The rain had stopped by the time Ethan made it back to his apartment, but his mind was racing. The wristwatch—the Infinite System—still clung to his arm, its faint blue glow casting an otherworldly light in the dim room. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the holographic interface that floated in the air before him.
[Welcome back, Host.]
The mechanical voice echoed in his mind, calm and emotionless. [You have completed the initial activation process. Would you like to review your current status and abilities?]
Ethan hesitated, his heart pounding. This was real. It wasn't a dream or a hallucination. The Infinite System was real, and it had chosen him.
"Show me," he said, his voice trembling with a mix of excitement and fear.
The holographic interface shifted, displaying a series of stats and options:
Host: Ethan Steele
Strength: 4/10
Agility: 5/10
Intelligence: 7/10
Status: Unranked
Current Abilities:
- Enhanced Intelligence (Active)
- Precognition (Active)
- Combat Mastery (Locked)
- Financial Insight (Locked)
Ethan frowned. "Why are some abilities locked?"
[The Infinite System operates on a progression model, Host.]
the AI explained.
[As you complete tasks and achieve milestones, your abilities will unlock and evolve. Your first objective is to improve your financial situation. Would you like to proceed?]
Ethan's eyes narrowed. Financial situation? That was an understatement. He had $47 in his bank account and a pile of unpaid bills on his desk. But if the system could help him turn that around…
"What do I need to do?" he asked.
[Initial Task: Generate $10,000 within 24 hours using the system's Financial Insight ability.]
the AI replied.
[Would you like to activate the ability?]
Ethan didn't hesitate. "Activate it."
Suddenly, his mind was flooded with information—stock prices, market trends, investment opportunities—all presented in a clear, concise format. It was like having a financial advisor in his head, but infinitely better.
"This is insane," he muttered, scrolling through the data.
According to the system, a little-known tech startup called NovaTech was about to release a groundbreaking product, and their stock was set to skyrocket within the next few hours. The problem? Ethan didn't have the capital to invest.
He glanced at the pile of unpaid bills on his desk, then at his phone. There was one person he could call, though the thought made his stomach twist.
"Liam," he muttered, picking up the phone.
Liam Carter was his childhood friend—a former soldier who'd recently returned from overseas. They hadn't spoken much in the past year, but Liam had always been the kind of guy who'd help a friend in need. After a few rings, Liam's gruff voice came through the line.
"Ethan? It's been a while. What's up?"
"I need your help," Ethan said, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach. "I've got an opportunity, but I need $2,000. Can you lend it to me?"
There was a pause on the other end. "What kind of opportunity?" Liam asked, his tone cautious.
"A sure thing," Ethan replied. "I'll explain everything later, but I promise you won't regret it."
Another pause, then Liam sighed. "Alright, man. I'll wire you the money. But if this is some kind of scam, I'm coming for you."
"It's not a scam," Ethan said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're gonna thank me for this."
As soon as the money hit his account, Ethan logged into his brokerage app and invested every cent into NovaTech. Then, he waited. The system's Precognition ability confirmed that the stock would surge within hours, but the anticipation was agonizing. He paced his apartment, his eyes glued to the clock, his mind racing with possibilities.
When the stock finally spiked, Ethan almost couldn't believe it. In less than four hours, his $2,000 investment had ballooned to $12,000.
"Holy shit," he muttered, staring at his screen in disbelief.
He'd just made $10,000 in a single day. For the first time in years, he felt a glimmer of hope.
[Task Complete.]
the AI announced.
[You have generated $10,000 within 24 hours. Rewards: $1,000 bonus funds, +1 Intelligence point.]
Ethan's heart swelled with pride as the system updated his stats. He'd done it. He'd taken the first step toward his new life. But this was just the beginning.
As he sat back in his chair, a dark thought crossed his mind. Clara's mocking face flashed before his eyes, and his fists clenched. She'd thought he was worthless, but he'd prove her wrong. He'd prove them all wrong.
The Infinite System was his ticket to the top, and he wasn't going to waste it.