Burry and crash course

Aaron sat cross-legged on the cold floor of his warehouse, his iPad settled upon his hands. He had invested in it with some of the pay he received and now used it as a gateway to his training, not just for his physical powers but his mind.

"Focus," he muttered, eyes narrowing. His Cursed Energy pulsed softly, centered in his brain, as he tested how well he could keep it steady. Today was the start of different training-one that wouldn't simply make him stronger but sharper. A week was ample time to think over a plan.

After all, he was not starting from scratch; Aaron had lived a complete adult life in another world. Thus, he easily blew through the basic high school curriculum, knowing it would do little more than busy his time. Instead, his attention was devoted to refinement in areas that truly mattered: business, technology, and biotechnology.

His fingers scrolled across the screen of the iPad as he went through business topics on finer points of corporate strategy, to mergers and acquisitions, even to complex financial instruments. Entertained by the idea of leveraging in the stock market, starting with Stark Industries, he listened to everything there was to listen to about short selling: how big decisions affected the market, how those might be manipulated to his benefit.

Next came technology, which inculcated coding, algorithms, and app development. He had already gauged that this industry showed a lot of promise and set himself the goal of developing something of his own. Whether this would be the app development business or merely setting up a technological conglomerate, Aaron realized that knowledge of the basics of software engineering would separate him from his competitors. He read articles and tutorials, studied open-sourced code to learn what he needed to create products to cater to and dominate the market without being in the spotlight.

But his most ambitious study was that of biotechnology. Aaron knew well enough that one day, he would have to tinker with mutant genes, and somewhere in the distant future lay the super soldier serum. He plunged into genetic editing, CRISPR technology, and epigenetics. Scrolling through detailed research papers, Aaron very well knew gene therapy could mean immense potential to amplify his powers in the long run.

It was quickly absorbed into his mind. He'd pause from time to time and utter commands: "Recall" and "Focus", which at his will would enhance learning speed. The CE flowed into different areas of the brain, sharpening retention and giving clarity. Business requires one set of mental faculties, and so does coding, and so does biotechnology.

He did this for hours on end, flipping between reading and flexing his mental muscles. He jammed his CE deep into his brain, commanding it to enhance his retention but also the speed at which he would think through complex thoughts and problems. The time was passing, and he started working more with every piece of information sooner; ideas were falling into place as though the pieces had been made to fit.

Aaron had prepared long enough, learned enough, and fine-tuned his skills enough; the time to act had finally come. His first target: the man whose foresight had sculpted one of the greatest financial coups in modern history-Michael Burry.

Aaron stood in a quiet suburban neighborhood, quite a distance from the chaos of New York. It was early morning, and the sun had just risen over the shadows of well-kept lawns. He was leaned against a black car, staring into a house where Michael Burry lived. Aaron had studied each and every move of the man who predicted the collapse of housing in 2007.

"He's probably just getting up," Aaron said aloud to himself, tugging out his phone to check the time. It was just before 7 AM. Michael Burry was known for his early starts, reading financial reports or medical journals well before most of the world had even hit the snooze button.

The quiet neighborhood felt the weight of success on this air as it had pulled through with its residents. The houses were big but not flashy, and the streets were usually calm with only the occasional car driving by. It formed the perfect backdrop for someone like Burry who wanted to remain in the background.

That was when Aaron's patience finally paid off, as after some thirty minutes of waiting, the front door to Burry's house opened. He came out casually dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, with his characteristic glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. He had a paper in one hand, probably going to pick up the morning newspaper, when his phone rang.

Aaron watched as Burry fished out the phone and held it to his ear. That was Aaron's cue.

"Follow," Aaron's voice echoed in Burry's ear, firm and unyielding. It wasn't a suggestion; it was an order, wrapped in the weight of cursed energy. The moment his body went rigid and his mind hadn't time to register what had transpired, he was already up and moving in Aaron's direction, much like on auto-pilot.

No hesitation, no confusion; out of his driveway, Burry merely walked far from his paper as his mind has already been inhabited by the command. He was just an obedient puppet with body and will bent to the demand of Silence.

Aaron opened the car door as Burry approached, a satisfied smile crossing his face. His plan was in motion.

Aaron meandered for several minutes, driving down the winding roads through the outskirts of the city, careful to avoid cameras or too much attention. Eventually, he stopped at an old, quiet parking lot surrounded by abandoned warehouses. The place was desolate, with no one in sight.

He stepped out and motioned for Burry to follow. The man walked along with the same blank obedience, his usual sharp mind buried under Aaron's command.

Aaron now turned to Burry and said in a low, clear voice, "Take the money I've wired into your account. Buy the Credit Default Swaps you've been talking about. Lever it up as high as you can-20 to 1, maybe more. The housing market's going to collapse sooner or later, and when it does, you'll cash in."

Burry just stood there, digesting what he had just been told.

"Also," Aaron said, continuing, "take a cut and invest in fledgling companies: Apple, Google, Amazon. In ten years, these technology behemoths will grow exponentially in market share. Don't be constrained by the real estate market. Diversify. Think ahead."

He was done, his eyes narrowing as he issued his last edict. "Do it all quietly, and remember, none of this conversation ever escapes your mind."

Burry nodded; a glimmer of understanding flickered across his face.

Aaron smiled. "Good."

Aaron closed in further, his eyes locking onto Burry's empty stare. He slowly blew out a breath, extending a hand filled with his cursed energy. A low hum filled the air as he guided it to the point of Burry's mind, peaking harder and pushing a small, focused portion into the man's head.

"This will make sure you don't forget a thing," Aaron whispered, his eyes focused while the cursed energy took root in Burry's mind. It was the same application he had found recently: being able to leave a part of his CE behind, almost like a seed, ensuring the person followed the commands even afterward in time.

Burry didn't bat an eye, but Aaron knew the energy was taking hold. The instructions would be done to the letter, the money invested in just the right amount. Burry would remember-not only that, but he would be compelled to act with the very exactness Aaron had demanded of him.

Aaron turned away, contented, as Burry started doing his chores, aware that the ball was now rolling on his investment. "Now, make it happen," he called out loud without turning, his voice low and even.

Burry nodded once more and wordlessly complied as Aaron vanished, the stillness of the parking lot swallowing the sound of his feet.

The immediate problem of money was now at rest, and a load had come off Aaron's shoulders. He had set the wheels rolling with Burry, and now was the time to go into some introspection about his growing up.

He returned to his warehouse and set up a rigorous schedule. His crash course across business, technology, biotechnology, and financial strategies now became his daily routine. He began to take online classes with the iPad he had earned, and this made his knowledge far beyond the basics. Being an adult in the previous life, he already held a good foundation in education up to university levels. Now, with a target, he honed his knowledge: researching deep into higher, advanced studies, especially in areas that would serve his long-term plans.

Meanwhile, Aaron was greatly intensifying his physical training. He knew exactly what he wanted-to perfect Black Flash. The idea of being able to synchronize his cursed energy with the instant of impact was really enticing. But what he wanted more than anything was, "Can black flash be mixed with cursed speech?" he thought, attempting new concepts and commands to get to it. It took great concentration and delicacy, but he was determined to make it a part of his arsenal.

He forced his body harder each day, adding exercises with the cursed energy into his physical routine. His mind sharpened, and he was soon more adept at controlling CE. Trying out new commands he reached a concept of attacking as his school days was fast approaching.

Author's note- Hey guys just wanted to say that if u put a review be sure to read the till a part before forming an opinion. I see someone giving it 2 stars just because he is able to speak without activating cursed speech, I mean c'mon just for that factor don't pollute my reviews if it was about the story I would have kept it but these all are plain sh*t