Los Angeles had always seemed too big, too bustling, and too indifferent for Aaron Sanders. It wasn't just the city; it was the world, stretching out in front of him with its promises and pitfalls. At 24, freshly graduated with a degree in Computer Science, Aaron stood on the precipice of his future, yet he felt the crushing weight of uncertainty. An orphan from a young age, he had learned to navigate life's challenges alone, relying on his intellect and perseverance. His friends had scattered, following their own paths, leaving Aaron to confront the daunting task of finding a job in a saturated market.
On this particular day, Aaron was in his modest apartment, a small but comfortable space that had become his sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world. The apartment was furnished with the basics: a desk cluttered with computer parts, a small kitchenette with a few pots and pans, and a bed that had seen better days. The room was filled with the hum of his old computer, the only constant companion in his otherwise solitary existence.
The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue through the thin curtains of his apartment window. Aaron's eyes, bleary from staring at his computer screen for hours, scanned the job listings with a mix of hope and despair. He had sent out countless applications, each accompanied by a meticulously crafted resume and cover letter. Despite his efforts, the responses were scant, and the rejections were disheartening. The world seemed to be turning its back on him, and every new job listing that appeared was just another reminder of the fierce competition he faced.
As he sifted through the emails, a sudden notification caught his eye. It wasn't an email or a text, but a simple alert from his bank app. He almost ignored it, expecting it to be a reminder of his dwindling balance, but something made him open it. The next moment, Aaron's heart nearly stopped.
Balance: $100,000,000,000,000.00!!!
Aaron blinked. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. The number was still there, sitting innocently on the screen as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
One hundred trillion dollars!
His first thought was that it had to be a glitch. He was no stranger to the quirks of technology, but this…this was absurd. He refreshed the page. The balance remained the same. Frantically, he opened another tab and logged into his online banking portal, hoping for some clarity. But the figure remained unchanged.
Aaron's mind raced. Was it some kind of mistake? A prank? But who could orchestrate something like this? And more importantly, how could it happen to him?
Before he could process further, a searing pain shot through his head, and he collapsed back onto the couch, clutching his temples. The pain was overwhelming, a white-hot lance stabbing through his brain. He groaned, feeling like his skull was about to split open.
Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pain vanished. Aaron panted, sweat beading on his forehead, as he tried to gather his wits. But before he could fully recover, something impossible happened—a holographic screen appeared in front of him, floating in midair.
Aaron stared at the screen in shock. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie—a translucent, blue-tinged interface that hovered just inches from his face. Words began to appear on the screen, glowing softly.
[System Initialization Complete]
Aaron's heart pounded in his chest. "System? What the hell is this?"
[Welcome, Host.]
The words on the screen shifted, forming new sentences as if in response to his thoughts. [You have been selected as the host of the Fortune Ascended System.]
"The… what system?"
[The Fortune Ascended System grants you access to limitless wealth and resources. Your current balance is $100 trillion.]
Aaron felt like the world was spinning around him. This had to be some kind of hallucination. Or maybe he was dreaming. Yes, that had to be it—a stress-induced dream brought on by months of anxiety and job rejections.
But the screen remained, stubbornly defying his logic. He reached out tentatively, his hand passing through the hologram, but the screen didn't waver. It was there, as real as anything else in the room.
[You may now use your wealth as you see fit. The system will guide and assist you in making your desires a reality. Use your wealth to gain Wealth Points. These points can be used to improve your body stats, acquire skills, and purchase cards.]
To earn Wealth Points, he needed to spend or invest his money.
[System Overview:
Name: Aaron Sanders
Current Balance: $100,000,000,000,000.00
Wealth Points: 0
Body Stats(Max 10):
Strength: 6+
Intelligence: 8+
Agility: 5+
Charisma: 7+
Available Skills: 0
Available Cards: 0
Shop]
Aaron stared at the screen, feeling as though the ground beneath him had been ripped away. He was caught between disbelief and curiosity, a maelstrom of emotions swirling within him. He had never believed in the supernatural or the fantastical—he was a man of logic, of code and algorithms. But now, here he was, faced with something that defied all reason.
The screen in front of him was too vivid to be a mere figment of his imagination. It was real—unbelievably, impossibly real. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts. The system had already given him more information than he could process, but he knew he had to understand what he was dealing with.
His eyes drifted to the bottom of the screen, where a small icon labeled "Shop" blinked, urging him to click it. Hesitant but driven by curiosity, Aaron reached out and tapped the icon. The screen flickered and changed, revealing a new interface filled with categories and items, each with a price tag attached.
[Shop:
Skills:
Cooking
Driving
Kung Fu
Jiu-Jitsu
. . . . .!
Cards:
System Smart Home Construction Card
System Health Card
System Smart Home AI Butler Card]
The items were listed neatly, each with a brief description that highlighted its benefits. Aaron's eyes widened as he scrolled through the options. He could improve his physical abilities, acquire new skills, or even obtain specialized cards that could enhance his lifestyle. But there was a catch—everything required Wealth Points, and he had none.
Aaron's mind whirred as he thought about the implications. He needed to spend money—lots of it—if he wanted to earn Wealth Points and unlock the system's potential. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. With 100 trillion dollars at his disposal, he could do anything, but the sheer scale of it all was overwhelming.
He closed the shop interface and leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. How was he supposed to spend that kind of money? He was just a regular guy—a fresh graduate with no real experience in the world of high finance or business. The idea of managing such an enormous sum was daunting, to say the least.
But then again, wasn't this what he had always dreamed of? The chance to rise above his circumstances, to escape the monotony of daily life and achieve something extraordinary? This was an opportunity like no other, a chance to shape his destiny in a way that few could even imagine.
Aaron sat up, his resolve hardening. He couldn't afford to waste time doubting himself. The system had chosen him for a reason, and now it was up to him to prove that he was worthy of it.
His first step, he decided, would be to improve his living situation. His apartment, while functional, was hardly the kind of place that befitted someone with 100 trillion dollars. If he was going to make the most of this opportunity, he needed to start thinking bigger—much bigger.