Chapter 4: Shadows of Power
Alex awoke to the blinding whiteness of the Nexus once more, his body still trembling from the strain of NZT-48. The drug had pulled him to the edge of his limits, giving him access to mental clarity and knowledge beyond anything he had ever imagined, but at a price. His mind felt as though it had been stretched too thin, and the creeping fatigue gnawed at his nerves.
For a few minutes, he lay still, letting the calm of the Nexus wash over him. I need to be smarter about this. More controlled. The raw potential of NZT-48 was intoxicating, but the side effects were dangerous—he had barely escaped the last time. If he wanted to use the drug to its fullest, he needed to refine his approach. He needed wealth, resources, and a proper lab to work in. No more reckless leaps into the unknown.
Taking a deep breath, Alex stood and activated the D.A.T.D., his mind focused once again on the universe depicted in "Limitless." He let the familiar kaleidoscope of colors wash over him as the Nexus faded away, pulling him back into the bustling city where he had once tasted the power of NZT-48.
The streets of the city were just as he had left them—neon lights flickered in the rain-soaked pavement, and the hum of activity surrounded him. Alex wasted no time. This wasn't about thrills or exploring; this was about building a foundation for the future. He stepped back into the internet café, just as he had done before, paid for his time at a computer, and got to work.
This time, his plan was simple: amass as much wealth as possible. The NZT-48 sharpened his mind, allowing him to see patterns in the market and opportunities that most people missed. His first few investments were small—high-risk stocks, cryptocurrencies, and other volatile markets. Over the coming days, Alex spent hours each day at the internet café, watching the markets, analyzing trends, and carefully moving his money from one opportunity to the next.
Within the first few weeks, his small seed capital had multiplied several times over, but Alex knew this was just the beginning. He wasn't looking for quick wins; he needed sustained, long-term growth. He expanded his investments into real estate, buying undervalued properties in developing neighborhoods and flipping them for a profit. He also set up shell companies to funnel his earnings through, making sure that none of his financial movements could be easily traced.
The process wasn't quick. Months passed, each day a blur of transactions, research, and constant vigilance. As the weeks turned into months, Alex's wealth grew exponentially. He now owned luxury apartments, high-value stocks, and a diversified portfolio that included everything from tech startups to precious metals. His name didn't appear on any documents—everything was carefully hidden behind layers of corporations and trusts. But the power he wielded was real.
With money came freedom, and with freedom came the next phase of Alex's plan: the lab.
He had searched for the right location for weeks before finding it—a private, state-of-the-art facility just outside the city limits. It was discreet, well-equipped, and most importantly, completely under his control. Using his newly amassed fortune, Alex purchased the lab outright and began outfitting it with the latest technology, from chemical synthesizers to advanced computing systems. This was where he would refine NZT-48.
The first few weeks in the lab were spent on the basics—setting up equipment, running initial tests, and gathering data. Alex worked tirelessly, often spending days at a time in the sterile, fluorescent-lit facility. The NZT-48 kept him focused, but the side effects were always lurking just beyond the edge of his mind. He knew he couldn't continue like this forever.
I need to fix this. I need to make the drug safer.
The problem, however, was that NZT-48 was fundamentally dangerous. The potency of the drug came with a cost—its sharp cognitive enhancements were tied to its temporary nature, and the longer the effects lasted, the harder the crash afterward. Each time Alex tried to modify the drug to extend its duration or reduce its side effects, the drug's efficacy diminished.
At first, it was just small reductions. The cognitive boost wasn't quite as sharp, the mental clarity not as precise. But as Alex pushed further, attempting to eliminate the more severe side effects—headaches, nausea, and the intense crashes—the drug became weaker and weaker. He spent weeks chasing a perfect balance, tweaking formulas and running simulations. Each time he made progress in one area, it came at the expense of another.
Frustration set in as the months dragged on. He could feel himself hitting a wall. The compromises he was making left him with a drug that was safer, but far less powerful than the original. The incredible leaps in cognition that had once fueled his rise to power were now dulled, replaced by a more moderate enhancement that, while still useful, lacked the intensity he had once relied on.
Is this worth it? he asked himself more than once, staring down at the vials of NZT-48 lined up on the lab bench. He could go back to the original formula, live with the side effects, and keep chasing that mental edge. But deep down, he knew that path would destroy him. The drug would win in the end.
One night, after a particularly long series of failed tests, Alex slumped in his chair, staring at the data on his screen. He had reached a point of compromise. The latest version of NZT-48 wasn't perfect—it wasn't as powerful as the original—but it was stable. It offered a more moderate cognitive enhancement, lasting longer than the original version and, crucially, with almost no side effects. The trade-off was clear: he wouldn't experience the same intense rush of genius he had felt with the original, but he also wouldn't be crippled by the aftermath.
Alex leaned back, staring at the ceiling of his lab. This is it. This is as good as it gets.
He had come a long way from the man who had first stumbled upon the Nexus. Back then, the thrill of NZT-48 had blinded him to the dangers. Now, months later, after countless hours of work, experimentation, and sleepless nights, he had something that could sustain him for the long haul.
It's not perfection, but it's power I can control.
He stood, walking over to the row of vials. The new formula gleamed under the lab's lights, each dose a culmination of months of painstaking research and sacrifice. He picked one up, turning it over in his hand.
Alex wasn't done. This was just the beginning. With the wealth he had accumulated, the lab he had built, and the refined version of NZT-48 in his hands, he was ready for the next phase. He hadn't given up his ambition of a multiversal empire—far from it. But now, he was building from a solid foundation.
Now, I can move forward without losing myself.
