Titan Grant didn't sleep that night—not because he couldn't, but because the world was finally alive in a way it had never been before.
The stars above New York looked like diamonds scattered across a velvet sky, and for the first time in his life, he didn't feel like one of the forgotten souls staring up in quiet desperation. He felt like a man who had cracked the code of the universe.
Titan wasn't just surviving anymore—he was ascending.
Sitting cross-legged in his minimalist hotel suite—temporarily paid for using the System's Black Card—Titan opened the System Console and selected the Real Estate Skill Tree, newly unlocked after registering his corporation.
The interface unfolded like a glowing neural map:
Starter Perks:
Asset Evaluation (Passive): Instantly assess true market value of any property.
Negotiate+: Gain 30% persuasion bonus in real estate transactions.
Title Lock: Prevents legal manipulation or fraud on owned properties.
Titan blinked at the final one—Title Lock. It was clearly a defensive feature, but it hinted at dangers he hadn't considered yet. If someone could try to take his properties, then future enemies were already a certainty.
Still, property would have to wait. His immediate goal was clear: grow capital at scale.
And that meant one thing: the stock market.
The System must've known, because without prompting, a new quest appeared:
Mini-Quest: Market Trial
Objective: Earn $50,000 from a single trade within 48 hours.
Temporary Skill Unlocked: Market Foresight (12 hours remaining)
See stock price trends and news 24–48 hours before public release.
Titan's heart raced.
"Activate skill," he whispered.
Suddenly, his view changed. Stock tickers floated across his vision. Projected graphs. News headlines. Timelines. Buy and sell indicators.
It was like stepping inside the brain of Wall Street's most powerful AI—but on steroids.
He ran a scan on every major sector: Tech, Energy, Pharma, Defense.
Two stood out.
Tesla (TSLA): A confidential contract with the U.S. Department of Energy was about to be announced. The stock was projected to jump 12% by tomorrow.
GNS BioTech (GNSB): The miracle cancer trial was bigger than expected. Not only had Stage III trials cleared, but the company had signed an exclusive deal with BlueCross, launching them into national headlines within 36 hours.
Titan had $32,000 in liquid assets across his business account and crypto wallets. Using the System interface, he split the capital:
$15,000 into Tesla options (high leverage, short expiry)
$17,000 into GNSB shares (safe, medium return)
As soon as he confirmed the trades, the System pinged.
Trade Executed. Market Foresight Timer: 11:58:32 remaining
Titan leaned back in his chair, but he couldn't relax. The surge of dopamine was overwhelming—his heart beat like a drum. He was addicted already. Not to gambling, but to winning.
He knew that without the System, this trade would have been a risky guess.
But now, it was like playing chess while seeing twenty moves ahead.
The next morning, Titan made his way to a co-working space in Midtown, choosing a glass-walled private booth for the day. His posture was calm, but his eyes never left the screen.
At 9:30 AM, the bell rang on Wall Street.
Tesla opened up 4%.
Then 6%.
By 10:12 AM, news leaked about the federal energy contract.
The stock jumped 12.4% within two hours.
GNS BioTech took a little longer. It remained flat for most of the morning, but at exactly 2:04 PM, Bloomberg broke the story:
"GNSB Partners with BlueCross: Life-Saving Drug Now Covered Nationwide"
The stock exploded.
+18% in 30 minutes.
+31% by closing.
+42% after hours.
Titan checked his portfolio.
His Tesla options matured early—$15,000 turned into $49,000 in one day.
His GNSB shares grew to $24,140.
Total value: $73,140.
Profit: $41,140—before the Wealth Multiplier.
With that passive ability in effect, the System calculated his net profit at:
$82,280.
The console exploded with golden light.
Quest Complete: Market Trial Passed
Reward: Permanent Skill Unlocked – Compound Growth
Effect: All owned assets (investments, businesses, properties) now grow at +3% compound daily, independent of market trends.
Bonus Perk: Market Whisper (Passive)
Detects manipulation or insider trading by others nearby.
Titan stared at the screen in disbelief.
The Compound Growth ability was obscene. At just 3% daily, it meant any idle assets would double roughly every 24 days—exponentially. He could let money sit in his portfolio and still become a billionaire within a year.
It was broken. Dangerous. And absolutely perfect.
But there was more.
His Market Whisper perk pinged subtly—someone in the room next door was discussing a planned stock dump. Titan focused, and the System translated the conversation into subtitles on his screen.
They were trying to short a green energy company by leaking fake environmental violations.
Titan smiled.
He opened a counter-trade: a long position in that same company. The System confirmed—it would spike once the truth emerged.
Not only was he playing the game…
He was now anticipating the moves of everyone else at the table.
That night, Titan walked into a luxury rooftop bar downtown—no disguise, no hesitation. His hoodie was replaced with a tailored navy blazer, sleek black pants, and an Omega watch paid for with a sliver of System funds.
He took a table at the edge of the terrace, city lights twinkling far below, and ordered a glass of 25-year-old Glenfiddich.
The bartender didn't even blink when he handed over the Black Card.
"Would you like it opened, sir?" she asked.
"Keep it open," Titan said with a faint smirk. "Tonight's on me."
The System pinged softly in the background, content for now.
But Titan knew this was just the beginning.
He hadn't just unlocked wealth.
He had taken the first real step into becoming unstoppable.