Game Maker: Pocket Universe

I'm excited to share this new story that I've been planning for some time, and I'm thrilled to finally bring it to life. This is an original novel, with the cover, characters, and every detail created by me. I'll be publishing it exclusively here. If you come across this work being posted elsewhere, please let me know.

To kick things off, I'll be releasing the first 10 chapters all at once. If the novel gains traction, I'll continue with a schedule of two chapters per day, not including any bonus chapters that may be released thanks to stones, gifts, and golden tickets.

If you'd like to support this novel, please share it with others.

Thank you, everyone!

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The world blurred away, fading into nothingness as the bullet tore through me. I could still see the street, grimy pavement, scattered debris, the faces of those who watched the fight unfold, but everything seemed distant, like a half-remembered dream. The pain hit me, sharp and hot, yet even that was fading now. I had lost. I was dying. And then... there was nothing.

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't on the street anymore. Instead, I stood in a place that seemed unreal, a white void, stretching endlessly in all directions. It was quiet, too quiet, as though the world itself had gone silent. I took a few tentative steps, half-expecting to feel the ground beneath me, but there was no texture, no resistance. It was like walking on air.

I wasn't sure how long I wandered before I saw it: a plain wooden table, sitting there as if it had been waiting for me. On top of the table was a sleek black computer, the screen dark. A computer? In the middle of this emptiness? It didn't make any sense, but then, none of this did.

I approached the table, feeling an inexplicable pull toward the screen. The moment I was close enough, it flickered to life, and a message appeared:

"You have died."

I felt a cold weight settle in my chest. There it was, in plain text. I was dead. I always figured when it happened, there'd be some kind of peace to it, a bright light, maybe, or some sense of finality. Instead, I was greeted with an impersonal computer interface. It felt like a cruel joke, but what could I do? I was here, wherever "here" was.

The screen shifted to display a new message:

"Welcome to the Transition Interface. You have been granted two additional gifts. Choose wisely."

So, this was some kind of second-chance setup? It was like something straight out of fiction. I'd read enough stories to recognize the scenario, but living it was something else entirely. There was no manual, no guide, just an array of options that suddenly filled the screen.

There were abilities listed here that defied explanation: "toon force," "time manipulation," "portal creation." Some were completely over the top, while others seemed surprisingly practical. At the top of the list, however, was a power I recognized: "Zero Reaction Time." It was one of my natural abilities, an inborn trait that had always been with me. My reflexes had been sharp, almost preternatural, but my body was never fast enough to keep up with them. It seemed fitting to keep it, given another chance to truly make use of it.

But now came the tricky part: choosing the two additional gifts. I scrolled through the options, weighing each one carefully. I knew that if I was getting a second shot at life, I'd need to choose powers that worked together, something that would make me more than just quick.

The first gift I selected was a Mind Enhancement ability. The description was straightforward but promising: it would boost every aspect of my mental capacity, memory, intelligence, problem-solving, even resistance to things like mind control. It would complement my zero reaction time perfectly, making sure that I wouldn't just be fast, but also incredibly sharp.

For my final choice, I found myself drawn to a category labeled "Dimensional Manipulation." Under it was an option called "Pocket Universe." A personal space that I could access at will? The possibilities were endless: training, storing supplies, a place to retreat if things went south. I didn't need any more convincing. I selected it, feeling a sense of closure as the choices locked in.

The screen changed one last time.

"Commencing Character Customization."

Before me, a full-body hologram materialized, displaying a perfect replica of myself, right down to the bruises and cuts I had from the fight. It wasn't a pretty sight, but it was me. Or, at least, it had been. Without hesitation, I began making adjustments.

I increased my height to 185 centimeters, gave my muscles a lean, defined look, and adjusted my skin tone to a dark brown that looked healthier than my original complexion. The biggest change, though, was to my eyes. I gave them a striking crystal blue color, something that stood out, that said I was different now. Reborn.

Once the customization was complete, the hologram dissolved, and the screen displayed one final message:

"Prepare for rebirth."

I didn't get a chance to question it before the ground beneath me shifted. A surge of energy coursed through my body, and the whiteness around me fractured like shattered glass. I felt myself falling, not in a direction, but through the very fabric of reality itself. It was like being pulled into a maelstrom of light and sound, a storm that ripped away everything I knew.

When the world solidified again, I was lying on something rough and cold. I opened my eyes to see tall buildings looming overhead, their silhouettes casting long shadows across the narrow alley where I now lay. The dim glow of streetlights flickered in the distance, and I could hear the faint hum of a city that seemed eerily familiar.

I sat up, taking a moment to steady myself. I had no idea where I was, but it didn't matter. I could feel the gifts coursing through me, the zero reaction time ready to kick in at a moment's notice, the mental clarity sharper than I'd ever experienced, and the knowledge that I had a pocket universe at my disposal.

I stood, brushing off the dust from my clothes. Basic memories surfaced on my mind, this wasn't some grand fantasy world filled with magic and monsters, it was just a city. A world that looked a lot like Earth, but I knew better than to assume anything. Whatever this place was, I would find a way to make it my own. I had died once, but now I had a second chance, and I wasn't going to waste it.

With that thought, I took my first step forward, leaving the alley behind. There were opportunities out there, new possibilities waiting to be seized. And this time, I would carve my own path, starting from scratch.