[3RD POV INITIALLIZE]
Reflected in his blue eyes, the holographic display seemed to come alive, glowing in a soft, blue light that illuminated the boy's face with a mesmerizing shimmer, like moonlight on still water.
The handsome young boy with brown hair sat at a dining table with a chicken sandwich on a plate before him. He had a V-shaped face, a sharp nose, and smooth, olive-toned skin that glowed with a youthful radiance.
With one hand grabbing a sandwich and taking a bite, his other hand typed on the holographic display, capturing the conversation of his chat with his male friend.
After discovering that his stubborn male friend, who seemed to navigate life with difficulty and misunderstanding, Shan murmured to himself, "Einsamer, sometimes unfortunate events seem to always find you, and perhaps that was a blessing in disguise."
When he referred to a "blessing in disguise" he understood that in fiction, the most important characters often endured the most unfortunate events. And this seems to reflect Einsamer's life as well, every obstacle he encountered only made him stronger, after all Shan was aware of Einsamer's potential.
As a skilled programmer, Shan knew how to create a digital barrier that disconnected the chat server from the quantum processor controlled by the world government. This system had ruled over humanity for two decades, but Shan, a genius 17-year-old boy, had found a way around it. He created two private chat apps that only his five other friends could join.
The chat app he was currently using was the one he used to communicate with only Setsuna and Einsamer. The second chat app was used by all the members of his group, including himself, Einsamer, Setsuna, Stella, Bridget, and Ginevra.
He also pondered to himself in an entertained way, -Does Einsamer read the novel I recommended to him? I want to see his reaction once he knows that Setsuna is the author.- He lightly chuckled to himself.
As he took the last bite of the chicken, he stood up and walked to the kitchen sink. Extending his right hand, he scanned the bio-data-chip scanner on the faucet, causing water to flow into the sink. Placing his hand under the water, he cleaned it with soap from a wooden plate next to the faucet.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his temple, followed by an intense headache. Using his right hand to cover his head, he continued to let the water run down the sink. In that moment, his vision became blurred, and in the next instant, he caught a glimpse of another vision. Though he knew it was a construct of his mind, it felt vivid and real to him.
He groaned, "Agghh--"
Blue particles ignited like fireworks, accompanied by horrifying screams, blood spilled on the ground, and cruisers the size of giant ships dominating the sky, firing multiple laser beams to destroy skyscrapers and floating islands. Cosmic gigantic eyes filled with stars stared down on the world, along with an Eclipse hanging in the sky beyond the energy shield protecting the city from the toxic land.
It was a horrifying vision, something akin to an apocalyptic event. Suddenly, he was snapped back into reality by the sound of running water.
The headache still lingered but slowly lost its grip on the brown-haired boy. His vision also gradually became clearer as he focused on the running water before him.
Muttering to himself, he reflected, "Every vision I've had over the past ten years has, in one way or another, become reality. Most are dangerous visions that have helped me avoid certain life problems and even allowed me to pay off all my family debts." Pondering further, he added, "However, this vision is far from personal, it is an apocalypse on a global scale. Perhaps I've been consuming too much apocalyptic genre content lately..."
A loud female voice echoed across the living room to the kitchen, "Shan! Do not leave the water running! I know you pay the electricity bill, but don't make it a bad habit."
Without a verbal response, Shan scanned his bio-data-chip once again to turn off the water from the faucet. He then walked to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of juice to calm his mind, returned it to the fridge, and headed back to the living room. There, he saw a tall young lady with long, silky brown hair cascading down her curvy back.
She wore a ruffled white blouse that slightly exposed her cleavage, along with a medium-length black skirt, matching shoes, and a handbag. Her mature, beautiful face was lightly made up. She was Shan's older sister.
At that moment, he was wondered if she knew about the explosion in TWOD. Nonetheless, he speculated that she hadn't seen the news yet.
The elegant lady asked, "Shan, can you drive me to my company?"
Shan frowned and replied, "Baohu, I have a midterm today and a band performance tonight!"
"Please, just for today." Baohu pleaded with an innocent expression.
In an annoyed tone, Shan asked, "Usually, you drive your own flying car, right? Don't tell me it's under maintenance again?"
He knew that she had owned a sports car for two years now, but recently it had been experiencing issues with the wires. In modern-day servicing, minor issues could be fixed in a day, but engine problems typically took at least three days.
Baohu nervously laughed, admitting, "Well, yes... it had a problem last night."
Shan narrowed his eyes, looking at her with disappointment, and asked, "Don't tell me you were partying all night again, right? You know our house is in the middle of nowhere in this sector."
He was genuinely concerned for her since she was the only family member he had left.
"I know we only have each other, and you work very hard to buy this house. But last night, the company held a celebration event and invited many famous guilds to join. I thought maybe I could find a son of an elite family to spark a new romance..."
Shan facepalmed and said in a low tone, "You are being delusional. These rich boys are just going to use your body and discard you once they are done."
Angrily, she responded, "I am not an easy woman. I value my body and seek truthful romance!"
Her younger brother spoke with determination, "Forget about trying to date a rich man. I will work hard and provide you with a better life. At such a young age, I have already purchased a house, five flying cars, and have my own millions of coins in the stock market without any help. Don't doubt my ability!"
Baohu nodded silently, then a few seconds later, she smiled and asked, "So, can you please bring me to my company?"
He pondered, -She could order a self-driving flying taxi, so why doesn't she?-
After a moment of thought, Shan realized her intention. She wanted him to drive his sports car and take her to her company to give the impression to her friends that she had a new boyfriend.
"You want me to pretend to be your new boyfriend?" Shan asked.
