Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Entering the inn, Arthur paid the fee of 1 silver coin and headed to his room.

As he was about to open his room using the key, the door next to him opened.

Jasmine stepped out of the room and coincidentally her eyes landed on a figure that was right next to her.

"Fateless? You are my neighbour? Why didn't you tell me, heh." She grinned at the thought of having him as her neighbour.

Arthur stood there motionless before quickly interrupting her as he saw her lips part.

"Don't you dare say another word, or I will leave this inn and never come back to it again." He said, his voice serious.

Her lips closed before her cheeks puffed and she pouted heavily.

"Hmph! Why are you being so rude to this princess, I was just excited to have you as my neighbour. What's so wrong with that? Huh!" She muttered under her breath, her gaze away as if she was really upset.

Arthur did not entertain her childish antics and just entered his room and logged out.

...

Inside the hospital room, Charlotte was on her bed using the phone he had bought her a few days prior.

Seeing him appear out of thin air made her jolt slightly, before she remembered that he was one of the so-called 'beta players' chosen to participate.

"Sorry, i must have startled you." He said, scratching the back of his head with a wry smile before walking towards her.

Seeing him, Charlotte put her phone down on the table next to her and shook her head softly.

"Don't worry about it, thanks for your hard work." She said, using sign language.

"Thank you," Arthur smiled warmly, as he felt his heart melt.

All the hard work, all the hours he had been putting in the other world seemed to truly have a greater purpose.

Just to see her smile once again.
Enjoy new chapters from empire

Arthur gently held her hand, feeling her warm hands gave him comfort.

...

A few days passed by and Arthur spent them by spending time with Charlotte making sure she didn't feel bored or alone during her treatment, and levelling up and practising with his summons. He also held the auction which gave him forty gold coins.

[Coins:] Gold: 161 Silver: 35 Bronze: 85

"Not bad," Arthur murmured, staring at his net worth.

Yet, despite the success, his mind remained clouded. It wasn't just about earning more money anymore, time seemed to be slipping through his fingers faster than he could control.

As he sat by Charlotte's bedside, gently holding her hand while she rested, a knock came at the door.

"Hello, Mr. Arthur. Could I please have a word with you outside?" the doctor asked, his tone calm but carrying a tone that made Arthur's stomach drop.

"Sure, Doctor." Arthur stood, his movements slow. Forcing a reassuring smile, he turned to Charlotte, patting her hand softly. "I'll be back soon."

She nodded faintly, her lips curling into a weak smile, her eyes closing once again as she drifted off to rest.

Arthur followed the doctor into the hallway. The doctor stopped and turned to him, his expression serious.

"Mr. Arthur, the payment for next week's treatment is due. It would be ideal if you could settle it at the reception today."

Arthur nodded without hesitation. "Of course. I'll handle it right after this. But..." His voice faltered slightly. "Tell me, how is Charlotte's treatment going?"

For a moment, the doctor hesitated, his neutral expression shifting into one of grim contemplation.

Arthur's heart began to pound. He could feel the blood drain from his face.

"It's not going well," the doctor said, his voice calm. "Before we started treatment, I explained that the cancer was too advanced for us to cure. The goal was to extend her time and improve her quality of life for the next few months."

Arthur nodded, swallowing hard. His chest tightened as if bracing for a blow.

"Unfortunately," the doctor continued, his tone heavier, "that estimate was optimistic. Her body isn't responding to the treatment as we'd hoped."

Arthur's throat felt dry, his words stuck. "What... what are you saying?"

The doctor took a deep breath. "I'm saying that she has, at most, four weeks left to live unless we see a drastic change in her condition. I deeply apologize for having to deliver this news. I was planning to discuss this with you later today, but since you asked—"

Arthur's world blurred as the words sunk in.

Four weeks.

His mind struggled to process the number. It wasn't enough—it wasn't nearly enough.

"I'm sorry," the doctor repeated, before turning to leave.

Arthur remained rooted in place, the floor of the hospital doing little to anchor his body. He leaned against the wall, his palms pressing against the cold surface as he fought to steady his breathing.

