At first, I didn’t know why I was here. It’s another world, another place, and the gods say I’ll have a lot of powers. But I didn’t get it, no, not at first. 

It’s a world where the roads lead everywhere. Asphalt, tarmac, dirt, and all. It’s a world with tall buildings, massive cities that never seemed to end, mountains with crazy mountain passes. At the same time, it’s a world, with companies, factories, gangs, governments, and a whole lot of mundanity. 

So I lived half a year in this strange new world, so much like ours, but a bit more futuristic, just working as a regular office worker, earning a paycheck, renting an apartment with a massive four car garage, complete with computers and all sorts of equipment, walking to work every day. Since I didn’t need a car, I didn’t get why almost all the apartments I have seen came with a garage for three cars, and why they needed all these sort of gadgets.

Half year of frankly, wondering whether I’ve been conned. 

Until one fateful night, leaving late after work, I heard a loud VROOOOOM.

Outside a small ramen shop, a gorgeous red Manda RX-7, okay, On closer look, it’s purplish-red pearlescent paint, the city’s lights glimmering on its front hood. Frankly, the city lights, so dreary previously, never looked more beautiful. It had no elaborate stickers, just a small sign at the side of the passenger seat, ‘Night Nation’, written in both English and kanji. The driver, a lady in her 30s, had a takeaway pack of ramen, in a plastic bag. 

I didn’t know why I just stared at the car. And she noticed. 

“Gorgeous thing, eh?”

I heard it, but my mind didn’t process it at all. I just kept looking at the car. Thinking back, my non-reaction meant she looked a bit annoyed, but small matter.

“Are you just going to keep staring at my car?”

“Huh?” Her second statement snapped me out of my staring. “Oh. Sorry. I should get going. Sorry.” 

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I went home to my apartment. But I kept thinking about the car.

And the next day I called in sick to visit a car dealership. 

“Any of these cars speak to you? A Manda? A Toyoka? A Fort?” The dealer smiled, he’s a middle aged man, he looks to be 30s, but I reckon he’s a bit older, since his hair is greying.

They all look beautiful. I never noticed it before, since my way to work from my apartment took me through lovely pedestrian walkways and subterranean paths, but the cars in this world, they... shine?

Or is it just the polish and bright lighting in the dealership?

Either way, I walked the entire dealership, and there are cars from all price ranges. 

There’s also a base model Manda RX-7, in blue, but I’m too poor to afford one. Price tag? $240,000. 

I have $40,000.

“At that budget, why not the Manda Myata? I have an older 3rd gen model at $40,000! Or the 7th Gen Konda Sivik at $37,000!”

“Show me.” 

The choice. A small compact two door Myata, in light blue, or a four door Sivik in light silver. They’ve got a choice of whether it’s 4WD, rear-wheel or front wheel drive on all models.

In the end, I thought the Myata looks cooler, and cleared out my bank account. 

Spent $40,000

It’s an incredibly easy process, and the dealer passed me the keys and the papers within an hour of waiting. 

I sat in my Myata, inserted my key into the keyhole and started the engine, I found out why I’ve been sent to this world. 

“Welcome, master.” The car speaks to me, through the speakers. I thought it’s just fancy UI interface, but no, it is the car itself. “Do you wish to access your menu?”

“Yes!”

The car projected something I've waited forever to see. A status menu.

> Driver details   Name : Phil Driver gang : None Driving Level : 1 (participate in 1 race to level up) Special abilities : Gacha Special abilities : Fabricator Special abilities : locked (level 3) Special abilities : locked (level 5) Special abilities : locked (level 10) Special abilities : locked (level 15) Special abilities : locked (level 20) Money : $0 Others : None

> Car details   Manda Myata 3rd Gen   Car Level : 1 (win 1 race to level up) Special abilities : Turbo Horsepower : 120hp Upgrades : nil Others : nil Race record :   Wins 0 Losses 0 Lightness value 30