Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Hawthorne's mind raced through scenarios, each one ending in American defeat.

"What are our options?" Morrison's question carried the weight of national security.

Major Blake hesitated before speaking.

"Detroit remains Arthur's suspected location. A concentrated nuclear strike could eliminate the threat before it escalates. Although many will die, we will also kill the biggest threat to our establishment and authority."

Nuclear option. Against an American city.

"Are you insane? What would we even say to the public? Everyone is awakening talents; you aren't just killing Arthur Fate, you are killing tens of thousands of awakened. And some of them might be Humanity's trump cards, they could have B, A or S-Grade talents, we would essentially be killing humanity's powerhouses." Stevens responded with shock plastered all over her face.

Blake's suggestion made her lose her cool.

Blake responded without hesitation.

"As for the public response...it's simple. We would simply say we lost the site where the nuclear weapons were, and the demons somehow activated a nuclear missile. As for the awakened dead...that's indeed a problem, we need to think through..."

The suggestion created shocked silence. Officers who'd spent careers protecting civilians now contemplated obliterating them.

Stevens shook her head immediately.

"That's advice that cannot be taken, no matter what. Detroit's population exceeds six hundred thousand. Collateral damage would be catastrophic. Furthermore, more demons are going to arrive within minutes...We can't do something that will kill our awakened, we are shooting ourselves in the foot."

"Besides," she continued, "we have no confirmation that Arthur remains in the target zone. His spatial abilities suggest rapid relocation capacity. His whereabouts disappeared with the first drone that caught him, that's if it's really him, and not a new dark horse emerging. We can't be certain it's him."

He could be anywhere by now.

Hawthorne processed the strategic reality with growing dread.

"Furthermore," Stevens added quietly, "nuclear deployment against awakened individuals sets a precedent we may regret. Other enhanced humans might view it as a declaration of war. Our enemies will use that as an excuse to gather forces of the public against us, and unlike the previous world order, the public has the power for real change."

Start killing awakened Americans, and where does it end?

Morrison's expression reflected the impossible choice facing military leadership.

No good options. Only degrees of disaster.

We trained to fight nations. Not people who can bend space to their will.

"Sir," Stevens spoke carefully, "alternative analysis suggests a diplomatic approach. Arthur's demonstrated behaviour shows protection of civilian populations. He may be amenable to negotiation."

Negotiation with someone who rides dragons.

Morrison's laugh carried no humour. "Negotiate from what position? The agent Donald has created damage that can't be repaired, he made the boy hate us with passion, he took his dying sister and made her a prisoner."

Stevens nodded.

He's right. We have nothing to offer.

"Recommendations?" Morrison commanded.

Hawthorne straightened to attention. "Monitor and assess. Avoid direct confrontation until we understand the full scope of his capabilities. The upcoming event with the demons will allow us to figure out his location in real time, it will also allow us to understand his current abilities and limitations."

"He can't possibly keep teleporting forever. His mana is limited, and his skills have a cooldown. With a good strategy and our strongest soldiers, we will beat him, not only with quality, but quantity."

"He is A lone man, whilst we are an army."

Blake stayed silent for a few seconds before he nodded in agreement. "Concur. Aggressive action against Arthur Fate could trigger escalation we're unprepared to handle."

Morrison studied the dragon footage one final time before making his decision.

"Classified under Black Protocol. Continue surveillance in Detroit."

"Yes, sir!"

...

Inside the headquarters, Aetherion perched on Arthur's shoulder in his smaller, cuter form, nuzzling against his neck with affection. The void dragon's facial expression radiated contentment and happiness despite the gravity of Earth's situation.

The conference room's massive screens displayed world leaders from across the globe—each nation that had chosen alliance over antagonism with the man who'd predicted global catastrophe.

Time to cement these relationships.

The face of the President of China dominated the central monitor, exhaustion evident in his expression despite his composed demeanour. "Sir Arthur, thank you for establishing direct contact. Our situation grows more desperate by the hour."

"Casualties continue mounting," President Dubois added from France. "Paris lost another district to evolved predators. Our conventional forces are... inadequate. Our beta players are very few compared to other regions, and they are unable to cover the whole country..."

Arthur's expression remained neutral as he processed their reports. Each nation had committed political capital to supporting him, but politics meant nothing to the sheer number and power of the demons.

They need protection. I need reliable allies who will support me with their awakeners.

"Your situations are about to worsen significantly," Arthur stated without preamble. "The attacks you've experienced were reconnaissance. The real assault begins soon."

Truth first. Then solutions.

Prime Minister Fitzgerald leaned closer to his camera from Canada. "Real assault? You mean this gets worse?"

"Much worse. Lesser demons—epic-rank entities capable of levelling military bases. True demons at superior-rank that can challenge entire armies, those might be coming in the next few minutes."

"The ones that we are facing currently are nothing but defectives; they are the lowest of the lowest."

Let that sink in.

President Hassan joined from Palestine.

"Our defences won't hold against forces like that. We already have enemies we are facing, and it's difficult with both attacking at once."

Arthur smiled, making the seasoned politicians uncomfortable.

"Which is why I'm offering direct protection."

The silence stretched across their encrypted connections as the world leaders processed the offer.

China's president spoke first, his voice careful. "What kind of protection?"

"Personal guardians capable of single-handedly defending your territories against superior-rank threats, that's if there is any. If there isn't, then those summons will be able to annihilate armies of the upcoming threats."

The carrot. Now watch them scramble for it.