It was 2 AM in the morning, shifting clouds obscured the moon's radiance, casting dimmed glimmers across the earth.
By now streets were quiet except for the occasional car or semi truck, and of course a lone dreary eyed youth slogging his way down the street.
The youth's name was Jin Riugi, he had just finished his shift before the previous one as he worked two minimum wage jobs so he could support his family. While also being a second year university student at Luo University. While the days were long, he endured, not because he wanted to, but because someone had to.
After his father left the family in financial ruin and disappeared, he had to care for his mother, brother and sister somehow. He even considered whether to go to university. If he worked full time he would earn more than now, but after rationally thinking about it and support from his mother he decided to go, otherwise he could never earn a good living.
Just thinking about earning a stable income and having no financial worries left him satisfied, lofty ambitions were only for those that could afford it.
Jin continued to walk down the street, right now all he wanted was some sleep.
Turning a corner he found a brunet in a skimpy dress that was meant for a club, and a man wearing a black hoodie standing eerily close to the girl, he had just grabbed her but, causing her to look terrified.
'Wearing such clothing at night is just asking for trouble' Jin taught while questioning whether he should help, he was incredibly tired and it wasn't his problem.
The girl tried to swat the man's hand away but he wouldn't let go.
Sighing, Jin walked up to the man and grabbed his shoulder "Hey, I think you should leave the lady alone".
If possible Jin wanted to de-escalate the situation, no point in getting violent, showing up with bruises at work would not be well received by his employer, and standing at 6 foot 1 while not very tall, it still towered over the 5 foot 7 man.
The man, surprised that someone touched his shoulder, let go of the girl before becoming angry, barking out loud "Who do you think you are! I was just chatting her up, the bitch was enjoying it"
Turning his head to the lady around the same age as him or a bit younger Jin asked "Did you enjoy this man's company?"
It seemed she was too terrified to speak and instead shook her head. The man flared up at this but did not take things any further just angrily stomping off while cursing "Slut", "Pieces of trash", and many other vulgar words.
Turning his attention back to the girl Jin asked "Are you alright?"
To which she burst into tears, it seemed something like this had never happened to her before, seeing a bus stop nearby he asked if she wanted to sit down to which she agreed.
When she calmed down a bit she asked if Jin could call a cab for her, he naturally complied.
As they waited she told Jin her name and vented her story to him, of which he being too tired, barely listened too, but he got the gist.
Apparently Lily, had gone to the club with her friend, but on the way back they had gotten into a argument, she apparently danced with someone the other friend liked, and as the argument got more heated she was kicked out of the car, which would have been fine had her phone not died in the club, so in the end she was stranded.
Not knowing where she was Lily had asked the other man for help, but he began harassing her. When the cab arrived Lily Gratefully thanked Jin, and said that they should add each other on Snapple, Jin agreed in the moment but wouldn't add her as she wasnt his type.
While Lily had a pretty face and looked nice in her white dress but was missing an asset or well two as she was as flat as a chess board, so Jin wasn't attracted to her.
Not that he had time for a girlfriend, with 2 jobs and university he already did not have a social life, so a girlfriend was obviously not a possibility.
Walking back home Jin realized with a groan that he'd only get about four hours of sleep before his morning classes. When he finally opened the door to his cramped student dorm, exhaustion hit him like a wave. He barely made it to the bed before collapsing face first onto the mattress.
Outside, at that very moment, a sudden blue flash rippled silently around the globe. It lasted only a few seconds, left no sound in its wake, and most who witnessed it barely registered what they'd seen like a dream already fading.
News outlets and scientists quickly tried to explain the flash, theories spread rapidly, some claimed it was the residual light from a distant supernova, others speculated more exotic causes, despite all the speculation no one was certain.
While the world buzzed with uncertainty, Jin slept through it all. And when he finally awoke, something felt off. The softness of his bed was gone—replaced by something hard and unyielding. Sitting up, he blinked in confusion. His dorm room had vanished. In its place stood cold granite walls, and aside from the stone bed beneath him, the only furnishings were a wooden desk and chair. He was somewhere else entirely.
"Where am I? Actually I have school! what time is it?"
Looking around he couldn't find his phone and realised his clothes had changed as he was wearing course shirt and pants.
'Have I been kidnapped, My Kidney!' quickly pulling up his shirt and felt relieved there was no sign of scarring 'I still have my kidneys'.
Seeing a wooden door he quickly exited the room, pushing the door open he was left stunned. Before him stretched a colossal, circular arena reminding him of an ancient colosseum. Towering walls curved around a vast central space open to the sky, and far across the arena, a single archway seemed to lead into the unknown.
Jin found himself on one of the upper levels, perhaps the third floor overlooking the arena from high above. Around him, doors were opening one by one, and bewildered figures stumbled out, all clad in the same simple garments he wore. Above and below, floor after floor came to life, more people emerging with confusion plastered across their faces.
Dumbstruck Jin taught "What the fuck is happening"