Mr. Benson didn't wait. True to his word, by the next afternoon, billboards across Onitsha and Awka were screaming: "BENSON'S GLOW—THE ONLY MIRACLE SERUM YOU NEED!" He was selling his fake product for ₦5,000, trying to price Austin out of the market before he could even start.
Austin sat in his warehouse, watching the social media buzz. Isabella, the actress, called him, her voice worried. "Austin, Benson is telling everyone your serum is just a lucky fluke. People are buying his stuff because it's cheap. What do we do?"
"Let them buy it," Austin said, a cold glint in his eyes. "The System never fails, but greed always does."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NEW SKILL UNLOCKED—'TRUTH RADIANCE'.]
[EFFECT: REVEALS THE CHEMICAL IMPURITIES IN NEARBY SUBSTANCES.]
Austin called Chief Okoro. "Chief, I need the biggest event hall in Onitsha for tomorrow. We aren't just selling a product; we're holding a live demonstration."
The next day, the hall was packed. Mr. Benson was there in the front row, smirking. "You're wasting your time, boy," he whispered as Austin walked onto the stage. "I've already sold 10,000 bottles."
Austin ignored him. He stood behind a table with two glass bowls. One contained his Divine Glow Serum, and the other contained Benson's Glow.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Austin addressed the crowd. "Beauty is health. And health cannot be faked. Mr. Benson says his serum is the same as mine. Let's see."
Austin activated Truth Radiance. Suddenly, the liquid in Benson's bowl began to turn a murky, sickly grey, then a dark, bubbling black. The smell of harsh bleach filled the room.
"What is this?" someone in the crowd shouted. "I just put that on my face this morning!"
"It's industrial acid and cheap bleach," Austin said firmly. "It doesn't heal; it thins your skin until it scars."
Then, Austin pointed to his own bowl. It glowed with a pure, crystalline gold light that seemed to hum with energy. He took a drop and placed it on a piece of withered, dried-up leather. Within seconds, the leather became soft, supple, and looked brand new.
The crowd went wild.
[MISSION COMPLETE: DEFEAT THE RIVAL.]
[REWARDS: 1,000 EXP, LEVEL UP TO LEVEL 3!]
[NEW FEATURE: AUTOMATED PRODUCTION LINE (LEVEL 1).]
In the chaos, Mr. Benson tried to sneak out, but his phone was already ringing with lawsuits and refund demands. His "empire" was crumbling before it even started.
Isabella stepped onto the stage, her skin radiant. "I am the face of Divine Medic Global. And this," she held up Austin's bottle, "is the future of Nigeria."
By that evening, Austin's bank account didn't just have ₦2,000,000. It was overflowing with pre-orders totaling over ₦50,000,000.
Austin looked at the System screen. His global empire was no longer a dream. It was a reality.