Michael slowly opened his eyes.
He stretched, raising both arms above his head, and let out a lazy yawn. Turning onto his side, he pushed himself up until he was sitting upright on the bed.
The room was nearly dark. The only light came from the faint glow of dusk filtering through the cracks of the window. It was to be expected—he hadn't lit the candle since he came here.
Rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm, he muttered under his breath.
"Mm… how long did I sleep?"
At that moment, familiar blue text appeared before his eyes.
[Host, you have slept for 3 hours and 15 minutes.]
Michael froze.
"What! Just three hours?"
It felt impossible. He had been so exhausted that he should've slept at least ten to twelve hours. But he just slept 3 hours? Yet now, his eyes weren't heavy at all. In fact, his body felt light, his mind sharp and clear.
He sat up straighter and looked around, curiosity swelling inside his chest.
[Host, you are now a Low 4-Dimensional Entity. Your physiology is no longer completely confined to the limitations of the normal human body. Sleep is necessary primarily for three reasons:
Repairing and processing within the nervous system 2. Maintaining hormonal balance 3. Rebuilding damaged cells.
However, due to Dimensional Adaptation, your body can perform these three processes 70% faster than a normal human. Which means—with just 2–3 hours of sleep, your body and brain will be as refreshed as a normal person after 7-8 hours of sleep.]
Michael inhaled deeply. A strange, complicated feeling stirred inside him.
"So… I'm not a normal human anymore…"
He running his hand through his hair, he shook his head slowly.
This system… it was unbelievable. If he could truly master this power, he could reach heights without limit.
A peculiar smile tugged at his lips.
"If I can make full use of this… then this really is nothing short of madness."
Then, a question surfaced in his mind.
"Sista, can you tell me—who designed you?"
[Apologies, Host. Your level is insufficient to access this information.]
"Ah, that answer again…" he murmured.
That meant only one thing—there was far more hidden inside this system, beyond his reach for now.
He stayed silent for a moment, then slowly rose to his feet.
"Alright. Open the portal to Earth."
[Portal opening to Earth…]
[Dimensional Energy Consumed: 5%]
Portal appeared.
Michael stepped into it, and in the next instant, he was standing inside his grandfather's old house.
Here, the light of dawn was just beginning to rise. Pale sunlight streamed through the small window above, illuminating the room with its pale glow.
Michael bent down and picked up his bag from the floor.
Just then, the familiar blue light appeared once again—
[Host, you can store the bag inside the Pocket Warehouse if you wish.]
The moment he thought about it, the bag vanished from his hand.
[Bag stored inside Pocket Warehouse.]
Michael walked over to the window. Pulling the heavy curtain aside sent a storm of dust swirling into the air—ten years of neglect bursting free all at once. Coughing, he placed his hand on the window's latch.
The wood was cracked, the iron hinges rusted tight. It took several hard pushes before the window finally creaked open.
Cool air drifted in. It carried a damp, earthy smell, but still, the freshness brought a strange relief, as if the room's long-stagnant breath was finally being released. it
Looking out, Michael saw the canal he had crossed to get here. The whole place was wrapped in an uncanny silence—a quiet so deep, so opposite of the city's chaos, that it almost felt sacred.
Now he understood why his grandfather had managed to spend so much of his life here. The solitude of nature, the simple beauty, the stillness of dawn—all of it together brought a unique peace.
He drew a long breath, filling his chest with that pristine morning air. For a fleeting moment, it felt like the turmoil within him was easing.
Then his gaze shifted back to the room.
Dust-covered, abandoned place.
"I need to spend a lot of money on this repair. But first I need to gather supplies for the business."
His eyes wandered back toward the window.
The forest, the open fields, the canal, and flocks of birds gliding through the sky—all of it painted a picture of tranquil beauty.
Yet beneath that peace, his mind was calculating.
"This place is far from the city," he thought.
A round trip would take a whole day
Also, the market here is not that big. Since very few people live here. If he buys a lot of products from here now, it will create a lot of suspicion. Besides, he had only arrived yesterday.
Future considerations gnawed at him.
"If my business grows, I'll have to regularly bring supplies from Earth. For that, I'll need a permanent solution. Otherwise, things won't move forward."
He realized this place was the perfect base. Remote, far from the city's prying eyes. No one would disturb him here. This is also a reason for him to come here.
On top of that, his grandfather had owned not just this house but about 50 acres of surrounding land. If Michael put it all to use, the possibilities were endless.
"Sista, can't you just give me a skill like teleportation? Something that'll let me travel quickly without hassle?"
[Host, I understand your difficulty. But such a skill cannot be directly granted. If you wish for something of that nature, open the Dimensional Trade Panel and purchase what you require.]
Michael slapped his forehead.
"Ahh, damn it! I almost forgot that the system already has such functions."
He activated his System Panel, scrolling to the bottom under [SYSTEM FUNCTIONS], then tapped into Dimensional Trade.
A new panel unfolded before him—
────────────────────────────
DIMENSIONAL TRADE
────────────────────────────
[1] Marketplace
[2] My Inventory
[3] Auctions
────────────────────────────
User: E-337
Traders Online: 42,137
D-Coins: 669
────────────────────────────
Michael's eyes widened. That many traders online?
"Sista… are they like me?"
[Partly yes, partly no. The displayed number only reflects the users currently active within the Dimensional Trade Network. Some walk the same "Path" as you, while others follow entirely different Paths, with systems unlike yours. Additionally, some are not system-bearers at all. They may belong to powerful civilizations, secret orders, or authorized being granted access through special agreements. And remember—these traders aren't just from Earth. They come from different planets, galaxies, even entirely different Dimensions. Think of this like Earth's online marketplaces… But operating on a dimensional scale.]
Michael sat in silence, running his fingers through his hair.
"Damn… holy shit."