The night air in Nova Prime carried a crisp electric hum, the kind that only a megacity of endless ambition could produce. From the narrow window of a modest single-room apartment on the city's outer fringes, Ethan Voss could see the sprawling skyline stretching like an ocean of light. Towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds, their facades alive with holographic advertisements that shifted and danced—promotions for the latest virtual immersion games, endorsements from top web novel authors whose faces beamed down like modern deities, and sleek previews of upcoming serialized epics on Celestial Fiction Hub. Hovering mag-lev vehicles zipped between the buildings in orderly streams, their anti-gravity engines leaving faint trails of ionized air that shimmered under the neon glow.
Below, on the bustling streets twenty stories down, life pulsed relentlessly. Street vendors hawked glowing synthetic delicacies from mobile carts—spicy skewers infused with bio-luminescent herbs that lit up as they sizzled, bowls of nutrient-enhanced noodles steaming in the cool evening breeze. The scents wafted upward faintly: charred meats mingled with exotic spices imported from Auroria's southern continents, the sharp tang of energy drinks favored by night-shift workers, and the underlying ozone from the city's vast power grid. Laughter and chatter rose in waves from pedestrian walkways, mixed with the occasional blare of a luxury hover-car's horn as some affluent driver asserted dominance in traffic.
Inside the apartment, the atmosphere was a stark contrast—quiet, cluttered, and intensely focused. The room was small, barely enough space for a bed pushed against one wall, a compact kitchenette in the corner, and a desk dominating the center where Ethan sat. Piles of empty nutrient packs and coffee mugs littered the surfaces, remnants of countless all-nighters. The single overhead light flickered slightly, casting a warm but harsh glow on his face—a young man in his early twenties, with sharp features softened by slight exhaustion. His hair was tousled, his eyes bloodshot from hours staring at the screen, but there was a fire in them, a determination forged from years of unrelenting grind.
Ethan's fingers danced across the keyboard with inhuman speed, a blur of motion that would leave any observer in awe. Paragraph after paragraph flowed onto the digital document, wrapping up the grand finale of his latest masterpiece. This wasn't just typing; it was the culmination of passion, memory, and sheer willpower. The story unfolding on the screen was *Eclipse Dominion*, an epic tale of cosmic conquest, immortal cultivators clashing across vast realms, intricate plots of betrayal and redemption spanning galaxies. Readers across Auroria had been hooked for years, devouring each chapter as it dropped, debating theories in overflowing forums, and showering it with virtual gifts that translated to real credits.
For Ethan, it was more than a story. It was one of twenty such legends he'd brought into this world—transcribed from faint but unbreakable memories of his previous life. He paused for a moment, rereading the final lines: the hero's triumphant ascension, the shattering of heavenly tribulations, the poignant farewells to allies fallen along the way. A lump formed in his throat. This marked the end of an era.
With a deep, steadying breath, he highlighted the entire chapter, copied it, navigated to the author backend of Celestial Fiction Hub—the undisputed giant of Auroria's online literature industry—and pasted it in. His cursor hovered over the "Publish" button for a split second, savoring the moment. Then, click.
The confirmation popped up: Chapter published. Scheduled release in sync with his usual drop time.
Ethan leaned back in his creaky chair, exhaling a long, profound sigh. His body ached from the marathon session—muscles stiff, back protesting—but his mind buzzed with a cocktail of emotions. Relief washed over him first, cool and soothing after years of pressure. Pride followed, warm and swelling in his chest; he'd done it again, delivered a finale worthy of the hype. But beneath it all simmered something hotter, more urgent: anticipation. A bone-deep excitement that made his pulse quicken.
Five years. A full, grueling five years of waiting for this exact moment.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. The novice task is complete: successful transcription and publication of twenty masterpiece novels. The Supreme Tycoon System is now fully activated. You have received the Ultimate Newcomer Gift Package. Do you wish to open it?"
The voice rang clear and mechanical in his mind, cutting through the distant city noise like a divine intervention. It was genderless, authoritative, and utterly familiar—though it had been silent on rewards until now.
Ethan's eyes snapped wide, his breath catching. A grin spread across his face, uncontrollable and fierce. "Finally... it's here. After all this time."
He whispered it to the empty room, but the words carried the weight of a lifetime—no, two lifetimes.
Ethan Voss wasn't born of Auroria. He was a traverser, a soul hurled from a parallel world known as old Earth into this one. In his previous life, he'd been an orphan, raised in cold institutional halls with no family to call his own. No warm holidays, no parental guidance—just survival. He'd scraped through a second-rate university on scholarships and sheer stubbornness, emerging into a world that didn't care about the unqualified. Jobs slammed doors in his face; connections were for the privileged.
Desperate, he'd turned to online writing—a field with low barriers but brutal competition. Talent? He had enough to string words together coherently, but nothing god-given. So he compensated with volume. The mantra: if quality falters, quantity prevails. Multiple books running simultaneously, updates churning out daily like clockwork. He became a "liver emperor," sacrificing sleep, health, and social life for the grind.
It paid off modestly. Monthly income hovering around ten to twenty thousand credits—enough for rent, food, and small comforts. No starvation, occasional treats. But then love entered the picture. A girlfriend, kind and ambitious, who dreamed of stability. Marriage talks led to the inevitable: a home. In his city's market, even a modest place demanded millions for a down payment.