Baohu replied, "Technically, yes, but you don't have to show your face. I promise you won't be late. Just drop me off in front of the entrance, and I will walk into the building."
"Fine, but don't get lost in the illusion just to seek approval from others," Shan sighed, knowing he would likely be late, but he was doing it for his sister's public image.
"Of course not. It's just my strategy to make them think I'm in demand on the dating market," Baohu said with a wide grin.
Shan, wearing a long-sleeved sweater, walked towards the entrance of their house. He scanned his bio-data chip on the scanner device attached to the door, hearing a click as it unlocked. Rotating the door handle, he pushed it open, revealing a narrow passage. To the left, it led to the garden built underground, and to the right, it led to his garage.
His house was built underground on private land far from the bustling city. He had purchased the inexpensive land at 15 years old under his sister's name and constructed an underground house with four bedrooms, a library, kitchen, living room, and four bathrooms.
Shan achieved all this by himself, using his power to glimpse into the future. However, this power worked uncontrollably, shrouded in mystery even to him. Regardless, he was content with his accomplishments and grateful for being able to help his sister pay off debts from their deceased parents.
Walking towards their garage, they passed by three sedans and two sports cars parked side by side. Shan headed to the black sports car in the middle, a sleek two-door model. Scanning his bio-data chip on the door, it slid open to reveal a leather seat and a holographic display lighting up around the driver's seat.
Both of them settled into the flying sports car, the door closing automatically. Shan used his right hand to scan his bio-data chip on the console's scanner. The car emitted a silent electric hum, with the exhaust producing a loud but oddly pleasant electrical noise to Shan's ears.
Despite his youth, Shan was immensely proud of his achievements, having gone from rags to riches through his own efforts. However, his true ambitions didn't end there.
In that moment, the garage ceiling slid open widely, revealing a clear yellowish artificial sky within the bounds of the energy shield. Shan gently pushed the wheel upward and slowly released his foot from the brake, allowing the vehicle to levitate slowly through the opening ceiling of his underground garage.
As his vehicle exited the garage, Shan levitated it slightly above the garage ceiling. The entrance slid back closed, and he ensured it was completely sealed before departing. The garage ceiling was adorned with artificial grass, serving as one of the entrances to his underground house, seamlessly blending with the surrounding grass and soil.
Surrounding his house was a fence with a holographic sign that read [Private Property.] Anyone entering without his permission could be charged with trespassing.
Observing that the garage entrance was secure, Shan commanded his vehicle to soar higher into the sky. From a bird's eye view, the land he owned was lush with tall trees, bushes, and a lake, resembling a forest. Not far to the north, several kilometers away, sat a community mall and numerous mid-sized buildings housing apartments and entertainment areas. Despite not being entirely isolated, Shan preferred the peace that his expansive property offered.
Shan steered the vehicle into the sky, where a holographic blue line hovered in mid-air, indicating a skyway. The skyway was bustling with hundreds of vehicles moving at speeds of hundreds of kilometers per hour. Shan needed to merge into the lane without disrupting the flow of traffic.
Swiftly and cautiously, he maneuvered into the skyway lane leading to the Commercial Hub. Focusing intently on the skyway, Shan deftly overtook numerous vehicles, his speedometer indicating he was now traveling over 500 km/h. The vehicle's energy shield protected it from the rushing wind and ensured stability, responding promptly to Shan's controls.
"Are you driving too fast?" Baohu asked nervously, watching as passing vehicles turned into fleeting blurs before disappearing behind Shan's vehicle, causing her anxiety.
"As I said, I have a mid-term exam." Shan replied coldly. Moreover, he was purposefully driving recklessly to unnerve his sister, who often left him to clean up her messes.
Baohu complained softly, frowning, "You're doing this on purpose..."
Shan paid her no mind. Their frequent minor conflicts had made them accustomed to such tense situations.
A few minutes later, they witnessed numerous tall skyscrapers piercing through the clouds, alongside various floating islands, both small and large, drifting across the artificial sky.
"Slow down, Shan!" Baohu's voice remained composed, but her expression betrayed her panic.
Ahead, a line of vehicles began to decelerate as they approached a bustling area. Shan only marginally reduced his speed compared to the others, causing Baohu to feel a bit alarmed.
Realizing he had entered a skyway with a maximum speed limit of eighty kilometers per hour, Shan significantly decreased his speed. Navigating through the cityscape, he directed his vehicle towards a floating island connected to a skyscraper by a bridge. This island served as a docking bay for vehicles to temporarily drop off passengers.
As his sleek sports car landed on one of the platforms on the docking bay, a few onlookers glanced over at Shan's vehicle. The passenger door slid open, and Baohu extended one leg onto the ground while still seated in the car. Pausing, she turned to wink at Shan, expressing, "Thanks, you're the best little brother ever. I hope you pass the exam, Shan!"
Shan sighed and said, "Take care. If anything happens, let me know. I'll be gone for two days, so look after our house as well!"
Baohu smiled at his words and then departed. Shan tapped on the holographic display in the control center for the door to slide back. He now had to drive to his school, and glancing at the clock, he realized he would be slightly late.
Despite this, he reassured himself, -Well, I am confident that I will pass the exam. Even if I'm late, I can finish it in half an hour.-
Observing that many women were admiring his vehicle, Shan noted that his pitch-black windows concealed his face from outsiders. However, his car indicated that the driver was a young, handsome boy. Despite this perception, he prided himself on being self-made rather than a member of some pampered elite family.
He also noticed his sister chatting and giggling with her two friends, occasionally glancing back at his vehicle. Shan didn't want Baohu to seek validation from others so much, but he understood that this was common among modern women. Inwardly sighing once again, he directed his vehicle into the sky and proceeded towards the school, paying little attention to them.