Refreshing the page. A new thread imdiately caught his attention:
"Mysterious player nad 'Fateless' spotted auctioning rare items. Who is this guy?"
"Well, well, looks like my reputation is spreading. Not sure if that's a good thing." He muttered.
He clicked on the post, curious to see what was being said about him. The thread was filled with wild theories:
"Fateless has to have so luck talent. No way soone gets that lucky this early. The highest rank item I have is an uncommon item and I bought that from the shop for 5 silver coins, which is $500!"
"Rare items aren't even sold in the villages, he is basically the only supplier of rare items. To sell two rare items too, he must be ga-rich now."
After scrolling for a while longer, he leaned back on the bench, letting the moonlight wash over him again.
The world of Armageddon was evolving rapidly, and it wasn't just inside the ga-like world. Out here, in reality, the buzz around it was electric. Everyone wanted to know more, to be part of this unprecedented phenonon.
Arthur took a deep breath, his mind swirling with possibilities. "Looks like things are heating up everywhere," he said to himself.
With a final glance at the ti, he pocketed his phone, stood up, and began walking outside the hospital garden.
His footsteps were slow, as if the serenity of the mont clung to him, reluctant to let him go. He took one last deep breath of the night air before heading back toward the hospital entrance.
The automatic doors slid open with a soft hiss, and the familiar antiseptic sll of the hospital greeted him. The fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly. Arthur's boots made a faint tapping sound as he walked, the only other noise being the occasional murmur from a passing nurse or the distant beep of a heart monitor.
When he reached Charlotte's room, he pushed the door open carefully, trying not to make a sound. His eyes imdiately found her, lying peacefully on the bed. The soft rise and fall of her chest was the only movent.
Arthur stood there for a mont, his gaze lingered on her. Her small fra, wrapped snugly under the hospital blankets, reminded him of how much she relied on him, even if she never voiced it.
With a faint sigh, Arthur stepped further into the room, moving to the small guest bed that had been his sleeping spot for days now.
He dropped onto the mattress, the springs creaking softly under his weight. Reaching up, he placed a hand behind his head, his gaze drifting back to Charlotte for a mont. The soft glow from the bedside lamp illuminated her face, making her look even more delicate.
He shifted, pulling the thin blanket over himself as his head hit the pillow.
"Just a little longer," he whispered to himself, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "I'll figure it all out… for you." Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire
The soft hum of the hospital machine filled the room, a lullaby that eased him into sleep. As his breathing slowed and his body relaxed, the faint light of the moon peeked through the curtains, leaving a gentle glow across both him and Charlotte.
The next day…
Arthur stirred awake to the faint sound of bustling activity. Opening his eyes, he saw the nurse gently adjusting the IV line near Charlotte's bed. Her deanour was calm and efficient, yet she carried the sa warmth as always.
"Good morning," the nurse greeted him with a soft smile as she noticed him sitting up.
"Good morning," Arthur replied groggily, his voice still laced with sleep. He stretched his arms over his head, shaking off the remnants of slumber.
"Good Morning" Charlotte, signalled slowly.
He gave Charlotte a soft, warm smile before sliding off the guest bed, Arthur made his way to the small bathroom attached to the room.
He splashed cold water on his face, the chill jolting him fully awake. He looked up at the mirror, his reflection staring back—a sharp, handso and young face, slightly haggard from sleepless nights but still holding a quiet intensity in his eyes.
"Not bad," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair to straighten it out. "Still holding it together."
He lingered for a mont, then shook his head and exited the bathroom. As he returned to the main room, he was greeted by the sight of Charlotte's empty bed.
'It's ti for her treatnt,' he thought, glancing at the clock on the wall. 10:00 AM. Right on schedule.
He sighed softly, his gaze falling on the faint indent left in Charlotte's pillow. "Hang in there," he murmured to himself, brushing his hand over the top of the empty blanket. "We'll get through this."
"Back to the grind," he muttered.
...
Inside the inn, Arthur stretched his arms, the faint creak of wood under his boots grounding him back to Armageddon. He stood up from the bed and made his way toward the door. His hand rested on the handle when a soft chi echoed in his mind.
[New ssage!]
Arthur paused mid-step, his eyebrows knitting together in mild surprise. 'A ssage?' He opened the interface, scrolling to his inbox. 'I only have two people on my friend's list—Gates or Lieutenant Adam IV. It's gotta be one of them.'
Tapping on the notification, It was Gates.
Gates: I've found a Normal-Difficulty Secret Realm. It requires two people. Do you want to join ?
Arthur's eyes widened slightly.
A secret realm? His heart quickened. Secret realms were the stuff of legends within Armageddon—rare, elusive zones filled with unimaginable danger and, more importantly, unparalleled rewards.
He'd only ventured into one before, where he'd not only earned Sunless as a summon but had also encountered the random Hell-dive difficulty that resulted in his SSS-Rank Shadow Monarch class.
His fingers hovered over the interface as he considered the offer. 'A Normal-Difficulty realm, huh? Sounds ta enough, but these things are never as simple as they seem. He wouldn't let in from the kindness of his heart, what's the catch?'
Arthur quickly sent out his response: What's the catch?
It didn't take long before the reply ca through.
Gates: Simple. The next strong item you sell, I get it. No auction, no leaks.
Arthur tilted his head, a smirk forming on his lips. 'So, he wants exclusivity. Smart. I don't mind—he's paying in secret realm access, after all. That's a steal.'
'Deal.'
The instant he hit send, a notification chid, confirming the arrangent and ti of et-up. Arthur closed the interface and leaned against the doorfra, his mind already racing with possibilities.
'A secret realm… Could this be another opportunity like last ti? Sunless and Shadow Monarch were beyond worth the risk. If there's even a sliver of a chance to score sothing like that again, I'm in.'
Arthur opened the door, the inn's lively chatter and clinking of dishes spilling into his ears. As he descended the stairs, he couldn't help but grin.
"Ti to see what this secret realm has in store," he muttered to himself. "Let's just hope it doesn't turn into another Hell-dive. I don't want to reveal too much of my strength in front of strangers."
His lips curled into a smirk as he pushed open the inn's doors, stepping into the bright sunlight outside.
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