CHAPTER 179: THE SYSTEM IS BEING GENEROUS AGAIN

Twelve hours.

That’s how long Ethan was within the simulation. He felt neither hungry nor sleepy, just extremely satisfied.

He felt like a kid who just got a new toy as he continued simulating. He went on and on and on, without end.

Ethan simulated both his plans and curiosities, even if he had no intention of implementing them.

Athena appeared beside him, her arms folded as she observed the grin on his face that was just short of being a maniacal one.

{You’ve simulated sixty-three projects so far,} she said, her tone was of amusement . {You’re aware that there are other days to do this, right?}

"Yes," he nodded, the grin still on his face, "but I have to satisfy the dopamine, Athena."

{The dopamine?} she asked, tilting her head slightly, the corners of her lips curving upward.

"Yeah," Ethan said, gesturing vaguely with both hands as though the explanation was obvious. "That little chemical that rewards you for achieving things. You know, the one that makes humans do stupidly ambitious stuff like climb mountains, invent nuclear bombs, or spend twelve straight hours inside a simulation because they can."

{Ah,} Athena said, smiling faintly. {So, this is chemically induced madness.}

"Precisely," Ethan replied proudly, his eyes still fixed on the holographic dara of another simulation he has been running. "It’s the closest thing humanity has to divine motivation. And right now, I am riding a wave of pure, uncut dopamine."

The disparity from his calm self was so large that one would doubt if he truly was Ethan Carter.... This was one of the only few times he was acting like a ’normal’ young adult.

And Athena couldn’t help but like this mood. Yes, she preferred the normal him, but this was fine from time to time.

Unfortunately, she had to get him out of the simulation, so she said, {Lillian tried calling you...four times now.}

Ethan paused looked back at her before he remembered, he had a girlfriend now...and he had been ignoring her for the entire day.

"...."

{....}

Well, the dopamine wave had suddenly been cut, with that information.

"Why didn’t you tell me that the phone was ringing?" He slowly asked.

{Because you seemed too absorbed in the simulations,} Athena answered with a straight face.

"But—" he started but caught himself, she was rightz he had been too absorbed with the simulation that everything else just naturally faded away.

Summoning the simulation ’s control screen, he tapped on logout before he felt himself being pulled out of the simulation.

A moment later, he was back in the simulation chair in his apartment’s lab. Ethan took a moment to reorient himself and allow his mind to adjust before taking the helmet off.

The moment he did, he was soon distracted by a system notification.

[DING!]

[Host has successfully completed a functional full-dive simulation device: The Simulation Chait.]

[First of its kind, the simulation chair is capable of adaptive reality architecture, and predictive world modeling.]

[Rewarding host accordingly.]

Three holographic screens materialized before him as they displayed his rewards.

[Rewards Granted]

4000 SP

20% Knowledge Points: Quantum Engineering

Passive Title Earned: Architect of Realities]

[Do you wish to open your status screen?] The system asked, and Ethan figured that since it had been a while since he did, he might as well look if anything had changed, so he replied,

"Yes,"

The moment he did, the three screens changed, displaying new information.

[Displaying status....

Name: Ethan Carter

Age: 20

Title(s): Innovator of the Impossible, Architect of Realities.

Technology Level: Tier 4

System points: 2,806,500 SP

System version: V 2.0 (progress: 18.2%)

------

{Skills}

Quantum Field Manipulation: (Locked.)

------

{Knowledge and Proficiency} [Tier 4]

Artificial Intelligence (AI): 100% → Tier 4

Robotics & Automation: 68% → Tier 3

Cybersecurity & Hacking: 100% → Tier 4

Quantum Computing: 52% → Tier 4

Biotech & Genetic Engineering: 98% → Tier 4

Nanotechnology: 80% → Tier 3

Energy Systems & Fusion Tech: 75% → Tier 3

Weapons & Defense Systems: 80% → Tier 3

Software & Algorithm Design: 96% → Tier 4

Material Science & Fabrication: 30% → Tier 4

Mechanical Engineering: 100% → Tier 4

Electrical Engineering: 98% → Tier 4

Quantum Engineering: 50% → Tier 4 ]

------

{Assets}

Companies: OmniTech Corp, Solterra.

Current savings: $85,000,000

Income source(s): OmniTech Corp.

