BOOK TWO: Chapter 38: The Global Launch
**Carter** sat at the elaborate, magically enhanced desk, feeling a profound difference. The mental fatigue was gone, replaced by a deep, integrated hum of power. The hour spent in the Mana Pool, followed by thirty minutes of rest in the cryo-chamber, had harmonized his chaotic **75\% Light and 75\% Dark** cores with the subtle energies of the planet. His original power was amplified, and the subtle energies of Earth had settled into his core. The **10\% Earth Affinity** now residing within him gave him a heavy, grounded sense of purpose.
A **bright blue, holographic globe of Earth** hovered before him.
**"The global markets are primed,"** Earth stated. **"We have maximized hype and minimized scrutiny. Your performance must be flawless, Headmaster. This stream is our multi-trillion-dollar war chest."**
Carter ran a hand through his **dreadlocks**, checking his look in the monitor's reflection. "Flawless is my default, brother. Let's unbox the future."
The stream rating immediately shot through the roof, quickly breaking global viewership records. The millions watching were desperate to see their online idol.
"What's up, global community! It's your host, **The Anomaly**," he said, using his familiar online name with a massive, charismatic grin. "I was an anomaly, but now I will introduce myself to you all."
In a blur of motion, he grabbed his hair and pulled it into a neat ponytail, letting a single **white and black dread** hang strategically on the front side of his head. He shed his simple hoodie, revealing an expensive, tailored **Armani suit** underneath. With a subtle flex of his finger, his **Dimensional Ring** removed the cheap, unassuming glasses he wore for his persona and replaced them with the regular, everyday **expensive dark shades** he had grown accustomed to. As he fixed his collar, he flashed a top-of-the-line **gold watch**.
"We've gone dark for a while, but that's because we were building," he announced, his voice now carrying the authority of a CEO. "Tonight, I'm not just Carter; I'm your CEO. We aren't unboxing gear; we're **unboxing the future.** Welcome to **Aetheric Global Technologies!**"
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Carter was an electric presence, constantly reading and reacting to the chat, using his newly integrated magic for spontaneous, dazzling spectacles.
"You think this is just a green screen, Chat? Think again!" Carter grinned at a skeptic's comment. He clenched his fist, and a shockwave of invisible force, powered by his new **5\% Air Affinity**, slammed against the camera lens before pulling back, settling the papers on his desk back into a perfectly ordered stack. "**Atmospheric manipulation**, guys. Just trying to keep my desk tidy!"
Then, responding to a challenge to "do something impossible," he focused on his native **75\% Dark Magic**. The lights in the massive room flickered and dimmed to near-total darkness. From the pitch-black shadows of the corners, a shimmering, intricate replica of the complex machine part from before emerged, hovering in the center of the room. It was made of pure, solidified shadow. The shadow-object **winked** at the camera, then exploded in a silent puff of black smoke that instantly dissipated.
*Instantaneous, world-class entertainment that showcased terrifying power under absolute control.*
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"Alright, Aetheric faithful," Carter announced, standing up. "Let's take a campus tour. We're presenting the **Three Pillars** of our launch—all using exclusive, proprietary technology that is lightyears ahead of anything else."
Earth activated multiple **camera drones** that followed Carter as he walked through the pristine, high-security surface campus. The strategically positioned staff—including the newly recruited professors and **Colonel Vance's** security team—smiled and waved, lending the facility an air of professional legitimacy.
Carter held up a small, metallic disc. "This is the **Aether-Cell.** We've cracked the code on quantum energy storage." He placed it in a massive device that immediately powered the entire campus lighting system. Using his newfound **5\% Fire Affinity**, he focused the element, causing the disc to not just glow, but briefly pulse with an intense, **controllable blue flame**—a signal of peak, stable efficiency. "Forget charging overnight; this is power for a lifetime."
He walked past the Biosphere Garden, giving a nod to **Professor Ben Carter** (Water Mage). "We are solving the ecological crisis. This device uses **Aetheric Field Harvesting** to instantly cleanse water and soil of all contaminants."
Carter stepped up to a planter of dead, brittle earth. With a subtle surge of his powerful **10\% Earth Affinity**, he demonstrated the technology's effectiveness in real-time. The soil in the planter immediately darkened, becoming rich, damp, and fertile. Not just grass, but a small, intricate patch of **vibrant green moss and hardy flowers instantly sprouted**, blossoming in seconds. "Pure air, pure water, pure soil—guaranteed."
Carter held up his phone, showing a massive file instantly appearing on a screen hundreds of miles away. "This is the **Quantum Data Link**. Instant, secure, lag-free data transfer anywhere in the world. Goodbye, fiber optics. Hello, tomorrow." He gave a quick nod, causing a few drops of mana-infused water to briefly levitate and swirl into a **spinning helix**, demonstrating a subtle, controlled use of his **5\% Water Affinity** to cool the surrounding devices.
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As the stream neared its peak, the global stock market began its historic frenzy.
"Aetheric Global isn't just about products. It's about potential," he stated, his voice resonating with sincerity.
He looked directly into the camera. **"We believe there are children out there—special kids whose unique gifts are causing trouble, kids who can't control their strength or their environment."**
"If you are a parent with a child exhibiting **unprecedented biological or energetic gifts**—gifts that conventional science can't explain—we want to help you. The **Aetheric Global Foundation** is here to study and nurture that potential. Contact us now."
Within the hour, Aetheric Global Technologies secured its place as the first multi-trillion-dollar company. The global chaos of the mana surge was now being financially managed by the Dragon Prince himself.
The Fortress Foundation was open for business, flush with more capital than most small nations. The next challenge: confirming the professor hires and acquiring the first wave of students.
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