With VaultPay finally live and its services already being rolled out to select members of the public, Tyler knew it was time to kick off the next phase of his plan: creating a GPU.
Not just any GPU—he wanted to build something at least ten times more powerful than Blackwell, the cutting-edge chip that had been scheduled for release the year he died.
That chip represented the peak of public performance standards in his original timeline. But Tyler wasn't aiming for public benchmarks. He was chasing the impossible.
He had already mapped the sequence out: First, design and build a GPU powerful enough to run hyper-advanced models. Then, construct a custom computer around it that could harness its full potential.
Once that infrastructure was in place, he would create a peak-level AI—one just shy of his end goal.
After that, he'd move on to constructing a supercomputing server specifically tailored to birth and host a true AGI. And once the AGI was operational? The quantum phase would begin. A quantum computer. Maybe even a quantum server and AI if the system allowed it.
But Tyler knew better than anyone that just because it sounded neat on paper didn't mean it would go smoothly. He needed money. A lot of it. The kind of money most governments would hesitate to allocate, let alone a sixteen-year-old high school student.
Thankfully, Tyler wasn't most sixteen-year-olds.
It had been three months and one week since VaultX and VaultPrime went live. In that short window, the system had generated a staggering $490 million across all 40 of the LLCs' trading accounts.
After deducting the funds in the bank account David's using for the NGO operations, Tyler was left with $441 million in liquid cash—clean, untraceable, and entirely at his disposal.
It was absurd that he was able to make so much in just five months.
Even with his knowledge of the future, Tyler knew that such financial growth in so short a time should have been impossible. But that was the magic of the system. It didn't just bend the rules—it rewrote them for him.
Over the past few months, he had also conducted extensive research into the knowledge required to build his GPU and the computer around it.
He realised that he had long since unlocked the relevant core knowledge branch—[Mathematics]. Now he'd identified the exact primary branch he needed [Computational Mathematics].
If he wanted to build the GPU and custom system, this was non-negotiable. Every specialized sub-knowledge under it would be vital.
And to build the AI afterward? He'd need [Artificial Intelligence Mathematics], including all its specialized branches.
Fortunately, Tyler had enough funds.
Without hesitation, he summoned his status screen.
[Name: Tyler Reyes]
[Age: 16]
[Strength: 8]
[Agility: 7]
[Stamina: 6]
[Intelligence: 8]
[Stat Point(s): 30]
[System Point(s): 5,150]
[Mission: Train Your Weak Body! (Recurring)]
[Knowledge: Financial Mathematics]
[System Store]
His System Points (SP) stood at 5,150. He needed 200 SP to unlock [Computational Mathematics] and an estimate of 40,000 SP to acquire all the specialized knowledge under it. That left a gap of 35,050 SP—equivalent to $350.5 million.
Tyler has no idea if the calculated cost was correct, as he was basing it on the cost on the total cost of [Financial Mathematics]. But he was hoping that it would, as he has no other option.
"System," he said, with a tone level voice, "Exchange the amount needed for 35,050 System Points from the LLC accounts under my control. Leave David's untouched."
He had no idea if the system would be to something as precise as that, but since it was an high level entity, he expects it to be able to do that much.
The next moment, the system screen shimmered.
[Transaction in progress...]
Tyler's heart thudded once in anticipation. A second later, his System Points counter began to rise—5,150, 7,000, 12,400, 18,900... until it stopped at 40,200 SP.
"Good," Tyler whispered.
Without wasting another second, he unlocked [Computational Mathematics]. The moment he did, a list of specialized sub-knowledges flared up in front of him:
Parallel Architecture Design
Precision Logic Algorithms
Multivariate Processing Models
Fractal Compute Structures
Thermodynamic Workload Management
Nanotransistor Behavioral Mapping
GPU-CPU Bridge Optimization
Adaptive Clocking Theories
Kernel Injection Simulations
Quantum-Thread Predictive Mode
Bitwise Scheduling Frameworks
High-Order Matrix Routing
Nonlinear Instruction Compression
Deep-State Pipeline Coordination
Autonomous Compiler Design
Memory Bandwidth Harmonics
Cryptographic Instruction Isolation
Real-Time Cache Allocation Models
Error-Tolerant Logic Systems
Decentralised Data Pathing Structures
Linear Algebraic Entanglement Theory
Probability Amplitude Modeling
Complex Hilbert Space Dynamics
Eigenvalue Superposition Frameworks
Quantum Fourier Transform Mathematics
Unitary Operator Optimization
Tensor Network Compression Algorithms
Qubit Interference Pattern Mapping
Quantum Gate Algebraic Structures
Topological Error Correction Mathematics
Quantum Information Entropy Models
Mathematical Logic for Quantum Circuits
Quantum-State Probability Distributions
Matrix Decomposition for Qubit Simulation
Quantum Complexity Theory
Abstract Algebra for Reversible Logic
Functional Analysis for Measurement Systems
Stochastic Process Modeling in Quantum Regimes
Lattice-Based Cryptographic Foundations
Group Theory in Qubit Transformation Spaces
Tyler was shocked when he saw so many Specialised Knowledges. He felt that the amount of System Points he has might not be enough. This was especially so with the fact the cost of each.
