The coffee maker gurgled its final breath as Ethan poured the dark liquid into his World's Okayest Analyst mug, a gift from coworkers that was both amusing and mildly insulting.
"Another thrilling day of debugging corporate firewalls awaits," he muttered to the empty apartment. His voice echoed slightly off the bare walls, a testament to his minimalist decorating style—or, more accurately, his complete lack of interest in home décor.
Rain pattered against the window of his modest apartment, creating a soothing backdrop to his morning routine. Ethan took a long sip of coffee and booted up his laptop to check emails before heading to the office. The usual spam, a reminder about tomorrow's team meeting, and—
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
CRITICAL ERROR DETECTED
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY COMPROMISED
EMERGENCY PROTOCOL INITIATED
Ethan blinked. The message had appeared in a window he didn't recognize—black background, neon blue text, like something from an 80s hacker movie.
"Very funny, Dave," he mumbled, assuming it was a prank from the office joker. He clicked the X in the corner, but the window remained stubbornly open.
[ SYSTEM INTERFACE INITIALIZING ]
SCANNING POTENTIAL AGENT...
COMPATIBILITY: 98.7%
MEDIOCRITY INDEX: OPTIMAL
SURVIVAL INSTINCT: ADEQUATE
ADAPTABILITY QUOTIENT: HIGH
"Whatever virus this is, it's not even good enough to be annoying," Ethan said, reaching for his phone to call the office. But when he picked it up, the screen displayed the same message. Even stranger, the text on both screens began to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.
A chill ran down his spine. This was... unusual.
[ CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT COMPLETE ]
AGENT: ETHAN JAMES STARK
QUALIFICATION: UNREMARKABLE HUMAN
SPECIAL ABILITIES: NONE
HEROIC POTENTIAL: MINIMAL
SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 26.7%
AGENT SELECTION: CONFIRMED
EXTRACTION PROTOCOL: INITIATED
"Extraction? What the—"
The coffee mug slipped from his fingers, but instead of shattering on the floor, it froze in mid-air. In fact, everything froze—the raindrops on the window, the steam rising from the suspended mug, even the dust particles visible in the morning sunlight streaming through the blinds.
Then everything went white.
When Ethan's vision cleared, he found himself standing in... nowhere. That was the only way to describe it. A vast, white space with no visible boundaries, no horizon, no ceiling or floor, though he was clearly standing on something. The only feature in this featureless void was a small, glowing blue cube floating at eye level about ten feet away.
"Hello, Ethan Stark."
The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Ethan spun around, searching for its source, but saw only endless white.
"Who's there? Where am I? If this is some kind of VR prank, it's not funny anymore."
"This is not a prank. This is a crisis. The multiverse is collapsing."
Ethan laughed nervously. "Right. The multiverse. Of course. And let me guess, you need me to save it with my incredible IT skills? Did Dave put you up to this?"
"Dave Rosenberg, your coworker who frequently initiates practical jokes, has nothing to do with this situation," the voice responded with such precise knowledge of Dave that Ethan felt his smile falter. "I am the System, a repair protocol created to address critical failures in reality structure. You have been selected as my agent."
A holographic interface materialized in front of Ethan, displaying what looked suspiciously like a character sheet:
[ WORLD REPAIR SYSTEM v7.3.12 ]
AGENT PROFILE: ETHAN J. STARK
STATUS: UNINITIALIZED
LEVEL: 0
XP: 0/100
ATTRIBUTES:
- INTELLIGENCE: 14 (SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE)
- WISDOM: 10 (AVERAGE)
- STRENGTH: 11 (AVERAGE)
- DEXTERITY: 12 (AVERAGE)
- CONSTITUTION: 13 (SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE)
- CHARISMA: 9 (SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE)
- LUCK: ??? (UNDETERMINED)
SKILLS: NONE
ABILITIES: NONE
EQUIPMENT: NONE
CURRENT OBJECTIVE: ACCEPT SYSTEM INTEGRATION
MISSION STATUS: PENDING
SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 26.7%
"Selected? Why me? I'm just... nobody special." Ethan's mind raced through possible explanations: elaborate prank, hallucination, mental breakdown brought on by too many late-night emergency server fixes...
