Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

"Another toy soldier? How delightful. Human, don't do anything stupid, and I will let you go, I will give you a chance to escape as I eat these over here. Your timer starts...now"

It doesn't see him as a threat.

Floyd raised his weapon with confidence, ignoring the demon's words, the crosshairs appearing in his vision exactly as promised. From his elevated position, he had a perfect shot at the demon's exposed flank.

Unfortunately for Floyd, he had not seen Arthur and the others shooting at the demon and doing no damage. Had he seen it, he would not have done something so foolish and escaped with his life.

This is it. My hero time.

"FOR THE WORLD!" Floyd's battle cry echoed across the devastation as he squeezed the trigger.

ZAP!

The photon beam struck Rex's shoulder blade with perfect accuracy. The demon's skin showed another scorch mark—slightly larger than the others, but equally meaningless.

Same result. Different angle.

Rex's burning gaze shifted to Floyd's position with fury. "You must be really stupid, huh? I gave you a chance to escape...but you didn't take it, foolish mortal."

Good, he got his attention. That should buy at least five mores seconds

Floyd's confidence faltered as he processed the complete lack of effect. "What? Fateless said...That should have—"

"Should have what, little mortal?" The demon's voice carried across the distance.

Seeing the expression and body language of the demon, Floy had realised that he might have fucked up. The demon was now facing him, and he clearly wasn't happy.

Arthur watched the scene unfold with cold calculation. Floy had bought them time, just like he had planned.

...

Rex's burning eyes fixed on Floyd's position with volcanic fury. The amusement from moments before had transformed into something far more dangerous.

Stupid mortal. I gave him a chance.

"You just made the biggest mistake of your short, pathetic life," Rex snarled, his voice carrying across the devastation like rolling thunder.

Floyd's heroic confidence crumbled as the demon's attention focused entirely on him. The photon rifle trembled in his suddenly nerveless hands.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

"I offered you escape, little mortal. Generosity from one such as myself is rarer than mana in your pitiful realm."

Rex's massive body turned away from the hospital window, his four arms gripping the building's edge with enough force to crack concrete.

He's going after Floyd.

Keep it busy, Floyd. Die slowly.

"But you chose arrogance over wisdom. Pride over survival."

Rex launched himself from the hospital's exterior wall, his trajectory carrying him directly toward Floyd's building. The impact when he landed sent shock waves through the structure's foundation.

BOOM!

Floyd stumbled backwards, his barricade offering no protection against supernatural force. "Wait! I was trying to help! I didn't know—"

"Didn't know?" Rex's laughter was like breaking glass. "You fired upon Rex the Render without knowing if your weapon could harm me?"

Classic human stupidity.

The demon's massive frame forced its way through the rooftop access door, leaving twisted metal in its wake. Floyd found himself trapped on the building's roof with nowhere to run.

Perfect isolation.

"Please!" Floyd's voice cracked with terror. "I made a mistake! Just let me—"

"Let you what? Escape? After insulting me with your pathetic attack?"

Rex's primary hands seized Floyd by the shoulders, lifting him off the ground like a child's toy. The man's feet kicked uselessly in empty air.

Arthur watched with no expression on his face.

Twenty-nine....twenty-eight...

"No, little mortal. You will serve as the first example of what happens when insects forget their place."

Back in the hospital, the nurses pressed against the walls watched in horror as Floyd's screams echoed across the distance.

"We have to help him!" The brunette who'd helped manipulate Floyd spoke up, tears streaming down her face. She had regretted her earlier decision as she watched Floyd being taken.

When Arthur had spoken to her about it, he made it sound like Floyd really had a chance, and that they would all be able to survive...but that was far from the truth.

Guilt is eating them alive...I'm sorry, but he brought him here, so he should also take him away from here.

Despite that thought, Arthur's expression remained stone cold.

"Help him how? With what weapons? With what plan? We can't even help our selves, you better pray that we can live through this."

"But he's—"

"He's buying us time," Arthur cut her off. "The exact time we need to survive."

It's the harsh truth...But it's necessary.

Dave glanced at Arthur with something approaching respect. The kid understood the necessity even when it involved sacrificing idiots.

Rex's voice boomed across the cityscape as he began Floyd's education in supernatural pain. "Tell me, mortal—what gave you the confidence to attack something like me?"

Floyd's agonised screams provided the only answer.

CRACK!

The sound of breaking bones echoed through the air. Rex was being particular and systematic in his torture.

Why are all demons professional sadists? But at least he is taking his time.

"Please!" Floyd's voice was barely recognisable. "I just wanted to help! They said I could save everyone!"

"They? Who told you such lies?"

Don't mention me, Floyd. For your own sake. Because if you survive him...I guarantee that you won't survive me. Just die without being stupid.

Arthur's countdown timer pulsed with increasing urgency.

[00:00:19]

Nineteen seconds until the merge. Nineteen seconds until real power activates. We have a chance; the more he spends on torturing him, the higher our chance of survival is.

He's enjoying this far too much.

"You mortals always believe you're special," Rex mused between Floyd's shrieks. "That your courage or determination will overcome natural law."

Natural law. That's about to change.

The demon's secondary arms joined the torture, finding pressure points that amplified agony without causing immediate death.

Maximum suffering. Minimum mercy. Fifteen seconds left...

"But I am curious—who convinced you that attacking me was possible? What fool filled your head with such delusions?"