Chapter 191

The back garden of Alex's mansion was a sprawling expanse of manicured greenery, surrounded by tall, protective walls. Built just months ago by PowerGen, the company he himself quietly owned, the irony of commissioning them to construct a home for him was never lost on him. It was all for the sake of normalcy and secrecy, of course. He didn't want anyone to suspect that the man behind the scenes pulling the strings of such a powerful enterprise was also the one living in this understated yet opulent property.

The mansion itself wasn't massive, but it was big enough to show off his wealth. It was a sleek, modern design with expansive glass windows that offered stunning views of the Lakeside City skyline, and the minimalist architecture screamed sophistication. Inside, the rooms were large but not overbearing—just the right size to make anyone visiting feel the wealth and power Alex commanded without making it ostentatious. The entire property was surrounded by cutting-edge tech, blending the comforts of modern living with high security.

Today, Alex stood in the heart of his garden, the grass perfectly trimmed and the sky above clear. His hands were steady as he prepared to test the fire matrix in real life for the first time. He had spent countless weeks perfecting it in the safety of the Cognichip's simulation, but now was the real test.

He closed his eyes, feeling the familiar pull of his soul power, the sun-like structure of his meditation technique burning brightly within his consciousness. As he breathed deeply, the matrix he had painstakingly shaped began to form in his mind. From the center of his core, he pushed the sequence outward, starting with a small pulse of energy.

The frequency hummed, matching the rhythm he had mastered over weeks of trial and error. He shaped the matrix from the inside out, guiding the energy through the carefully constructed lines and curves. He felt the power build slowly, the matrix coming to life as cosmic energy was drawn into its form. The familiar sensation of the sequence activating rippled through him as he guided the energy outward, filling every inch of the matrix with purpose.

When he opened his eyes, a small, perfect ball of fire danced above his open palm. It flickered and twisted, responding to his will. The flames were a vibrant orange, but they did not burn him. Instead, the fire hovered gently, moving with a grace that seemed almost alive. Alex smiled, a rush of satisfaction flooding him. It had worked.

The ball of fire was small, but it was enough to show that the matrix was functional. He rotated his hand slowly, watching the flames swirl and respond to his motions. The fire moved in perfect harmony with his intent, shaping itself into thin threads, then compressing back into a small sphere at his command. He could feel the delicate balance of energy flowing through the matrix, the cosmic energy surrounding him bending to his will.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. All the hard work, all the countless hours spent inside the Cognichip space, and now he held the manifestation of it in his hand—something that would have been impossible before, once upon a time, he only had mentalist abilities in a world where ability users where sprouting like wild grass, but now, he now has the power to match them without overly relying on strategy.

As the fire continued to flicker, Eva's hologram shimmered into view beside him, her neutral expression unfazed by the display of power. "Alex, there are new updates on global activities," she said, her voice even and calm.

"Go on," Alex replied, his focus still on the fire, manipulating it with small twitches of his fingers.

"La Corona has solidified their control over the Caribbean," Eva began. "They have entered into a strategic alliance with several Central American states, effectively securing their influence in the region. Phoenix Dominion continues its negotiations with the Central Coalition. While no official agreements have been made, it is likely Phoenix will gain access to their advanced military technology."

Alex nodded. "Phoenix always had a way of making sure he came out on top."

"And the United States?" he asked, finally letting the fire dissolve into the air. The energy that had built up around him dissipated, and he flexed his fingers as if shaking off an invisible weight.

"PowerGen's influence is growing," Eva continued, switching topics. "You've received additional requests for infrastructure expansion, particularly from the Western states. They're interested in upgrading their energy grids to match the current levels of PowerGen's capabilities."

"Of course, they are," Alex said with a small chuckle. "Everyone wants a piece of the future."

Eva continued, "There is also an increase in discussions among major powers about countermeasures to rogue ability users. The Central Coalition has developed rudimentary devices designed to nullify ability-driven phenomena. Their effectiveness remains questionable."

"Nullifiers, huh? Let them keep trying," Alex replied, his tone dismissive. "They won't come close to understanding how abilities truly work. Rogue ability users are ultimately a problem, but that's expected, in a world without ability, even the rich with all their privilege can't escape from corruption."

He had the Cognichip, after all—a tool that allowed him to analyze, document, and understand the underlying patterns that governed abilities. The rest of the world was still playing catch-up, scrambling to find ways to control something they barely understood.

As he pondered this, Alex turned his attention back to the mansion, taking in the view of the modern architecture against the backdrop of Lakeside City. He felt a strange sense of detachment, as though the life he was living—this life of wealth and power—was just a shell. The real work, the real mastery, was happening behind the scenes, in the data streams, in the patterns he was uncovering, and in the abilities he was slowly mastering.

He would keep things this way. Let the world focus on superficial power grabs and alliances. Meanwhile, he would continue building his understanding, shaping the cosmic energy into new forms. He didn't need to rush. The fire matrix was just the beginning.

"Anything else of note?" he asked Eva, stretching his arms and glancing at the serene garden surrounding him.

"The United States is expanding its influence in Eastern Europe, supporting local resistance movements," Eva reported. "Their focus is on establishing footholds to counterbalance La Corona's growing presence in Central America. PowerGen is being considered for several energy contracts in these regions."

"Good," Alex said with a satisfied nod. "Keep me updated."

As Eva faded from view, Alex stood in the garden for a moment longer, feeling the cool breeze against his skin. The ball of fire he had created moments ago was already gone, but the feeling of control, of mastery, lingered. It wasn't just about power—it was about understanding the deeper forces at play. Forces that no amount of alliances or technology could fully control.

"One step at a time," he reminded himself, a smile playing at the edges of his lips. The fire matrix was working, and soon, more patterns would follow