"Precisely because you are nobody special," the System replied with what Ethan swore sounded like a hint of irony. "You are statistically average in almost every measurable way. You possess no extraordinary abilities, no special talents, no destined greatness. You are, in the most literal sense, ordinary."
"Wow, don't sugarcoat it or anything," Ethan muttered, eyeing the holographic display with suspicion. "And what's with the RPG stat sheet? Am I in some kind of game now?"
"The interface is designed to be intuitive to your cognitive framework. Your world's 'role-playing games' simulate progression systems remarkably similar to how reality repair functions operate."
"So I'm, what, living in a video game now?"
"No. The multiverse is real, the danger is real, and your potential death will be extremely real. The system interface merely presents complex metaphysical concepts in a format your brain can process without immediate psychological breakdown."
"Comforting," Ethan said dryly.
The blue cube pulsed brighter.
"Approach the integration module."
"The what now?" Ethan looked at the floating cube suspiciously.
"The glowing cube. It contains the interface that will allow you to interact with damaged reality structures."
Ethan stayed put. "Let's say, hypothetically, that I believe any of this. Why should I help? What's in it for me?"
The empty space around him flickered, and for a split second, Ethan saw something else—a chaotic maelstrom of fragmented realities, worlds shattering like glass, civilizations being erased from existence. The vision was gone as quickly as it appeared, but it left him gasping.
"That is what's at stake. Your world included."
A new notification appeared in his interface:
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
[ THREAT ASSESSMENT ]
YOUR REALITY: EARTH-782-D
CURRENT STABILITY: 79% AND DECLINING
ESTIMATED TIME TO CRITICAL FAILURE: 73 DAYS
ESTIMATED TIME TO TOTAL COLLAPSE: 74 DAYS
PROJECTED CASUALTIES: 8,000,000,000+ SENTIENT BEINGS
"Jesus," Ethan whispered, his heart pounding. "Was that real?"
"Very. Without intervention, your reality will destabilize within 73 days. Total collapse will follow."
"And you expect me to fix this? I'm an IT guy, not a... reality repairman."
"The principles are not dissimilar. You identify system failures, isolate damaged components, apply patches, and restore functionality."
"System failures in corporate networks, not the fabric of reality!" Ethan ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "This is insane."
"Nevertheless, you have been selected. The probability of your survival is 26.7%."
"Only 26.7%? That's... not very encouraging."
"It is higher than any other potential candidate I evaluated."
"Great," Ethan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm the least likely to die horribly. Super reassuring."
He stared at the floating cube for several long moments, weighing his options. If this was real—and some deep instinct told him it was—then everyone and everything he knew was in danger. His parents in Milwaukee, his sister and her kids in Boston, his friends, his coworkers (even annoying Dave), all of it would be gone.
With a resigned sigh, Ethan stepped forward and reached for the cube.
"I'm probably going to regret this."
As his fingers touched the glowing surface, the cube dissolved into particles of light that flowed up his arm, spreading across his body. The sensation wasn't painful, but it was strange—like being immersed in fizzy water, thousands of tiny bubbles popping against his skin. The particles converged at his left wrist, forming a sleek metallic band with a small blue display.
[ SYSTEM INTEGRATION COMPLETE ]
WORLD REPAIR AGENT E.J. STARK INITIALIZED
STATUS: ACTIVE
LEVEL: 1
XP: 0/100
NEW SKILLS ACQUIRED:
- REALITY ANALYSIS (LVL 1): IDENTIFY BASIC REALITY FLAWS AND ANOMALIES
- DIMENSIONAL INSIGHT (LVL 1): PERCEIVE CROSS-REALITY DISTURBANCES
- REPAIR BASICS (LVL 1): PERFORM SIMPLE REALITY PATCH OPERATIONS
NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED:
- REALITY ANCHOR: MAINTAIN PERSONAL COHERENCE DURING DIMENSIONAL TRAVEL
- SYSTEM INTERFACE: ACCESS AND MANIPULATE THE WORLD REPAIR SYSTEM
EQUIPMENT GRANTED:
- SYSTEM LINK (WRISTBAND): PRIMARY INTERFACE DEVICE
- BASIC REPAIR KIT: 3 CHARGES REMAINING
- EMERGENCY RECALL BEACON: 1 USE (WARNING: 72-HOUR COOLDOWN)
- STANDARD ISSUE BODYSUIT: MINIMAL PROTECTION, DIMENSIONAL STABILIZATION
FIRST QUEST ASSIGNED: ELDERWOOD DESTABILIZATION
OBJECTIVES:
- LOCATE SOURCE OF REALITY DEGRADATION
- NEUTRALIZE CORRUPTION SOURCE
- REPAIR CRITICAL DAMAGE
- SURVIVE
REWARD: XP, SKILL POINTS, INCREASED SURVIVAL PROBABILITY
"Integration complete," the System announced. "Dimensional transport capabilities online. Reality analysis module functional. Repair tools operational."
