The rain was a wall of water over Miami. Outside the Azure Villa, you couldn't tell where the ocean ended and the sky started. Inside, the AC was kept at fan mode , but Ethan was still covered in a film of sweat that wouldn't dry.
He did another sets of reps in the gym.
His Strength(8.5) and Stamina(8.0) were changing him. It wasn't just muscle; his bones felt denser, his movements too heavy for a normal floor. His Intelligence was the worst part—a sharp, constant pressure behind his eyes like a looming shadow.
He stopped his workout and dropped the palates. They hit the rubber mat with a dull thud. He ignored and stared at the pixelated security feed.
[DING]
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:NEW TASK DETECTED]
[Task Name: The Underworld Shakedown]
[Difficulty: Rank-E ]
[Objective: Neutralize Marcus Throne's physical Intimidation tactics.]
[Status: Incomplete]
[Rewards: +1 Attribute Point | Skill: Master Hacker]
Ethan wiped sweat out of his eyes an face with a rough towel of his hand. He switch the feed to the Maternal Wing. Elena was sleeping under the blankets. Maya, the night nurse, had a red icon pulsing over her head .He hadn't seen these function before .But after his intelligence reached 9.0 it appeared.
[Target: Maya Sterling]
[Role: Nurse / Corporate Infiltrator]
[Employer: Thorne's Associates]
[Intent: Data Theft ]
Ethan glared. Marcus Thorne was fighting dirty after his defeat in the boardroom. The old man was attacking the one thing Ethan valued: his privacy.
Ethan didn't call the police. That was for weaklings.
He put on a clean white Balenciaga shirt and walked toward the maternal wing. His steps were silent like cat on the marble floor.
He found Maya in the small kitchen. She was making midnight tea for Elena. The smell of cheap black dust tea was everywhere. She was holding a small purple glass vile over a mug, her fingers are shaking.
'That's a lot of sedative for one cup , Maya, "Ethan said his voice is cold and dry.
She jumped, nearly dropping the glass. She tried to hide her hand behind her back and forced a stiff and awakened smile. M.."Mr.... Benjamin! You scared me. It's just a supplement for her blood pressure."
Ethan didn't argue. He stepped in fast and grabbed her wrist. He didn't even try to be gentle. With 8.5 Strength , it's like as if a hydraulic press is crushing her hand.
"Lie again and I'll break it," he said. His voice is low and cold stripped of any emotion. He said "Throne sent you didn't he? Tell him I have already set the audit files to the SEC. If I see you near this room again, I won't call the police. I' handle it myself."
He pushed her towards the door. She didn't even have the courage to grab her bag; she just ran.
The pressure in his head spiked. He looked at the hallway monitor. Three black Jeeps were currently smashing through his front gate, tries in destroying the expensive gravel.
"He sent hit man, "Ethan muttered. He felt a cold surge of adrenaline. He also wanted to taste his 8.5 point of strength these will be a good practice. Ethan chuckled.
He walked out onto the lawn. The rain soaked him completely in seconds. Six burly masked means climb out of Jeeps. They had base ball bats and hockey sticks. They looked at Ethan like he was an easy pray.
The fist guy swung his base ball bat towards Ethan's head. He didn't even move back; he moved in . He caught the guys arm with one hand and punched him in the gut. With 8.5 points in his strength, the guy started to wretched. He didn't stop to watch him fall. He upper-cut the next man and side kick the third.
And with in less than 3 minutes. Five of them were face-down in the mud, clutching broken ribs and shattered joints.
The last one-the leader-held a gun with both hands, his finger shaking.
"There is a pregnant woman sleeping inside the house," "Ethan said. He stepped towards the man his eyes blank. "You are making a lot of noise in my property .
He didn't kill them. He pulled his phone and called his men's from Apes Realty. "Get these trash off my lawn. Then starts the takeover. I want Throne's house, his car, and hi accounts by tomorrow morning. Leave him with nothing ."
By sunrise, the adrenaline was gone, replaced by a cold, robotic clarity. Ethan sat at his desk. His Intelligence had hit 10.0.
[DING! TASK COMPLETE][REWARD: +1 ATTRIBUTE POINT | SKILL UNLOCKED: FUTURE PREDICTION]
The world looked different now. The map of Miami wasn't just a map: it was a data set. He could see the market crashes coming 24 hours away. He could see exactly where Throne's empire was nothing.
He went to Elena's room and looked through the glass. She was safe and was sleeping peacefully.
Her belly was quite large now clearly showing the curve of twins.
"Grow well," he said to the unborn twins inside Elena. " The world I'm building for you is almost complete."