Chapter 2: The First Moves
Adam sat in front of his computer, the dim light of the screen casting shadows across his tense face. The warning message still lingered in his mind: "You are being watched."
He had moved carefully, taking every precaution to stay under the radar, yet someone—or something—had noticed his actions. The logical response was to lay low, to halt his efforts and reassess. But time was not a luxury he could afford. The Age of Eternity would begin in less than a year, and he had barely scratched the surface of his preparations.
"Who found me? And how?" he muttered to himself.
The possibilities ranged from simple human surveillance—corporate, government, criminal—to supernatural interference. His past life had taught him that divine forces often played a hand in mortal affairs, and if the gods were already watching him, his situation was even more dire than he had anticipated.
Adam took a deep breath, calming his racing mind. If someone was watching, then he needed to stay ahead of them. He minimized the risk by encrypting all communications, avoiding patterns in his behavior, and using intermediaries for every major transaction. But more importantly, he needed more power—money, allies, and influence—before the world as he knew it ceased to exist.
Securing Wealth
The financial markets were still stable, but Adam knew that stability was an illusion. The solar flare would wipe out all electronic infrastructure, rendering traditional banking and stock markets useless. Paper currency would become meaningless overnight. Real power would lie in tangible assets—gold, land, weapons, food, and most importantly, knowledge.
He had already begun short-term stock investments based on future trends, but that was only the first step. Adam shifted his focus to acquiring physical assets. He reached out to discreet gold dealers, purchasing as much as he could without raising suspicion. He diversified his holdings, investing in private vaults spread across multiple countries. He even arranged to have some of his assets buried in hidden locations.
Land was another critical investment. The collapse of governments would lead to lawlessness, and having a secure, defensible base was paramount. He began searching for isolated properties—underground bunkers, mountain retreats, and abandoned military facilities. Some of these purchases required careful negotiations with shell companies, while others he arranged through proxy buyers.
The final step was establishing off-grid survival caches, stocked with food, medical supplies, and alternative power sources. He placed them in strategic locations, ensuring that no matter what happened, he would have fallback points.
"This is only the beginning," he reminded himself.
Gathering Strength
With wealth came the need for protection. No amount of planning would matter if he couldn't defend himself. His combat experience from his past life was unparalleled, but his current body was weak. He had spent weeks training rigorously, regaining his strength, but he needed more than just personal ability.
He started recruiting.
Mercenaries, security consultants, underground fighters—people who had the skills but no attachment to the system. He tested them, ensuring their loyalty before revealing even a fraction of his plans. Most were hired for simple security jobs—guarding warehouses, overseeing shipments, and managing logistics. But for a select few, the ones who showed real potential, he began training personally.
Then there was the question of firepower.
Legally acquiring weapons in most developed nations was difficult, but Adam had no intention of relying on legal methods. Through black-market connections, he began stockpiling an arsenal—firearms, explosives, body armor, and most importantly, melee weapons. When the Age of Eternity began, bullets would run dry, but swords, axes, and bows would remain effective.
He also began experimenting with forging weapons infused with runic markings. Magic would return to the world soon, and preparation in both modern and ancient combat techniques was necessary.
The First Signs of Change
Weeks passed, and Adam's preparations continued without incident—until the first anomaly occurred.
It was subtle at first. Reports of strange animal behavior, unusual weather patterns, and unexplained power failures. But then, a series of bizarre occurrences caught his attention. In a remote region of Russia, an entire village vanished overnight. In South America, a deep-sea fishing vessel was found drifting, its crew missing without a trace. In Japan, a sudden spike in religious awakenings saw people claiming to have received divine visions.
The patterns were familiar. They were the first cracks in the mortal world's foundation before the Age of Eternity fully took hold.
And then came the dream.
Adam woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. He had seen something—no, someone. A being of immense power, standing at the edge of reality, staring at him. It spoke no words, but its message was clear.
"You are not alone."
The gods were aware of him. Whether they viewed him as a threat or an anomaly, he didn't know. But what he did know was that his time was running out.
The Hidden Adversary
The next morning, Adam took every precaution possible. He wiped all digital traces of his recent activities, moved his base of operations, and changed all his encrypted communications. But it wasn't enough.
As he stepped out of a meeting with one of his suppliers, he caught sight of a figure standing across the street. The man was unremarkable, dressed in casual clothing, blending in perfectly with the crowd. But his posture, the way he held himself—it was too perfect, too controlled.
Adam's instincts screamed danger.
He turned the corner, pretending to ignore the figure. But as he glanced back, the man was gone.
Someone was watching him. Not just through digital surveillance, but physically tracking his movements.
He clenched his fists. If they wanted to find him, he would let them.
But they would regret it.
A New Path Forward
Adam accelerated his timeline. He had planned to wait another two months before making his first major moves, but now he had to act immediately.
The world still thought it was safe. Governments and corporations believed they were in control. But they were standing on the precipice of an abyss, unaware that the ground beneath them was already crumbling.
He would use their ignorance to his advantage.
He reached out to his most trusted contacts and gave the order.
"Initiate Phase One."
If they were watching him, he would make sure they had something worth watching.
Because when the Age of Eternity arrived, he would not be playing their game.
He would be writing his own rules.