The world had changed in an instant.
The skies were still blue. The towers still stood. But to the people walking those streets, life as they knew it was already over.
And Reon Kael stood in the eye of that storm, staring at the glowing notification only he could see.
> You are now the final owner of real, liquid capital in a broken system.
Global Currency has been devalued x1,000,000,000,000.
Everyone else: Bank Balance = $0.00
You: $50,000,000 (Unchanged)
Reon could hardly breathe.
Around him, the city was tearing itself apart. Massive digital billboards, usually filled with cheery AI-generated advertisements, were now glitching and displaying emergency warnings:
> 🚨 ECONOMIC MELTDOWN DETECTED
🚨 ALL ACCOUNTS RESET TO NEUTRAL
🚨 STAY CALM. CITIZENS WILL BE BRIEFED.
---
"Hey! The ATM's empty!" a man shouted down the street.
"No! My card won't work!" cried another.
People screamed. Security bots were being overrun. Drone delivery systems shut down mid-flight and crashed into rooftops. The entire city grid was going dark sector by sector, like dominoes falling one after another.
Reon backed away from the terminal, pulse racing. His legs moved on instinct—he had to get to Mina. Now.
---
Fifteen Minutes Later – Sector 7 Elementary School
The normally secure gates were wide open. Holographic teachers were offline. Students were wandering outside, confused and afraid.
Reon ran straight through the gates, pushing past panicked parents.
"Mina! Mina!" he yelled.
Then he saw her.
She was standing on the steps of the school, her small backpack hugged tightly to her chest. She looked so small in the chaos. Her bright brown eyes widened as she spotted him.
"Reon!"
He scooped her up in his arms and held her tightly, heart pounding.
"W-what's going on?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Everything's okay," he said, forcing calm into his voice. "We're going home."
---
Sector 7 Slums – Reon's Apartment
They made it back. For now.
Reon drew the curtains and locked the door, securing every latch. Outside, sirens howled. The sky had turned orange with smoke in the distance. People were already starting to loot shops and storm government buildings.
Mina sat quietly on the mattress, holding a stuffed bunny with its ear half-torn. Reon knelt before her.
"Listen, Mina. Something bad happened. The money people used… it's worthless now. But I… I still have what we saved."
Her eyes lit up, confused. "So… we're rich?"
Reon chuckled bitterly. "No. We're dangerous."
---
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
A new message appeared before Reon's eyes:
> World Stability: 21% and falling
Law Enforcement Systems: Offline
Military Reserves: Inactive
Unlocked: Black Market Access [LVL 1]
Unlocked: Crisis-Grade Barter Protocol
Unlocked: Asset Shield – Passive Defense
💰 Your money can now be traded for survival.
⚠️ Be aware: others will soon realize someone has funds.
Reon stared at the list. The system was offering him tools—ways to trade and operate in the new world.
And it was right. Sooner or later, someone would figure out he had real capital. And then…
They'd come for him.
---
He needed a plan. Fast.
He opened the Black Market Access interface.
What he saw shocked him.
> 🔹 Private Armored Vehicle (Manual Fuel) – $20,000
🔹 Solar Power Generator – $1,000
🔹 Water Purifier (Civilian Grade) – $800
🔹 Safe House Location Data – $2,000
🔹 Security Drone (Outdated Military Model) – $5,000
🔹 Encrypted Communication Wristband – $300
All the gear needed to survive a societal collapse was right there. But for Reon, it wasn't about survival.
It was about protecting Mina.
---
He tapped fast, selecting items.
> ✅ Purchased: Armored Vehicle
✅ Purchased: Solar Generator
✅ Purchased: Security Drone
✅ Purchased: Food Supply for 6 Months
✅ Purchased: Safe House Blueprint
✅ Purchased: Tier 1 Combat Protocol Training (Digital Module)
Remaining Balance: $49,459,000
A delivery drone would arrive in 12 minutes.
He still had the money.
But the clock was ticking.
---
Sector 3 – Intelligence Network Surveillance Hub (Unknown Location)
A woman in a dark suit tapped away at her console, watching streams of data roll by.
"Ma'am," said a voice behind her. "We've confirmed it."
"Confirmed what?"
"There's one individual," the agent said. "One person whose account balance wasn't wiped by the crash."
"…Show me."
A screen lit up.
> Name: Reon Kael
Age: 18
Location: Sector 7 Slums
Remaining Wealth: $50,000,000
Threat Status: Maximum
Protocol Tag: Target of Interest – Class S
Status: TRACKING…
---
Back in the apartment, Reon held his sister's hand tightly as he stared out the window.
The sky was turning red.
Money no longer ruled the world.
But he still had it.
And that made him more dangerous than a king.
---
[End of Chapter 2]