The Three Effects.

  The clock on Amara's wall projected 02:00 AM in red laser light.

  She sat cross-legged on her bed, surrounded by holographic schematics of the city. She was running simulations—escape routes, ambush points, safe zones.

  But every simulation ended in red.

  [Simulation Failed. Hostile Force is Overwhelming.]

  "Too many of them," she muttered, swiping the map away.

  "Even if I take down ten, twenty more will swarm us. I need to be faster."

  She opened her own System Interface. Usually, she checked it to repair her weapons, but tonight, a notification was pulsing in the corner.

  It had been sitting there since the fight.

  [Loot Analysis Complete. Rare Drop Detected.]

  Amara's eyebrows knitted together as she studied the notification.

  "As expected," she murmured to her system, Nine. With a slender finger, she tapped the glowing icon.

  The text expanded before her eyes, casting an ominous purple glow across her face, the menacing hue reflecting in her tired eyes.

  [Hidden Attribute Acquired: Aspect of Greed]

  [Source: Delivered the killing blow to a Gluttony Demon while partnered with a Truth Breaker (Seer Class).]

  A chill ran down her spine as she contemplated the implications. The purple light danced across her features, highlighting the tension in her jaw.

  "What's the description, Nine?" Amara asked, her voice barely above a whisper, fingers hovering over the holographic display.

  "The Demon of Greed possessed an endless hunger for power," Nine announced in a mechanical tone.

  "You have inherited the vessel, but not the hunger." Amara's fingers traced the edge of the holographic display, her eyes narrowing.

  "So he was one of those Demons tied to emotions—the Greed Demon himself. No wonder something felt off about this encounter." She paused, connecting the pieces in her mind.

  "Based on this information, his rank must have been disguised as well. I must have leveled up after defeating him."

  "Indeed. You have sharp instincts. Congratulations, Amara. You've officially been elevated to Platinum Rank, (Rank Five)," Nine remarked with a hint of pride.

  Amara shook her head, her fingers trembling slightly. "Not instincts, Nine. I felt the change in my body—like I was losing control."

  "Losing control? Wait. Let me analyze again," Nine replied.

  Nine was a system that resembled those of other citizens on Planet Sean, but with eyes that seemed far more calculating.

  "Done," Nine said. "The Demon Anay belonged to the 'Destroy' Class—those who desire demonic rule over the world.

  He recently ascended to Platinum, the fifth rank, but remained unstable. Likely unaware of his own condition."

  Amara nodded. "No wonder he displayed such overconfidence, carrying evidence to his grave."

  "Indeed. Otherwise, it would have been tough to finish the fight that fast," Nine remarked.

  "That's why I felt like I was losing control," Amara said softly, coming to the realization.

  "Yeah, seems like it," Nine responded. "With him being the Greed Demon and a Destroy Class on top of that—it's a miracle you're still in one piece."

  "So, are there any side effects?" Amara asked. "There came three effects with it," Nine explained, voice carrying a hint of caution. "Though for the consequences, we need to wait and see."

  Amara's expression remained unchanged as she asked flatly, "And the effects?"

  "I'm getting there," Nine replied. "The first effect is 'Limitless Vessel.' The Level Cap that existed because of the seal in your body has been removed."

  Amara clenched her fist tightly, her knuckles whitening.

  "The Seal is still there," she responded. "Indeed. But now, you can grow indefinitely as long as your physical body doesn't collapse under the strain.

  Though I wonder if that's truly beneficial, considering this seal was established by—"

  Amara cut Nine off with a determined look. "It doesn't matter anymore. Now that I have someone to protect, this arrangement serves my purpose better."

  "But the implications could be—" Nine began, concern evident in the voice.

  "No buts," Amara interjected firmly, shifting the conversation.

  "What other effects should I be aware of?"

  "Okay, sigh," Nine released a sound tinged with melancholy.

  "The next one is 'The Multiplier.' All physical training, skill proficiency, and combat experience is tripled." Nine paused, frustration leaking into the voice.

  "I desperately wish I could run my fingers through my hair right now, but here I am—nothing but a disembodied consciousness, not even aware of my own gender."

  Amara raised an eyebrow, studying the information with keen interest. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she processed the implications.

  "Tripled training speed?" she whispered, her fingers slowly clenching into a fist. The air around her hand visibly distorted from the pressure, tiny ripples spreading outward like waves on a pond. Her eyes gleamed with barely contained excitement.

  "Indeed, Dear," Nine replied, the digital voice heavy with concern. "I'm sighing especially because of that. You already push yourself beyond reasonable limits, training like a woman possessed. With this triple multiplier, I fear you won't even pause to catch your breath."