"It seems like even though one can unlock them individually, it was never meant to be so," Tyler muttered to himself.
Still, he decided to continue. Enough or not, he would only know if he try.
"System, purchase all Specialised Knowledges and begin absorption."
The purchase was made successfully much to Tyler's joy, but before the knowledge could transfer, a harsh warning flashed across the interface.
[WARNING: Absorption risk detected. Cognitive Load exceeds safe neural processing limits. Absorbing now may cause Mental Freezing or Chronic Overload. Recommend Intelligence stat of 15 minimum.]
Tyler's heart skipped.
He hadn't expected that.
When he'd absorbed [Financial Mathematics], there had been no such warning. But now that he considered it, it made sense.
The sheer volume and complexity of the knowledge he was about to absorb dwarfed everything before it. And this was also in addition to the information already in his head.
Without hesitation, Tyler gave the command.
"System," he said firmly, "Raise Intelligence to 20. Set Stamina to 15. Split the rest between Strength and Agility."
Confirmation came in the familiar cold, sterile tone: [Stat Allocation Confirmed.]
Tyler barely had time to brace.
A searing bolt of white-hot pain lanced through his skull, as if a metal spike had been driven straight between his eyes and twisted.
Tyler's hands shot to his temples, fingers digging into his scalp as his knees slammed against the edge of the desk.
His vision flashed—then turned pure white.
He didn't scream. He couldn't. His jaw locked as his teeth ground down with so much force it felt like they'd crack. Every nerve in his brain screamed at once.
The migraine wasn't just pain—it was pressure. Unnatural and unhuman. It felt like his brain was trying to expand beyond the limits of his skull, like raw knowledge was being rammed into a vessel that wasn't designed to hold it.
Then came the second wave.
A chain reaction exploded through his spine, ripping through his nerves and flooding his body with violent tremors.
Tyler's hands clenched and unclenched, twitching with electric spasms. His muscles convulsed without pattern. His heartbeat surged into chaos, beating like a war drum with no rhythm.
He gasped for air. His throat burned.
Every part of him hurt. His bones felt like they were swelling and shrinking at the same time, his muscles stretching taut like they were about to snap.
Veins bulged along his arms and neck, pulsing with pressure, his skin soaked in sweat within seconds.
He staggered backward from the desk, nearly falling as his knees buckled.
He caught himself—barely—but the room was spinning. The light above him pulsed violently, doubling and tripling in his blurred vision.
The world bent sideways, and his ears rang with a dull static hum that drowned out everything.
He knew he had to find somewhere to lay down and rest his body. He was still in the study and with the level of pain he was currently in, there was no way that he would be able to make it to his bedroom. Hence, he decided to use the long couch in his study as a makeshift bed
But as he walked to the couch, every inch of movement felt like agony.
He didn't even try to walk at first. He just stumbled, dragging his feet like his legs were made of lead.
His breath was short, ragged, every inhale sharp like ice down his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to steady himself.
But it was no use.
His limbs shivered uncontrollably, muscles firing in rebellion. The sensation wasn't just exhaustion—it was malfunction. Every cell screamed. His nerves were misfiring from overload.
But Tyler clenched his jaw and pushed forward. He had to reach the couch.
He couldn't scream. He refused to. Not with his mom and Devin asleep just a floor away. If they heard him like this… if they came running...
No.
He bit down harder on his lip until it bled. Anything to ground himself. Anything to keep from collapsing in the middle of the floor like a wounded animal.
Each step was war.
His knees buckled under him. His back felt like it had been cracked open and stitched back together with fire. He could barely breathe. But somehow, with sheer will, he made it across the room.
The long couch waited in front of him like a lifeline.
But as soon as his hand reached for it, his body gave out.
His legs folded beneath him and he dropped, half-falling, half-rolling onto the cushions with a dull, thudding crash. His body convulsed once more before stilling, before going still as he lost consciousness.