Ethan leaned back in his seat at the coffee shop, savoring the rich aroma of his brew. The warm ambiance and the comforting taste of the coffee helped him unwind after the eventful day.
Claire had offered to send him home, but Ethan said to drop him off here after their meeting. Ethan was grateful for her professionalism throughout the process.
He couldn''t help but feel a rush of excitement when Claire mentioned he might get the keys to the house in just a day or two. ''A day or two,'' he thought, a smile playing on his lips. ''I can''t wait to show my family our new home.''
As he stirred his coffee absentmindedly, his mind drifted to the tasks ahead. The house was nearly sorted, meaning one of his missions was well on its way to completion. That left the other—the development of the app.
Ethan''s thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of his phone. It was David calling with an update. He answered immediately.
"Hey, David," Ethan said. "How''s it going?"
"Good news," David replied, his tone brisk and professional. "Everything on my end is complete. The company is officially registered, and the process of opening the account has been completed.
He paused before adding, "And we''re ready to move to the next steps."
"That''s great!" Ethan said, feeling a surge of excitement. "So, what''s next on the plan?"
David paused the sound of rustling papers audible in the background. "I''ve drafted a plan. The top priorities are finding office space and assembling a team of developers to kickstart the app project. We need a functional prototype as soon as possible."
Ethan nodded to himself, wondering if the system would prompt him with new missions for these steps. To his surprise, it remained silent. ''Guess I''ll have to handle this one on my own,'' he thought.
"That sounds good," Ethan replied. "Let''s get started on those right away."
"I''ll take care of drafting the hiring ads for the developers," David continued. "But I''ll leave the office hunt and the broader vision for the project to you."
"Got it," Ethan said. "Thanks for handling the ads. I''ll figure out the rest and update you soon."
After ending the call, Ethan sat quietly, mulling over his next moves. The app development team was crucial, but he also needed to think about the overall structure of the company.
Ethan searched online for the basic structure and organization he needed for his company. "Whoa, I really need to learn more about business," he thought.
As he pondered, Ethan realized he needed someone to help lighten his workload—perhaps a manager. It would be helpful to delegate the smaller tasks so he wouldn''t have to handle everything on his own.
"Man, I already sound like a very busy person," Ethan chuckled at the thought.
Other departments—marketing, operations, and finance—would need strong leadership as well. ''This is starting to feel like a lot,'' Ethan thought, running a hand through his hair.
What he really needed was someone he could trust—a reliable point of contact who could act as his intermediary, coordinate with department heads, and compile reports. ''Someone sharp, organized, and good with people,'' he thought.
His mind quickly turned to Jordan. His best friend, who he had met just a few days ago, lived right here in Novan City. While Jordan didn''t have formal qualifications, his natural charm, adaptability, and knack for managing situations made him a strong candidate for the role.
''He might be perfect for this,'' Ethan thought. ''Though I''ll have to make it clear that David will be monitoring him to ensure everything stays professional.''
Ethan pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts, quickly finding Jordan''s number. He tapped the call icon and waited, the thought of helping his old friend bringing a small smile to his face.
The phone rang a few times before Jordan picked up, his voice slightly breathless. "Yo, Ethan. What''s up?"
Ethan chuckled at the sound of his friend''s strained tone. "What are you doing? Are you in some kind of marathon?"
Jordan huffed a mix of amusement and exhaustion in his reply. "Close enough. I''ve been hitting the gym since early this morning."
"Oh, really?" Ethan teased. "Trying to impress someone, or are you suddenly planning to become a fitness guru?"
"Hey, I''ve got to keep in shape," Jordan shot back, though his voice carried a grin. "So, what''s up? You don''t usually call this early."
"Which gym are you at?" Ethan asked, his tone casual.
"Uhh… Super Core Fitness, near the Green Avenue block," Jordan replied. "Why?"
Ethan''s face lit up—it was nearby, just a short distance from where he was. "Perfect. Come meet me at the coffee shop on Green Avenue. I''m here now."
There was a brief pause before Jordan spoke again, his tone tinged with curiosity. "Why? What''s going on?"
"You''ll find out soon enough," Ethan said, keeping his voice light. "Just hurry up. You know I don''t call you for nothing."
Jordan let out a resigned sigh, though the playful edge in his tone was unmistakable. "Alright, alright. Give me about twenty minutes. I''ll be there shortly."
"Great," Ethan said with a grin. "See you soon."
