Marco slumped into the chair in front of his food table, grabbed the plate of lomo saltado (which was still hot and perfectly prepared, thanks to the magic of the store), and gazed at the endless rows of shelves while chewing thoughtfully.
Nearly a million and a half credits. It was an obscene amount of money... or at least it would be if I had some point of reference. The problem was, I didn't know how far that would go in Middle-earth. It might be enough to become a god, or it might barely be enough to avoid dying within the first twenty-four hours.
"System," he said, his mouth half full. "Give me the unvarnished truth. How screwed am I in Middle-earth without a team?"
[THREAT ANALYSIS IN MIDDLE-EARTH - SECOND ERA:]
DANGER LEVEL FOR UNTRAINED HUMANS: EXTREME
MAIN THREATS:
Orcs and goblins (common)Magically Enhanced Wild Creatures (Common)Dark Lords and their servants (rare but deadly)hostile environmental conditions (common)Lack of basic resources (very common)
PROBABILITY OF SURVIVAL WITHOUT EQUIPMENT: 0.03%
RECOMMENDATION: PRIORITY DEFENSIVE EQUIPMENT
Marco swallowed, and not just the food.
—Zero point zero three percent. That's... that's basically nothing.
[CORRECT]
[ALTHOUGH WITH YOUR ACCESS TO THE STORE, YOUR CHANCES INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY]
" Okay , okay . So I need to buy stuff. A lot of stuff." He put down his fork and wiped his hands. "But I need to be smart about this. I can't spend it all on one cool thing and then starve or something stupid like that."
[CORRECT ANALYSIS]
[SUGGESTION: CREATE A BALANCED BUDGET]
[RECOMMENDED CATEGORIES:]
SELF-DEFENSE (30%): 418,200 CMBASIC SURVIVAL (20%): 278,800 CMUTILITIES AND CONVENIENCE (15%): 209,100 CMEMERGENCY RESERVE (35%): 487,900 CM
Marco studied the numbers. It made sense. He couldn't spend it all and be left with nothing for emergencies or future opportunities.
—Okay, let's do it this way. Let's start with self-defense. I need something to keep me alive if an orc decides I look tasty.
[SHOWN SELF-DEFENSE OPTIONS...]
[PRICE RANGE: 0 - 418,200 CM]
[FILTERED BY: EASE OF USE, EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST LOCAL THREATS]
The screen filled with options. There was armor of every imaginable kind, weapons ranging from magic swords to plasma rifles, energy shields, protective amulets, and...
"Wait, wait." Marco pointed to a specific item. "Is that what I think it is?"
[STARK NANOMECHANICAL SUIT - MODEL MK 50]
ORIGIN: Earth-199999 (MCU)
DESCRIPTION: Iron Suit A nanotechnology-based man . It deploys instantly from an arc reactor housed in the user's chest. It provides flight, integrated weapons, an AI interface, and protection against physical and energy threats.
PRICE : 15,000,000 CM
DISCOUNTED PRICE : 3,000,000 CM
Marco whistled.
"Three million. It's way out of my budget." He sighed. "What a shame. It would have been awesome to fly around Middle-earth like Iron." Man .
[THERE ARE CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES]
[SHOWING SIMILAR OPTIONS...]
Several options appeared, each with its own pros and cons. There were enchanted medieval armors, low-end science fiction exoskeletons, tactical combat suits with magical enhancements...
And then Marco saw something that made him stop dead in his tracks.
[AEGIS ADAPTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEM]
ORIGIN: Custom Amalgamation (System Creation)
DESCRIPTION: A modular defense system that adapts to threats in real time. Includes:
Personal energy shield (activates automatically in case of danger)Kevlar nanomesh integrated into any clothingHazard sensor with early warningself-healing for injuriesResistance to extreme temperaturesProtection against common poisons and diseases
LIMITATIONS: Does not provide superhuman strength or offensive weapons. Purely defensive.