Ethan examined the wristband, poking at it cautiously. "So this is—"
"Your interface with me and the tools you will need for your mission."
"Right, the mission," Ethan said, still not quite believing the situation. "Which is what, exactly? Where am I going? What am I supposed to do?"
"You will be transported to various damaged worlds within the multiverse. In each one, you must identify the source of reality degradation and repair it before the world collapses completely. Each successful repair will strengthen the overall multiverse structure and extend the survival timeline of your home reality."
Ethan noticed his ordinary clothes had been replaced with a form-fitting bodysuit that seemed to shift colors slightly as he moved. Not exactly his style, but he had bigger concerns at the moment.
"How many worlds are we talking about?"
"That is currently undetermined. The process will continue until sufficient stability is restored or until you die."
"Cheerful outlook," Ethan muttered. "Do I get any training? A manual? Anything?"
"Training would require time we do not have. I will provide guidance during operations."
"Of course. Just throw me in the deep end. Why not?" Ethan took a deep breath. "So when do we—"
[ TRANSPORT SEQUENCE INITIATED ]
DESTINATION: ELDERWOOD (REALITY DESIGNATION AE-451)
REALITY TYPE: FANTASY-ADJACENT
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: PRE-INDUSTRIAL
MAGIC PRESENCE: CONFIRMED
INDIGENOUS SENTIENCE: MULTIPLE SPECIES
DANGER LEVEL: MODERATE
HOSTILITY PROBABILITY: 62%
PREPARE FOR DIMENSIONAL TRANSITION
3...
2...
1...
"Wait, I'm not ready yet—"
The white void dissolved around him, and Ethan felt himself falling, tumbling through layers of reality. Colors, sounds, and sensations bombarded him from all sides. The wristband glowed intensely, almost painfully bright against his skin.
With a sudden jolt that knocked the wind out of him, Ethan crashed onto soft ground. He lay there for a moment, dazed and disoriented, before slowly opening his eyes.
Above him stretched the canopy of the most magnificent forest he had ever seen. Enormous trees with silver-blue bark reached hundreds of feet into the sky, their leaves shimmering with an inner light that cast dappled patterns across the moss-covered ground. Floating motes of golden pollen or light—he couldn't tell which—drifted lazily through the air. The scent was intoxicating, like nothing on Earth—honey and cinnamon and something unidentifiable but wonderful.
"System?" Ethan called out, his voice small in the vastness of the forest.
The wristband vibrated gently, and a small holographic display projected above it:
[ SYSTEM ONLINE ]
LOCATION: ELDERWOOD, WESTERN GROVE
LOCAL TIME: THIRD AGE, YEAR 427, AWAKENING SEASON
QUEST STATUS: ACTIVE
ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS:
- BREATHABLE ATMOSPHERE: COMPATIBLE (ENHANCED O2 LEVELS)
- GRAVITY: 0.92 EARTH STANDARD
- BACKGROUND MAGIC: MODERATE
- REALITY STABILITY: 83% (DEGRADING)
- IMMEDIATE THREATS: NONE DETECTED
RECOMMENDATION: LOCATE INDIGENOUS ASSISTANCE
"Super helpful," Ethan muttered, pushing himself to his feet and brushing debris from his high-tech bodysuit. "Find local help. Brilliant strategy."
He activated his new Reality Analysis skill, focusing on his surroundings. Immediately, his perception shifted—he could see faint lines of energy connecting the trees, pulsing with a rhythm that seemed almost like a heartbeat. Most glowed a healthy blue-green, but to the east, he noticed several connections that flickered with an unhealthy purple hue.
