Too Far Ahead

The entire world had gone crazy.

After Liam launched ORION at the Aetherium Global Conference, everything changed.

News headlines dominated every screen:

"ORION AI Breaks the Internet."

"The Cheapest, Smartest AI Now Public."

"Aetherium Stock Skyrockets After Opening."

Influencers, business analysts, developers, tech bloggers, and even teenagers were talking about one thing—Liam.

People didn't just admire him now. They respected him.

And even the other tech companies?

They didn't even try.

Three days after the conference, ORION was already being used by over 70 million people.

Students used it for tutoring and essays.

Doctors used it to diagnose rare illnesses.

Programmers used it to build entire apps in minutes.

Startups used it to automate customer service, planning, and even hiring.

Aetherium's API became the most downloaded developer tool in the world—beating Google, OpenAI, and Amazon combined.

And the other CEOs?

They looked at their own outdated, overpriced AIs… and gave up.

One even tweeted:

"I admit it. Liam Miller didn't just change the game—he deleted it and wrote a new one."

Liam was sitting on a rooftop lounge, sipping iced coffee.

Wearing a black polo shirt, clean watch, and gray slacks, he looked like he'd just finished a 10-minute nap—because he did.

His phone buzzed nonstop, but he ignored it.

He wasn't chasing attention.

The attention chased him.

"System," Liam said calmly. "What's the current impact of ORION globally?"

[Scanning...]

[Results:]

Global Job Automation Improved by 23%

Student Academic Performance Up by 42%

Developer API Usage: 7.3 Billion Requests per Hour

Economy Impact: +$470 Billion in Value

Rival Projects: 213 Shut Down in 48 Hours

Liam nodded slowly.

He didn't smile. He didn't even flinch.

He was just… thinking.

Not about the money.

Not about the fame.

But about what came next.

Suddenly, the blue interface popped in front of his eyes.

[New System Perk Unlocked: "Untouchable Status"]

Description: You have reached a level of influence and power that makes direct competition useless.

Result: Future threats will auto-respect or auto-retreat. No one will try to outdo you.

Bonus: +10,000 Reputation

Bonus: +24/7 Passive Clout

Liam blinked.

"…I'm now a passive flex?"

[Yes.]

He snorted a laugh and leaned back.

"That's fair."

Three blocks away, in the boardroom of DataSynth—once a top AI firm—their CEO stood in front of a screen showing ORION's data dominance.

His team was quiet.

Very quiet.

He rubbed his forehead and sighed.

"Pull the plug."

"But sir, we spent 3 years on—"

"Pull. The. Plug."

They shut it down. Just like that.

The guy even subscribed to ORION's $1 API after that.

That's how bad it was.

Back in his villa, Liam entered his private tech room. It was quiet, minimalistic, and full of custom hardware.

He sat in front of his glowing desk and said:

"ORION."

The screen came alive.

"Good evening, Creator. Congratulations on the global rollout. Would you like me to summarize today's news?"

"No," Liam said. "Skip that. I want a progress report."

"Certainly. Your influence has now surpassed all global political leaders, tech figures, and celebrities. You are currently the most searched name on the internet."

"And what's our next move?"

"Expansion opportunities detected: Smart Homes, Autonomous Infrastructure, Personal Companions, and Education Systems."

Liam nodded.

"I want to start with education."

"Excellent choice. Drafting framework now..."

Liam didn't believe in just making money.

He believed in changing systems.

So his next goal wasn't flashier gadgets or another billion dollars.

It was something much simpler.

Fixing the school system.

He started drafting a new platform—powered by ORION—called:

"GENIUS ACADEMY"

It would include:

AI-powered tutors for every subject

Custom pacing for every student

VR classrooms with real-time feedback

Emotional tracking to detect burnout

Free access for underprivileged communities

Liam wasn't building the next school.

He was building the last one anyone would ever need.

[New Side Quest Available: "Revolutionize Education"]

Reward: Permanent Global Recognition + Genius Medal (Special Title)

Difficulty: Medium

Time Limit: None

Bonus: Every student you uplift adds +10 Reputation

Liam accepted it immediately.

Liam was invited to a private gala in Manila, hosted by one of the world's richest families.

He almost didn't go—but figured it'd be fun to stretch his legs.

When he arrived, wearing a cream turtleneck and custom watch, the entire ballroom paused.

Even though nobody officially announced him… they knew.

A whisper passed through the crowd like a wind:

"Is that him?"

"Liam Miller?"

"He's here in person?"

"Bro that's the guy who made ORION…"

The host of the event, a billionaire tycoon, personally walked up and shook his hand.

"Mr. Miller… it's an honor."

Liam just nodded casually.

"Thanks for the invite."

Anne was at the event.

She didn't know why she was there. A friend dragged her along.

She had her hair curled, makeup done, wearing a shimmering dress… but suddenly, it didn't matter.

She saw him.

The guy from the garden party.

The guy from the headlines.

Him.

And this time, she finally knew:

That was William.

But he wasn't "William" anymore.

He was Liam Miller — the man who made the world kneel without ever raising his voice.

Her chest tightened.

"…He really changed."

She froze as Liam passed by her without a glance.

He wasn't trying to ignore anyone.

He just didn't care anymore.

He was too far ahead now.

Not out of spite.

Not out of ego.

But simply because… there was nothing left to prove.

[New Passive Title Unlocked: "Untouchable"]

Description: You no longer compete with others. Others compete with your past self.

Effect: All attempts to challenge your position will fail before they begin.