“I’m here to get nectar,” Arthur announced, aware of how selfish his words seemed. The nectar was provided to Melzer by the Norns of Asgard, and were priceless. They were utterly without a price tag.
Despite that, Arthur brazenly requested nectar from a retired Elite Ranker.
Melzer revealed a faint smile before tapping the air using his index finger. A vial with golden liquid manifested within his palm, and he extended his arm towards Arthur before glancing at the vial.
Arthur’s jaw dropped at the scene. He knew the value of nectar or something equivalent to it… Melzer was simply handing it to him? Even Rankers had trouble getting their hands on such medicine.
Arthur was prepared to undergo a trial or something similar in order to receive the vial… but receiving it out of the blue was not in his expectations. However, it saved him immeasurable time, so it was worth it.
“Are you seriously giving it to me?” Arthur asked incredulously, staring at the shimmering contents of the vial. His eyes observed the vial with much intensity, and his stupor only worsened.
“Just think of it as a favor,” said Melzer, plopping down on the couch. “Just remember that you owe me one. I’m sure you were thinking about some trial or fight when you so brazenly requested this of me.”
Arthur nodded shamelessly, causing Melzer to let out a chuckle. ”
“No, but seriously, why?”
“…Because I know what it feels like to lose a friend,” said Melzer in a melancholic tone. A heavy atmosphere descended, but Melzer quickly shook it off with a smile. “Your emotions have been strengthened ever since you left for Arcadia. Think of it as a reward.”
Arthur recalled the horrors of Heaven’s Spire. Despite its public image, which displayed it as a jackpot scheme or a get-rich-quickly place, the tower was–in reality–a horrific place filled with murderers and sly foxes.
One had to be incredibly capable to even consider climbing the tower. Even becoming an Elite Ranker sometimes took years, or even decades to achieve. It was like living life in a difficult mode.
But it also offered incomparable power and influence if one could actually survive the challenges of the tower. The influence of the players was almost as dangerous as the trials of the tower itself, which was saying something, considering climbing the floors took players years to achieve.
The ecosystem of the tower was not a great one.
“Now get out,” said Melzer, adopting an expression of annoyance. He then brought his nose to his armpit, shrieking as he sniffed the unholy place. “I have to take a shower… unless you wish to watch me strip.”
Without giving it another thought, Arthur scurried from the place, barely holding onto his life. If the entire room smelled due to Melzer’s squalid scent, Arthur couldn’t even imagine sniffing his body directly. He would probably vomit. 𝚍ｎ𝚘ｖ𝚕．𝚘𝚛𝚐
However, he thanked Melzer in his heart, gazing at the golden vial excitedly. The journey back to Arcadia would take a few days, and with a one-day-leeway he received, Arthur could definitely reach before Flecker reported him.
He would also have time to give Jake the vial.
Immediately, Arthur sprinted across the uneven, unoccupied grounds of his planet, heading towards Arcadia at a tremendous speed.
*
A few days passed, and Arthur finally arrived at Arcadia. Immediately, he rushed to the hospital in which Jake resided. Getting past security, he approached Jake’s room, in which he lay on the sterile, white bed with a blank expression on his face.
A man in a pristine, white coat conversed with a woman in a scrub a few meters sway, and his expression seemed solemn. With a clipboard clutched between his fingers, he spoke in a hushed voice, seemingly fearful to allow others to hear.
Ignoring the doctor’s strange behavior, Arthur barged into the room. The doctor, noticing the crimson-eyed man, nodded in acknowledgement before exiting the room alongside the scurrying nurse.
Arthur approached Jake, sitting on the stool beside his bed. The latter’s hair was tangled and greasy, while unwiped tears lingered on his cheeks.
The enormous scar on his torso was bandaged, but one could still spot a streak of blood, which had emerged after the surgical process.
“Jake,” spoke Arthur, attempting to draw the dirty-blonde-haired man’s attention towards him. Jake slowly turned his head to face the origin of the voice, gazing into the crimson eyes that–for once–displayed a hint of genuine concern.
Suddenly, fear corroded Jake’s gaze, and his expression contorted into that of insanity. Tears streamed down his face while his eyes lingered on Arthur’s body.
“No… spare me!”
‘Did he develop a mental illness?’ Arthur thought, clicking his tongue. If his assumption was correct, it would be difficult for Jake to revert the damage.
Nectar could repair and even create neurons, so healing was definitely possible. But his natural fear, on the other hand, was irreversible.
He would have to overcome his fear on his own.
“Drink this,” said Arthur. The golden vial approached Jake’s mouth, but in a fit of rage, the man attempted to swat it away. Arthur moved his hand closer, avoiding the impact. He forced the golden liquid down Jake’s throat, causing him to choke for a few seconds.
Jake’s body went through several changes, and the scars on his torso faded. His expression seemed rejuvenated, and his eyes were wide open, as if he were alert and wary of his surroundings.
The golden vial had worked perfectly.
Jake turned his head to glance at Arthur, and his expression paled again. “That guy… he’s coming for you…”
“He’s not,” Arthur responded flatly.
“He is!” Jake shouted, attempting to escape the constraints of his bed. However, he was quickly tackled by Arthur, who placed him on his bed again.
Jake struggled, but to no avail. All his attempts to escape were pitiful.
“You don’t fucking understand!” Jake repeated, his eyes bloodshot. Veins bulged from his neck.
Arthur’s eyes displayed a faint murderous intent, forcing Jake down in an instant.
“I know he won’t come after me.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because Jim is dead.”