Chapter 2 Prove Them Wrong

The ten million dollars sat in Ethan’s bank account like a nuclear warhead—ready to change everything.

He didn’t sleep that night.

Not because of fear.

Because of possibility.

The system hadn’t disappeared after that surreal activation. It hovered in the corner of his vision like a digital interface only he could see—responsive, alive, almost omniscient.

Host Status:

Wealth Level: Tier 1 – New Money

Total Funds: $10,000,000

Reputation: Laughingstock

Power: 0

Influence: 0

Allies: 0

Enemies: 64 (and counting)

💡 Daily Advice: “Wealth is a sword. Use it to cut down those who laughed when you were unarmed.”

Ethan paced his room, mind whirring like an overclocked machine. For the first time in his life, he held power. And he had no intention of wasting it.

His first mission was simple:

Mission #001 – Prove Them Wrong

Target: Bryce Tan

Objective: Humiliate him publicly within 72 hours

Reward: Company Ownership Token

Penalty: None

Suggestion: “Destroy what he values most—status.”

Bryce. The arrogant trust-fund brat who led the pack of bullies. Captain of the university’s basketball team. Influencer. Sponsored athlete.

He cared about one thing above all: reputation.

Ethan opened his laptop and began typing.

By morning, Ethan had pulled off what no broke student should ever be able to do.

First, he hired a media agency under a pseudonym—“Obsidian Media Holdings.” He paid them $20,000 to craft a PR campaign, complete with fake scandals, doctored screenshots, and anonymous tips.

Next, he contacted a private investigator—real one, discreet. For $5,000, the PI found every dirty secret Bryce tried to hide: an assault cover-up, a paid-for exam paper, and—best of all—evidence that Bryce’s scholarship was fraudulently obtained.

By noon, three major gossip blogs had already scheduled articles exposing Bryce’s lies. Ethan timed the leaks to go live during the university’s biggest weekly event:

Friday Townhall Assembly.

The entire student body would be there.

And so would Bryce.

Friday – 9:00 a.m.

Northern University’s grand auditorium buzzed with life. Hundreds of students shuffled into the seats, excited for the weekly updates, club showcases, and guest speaker lineup.

Bryce Tan stood front and center onstage, flashing his signature smirk as he adjusted his varsity jacket. Cameras were already snapping photos. He was slated to give a short speech on “Discipline and Leadership.”

Ethan slipped into the back row, dressed in a clean button-up shirt and new jeans—nothing flashy, but neat enough to turn a few heads.

He pulled out his phone.

“System,” he whispered. “Ready?”

✅ Confirmed: Countdown initiated.

Executing media strike in 3… 2… 1…

9:17 a.m.

Bryce had just started bragging about his “merit-based” scholarship when the first whispers broke out in the crowd.

Then came the gasps.

The phones lighting up.

The ripple of digital chaos.

On screen after screen:

BREAKING: Northern U Star Bryce Tan Faked Scholarship, Abused Influence to Cover Assault Allegations.

“Exclusive: Anonymous sources claim Bryce Tan paid $20,000 to have his exam scores altered.”

“Video leaked: Bryce Tan verbally abusing female student in locker room.”

The crowd was frozen.

Bryce stuttered mid-sentence. “I… I don’t—this is fake—!”

But it was too late.

University staff scrambled. Campus security arrived. The Dean, pale and tight-lipped, approached the stage.

In under ten minutes, Bryce Tan’s reign was over.

The system pinged softly in Ethan’s mind:

✅ Mission #001 Completed.

Reward: Company Ownership Token (Claimed)

Host Status Updated:

– Enemies: -1

– Influence: +5

– Confidence: +20

🎉 Congratulations. That’s how you prove them wrong.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, a small smile forming on his lips for the first time in years.

It wasn’t just about the money.

It was about control.

After the assembly, news spread like wildfire. Bryce had been suspended pending investigation. His sponsorship deals vanished overnight. His social media imploded under the weight of public outrage.

As for Ethan?

People started whispering about him.

“Hey, wasn’t he the one Bryce used to bully?”

“Yeah… Ethan Reyes, right?”

“He was there during the assembly. He didn’t even look surprised.”

That afternoon, Ethan’s inbox exploded.

A message from a student asking to join his “media team.”

An invitation from the campus business club.

A DM from a girl who used to ignore him, asking if he wanted to “grab coffee sometime.”

He ignored all of them.

He wasn’t here to impress the fakes.

He had a system now—and a mission.

Back in his room, Ethan stared at the new screen in his system interface:

[COMPANY OWNERSHIP TOKEN – UNUSED]

Use this token to claim, build, or acquire a full company.

Ownership: 100%

Starting budget: Up to $5,000,000

Suggestion: Start your empire.

Ethan’s eyes lit up.

He opened his laptop again.

What kind of business would shake the world?

Dropshipping? Too basic.

Stock trading? Already done.

Crypto? Risky, loud, unstable.

Then it hit him.

A tech company.

Not just software—A.I. automation.

The future.

And he had the resources to build it from scratch.

He would name it VIREX—Virtual Intelligence for Real-world Execution.

The goal?

Automate operations for businesses, institutions, even governments.

Speed, efficiency, domination.

He clicked “Use Token.”

The screen flashed.

✅ Company Created: VIREX Technologies Pte. Ltd.

Budget: $5,000,000

Recruitment Slots: 5 initial staff

Office Options: Choose location

System Integration: Available

⚙️ Next Mission: Build a Team

Objective: Hire at least three key talents to begin operations.

Reward: Personal Asset Upgrade + Advanced Tech License

Ethan grinned.

The storm was over.

But the war was just beginning.