[ REALITY ANALYSIS ACTIVE ]
ANOMALY DETECTED: APPROXIMATELY 0.7 KM EAST
SEVERITY: MINOR (CURRENTLY)
TYPE: REALITY FRAYING
RECOMMENDATION: INVESTIGATE WITH CAUTION
"East it is," Ethan sighed, orienting himself using the position of what appeared to be this world's sun. "Though I should probably have a better plan than just wandering toward the dangerous anomaly."
The wristband displayed another message:
[ HINT ]
REALITY ANALYSIS CAN BE APPLIED TO SPECIFIC OBJECTS
EXPERIENCE POINTS EARNED FROM SUCCESSFUL ANALYSES
SKILL PROFICIENCY INCREASES WITH USE
"So I'm literally 'grinding skills' now? Great."
Ethan bent down to examine a peculiar flower growing at the base of a nearby tree. It had petals that seemed to phase in and out of existence, alternately there and not there in a pattern too regular to be natural.
He focused his Reality Analysis skill on the flower.
[ ANALYSIS RESULT ]
OBJECT: SHIMMERBLOOM PLANT
STATUS: REALITY DESYNCHRONIZATION (MINOR)
CAUSE: PROXIMITY TO WEAKENED REALITY BOUNDARY
REPAIR DIFFICULTY: TRIVIAL
A new option appeared on his interface:
[ REPAIR OPTIONS ]
BASIC REALITY SYNCHRONIZATION - 1 CHARGE
USE REPAIR CHARGE? [Y/N]
"Might as well try it out," Ethan muttered, selecting "Y."
Immediately, he felt a strange tingling in his fingertips. Acting on instinct, he reached out toward the flickering flower. A thin stream of blue energy flowed from his fingers to the plant. The petals solidified, their phasing stopped, and the flower stabilized into what he assumed was its natural state—a beautiful bloom with a soft blue glow emanating from its center.
[ REPAIR SUCCESSFUL ]
REALITY STABILITY INCREASED: +0.001%
XP GAINED: 5
CURRENT XP: 5/100
REPAIR CHARGES REMAINING: 2
SKILL IMPROVEMENT:
REPAIR BASICS: PROGRESS +2%
"Not exactly saving the universe, but it's something," Ethan said, feeling a small sense of accomplishment despite the absurdity of the situation.
A sudden rustle in the underbrush caught his attention. Before he could react, a figure emerged from behind a nearby tree—tall, slender, with pointed ears and eyes that seemed to shift color like opals. An arrow was nocked in an elegantly curved bow, aimed directly at his heart.
[ THREAT DETECTED ]
ENTITY TYPE: INDIGENOUS SENTIENT (ELF, GUARDIAN CLASS)
HOSTILITY LEVEL: CAUTIOUS AGGRESSION
THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE
RECOMMENDED ACTION: NON-THREATENING COMMUNICATION
"Ah," Ethan said weakly, raising his hands slowly. "Hello there."
The elf's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Who are you, human? And how did you come to be in the protected heart of Elderwood?"
Ethan opened his mouth, then closed it again. How exactly was he supposed to explain this?
The wristband pulsed against his skin. A small message appeared, visible only to him:
[ SYSTEM ADVICE ]
DIPLOMATIC APPROACH RECOMMENDED
TRUTH ADVISABLE - LOCAL LORE INCLUDES DIMENSION TRAVELERS
CURRENT OBJECTIVE: GAIN TRUST AND INFORMATION
"Well," Ethan began, trying to keep his voice steady despite the arrow pointed at his chest, "it's kind of a funny story..."
[ STATUS UPDATE ]
SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 26.7%
FIRST CONTACT INITIATED
QUEST: ELDERWOOD DESTABILIZATION - IN PROGRESS
GOOD LUCK, AGENT STARK
This is not how I expected my Tuesday to go, Ethan thought, desperately trying to come up with an explanation that wouldn't get him shot by an angry elf. Somehow, debugging the accounting department's server seemed a lot more appealing right now.
What do you think Ethan will do when confronted by the elf?