PRICE: 380,000 CM
DISCOUNTED PRICE: 76,000 CM
Marco read the description three times.
—This is... this is perfect. It's not as flashy as an Iron Man suit. Man , but it does exactly what I need: keep me alive. —He looked at the price—. And it's within budget. System, give me more details. How exactly does it work?
[AEGIS INTEGRATES DIRECTLY WITH THE USER AT THE CELLULAR LEVEL]
[ONCE INSTALLED, IT IS PERMANENT AND REQUIRES MINIMAL MAINTENANCE]
[IT IS POWERED BY AMBIENT ENERGY AND THE USER'S BIOELECTRICITY]
[IT IS INVISIBLE AND UNDETECTABLE TO MOST FORMS OF MAGIC OR TECHNOLOGICAL SCANNER]
" At a cellular level?" Marco frowned. "Does that hurt?"
[THE INSTALLATION PROCESS TAKES 30 SECONDS]
[PAIN LEVEL: MODERATE (COMPARABLE TO AN INTENSE MUSCLE CRAMP)]
"Intense muscle cramps for thirty seconds in exchange for not dying." Marco nodded. "Sounds fair. But wait, you said it doesn't include offensive weapons. I need something to actively defend myself, too."
[CORRECT]
[DO YOU WANT TO SEE WEAPON OPTIONS?]
"Yes, but here's the problem." Marco leaned back in his chair, thinking. "I don't know how to use swords. I've never fired a gun. My combat experience is limited to a fight in high school where we both ended up crying. I need something that's effective but doesn't require years of training."
[ANALYZING USER PROFILE...]
[RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON LACK OF COMBAT EXPERIENCE:]
MAGIC WAND WITH PRE-PROGRAMMED SPELLS ENERGY WEAPON WITH AIMING SUPPORT AUTONOMOUS COMBAT DRONES SUMMONING ARTIFACT
Marco straightened up.
—Wait, a summoning device? How do I summon creatures to fight for me?
[CORRECT]
[SHOWING OPTIONS...]
The list that appeared was mind-blowing. There were rings that summoned dragons, whistles that called forth warrior spirits, cards that materialized Yu -Gi-Oh!-style monsters...
And then Marco saw something that made him smile from ear to ear.
[MULTIVERSAL POKÉBALL - SET OF 6]
ORIGIN: Custom Amalgamation (Based on the Pokémon universe )
DESCRIPTION: Six modified Poké Balls capable of capturing and storing creatures from any universe (with a power limit). Captured creatures obey the user and can be summoned instantly.
POWER LIMIT PER BALL: Creatures up to Level 50 ( Pokémon equivalent )
INCLUDES: Basic capture and training manual
PRICE: 180,000 CM
DISCOUNTED PRICE: 36,000 CM
"Holy crap." Marco laughed. "Can I be a Pokémon trainer in Middle-earth? That's the most random and beautiful thing I've ever seen."
[MULTIVERSAL POKÉBALLS ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE FOR USERS WITH NO COMBAT EXPERIENCE]
[CAPTURED CREATURES PROVIDE PROTECTION AND VERSATILITY]
"But there's a problem," Marco said. "The balls come empty, right? I'd have to go capture creatures myself, which puts me in danger before I even have any protection."
[CORRECT]
[DO YOU WANT TO SEE OPTIONS FOR PRE-CAPTURED CREATURES?]
Marco almost fell off his chair.
—Can I buy creatures that have already been captured? Why didn't you start with that?
[YOU ASKED ABOUT SUMMONING ARTIFACTS, NOT CREATURES DIRECTLY]
[PRECISION IMPROVES EFFICIENCY]
— Okay , valid point. Show me what creatures I can buy with my budget.
What followed was possibly the most fun Marco had ever had. The list of available creatures was endless. There were real Pokémon , Digimon , creatures from Final Fantasy , monsters from D&D, mythical beasts from different cultures...
