Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Rex rocketed across the room, smashing through equipment and furniture before embedding himself in the opposite wall. Medical devices exploded in showers of sparks and plastic fragments.

"Just a what?" Arthur inquired conversationally, already preparing his next move.

Rex extracted himself from the wall, concrete dust cascading from his crimson hide. His burning eyes held genuine fear.

"You were saying something about breaking me slowly?"

Arthur's power reached out across the room, invisible tendrils wrapping around Rex's massive form like ethereal chains.

Got you.

Rex's body jerked forward against his will, dragged through space by forces beyond his comprehension.

Another casual punch sent Rex flying in the opposite direction. The demon's form blurred through air thick with dust and debris, creating sonic booms that shattered remaining windows.

CRASH!

This time Rex smashed through the exterior wall, his trajectory carrying him into the street below. The impact created a small crater in asphalt already damaged by earlier demonic assault.

Arthur walked to the shattered window, observing Rex's attempts to comprehend his new reality. The demon struggled to his feet, massive frame swaying with uncharacteristic unsteadiness.

"This is impossible," Rex snarled, his voice carrying across the distance. "You're mortal! Weak! Insignificant!"

Was. Past tense.

Arthur's spatial power activated again, dimensional forces reaching down to seize Rex like cosmic puppet strings.

Rex's massive form shot upward, pulled by gravitational fields that operated according to Arthur's will rather than planetary physics. The demon's ascent accelerated beyond safe limits.

WHOOSH!

Rex burst through the window opening like a crimson cannonball, his momentum carrying him directly into Arthur's waiting fist.

Like a boxing bag. The small ones that bounce back.

Welcome to the new world order.

Arthur's fingers closed around Rex's thick neck with casual authority. Spatial power amplified his grip strength beyond mortal limitations, creating pressure that could crush steel.

Rex's burning eyes widened as comprehension finally dawned. The predator had become prey in a matter of moments.

Fear. Finally.

"Sleep well, Rex."

Arthur's voice carried the finality of an execution order. His enhanced strength twisted, the sharp crack of vertebrae echoing through the blood-soaked room.

SNAP!

Rex's massive body went limp instantly. His earlier malice extinguished like a candle flame in hurricane winds.

Arthur released his grip, letting the demon's corpse crash to the floor with thunderous impact. Crimson blood pooled around the once-mighty predator's broken body.

Problem solved.

Brilliant light erupted from Dave's position, energy cascading around him like liquid starlight. The young man's body trembled as dormant power awakened with explosive force.

Talent activation. Right on schedule.

Arthur turned toward his newest ally, spatial awareness, cataloguing the energy patterns surrounding him.

"What's your talent?"

Dave's eyes snapped open, pupils dilating as new awareness flooded his consciousness.

"It's called Shapeshifter... S-Rank."

S-Rank. That's Impressive. He would be part of the elite class in the academy of Mera.

"Not bad. You're good." Arthur's approval made Dave straighten unconsciously.

"I want to recruit you. To be part of my team, part of the strongest guild in the new world order...the power guild."

"Would you like to join?"

"Yes." Dave's response came without hesitation, certainty ringing through his voice.

Smart decision.

The way Arthur had moved, planned, demonstrated power—everything about him radiated competence that inspired absolute confidence. Turning an impossible situation possible through calculation and brains.

He could have let Gates handle the demon. But he took personal responsibility. He doesn't throw his team under the bus when it truly matters.

"Are you not going to ask about the benefits?"

"No. There's no need." Dave shook his head.

Perfect attitude.

"Good. I like you. Welcome to the team, Dave. This is Gates."

Arthur gestured toward his business partner, who nodded acknowledgement. his shoulder was no longer wounded as his power returned to him.

[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]

The universal voice interrupted Arthur's recruitment with urgent proclamation.

[ERROR... ERROR... BREACH HAS BEEN DETECTED!]

What now?

[HUMANS! YOU WILL NOW HAVE DOUBLE THE PREPARATION TIME. YOUR REWARDS FOR SURVIVING YOUR UPCOMING CALAMITY WILL BE DOUBLED.]

Double the preparation time. That's... nothing. At least the rewards are doubled, that's not too bad.

[YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH YOUR POWERS. MANY FIRST-ORDER BEASTS WILL HELP YOU LEVEL UP AFTER KILLING THEM. LEVEL UP, GET STRONG, AND PREPARE FOR YOUR WORST TEST.]

Arthur's expression darkened as implications crashed over him.

"Ten minutes... this is pathetic. People can barely survive against current beasts, and the upcoming test is most likely demons again, but on a larger scale."

New players are basically doomed.

Arthur felt the familiar weight of his equipment materialising around him.

Ring of Darkness pulsed on his finger. Chaos Katana hung at his side. His storage ring on his hand.

Avatar and body merged. Full power accessible.

Without wasting another second, Arthur coated himself with spatial energy and teleported into Charlotte's room.

Beep. Beep.

Medical monitors tracked vital signs that remained worryingly weak. Arthur carefully removed the breathing apparatus from Charlotte's pale face.

His fingers found the healing potion—concentrated life essence worth more than most people's annual salaries.

The liquid glowed with internal radiance that spoke of miraculous properties.

"Please... please, Charlotte."

Pure white light surrounded her unconscious form.

Everyone had awakened, including his sister. The energy radiating from her position confirmed talent activation, which meant mana poisoning was no longer a concern.

She is safe to drink the potion.

Arthur popped the cork and lifted Charlotte's head gently. The healing potion flowed between her lips like liquid hope.

He didn't worry that she would choke, as the mana potion instantly gets absorbed by the body. You could throw the liquid on your skin, and you would still get the benefit.

Come on.

He waited. Seconds stretched into eternity as medical monitors continued their monotonous beeping.

Nothing.

"Damn it."

She's not awake.

Arthur forced himself to wait another full minute, counting heartbeats that seemed to mock his desperation.

Still nothing.

Defeat weighed on his shoulders like physical chains. The one person who mattered most, and his power couldn't save her.

Not yet. There is still one more thing.