I have to admit…
New York really does have a different kind of charm.
Especially when you factor in that this isn't the "real" one—but a version that's been nearly destroyed more times than I can count.
Or… is going to be.
Yeah.
That definitely makes it worse.
So what am I supposed to do about that?
What would a brave, fearless person do?
…
Run.
Hide as far away from this hell as possible.
Aliens?
No thanks.
Superheroes?
Who cares.
Mutants? Magic? Ancient beings?
All of that…
Is just one massive mess I want absolutely nothing to do with.
My only goal right now…
Is to do what I've always done.
Survive.
And how do I do that?
By building a base.
Where?
…No idea.
But maybe it won't be that hard.
Because apparently…
I also got something pretty useful.
I can dig.
Place blocks.
Break things.
Create.
Just like in Minecraft.
Even my body…
Feels different.
Fatigue isn't the same.
When I jump, there's something off—like my body doesn't follow the same "rules" anymore.
It's not easy to get used to.
But honestly?
I'm not complaining.
Anything…
Is better than being just dust in the middle of all this chaos.
No documents.
No money.
No family.
No friends.
Alone.
…
Okay.
That's enough negative thinking.
Focus.
Stay positive.
First…
Let's test a few things.
The alley was narrow.
Squeezed between two red-brick buildings that clearly hadn't seen any renovations in decades.
Fire escapes?
Didn't even exist anymore.
Just rusted remains clinging to the walls like skeletons.
Trash cans were scattered around, some open, some tipped over.
And the grime…
It crept up the walls like it was slowly trying to swallow the place whole.
Charming.
Really charming.
I looked down.
Old concrete, cracked, stained with things I'd rather not identify.
…
What happens if I try to break this?
Do I just… punch it?
I paused for a second.
Then, without overthinking it—
I crouched slightly and punched the ground.
Tap.
…
Nothing.
"Alright," I muttered. "Maybe it needs more intent."
I took a breath.
And tried again.
This time, focusing.
Imagining it.
Like in the game.
My fist came down again—
And then—
Crack.
A small fracture appeared.
My eyes widened.
"No… no, no, no…"
I started hitting it faster.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The cracks spread like a web.
And then—
The block just…
Disappeared.
…
I froze.
The hole was there.
Perfect.
Square.
Artificial.
Wrong.
Completely wrong.
…
Slowly, I lifted my gaze.
Then glanced at the corner of my vision.
Inventory.
One of the slots…
Was no longer empty.
There was a block there.
Concrete.
…
A second of silence.
Two.
And then—
"Hahaha…"
A laugh slipped out.
Soft at first.
Almost disbelieving.
"Hahahaha!"
Okay.
This…
This is fun.
I crouched again, not even trying to hide the grin on my face.
"Digging, huh?"
My fist came down again.
Crack.
Another block.
Gone.
Inventory.
"Haha…"
"This is completely ridiculous."
I kept going.
Digging.
Digging.
Digging.
Each hit made the world feel… simpler.
More manageable.
Like, for the first time since I woke up here…
I actually had an advantage.
And yet…
Something kept bothering me.
I stopped for a moment.
Looking at the hole starting to take shape.
"How does this even work…?"
I frowned.
"I mean…"
I looked at my hand.
Then at the inventory.
"The ground just disappears…"
My eyes shifted back to the HUD.
"…and shows up here?"
Silence.
…
"Okay."
"This definitely doesn't follow any laws of physics."
But honestly?
I don't think physics matters in this world anymore.
The idea of building a base…
Didn't feel so far-fetched now.
I mean—
Who even uses this alley?
No one.
So clearly, as a responsible citizen…
It's my duty to put this place to proper use.
(Even if that makes absolutely no sense.)
I crossed my arms for a second, studying the area.
"Alright…"
I can make a small room.
Temporary.
Clean things up.
Make it… livable.
Power?
…Okay, yeah, that's definitely a problem.
But looking at my inventory…
Ideas started to form.
And once they did—
They came fast.
Too fast.
Instinctively.
The instincts of a veteran player took over.
Without thinking too much, I got to work.
Dirt blocks were gradually replaced with stone.
Stronger.
More solid.
Safer.
Dig.
Place.
Adjust.
Repeat.
The process felt automatic.
Natural.
Like breathing.
Until…
The sunlight started to fade.
First dim.
Then gone.
I looked around.
Dark.
I frowned and glanced up.
Above me…
A single square of light.
The hole I had dug.
…
I paused for a second.
Then remembered.
A simple trick.
Basic.
Everyone knew it.
"Jump… and place a block."
I positioned myself.
Took a breath.
Jumped—
Placed.
Climbed.
Jumped again—
Placed.
Climbed.
And then—
"It worked!!!"
A grin spread across my face.
Again.
Jump.
Place.
Climb.
Repeat.
In just a few seconds…
I was back on the surface.
Climbing out like nothing had happened.
…
Okay.
That was ridiculously useful.
I looked around the alley again.
But this time…
Differently.
More attentive.
More… strategic.
My gaze landed on the trash cans.
Old.
Dented.
Some barely holding together.
…
I tilted my head slightly.
"Let's see…"
I walked over to one of them.
And without hesitation—
BAM.
I punched it.
The can rattled.
Again.
And again.
Until—
CLANG.
It broke.
…
I froze for a second.
Then—
It dropped.
Not in pieces.
But as a single item.
Small.
Compact.
Slightly… pixelated.
Floating for a brief moment before falling to the ground.
…
Silence.
And then—
"Haha…"
The laugh came again.
Looser this time.
Lighter.
"Hahahaha!"
This was completely ridiculous.
And incredibly convenient.
I looked at the item.
Then at my inventory.
And back again.
"Alright…"
A slow smile spread across my face.
"I can definitely work with this."