Chapter 7: Cracking the Spiral

Ethan gripped the Helix Slate as he sped through Calverton's eastern district, the Astellon Vantage slicing through traffic like a blade. The encrypted tablet's spiral symbol glowed faintly on its screen, a taunting lock between him and whatever secrets it held. His new blazer felt like armor, the Quantum Chronometer a steady pulse on his wrist, and his account sat at $4,216.70—bolstered by yesterday's $800 cash injection. The Galactic Ascension System was turning him into a force, but the stakes were climbing. Helix Group wasn't just watching—they were testing him.

The system's text flared, sharp and insistent.

[Task: Unlock the Helix Slate. Reward: 2500 credits, Random Tech Upgrade. Time limit: 4 days remaining.]

[Task: Secure your assets. Reward: 1500 credits, Random Property Deed (Tier 1). Time limit: 4 days remaining.]

[Task: Identify Vincent's affiliation. Reward: 2000 credits, Random Luxury Item. Time limit: 5 days—completed. Rewards granted: 2000 credits, Random Luxury Item—Stellar Shades (Augmented Vision Glasses). Total credits: 9350.]

Ethan blinked as a sleek case materialized on the passenger seat—black, lightweight, unmarked. He pulled over near a dockside warehouse, popping it open. Inside sat the Stellar Shades—futuristic glasses with tinted lenses and a subtle hum. He slipped them on, and the world sharpened—holographic overlays flickered, tagging objects: Vantage—120k value, Warehouse—abandoned. A tiny HUD in the corner blinked Thermal Scan Available. "Damn," he muttered, grinning. "System's got style."

His portfolio pinged—Marcus: OmniCorp at $38.40, NexTech $25. Total: $4,170. The stock surge from crushing Derek Voss still held strong. But the Helix Slate was his focus now. Lila Hart's words—Helix doesn't chase, they're chased—rang true. This wasn't a gift; it was a challenge.

He tapped the Slate, the spiral pulsing. No password field, no ports—just that symbol. His Tech Savvy (Tier 2)—10% better at cracking tech—kicked in, a faint itch telling him it wasn't brute force. "Encrypted comms," he mused, syncing it with his Holo-Comm. Static crackled, then a prompt: Voice ID required. He smirked. "Ethan Ward."

The Slate beeped, unlocking with a smooth click. The screen lit up—files, maps, a single message: Ward—Welcome to the edge. Helix sees potential. Pitch the core, or lose it. Coordinates enclosed. A location blinked—Calverton's northern cliffs, tomorrow, 8 p.m.

Ethan's gut twisted. Pitch the Portable Energy Core? He hadn't built it—his coding skills were years rusty, and his apartment wasn't a lab. But Tech Savvy whispered improvise. He could mock up a demo, sell the vision. Helix wanted disruption—he'd give it to them.

His Quantum Chronometer beeped—Incoming signal. Selene's voice purred through: "Fast work, Ward. Helix likes initiative. Don't choke tomorrow—others are bidding higher." The line cut. Ethan cursed. Higher bids? He needed an edge.

The system chimed.

[Task update: Unlock the Helix Slate—completed. Rewards granted: 2500 credits, Random Tech Upgrade—Blueprint Enhancement: Portable Energy Core now includes prototype schematics. Total credits: 11,850.]

Ethan pulled up the blueprint in his Inventory. The hologram shifted—new lines, a 3D model of a fist-sized core, pulsing with virtual energy. Prototype schematics—parts list, assembly steps. He could build it with the right gear. "Game on," he said, starting the Vantage.

He drove to Tech Haven, a gadget shop near the docks—grubby but stocked with nerd gold. The clerk, a lanky guy named Zane with a mohawk, eyed his Stellar Shades. "Nice tech. What's up?"

"Need parts," Ethan said, listing the blueprint's basics—microcircuits, a power cell, wiring. Tech Savvy guided him, pinpointing quality. Zane whistled, ringing up $350. Ethan swiped—$4,216.70 to $3,866.70—wincing but trusting the system's flow.

Back home, he cleared his rickety table, tools and parts sprawling. The Stellar Shades zoomed on tiny circuits as he soldered, Tech Savvy steadying his hands. Hours blurred—sweat, curses, a burned finger—but by dusk, it hummed: a rough, palm-sized core, glowing faintly blue. Not perfect, but it worked.

The system pinged.

[Task completed: Leverage your assets—progress detected. Bonus reward: $1,200 cash injection. New balance: $5,066.70.]

Ethan laughed, wiping his brow. The core buzzed, a tangible ticket to Helix's table. But as he admired it, footsteps thudded outside—too heavy for Mia or Grayson. He dimmed the lights, peering through the blinds. Two figures—black suits, faces obscured—lurked near the Vantage, one tapping a device. The Stellar Shades tagged them: Thermal signatures—armed.

His heart raced. The system flared.

[Alert: Hostile intent detected. Task: Neutralize the threat. Reward: 1000 credits, Random Combat Skill (Tier 1). Time limit: 15 minutes.]

Ethan grabbed a wrench—his only weapon—and slipped onto the fire escape, Stellar Shades tracking their heat. They were jimmying the Vantage's lock. "Not today," he growled, dropping silently behind them. He swung, cracking the wrench across one's knee. The guy yelped, collapsing, as the other spun, pulling a stun baton.

Ethan ducked, Charisma Boost useless here, but adrenaline and Tech Savvy kept him sharp. He tackled the second, slamming him against the car. The baton clattered away, and Ethan pinned him, wrench to his throat. "Who sent you?" he snarled.

"Back off," the guy rasped. "You're in over your head."

The system chimed.

[Task completed: Neutralize the threat. Rewards granted: 1000 credits, Random Combat Skill—Reflex Boost (Tier 1)—5% faster reaction time. Total credits: 12,850.]

Ethan stood, panting, as they scrambled off, limping. The Vantage was scratched—fury flared—but the core was safe. He hauled it inside, locking the door. Reflex Boost settled in, a subtle twitch in his muscles. Helix? A rival bidder? He needed that pitch locked down.

His Holo-Comm buzzed—Lila Hart: Heard you're making noise, Ward. Helix's buzzing too. Send that pitch—now. Ethan typed fast, attaching a core mockup from the Slate—hazy specs, big promises: Portable, infinite energy, scalable. He hit send, Negotiation (Passive) smoothing his words.

Lila replied: Intriguing. Helix's at the cliffs tomorrow—don't screw it up. The system pinged.

[Task: Pitch the core to Helix. Reward: 2000 credits, Random Business Asset. Time limit: 24 hours.]

Ethan leaned back, the core glowing on the table. His phone buzzed—Marcus: OmniCorp $40/share, NexTech $26. Portfolio: $4,300. Cash, stocks, tech—he was a player now. But the scratches on his car, the goons, Selene's taunts—they screamed danger. He slipped the Stellar Shades back on, thermal scan blank. For now.

A knock—soft, familiar. Mia, paint-streaked, holding a beer. "Saw the commotion," she said, handing it over. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Ethan said, taking it. "Just business."

She smirked. "Some business. That car's hotter than my last gallery flop."

The system chimed.

[Bonus reward: $500 social goodwill injection. New balance: $5,566.70.]

Ethan grinned, clinking her bottle. "Stick around, Mia. It's about to get hotter."

She laughed, leaving him to sip in the dark. Tomorrow, Helix's cliffs loomed—his shot at millions, maybe more. The Wealth King was rising, but the game was getting bloody. He'd be ready.