Chapter 1: The Last Day of Normal

Chapter 1: The Last Day of Normal

Jack Frost had always known he was different. Maybe it was the white hair that made him stand out, or maybe it was the way people seemed to drift in and out of his life without warning. At eighteen, he had long stopped expecting stability. Being abandoned by his adoptive family on his birthday wasn't even the worst thing that had ever happened to him. It was just another event in the long list of things that life had thrown at him.

At least he still had Shadow.

The wolf-dog mix nudged Jack's hand with a cold nose, his golden eyes filled with understanding. They sat together on the steps of the small, run-down house Jack had called home for the past few years. He had spent his last dollars on a cheap dinner from the gas station down the road, and now he was left with nothing but the clothes on his back, a duffel bag, and a dog who was too loyal for his own good.

Jack sighed, running a hand through his snowy hair. "Well, buddy, looks like it's just you and me now."

Shadow huffed in response, his tail thumping against the wooden steps.

Jack leaned back, staring up at the darkening sky. He had spent most of his childhood diving into web novels and games, losing himself in worlds where orphans became heroes, where abandoned kids discovered hidden powers, where the weak could rise up and carve out their own destinies.

Reality, of course, was far less kind. There were no systems, no cheat abilities, no miraculous awakenings.

Or so he thought.

The first sign that something was wrong came as a chill that settled deep into his bones, like winter had arrived overnight. Shadow growled low in his throat, his ears flattening against his skull. Jack sat up straight, instincts honed from years of Kendo practice flaring to life.

The air shimmered.

One moment, Jack was on the steps of his old house. The next, the world tilted, twisted, and folded in on itself. Darkness swallowed him whole.

Then he woke up.

Jack gasped, his body jerking upright. He wasn't outside anymore. He was in his bed—his old bed from a week ago. His duffel bag sat in the corner, still packed, untouched. The calendar on the wall read **seven days earlier** than it should have.

Shadow was beside him, looking just as confused.

Jack's heart pounded. **What the hell just happened?**

And then, as if answering his unspoken question, a glowing blue screen flickered to life in front of his eyes.

---

**[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]**\

**Welcome, Jack Frost. You have been chosen.**\

**Abilities Unlocked:**

- **Fusion Wielding** – Combine items to create something new.

- **Spatial Storage** – Store and retrieve items from a personal pocket dimension.

---

Jack stared. Shadow barked. And for the first time in his life, Jack wondered if maybe—just maybe—he had finally become the protagonist of his own story.

He reached out toward the glowing interface, hesitating for only a moment before pressing his finger against the blue light. Instantly, a rush of energy surged through his body. His breath hitched as information flooded his mind—how to activate his abilities, how to use them, and what their limits were.

He could fuse anything together, but the results depended on compatibility. If he wasn't careful, he could end up ruining both objects. His **Spatial Storage** had an unlimited capacity, but the weight of the items stored affected his stamina when retrieving them.

Jack clenched his fist. This wasn't a game. This was real.

Shadow whined, pawing at Jack's leg, and he smiled, scratching behind the dog's ears. "Guess we better figure this out, huh?"

The first test was simple. Jack reached for his worn-out hoodie and a pocketknife from his bag. He focused, willing them to combine.

A soft glow surrounded the objects, and in the blink of an eye, the knife had merged into the fabric. Jack picked up the hoodie, surprised at how much heavier it felt. When he examined it closely, he noticed faint silver lines running through the seams, reinforcing the material. 

**[Item Created: Bladeweave Hoodie]**

- **Properties:** Reinforced durability. Hidden knife blade within the sleeve.

Jack let out a low whistle. "Now that's useful."

Excitement bubbled inside him. If he could do this with a hoodie, what else was possible? Weapons? Armor? Tools?

His mind raced through possibilities. But before he could test further, the world outside his window flickered, as if reality itself was glitching.

A deep voice echoed in his mind. **"You are not the only one."**

Jack's blood ran cold. 

Someone—or something—knew about him.

Shadow's growl deepened, his fur bristling.

Jack took a steadying breath and pulled the hoodie over his head. Whatever was happening, he wasn't going to face it unprepared.

**To be continued...**