The victory over Titan Security was a cold, clean satisfaction, but it didn't soothe the deeper, more personal wounds. In the silent luxury of his penthouse, Raj allowed his thoughts to drift to the betrayal that had precipitated his final days of misery: his girlfriend, Priya, and his best friend, Sameer.
A few clicks, shielded by layers of security, brought up their social media profiles. They were disgustingly happy. There were photos of them at expensive restaurants, exclusive parties, and one particular photo that made Raj's blood run cold. The two of them were leaning against a brand-new luxury sedan, beaming. The caption read: "A little gift from Dad for acing my exams! Thanks, Mr. Mathur, for the sweet deal!"
His father. His father had rewarded the boy who had stolen his girlfriend and betrayed his trust. The last vestiges of any childish hope for reconciliation turned to ash in his mouth. They weren't just strangers to him; they were the enemy.
It was time for his morning check-in. The system seemed to sense his change in mood, his new target.
[ Daily Check-in Complete. ]
[ Reward Received: ₹50,00,000 (Fifty Lakh Indian Rupees) ]
[ Bonus Reward: 30% Ownership Stake in 'Apex Media & PR' ]
[ New Skill Unlocked: Digital Phantom ]
Raj's focus sharpened. Apex Media was one of the largest public relations and advertising firms in the country, with a massive network of digital billboards in every major city, including Ludhiana. The new skill was even more potent.
[ Skill: Digital Phantom (Active) - Allows the host to become an untraceable entity within any digital network. Firewalls, encryptions, and passwords become meaningless obstacles. ]
A cruel smile spread across Raj's face. The system hadn't just given him a weapon; it had given him the perfect one.
He closed his eyes and activatedDigital Phantom. The physical world melted away. He was no longer a boy in a chair but a disembodied consciousness flowing through the veins of the internet. He slipped through the firewalls of their phones as if they were mist. He accessed their cloud storage, their private messages, their deleted histories.
He saw it all. The messages where Priya called him a "charity case." The texts where Sameer mocked his poverty and planned his moves. He saw the timeline of their betrayal, documented in their own arrogant, careless words. It was more damning than he could have imagined.
He downloaded everything, a silent ghost pillaging their digital lives. He found one screenshot that was perfect—a conversation where Priya complained about having to pretend to like him, and Sameer replied, "Just hold on a little longer. My dad and his dad are finalizing a deal. We can't rock the boat yet."
Their entire relationship was a lie, built on a foundation of greed and contempt.
The next day, a new advertising campaign from Apex Media began in Ludhiana. It was subtle at first. On social media and smaller digital screens, simple, text-based ads appeared with provocative questions: "What is the price of loyalty?" "Can a friend be bought?" "Is love just a transaction?"
The whispers started in the elite circles of the city. The campaign was intriguing, anonymous.
Then, on a Friday evening, at 7:00 PM, when the city's most exclusive shopping district was at its busiest, Raj unleashed his masterstroke.
Every single massive digital billboard in the plaza, all controlled by Apex Media, flickered simultaneously. The PSA questions vanished. For two full minutes, they all displayed a single, massive image: the screenshot of Priya and Sameer's conversation, their profile pictures clearly visible next to their cruel words.
Chaos erupted. Phones came out. Pictures were taken. In an instant, the screenshot went viral among the city's elite youth. Priya and Sameer, who were at a cafe in that very plaza, looked up in horror. Their phones began to vibrate uncontrollably with notifications and angry messages. Their quiet, comfortable world of lies had been publicly executed.
In his study, Suresh Mathur took an enraged call from Sameer's father.
"What is this nonsense, Suresh?! My son is being crucified in public! The whole city is laughing! This is a disgrace!"
"I... I don't know," Suresh stammered, completely bewildered. "I have nothing to do with this."
First, a ghost named 'R' had seized his business target. Now, another ghost was savaging his allies' children. His world, once so orderly and under his complete control, was spinning into chaos. He felt a paranoia he hadn't felt in years, the chilling sensation of being hunted by an unseen enemy.
In Mumbai, Raj leaned back and deleted the files from his secure server. He closed the social media tabs showing the fallout of his attack. The satisfaction was deep and personal.
Two down. The rest of the family was next.