I Breathe Euro

Jack sat alone in his private research chamber on Future Island, his mind consumed by a single, overwhelming goal—to recreate Aether. The ten drops he had extracted from the ancient ship had proven to be the most powerful energy source in existence, but they were finite. If he wanted to ensure a future where limitless energy was truly possible, he needed to synthesize Aether from scratch.

But Aether wasn't just energy—it was something beyond the known laws of physics. It didn't behave like any element or compound he had ever encountered. It was almost alive.

For days, Jack worked in isolation, his lab filled with holographic projections of molecular structures and particle simulations. He barely slept, barely ate—his entire existence was consumed by the pursuit of the impossible.

At first, he tried reverse engineering the Aether Liquid he had recovered. He broke it down into its base components—or at least, he tried. The more he studied it, the more he realized—Aether had no base components. It was a self-contained entity, an energy form that existed outside the known elements of the periodic table.

The simulations failed. Every formula he wrote led to dead ends. Every attempt to replicate Aether resulted in unstable, volatile compounds that disintegrated before they could take form.

Frustration gnawed at him. How could something exist without having an origin?

He began working longer hours, pushing his mind to its absolute limits. His thoughts became tangled, his vision blurred from exhaustion. The human brain wasn't meant to process equations that defied the very foundation of reality—but Jack wasn't an ordinary human. He refused to accept limits.

And so, he pushed harder.

Days blurred into nights. His once-sharp calculations became erratic. The exhaustion wasn't just physical—it was mental. His mind was straining under the weight of knowledge not meant to be grasped.

He started hallucinating.

At first, it was subtle—shadows moving where they shouldn't, whispers in the silence. Then, it became worse. Visions of endless blue light, of swirling cosmic energy, of voices calling his name from beyond reality itself.

He knew he was breaking down, but he couldn't stop.

Then, on the 19th day of non-stop research, it happened.

Jack, barely able to stand, was staring at the quantum energy model he had created, eyes bloodshot and mind barely holding together. And then, a single thought emerged.

"I've been trying to recreate Aether through science… but what if it's not purely scientific?" Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

What if Aether was a fusion of energy and something else? Something beyond human understanding?

His fingers trembled as he entered a new equation, combining quantum fluctuations with dark matter physics, using gravitational distortions as a stabilizing force.

The system processed the equation.

The result?

A single, tiny droplet of synthetic Aether formed within the containment chamber.

Jack collapsed.

His vision darkened, and his mind felt like it had been torn apart. He had succeeded—but at what cost?

Jack woke up hours later in the medical bay of his research facility, hooked up to IVs. His body was fine—but his mind still felt… different. Like he had touched something beyond human comprehension.

Emma sat beside him, arms crossed, glaring. "You idiot."

Katrina was there too, concern evident in her eyes. "Jack, you almost killed yourself. Whatever you were doing—it wasn't worth your life."

Jack, despite his exhaustion, gave a small smirk. "But it worked."

Emma sighed, shaking her head. "And that's exactly why you're a danger to yourself."

Jack had done the impossible. He had created Aether.

But as he lay there, his mind still echoing with strange whispers from his hallucinations, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had opened a door to something far greater… and far more dangerous.

Jack, still feeling the lingering effects of his breakthrough, refused to rest. He had created Synthetic Aether, something that defied conventional science, and now it was time to step away from the lab—even if just for a moment.

With Emma and Katrina by his side, he boarded his private jet, a sleek Gulfstream G700 customized to Luxaviation's highest standards. Inside, the luxurious leather seats, ambient lighting, and in-flight bar provided the perfect setting for a change of pace.

Jack casually swirled a glass of whiskey as he looked at the small bottle of Synthetic Aether on the table in front of him. One bottle—one drop—held more power than his entire Nuclear Reactor.

Emma noticed his gaze. "Jack, can you just forget about that thing for a while? You've been in the lab for too long."

Katrina leaned against her seat, arms crossed. "Yeah. We're going to Mumbai, not another experiment site."

Jack smirked, setting his drink down. "Fine. I'll be normal for a night."

The jet touched down at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where a convoy of luxury black Rolls-Royces awaited them. Security had already been arranged, and the entire drive to The Oberoi Mumbai was smooth, the city lights flashing past the tinted windows.

