Rise of The Underdog

Chapter 5: One Week Worth of Hope

The walk to the blood bank felt longer than it should’ve been. Whenever he would not been able to collect the necessary amounts to get the healing potion in these years, he would have to come to this place.

Kyle shoved his hands deep into his pockets, the chill biting at his fingers even through the thin fabric. His thoughts spun around the huge debt like a cage, but every time his mind went there, he forced it away. One step at a time.

Right now, he needed to get Lia her potion. After taking the potion, she would feel less pain, at least for one month. 

The neon sign of the blood bank flickered like it was on its last breath. Kyle stepped in through the glass doors, and the smell hit him immediately, like metal and disinfectant. The place was too clean and too empty. As, not everyone willing to sell blood to get foods. 

“Opti-com scan,” the clerk said without looking up.

Kyle raised his wrist. A soft beep echoed through the room. The clerk finally looked up when Kyle rolled up his sleeve. 

“Back again, huh?”

Kyle didn’t respond. The man knew him by now, as he was quite a regular in the past two year. 

“Same as usual?” the clerk asked, tapping on his console.

Kyle nodded. “Yeah. Full draw.”

The clerk raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You look like you could use a potion yourself.”

Kyle gave a weak smile. “Yeah, but I’m not the one who needs it.” 

Fifteen minutes later, he walked out, Kyle stumbled out of the blood bank with a spinning head. His legs felt like they were full of lead, his body felt weak. The opti-com on his wrist glowed with the notification was the only comfort he was feeling that time.

[+60 CR. Balance: 70 CR]

Not much. But it would do.

After resting a bit, he walked a few blocks down and stopped outside a small corner shop that didn’t even have a name, just a faded symbol on the window, an old potion bottle with vines wrapped around it. This was the shop of a C-rank Apothecary talent with rare healing potion making skill. 

Inside, an elderly man with clouded eyes sat behind the counter. “You again,” he said while shaking his head. “Do you still want the same?”

Kyle spoke without hesitation. “Yes. One C-grade healing potion.”

The man tapped his opti-com. “Fifty credits.”

A small window blinked onto Kyle’s screen. He hovered his finger over the confirm button, without hesitation he pressed the button.

[-50CR. Balance: 20 CR] 

Just like that, his hard-earned credits were gone. But still, he sighed with relief that he was able to get the healing potion before someone grabbed it away. 

The old man handed him the potion in a hard plastic case. It was light amber, still warm. Maybe made not long ago. Not bad.

Potions from this shop weren’t black market expired junk, it was freshly brewed by the apothecary. It was just overpriced for people like him who weren’t legally hunters.

As, according to the Zenith continent law, the healing potions of every rank too precious to be used by anyone who wouldn't be fighting in the dungeon or void. So, Dustborns could get only potions below B rank with double price.

However in Zenith, only hunters of every category, could access the Soul Trade Market, where the same potion cost half as much and people could trade things with equivalent values through their system. And, after tonight, he would be one of them, that was the only thing giving him hope for a better future.

Just before Kyle was about to leave, The old man said suddenly, “You know, this potion is not a permanent solution for your sister who was poisoned by void contamination. You better be awakened soon with good talents, only then she would have a chance to live.”

Kyle nodded stiffly. “That’s the plan.”

Kyle walked faster after leaving the apothecary shop. He passed by a roadside stall on his way home. Crude flour. Potatoes. Dirt still clinging to the skins.

“Five credits,” the vendor said.

Kyle nodded and picked up a sack.

Outside, the wind had picked up. He tugged his coat tighter as he passed by a worn-out vegetable stall tucked in the alley beside the shop. An old lady stood there, bundled in a patched-up sweater, adjusting bunches of radishes in a crate.​

No one was buying the normal radishes when people could have the veggies or meats collected by Picker talent with stat-boosts.

Still, Kyle’s eyes paused on the radishes. They were fresh, clean, still with the leafy tops. Someone had clearly taken time to grow them right.​ 

The old lady caught his eye. Her smile was shy but hopeful.​

“They’re good radishes,” she said quietly. “Grew them myself. I can’t match dungeon veggies, but they’re sweet and crisp. And clean. No toxins. Just five credits a bunch.”

Kyle looked at the fifteen Credits left in his balance. He glanced at the closed cupcake shop across the street, the same one selling the pink-frosted cupcake Lia always talked about.

His stomach grumbled. He really wished to buy one for Lia.

But, if he couldn’t pay the debt, then at least Lia would have more food this way.

He nodded and held up his wrist.

“Alright. I’ll take a bunch.”

The old lady beamed, scanned his opti-com, and added a small wrapped candy into the paper bag. “You’re a kind boy. Take this too.”

Kyle blinked. “I don't need it…”

“It’s free,” she interrupted, then leaned in. “You have a sibling, right?”

He blinked again. “Yeah. How did you know?”

She just winked. “I raised three boys myself. I can tell.”

Kyle’s throat tightened. “Thanks.”

As he walked back, he glanced down at the bag. Radishes, potatoes, crude flour, and one hard peppermint candy.

'Enough food for one week,' he told himself.

And tonight, after he awakened… he’d make it work with whatever talent he would get. He had to anyway.