Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

The elimination continued, each fallen Golden Mane representing another crack in their king's psychological foundation. The Golden Beetle watched in fascination as the legendary pack that had terrorised the region for generations was reduced to scattered unconscious forms by a single human who treated the encounter as casual entertainment.

"Master is amazing!" Aether whispered with pure admiration. "I hope I can be as strong as Master someday!"

...

After dismantling the entire group of Golden Manes, Arthur finally turned to face the legendary pack leader who stood alone among the scattered unconscious forms of his subordinates.

This time, Arthur's gaze locked directly onto the Mane King's amber eyes, no longer treating him as an irrelevant bystander to his own pack's destruction. The shift in attention was immediately apparent, where Arthur had previously dismissed the legendary creature's presence entirely, now he focused on it with intensity.

Arthur was finally giving the Mane King the attention he deserved.

The Golden Beetle watched this transition with growing fascination, recognising that the dynamic of the encounter was about to change fundamentally.

"So...Mr House Cat. Are you ready?"

The insult struck the Mane King. Despite not understanding what Arthur was saying, he knew that Arthur was taunting him. But rather than responding with fury, the legendary predator's expression remained the same. He understood that this moment represented his final opportunity to demonstrate the pride and power that had defined his existence.

The Mane King's response was a roar that carried every ounce of defiance remaining in his legendary body.

"ROAAAAAAAR!"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. That roar of itself was an attack, but his defences were too high. He had multiple epic-rank defensive items across his body, coupled with his stats for someone of his rank, he was barely able to feel the Roar's effects.

Had that roar been heard by anyone under the superior rank at such a close range, that creature would have most definitely died from the vibrations rupturing its internal organs.

The sound shook the entire forest, causing distant creatures to flee in terror while nearby trees swayed from the sheer force of his vocalisation.

Without hesitation, the Mane King lunged forward with every ounce of speed and power his body provided. His massive frame moved like golden lightning, claws extended and jaws wide as he committed everything to this final assault.

This time, Arthur made no move to avoid the attack. Instead, he stood perfectly still, as if the approaching legendary predator posed no threat whatsoever to his continued existence.

Time seemed to slow down as the Mane King's razor-sharp claws approached Arthur's face, each talon gleaming like polished steel as they closed the final inches toward their target. The attack carried enough force to decapitate lesser creatures and should have been more than sufficient to end any normal opponent.

CLING!

The claws rang out against a shimmering barrier that materialised around Arthur's form, stopping the devastating attack as if it had struck solid diamond rather than mere air. The sound was loud and pure, like a bell being struck by a hammer, and the impact sent visible ripples across the protective field.

Before the Mane King could process what had stopped his attack—whether it was a skill, talent, or equipment effect—Arthur's hand shot forward.

His fingers closed around the Mane King's tail, gripping the appendage as if it were a convenient handle rather than part of a lion who weighed nearly half a ton.

"Wow..." The Golden Beetle's mental voice carried absolute disbelief. "Master is treating a legendary-rank creature like a rope."

Arthur immediately began swinging the massive Mane King around his body as if the creature's considerable mass meant nothing whatsoever. The legendary predator, who had dominated his territory through sheer physical superiority, found himself completely helpless as Arthur spun him in wide circles like a golden mace.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The sound of displaced air created by the Mane King's involuntary flight filled the clearing as Arthur completed two full rotations, building momentum with each swing. The sight was both impressive and surreal, a human treating a legendary beast as if it were a child's toy.

"Whee!" Aether exclaimed with pure delight from his perch on the golden beetle's golden shell. "Master looks like he's having more fun than bowling! Can I try spinning things, too?"

After completing the second rotation, Arthur released his grip, sending the Mane King flying through the forest with tremendous force.

BOOM!

The first oak exploded into splinters and bark fragments as the Mane King's body crashed through its massive trunk. But his momentum was far from exhausted.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Ten consecutive trees exploded into debris as the legendary predator's body carved a destructive path through the ancient forest. Each impact sent shock waves through the ground while centuries-old timber was reduced to scattered fragments by the sheer force of his passage.

The Mane King finally came to rest against the eleventh tree, his golden mane now matted with bark and leaves, while his body showed visible signs of damage from the devastating impact sequence.

Despite the obvious injuries, the legendary predator was far from finished. His amber eyes still blazed with defiant pride as he struggled to regain his footing, refusing to acknowledge defeat even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Before the Mane King could fully stand, Arthur's form shimmered and disappeared from his original position.

WHOOSH!

Arthur materialised directly in front of the injured predator, appearing so close that their eyes met at nearly the same level. The Mane King, despite his injuries, had been expecting exactly this manoeuvre.

The legendary lion lashed out with his remaining strength, aiming to catch Arthur in a lethal embrace that would end their encounter through mutual destruction if necessary.

Arthur sidestepped the desperate attack with fluid grace, his movement so efficient that he seemed to barely move his body while avoiding the Mane King's claws entirely.

His counterattack was a simple kick to the creature's solar plexus, but the force behind it was anything but simple.