Raen's eyes snapped open.
His head was pounding, the stale scent of burnt wires and plastic hanging in the air. A sharp blue glow hovered above him, casting flickering light across his cramped room.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]— Welcome, Raen Solis— Skill Shop System Activated— Learn any skill— All skills must be purchased using currency: Lux— Current Balance: 237 Lux
He squinted at the glowing screen, brows furrowing. "What the hell is this?"
A smooth interface expanded in front of him, clean and digital like a high-end sci-fi game UI.
Skill ShopExchange Lux for instant mastery.
▸ Programming Mastery — 237 Lux(One-time Introductory Offer)Includes full-stack development, UI/UX, AI systems, automation, cybersecurity, and more.
▸ Language Mastery — 10,000 LuxComprehension of all symbolic systems—spoken, coded, encrypted, and machine logic.
Raen froze.
His hands clenched into fists.
"You've gotta be kidding me…"
He stood up so fast his chair screeched across the floor.
"Two skills!? And you gave me exactly enough for the cheap one? Are you serious?!"
The floating menu stayed silent. Just hovering. Waiting.
Raen's voice grew louder, rage pouring out. "You call this a system? You drop this outta nowhere like it's some blessing—and then you stick me with barely enough to buy a single damn skill?!"
He kicked the edge of his desk. Pain shot through his foot. The screen didn't flinch.
"Why even give me this garbage if I can't use it?! Ten thousand Lux? You think I've ever seen that kind of money?! I've been grinding my entire life just to survive!"
His breathing was uneven now, chest rising and falling as silence pressed in.
Then, reluctantly, his eyes flicked back to the screen.
Programming Mastery — 237 Lux.
It was all he had. And it was everything he needed.
"Tch... rigged from the start," he growled. "Fine. If I've got nothing but this skill, then I'll squeeze the damn world dry with it."
He slammed his finger toward the confirm button.
[Confirm Purchase: Programming Mastery — 237 Lux?][YES] [NO]
YES.
A flash of light. A rush of soundless force through his skull. Code. Concepts. Entire systems unraveling and reconfiguring inside his brain.
He staggered.
But when he looked up, the light in his eyes was different.
Programming Mastery Installed— AI Assistant "Lexi" Activated— Freelance Console Online
"You want me to play your game?" Raen muttered coldly. "Fine. Just remember… I play to win."