The city was quiet in the early morning, but Aiden's mind was anything but. Every tick of the clock, every whisper of the wind, seemed to pulse with opportunity. He sat at his desk, laptop open, spreadsheets running simulations almost faster than he could process.
The Yuan Spirit hovered nearby, its glowing form faint in the morning light. "Your first investments have borne fruit, but true wealth requires risk," it said. "Calculated risk, guided by knowledge, is the difference between survival and obscurity."
Aiden leaned back, fingers steepled under his chin. He thought about the companies he had observed yesterday: robotics startups with poor management but immense potential, energy firms with patents they didn't fully exploit, small tech labs with ideas that could revolutionize security systems.
He selected three targets. One, a robotics firm struggling to mass-produce efficient drones. Another, a renewable energy company that had stumbled over regulatory hurdles. And a third, a software startup developing AI-assisted logistics.
His memory of the future gave him the answers he needed: which CEO would listen, which would panic, and which competitors were blind to the coming shifts.
"Start with small acquisitions," the Yuan Spirit advised. "Maintain secrecy. Influence through ownership, not visibility."
Aiden smiled faintly. The future had shown him the outcomes. He would not gamble blindly. He would ensure every move multiplied his gains while keeping him invisible to rivals.
By noon, he had executed the trades. Stocks acquired, options secured, contracts signed. Then came the delicate work: persuasion. He met with the struggling robotics firm's CEO, a nervous man barely out of his thirties.
"I can help you scale," Aiden said confidently, placing a hand on the table. "You have the technology, but not the vision. With my guidance—and funding—you can reach levels you've only dreamed of."
The CEO hesitated. His board was fractured, unsure whom to trust. Aiden's calm, precise explanations, however, left no doubt. By evening, Aiden had secured a minority stake, the promise of a controlling influence, and a management plan that would multiply efficiency tenfold.
Next was the energy firm. Regulatory compliance had slowed them for months. Aiden knew exactly what loopholes and government incentives would apply. Within hours, he had drawn a roadmap that cut costs and maximized output. By the end of the week, the company agreed to a strategic partnership.
The final target, the software startup, required subtlety. Their AI systems were promising but fragile. Aiden carefully acquired shares without revealing the full extent of his knowledge, guiding development toward real-world logistics applications that would later be critical to automating military supply chains.
By the end of the first month, Aiden's net worth had grown exponentially. A small fortune in the present world—but a seed for the empire he would need to fight the apocalypse.
And yet, the Yuan Spirit reminded him, "This is only the beginning. Every step forward invites opposition. Rivals exist who see opportunity where you see potential. Never underestimate human ambition."
True enough. By the second month, a minor competitor began asking questions, noticing Aiden's sudden rise. Aiden anticipated their moves, redirecting investments, and creating subtle market diversions. No one suspected the mind guiding these maneuvers—just a quiet young man, uncanny in insight, appearing to stumble into luck.
Meanwhile, Aiden continued analyzing the future. He spent nights compiling notes on technologies that would exist a decade from now: advanced robotics, autonomous drones, AI-assisted combat units, energy shields, and logistics systems that could sustain an army. Each note was cross-referenced with present-day resources, ensuring that every development he initiated now could be scaled into a future weapon—or tool of survival.
Physical training continued in parallel. He was still human in strength, still mortal, and he knew brute force alone would not save him. Combat simulations, endurance training, and tactical exercises became a routine.
Aiden leaned back in his office chair, watching city lights flicker against the twilight sky. His empire was still small, almost invisible. But the gears had begun to turn. His wealth was growing, his influence spreading, and his knowledge of the future allowed him to anticipate every challenge before it arrived.
The Yuan Spirit hovered silently, a reminder that even guidance could not replace action.
Aiden clenched his fists. "This is just the beginning. Every risk is calculated, every step matters. Soon, I will have the resources to create a force capable of resisting what's coming."
The night deepened, but Aiden's mind burned brighter than ever. Humanity's survival depended on him. And failure was not an option.