Kai raised the Status Crystal, its glow shimmering as he focused on Xian first.

"What is this? Wait... You have a Status Crystal?"

"Yep... Just put your hand here." Kai said.

Soon, he got the result he needed.

[ Name: Xian ]

[ Title: Scrap Survivor ]

[ Level: 3 ]

[ Health: 75 / 85 ]

[ Spirit: 30 / 30 ]

[ Physique Rating: F ]

[ Active Skills: None ]

[ Passive Skills: None ]

"Huh? You have a title? Scrap Survivor?"

Kai was shocked. Even the others who were looking at the crystal. They weren’t unfamiliar with the Survivor Title... They had seen Beginner Survivor, Skilled Survivor, and even Expert Survivor.

However, it was their first time seeing a Scrap Survivor!

Without hesitation, Kai checked the Title Effect, and he was even more surprised!

[ Scrap Survivor (Title Effect): Grants experience when successfully scavenging usable materials, repairing damaged equipment, or repurposing junk into functional items. Provides high resistance against hunger and fatigue when in 50% Health Points or lower. ]

Xian scratched his head. He didn’t know that he already had a title.

"Amazing... So I’m already Level 3... But I’ve never received any Gene Enhancement Serum."

"Well... You probably worked hard scavenging for materials or finding junk you can repurpose."

Then Kai turned the crystal toward the girl.

He then helped her other hand to touch the crystal and soon, everyone saw the result.

[ Name: Xinyi ]

[ Title: None ]

[ Level: 2 ]

[ Health: 15 / 70 ]

[ Spirit: 50 / 50 ]

[ Physique Rating: F- ]

[ Active Skills: None ]

[ Passive Skills: None ]

[ Status: Severe necrosis in the left arm. Blood circulation has failed. Corruption spreading from the shoulder to the fingertips. Health regeneration suppressed until condition is resolved. ]

Kai’s eyes narrowed. Her health bar was critically low, and the necrosis in her arm explained the imbalance. Yet her Spirit was unusually high for someone so weak.

Her level was lower than Xian, but she was still 20 points higher in terms of Spirit Points.

Of course, it was also noticed by Farrah.

"Her body is failing... but her Spirit is strong. That’s rare."

Then, finally, they noticed the strange Status.

Kai frowned as the status crystal confirmed his suspicion

"...So it’s that bad," he muttered, staring at the words. "Her arm really is gone."

Mei’s face paled. She had noticed the discoloration earlier, but seeing it spelled out in the Status made her disappointed.

"It’s worse than I thought," she said quietly. "No wonder she can barely stand."

Kai glanced at Xinyi again...

"She’s holding on with Spirit alone," he said. "That’s the only reason she’s still alive."

The three of them exchanged uneasy looks.

"Don’t worry... We have some options left."

Xian’s hands trembled as he looked at the crystal. "Really?! Can you save her?"

Kai didn’t answer immediately. He studied the young girl carefully and nodded.

"We might have a chance," he muttered. "If we can stop the corruption and keep her alive long enough... she should have a second life. Still, my solution must be done if all else fails."

Xian’s face brightened with hope, while Mei and Farrah exchanged uneasy glances. They had no idea what Kai was about to do.

***

Kai didn’t waste time. He left the cramped room and pushed through the narrow alleys of the slums, recalling the small clinic where a physician kept his practice...

The man’s name was Chrisome... At the very least, he was known for treating the desperate, but never without demanding payment first.

When Kai arrived, he explained the situation quickly.

"Necrosis, huh..."

Chrisome’s eyes squinted behind the mask he had just worn.

"I’ll do my best... But before I can give you assurance, I need to see her directly and run some tests."

"Alright... We can do that." Kai replied.

"Great! As for the payment..."

Just like that, Chrisome agreed to come, but only after Kai placed ten C‑Grade cores on the counter for the advance.

The physician’s gloved hands scooped them up without hesitation, and he followed Kai back through the winding streets.

Inside, Chrisome moved like it was his home.

He even knelt beside Xinyi... Thanks to his mask, it filtered the stench of rot, and he pressed two fingers against her wrist.

"Let’s see..."

His brow furrowed as he checked her pulse, then shifted his hand to her neck. The silence in the room lasted for some time as he examined her arm, lifting it slightly. The blackened flesh was already stiff and lifeless.

"This is advanced necrosis," Chrisome said flatly. "The corruption has already taken the limb. If it spreads further, she won’t last." He straightened and shook his head... "The only option is removal. Amputation... But I’m not an expert on that matter. There could be side effects if I operate."

Xian’s face went pale, his hands trembling as he looked between his sister and the physician. "Then... do it. Please."

Chrisome raised a hand, stopping him. "Payment first. An additional 30 C‑Grade cores. That is the price for the procedure."

The demand lasted for a few moments before Kai wryly smiled. He had already paid ten just to bring the man here, and now the physician was asking for more... far more than most slum families could ever afford.

Farrah and Mei could only sigh at the situation.

They had seen this before... physicians who treated survival as business, not mercy.

Kai finally spoke, deciding to take this matter into his own hands. "Enough. You can leave now."

Chrisome blinked, surprised at the reaction, but when Kai gestured toward the door, he gathered his bag and left without another word.

The sound of his boots faded down the alley, leaving only silence behind.

Finally, Kai turned back to Xinyi... "We’ll handle this ourselves. Trust me."

He then looked at Xian and the others...

Since the physician couldn’t heal her, amputation was an obvious answer.

"My solution is simple. Give her sedatives. Then, we cut the arm cleanly and heal it with my Hemostatic Vial. After that, we use the Arm Replacement Implant."

"Ahhh... I think I know about that. I didn’t expect you to purchase one." Mei commented as she saw the Arm Replacement Implant from the Gene Trader before.

"But how about the pain? I don’t think that will be comfortable." Farrah asked curiously.

But Kai just smiled. "I’ll handle that with my Medic Gift Pack..."

He then turned to the patient.

"For now, I need to ask you, Xinyi... Is it okay to replace your left arm with a machine?" Kai asked.