The city hummed, a low thrum of digital anxieties masked by the pretense of productivity. Ethan, adrenaline still coursing from the chaotic warehouse brawl, felt the wear and tear, both physical and mental. Victoria's confession, her willingness to betray Thorne and help him, warmed him despite the underlying sting of her past deception. He trusted her now, maybe even more than he ever had before. Trust, however, wouldn't shield him from Thorne's inevitable counterstrike.

He knew Thorne was a cornered animal, and cornered animals are at their most dangerous. He’d released the data bomb, letting the media chew on the evidence of Thorne's predatory lending practices and data mining scams, but the aftermath was a chaotic scramble. Thorne’s lawyers were spinning narratives, his PR team was scrubbing the internet, and the news cycle was, predictably, already starting to dilute the story with celebrity scandals and political squabbles.

Ethan was holed up in a makeshift base of operations – a borrowed apartment above a record store in the University District, cluttered with half-empty coffee cups, tangled ethernet cables, and the persistent glow of multiple monitors. Maya and Ben, the anonymous hacker duo who’d unexpectedly become his allies, were working tirelessly, trying to stay ahead of Thorne’s digital cleanup crew.

“He’s pulling out all the stops,” Maya said, her voice raspy from lack of sleep. Her avatar, a pixelated fox wearing sunglasses, flickered on the screen. "He's got armies of bots flooding social media with disinformation. They're targeting anyone who shares your evidence, labeling them as conspiracy theorists."

Ben, whose avatar was a minimalist circuit board, added, “And they’ve got some serious firewalls up. Trying to penetrate Thorne Industries’ internal network again is like trying to break into Fort Knox with a rusty spoon."

Ethan rubbed his temples, the familiar throb building behind his eyes. The Genesis System was still a fickle mistress. The probability predictions were becoming more frequent, more specific, but also more intrusive. He’d just dodged a rogue scooter thanks to a notification flashing “87% chance of collision – BRACE FOR IMPACT!” It was helpful, sure, but the constant barrage of digital fortune cookies was grating on his nerves.

He was about to suggest another round of coffee when Victoria walked in, her face pale but determined.

"I think Thorne knows I'm working with you," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "He called me in for a meeting this morning. He didn’t say anything directly, but the air… it was thick with suspicion."

"What did he want?" Ethan asked, his jaw tightening.

"He wanted me to spearhead a new project," Victoria replied, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger. "A project involving… blockchain technology."

The word hit Ethan like a physical blow. *Blockchain*. The damn word that turned him into a super-powered wrecking ball. He gripped the edge of the desk, trying to suppress the familiar surge of energy. He had to control himself. He knew, instinctively, that Thorne was setting a trap.

“He’s going to exploit your… condition,” Maya said, her avatar’s sunglasses seeming to glint knowingly. “He knows about your, ahem, ‘Blockchain Boost’."

"But how?" Ethan demanded. He’d been careful, hadn’t let anyone outside of his small circle know about the bizarre effect.

"Thorne has access to everything," Ben pointed out, his circuit board avatar pulsing. "He monitors your communications, tracks your movements. He probably has people watching you right now."

Ethan felt a cold dread wash over him. They were right. Thorne wasn’t just trying to discredit him; he was actively trying to weaponize his glitch.

"He wants me to present this blockchain initiative at a gala tonight," Victoria continued, her voice trembling. "A launch party for some new cryptocurrency he's pushing. The entire city will be there: politicians, investors, media… the works. He said it's crucial I give a compelling speech."

Ethan knew what Thorne was planning. He wanted him to lose control, to unleash his super strength in a crowded, public setting, turning him into a monster in the eyes of the world. Thorne would then conveniently frame him for any damage, any injuries, effectively silencing him and destroying his credibility.

“We can’t let you go,” Ethan said, standing up. “It’s too dangerous.”

"I have to," Victoria insisted. "If I refuse, he’ll know for sure I'm working against him. This is my chance to gather information, to find out what he’s really planning."

Ethan hesitated. He didn't want to put Victoria in danger, but he knew she was right. They needed to understand Thorne's next move. He looked at Maya and Ben. "We’ll go with her. We’ll create a perimeter, a digital and physical buffer. We’ll be ready for anything.”

