A man stands in the restroom, gazing into the mirror as he examines his reflection. He brushes his short, straight black hair, his black eyes meeting their own gaze in the glass.

Turning on the sink, he cups his hands under the running water and splashes it onto his face. Droplets trail down his light brown skin. He looks back at the mirror and exhales heavily. “Just another day. Another life, Zack,” he murmurs.

Adjusting the uniform with the 7-Eleven logo embroidered on his shirt, he exits the restroom. The cool blast of the air conditioner grazes his skin, sending a shiver through him, especially where water still clings to his face. As he walks to the counter, his eyes sweep the store—rows of shelves stacked with snacks, slushie machines humming softly, freezers stocked with drinks.

Beyond the glass doors, the darkness outside is broken by the familiar neon glow of the 7-Eleven sign. 'At least this place feels cozy.' Zack shakes off the thought, heading behind the counter. He grabs a towel from underneath, wipes his damp face, and neatly places the towel back. Straightening up, he waits, eyes on the door.

The bell above chimes, announcing a customer. Zack slips on a professional smile. “Welcome.” The man who enters wears a dark green hoodie and faded blue jeans. His sharp features and blue eyes are striking under the fluorescent lights. Without a word, the customer glances at Zack before heading to the snack shelves. He grabs a few items, moves to the refrigerators, and selects a drink. Approaching the counter, he places his choices in front of Zack.

“That’ll be three-fifty,” Zack says after scanning the items.

“Here,” the man replies, sliding a five-dollar bill across the counter. Zack takes the cash, drops it into the register, and counts out the change. He places it into the customer’s hand, along with the items in a plastic bag. “Here you go,” Zack says.

The man offers a faint smile. “Thanks,” he says simply, before heading for the door. The bell chimes once more as he steps outside and disappears into the night.

Zack gazed out the window, watching the dark street illuminated by the glow of a streetlamp and the bright 7-Eleven sign. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 4:00 AM. Feeling the weight of boredom, he slumped into a chair. Time dragged on, and eventually, he checked the clock again—5:45 AM. His shift was nearly over.

The bell above the door rang, and a woman entered as she wearing the same uniform as him. She smiled warmly and said, “Zack, anything interesting happen during your shift?” Her short black bobbed hair and striking blue eyes seemed to brighten the room.

Zack couldn’t help but smile back. “Just the usual, Mia. An empty, cold night,” he replied.

She nodded and walked to the staff room to drop off her belongings. Returning to Zack, she placed her hands on her hips. “So, what are you planning to do today?”

“Umm… I don’t know. Probably just play some games,” Zack replied with an awkward smile.

Mia frowned, shaking her head. “A man your age should be out exploring the world, not stuck inside playing games.”

Zack chuckled and sighed. “Urgh... You sound like my mom. Honestly, if my friends weren’t so busy all the time, I’d probably find walking around outside more interesting. But unfortunately, that’s not the case.”

“How about walking with me after my shift ends?” she asked, smiling as she tilted her head to meet his gaze.

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“Nope, no way,” Zack said, flicking her forehead with his finger.

“Ow!” Mia exclaimed, rubbing her forehead.

“Every time I go out with you, my wallet ends up empty by the end of the day. So, nope,” Zack teased.

Mia sighed but smiled. “Yeah, yeah, my bad. But next time, it’s on me.”

“Sure, promise?” Zack said, raising an eyebrow.

Mia grinned and patted his shoulder. “Yup, promise.”

Zack smiled and nodded. “Okay, I gotta go now,” he said, heading to the staff room to grab his things.

Mia called after him with a playful shout. “Alright, make sure you get some rest, Zack!”

Zack returned from the staff room with his belongings in hand. He smiled as he walked past her. “Yeah, I will,” he replied, waving at her. Mia waved back, a warm smile on her face.

He walked to the door, pushed it open, and stepped outside. The early morning air was crisp, and the faint hum of the waking city surrounded him. Checking his phone, he noted the time: 6:00 AM. Taking a deep breath, he started the short five-minute walk to his apartment.

