Ethan Ward cruised through Calverton's rain-slicked streets, the Astellon Vantage's engine purring like a beast tamed just for him. The leather seats hugged his frame, the dashboard's holographic displays casting a soft blue glow across his face. Twenty-four hours ago, he'd been a nobody—slogging through data entry shifts at OmniCorp, dodging debt collectors, and eating instant noodles to survive. Now, he had $3,274.20 in his account—ten times his last paycheck—and a $120,000 sports car he hadn't paid a dime for. All thanks to the Galactic Ascension System, a mysterious voice in his head that promised wealth beyond his wildest dreams.
He grinned, glancing at the glowing text still hovering in his vision.
[Task: Invest your multiplied income. Reward: 1000 credits, Random Stock Shares (Tier 1 Company). Time limit: 3 days remaining.]
"Invest," he muttered, tapping the steering wheel. "Easier said than done when you've never had two bucks to rub together." But that faint buzz—the Basic Financial Acumen the system had granted him—itched at the edges of his mind. It wasn't knowledge, exactly, more like a gut feeling nudging him toward opportunity. He'd figure it out. He had to.
The streets of Calverton unfolded around him—neon-lit bars and pawn shops giving way to the glitzy eastern district, where glass towers pierced the night sky. Hover-drones zipped overhead, delivering packages to the elite, while billboards flashed ads for Astellon cars, luxury condos, and tech startups promising to "revolutionize Aetheris." Ethan's stomach growled—he hadn't eaten since that gas station coffee—but for once, he could afford something better than stale bread.
He pulled into the lot of Nova Grill, a mid-tier joint he'd walked past a thousand times but never dared enter. The kind of place where dock managers and junior execs rubbed elbows, not broke clerks like he'd been. The valet—a kid in a too-big uniform—gawked at the Vantage as Ethan stepped out, tossing him the fob with a casual nod. "Don't scratch it," he said, savoring the kid's wide-eyed stare.
Inside, the hum of conversation and clink of glasses greeted him. Ethan slid into a booth, the plush cushion a stark contrast to his apartment's lumpy mattress. A waitress—blonde, brisk, name tag reading "Kara"—dropped a menu in front of him. "What'll it be?" she asked, barely glancing up.
"Steak," Ethan said, scanning the prices. "The good one. Medium rare. And a beer—whatever's on tap."
Kara raised an eyebrow, taking in his damp hoodie and scuffed sneakers. "You sure? That's a $40 plate."
Ethan smirked, pulling out his phone to flash his bank balance—$3,274.20, still surreal. "I'm good for it."
She shrugged and walked off, leaving him to bask in the moment. A real meal. A car. Cash. It was like he'd stumbled into someone else's life. But Vincent's words from last night nagged at him—someone's keeping an eye on you. Who? And why him, of all people?
The system chimed, snapping him out of his thoughts.
[Task progress detected: Confidence increased. Bonus reward unlocked—$500 cash injection. New balance: $3,774.20. Use it to complete your task.]
Ethan blinked as his phone buzzed—another deposit notification, $500, no source listed. "Seriously?" he whispered, a laugh bubbling up. The system was throwing money at him like it was nothing. He leaned back, mind racing. Investing $3,774.20 wasn't chump change anymore. Stocks? Crypto? Maybe a startup? That Financial Acumen tingled again, whispering diversify.
Kara returned with his beer and steak, the sizzling aroma making his mouth water. He dug in, the first bite melting on his tongue—juicy, rich, a far cry from the processed junk he'd lived on. Halfway through, a shadow fell over his table. He looked up to see a guy—mid-twenties, slicked-back hair, wearing a blazer that screamed "trust fund"—staring down at him.
"You're in my spot," the guy said, voice dripping with entitlement. Two buddies flanked him, smirking like they owned the place.
Ethan swallowed, wiping his mouth. "Didn't see a name on it."
The guy—Ethan caught "Preston" embroidered on his jacket—snorted. "You don't belong here, hoodie. What, win a scratch-off and think you're hot shit?"
Ethan's jaw tightened. He'd dealt with pricks like this at OmniCorp—middle managers who'd mocked his cheap ties while stealing his ideas. Yesterday, he'd have slunk away. Today? He had the system. He had power. "Back off, man," he said, voice low. "I'm eating."
Preston laughed, grabbing Ethan's beer and tipping it over the table. Foam splashed across the steak, ruining it. "Oops. Guess you're done."
Rage flared in Ethan's chest, but before he could swing, the system pinged.
[Task update: Assert dominance in a social conflict. Reward: 750 credits, Charisma Boost (Active Skill). Time limit: 5 minutes.]
Ethan stood, squaring his shoulders. He wasn't tall—five-nine on a good day—but something about the system's rewards made him feel bigger. "You're gonna regret that," he said, stepping closer.
Preston smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Try me, loser."
Ethan didn't hesitate. He grabbed the edge of the table and flipped it, sending plates and glasses crashing to the floor. Preston stumbled back, stunned, as Ethan lunged, shoving him against the wall. The guy's buddies froze—clearly not expecting a fight. "Pick it up," Ethan growled, nodding at the mess. "Now."
The restaurant went silent, all eyes on them. Preston's face reddened, but Ethan's glare didn't waver. That Financial Acumen wasn't just numbers—it was confidence, a spark he'd never had. "Do it," he repeated.
Muttering curses, Preston bent down, grabbing the overturned table. His friends shuffled to help, avoiding Ethan's stare. The system chimed.
[Task completed. Rewards granted: 750 credits, Charisma Boost (Active Skill)—activates for 10 minutes daily, enhances persuasion and presence. Total credits: 1750.]
Ethan exhaled, adrenaline fading. Kara stormed over, hands on hips. "You're paying for that mess!"
He pulled out his phone, transferring $100 from his account without blinking. "Covered. Keep the change." Her scowl softened as she checked the payment, and a few onlookers clapped—some even smirked at Preston's humiliation.
Ethan grabbed his jacket and headed out, the Vantage waiting like a loyal steed. He slid in, the engine's roar drowning out the world. That Charisma Boost hummed in his veins—he could've talked his way out, but smashing Preston's ego felt better. The system was turning him into something new, someone who didn't bow to jerks anymore.
As he drove toward his crappy apartment, a new notification flashed.
[Bonus reward unlocked: Blueprint—Portable Energy Core (Futuristic Tech). Value: Classified. Store in System Inventory or sell for credits.]
Ethan pulled over, staring at the text. A blueprint? He tapped it, and a holographic schematic spun in front of him—intricate circuits and glowing nodes, tech years ahead of anything OmniCorp churned out. His old coding dreams flickered to life. Build it? Sell it? The possibilities were endless.
Headlights flared in his rearview—a black sedan, the same one from last night. Vincent stepped out, clapping slowly. "Not bad, Ward," he called. "You're catching on quick. But that blueprint? Keep it close—others want it."
"Who's 'others'?" Ethan demanded, stepping out. "And who are you, really?"
Vincent smirked, tossing him a silver card with a single symbol—a spiral. "Figure it out. You're in the game now." He slid back into the sedan and vanished into the night.
Ethan clutched the card, the blueprint's hologram fading. The system pinged one last time.
[New task: Identify Vincent's affiliation. Reward: 2000 credits, Random Luxury Item. Time limit: 7 days.]
He grinned, the Vantage's engine idling behind him. Money, power, tech—Calverton wouldn't know what hit it. The broke clerk was dead. Ethan Ward, ascender, was just getting started.