Ending the call, Ethan leaned back in his chair, a sense of anticipation settling over him. Jordan might not know what was coming, but Ethan was certain his friend would be perfect for the role he had in mind.
Jordan arrived at the coffee shop, his gym bag slung over one shoulder and a sheepish grin on his face. Ethan raised an eyebrow as his friend dropped into the seat across from him.
"Dude, what''s that smell?" Ethan asked, wrinkling his nose playfully.
Jordan laughed, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. "Sorry, man! I was in such a hurry, I forgot to shower first."Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
He dug into his bag and pulled out a small bottle of cologne, giving himself a generous spritz. The sharp scent filled the air, and both of them coughed, waving their hands in front of their faces.
"At least we''re sitting outside," Ethan said, chuckling. The outdoor seating area was quiet, with no one else nearby to witness the scene.
"Alright, what''s the hurry?" Jordan asked, leaning back in his chair. "You never call me out like this since high school."
"Chill," Ethan replied with a chuckle, motioning toward the menu on the table. "Order anything you want. If you''re hungry, get something to eat too—my treat today."
Jordan''s eyes lit up as he scanned the menu. "You serious? You''ve got no idea how long I''ve been eyeing that steak sandwich," he said, pointing to one of the pricier items.
Ethan noticed the way Jordan''s gaze lingered on the menu and grinned. "Go for it. It''s on me."
Jordan didn''t need to be told twice. "You offered, so I''ll shamelessly accept," he said with a grin, flagging down a waiter and placing his order.
As they waited for the food to arrive, Jordan leaned forward, his curiosity evident. "Alright, spill it. What''s the deal? You never drag me out like this unless it''s something big."
Ethan took a sip of his coffee, his expression calm but amused. "I started a company," he said simply.
Jordan blinked. "A company?"
"With David Turner," Ethan added, gauging his friend''s reaction.
Jordan''s eyes widened, and he nearly choked on the sip of water he had just taken. "Wait a minute… You mean that David Turner?" he asked, quickly pulling out his phone and typing furiously.
Moments later, he turned the screen toward Ethan, showing a picture of the well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Ethan chuckled. "Yeah, that David Turner."
Jordan stared at him, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find the right words. "What? How? Why?" he sputtered, clearly overwhelmed. "You can''t just drop a bomb like that without any explanation!"
"I''ll get to that," Ethan said, laughing. "Just calm down."
Jordan leaned back, shaking his head in disbelief. "Man, you''re something else. I mean, I always knew you were going to do something big, but this? This is on another level."
Ethan shrugged modestly, then began explaining his vision for Celestia Tech. Jordan listened intently, nodding along as Ethan laid out his plans for the company and the app development project.
Finally, Ethan paused, meeting Jordan''s gaze. "I need someone I can trust to help me run things," he said. "I want you to be the manager."
Jordan''s eyes widened again, and for a moment, he was completely silent. Then he leaned forward, his voice incredulous. "Wait… You want me to be the manager? Are you serious?"
"Completely serious," Ethan replied. "You''ve got the skills, the personality, and I trust you. Of course, David Turner will be keeping an eye on things to ensure everything''s professional, but I know you''re the right person for this."
Jordan sat back, rubbing the back of his neck as he processed the offer. "Man… I don''t even know what to say," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "This is huge, Ethan."
"Think it over," Ethan said, giving his friend an encouraging smile. "But I know you can do it. We''ll make this work together."
Jordan leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes dramatically. "Give me a moment to think," he said, his tone overly serious.
Ethan smirked, watching as his friend furrowed his brow in mock contemplation. A second later, Jordan opened his eyes and grinned. "I''m in."
Ethan burst out laughing. "You didn''t even think about it!"
"I was pretending," Jordan admitted with a chuckle. "I mean, how could I say no to an offer like this? Besides, I''ve been dying for a change."
Jordan leaned forward, his grin softening into a thoughtful smile. "You know, I''ve been working with my dad ever since high school. The local moving company—it''s fine and all, but I''ve been feeling stuck. Every now and then, I''d just up and leave to travel, trying to find something that felt… meaningful."
He sighed, his expression wistful. "I want to find a purpose in life, man. Something bigger than just moving boxes or wandering aimlessly."
Ethan smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude for his friend''s honesty. "I get it," he said softly.
But as he sat there, watching Jordan''s excitement, Ethan couldn''t help but inwardly ask himself the same question. ''What''s my purpose in life?''
