Suho opened his eyes.
And saw God.
Not metaphorically. Not in a dream. A radiant figure hovered before him, suspended in a void of light and silence. The man — if he could be called that — had flowing white hair, a beard like spun silver, and eyes that shimmered with galaxies. His robe billowed without wind, woven from threads of starlight and shadow.
Suho blinked. "Am I… dead?"
The figure smiled. "Not yet."
Suho sat up — or tried to. There was no ground beneath him, only light. His body felt weightless, like thought given shape.
"Where am I?"
"In the space between," the figure said. "Between your world and the one you're about to enter."
Suho's heart thudded. "Enter? Why? I didn't ask for this."
"No one does," the figure said gently. "But compensation is due."
Suho frowned. "Compensation?"
The god raised a hand. A glowing panel appeared in the air — translucent, blue, filled with text.
[SYSTEM ERROR: UNAUTHORIZED STRIKE]
[SUBJECT: SUHO KIM]
[CAUSE: DIVINE MISFIRE]
[REMEDY: TRANSFER TO COMMERCE SYSTEM WORLD]
[COMPENSATION PACKAGE: Customized System + Bonded Companions]
Suho stared. "Wait. That lightning… that was you?"
The god looked sheepish. "A clerical error. You weren't supposed to be struck. The bolt was meant for someone else."
Suho's mouth opened, closed, opened again. "You killed me by accident?"
"Technically, you're not dead. Just… displaced."
Suho rubbed his face. "This is insane."
"I agree," the god said. "Which is why you're being compensated."
Suho pointed at the glowing panel. "What does 'Commerce System World' mean?"
"A realm where everything operates on value. Skills, relationships, power — all quantified, traded, upgraded. You'll be granted a unique system interface tailored to your personality."
Suho's eyes narrowed. "And the companions part?"
The god's voice softened. "You'll draw people to you. Not by chance, but by resonance. Those who believe in you will grow stronger — and so will you. Bonds will be your greatest weapon."
Suho blinked. "So I get powers. And allies. Because you zapped me by mistake."
The god nodded solemnly. "Yes."
Suho stared at the glowing interface. His name pulsed at the top. Beneath it, empty stat bars.
"Can I refuse?"
"You could," the god said. "But then you'd return to your world. In a coma. Alone. Forgotten."
Suho flinched. The café. The rain. The empty chair.
"No one was waiting for me," he whispered.
The god's voice softened. "But they will be. In the new world."
Suho looked up. "What kind of power are we talking?"
The god smiled. "That depends on you. But I'll give you a hint."
He waved a hand. A second panel appeared.
[SUHO KIM — SYSTEM TYPE: COMMERCE]
[PRIMARY ABILITY: Value Translation]
[SECONDARY ABILITY: Emotional Investment Multiplier]
[Passive: Bonded Growth Efficiency +300%]
Suho blinked. "What does that even mean?"
"You'll be able to see the value of things. Skills, items, people. You'll know what's worth investing in — and what's not. And when you care about someone, they grow stronger. So do you."
Suho stared at the panel. "That's… actually kind of amazing."
The god nodded. "You'll start weak. But you'll learn fast. And you'll be surrounded by those who believe in you."
Suho took a breath. The void shimmered around him.
"Alright," he said. "Let's do this."
The god smiled. "Then rise, Suho Kim. Your compensation begins now."
Light exploded.
And when Suho opened his eyes again, he was lying in a forest, the scent of pine and damp earth filling his lungs.