The wind stung Adam's face as he stepped out into the street, plastic bag in hand, filled with everything he could grab before the landlord changed the locks. One hoodie, two pairs of socks, and a half-empty water bottle. That was it. Eighteen years old, Somali, broke, and now homeless.
The building door slammed behind him with a heavy finality. He stared at it for a second, hoping the landlord might come out and change his mind. But he didn't. Adam's breath fogged in the cold morning air as he turned and walked away.
"Wallahi, this can't be my life," he muttered under his breath.
He had no job. No school. No backup plan. His last paycheck from that warehouse job dried up two weeks ago, and his phone had been cut off yesterday. His mother was still in Somalia, and his uncle across the city had made it clear: "You're a man now. Handle your own problems."
So here he was, wandering the streets of East London with nowhere to go.
Two hours later, Adam found warmth inside a 24 hour laundromat. He sat in the corner, eyes on the spinning dryers, pretending to wait for clothes he didn't have. His stomach growled. His back ached. The attendant gave him a side-eye but didn't kick him out. Not yet.
He leaned his head back, trying not to cry, trying not to sleep.
Then it happened.
Ping.
A sound not from the room, but directly inside his head. His eyes snapped open.
A floating blue screen hovered in front of him, semi transparent and glowing faintly:
[SYSTEM DETECTED]Welcome, Compatible Host.Would you like to activate the Dimensional Mall System?[YES] / [NO]
Adam blinked. He looked around. No one else in the laundromat reacted. The old lady folding towels? Unbothered. The couple arguing near the machines? Didn't even notice.
He rubbed his eyes. The screen was still there.
"Is this... a stroke?" he whispered.
But deep inside, something told him it was real. Something ancient, like instinct or maybe desperation. Maybe both.
"Bismillah," he whispered, and tapped [YES].
System Activated.Welcome to the Dimensional Mall System, Adam.You have received 1,000 Starter System Points (SP).SP can be exchanged for currency or used to develop your first store.Would you like to convert 950 SP into local currency to secure a starting location?
He stared at the screen, heartbeat rising. Currency?
"Convert it," he said.
A second later, his phone previously dead vibrated in his pocket.
Confused, he pulled it out. It was on. Battery full. And... his bank app was open.
Balance: £950.00
Adam nearly dropped the phone. "What the hell...?"
The screen shifted again:
Suggested Action:📍 Vacant Property Available – Lease to Own Option
Location: Barking High Street
Status: Former corner shop
Features: Ground floor commercial unit + 1 bedroom loft upstairs
Cost: £900 initial depositAccept offer? [YES] / [NO]
He didn't even think.
"YES."
One hour later, Adam stood in front of a dusty corner shop with faded signage and cracked windows. It looked like it hadn't been touched in years. But it was real. And it was his.
The agent an old man in a raincoat barely spoke. Just handed him a receipt, some keys, and left without asking questions.
The place smelled like wet wood and regret. The shop floor was bare. Empty shelves. Cobwebs in the corners. A single flickering lightbulb overhead.
Upstairs, the loft was no better just a small room with a creaky bedframe, a stained mattress, and a bathroom the size of a closet.
But Adam stood in the middle of it, eyes wide, heart pounding.
He had a roof again.
"Alhamdulillah..." he whispered.
The System pinged again.
First Store Acquired.Welcome, Proprietor. You may now customize your store and unlock access to your first dimensional branch.Open portal? [YES] / [NO]
"Wait portal?" Adam blinked.
The System responded:
You are the owner of a cross dimensional mall.The back room of this shop will connect to another world.Prepare accordingly. You may now open your first portal.
He looked toward the door at the back of the shop an old supply closet.
Hesitantly, he walked downstairs, across the dusty tiles, and turned the knob.
The door creaked open.
What he saw inside wasn't the closet.
It was... an alley. Lit by torchlight. The air smelled of smoke and livestock. Stone walls flanked the narrow passage, and voices echoed in some language he didn't recognize. It was not London.
He staggered back, heart racing.
World: Altherra – Market District, Edge of the CapitalLocal Currency: Copper, Silver, GoldStore Appearance: Automatically AdjustedStatus: Open
The System buzzed again.
You may now place products. First-time Bonus:
5 items may be placed from Earth inventory
Beginner Pricing Assistance Enabled
He pulled the plastic bag from earlier out of his pocket. Inside: the water bottle, the socks... and a bottle of paracetamol.
Shrugging, he placed it on a nearby shelf.
Moments later, a man in rough leather armor wandered into the alley and into the shop.
He eyed the bottle on the shelf with confusion. Then pointed. "How much?"
The System auto translated for him.
Adam hesitated. "One silver?"
The man dropped a dull silver coin onto the counter, grabbed the bottle, and left.
Item Sold. +5 SP earned.Reputation: NeutralNew Customer Interest: +12%
Adam stared at the coin in his hand. Cold. Heavy. Real.
He looked at the portal, then back at the quiet, broken shop behind him.
Then he smiled.
He had nothing yesterday.
Today?
He had a store.
And it led to another world.
[To Be Continued]