Apocalypse: I Have A Multiplier System - Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Pill

“Yes,” the voice pressed.

[It is necessary for the binding. Your blood will seal the deal and activate the contract.]

Swallowing her fear, she made a small cut on her palm with the edge of her blade.

The sharp pain was a reminder of what she was risking, but the sight of her blood mingling with the cool air filled her with determination.

The determination to break free from her current life.

The determination to survive.

The determination to live better.

She let a few drops fall onto the contract, and as soon as her blood touched the surface, the contract glowed brightly.

The voice, now filled with enthusiasm, explained,

[Miss Xi the contract has been signed, now I will explain your superpower to you. You can open a portal using items that belong to someone else. This ability allows you to travel instantly to their location, making escape or travel much more versatile.]

Her heart raced.

A portal? The thought was exhilarating.

She could already see herself running away whenever she felt she was in danger.

She imagined all the places she could go, all the battles she could avoid.

“Wait, wait. You mean I can teleport through someone’s stuff?”

[Correct.]

“That’s incredible!” she exclaimed, barely able to contain her excitement.

But the exhilaration was tempered by a sudden wave of uncertainty.

“But… what’s the catch?”

[As mentioned in the contract. You have to do something for my boss. You see my boss is in danger and you will need to open a portal for her.]

“Wait a minute,” she blurted, shaking her head to clear her thoughts.

“What do you mean I have to open a portal for your boss? What kind of danger is she in?”

[Details will be provided later,] the voice replied smoothly.

[First, you need to experience the full extent of your power. Take this.]

Before she could respond, a small pill materialized in front of her, glowing faintly with an enticing energy.

Xi Ping hesitated, eyeing the pill warily. It looked innocuous enough, but she had learned through painful experience that nothing in this world was truly free or safe.

“What does it do?” she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

[It will increase your cultivation to Level 10 for the next ten minutes,] the system explained.

[This boost will allow you to fully utilize your portal-opening ability.]

Her eyes widened at the prospect.

Level 10? The idea of harnessing such power, even for a fleeting moment, sent a thrill through her.

“Do you have more of these pills? Can they help me permanently increase my cultivation?”

[No. These pills are temporary, and they come with a risk,] the system replied, its tone flat. [If you take them, you might experience side effects, such as losing part of your current cultivation.]

The excitement that had bubbled within her was suddenly tempered by a cold wash of reality.

“How much would I lose?” she asked, her voice dropping to a cautious whisper.

[At most, you could lose two levels of cultivation. But it will only affect your portal opening superpower, not your other abilities,] the voice assured her.

Xi Ping’s heart sank. Losing even two levels could mean the difference between life and death in this brutal world.

“I’m not sure about this,” she replied, her resolve wavering. “What if I end up worse off than before?”

[You have already accepted the terms of this deal by taking the food as payment. You wouldn’t want to disappoint your benefactor, would you?]

The mention of the food her foster parents had demanded hit her hard.

They had put forth a condition that they would release her from their grasp if she provided them with twenty years’ worth of food.

With 500 kg of rice and 500 cup noodles in her possession, she had the leverage she needed.

But the internal struggle raged on. She wanted freedom, but at what cost?

“Do I really want to gamble my cultivation for this?” she muttered, her brows furrowing in thought.

But then she envisioned her foster parents, their insatiable greed, and how easily they would crush her dreams.

The thought made her grit her teeth.

“Fine!” she snapped, her resolve hardening like steel.

“I’ll take it. But if anything goes wrong, I swear…”

[Trust me, Xi Ping. You won’t regret this,] the voice promised, a hint of urgency underlying its words.

Taking a deep breath, she swallowed the pill whole, feeling it slide down her throat like a warm ember.

The moment it settled in her stomach, a rush of warmth cascaded through her body.

It felt as if a raging fire ignited within her, filling her veins with electric energy.

Her muscles tensed, her senses heightened, and she could feel the world around her in a way she had never experienced before.

“Yes!” she gasped, exhilaration flooding her system.

Her eyes widened in awe as she felt her cultivation surge, pushing her to the exhilarating heights of Level 10.

Power radiated from her, leaving her breathless.

But just as quickly as the thrill ignited, it was followed by an eerie chill that crept into her bones, whispering of consequences.

“What now?” she asked, eager yet cautious.

Suddenly, a box materialized at her feet, its surface glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.

The system urged her forward.

[Use this box as a medium to open your first portal!]

Her pulse raced as she bent down to examine it.

The box was ordinary in appearance, but she could feel the potential within.

“What do I do with it?” she asked, glancing back at the emptiness of the forest around her.

[Now, use this box. It contains my boss’s essence, a link that will help you open a portal directly to her location.]

The raw power coursing through her veins urged her to test it out.

She took a deep breath, focusing her energy on her hands as she touched the box, attempting to channel the connection.

She’d never opened a portal, especially not of such a far location.