-----

{Inventions}

Sentinel, A.T.H.E.N.A, O.N.I, Vitaband, Adaptive liquid alloy, Zero point energy core, Simulation Chair.

Current Tech influence: Low (14.5%)

------

{Missions}

Mission Title: The World Network

Objective: Expand OmniTech’s operational presence into at least five major global sectors within the next 12 months.

Progress: 3/5 territories established.

Reward: Unlock of TDI’s 4th Module — [REDACTED].

Bonus Reward: +20% global influence, +10% system version.

Failure Condition: If OmniTech loses majority operational control in any two sectors.

NB: Due to the host gaining access to Quantum field manipulation, the reward for the TDI has been upgraded.]

Well, that was a lot..

The status screen might as well be a scroll at this point due to how many screens the system had to open before him.

There were a couple of new things there but what he really focused on was the [Titles].

[Titles are granted to the host after achieving feats that redefine technological boundaries,] the system’s voice explained, its tone calm and mechanical as new lines appeared under the tab.

[Each title carries unique passive effects that directly influence the host’s performance and perception in the world.]

"Passive effects?" He muttered, "Like stats boosts?"

[In simplified terms... yes.]

"I see," he muttered looking at the screen before tapping on the first title and another screen immediately replaced the one it was on.

[Title: Innovator of the Impossible

Level: Tier 4

Description: Granted to individuals who create a breakthrough previously deemed unattainable by their worlds scientific limitations.

Effect(s):

+25% Research Speed for all Tier 4+ projects.

Passive influence field: Individuals with technological or scientific aptitude will instinctively regard the host with heightened respect, trust, or curiosity.

Reduced probability of catastrophic system failure in experimental prototypes (–30%).

Unique Trait Unlocked [Visionary Mind]: Allows the host to perceive theoretical possibilities beyond conventional scientific limitations.]

Well, wasn’t that a surprise.

He then turned to the second and tapped on it.

[Title: Architect of Realities

Level: Tier 4

Description: This title has been granted due to you successfully creating a fully functional simulated environment capable of reflecting and predicting real-world outcomes

Effect(s):

+20% Neural Processing Efficiency.

+15% Creativity Boost in all simulated or conceptual environments.

+10% Accuracy in predictive simulations.

Unique Trait Unlocked [Simulated Omniscience]: Host is granted full knowledge of any simulated environment in said Simulation.]

"A surprise indeed," he muttered before closing all the screens and calmly taking off his gloves and lab coat.

He then turned to the chair and tapped on the screen a few times before he powered it off in satisfaction.

The data showed that the core was still stably holding up. There hasn’t been a single loss in energy since he started using it.

With a smile he walked out of the lab and into his living room where his phone was.

It was early the next morning since the announcement of Vitaband and he started simulating, but Lillian’s most recent call was just a few hours ago, meaning she was still up.

He scrolled through the phone to see a couple of messages from her.

[My Little Midas: Hi, um, I just wanted to make sure you were okay since you were not answering your phone.]

He smiled at the message before hitting dial and the phone rank only a few times before the call connected.

"Hello?"

"Did you miss me that much?"

***

California.

"Mom, I’m back," a woman muttered as she walked into the apartment making sure to take off her heels before walking to the living room.

In the living room was another woman, this one was older, with a head full of grey hair, silently sitting on a wheelchair, her eyes seemingly stuck on the wall.

Though, if one took a closer look, they’d realize that the eyes were completely hollow and lacked any form of light.

Though she was still breathing and very much alive.

The first woman walked towards the older woman she had previously identified as her mother before kneeling before her and taking her hands, "how was your day ma?"

No words left her mouth, neither did she seem to realize that there was someone before her, but the daughter didn’t mind, her face held a small smile though her blue eyes showed exactly how hurt she was.

She lay her head on the older woman’s lap, placing her mother’s hand on her golden blonde hair.

"There was no success again today," she explained softly, resting her head on her mother’s frail lap, "it seems no company wants a former employee of the Langleys."

Ever since the mysterious death of Nathaniel Langley and the investigation of their deeds, especially Victor’s, Olivia Blackwell had been out of a job which caused her to move from the relatively high end neighborhood to this one.

She looked at her mother’s expressionless face and sighed, well because of her mother she had accepted a job from him, though no one had to know about that just yet.