Four weeks...

The phrase echoed in his mind, relentless and unforgiving. A whirlwind of emotions surged within him—grief, anger, frustration, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms as he fought the tears threatening to escape.

"Four weeks," he whispered to himself, his voice trembling. "That's all the time I have left with her?"

His heart screamed at the injustice of it all. Despite everything he had done—he still couldn't find a way to save her. The feeling of helplessness crushed him, yet deep within that suffocating despair, a flicker of determination ignited.

"No," he muttered, his voice firming. "I won't let this be the end. I'll fight for every moment she has left."

Straightening himself, Arthur wiped his face, the resolve in his eyes hardening.

With heavy steps, Arthur approached the hospital reception desk.

"Hello," he said, his voice steady. "I'd like to pay the medical fee for the next week of treatment."

The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with a warm yet professional air, glanced up from her computer and offered a polite smile. "Of course, sir. Which room is it for?"

Arthur paused for a moment, then said, "Room 207."

The receptionist nodded, typing the details into her system. A moment later, the total appeared on her screen. Her expression shifted slightly, betraying a flicker of surprise before she composed herself.

She looked back at Arthur.

"That will be $20,000," she said, her tone professional but with a subtle hint of curiosity. Her gaze lingered on Arthur for a moment, as though trying to reconcile the large sum with his youthful appearance.

Arthur didn't flinch. His expression remained calm as he nodded and retrieved his card. "I'll pay by card," he said, pulling out a black card and handing it to her.

The receptionist took the card and slid it into a specialized point-of-sale device designed for processing substantial transactions. As she entered the amount, the room felt quieter, the beeping of the machine echoing faintly.

Arthur's thoughts drifted momentarily. 'Twenty thousand dollars,' he mused. It was a staggering amount, one that would have seemed insurmountable to him not long ago. But now, thanks to Armageddon, it was a price he could pay without hesitation.

The machine emitted a soft chime, and the screen displayed Payment Successful. The receptionist pulled out the receipt, handing it to Arthur along with his card.

"Thank you, sir," she said, her voice slightly softer, her professional demeanour slipping just enough to reveal her amazement.

As he walked away, his mind quickly recalculated his remaining funds.

Five gold coins translated to $50,000 in my account which already had $300. After this payment, I've got $30,300 left. He mentally adjusted his budget, considering the weeks ahead. 'That's enough for now... but I need to find something in Armageddon. Every second counts. I no longer need money, I need a cure.'

After paying the bill, Arthur headed to Charlotte's room and found her asleep. He sat next to her for a while, before entering armageddon.

...

Inside the doctor's office, Dr. Michaels leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the screen. The numbers on the monitor confirmed it—Arthur had made another substantial payment for his sister's treatment.

A smirk crept across his lips, a sinister edge curling at the corners. "So, he had enough money to pay once again," he muttered under his breath, his fingers tapping on the desk. "Twenty thousand dollars, without a moment's hesitation. This boy... he's no ordinary player. He's got talent. Exceptional talent. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to make so much money."

His gaze darkened as he leaned closer to the screen as if studying Arthur's details would reveal even more about the young man. "And where there's talent like his, there's value. If he's as capable as I suspect, then he's exactly the kind of person they'd be interested in."

Dr. Michaels straightened, his smirk widening as he reached for his phone on the desk. The glow of the screen reflected in his glasses as he searched for a familiar number. His fingers hovered over the call button for a moment, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. But it vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by coldness.

"They'll pay handsomely for this," he murmured to himself, pressing the button. The phone rang twice before a deep voice answered on the other end.

"Yes?" the voice said, his tone authoritative.

Dr. Michaels' smirk deepened, his tone shifting to one of friendliness. "Good evening. I believe I have some information that might interest you."

There was a pause on the other end before the voice responded, its tone laced with interest. "Go on."

Leaning back in his chair, Dr. Michaels swivelled slightly, his gaze fixed on the window where the city lights flickered faintly against the night sky.