Aiden stepped out into the morning light, the city stretching before him like a network of opportunities waiting to be mapped. His eyes swept across the streets, the buildings, the shops—mundane to everyone else, but for him, every detail screamed potential.
He had the memories of humanity's near-extinction burned into his mind. He knew which technologies would rise, which industries would dominate, and which people could be leveraged—or eliminated. But even with this knowledge, he had nothing yet: no money, no allies, no infrastructure. Today, that began to change.
The Yuan Spirit hovered at his side, ethereal but commanding, its glowing form barely a shimmer against the morning sun.
"Observe everything," it said. "Your first task is to understand the world as it is now. Knowledge precedes all power."
Aiden nodded, his mind already racing through calculations, probabilities, and strategies. He walked past small markets, noting which shops had emerging tech trends and which streets led to industrial zones. He could see it all, the invisible threads that connected the city's economy, from raw materials to end products, and from labor to innovation.
"Focus on robotics," the Yuan Spirit advised. "Even minor improvements in efficiency will generate wealth if applied correctly. Start small, then scale."
He approached a modest workshop tucked between two larger buildings. Inside, a few engineers tinkered with basic automation—nothing spectacular to the untrained eye. But Aiden could see the flaws, the inefficiencies, the untapped potential. A small investment, coupled with a few subtle modifications, could turn this into something far more valuable.
Aiden reached into his pocket and felt the faint weight of the few thousand dollars he had saved from his "first life." Not enough to buy a corporation, but enough to plant the seeds.
"Watch," he murmured, pulling out a piece of paper and scribbling calculations based on robotics designs he remembered from the future.
Hours passed in a blur. He explained, sketched, demonstrated. The engineers were skeptical at first, but as he spoke with precision and insight that seemed impossibly advanced for his age, they began to follow.
By midday, Aiden had secured a small partnership: a stake in the workshop, early access to prototypes, and a formal agreement to develop the first experimental automation units under his supervision.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered to himself, eyes shining. "Step one: control production. Step two: scale influence. Step three: build an army."
The Yuan Spirit nodded. "Patience. Even knowledge is useless without timing. Your first moves must appear natural, unnoticed. A single misstep could expose you."
Aiden smiled faintly. Exposure did not concern him—yet. Today, he was invisible, a shadow moving among the city's gears. But every decision, every calculation, every investment planted a seed. And soon, those seeds would grow.
Next, he turned his attention to finances. He had identified a few startups likely to explode in the coming months. Using future knowledge, he executed several low-risk trades, carefully balancing risk and reward. Within a few hours, his net worth had increased—not dramatically, but enough to buy more influence, more control over production.
By evening, Aiden returned home, the city lights flickering as if acknowledging the silent shift beginning in the world around him. He sat by his desk, reviewing notes, sketches, and plans. His first small empire—barely more than a workshop and a handful of engineers—was already taking shape.
The Yuan Spirit hovered beside him, silent for a moment, then spoke. "Your foundation is weak, but it is beginning. Remember, wealth is a tool. Power is a method. Strategy is everything."
Aiden clenched his fists, determination burning brighter than ever. "Then I will learn everything. I will control everything. And I will make sure humanity survives next time."
He looked at the city through the window. From this vantage, the world seemed normal, peaceful. But Aiden knew better. In ten years, it would erupt into chaos. And he would be ready.
This was the first step. The first move on a board where the stakes were humanity itself.
And Aiden Revale would play to win.