A cold wind brushed against Aiden's skin as his eyes fluttered open.
The last thing he remembered was the screech of tires, the flash of headlights, and pain searing through his body. Then—darkness.
Now, he was lying on a straw bed inside a small wooden house. The ceiling above him was crude timber, the walls patched with clay. The faint smell of smoke drifted from a nearby fireplace.
"…Where am I?" His voice came out hoarse, trembling.
The door creaked open, and a middle-aged woman carrying a basket of herbs stepped inside. Her hair was streaked with gray, her clothes simple wool. She froze when she saw him awake.
"You're finally up," she said softly, relief in her voice. "We thought the fever would take you."
Aiden sat up slowly, head pounding. Fever? No… this body wasn't his. His arms were thinner, his skin darker. He stumbled to a cracked mirror on the wall and saw a boyish face with black hair and sharp gray eyes staring back at him.
Reincarnation…?
The thought chilled him, but deep inside, something whispered: Fate cannot bind you.
The woman introduced herself as Mara, his foster mother. The village, she explained, was Dawnfall, a small farming community on the borders of the Kingdom of Thaleon. He, Aiden Cross, was her adopted son who had collapsed from exhaustion during the harvest.
Aiden played along. There were too many questions and no answers.
Over the next few days, he learned more. This world wasn't Earth—it was a place where everyone at age sixteen underwent an Awakening Ceremony. A crystal sphere measured their soul and revealed a Class, their destined path in life. Farmers prayed their children would become Warriors or Mages, not mere Laborers. Nobles fought for rare classes like Sword Saint or Elementalist.
Classes weren't just titles—they were power, authority, the very foundation of society.
And tomorrow… was his Awakening.
---
The next morning, the village gathered in the central square. Children lined up nervously, their families watching with hopeful eyes. At the center stood a massive white crystal mounted on a stone altar, glowing faintly under the sunlight.
"Next, Aiden Cross!" the priest called.
Aiden stepped forward, his heart pounding. His memories of Earth still felt surreal, but now, standing before this crystal, he couldn't deny it—he really had been reborn.
"Place your hand on the crystal," the priest instructed.
He obeyed. Warmth rushed through his palm. The crystal vibrated violently, its light flaring so brightly that villagers shielded their eyes. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface.
"W-What's happening?!" the priest cried.
With a sharp shatter, the crystal exploded into fragments. Gasps erupted around the square.
The priest staggered back, pale. "I-It shattered… but… look!"
Floating letters of light appeared in the air above Aiden.
[Class Acquired: Magician Master – Rare]
The villagers fell into stunned silence. Then, chaos.
"Magician Master?!"
"That's a Rare class!"
"Impossible! Only nobles in the capital awaken such things!"
Mara dropped to her knees, tears streaming. "My boy… my son is chosen!"
The priest trembled, bowing deeply. "This… this is an omen. The gods have blessed our village."
Aiden stood frozen, staring at the glowing words. Magician Master? Rare?
But in his vision, behind the brilliant letters, faint text flickered where no one else could see:
[Origin: Jobless (Infinity)]
His breath caught. Jobless? Infinity?
No one reacted. Only he could see it.
The crowd erupted in cheers, villagers chanting his name. To them, he was a genius, a once-in-a-century prodigy. To the nobles who would soon hear of this, he was a treasure—or a target.
But Aiden's eyes narrowed. Beneath the celebration, a single thought echoed in his mind.
I'm not just a Magician Master.
I'm something the world cannot define.
---
That night, as the village feasted in his honor, Aiden slipped away to his small hut. He sat on the bed, staring at his hand.
Then it appeared—an interface of golden light, hovering before him.
[Infinity Mall Activated]
[Welcome, Jobless One]
Rows of categories spread across the screen: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, Romance, Mystery… Each category locked behind strange currencies. Some demanded gold, some mana crystals, some even emotions like "fear" or "desire."
At the top, a flashing icon pulsed:
[First-Time Bonus: 2 Free Gacha Spins]
Aiden's lips curved into a slow smile.
"A mall that spans worlds… and a gacha too?"
His finger hovered over the button.
[Spin? Y/N]
The wheel began to turn, symbols flashing across it—swords, tomes, artifacts, shadows, flames.
It slowed.
And then—
[Class Acquired: Dungeon Master – Unique]
[Item Acquired: ???]
The room fell silent. Aiden stared at the glowing words, his heart racing.
Dungeon Master? Unique?
"What… have I just awakened?"
---
The birth of a secret power.
End of Chapter 1
---