The gala was held in the Thorne Tower, a shimmering glass and steel monolith that pierced the Seattle skyline. The air inside was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the murmur of polite conversation. Guests, dressed in their finest attire, sipped champagne and nibbled on caviar canapés, blissfully unaware of the brewing storm.

Victoria, looking stunning in a sleek black dress, moved through the crowd with practiced ease, schmoozing with investors and exchanging pleasantries with politicians. Ethan, disguised in a borrowed tuxedo, shadowed her, trying to remain inconspicuous while scanning the room for potential threats. Maya and Ben were working remotely, hacking into the building’s security system, monitoring communications, and generally wreaking havoc on Thorne’s IT infrastructure.

As Victoria approached the stage, Ethan felt a familiar wave of anxiety. He saw a probability prediction flashing in his vision: “82% chance of uncontrolled power surge – POTENTIAL COLLATERAL DAMAGE IMMINENT.” He clenched his fists, trying to focus. He had to stay calm, to control himself.

Victoria began her speech, her voice clear and confident. She spoke eloquently about the revolutionary potential of blockchain, its ability to decentralize power and create a more equitable financial system. The irony was almost unbearable. She was selling a lie, perpetuating Thorne’s deceit, all while trying to bring him down.

Then it began.

Scattered throughout the crowd, Thorne’s people began to subtly insert the trigger phrase into their conversations.

"…the inherent security of *blockchain*…"

"…the disruptive innovation of *blockchain*…"

"…the transformative power of *blockchain*…"

Each mention sent a jolt of energy through Ethan’s veins. He felt his muscles tense, his senses sharpen. The probability prediction in his vision spiked: “95% chance of structural damage – EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!”

He scanned the room, desperately searching for the source of the mentions. He spotted them: impeccably dressed men and women, discreetly planted throughout the crowd, their lips moving, whispering the dreaded word. Thorne was using his own party against him, turning the gala into a carefully orchestrated trap.

He had to get Victoria out of there.

He pushed through the crowd, his movements becoming more and more erratic. The mentions of *blockchain* were coming faster now, a relentless barrage that threatened to overwhelm him. He felt his control slipping, his body struggling to contain the burgeoning power.

He reached Victoria just as she finished her speech, the crowd erupting in applause. He grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the exit.

"We have to go," he said, his voice strained. "It’s a trap!"

Before she could respond, Thorne stepped into their path, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction.

"Going somewhere, Victoria?" he said, his voice dripping with false concern. "I was just about to congratulate you on a splendid performance."

He turned to Ethan, his smile widening. "And you, Ethan. How are you enjoying the party? Are you finding the discussion of *blockchain* stimulating?"

The word hung in the air, a loaded weapon aimed directly at Ethan’s head. The probability prediction in his vision reached a critical point: “99% chance of catastrophic failure – SYSTEM OVERLOAD IMMINENT!”

He felt his body trembling, his muscles straining against his will. He had to control himself, to protect Victoria, to prevent innocent people from getting hurt. But the power was surging, building, threatening to explode.

He took a deep breath, focusing all his will on suppressing the surge. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. He imagined himself a dam, holding back a torrent of raw energy.

He could feel the floor vibrating beneath his feet, the walls groaning under the strain. He looked at Victoria, her eyes wide with fear and concern. He couldn’t let her down. He couldn’t let Thorne win.

With a supreme effort of will, he channeled the energy, not releasing it, but redirecting it inward. He imagined it flowing through his body, reinforcing his muscles, sharpening his senses, making him faster, stronger, more resilient. He was still holding back the explosion, but now he was using the power, harnessing it, controlling it.

He looked at Thorne, his eyes blazing with defiance. He wouldn’t let Thorne break him. He wouldn’t let Thorne turn him into a weapon. He would use the glitch, not be used by it.

"Your trap failed, Thorne," Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous. "You underestimated me."

He looked around at the crowd, the startled faces, the murmurs of confusion. He knew he had to get them out of there, to prevent any further escalation.

He grabbed Victoria’s hand, and with a surge of adrenaline-fueled speed, he pulled her through the crowd, dodging startled guests and bewildered security guards. He was moving too fast for them to react, a blur of motion in a sea of stunned faces.

He had to get them out of the Thorne Tower, before the entire building came crashing down. The *blockchain* trap had failed to break him, but it had awakened something within him. He was ready to fight back.