  Amara brushed a strand of hair from her face, her mind already calculating the advantages.

  "So if I train for a day, it's equivalent to training for three," she mused, completely disregarding Nine's apprehension. The corners of her mouth curved into a subtle, determined smile.

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  "I'm not sure how much of a multiplier will be here. We can't be sure, because the vessel is that of Greed. You'll transform into something beyond human—a veritable monster of skill and power," Nine observed with another weary sigh.

  "Though I wonder at what cost to your humanity." "That's even better—exactly what I need now. You know this better than anyone, Nine," Amara declared.

  Nine's digital voice wavered.

  "Indeed I do, but what purpose does it serve if you exhaust yourself before the actual threat materializes?"

  "We're already surrounded by threats, Nine," Amara countered, her expression darkening.

  "Everyone who saw Aryan there, who recognized him as the Seer—they'll come hunting for him."

  "True enough," Nine conceded, the artificial tone conveying resignation. "Perhaps that explains why even the universe seems to be aligning to assist you in this endeavor."

  "Are you absolutely certain about this?" she asked, leaning forward with a bit of doubt. "The abilities we've gained from just one kill are quite remarkable assets—even I'm surprised by their magnitude."

  "Of course. It's the Greed Demon we're talking about, after all," Nine remarked with a knowing smile.

  "I'd have been disappointed in Anay if he didn't possess such an impressive collection of valuables. The demon certainly lives up to his reputation."

  "Makes sense," Amara nodded thoughtfully. "Still, I'm concerned. No side effects? You don't seem particularly happy either."

  "Yeah, sigh, you guessed it right about the third effect," Nine paused, growing contemplative. "Especially for someone like you who doesn't care about yourself—it's a pitfall." Nine stopped, as if struck by a sudden realization.

  "Wait... no, let me calculate. Perhaps this is actually a blessing in disguise for you? Or maybe for me too? The effects might truly be—just maybe—a stroke of fortune concealed behind misfortune." Nine's voice quickened with growing excitement, transforming from the earlier hesitation about gender identity and existence into unbridled enthusiasm.

  It was as if Nine had just unlocked some profound secret of the universe.

  "Get to the point," Amara interrupted, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. Her patience had worn thin, and the crease between her eyebrows deepened.

  "What exactly is it? The third effect?"

  The Third Effect

  Amara drew in a deep breath, her shoulders tensing visibly.

  "You know better than anyone, Nine," she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of her burden. "I don't have much time left. Eighty-nine days remain."

  She glanced away, fingers trembling slightly for a fraction of a second as they traced invisible patterns on her lap, before her practiced composure buried the emotion perfectly.

  "That's all there is. So, it's precisely because I don't have time to pause, not because I'd transform into a monster. The situation is not 'as such'—instead, it is exactly that." Her eyes filled with a mixture of determination and quiet desperation.

  Nine fell silent. After what seemed like an eternity, the voice finally spoke.

  "Dear," Nine said softly, "we'll find a cure. You shouldn't be this pessimistic, you know... even when everything seems darkest. I won't stop searching."

  "Nine, neither of us can even diagnose it. Even people like Aryan would only see it as a 'Demon Curse.' Other than that, nothing exists about this. Let's stop here, Nine. I know you mean well, but let's drop the matter." Amara sighed lightly.

  At a loss for words after Amara's stark assessment, Nine fell silent. What comfort could be offered against such resolute acceptance? After several moments of contemplation, Nine reluctantly decided to abandon the subject for now.

  Perhaps the universe, in its vast and mysterious ways, would eventually reveal a solution for Amara's affliction. Nine clung to this fragile hope—this whisper of possibility that somewhere, somehow, an answer existed that would save the person who had become so precious.

  "So, what's the third effect that nearly drove you to ecstasy?" Amara asked, steering the conversation back to their primary discussion, her eyes reflecting genuine curiosity.

  "Oi, I can't perish, you know," Nine replied playfully, then paused as a new thought illuminated. "Actually, now that I consider it—if nothing else proves effective, Amara, why not simply accompany this Nine for life? I'll nurture and protect you like a devoted parent would," Nine's voice softened with sincerity as the idea took hold.

  Amara chuckled at that. "Okay, little parent. Let's get to the point, shall we?"

  "Okay. So, because of the Multiplier Effect, the accelerated growth consumes calories at a fatal rate," Nine explained, gesturing with animated hands. "You must consume five times the normal human intake just to maintain basic functions."

