Li Kai sat at the wooden counter, staring at the flickering holographic screen that hovered in front of him. He had been here for what felt like hours, trying to make sense of the interface. His mind was spinning, filled with questions that had no answers. The strange voice—the "System"—had explained only the barest details, leaving him to figure out the rest.
At first, he had been skeptical, thinking he was simply dreaming or hallucinating. But the chill in the air, the faint hum of energy, and the sheer reality of the situation told him this was no ordinary store. This was something much, much bigger.
The menu on the screen didn't help much either. It was a simple, user-friendly interface, but its purpose seemed beyond his comprehension. He hovered his fingers over the various options.
Store Management
Inventory: A list of strange items, each glowing faintly, none of which he recognized.
Item Creation: An option that intrigued him. Could he make his own products? What would that even mean?
Customer Orders: There were no current orders, but something about the empty section felt... ominous.
Store Upgrades: The option was greyed out, inaccessible. Apparently, he had to do something first before he could upgrade the store.
The screen's interface buzzed briefly, and a small pop-up appeared.
Customer Alert!
Li Kai blinked. A customer? How could someone even know this place existed? He'd just arrived, and the store looked abandoned, dusty—like it hadn't seen a soul in years.
He jumped from his seat as the front door creaked open. A figure stepped inside, and Li Kai's eyes widened.
A man, tall and broad-shouldered, entered the store. His clothing was strange—he wore a long, tattered cloak adorned with symbols Li Kai couldn't read. The man's face was obscured by a hood, but Li Kai could make out a pair of sharp, golden eyes that gleamed with purpose. His presence was commanding, yet something about him felt oddly familiar.
The man's eyes immediately locked onto the counter, and a low, gravelly voice spoke.
"I've been told this is the place for... rare items," he said, his tone almost growling.
Li Kai cleared his throat, trying to calm his racing heart. This was it. His first customer. He had no idea what to expect, but he couldn't back out now.
"Uh, yes, welcome," Li Kai stammered. "This is the Infinite Store. How can I help you?"
The man's gaze didn't waver. "I need something powerful. Something that will give me an edge in battle."
Li Kai swallowed hard. Battle? The words made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. What kind of customer was this? Was he some kind of warrior? A mage?
He glanced nervously at the shelves, hoping to spot something that might fulfill this vague request. The shelves were lined with items—some that looked like ordinary goods, others that were utterly bizarre. Bottles filled with swirling mist, a sword that shimmered like it was made of light, glowing crystals that pulsed with a soft hum.
Li Kai's finger hovered over the Inventory option on the holographic screen. He had no idea what to offer the man. The only items listed in the inventory were strange, cryptic names like Elixir of Echoing Thunder, Void Blade, and Mystic Dust of the Eternal Night.
He cleared his throat again, trying to appear calm. "I, uh, I have several items here. Can you describe what exactly you're looking for? I mean... in more detail?"
The man took a step forward, his boots thudding on the wooden floor. "I need something to make me stronger. I'm about to enter a dangerous dungeon, and I've been told this place holds powerful artifacts. I don't care what it is—I need it."
Li Kai's heart skipped a beat. A dungeon? This man was an adventurer, then? A dungeon crawler? He tried to imagine what kind of item could help this man survive a dangerous dungeon. His mind raced.
"Alright," Li Kai said, trying to sound more confident. "I have a few options that might help. Let me show you."
He swiped his hand across the holographic interface, scrolling through the inventory. There was a strange twinge of unease in his chest as he selected a few items that seemed like they could be useful.
The first item he picked was the Elixir of Echoing Thunder. The description read: A potion that enhances the user's physical strength for one hour, with a chance to unleash a thunderous strike upon impact. It sounded useful, at least for a warrior preparing for a dungeon dive.
Li Kai tapped on the item to bring it to the counter, and an odd shimmer filled the air as a glowing vial appeared on the counter in front of him. The liquid inside was a deep, electric blue, crackling with energy.
"Here," Li Kai said, pushing the vial forward. "This will give you a temporary boost to your strength. You'll be able to strike with more force—and there's a chance it will unleash a thunderstrike with every blow."
The man studied the vial, his eyes narrowing. "This is... adequate. But I need something more."
Li Kai blinked, surprised. "More?"
The adventurer didn't answer immediately. He took a step back, his hand reaching into his cloak. When he pulled it out, Li Kai saw it was a strange, glowing crystal, pulsing with a soft red light.
"I need something that will protect me. Something to defend against the curses and traps in the dungeon," the man said, his voice tinged with urgency.
Li Kai felt his pulse quicken. Protection? Curses? He quickly scrolled through the inventory again, searching for something suitable. He had to find something that could help, or he risked losing the first customer he'd ever had.
Finally, his fingers stopped on an item labeled Shield of the Eternal Guard. It had a simple description: A magical shield that deflects curses and elemental attacks. Increases defense by 50% for one hour.
Li Kai tapped the item, and the glowing shield appeared on the counter. It was made of silver, and its surface shimmered with arcane symbols.
"This should help," Li Kai said, his voice steadier now. "The Shield of the Eternal Guard. It can protect you from curses and elemental attacks for a limited time."
The adventurer took a long look at the shield. His eyes scanned it carefully, before he nodded in approval.
"I'll take both," he said gruffly, his voice softening. "How much?"
Li Kai's eyes widened. How much? He hadn't even considered prices. The System hadn't explained how any of this worked.
Before he could open his mouth to respond, the voice from the System echoed in his mind.
"The price for these items has already been calculated. The Elixir of Echoing Thunder costs 500 credits, and the Shield of the Eternal Guard costs 1,000 credits. You may accept or refuse the transaction."
Credits? What were those?
Before Li Kai could ask, the adventurer placed a hand on the counter and looked directly at him. "Are you going to sell them to me or not?"
Li Kai blinked. The System had already set the prices. He had no choice but to go along with it.
"Uh, yeah. That'll be 1,500 credits for both items," he said, trying to sound confident. "Are you... okay with that?"
The man gave a curt nod. "I have the credits."
Li Kai had no idea where the adventurer would get the credits, but when the man reached into his cloak and pulled out a small pouch, Li Kai saw that it was brimming with shimmering, silver coins.
As the transaction was completed, the System chimed in once more.
"Transaction complete. 1,500 credits received."
Li Kai was still processing everything when the adventurer turned toward the door, the items now safely stowed away in his cloak.
"Goodbye," the man said, his voice softer now, almost respectful. "I'll return when I need more."
And just like that, he was gone. Li Kai stood there, staring at the door as it swung shut behind the mysterious adventurer.
The silence of the store felt even heavier now. The weight of what had just happened settled over him like a storm cloud. His first customer. The first transaction. And it had all felt... so real.
Li Kai looked down at the screen again. Credits. Items. Customers. This was just the beginning, and he had no idea where it would lead.
But one thing was certain: his life would never be the same again.