'Over twenty-nine million,' he muttered to himself
That was the total amount of his liquid assets.
The number didn't sink in yet, especially considering how quickly he gained it.
If the invasion weren't coming soon, he would have loved to spend all this money in the Bahamas with Effie.
But he got neither the time nor the surplus for that.
Building his dream bunker cost a fortune. On top of that, his new training method was very expensive.
'I should buy more gemstones'
Withdrawing hundreds of thousands in cash would be difficult. Fortunately, some stores accepted crypto payments.
He began browsing and soon found a reputable store
They mainly 'buy and sell' expensive accessories, luxury watches, and gold. But they also sell natural gemstones .
Checking the map, he discovered it was close to the city park. He could go right away and pick up the gems.
'It's just 3:00 p.m., so I still have two hours before closing time.'
Grabbing his phone, he opened the crypto wallet app. He kept a separate digital wallet for spending and investing.
After converting $500,000 into USDT, he slipped on a white jacket.
Effie spotted him as he stepped out. They shared a quick kiss before he headed down the elevator.
Outside, the sun hung low but still bright enough to warm the afternoon air.
Since the store was close and the weather mild, he decided to walk and stretch his legs.
He stepped onto the sidewalk, feeling the slight breeze against his face.
The city's familiar sounds surrounded him—the chatter of passersby, the distant hum of traffic, the occasional bird call.
As he walked, his mind raced through the list of gemstones he wanted to check out.
Natural ones were rare and expensive, but the right one would speed up his progress.
Reaching the store, he paused a moment to steady himself. The storefront was modest but well-kept, with a golden sign gleaming softly in the afternoon light.
He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The shopkeeper, a man in his fifties, along with a few others who looked like employees—or maybe relatives, given their similar Middle Eastern features—looked up and greeted him with nods.
"Welcome, my friend," the man said, his voice warm and friendly. "My name is Nabil. Are you looking for anything special today?"
"I'm looking for gemstones, preferably natural ones—something that hasn't been made into jewelry yet."
Nabil nodded slowly and gestured toward a glass display case near the back of the store.
"We have a selection of natural stones—sapphires, rubies, emeralds—all carefully sourced."
The case, revealed rows of gems that caught the light with deep, rich colors. Some looked flawless, others showed tiny imperfections that proved they were genuine.
Terrence examined the stones one by one, setting aside those that pulsed with stronger mana.
Nabil watched calmly, not worried Terrence would run off. With several employees nearby, and Terrence not looking like trouble, there was no need for concern.
After a few minutes, fourteen stones lay neatly on the glass case.
"How much for all of these?"
Nabil pressed a few buttons on the calculator. Then he slid the device across the counter.
Total: $327,000.
"How about $300,000 for all of it?"
The shopkeeper paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "That's a big cut. These stones aren't cheap."
Terrence leaned in a little, calm but firm. "I'm buying fourteen gems at once. You save on fees and hassle. $300,000 is fair."
"That's too low. I can go down to $325,000, but no less."
Terrence considered it for a moment, then replied, "I'll meet you halfway at $312,500."
Nabil tapped the calculator again, then looked up. "I can do $320,000, but that's my final offer."
"Alright. $320,000. We have a deal. I'll pay through crypto, if that's okay?"
"No problem, my friend. Crypto works just fine here. As long as it's money, I'm happy."
They processed the transfer and handled the paperwork without delay.
Before leaving, he looked back at the seller. "Stock more natural gemstones soon. I'll be coming back."
Nabil nodded with a knowing smile. "I'll have the best ones ready for you."
Done with the purchase, he headed back to his apartment, smiling like he just won the lottery.
He went straight to the spare bedroom and shut the door behind him, cutting off all distractions.
Time dragged on painfully because absorbing so many gemstones at once took its toll on his body.
By the time he got to his seventh gem, the clock showed 10:00 p.m.
'Amazing. Just thirty more of these, and I can finally breakthrough.'
Clenching his fist, he felt strong enough to take down a super heavyweight boxer with ease.
But that wasn't all.
Faint white wisps began to appear around his palm. It was proof his body was slowly adapting and evolving.
Turning to the remaining seven gems, he hesitated.
His body was already full of mana, so absorbing more now would be wasteful and counterproductive.
Although he was stronger than normal humans, this strength came from forcing changes—unlike people in the future who adapted to it naturally.
'I can't be too greedy. If I suffer a backlash, I'll be stuck in bed for a month.'
He couldn't afford such setback, especially with so many chances to make quick bucks next month.
Fighting off the temptation, he turned his focus elsewhere. His physical body.