  Nine suddenly fell silent, as if confronting an uncomfortable truth. Amara leaned forward, her heart skipping a beat as tension filled the space. The silence stretched painfully.

  "And what?" she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "See, you're getting impatient again. Oh right, you would be, considering how you sometimes forget to eat entirely," Nine observed, voice tinged with genuine concern beneath the light teasing.

  Before Nine could finally voice the worries that had been building inside, Amara raised her hand and cut her off mid-breath. Her eyes flashed with a familiar stubbornness.

  "Get to the point, will you?"

  "See, you won't care about yourself, neither will you let me. But before I bring that forward and reveal the effect, promise me—no scolding allowed. I'm telling you this above everything, okay?" Nine said.

  "Okay. Now tell me," Amara said, growing impatient.

  "You sure? See, you're getting impatient," Nine teased nervously.

  "Will I break my promises?" Amara asked slowly, her tone measured and deliberate.

  "You never have," Nine admitted, then drew a deep breath. "Okay then, here it goes. Along with having to consume five times the normal mortal food intake, you must, without fail, sleep and rest for a total of eight hours daily."

  Nine finally dropped the bombshell she had been holding back. Amara clenched her jaw, responding with stony silence. Nine heaved a sigh of relief at the absence of protest or scolding.

  "And..." Nine paused, the voice trailing off uncertainly.

  "There's an 'and'?" Amara asked, clenching her fist tightly against her side.

  "Um, indeed, there is," Nine replied, uncomfortable under Amara's intense questioning.

  "Then shoot it—everything at once now. *Everything*." She stressed the final word, her patience clearly wearing thin.

  "Okay," Nine exhaled. "If you don't consume five times the normal food amount, or haven't rested properly, you'll need to eat twice as much in the following week, or at least within the month." Nine's words tumbled out rapidly.

  "Failing that, you'd find yourself weakened during critical moments. Essentially, and all in all, YOU MUST TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF—there simply exists no alternative."

  "Nine," Amara finally spoke, breaking her prolonged silence. Her voice trembled slightly as the weight of the realization settled in.

  "This Multiplier Effect isn't a blessing—it's nothing but a trap. Given my situation with only eighty-nine days left to live—days that will vanish in the blink of an eye—why should I even acquire this power?"

  She clenched her fists, knuckles turning white.

  "When people inevitably come hunting us for Aryan, I'll possess neither the strength nor the time to fight back. Even if I sacrifice everything for Aryan's sake," her voice cracked with emotion,

  "could he possibly survive the situation alone? In this chaotic world, not knowing whom to trust, where to go, what even to do?"

  Amara's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she gazed into the distance. "This Vessel aspect and its multiplier—they're not gifts. They're a curse, Nine," she whispered, her shoulders slumping with the burden of her fate. "A meticulously designed, inescapable curse."

  Nine remained silent for a moment, reflecting in contemplation before speaking. "Actually, there's something I neglected to mention..."

  Nine's words hung unfinished in the air as Amara suddenly stiffened, her body becoming rigid.

  The Aspect of Greed coursing through her veins had transformed her beyond mere physical strength; it had heightened every sensory perception threefold.

  Through this amplified awareness, she detected it immediately—the unmistakable scent cutting through the atmosphere.

  The metallic, copper tang of fresh blood assaulted her nostrils, overwhelming in its intensity. Heavy. Thick. Undeniable.

  A primal fear flickered across her face as the implications of that scent registered in her mind.

  "Aryan," she hissed, her voice sharp with sudden concern.

  She cut Nine off before the AI could continue speaking. Her focus shifted, and she froze for a fraction of a second.

  "Something happened to Aryan. I can sense his breathing—it's chaotic and erratic. The rhythm feels all wrong."

  "What?" Nine asked, the implications dawning on her immediately. "Those are signs of someone hovering near death..."

  "We should check," Amara declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.

  Fear flickered across her usually composed features as she began striding purposefully toward Aryan's room. She exploded into motion before the thought fully formed, her bare feet shattering the floor tiles with the sheer force of her acceleration.

  The sound echoed through the hallway like gunshots, matching the frantic rhythm of her heartbeat.

  With desperate urgency, she slammed her palm against Aryan's door. The biometric lock barely managed a feeble beep before she channeled all her fear into one powerful kick, sending the door flying off its hinges in a spray of splinters and metal.

  "Aryan!"

  Her voice cracked with raw emotion, a mixture of terror and hope tangled in that single word. The name tore from her throat like a prayer.

  The scene before her eyes froze her in place, muscles locking mid-stride. For a fraction of a second, time itself seemed suspended as her mind struggled to process what lay beyond the broken threshold.