The freezing air felt like sharp glass scraping against the inside of Gideon’s lungs.He was being dragged face-down across the cold concrete floor of Floor 48. Every inch of his skin burned with agony. Blood pooled around his torn shirt and dripped onto the icy ground.Behind him, in the absolute, pitch-black darkness of the hallway, low growls vibrated through the floorboards.Formless, smoke-like shadow beasts coiled together in the gloom, their red eyes glow like burning coals. Long, jagged claws made of condensed black smoke tore into Gideon’s back, shredding his flesh while dragging him deeper into the dark."Please..." Gideon gasped, his voice cracking from the bone-chilling draft. "Masterson... Jessica... open the door..."He clawed at the floor with his fingernails, leaving bloody streaks on the concrete as he fought to reach the heavy steel vault door at the end of the corridor.Three inches of reinforced bulletproof glass sat at eye level on the door.Behind that safe, c

[System Alert: Host has decisively severed ties with a high-threat hostile target (Jessica)!][Assessment: Emotional independence established. Weakness eliminated.][Reward Granted: Physical Strength +10 Points!][Reward Granted: Solar Energy Points +100!]A surge of intense, liquid warmth erupted from his chest, instantly flowing through his limbs, spine and muscles.Gideon gasped as his posture straightened naturally. His shoulders broadened, his core tightened and his vision became noticeably sharper. He could feel the dense, powerful surge of energy coursing under his skin—his body had been upgraded.He raised his right fist and clenched it tightly. The faint sound of air compressing beneath his grip filled the quiet office.He glanced at the floating system panel.[Current System Status][Host: Gideon Vance][Level: 1][Class: God of Light][Attributes: Strength: 20 (Human Average: 10) | Agility: 10 | Endurance: 10][Solar Energy Reserve: 100/100][Subspace Storage: 1,000 Cubi

"I need you, Mark," Gideon said straight to the point. "Drop your tools, pack your welding gear, load your truck. I will come for you right now."Mark paused on the line. "What? Right now? Gideon, I'm in the middle of a contract job for an auto shop—""Cancel the job," Gideon said, his tone absolute. "I just leased the top three floors of the central tower. I need the best welder in Metro City to turn it into an impenetrable steel vault. I'm paying you five hundred thousand dollars cash, and you start today."Silence hung over the line for three seconds."Five hundred thousand?" Mark gasped. "Gideon, are you crazy? What are you building up there?""I'm building a sanctuary," Gideon said, staring at his reflection in the mirror walls of the elevator. "The world is changing in six days, Mark. Trust me."Mark let out a heavy breath through the speaker. "You're my brother. If you say it's important, I'm waiting for you."Gideon hung up and a cold, dark spark glow in his eyes as he reached

"I need two hundred thousand dollars worth of broad-spectrum antibiotics, surgical bandages, painkillers, burn ointments and antiseptic alcohol," Gideon said directly. "Deliver them to the loading bay at Metro Commercial Center by three o'clock.""Two hundred thousand in medical supplies? Sir, do you have a hospital license?""I'm paying cash upfront with a thirty percent private clinic surcharge," Gideon said coldly. "Do you want the sale or not?""Delivery will arrive at two-thirty sir," the clerk replied immediately.Gideon hung up, turning his car back toward Metro Commercial Center.As he drove through the city streets, he looked at his phone screen.[Current Available Balance: $1,245,800.00]He had spent over four million dollars in less than six hours.His high-altitude base lease was secured, his brother was on site, his subspace was filled with food and bulk construction materials were arriving at his tower.Gideon pulled into the underground loading bay of Metro Commercial C

The grand banquet hall on Floor 10 of Metro Commercial Center was filled with bright crystal chandeliers and the clinking of champagne glasses.Over fifty wealthy investors, property developers and corporate executives walked across the plush red carpet in expensive tuxedos and silk gowns.Soft classical music played over the speakers while waiters in black waistcoats carried trays of imported wine and caviar.At the center of the hall stood Masterson.He wore a custom black silk suit, a gold watch glinting on his wrist and a fat Cuban cigar held loosely between his fingers.Beside him stood Jessica.She wore a backless white silk dress—paid for with Masterson’s credit card—and held a crystal glass of expensive champagne in her manicured hand. Her smile was bright and parasitic as she leaned her body close to Masterson's side."To the future of Metro Tower Expansion!" a wealthy investor in a gray suit toasted, raising his glass. "Masterson, you really pulled off a miracle securing th