As he walked, he observed the quiet chaos of the morning. A couple of neighbors were already arguing, their voices sharp against the otherwise peaceful street. Cats hissed and meowed aggressively at each other in an alley, and other people shuffled past, busy with their own routines. Zack chuckled softly at the familiar scene and muttered to himself, “Just another day, another life.”

Minutes later, he arrived at his small apartment building. The building’s age showed in the cracks running along the walls, the peeling paint, and the rusted railings. A faint smell of dampness hung in the dimly lit hallways, where flickering lights barely illuminated the chipped tiles underfoot. Zack sighed as he climbed the stairs to the third floor of the five-story building.

On reaching his floor, he walked down the hallway until he reached his door. Fishing the key from his pocket, he inserted it into the lock and opened the door. The dim, empty apartment greeted him. Closing the door behind him, he flicked on the light switch, and the room was bathed in a soft, yellow glow.

He let out a tired yawn, kicked off his shoes, and walked straight to his bedroom. Collapsing onto the bed, he stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought. How long do I have to do this? How long do I have to tell myself to keep moving on?

Doubt and dark thoughts began to creep into his mind, but he shook his head to dispel them. His eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment until, finally, he closed them. Darkness enveloped him, and with it came the solace of sleep.

Then he woke up in an unfamiliar place. Trees and a bright blue sky greeted him as he felt the soft grass beneath his back. Confusion filled his heart as he stood up, brushing off the stray blades of grass. Looking around, he noticed mushrooms glowing faintly and unfamiliar birds soaring through the sky. But what truly shocked him was the sight of a slime monster—something straight out of a video game—hopping nearby.

He immediately slapped his face hard, groaning in pain. "Ow… this isn’t a dream… What is happening?" Panic began to set in, his thoughts racing.

Before he could fully process the bizarre situation, a blue, floating transparent UI appeared in front of him:

[Congratulations!]

[Out of billions of people, you have been chosen to be a beta tester for the Fantasy World Project! You have been granted a special skill. Your goal is to explore this world and create your own path.]

[We wish you good luck!]

Another floating screen materialized, displaying:

[Skill: Words & Merge]

[Description: Generate 10 random words. You can choose 2 words to merge and create a unique skill.]

[Cooldown: Once per day.]

"What...?" he muttered, his confusion growing by the second. Taking a deep breath, he let out a long exhale, giving himself a moment to process the situation.

“So, some mysterious person—or group—chose me to be a beta tester?” he muttered, furrowing his brow. He rubbed his forehead with his right hand, the onset of a headache making his thoughts even fuzzier.

"But first... let’s check out this skill," he said under his breath. He focused on activating the skill, and it worked. Another floating blue screen appeared in front of him.

[Generating 10 words...]

1. Flame

2. Crystal

3. Shadow

4. Wind

5. Spark

6. Stone

7. Frost

8. Blaze

9. Thorn

10. Echo

He stared at the screen for a while, pondering his options, before deciding. “Shadow sounds cool. Combine it with Wind, and it might give me an agility-related skill,” he muttered to himself.

Once he made his choice, the skill activated almost instantly. There was no dramatic effect, just another floating pop-up window appearing before him.

[Congratulations! You gained a new skill!]

[Skill: Shadow’s Step]

[Description: Harness the stealth of shadows and the swiftness of the wind. This skill grants increased agility, enabling you to move silently and with incredible speed. Ideal for evasion and quick strikes.]

He read the description and chuckled softly, still trying to wrap his head around the surreal situation. “Huh...”

Eager to test his new ability, he activated Shadow’s Step. His body was instantly enveloped in dark, black shadows that seamlessly merged with those cast by the surrounding trees. Moving at incredible speed, he dashed from one spot to another, his footsteps silent and fluid. When he deactivated the skill, adrenaline coursed through his veins. A thrill spread across his face as he smiled. “This… is great…”

But then, a thought struck him, and he slapped his forehead. “Oh right… Mia.” He sighed deeply, realizing his promise to her might now be broken.

“Well… sorry, Mia,” he muttered with a bittersweet smile, the weight of the situation sinking in. The thought that he might never return to his previous world lingered heavily in his mind.