A tall figure with pale blue eyes and unkempt hair stood in the center of a dimly lit cave, shadows fluttering against the rugged stone walls. The weight of hopelessness pressed down on him as he kneeled on the chilly ground. At that moment a strange creature with mismatched limbs and wide unblinking eyes was waddling toward him. Its clumsiness was evident in every step.
"What are you doing? You think you're a hero?" a guard barked, his voice dripping with disdain. He spat on the ground, the sound echoing in the cavern. "My pig could do a better job than you!"
Azad's heart sank further, but he forced a reply. "Yes, sir! I'll try to do better!"
The guard snorted, a contemptuous smirk on his face. "You better be, or you'll face my wrath." With that, he strolled away, leaving Azad alone with his thoughts.
Sighing, Azad picked up a glimmering emerald from the dirt, its vibrant color almost mocking him. "You may be wondering how I ended up here… sighs. That's a long story. Let's start from the very beginning." He tossed the emerald into the air, watching it catch the faint light.
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As the emerald spun, it transformed into a shiny coin that Azad caught in his palm. Hope surged within him. "Hopefully, I'll get this job!" he murmured, a nervous smile creeping onto his face.
The room resembles a typical office reception area, with clean white walls that give the space a bright and neutral atmosphere. The lighting is soft but efficient, illuminating the space without harshness. Against one wall, there are several sleek benches, simple in design but comfortable, arranged neatly in a row for visitors or candidates to sit on. The benches are either cushioned or made of polished wood or metal, with a minimalist aesthetic that matches the room's overall feel.
Across the room is a reception desk located right beside the entrance. It's a functional, modest-sized desk with a computer, some papers, and a few office supplies neatly organized. A small potted plant might sit on the corner of the desk, adding a touch of nature to the otherwise modern, sterile environment. The receptionist's chair and one or two filing cabinets behind the desk complemented the room's simple design.
At that moment, a bright voice cut through the air. "Azad Ahmed? Azad Ahmed here?"
He straightened, excitement bubbling up. "Yes! Here I am!"
"Okay, enter that room for the interview." The receptionist smiled, her eyes gleaming with encouragement.
"Okay, thanks!" With renewed determination, Azad stepped into the interview room, the sterile white walls closing around him.
"Hi! My name is Azad Ahmed." His voice trembled slightly, but he pressed on, envisioning a future where he wouldn't be just another face in the crowd.
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Days turned into weeks, and now Azad walked down a crowded street, his face clearly showing the sadness in his heart. "Why can't I land a job already? Life is just getting cruel after school. No job, no money…" His thoughts spiraled, frustration evident in every footstep. Suddenly raindrops began to fall, they mingled with his tears, transforming his sorrow into a symphony of nature's embrace...
"Okay, having no luck isn't new." He dashed toward a bus stop, finding a momentary refuge on the damp bench. As he sat, the rain drummed a melancholy rhythm, lulling him into a fitful sleep.
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A sudden jolt pulled him from his dreams, and Azad awoke in a bizarre, blocky world. Everything around him seemed unnatural—the ground beneath his feet was made of perfectly square dirt blocks, and towering trees with cubed leaves stood rigid and unnatural. The sky above was a flat, pixelated blue, with clouds looking like blocks drifting lazily across it. As he glanced down, confusion turned to horror—his hands were now just rectangular stubs, no fingers. The landscape was strange and simplistic, yet vast, with distant mountains made of blocky stone and patches of green grass.
Panic surged through him as strange, unsettling noises filled the air—ominous growls and hisses echoed from somewhere nearby. In the distance, shadowy figures moved—creepers, skeletons, and zombies—monsters native to this world, slowly closing in. The blocky sun was setting, and as darkness crept over the land, the hostile mobs grew bolder, their eyes glowing eerily in the encroaching night.
Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted, the air thick with danger. His blocky feet thudded heavily against the ground as he darted between trees, the landscape a blur of blocky textures. A zombie lunged at him from the shadows, its stiff arms outstretched, jaws snapping with a mindless hunger. Azad barely sidestepped in time, feeling the cold rush of air as it stumbled past him, growling in frustration. His heart pounded in his chest as he pushed harder, feet kicking up dirt.
Behind him, the soft rustle of leaves caught Azad's attention, sending a chill down his spine. He whipped his head around to see a strange green figure—its movements eerily silent, despite its stiff, jerky gait. The thing swayed with each step, inching closer with unnerving precision.
Azad furrowed his brow, thoroughly puzzled. "What is that thing?" he muttered under his breath. "It's not attacking... Maybe it's not an ene—"
BOOM!
Before he could finish his thought, a loud explosion rocked the air, and Azad was thrown violently backward, the world around him dissolving into chaos.