Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

After explaining to everyone present that their lives held irreplaceable value—that each death could possibly affect their soul during the merge, Arthur moved on to the next point, which was the power guild he once again shamelessly plugged.

"Then let's begin," Arthur said.

Time to put them to work.

He reached into his inventory, withdrawing items that made everyone's eyes widen. Rare-rank equipment materialised next to him, weapons, armour, and accessories that most players could only dream of owning.

Thousands of these are collecting dust. Practically worthless to me now.

Arthur began distributing gear with generosity that stunned observers. A rare sword to the young player who'd spoken against military control. An armour for the woman with a family in Village #420. Magical accessories were given to anyone who stepped forward.

"This is impossible," someone whispered. "Nobody has this much rare equipment."

Arthur's laugh held no warmth. "I've been preparing for what's coming longer than most. What you see is overflow from long periods of accumulation."

The plaza transformed as players equipped their new gear.

The distribution of rare equipment continued until urgent footsteps came rushing from the village gates.

A guard sprinted across the plaza, his face pale with terror, his armour clanking with each desperate stride as if the world was ending.

"Monsters approaching!" he screamed, voice cracking with panic. "Powerful creatures! Epic bosses! Some are even Superior bosses!"

My summons have arrived.

The plaza erupted into chaos.

Players who'd just received rare equipment clutched their new weapons with trembling hands. The woman who'd mentioned her cousin stumbled backwards, her staff nearly slipping from her fingers.

"How many?" someone shouted.

"Dozens!" the guard gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "Flying dragons, too, massive beasts, things that shouldn't exist anywhere here! They're standing in front of the village gate!"

Eighteen powerful summons would seem like an army to these people.

Terror spread through the crowd like wildfire. Players who'd been celebrating moments before now faced the prospect of annihilation.

The rare equipment Arthur had distributed suddenly felt inadequate against Epic and Superior rank threats.

"We're doomed," a player whispered. "Epic bosses alone could wipe out entire squads of elite players."

Mayor Richards stepped forward, his voice shaking with desperation. "Everyone to defensive positions! Activate all barrier arrays! Send distress signals to—"

"That won't be necessary."

Arthur's calm voice cut through the panic like a blade through silk. Every head turned toward him, seeking answers, guidance, salvation.

His expression remained perfectly neutral despite the chaos surrounding him. No fear. No concern.

Not even mild interest in the approaching catastrophe.

"Fateless!" a player called out. "What do we do? How do we fight Superior bosses?"

They still don't understand.

"Please!" another voice joined. "You have to help us! Your power—"

Arthur raised his hand, silencing the desperate pleas.

"Calm down," he said simply. "They are with us."

Silence crashed over the plaza like a physical force. Players stared at Arthur with expressions that cycled through confusion, disbelief, and dawning horror.

"Impossible," the mayor breathed.

A scarred warrior who'd received one of Arthur's rare swords stepped forward. "How can so many Superior and Epic-ranked monsters be with us? That's... that's not possible!"

Arthur's smile was sharp as winter steel. "They are. Now enough questions."

The casual dismissal of their terror sent fresh waves of shock through the crowd. This person spoke about Epic and Superior bosses like trained pets.

Who is he really?

"There is a reason they're staying outside the city," Arthur continued, voice carrying across the silent plaza. "I told them to wait there, not to frighten everyone to death."

The words crashed over them like tsunamis. If Arthur commanded such creatures, if he possessed the power to control armies of Epic and Superior bosses, then what did that make him?

"You're not just a player," someone whispered. "You're..."

The guard who'd brought the warning stumbled forward. "Sir, now that I think about it. I think they were really waiting for orders. The flying dragon kept circling, and there was a skeleton that felt like death itself standing there leisurely."

Drake and Sunless are making quite an impression.

"Don't worry about them." Arthur's voice carried across the plaza. "A large group of people will arrive soon to support our efforts."

The crowd's energy transformed instantly. Players who'd been paralysed by fear now buzzed with anticipation.

The prospect of reinforcements—combined with Arthur's impossible demonstration of power—had ignited hope that burned brighter than their previous despair.

"Can we go meet them?" someone called out. "Help with whatever they're fighting?"

They are quite eager to prove themselves.

Arthur gave them permission with a gesture.

"They are coming from the same direction as the guard came from."

The energised players set out immediately, spirits high.

They expect to fight demons to the death. They'll find nothing but corpses.

Based on his summoner senses, Arthur could feel Lupin approximately fifty kilometres away.

The players who followed Arthur thought they'd be fighting for survival. Instead, they had an easy march through cleared territory, which made their journey quite fast.

All the demons between the two villages lay dead. Arthur's extermination had created a safe corridor that his followers could traverse without meaningful resistance.

The mayor's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Sir Fateless, I would like to discuss something important with you."

Arthur turned toward the older man and raised an eyebrow.

Are there any complications? Or is it an opportunity?

Seeing Arthur's attention, Mayor Richards lowered his voice to barely above a whisper.

"We need to be private."

Arthur nodded before grabbing the mayor's shoulder. Space folded around them like silk, space bending to his will.

There is no need to keep hiding the spatial manipulation. My enemies already know.

They appeared in the mayor's office, the familiar space providing necessary privacy for whatever revelation awaited.

"What's wrong?"

Richards clasped his hands together, nervousness radiating from every line of his body.

"Sir Fateless. I'm sorry to bring this up now, and I should've told you before. But..." He swallowed hard.

"Our protector—she left us an inheritance."