Finally, after much deliberation (and finishing his tiramisu while deciding), Marco had created his defense shopping list:
[SHOPPING LIST - CATEGORY: SELF-DEFENSE]
Aegis " Adaptive Protection System - 76,000 CM
Pokéball Multiversal (Set of 6) - 36,000 CM Arcanine ( Pokémon - Level 45)Loyal, powerful, can be used as a mountPrice: 45,000 CM / Discounted price: 9,000 CM Alakazam ( Pokémon - Level 47)Psychic, intelligent, can teleport the user in emergenciesPrice: 55,000 CM / Discounted price: 11,000 CM Lapras ( Pokémon - Level 42)Water transport, healing, gentlePrice: 40,000 CM / Discounted price: 8,000 CM Personal Emergency Shield (manual activation)Creates an impenetrable barrier for 60 seconds, 3 uses before rechargingPrice: 25,000 CM / Discounted price: 5,000 CM
TOTAL DEFENSE CATEGORY: 145,000 CM
REMAINING BUDGET: 273,200 CM (from the original defense budget)
Marco looked at the numbers with satisfaction. He had spent less than budgeted on defense, which meant he could add that surplus to other categories.
"Now, basic survival," he murmured. "I need food, water, shelter... all the basics."
[CATEGORY: BASIC SURVIVAL]
[UPDATED BUDGET: 552,000 CM] (278,800 original + 273,200 surplus)
Marco rubbed his hands together.
— Okay , give me options to avoid dying of hunger or thirst in a medieval world without modern infrastructure.
[RECOMMENDED OPTION: "INFINITE ADVENTURER'S BACKPACK"]
ORIGIN: Custom Amalgamation (Based on multiple RPGs )
DESCRIPTION: Backpack with virtually unlimited storage space. Includes:
Temporary preservation system (food never spoils)Automatic organizationApparent weight always 5 kg regardless of contentsQuick mental access (you think of what you need and it appears in your hand)Indestructible and waterproof
PRICE: 450,000 CM
DISCOUNTED PRICE: 90,000 CM
"Ninety thousand credits for a magic backpack." Marco whistled. "But if I can fit infinite food in there... yeah, that's worth it. What else?"
[COMPLETE SURVIVAL KIT]
INCLUDES: Self-plotting tent, thermal sleeping bag, first aid kit, camping tools, hygiene kit, portable water filter, magic lighter (never goes out), and 100 high-quality dehydrated food rations.
PRICE: 15,000 CM
DISCOUNTED PRICE: 3,000 CM
"That's a real bargain." Marco nodded. "And what about food? Because those hundred rations aren't going to last forever, and even though my backpack is practically endless, I need to fill it with something."
[SUGGESTION: CREATE AN INITIAL STOCK OF VARIED FOOD]
[SUGGESTED BUDGET FOR FOOD: 50,000 CM]
Marco thought about this. With 50,000 credits and his 80 percent discount, that meant 250,000 credits worth of food. He could buy a ton.
—System, give me a package of varied food. I want Bolivian, Argentinian, Peruvian, Mexican, European food... everything. Enough for... I don't know, a year? And make sure there's variety. I don't want to eat the same thing every day.
[CREATING CUSTOM PACKAGE...]
["MULTIVERSAL GASTRONOMIC FESTIVAL" PACKAGE]
CONTENT:
500 Bolivian salteñas (various fillings)300 Argentinian empanadas (beef, chicken, ham and cheese)200 portions of lomo saltado150 portions of aji de gallina200 tacos (various styles)100 roast dishes with chimichurri150 portions of Italian pasta (various styles)100 artisanal pizzasOver 200 additional items including desserts, snacks, and drinks
TOTAL VALUE: 255,000 CM
DISCOUNTED PRICE: 51,000 CM
"Perfect. That and the infinite backpack mean I'll never go hungry." Marco paused. "Although... System, can I sell this food? You know, like I did with Loki , but maybe to people in Middle-earth."
