Auditory Charm Resisted!

Too bad he was ready for that kind of trick too.
“Who are you? Where am I?” Nick cried out, shrinking back from the woman. Tall, beautiful purple hair that reached her shoulders and not one but two pairs of tits. She was offering him the most sympathetic smile he’d ever seen and was even clutching his arm, pulling it so that it was pressed against her.

“You’re in the Smallest Big Bang Supermart, the Galaxy’s Premier Shopping Destination for the Discerning Shopper.” The alien lady chirped. “I’m your Personal shopper, Vi, and will be happy to guide you around, Nick.”

“How’d you know my name?” Nick said, startled.
“I scanned you, of course. We do that for all our esteemed customers.” Vi said. “It’s not everyday we get a Gambler in here though, it’s not the most popular – or survivable – Class choice on a Dungeon World.”

Nick grunted. That had been his other option when the apocalypse had come, and he’d agreed with her. Getting automatic attribute points in Luck was one thing, but Luck wasn’t going to stop an enraged overgrown hamster from eating your face.

Not that Junk of All Trades was much better, but at least he had options with the Class Skills, including the ability to swap them out for even worse variations of Skill’s other Classes used around him. It had given him at least some combat options in the beginning along with a lousy heal. Good enough to keep him alive till he got his lucky break.
Probably why he chose to use Gambler as his cover Class too. He was lucky after all.

“What can I say, I’m lucky.” Nick narrowed his gaze, standing straight. He did not, however, pull his arm from hers. Being woozy and a little out of it was part and parcel of the act after all. “But this isn’t my Shop. Mine’s a lot more green. And a lot uglier. Has an orc with a scar and an eye missing too. Don’t even know who he was kidding – you could get that fixed by the Shop super simple.”
“Hakarta.”

“Orc. Same thing.”
He noted Vi eyes flicker with suppressed anger. One thing Nick had learnt was that Galactics didn’t like casual speciesism. Deliberate speciesism was fine, but casual ones? Not a chance. Certainly not directed at groups that were considered more established like the Hakarta. Annoyed or not though, she kept the smile on her face, even leaning in deeper and purring a little more.
“Come, come. Let’s sit down. I’m sure you’re still feeling a little nauseous? You do seem to have recovered well though, Nick my dear.”

“Good Constitution I guess.” Nick made sure to stumble a little as she led him away from the teleportation pad to a nearby open awning. He flopped down into the swinging chair which was floating in mid-air, a metal base beneath utilizing powerful magnets to keep the entire thing aloft. “Had to put quite a few points in to survive Earth.”

“Of course, of course.” She looked at him a little suspiciously still, but moved on as she brought out a yellow bottle. “Have you tried Esvan alcohol yet? I understand it’s similar to your world’s whisky.”

“More a bourbon fan myself, but sure…” He took the alcohol from her, sipping on it carefully. It was sweeter than he would have expected from the description.

Release Date: 15. September 2023

Pages: 26

Genre: LitRPG Sci-Fi

eBook ISBN:

Language: English

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