Adam continued his routine, a ghost flitting between the physical exertion of training and the mental deep-dives into the digital ocean. His [Accelerated Calculation] became sharper, allowing him to identify potential intel targets more quickly. He found another one – a predictable outcome in a minor regulatory hearing concerning environmental standards for a local manufacturing plant, buried deep in city council documentation. He packaged the prediction, anonymized it meticulously using rotating public terminals and layered VPNs, and sent it off to a relevant environmental watchdog group's tip line.
[Intel Dissemination Quest: Regulatory Foresight]
[Objective: Ensure the anonymously submitted prediction regarding Hearing #ENV-201 outcome is proven correct within 5 days.]
[Reward: 250 IP + Bonus IP based on accuracy.]
As he waited for the hearing outcome, however, something felt… off. While using a library computer, he encountered unusually complex CAPTCHAs and persistent login verification steps on sites that were previously straightforward. On an obscure tech forum he monitored, a thread popped up discussing a series of uncannily accurate, anonymous predictions and vulnerability warnings hitting various sectors recently, with users speculating about a sophisticated new player in the information game – someone they dubbed the "Digital Ghost."
Coincidence? Possibly. But Adam's [Danger Intuition] gave a faint, persistent thrum whenever he engaged in his info-gathering activities now. It wasn't an immediate threat warning, more like a background radiation of awareness – someone is looking. Not SHIELD, he suspected; this felt different, more corporate or perhaps belonging to the shadowy group from the substation. He hadn't left direct traces, but his pattern of activity, hitting different sectors with accurate intel from public access points, might have created ripples noticeable to other analysts.
He needed to be more careful, vary his methods, perhaps invest some of his eventual windfall into better anonymizing tools or even hardware. For now, he decided to lie low on the intel front after this current quest resolved.
The regulatory hearing concluded as predicted.
[Quest Complete: Regulatory Foresight]
[Accuracy Assessed: High. Impact: Low. Bonus IP Awarded.]
[Reward: 250 IP + 25 Bonus IP Awarded.]
[Current IP: 1570 (1295 + 275)]
Over 1500 IP. Closer, but still short of the 1800 needed for the B+ fusion. Just as frustration began to set in, his other seed bore fruit. While checking financial news feeds (strictly for monitoring purposes now, not active analysis), he saw the headline: OmniCorp Solutions Announces Revolutionary AI-Driven Logistics Platform, Secures Massive Government Contract.
His heart leaped. He quickly logged into his anonymous brokerage account. The OCS stock symbol was flashing green, accompanied by an almost vertical upward trajectory. His initial $600 investment had exploded. After waiting a day for the initial frenzy to stabilize slightly, he carefully liquidated the position. The transaction settled, leaving just over $14,000 in the account.
It was a staggering sum compared to the near-penniless state he'd been in just weeks ago. He felt a profound sense of relief wash over him. Rent, food, basic supplies – these were non-issues for the foreseeable future. He could finally afford to properly fuel his training, maybe even buy a cheap, used laptop to conduct research more securely from his own apartment, reducing his reliance on public terminals.
He transferred the funds carefully to the sparse bank account tied to Adam Walker, then withdrew a comfortable amount in cash. The first thing he did was upgrade his diet significantly. Then, he bought a second-hand, wiped laptop and several encrypted USB drives. The era of internet cafes was over.
With financial security achieved, his focus snapped back to the System. 1570 IP. He needed just 230 more for the fusion attempt. He could grind it out through training over a couple of weeks, or risk one more intel quest, perhaps something extremely low-profile using his new laptop and enhanced security practices from his own apartment.
He opted for the latter, needing that power upgrade sooner rather than later. He spent two days meticulously researching, using his [Accelerated Calculation] on his new machine, finding a non-critical prediction target – the likely winner of a small, independent film award based on analyzing festival buzz and critic reviews. He submitted the prediction anonymously.
[Intel Dissemination Quest: Indie Insight]
[Objective: Ensure the prediction for the 'Golden Reel Award' winner is proven correct within 48 hours.]
[Reward: 200 IP + Bonus IP]
The award was announced the next day. He was correct.
[Quest Complete: Indie Insight]
[Accuracy Assessed: High. Impact: Negligible. Bonus IP Awarded.]
[Reward: 200 IP + 15 Bonus IP Awarded.]
[Current IP: 1785 (1570 + 215)]
He was just shy. Frustratingly close. He spent the next few days pushing his physical training to the absolute limit, the improved nutrition making a noticeable difference. Finally, after another grueling session:
[Sustained Training Milestone Reached. +20 IP Awarded.]
[Current IP: 1805]
Enough. He finally had enough IP to attempt the B+ fusion. The 80% success chance felt like decent odds, but the 20% chance of failure – losing both his core B-Rank Aspects and the IP – was terrifying. It would cripple him.
He sat cross-legged on the floor of his studio apartment, the city lights filtering through the window. He took several deep breaths, calming his mind. This was the biggest step he'd taken since awakening in this world. It was time.
"System," he commanded, his voice steady despite the tremor of anticipation in his chest. "Initiate fusion: [Danger Intuition (B)] plus [Urban Phantom Movement (B)]."
[Fusion Initiated: Consuming Aspects [Danger Intuition (B)] and [Urban Phantom Movement (B)].]
[IP Cost: 1800. Current IP: 1805. IP After Cost: 5.]
[Warning: Fusion proceeding without Catalyst. Success Chance: 80%. Failure Chance: 20% (Resulting in loss of IP and Base Aspects) or unpredictable mutation.]
[Proceed? Y/N]
His finger hovered over the mental 'Yes'. This could elevate his capabilities significantly, freeing a slot and creating a synergistic powerhouse Aspect. Or it could devastate his progress. He focused, took one last breath, and confirmed.
"Yes."
[Commencing Fusion...]
A profound sense of energy drain washed over him, far more intense than the C-Rank fusion. His remaining IP plummeted to almost zero. Mentally, he felt the two distinct Aspects – the sharp prickle of danger sense, the fluid grace of phantom movement – being drawn together by an immense, invisible force within the System. They resisted, pulsed, then began to intertwine, energies clashing and merging in a chaotic, unstable dance...