[AFFIRMATIVE]
[FOOD FROM OTHER UNIVERSES CAN BE HIGHLY VALUABLE TO LOCAL INHABITANTS]
[ESPECIALLY IN MEDIEVAL SOCIETIES WITH LIMITED OPTIONS]
Marco's eyes lit up.
"Then I could buy food here cheap and sell it there for a high price. It's basically interdimensional arbitrage ." He laughed. "I'm going to be the first food [food industry] ." Middle-earth truck .
[VIABLE BUSINESS CONCEPT]
[DO YOU WANT TO ADD KITCHEN EQUIPMENT/SALE TO YOUR LIST?]
—Not yet. First I need to get settled and not die. The food The truck can wait. —Marco checked his mental list—. Okay , what else do I need to survive? I have defense, food, shelter...
[ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS:]
- UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR
- UPDATABLE MAP OF MIDDLE-EARTH
- FLORA AND FAUNA IDENTIFICATION BOOK
- BASIC SKILLS KIT (INSTALL KNOWLEDGE)
Marco stopped at the last option.
— Basic skills kit? What's that?
[INSTANT KNOWLEDGE OF ESSENTIAL SKILLS]
INCLUDES:
Survival in the wildAdvanced first aidNavigation without instrumentsBasic unarmed combat techniquesCommon languages of Middle-earthCountry kitchen
PRICE: 85,000 CM
DISCOUNTED PRICE: 17,000 CM
"Wait, wait." Marco leaned forward. "Are you telling me that for seventeen thousand credits I can basically download abilities into my brain like in The Matrix ?"
[CORRECT ANALOGY]
[KNOWLEDGE IS INTEGRATED DURING SLEEP]
[TIME REQUIRED: 8 HOURS]
"Seventeen thousand credits to learn elven languages and not get lost in the forest. That's... that's a steal." Marco added the item to his mental list. "And the universal translator?"
[UNIVERSAL BABEL TRANSLATOR]
IT ALLOWS YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK ANY LANGUAGE
IT INTEGRATES AS AN INVISIBLE NEURAL IMPLANT
PRICE: 120,000 CM
DISCOUNTED PRICE: 24,000 CM
— Hmm , but if the skill kit already includes Middle-earth languages, do I need the translator?
[THE SKILLS KIT INCLUDES ONLY COMMON LANGUAGES]
[BLACK LANGUAGE, ANCIENT DIALECTS, AND LANGUAGES FROM OTHER UNIVERSES ARE NOT INCLUDED]
[THE BABEL TRANSLATOR COVERS EVERYTHING]
Marco considered this. The translator was more expensive but more comprehensive. On the other hand, the skills kit had other useful things besides languages.
Can I buy both?
[AFFIRMATIVE]
[THEY WORK TOGETHER WITHOUT CONFLICTS]
"Then both. It'll let me talk to anyone and also give me the other survival skills." Marco did his mental calculations. "What's my score so far?"
[SUMMARY OF PLANNED PURCHASES:]
DEFENSE:
Aegis System : 76,000 CMPokéballs (6): 36,000 CMArcanine : 9,000 CMAlakazam : 11,000 CMSize : 8,000 CMEmergency Shield: 5,000 CM Subtotal: 145,000 CM
SURVIVAL:
Infinity Backpack: 90,000 CMSurvival Kit: 3,000 CMFood (1 year): 51,000 CMSkill Kit: 17,000 CMTranslator Babel: 24,000 CM Subtotal: 185,000 CM
TOTAL SO FAR: 330,000 CM
REMAINING CREDITS : 1,064,000 CM
Marco whistled. He still had over a million credits. That was... a lot. Too much to spend now without a plan.
" Okay , I need to be smart here." She stood up and started walking between the shelves. "I've got defense and survival covered. What else? Utilities? Convenience?"
[CATEGORY: UTILITIES AND CONVENIENCE]
[POPULAR SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR SITUATION:]
The screen displayed a list of items that Marco hadn't even considered:
Portable physical store (for when you want to sell without using the store's dimensions)Multiversal communication system (for contacting customers remotely)Automated inventory and point of sale (for tracking sales)Transformable disguise/armor (to blend into different environments)Compact all-terrain vehicle
Marco scratched his head.