Now, with the Supreme System in his corner, the possibilities seemed endless. For the first time, he considered the idea of not just living for himself but also making an impact on others.
''Maybe this isn''t just about me anymore,'' he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. ''Maybe I can do something that matters for more than just my own goals.''
***
Later in the evening, Ethan lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was buzzing with thoughts about the tasks he had tackled and the ones still ahead of him.
He had updated David about hiring Jordan and asked him to draft a proper offer letter and contract. On top of that, he had assigned Jordan to scout for the best office space for their startup.
Now, with those tasks delegated, Ethan''s focus shifted back to the app development project. It was vital to create a prototype soon. But before diving into that, curiosity tugged at him—what could he buy with his Ascension Points?
Ethan sat up and opened the Shop Panel on his phone.
=====
[Shop Panel]
Available Items:
<ol>
<li>Lower Grade Strength Potion (1 Ascension Point)</li>
<li>Lower Grade Speed Potion (1 Ascension Point)</li>
<li>Lower Grade Endurance Potion (1 Ascension Point)</li>
<li>Lower Grade Charisma Potion (1 Ascension Point)</li>
<li>Lower Grade Intelligence Potion (1 Ascension Point)</li>
</ol>
[Locked Items – Level Up Required]
=====
He scanned the descriptions and found that each Lower Grade Potion could increase the corresponding attribute by four points. However, the system limited the purchase to five potions of each type. He began considering which attributes to enhance first.
''Becoming smarter should be my top priority,'' he thought. ''It''ll help me develop the app more efficiently.'' Charisma also seemed like a good option—it might aid him in convincing people and navigating social interactions more effectively, even if he wasn''t entirely sure how it worked.
Ethan moved to his desk, grabbed a notebook, and jotted down his current attributes for reference.
=====
Attributes:
Strength: 8
Speed: 9
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 16
Charisma: 7
=====
He aimed for balanced stats, initially hoping to bring everything up to 20 points. But after calculating the limitations, he devised a more practical plan.
=====
<ol>
<li>Lower Grade Strength Potion (1 Ascension Point) x3</li>
<li>Lower Grade Speed Potion (1 Ascension Point) x2</li>
<li>Lower Grade Endurance Potion (1 Ascension Point) x2</li>
<li>Lower Grade Charisma Potion (1 Ascension Point) x1</li>
<li>Lower Grade Intelligence Potion (1 Ascension Point) x2</li>
</ol>
=====
Satisfied with his strategy, he made the purchases through the system, expecting the potions to apply immediately. However, to his surprise, they appeared in his inventory. Curious, he selected one, and a small vial materialized on his desk.
The potions were sleek, 5 mL vials, each containing liquids of different colors; red, green, gray, yellow, and blue.
Ethan stared at the vials, muttering, "Why does it look like medicine? I hate them… but if this is the price of improvement, so be it."
Initially planning to drink them one at a time, his impatience got the better of him. In one impulsive move, he uncorked each vial and gulped them down in quick succession.
The effect was immediate—and overwhelming.
A sharp, almost searing pain erupted in his muscles, quickly intensifying into excruciating waves. Ethan bit down on his blanket to stifle his groans as his body convulsed slightly, the transformation taking hold. He could feel his muscles twitching and tightening, his body reshaping itself from the inside out.
Heat surged through his face, leaving him burning with discomfort. His sweat soaked his clothes, and the tightness in his shirt hinted at the physical changes taking place.
After what felt like an eternity—but was, in reality, only a few minutes—the pain subsided. Ethan collapsed back onto his chair, breathing heavily as his body adjusted to the changes.
Slowly, he stood up and walked to the mirror. The reflection staring back at him was unfamiliar yet undeniably his own.
His body had become leaner, with subtle but noticeable muscle definition. His posture seemed naturally more confident, and his face.
Ethan leaned closer, stunned. His features appeared sharper and more defined, with an undeniable charm that hadn''t been there before. His messy hair framed a face that could now easily turn heads.
"Damn it... Not to brag," he muttered, a wry grin spreading across his lips, "but I look… good."
Still, the transformation was more than just skin-deep. Ethan flexed his fingers, testing his strength and agility. His entire body felt like a finely tuned machine—powerful, responsive, and ready for action.
As he stepped back, he couldn''t help but feel a mix of awe and excitement. The potions had done their job, and now he was ready to face whatever came next.