100XMultiplier System: My Essence is Glitched as an Ultimate Cheat-Chapter 76: Ch : Something is Wrong - Part 2

Cane’s body swayed in the wind as he walked upstairs. For a second, it looked as if he was about to fall, but he caught himself at the last second and Ai collided with him as she watched him sway.

"Cane, are you alright? Did something happen to you?"

Ai asked as she caught Cane’s shoulder to turn him around. She seemed worried about him and she refused to allow him to move in his current state. When Cane turned to look her way, he looked out of it and his eyes were glazed over.

"I am fine. You do not need to be worried about me."

Cane told Ai, his voice tense as he tried to go ahead. But he was clearly affected by...whatever there was in the air.

Ai did not believe him for even a second. She tightened her grip on his arm and pulled him back before he could take another step.

Cane tried to move past her, but his balance was off, and he nearly tripped again.\"Cane, stop. You are not fine. You are swaying on your feet. That is certainly not alright."

Ai said, her voice firm now. She placed a hand on his cheek and tried to force him to focus on her.

"Look at me. What do you see?"

Cane blinked slowly.

For a moment, Ai saw his pupils shrink, then widen, like he was seeing something that was not really there. His hand trembled at his side, and his breathing sounded uneven.

"I... see light everywhere. The whole place... It’s glowing."

Cane whispered. His voice sounded detached, almost as if he was speaking from somewhere different.

Ai’s frown deepened. There was no light other than the faint torches lining the stairs. The only light around was the light of the sun...and it was not bright enough to blind someone.

She stepped in front of Cane and blocked his view, forcing him to look only at her face.

"Stay close to me. Do not look anywhere else. Just follow my steps."

She ordered, her voice telling Cane that she was not going to take any nonsense from his side.

Cane nodded, but his movements were sluggish.

Ai wrapped one arm around his waist and supported him as they climbed the remaining stairs. She was strong enough to take his full weight because she was a higher level than him.

The air grew thicker the higher they went, like an invisible pressure pushing against them.

When they reached the main doorway, Ai felt it too—a faint dizziness, just enough to make her steps feel heavier. She gritted her teeth and pushed forward.

Inside the holy temple, the atmosphere changed again. The air no longer felt heavy; instead, it felt empty, like the world around them had gone quiet. Too quiet.

The hall was long, with tall white pillars and a single path leading toward the altar. But the moment Ai stepped inside with Cane, the torches went out one by one, leaving them with only a dim glow at the far end.

A faint echo drifted through the hall.

"...children of faith... follow the path..." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Cane straightened suddenly, as if the voice pulled him forward. Ai grabbed him quickly.

"That voice....it’s calling for me..."

"No. Do not listen to that."

She warned. But Cane seemed entranced.

"It’s calling us. We need to go. We need to meet him."

He muttered.

Ai’s grip tightened painfully.

"Cane. Stay with me."

But Cane was no longer responding fully. He moved like someone half-asleep, guided by something she could not see.

Ai had no choice. She lifted her staff and summoned a soft barrier of light around them. It hummed warmly, clearing the air just enough for Cane’s eyes to focus again.

His gaze steadied—barely.

"...Ai?"

He whispered.

"I’m here. Are you feeling better now?"

Ai asked as she tugged Cane toward her side. Cane rubbed his forehead to get rid of his headache but it did not work.

"Ugh, this place is...affecting me more than I expected. I am starting to feel sick now."

Cane told Ai as he rubbed his forehead. Ai looked worried and immediately asked Cane what she could help him with.

Cane looked at his system before he blinked and told her what help he needed.

"I need...the detoxifying potion. Just hand me one."

Cane tried to lift the detoxifying potion to his lips, but his hands were shaking too much. The bottle rattled between his fingers, and half the liquid almost spilled.

Ai’s eyes widened as she watched him almost drop the small bottle more than once.

"Cane, you’re shaking too much. Let me help you out?"

Cane tried again, but the bottle slipped. Ai grabbed his wrist before it fell, her grip firm and steady. She looked at him—really looked—and saw the unfocused eyes, the pale face, the way he swayed even while standing still.

There was no time to waste.

"...Ai?"

Cane whispered weakly.

Ai made her decision in an instant.

"Hold still."

She popped the cork off with her thumb, lifted Cane’s chin with one hand, and leaned in. Before Cane could react, she pressed her lips to his, tilting his head back gently.

She poured the potion from the bottle into her mouth first, then passed it directly to him with the kiss, making sure he swallowed every drop.

Cane froze, shocked, but the warm contact helped steady him just enough for the potion to go down his throat.

When Ai finally pulled back, a thin string of liquid broke between them. Her face was slightly red, but her voice stayed calm. The heat of the moment still lingered between the pair, but both pretended nothing had happened.

"You were going to spill all of it. This was the fastest way."

She said quietly as she tried to change the subject and move on from how embarrassing it was.

Cane blinked slowly, his mind clearing as the potion began to work.

"...Thank you....?"

He managed.

Ai looked away, pretending to focus on the building ahead.

"It’s fine. Now, let’s enter the holy sanctuary."