Kai stood on the rooftop of the building overlooking the grand plaza, watching the scene below with weary eyes. The day had been unusually long, with each moment bringing a wave of emotions he wasn't prepared to face. Fear gripped him when he saw the naval commander attempt to destroy his store, followed by amazement when every attempt failed, and finally, overwhelming joy as he witnessed people interacting with the art store in ways he could never have imagined. These feelings merged into a complex mixture within him, leaving him standing there, stunned, unsure if he should celebrate or fear what might come next.
Kai looked up at the sky, which was gradually darkening, and took a deep breath. Somehow, he had succeeded in creating something far beyond his expectations. Yet, he knew this success was not the end of the road, but perhaps the beginning of greater, more complicated challenges. As he pondered this, the system screen appeared before him once again, this time without him summoning it. Its spontaneous appearance was enough to stir anxiety within him.
At first, a trace of confusion crossed his eyes, but he quickly calmed himself, trying to accept it. The system was evolving at an alarming rate, and now he was witnessing firsthand how it interacted with the world around him. Then, words appeared on the screen:
"[Setup is complete. The art store cannot be destroyed or erased from this world except by the owner's command, and this applies to anything inside it and any store created in the future.]"
Those words were enough to send chills down Kai's spine. The store had become a part of this world, with powers even he couldn't fully comprehend. Yet behind this fear was a sense of relief. At least now he knew his store was safe, and no one could tamper with it.
However, Kai couldn't ignore the implicit warning in the system's words: "future stores." Did this mean he could create more stores in other parts of this world? His eyebrows raised in surprise as the thought crossed his mind.
He began to mutter to himself, "Can I really create other stores?"
Suddenly, another message appeared on the screen: "[Yes, the owner can create other stores in different locations. New stores will require adaptation to the surrounding environment and additional challenges, but the benefits will be significant.]"
Kai wasn't sure whether to feel excited or worried. Creating more stores could mean a significant expansion of his influence, but on the other hand, he knew people would need time to adjust to the idea, especially in new places. He wasn't even sure if he himself was ready for this challenge. But what he did know was that he couldn't stop now. He had already started, and he had to move forward, even if the path was fraught with difficulties.
Kai tried speaking to the system again, asking in a calm voice, "How will you help me create the new stores? What do I need to know?"
The response was swift: "[I will provide you with the necessary guidance for creating each new store, including analyzing the surrounding area and identifying optimal points. Each store will have unique characteristics suited to the location in which it is established.]"
Kai realized that the task would not be easy, but the idea began to excite him. He started to envision how these stores could spread across different cities, each one distinct from the other. The art store he had created here was just the beginning, and perhaps in other places, he could offer entirely new experiences, tailored to different cultures and environments.
Yet, despite his enthusiasm, Kai couldn't shake the sense of mystery surrounding the system. What did the system really want? And why was it developing in this way? These questions lingered in his mind like shadows he couldn't ignore. But he knew he had no choice but to continue. The road ahead was no longer clear, but he understood that he had to walk it, no matter what awaited him at the end.
At that moment, as he stood there on the rooftop, Kai looked down at the grand plaza once more. He saw people still milling around the store, some entering and exiting with smiles, others standing outside hesitantly. He knew the store was becoming a part of their daily lives, and the impact it would leave would be profound.
Kai decided that he would soon begin planning his next store, but he knew he had to be cautious. Every step had to be calculated, and every decision made carefully. The system granted him power, but Kai knew that this power came at a price.
Standing at the edge of the rooftop, Kai took one last look at the scene below before moving on to his next step. The cold air brushed against him as he began to descend lightly from the roof, as if the weight of the thoughts that had accumulated in his mind throughout the day was slowly lifting. It had been a long day, full of surprises, but the road ahead remained unclear, filled with challenges he didn't yet know how to face.
Kai walked slowly through the narrow streets of the city, heading towards its outskirts where his simple cabin awaited. As he walked, the system screen remained visible before him, casting a faint glow in the darkness. This stirred a mixture of curiosity and tension within him. How could this system continue to evolve in such a way? And how should he deal with it going forward? These thoughts circled in his mind incessantly, intertwining as if they were locked in a hidden struggle.
Kai began to think deeply about his next move. He knew that the system could read his thoughts when it was active, and he was certain that the system would suggest something to him soon, as it had before. But Kai didn't want to have every step dictated to him or have the system control all his decisions. He felt that he had grown tired of this feeling of being subject to a mysterious will, as if his life had turned into a series of commands that he must follow.
As he neared his cabin, he suddenly decided to close the system screen quickly. He did so with determination, as if closing a door on intrusive thoughts he didn't want to let into his mind. He no longer wanted the system to dictate anything to him, even if it was a suggestion he might like in the end. Kai wanted to retain a measure of independence, to decide for himself what he did with his life, rather than being just a tool to execute the system's plans.
Kai finally reached his cabin, that simple place he considered his sanctuary away from the noise of the outside world. He entered quietly, but inside he felt a turmoil. He had decided that if the system wanted to use him to achieve its goals, then Kai would also use the system to achieve what he wanted. He would no longer allow the exploitation to be one-sided.
As he gathered some belongings from inside the cabin, Kai began to think about his next destination. He remembered Ohara Island, the place that had been his first stop in this strange world. He knew it well, knew its people, Professor Clover, and Olivia. There, he could create a new store, an extension of his project, but without compromising his decisions or blindly following the system's will.
Kai was planning to make his next store in Ohara, a decision he had made on his own, without anyone dictating it to him. As he packed his belongings, he felt a mix of relief and determination. He was ready to begin this long journey, and with every step he took, he felt like he was reclaiming a portion of his freedom and independence.
As Kai prepared to leave, he suddenly stopped at the cabin door, feeling something strange. For some reason, he remembered the lantern he had been carrying in his pocket, the lantern that contained Arkhan. Anxiety drove him to check his pocket immediately, but his hand touched nothing but emptiness.
The feeling of shock washed over Kai, as if his heart had stopped for a moment. The lantern... it was gone! His breath quickened as he searched his pocket again, then the rest of his pockets, but to no avail. The lantern that held Arkhan had completely vanished.
All the catastrophic possibilities rushed through Kai's mind. Arkhan, his only ally in this mysterious world, might be in danger, or worse, he might have fallen into the hands of someone else.
Kai rushed out of the cabin, his heart pounding in his chest, heading towards the only place where he might have dropped the lantern: the city square. That square, now bustling with manga enthusiasts, had become a center of chaos and wonder after the opening of the art store.
.
.
.
---------------------------------
Join my ko-fi at:
🔗 ko-fi.com/elyon_om
to support the story creation and reach more than 10 advanced chapters