The screeching of tires echoed through the empty city streets, followed by a crash that ripped through the quiet night.
In the wreckage of what was once a sleek, silver sedan, Sam Orion, a brilliant scientist of a major tech giant, slumped against his crushed dashboard.
Blood trickled down from a gash on his forehead, staining his black coat.
With considerable effort, he turned his head to the side, his hazel eyes taking in the sight of the second vehicle involved in the collision - a black, unmarked van.
"Looks like they finally caught up," he muttered, a hint of bitter amusement on his face.
From the van, masked figures emerged, their cold, ruthless eyes surveying the wreckage.
One of them, a burly man with a scar running down his hand, pointed a finger at Sam's vehicle.
"There he is. Finish him."
Just as the henchman drew his firearm, a blinding white light filled Sam's vision, followed by a mysterious, robotic voice, seemingly coming from nowhere and everywhere.
[ Initiating the Empathy System... ]
As bullets flew and glass shattered around him, Sam Orion couldn't help but smirk.
They wanted to kill him, and here he was, getting a second chance at life, with something as extraordinary as a System.
"Let's see how they deal with this," he said as his world went black.
But even amidst the darkness, a sense of anticipation for what was to come kept his spirits high. He was ready for whatever came next.
His journey was just beginning.
After what seemed like ages to Sam, he woke up.
The cold atmosphere of the crash scene was replaced by the familiar, comforting smell of antique books and old coffee.
Sam opened his eyes to his old apartment - a one-bedroom space cluttered with many worn-out textbooks, piles of scribbled notes, and countless empty coffee cups.
A poster of a famous computer scientist, his personal idol, hung crookedly on the wall.
The nostalgia washed over him like a wave.
This was his refuge fifteen years ago when he had just graduated from the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Atlantic Union.
With a jolt of realization, he recalled his life back then, fresh out of college with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science.
Full of dreams and ambitions but burdened with the harsh reality of being a fresher in the ruthlessly competitive job market.
He remembered the countless rejections, the sinking despair, and the fear of an uncertain future.
But he also remembered the resilience, the relentless passion for technology that eventually led him to slave his life for that tech giant.
Looking around at his past life, Sam felt a surge of determination. He was back, and he had a second chance.
He wasn't the desperate, jobless fresher anymore.
He was Sam Orion from the future, a genius scientist with knowledge far beyond what is available today.
He walked towards the old, creaky desk with printouts of job applications and rejection letters.
Smiling slightly, he swiped them all into the trash can. He didn't need them anymore.
This time, he wasn't going to waste years chasing jobs. He was going to build his own path, his own empire.
Orion Enterprises would be born, and it would be at the forefront of the tech industry.
As he began to plot his future, the robotic voice echoed in his mind.
[Empathy System Initiated.]
[Welcome Host Sam Orion.]
Sam's eyes sparkled with anticipation. It was time to change the world. His journey had truly begun.
He had always embraced the unpredictable.
The sudden appearance of the System was indeed a curveball but not one that unsettled him.
Having consumed many web novels in his previous life, he was not a stranger to the concept of rebirth, allowing him to quickly adapt to his newfound reality and lay down plans for his future.
'Let's take a peek at the System. System -h'
[Empathy Points - 0]
'What the heck? Is that all?'
'Seems like this one isn't very talkative. So much for help.'
[Initiation Reward for the System has been granted!]
'Ah! The mythical Loot Box! Unveil your treasures, my dear!'
[Initiation Reward being Unlocked...]
[Acquired Advanced Coding Knowledge.]
[Acquired Advanced AI Knowledge.]
[Acquired Strength Pill.]
[Acquired Speed Pill.]
[Acquired Intermediate Encryption Knowledge.]
[To Access the Store, Please obtain a certain quantity of EP.]
'Hold up, what's all this?'
'Sounds promising. Let's ABSORB EVERYTHING!'
Suddenly, Sam's mind felt like it was caught in an electrical storm. It was as if an army of ants was marching through his brain.
The pain was intense, but he held firm. The ordeal felt like it lasted forever.
He was bathed in sweat. He decided then and there, 'only one at a time from now on.'
Once he had composed himself, he felt the changes coursing through his body.
The Strength and Speed pills had done their magic.
He grabbed his laptop and began typing, stunned at his new typing speed.
As for his increased strength, he'd test it later, seeing as he lacked the necessary equipment at home.
After regaining his composure, he pondered his future.
'Let's proceed with the company planning. Make some quick bucks as a startup fund.'
Emerging from his apartment, Sam gazed at the bustling metropolis and the towering skyscrapers of City N, the Atlantic Union's crown jewel.
He saw the city anew. This fusion of historical richness and cutting-edge technology made City N a breeding ground for innovation.
He envisioned Orion Enterprises' future headquarters standing tall among the gleaming towers, signaling the dawn of a new technological era.
However, he knew he couldn't achieve this monumental dream single-handedly or overnight.
He needed an ally, someone well-versed in business management and someone he could trust.
His thoughts immediately drifted toward Eva Pearson. A professional manager, the youngest he had seen at his former company, Eva, was his superior in his past life.
Still, in this timeline, she was just starting her career.
Convincing Eva to join him, a fresh graduate with no experience, would be no easy task.
'What should I create to gradually change the world, earn some money, convince Eva, and launch the company?'
'Let's go classic. As this is 2015, a translation service seems perfect.'
'Existing translation services are far from perfect.'
'So, let's develop an AI that learns and adapts by processing provided data.'
'Let's start crafting the AI using Python.'
Sam settled onto his balcony with his laptop and got to work.
The day flew by, and night crept in.
Yet, Sam hadn't managed to complete the AI's coding. Even with his future knowledge, creating AI was no easy task. He had completed about 10% of the code that day.
For the next nine days, he remained locked away in his apartment, glued to his laptop, crafting a groundbreaking AI that would soon dominate the market.
Apart from meals, regular exercise, and the occasional breather, he barely stepped outside. His emotions were a whirlwind of excitement and anxiety. He was worried about the industry's and the public's reactions.
Eva was tough to impress, but his software was a unique offering, making it a bit easier to win her over.
But before that, he needed to compile and run the AI and let it loose on the internet to learn.
As for privacy, come on, only the ultra-rich enjoy privacy. Everyone else is an open book.
'Now comes the security question. I can't let my hard work go to waste.'
'Thankfully, the System gave me Intermediate Encryption Knowledge. I can encrypt it, making it hack-proof for at least 8 to 10 years.'
'Let's secure this baby.'