"This all sounds useful, but... do I really need it right now? I mean, I haven't even left the store yet. I don't know what I'm going to find out there."
[RECOMMENDATION: DO NOT SPEND THE ENTIRE BUDGET NOW]
[MAINTAIN CREDIT FOR OPPORTUNITIES OR EMERGENCIES]
[YOU CAN ALWAYS RETURN TO THE STORE TO BUY MORE]
That made sense. Marco nodded slowly.
—Okay. So my plan is: I buy all the defense and survival gear I already have on my list. That leaves me with over a million credits saved up. If I find I need something specific, I can go back and buy it.
[SOLID PLANE]
[DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED WITH THE PURCHASE?]
Marco took a deep breath. This was real. He was about to spend three hundred and thirty thousand credits—which in real value was more than one and a half million—on equipment to survive in a fantasy world.
His life had become absolutely surreal.
—Okay then. Let's do it.
[PROCESSING PURCHASES...]
The store lit up with flashes of golden light. Before Marco, objects began to materialize one by one. The Infinity Backpack appeared first, floating gently until it rested in his hands. It was black with electric blue details, lighter than he expected, and it felt... perfect. As if it had been made specifically for him.
Then came the Poké Balls , six red and white spheres that rotated slowly in the air. They were identical to those in the video games, except that when Marco reached out to touch one, he felt a faint buzz of energy.
[THREE POKÉ BALLS CONTAIN CREATURES]
[THREE ARE EMPTY FOR FUTURE CAPTURES]
In three flashes of bright light, Arcanine , Alakazam , and Lapras appeared before him.
Arcanine was massive, a lion-dog the size of a small horse with orange fur and black stripes. His eyes were intelligent and noble, and when he looked at Marco, he bowed his head in a gesture of respect before approaching to be petted.
"Oh, you bastard," Marco whispered, digging his fingers into the incredibly soft fur. "You're beautiful."
Arcanine made a deep, satisfied sound, clearly pleased with the compliment.
Alakazam floated to one side, her eyes closed in meditation, the two spoons in her hands glowing with psychic energy. When she opened her eyes, Marco felt a light touch on his mind, non-invasive, just... curious.
" Interesting, " a voice echoed in his head. " A new teacher. No formal training, but with potential. We'll work well together. "
" Did you just speak in my head?" Marco asked, surprised.
" Telepathy. More efficient than spoken language. "
—That's the coolest thing I've ever heard... or thought... or however this works.
Lapras was the gentlest of the three, floating in a small bubble of water that had appeared with her. She was blue with a gray shell, and her large, expressive eyes gazed at Marco with maternal warmth.
" Laaaap ~" she sang softly.
Marco didn't understand the words, but the feeling was clear: friendship, loyalty, protection.
" Okay , team," Marco said, looking at his three new teammates. "You and I are going to be spending a lot of time together . I promise to treat you well, feed you better, and probably get into trouble together. Sound good?"
Arcanine barked excitedly. Alakazam nodded dignifiedly. Lapras sang merrily.
[EMOTIONAL BOND ESTABLISHED]
[THE CREATURES HAVE ACCEPTED YOUR LEADERSHIP]
The rest of the items appeared in quick succession. The survival kit materialized, already packed inside the infinite backpack (which apparently knew how to organize itself). The food package simply... disappeared, but Marco felt the mental weight of knowing it was stored in his backpack, ready to be summoned whenever he needed it.
Aegis System , and Marco knew immediately when it started because he felt as if a million microscopic ants had decided to breakdance under his skin.
" Ow, ow, OW!" she cried , falling to her knees. "You said muscle cramp! This is more than a cramp!"
