Chapter 190

Alex sat in the dim light of his study, eyes focused on the endless data streams projected in front of him by the Cognichip. He had spent the past week completing the fire matrix, and now a new, more ambitious project was on the horizon—documenting the patterns of all known ability users.

"Begin the simulation," Alex ordered, his voice steady. "We'll start with fire, water, earth, air—work through the elements first. Then, we'll move into more complex abilities. I want a full analysis."

"Understood," Cognichip responded immediately, its artificial intelligence fully engaged in the task. "Initiating simulation based on known elemental abilities."

The familiar hum of data processing filled the room as Cognichip began running the simulations. Alex watched as the fire matrix, the one he had mastered, reappeared in holographic form, hovering in the center of his study. Surrounding it were fragments of water, earth, and air—each ability user's power documented through reports, news clippings, and any observational data Alex could gather.

It was a long process, and Alex knew it. Documenting these patterns, breaking them down into their fundamental sequences, would take years. But he didn't mind. The fire matrix alone had taken weeks, and it was enough for now. This new task was something he could work on slowly, refining his understanding of the world's abilities as he went.

As the simulations ran, the patterns of each element began to take form, swirling in a delicate dance. Alex watched the water matrix develop—soft, flowing lines that ebbed and shifted in rhythm, mimicking the natural currents of the ocean. Next came earth—dense, layered sequences that moved with a weight and purpose that felt almost unshakable. Air followed, fast and light, its lines darting and weaving with the unpredictability of a breeze.

"Cognichip," Alex said thoughtfully, "what's the commonality between these patterns? Is there something that ties them together?"

"The simulations reveal a shared structural framework," Cognichip replied. "Though the sequences differ by ability, the underlying frequency of cosmic energy remains consistent. Each pattern shapes the energy differently, but they all rely on the same fundamental principles—rhythm, frequency, and flow."

Alex nodded. That made sense. Every ability user, whether they were manipulating fire, water, or earth, was tapping into the same universal energy. The differences lay in how that energy was shaped and directed.

"Good," he muttered. "Document everything. I want a comprehensive report on the commonalities and the differences. This could be the foundation for a theory on matrix formation."

"Understood," Cognichip responded, its voice neutral as always. "The report will be generated as the simulations progress. Estimated time of completion: several years."

Alex smiled. "I've got time. We'll work on this in the background. For now, the fire matrix is enough."

His mind drifted as the simulations continued. He was in no rush—there was no need to accelerate the process. This was a long-term project, something he could chip away at bit by bit. In the meantime, the fire matrix would serve him well enough.

Eva's holographic form shimmered into existence beside him, as if on cue. "Alex, there are new reports coming in regarding global activity. Would you like a briefing?"

"Go ahead," Alex said, leaning back in his chair. He appreciated these breaks. It kept him grounded, reminded him that the world outside was still turning while he was tucked away in his study.

"The Central Coalition continues to focus on technological advancements, nothing new here," Eva began, her tone as neutral as ever. "They are particularly interested in AI development, though their attempts to breach the Stargazer Forum's security protocols have once again failed."

Alex couldn't help but smirk. "They'll never get past you, will they?"

"No," Eva replied simply. "Their current capabilities are insufficient to bypass my security measures. However, they have shifted focus to an alliance with Phoenix Dominion."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Phoenix Dominion? That's new, I had expected an alliance with suprema."

Eva's hologram flickered as she displayed a map of North America. "There are ongoing discussions between representatives of the Central Coalition and Phoenix, the leader of Phoenix Dominion. Their aim appears to be a technological and military alliance to counterbalance the influence of La Corona in South America."

The map zoomed in on Phoenix Dominion, a vast territory in the northern part of the continent. Phoenix, the powerful fire ability user who had once clashed with the United States government, still held his dominion with an iron grip. He was one of the few ability users who had managed to carve out a nation for himself, and he ruled it with the strength of his fire manipulation.

"What's the Coalition's angle here?" Alex asked, curious. "They're tech-focused, but Phoenix is all about brute power."

"The Coalition seeks to leverage Phoenix's military strength in exchange for access to their technological advancements," Eva explained. "In particular, they are offering Phoenix access to advanced power generation suits—technology that could enhance his abilities further."

Alex leaned forward, intrigued. "So, Phoenix gets more firepower, and the Coalition gets an ally against La Corona and anyone else who stands in their way. Clever."

"Indeed," Eva confirmed. "However, the discussions remain in the early stages. No formal agreements have been made as of yet."

"Keep me updated," Alex said, turning back to the holographic patterns that were still floating in front of him. "This could be interesting."

As Eva flickered out of view, Alex returned his focus to the simulations. Over the next week, he continued to work tirelessly, refining the fire matrix and documenting the other elemental patterns. Each break he took was filled with more reports from Eva—updates on global movements, alliances, and power struggles.

The Central Coalition and Phoenix Dominion weren't the only players making moves. Tera Nova continued to solidify its grip on West Africa, expanding its territory slowly but surely. Eze, the leader of Tera Nova, was using his earth manipulation to reshape the land, creating natural fortifications that would be nearly impossible to breach.

La Reina, ever the strategist, was extending her influence over the scattered states of Central America. Her mind powers allowed her to control key figures without them even realizing it, subtly expanding her empire one deal at a time.

And then there was Suprema, the mentalist nation led by Arjun. They remained neutral, using their mental abilities to keep the peace and act as mediators in disputes. It was a delicate balance, but so far, Suprema had managed to avoid any major conflicts.

"Everything's falling into place," Alex mused as he watched the world map, dotted with the territories of ability users and scattered governments. "But it's only a matter of time before someone makes a real move."

As he said it, the fire matrix in front of him shimmered, the delicate lines pulsing with energy. Alex smiled, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. He didn't need to rush. The fire matrix was complete, and now he had time to explore the other patterns, to document them, to understand them.

He glanced at the water matrix, still half-formed, its flowing lines not yet perfected. There was so much more to learn—so much more to discover. But that was okay. Alex didn't mind the wait. After all, this was just the beginning.

"One step at a time," he reminded himself, his mind already drifting back to the complex rhythms of the cosmic energy around him. "I'll get there eventually."