Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

He looked at Charlotte, her face still calm, her silence deafening. The lump in his throat swelled so much it was hard to breathe, let alone say something meaningful.

'I have to be strong' he told himself, forcing his hands to stop trembling.

'I can't show weakness in front of her. If I break now, it will utterly destroy her.'

Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself to his feet and moved to sit beside her on the hospital bed.

Gently, he reached out and took her hands in his, their warmth grounding him in the moment.

"Charlotte," he said, his voice soft but steady, "look at me."

Her gaze shifted to him slowly, her big eyes searching his face. Arthur tightened his grip on her hands as though it would somehow make his words more convincing.

"I promise you," he said, forcing his voice to stay firm despite the doubt gnawing at his heart, "I will find a solution for this."

The words he uttered felt like a gamble, a wager against the impossible but he had to do it.

He didn't know how he'd do it, but he couldn't let her see his fear. 'Even if I don't believe in myself completely, I have to make her believe.'

"Remember," he continued, his voice gaining strength as he remembered a certain memory in the back of his mind. "Do you remember how we were kicked out of our house? Left with nothing—no money, no food, no shelter?"

Her fingers twitched slightly in his grasp, and he saw the flicker of emotion cross her face. Slowly, she nodded.

"You asked me," he said, "how we were going to survive."

Charlotte's hands moved, her signing slower than usual.

"You said," she signed, "we'll get through this. We'll survive."

Arthur nodded, his grip on her hands tightening ever so slightly.

"Exactly," he said, his voice firmer than before. "And did we not survive? Even though it wasn't much, even though it felt impossible at the time, we made it through. It's a miracle we're still here. Isn't it?"

Charlotte nodded again, her hands moving slowly as she agreed.

"You're right"

Arthur leaned closer, meeting her gaze directly. "This time isn't any different. I don't know how yet, but I will figure this out. I will find a way, just like I always have. We'll get through this. Together. Okay?"

Her lips formed into a faint smile, small and hesitant, but it was enough to make Arthur feel as though a tiny crack had formed in the suffocating storm of despair.

A knock broke the silence, and the doctor re-entered the room.

His expression was professional but softened slightly as he glanced between the siblings. Before the doctor could speak, Arthur met his gaze head-on.

"What are our options?" Arthur asked firmly, his tone unwavering.

The doctor paused, his eyes widening slightly. He hadn't expected such determination from someone so young.

For a moment, he studied Arthur, noting the fierce look in his eyes, the kind of determination that only came from someone who had been through far too much for his age.

'How could a kid this young have such a strong will?' the doctor thought. Then his gaze shifted to Arthur's hand once again, where the Beta player's ring rested snugly on his finger. His thoughts clicked into place.

'Right! I forgot he was a beta player. That explains it. He must have seen and felt things that forced him to grow up fast, I can tell he had a hard life growing up. it's no wonder his will is unyielding.'

Clearing his throat, the doctor spoke with measured care. "The options you have are as follows," he began. "There are treatments we can administer to delay the progression of the cancer. However, I want to be clear: these treatments will not cure her. They'll only buy time. All we can do is buy time until a new treatment comes out, hopefully..."

Arthur nodded, his expression stoic. Charlotte's eyes darted between the two of them, her hand tightening slightly on his.

The doctor continued. "The first option is a more affordable treatment. It will cost approximately $1,000 per week, and it may delay the progression for about two months. It's not extensive, but you can start with that treatment at the beginning if money isn't available."

Arthur's brows furrowed slightly, but he waited for the doctor to go on.

"The second option is significantly more expensive," the doctor said, glancing at Charlotte for a moment before continuing.

"It's a cutting-edge treatment that would cost $20,000 per week. With this, we could delay the progression up to six months, but it requires intensive care and consistent monitoring."

The doctor went on to describe the procedures in medical detail, explaining how the treatments would work to slow the spread of the disease, the tests that would need to be conducted regularly, and the side effects Charlotte might experience.

Arthur's face betrayed a flicker of shock at the sheer cost, but he quickly hid it under a viel of nonchalance.

He could feel Charlotte's gaze on him, her big eyes searching his face for answers. He knew he couldn't let her see his doubt.

"Alright," Arthur said, his voice resolute. "We'll do the second one."

Charlotte's hand tightened around his, her head shaking vehemently. She lifted her free hand, signing with quick movements.

"We don't have that kind of money. Don't put yourself into debt for me."

Arthur shook his head, gripping her hand tighter as he met her gaze. "Don't worry about that," he said softly. "Just trust me."

Turning to the doctor, Arthur asked, "When can we start the treatment?"

The doctor blinked, taken aback by how quickly Arthur had made his decision. "We can start almost immediately," he said after a moment. "As long as you pay for the first week upfront, we can begin right from early tomorrow."

Arthur nodded without hesitation. "Where can I pay?"

The doctor's shock deepened.

'A kid like this, is willing to pay $20,000 upfront? It has to be the game. He must be a powerful beta player. To make that much money this quickly... He is extraordinary.'