I Awakened The Most Powerful System

Chapter 9

Nine

[ Ultimate System Notification: Congratulations on completing all assigned tasks for the day. You have received one revitalization potion. ]

The notification had barely finished displaying when Rhys felt something solid appear in his hand.

He froze.

“Whoa…”

A small bottle rested in his palm. It felt real, unmistakably so. The surface was smooth and glasslike, cool to the touch, while the thick liquid inside shifted sluggishly with every slight movement.

Rhys stared at it in disbelief.

He did not understand how something could materialize out of nothing. The logic behind it escaped him completely, but he was far too exhausted to dwell on the impossibility of it all. At this point, he had reached a strange acceptance.

Either he had completely lost his mind, or the system operated on principles far beyond anything he understood.

Unscrewing the cap produced a soft pop. Rhys lifted the bottle and inhaled cautiously.

The scent was strange. Metallic. It reminded him faintly of blood mixed with sweat, though it was unlike anything he had ever smelled before. Even the texture of the liquid inside the bottle looked unnatural, thick and gelatinous in a way that defied comparison.

Without overthinking it, he tipped the bottle back.

Gulp.

He drank it in one motion, forcing the viscous liquid down like medicine. It burned as it slid through his throat, every inch of his esophagus lighting up with a sharp, almost painful heat. The sensation was vivid and impossible to ignore as it reached his stomach.

Within seconds, his mind cleared.

The fog of exhaustion that had wrapped around his thoughts all day began to lift. Alertness returned in waves, as though someone had flipped a switch in his head. Just moments earlier, he had been on the verge of collapsing. Now, energy surged back into his body with startling speed.

The heat intensified.

His stomach felt like it was on fire, and his body temperature climbed rapidly. Sweat poured from his skin as discomfort turned into urgency. Without hesitation, Rhys rushed into the bathroom and turned the shower to the coldest setting.

He stood beneath the icy water, teeth clenched, letting it crash over him as he struggled to regulate the sudden heat.

After several minutes, the burning sensation faded. The fatigue that had weighed him down all day vanished as though it had been washed away. His muscles felt loose and responsive, completely free of the soreness that had made even simple movement painful earlier.

Not a single part of his body hurt anymore.

“Wow…”

Rhys stared at his hands in disbelief.

The revitalization potion was absurdly effective. His respect for the system rose sharply. Earlier, he had viewed it as cruel and borderline malicious, possibly designed by some twisted entity with a sadistic sense of humor.

Now, his opinion shifted.

Harsh, yes. But fair.

The punishment for failure was terrifying, but the reward for success was just as extraordinary.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

Rhys shut off the shower. “Yeah?”

“I’m home,” a woman’s voice called from the other side of the door. “I noticed you haven’t had dinner yet.”

Rhys blinked. Emma.

The clock on the wall read five minutes past midnight.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” he replied.

He dried himself quickly, pulled on fresh clothes, and stepped out into the apartment. Emma was already in the kitchen, setting plates on the table and reheating food.

“What did I tell you?” she said, glancing at him. “You’re supposed to eat on time and eat properly. You should be asleep by now.”

Rhys shrugged lightly. “I was waiting for you, Aunt Emma. Back at the Yadav house, we never ate alone.”

She paused.

For a brief moment, Emma looked genuinely caught off guard. The idea of shared meals lingered between them, touching something she had not experienced in years. She knew Rhys was being clever with his reply, but she let the scolding slide.

She served the food and took her seat.

They ate in silence for a few minutes.

“You worked hard today,” Emma said eventually. “I saw your vlog. First on the house camera, then on your channel.”

Rhys looked up, surprised. The video had barely been live for half an hour.

“Yeah,” he replied.

“Is this how you’re dealing with your sister being gone?” Emma asked carefully. “By exhausting yourself completely?”

There was concern in her voice.

Emma understood that approach all too well. She had survived her own darkest days by pushing herself until she had nothing left, just so sleep would come without giving her mind time to wander.

It worked for a while.

But no one could run forever.

“I’m trying to improve myself,” Rhys said. “It’s about growth.”

Emma studied his eyes, searching for something, then looked away.

She wanted to say more. To warn him. To guide him. But she did not feel close enough to him yet to offer advice that personal.

“When you’re done eating, wash the dishes and go to bed,” she said, standing up. “I’ll be gone before you wake up. The chauffeur will take you to school.”

“Got it,” Rhys replied.

He finished his meal, cleaned up, and went to bed.

Despite feeling wide awake, he lay down and closed his eyes, letting the day finally come to an end.