Chapter 1:
'Oh, great. Where am I this time?'
[You are in an uncharted dimension]
"I can see that." Why did I get stuck with this useless piece of digital interdimensional software? "I meant where exactly am I?"
[Please wait while your location is being backtracked]
"This better not take all day."
I coiled my abdomen, draw the lower half of my body to my chest and kip up to my feet. As expected, I am in an unfamiliar land. Boundless lands sparsely populated by strange plants with coil-shaped leaves that reminds me of the Coiled Sword from Dark Souls 3.
My attention shifts to a nearby tree and decided that I'll have an easier time getting a hint of where I am if I have a vantage point. I crouched down, back bending with the motion, and leap onto the treetop. Not much of a change in the scenery. I glanced up and saw several cloud iridescences slowly swirling in the blue sky. It's a very beautiful and colorful optical phenomenon – a mesmerizing sight watching the colorful clouds spin softly in the sky.
[Backtrack completed. You are currently located in an uncharted dimension conjoined to a planet called Earth via a Dimensional Rift]
"Dimensional Rift, huh? Which Earth are we talking about by the way? There's like countless of planet Earth out there." And by out there, I meant the multiverse.
[Unknown]
This useless… Okay. Going off-topic. Let's approach this differently.
"How did I end up here?"
[Backtrack analysis shows that you've collided with a Dimensional Rift. This universe is dimensionally unstable resulting in the formation of Dimensional Rifts]
"That's interesting." I mused to myself.
It seems I've found myself in an unrecorded universe if my system doesn't know where we are. As someone who's been afflicted by wanderlust since birth - this is an exciting prospect! Better yet, this dimension is also connected to Earth, meaning there's civilization and opportunities to conduct business with! This is a blessing in disguise! Time to start setting things up.
"Begin set up."
[Starting set up process]
So, you might be wondering who I am. The name's Seth Mercer. At least, I believe it is. Anyway, allow me to explain myself.
Ever wondered how that merchant or shopkeeper keeps appearing out of nowhere and in odd places? Sure, you will find many in a town, village, or city. But sometimes, one of them decided there's no better place than setting up a business in the most dangerous or isolated area. While you and your party were fighting through hordes of monsters and traversing perilous lands. This merchant guy or gal has already set up a shop and is ready to do business with anyone who stumbles across them. And let's not forget that there is a good chance most merchants and shopkeepers can effortlessly rip you a new one if you decide to attack or steal from them.
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Think Kecleon's shop from Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. The Shopkeeper from One Step from Eden; the Merchant and the Duke from the Resident Evil/Biohazard series; Nico's Van shop from Devil's May Cry; the Traveling Merchant and the Skeleton Merchant from Terraria. Just to name a few.
'Let's see… I should start off with the basics, then build up the more I know about this place.'
[Categories created]
Supplies
Medical provision, utility equipment, you name it!
Smithy
Buy, upgrade, repair, or design your own weapon and armor!
Clothes & Accessories
Spare wear while being functionally fashionable!
Food & Drinks
A wide selection of ingredients, meals, and drinks to choose from!
Sell
'What are ya selling?' Because everything has a price!
'Now, to finalize the change.'
[Categories implemented into store interface]
The typical next step is to stock up on my supplies or choose my mobile shop. I can't exactly do the first option since I don't know anything about this universe. My wares are normally tailored to the universe I am in, save for a few special items I throw in the mix, so I will have to do things on the go. That leaves me with deciding what kind of medium I want to use for my store.
"What to choose…?"
Just as I was about to open my interface, I paused, feeling like something was sneaking up on me. I whirled around just in time to see a giant reptilian creature lunging at me.
"KHSAAAA!"
I side-jumped its snapping jaws and ducked under its outstretched limbs in one swift motion. The reptilian creature skitters on the ground, ripping chunks of grass and dirt. What a way to make its introduction.
Taking a good look at the thing, it's a quadrupedal beast with orange slit-like pupils for eyes and about the size of a right whale. It possesses scales of green and brown that blend well with the environment, and spikes protrude from its head down to its pointed tail. Likely a defensive structure to prevent other creatures from attacking it from above. Powerful hind legs and thick forelegs let it move and strike at terrifying speed, complemented by a pointed snout and bone-crunching jaw containing rows of razor-sharp fangs.
If I were, to be honest, it looks like an evolutionary cousin of a Tigrex from Monster Hunter.
[Analyzing unidentified lifeform]
The giant reptilian creature lets out a clicking noise and sized me up despite the obvious size difference.
[Reference found. Unidentified lifeform is designated as a Bombardier Thorn Drake]
"Bombardier?"
In response to that, the Bombardier Thorn Drake opened its jaws and unleashed a burst of smoldering venom from two of its elongated fangs.
"SSSHAAA!"
I found myself completely soaked in its smoldering venom and even more unfortunate to get some of it in my eyes and mouth. The bitter taste and unpleasant sensation are enough to make me gag. No pain. No burning. No damage. Just the discomfort of getting something disgusting in your eye and mouth. Yes, I'm practically immune to all forms of damage for some reason.
"Gah! Puah! Aw, yuck! Da- Whooa!"
I was instantly snatched up in the drake's jaw and could feel its many fangs clamping down on my body, trying to crush or grind me away. The worst part is that it smells of rot inside here while its teeth grate against my skin and clothes. Despite not being able to chew me apart, the drake was adamant about eating me and swallowed me whole.
'Oh, no! I am not going out the other end!'
With a fierce kick to the back of its throat, the drake jerked its head back and violently shook its jaws to cough me out along with a mount of yellowish salvia. It emanated a rotten stench that clung to my body and clothes, giving me even more grievance to enact upon. There's no reasoning with a wild beast, and I am in a very bad mood at this point. I brushed my sticky amber blond bangs away from my face before snapping my fingers, causing the filth on me to fizzle out of existence. I glared at the Bombardier Thorn Drake. My brown eyes matched its blazing orange slit pupils.
"Time to liquidate an unclaimed asset."