Ethan had saved diligently over three years—about a hundred thousand annually after expenses. Three hundred thousand in hand, far short. So he ramped up: five books at once, insane update schedules. One frantic year of overwork... and then collapse. Sudden death from exhaustion, joining the tragic ranks of those who burned out too young.
Rebirth followed—a glorious crossing into Auroria.
This world mirrored his old one in broad strokes: similar technology, cultures, societal structures. But details skewed—timelines jumbled, events misplaced, opportunities different. No perfect foreknowledge to exploit for stocks or lotteries. Ethan had hoped for a "gold finger," some cheat to rocket him to success. Years passed in his new family home, nothing came. He adapted, grateful for what he had.
And what he had was precious. No longer an orphan—he had parents who adored him, pouring affection he'd never known. A younger sister, quirky and teasing, but fiercely loyal. Family dinners filled with laughter, holidays warm with shared stories. It healed old wounds he hadn't realized were there.
Rebirth also sharpened his mind. Perhaps the fusion of two souls amplified his intellect. From childhood, he excelled—"that prodigy from the Voss family," neighbors called him. Straight A's, top ranks effortlessly. Culminating in acing the city-wide exams and securing a spot at the prestigious Nova Prime Institute of Technology, Auroria's crown jewel for innovation and elite education.
He'd envisioned a path of academic glory, perhaps corporate dominance post-graduation. But on his eighteenth birthday, everything changed.
The Supreme Tycoon System bound to him. Not instant opulence—it required a novice task to unlock full power. Fittingly, given his past, the task: Become the Ultimate Author. Not original creation (Ethan knew his creative limits), but transcription. The system provided memories of twenty pinnacle novels from his Earth life—masterpieces across genres: wuxia martial heroes, xianxia immortal ascensions, urban power struggles, historical intrigues, sci-fi galactic empires, suspense thrillers that gripped the soul.
He was to "copy" them—adapt and release on Celestial Fiction Hub, Auroria's booming platform where online literature was a cultural juggernaut. Billions in industry value, authors as celebrities, serialized drops causing societal buzz.
Transforming into a productivity beast, Ethan balanced university excellence with secret writing marathons. Under the pseudonym "Apex Sovereign," he unleashed bombshells. Works like *Eclipse Dominion*, *Heavenly Defiance Saga*, *Stellar Conquest Chronicles*—each shattering records. Readers fanatic, subscriptions pouring in, virtual rewards exploding. He became a myth: the supreme god-author, untouchable in output and quality.
Yet the system froze all earnings. Royalties locked until task completion. Only milestone bonuses: fifty thousand credits per finished novel. One million total over five years—barely enough for this modest apartment and basics post-graduation. He turned down lucrative job offers, renting this place to focus solely on the "great transcription undertaking."
Real income from those legends? Astronomical. Billions in potential subscriptions, adaptations, merchandise. But held hostage.
Now, the finale of the twentieth novel published. Task done.
Excitement surged through Ethan like electricity. His hands trembled as he mentally commanded: "Open the gift package!"
The system responded instantly, voice triumphant:
"Congratulations, Host! You have acquired 51% controlling shares in Celestial Fiction Hub!"
Ethan's heart skipped. Celestial Fiction Hub—the behemoth. Valued at over fifty billion credits, it dominated Auroria's entertainment landscape. Web novels weren't niche here; they were mainstream, fueling movies, games, merchandise empires. 51%? Absolute control. He owned the platform that birthed his legends.
"Congratulations, Host! You have acquired a top-floor duplex penthouse in Apex Pinnacle Towers, with full ownership rights!"
Apex Pinnacle Towers—Ethan knew it intimately from riverside strolls during university. The epitome of luxury in Nova Prime, perched along the glittering Azure River. Glass spires soaring into the sky, residences for the ultra-wealthy. Base units hundreds of millions; top duplexes? Half a billion plus. Private infinity pools overlooking the city, sky gardens with exotic flora, AI systems anticipating every need. His now.
"Congratulations, Host! You have acquired one Vortex Thunderbolt supercar (top configuration), including god-level driving mastery! Vehicle currently parked in your apartment complex's public zone."
The Vortex Thunderbolt—a limited-edition marvel. Roaring acceleration, sleek design turning heads on elite boulevards. Coveted by tycoons and stars. And god-level skills infused directly? He'd drive like a pro from day one.
"Congratulations, Host! You have acquired one vial of Apex Genome Elixir!"
The elixir—rumored in high society as the ultimate human enhancement. Perfect optimization, pushing body and mind to peak potential.
"Congratulations, Host! You have acquired god-level culinary mastery!"
Instant expertise in the kitchen—turning simple ingredients into gourmet masterpieces.
On his desk, items shimmered into existence: ornate share certificates, a futuristic key fob pulsing softly, sealed property deeds in luxurious folders, and a crystal vial swirling with ethereal blue liquid.
Ethan rose slowly, legs unsteady from the rush. He walked to the window, pressing a hand against the cool glass. Below, Nova Prime thrummed with life—millions chasing dreams, grinding like he once did.
But now? He stood at the threshold of true power. Wealth beyond imagination. A body perfected. Skills divine.
The pinnacle wasn't distant anymore.
It was here.
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