[SUBJECTIVE PAIN VARIES BY INDIVIDUAL]
[STAY STILL - 15 SECONDS REMAINING]
The fifteen longest seconds of his life followed, and the pain faded, leaving a strange feeling of... wholeness. As if he'd been walking around with a loose shoe his whole life and had finally tied it properly.
Marco stood up shakily, looking at his hands. They looked normal. They felt normal. But he knew, on some instinctive level, that he now had an invisible layer of protection surrounding him.
—System, how do I prove this works without, you know, actually hurting myself?
[ACTIVATING DEMO MODE...]
A small sphere of energy appeared floating in front of him. Without warning, it shot straight toward his chest.
Marco screamed and covered himself, but just before the sphere hit him, a bright, pale blue shield materialized, absorbing the impact without any problem.
" Good heavens!" he exclaimed , checking his chest. "I didn't even feel it!"
[AEGIS WORKING AT 100%]
[AUTOMATIC SHIELD SUCCESSFULLY ACTIVATED]
items arrived : the Skill Kit and the Babel Translator. They appeared as two small injectors that floated down and landed in his hands.
[INSTRUCTIONS:]
SKILLS KIT: APPLY TO THE NECK. EFFECTS INTEGRATE DURING SLEEP (8 HOURS)
BABEL TRANSLATOR: APPLY TO RIGHT TEMPLE. IMMEDIATE EFFECTS BUT MAY CAUSE TEMPORARY DIZZINESS
Marco looked at the injectors with some apprehension.
— Do they hurt?
[MINIMAL PAIN]
[COMPARABLE TO A VACCINE INJECTION]
— Okay . Good. I can handle that. —She took a deep breath and first applied the translator to her temple.
There was a slight prick, a buzzing in his ear, and then...
Every sound around him seemed to change. It was subtle, but suddenly Marco could understand the sounds Lapras was making . They weren't just musical notes; they were words, feelings, whole concepts.
Lapras was saying .
"Oh, God," Marco whispered. "I can understand you. I can understand you perfectly."
" Of course ," Alakazam thought . " The device works as promised. Efficiently. "
Arcanine just barked, but Marco understood: "This is great! Now we can really talk!"
The dizziness the System had promised arrived a moment later, and Marco had to sit down. It wasn't terrible, just... disorienting. Like when you get off a spinning amusement park ride.
"Rest," Alakazam advised . "Your mind needs to adjust."
"Yes, good idea." Marco applied the second injector to his neck, feeling another small prick. "Now what?"
[NOW YOU REST]
[THE SKILLS KIT WILL BE INTEGRATED DURING YOUR SLEEP]
[A REST AREA HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU]
A door appeared in the wall of the shop (or where Marco assumed there was a wall; it was hard to tell in an infinite space). The door opened, revealing a cozy room with a huge bed, minimalist decor, and an adjoining bathroom.
—Wait, do I have a room here?
[EVERY OWNER HAS PRIVATE ROOMS IN THE STORE]
[YOU CAN REST HERE WHENEVER YOU NEED TO]
[TIME REMAINS STILL STANDS STILL OUTSIDE]
Marco looked at the bed longingly. It had been an incredibly long day, although technically in Middle-earth not even a second had passed since he arrived.
" You know what? You're right. I need to process all of this." He headed toward the room, his three Pokémon following behind. "Come on, team. We all need to rest before we head out to explore a world full of orcs and dark magic."
He sank down onto the bed, which turned out to be the most comfortable thing he'd ever slept on. Arcanine curled up at the foot of the bed like a giant, furry guard. Alakazam levitated to a corner, entering a meditative state. Lapras stayed in its water bubble near the door, softly humming a lullaby.
As Marco closed his eyes, he felt knowledge beginning to seep into his mind. It was like studying in his sleep, except it actually worked. He could feel new connections forming in his brain, new skills taking root.
His last thought before falling asleep was simple and content:
Tomorrow I begin my adventure in Middle-earth. I have an incredible team, survival gear, and enough food to feed an army.
If this isn't living the dream, I don't know what is.
To be continued...