The Oberoi Hotel stood elegant and imposing by the waterfront, offering a breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea. The moment they arrived, the hotel staff, recognizing Jack Rosenberg, immediately attended to them with impeccable service.

Their Penthouse Suite—**the best in the hotel—**was pure extravagance. A spacious marble-floored living area, private infinity pool, panoramic views of Marine Drive, and a personal butler made it clear: this was luxury at its peak.

Jack tossed his coat onto the velvet couch and stretched. "Now, this… this is what I call a good break."

Emma walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, admiring the view of the sea. "You really don't do things halfway, huh?"

Katrina had already made herself comfortable, opening a bottle of vintage champagne. "To Jack, the man who creates god-like energy sources… and still finds time for a vacation." She raised her glass.

Jack chuckled, clinking his glass with hers. "To moments like these."

For once, Jack wasn't thinking about science, reactors, or experiments. They enjoyed gourmet Indian cuisine delivered straight to their suite—butter chicken, biryani, garlic naan, and premium seafood. The flavors, the spice, the richness—it was a world away from the sterile, controlled environment of his research facility.

After dinner, they decided to take a stroll along Marine Drive, blending into the crowd. Mumbai's nightlife was alive—the sound of waves crashing, street musicians playing soft tunes, and the distant honking of cars.

Emma nudged Jack. "Do people even know the guy walking next to them is one of the richest and most powerful people in the world?"

Jack grinned. "Good. I like it that way."

For a brief moment, Jack let himself feel human. No labs, no impossible science, no superhuman experiments.

Yet, deep inside, he knew this was temporary. The world was changing. The discovery of Aether meant everything was about to shift—and soon, the world would come knocking on his door.

For the first time in weeks, Jack allowed himself to slow down. The weight of his discoveries—the **Synthetic Aether, the reactor, the limitless energy source—**was immense. But tonight, none of that mattered.

Jack, Emma, and Katrina spent the night in the penthouse suite of The Oberoi Mumbai, soaking in the luxury. The warm glow of the city lights filtered through the massive windows, reflecting off the infinity pool on their private terrace. The Arabian Sea stretched endlessly beyond the skyline, its waves whispering against the shore.

Katrina stepped out onto the balcony, dressed in a silk robe, holding a glass of wine. She glanced back at Jack, who was lounging on the plush sofa, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, looking completely at ease.

"You look like a man who finally understands the value of a break."

Jack smirked, running a hand through his dark hair. "You two have been nagging me about this for days. Consider this your victory."

Emma, curled up beside him, playfully poked his side. "Because you never stop working. If we didn't drag you out, you'd be buried under research papers right now."

Jack sighed. They were right. Ever since he had stepped onto Future Island, his mind had been consumed by his experiments—the hunger pill, the immortality serum, Clark's enhancements, the Aether reactor… It was as if every discovery pushed him toward the next, leaving no room to breathe.

Tonight, however, was different.

As the night deepened, the trio decided to make the most of their time. They ordered the finest cuisine—grilled lobster, saffron-infused biryani, and hand-crafted desserts. The hotel's staff ensured that their every need was met, catering to their every indulgence.

At one point, Jack found himself floating in the infinity pool, looking up at the Mumbai skyline, the world feeling distant. Emma swam over, resting her arms on the edge beside him. "You never talk about your past much."

Jack exhaled, staring at the stars. "Because the past doesn't matter. Only the future does."

Katrina sat on the pool's edge, kicking the water gently. "Even the future needs a little balance, Jack. You need more moments like this."

Jack didn't respond immediately. He knew they were right, but his mind was always ten steps ahead. It wasn't just about science anymore—it was about changing the world.

Still, for tonight, he allowed himself to simply exist.

As the night wore on, laughter filled the suite, the weight of responsibility momentarily forgotten. They played music, shared old stories, and simply enjoyed each other's company.

Jack had built entire cities, created god-like technologies, and even rewritten the laws of physics. But in this moment, in this penthouse, with Emma and Katrina by his side, he realized something—

Power was nothing without people to share it with, People were different from a machine which only needed Fuel to run.