Ethan didn't waste time. The moment the reality of his rebirth settled in, his mind kicked into high gear. The God-Tier Business System had already proven its presence, and with the countdown to betrayal ticking in his head, he had no intention of playing it safe. The first thing he did was dig out his old laptop. Ancient by today's standards, but still usable. He powered it up, opened a fresh spreadsheet, and began listing everything he remembered from the next ten years—every trend, company, mistake, and opportunity.
He categorized them: upcoming startups worth investing in, industries about to explode, technologies still in their infancy. His fingers flew across the keyboard, memory guiding each keystroke. Artificial intelligence, fintech, delivery platforms, electric vehicles. Cryptocurrency. That one made him pause. He remembered watching Bitcoin explode from the sidelines, too risk-averse to touch it the first time.
Not this time.
He opened a browser and checked the current price. Dirt cheap. It wouldn't stay that way for long. He grinned, already planning a small, early investment. He wouldn't bet everything on crypto, but it would be a strategic boost for startup capital if timed right. Next, he mapped out key people. Lucas was at the top of the betrayal list. Back then, they had bonded over ambition and late-night ramen, dreaming of the company they would build. It wasn't fake—not at first—but power twisted Lucas fast. Once they tasted real money, it was over. Then Sophia. Ethan didn't want to think about her yet, but he wrote her name down anyway. She had loved his potential more than she ever loved him. The moment he faltered, she jumped ship—into Lucas's arms. No matter. Emotions were a liability now. This life was going to be different.
A notification appeared in his mind, clear as a whisper.
> [System Reminder: You have not accepted your first mission.]
Ethan blinked. "Right. Show me again."
> [Mission: Prevent Future Betrayal – Stop Lucas from acquiring your shares within 7 days. Reward: +10 Strategic Talent, +$50,000 Starting Capital.]
He accepted it instantly.
The reward alone would give him a major head start, but more than that, it was symbolic. Breaking the chain before it began would rewrite the entire future. He leaned back, thinking. In the original timeline, he'd brought Lucas in as co-founder, assigning him 30% equity without a second thought. It had felt right—fair. But fairness didn't mean safety. This time, the company wouldn't be a shared dream. It would be his alone. That meant founding it solo and drawing up legal protections from day one.
Ethan grabbed his phone and made a list of everything he needed: a business lawyer, a basic incorporation setup, someone who could help him funnel his system-given startup funds into a legitimate account. He checked the balance on his student account—still broke. But then:
> [Funds Incoming: +$50,000. Source: System Seed Capital.]
A bank notification popped up on his real phone, confirming the deposit. He nearly laughed. "Now we're in business."
With capital, knowledge, and time on his side, all he needed now was execution. But first, he had to deal with Lucas. That meant rewiring their entire relationship before it even began. Later that afternoon, Lucas texted him, just like he had the first time around.
Lucas: "Bro, want to hit the café and brainstorm that startup idea tonight?"
Ethan stared at the message for a moment. That was the same night they first scribbled out the idea for SkyCore Technologies, the startup that eventually grew into the billion-dollar firm Ethan built—and that Lucas helped destroy. A strange chill ran down his spine. History was trying to repeat itself.
Instead of responding immediately, Ethan called his uncle in the city, a retired small-time investor who had once offered him mentorship, an offer he foolishly ignored back then. This time, Ethan approached it differently.
"Uncle Wei? It's Ethan," he said as soon as the call connected.
"Ethan? Haven't heard from you in a while, kid. Everything alright?"
"I've got a business idea. A good one. I want your advice before I involve anyone else. I can be in the city tomorrow."
A pause. Then, "Alright. I'll clear my afternoon. Impress me."
Ethan hung up, heart steady. That was step one. Step two: delaying Lucas. He replied to the text with, "Can't tonight. Got something personal to handle. Let's meet next week." It was subtle, but enough to start distancing himself.
That evening, Ethan walked across campus toward the business center. Students were coming and going, laughing, stressed, alive. The fall air was crisp, the kind that hinted at winter just beneath the breeze. It was strange to see the world again through twenty-two-year-old eyes. In this body, everything still felt raw and possible.
He entered the building and made his way to the open computer lab. There, he began drafting the earliest documents for his new company—this time under a different name. Not SkyCore. That was tainted. This company would be called NexTech Solutions, a name Ethan remembered from a competitor that had nearly taken them out once. He'd always admired their model. Now he would build something better.
While working, a girl sat down across from him—familiar face, but he couldn't place her name. She glanced at his screen, then back at him.
"Business major?"
"Something like that," Ethan replied.
She nodded. "You type like you're planning world domination."
He smiled faintly. "Maybe I am."
She chuckled and went back to her own screen. In the original timeline, he barely noticed people like her. Too busy. Too focused. This time, maybe he'd pay more attention. But not today.
Three hours later, he had a detailed outline of his first product—a SaaS platform for managing freelance teams, something he knew would become massively valuable once remote work exploded. It was something he could build lean and scale fast.
His phone buzzed again.
> [System Alert: First Phase Preparation Complete. Bonus Unlocked: Business Blueprint Template – Freelance Management Platform.]
A file appeared on his desktop, filled with mockups, wireframes, and suggested features. It even included competitor analysis and marketing strategies. Ethan grinned. "Now we're talking."
By midnight, he was back in his dorm, staring at the ceiling, mind buzzing with possibilities. He didn't need sleep—he needed time. Time to set everything in motion before the world caught up to him. He had seven days before Lucas would start asking too many questions. Seven days to secure his own foundation.
He wouldn't waste a second.