Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 389: Time to start the battle!

In a flash of radiant light, a towering pile of weapons materialized in the center of the floor—blades, polearms, rifles, and artifacts of power, each glimmering with enchantments. The weakest among them were Rare-rank, while several pulsed with the unmistakable aura of Very-Rare treasures.

"Take one each," Arthur commanded. "Leave enough for everyone. Once all have chosen, and only then, may you take another if there is any left. Anyone who breaks this rule—report them to me. I will see to it personally, and you will be rewarded."

There was no hesitation.

Instead of chaos, a reverent order swept through the room. The players began moving toward the pile with solemn focus; their admiration for Arthur was evident.

Each person picked their weapon with purpose, not greed.

No one dared to take more than their share, not out of fear, but out of respect.

Arthur watched for a moment before giving Gates a subtle nod.

With a shimmer of light, Arthur and Gates vanished, reappearing a moment later on the helicopter pad atop the building’s roof.

The sky above was writhing.

The portals had stabilized—but they were not yet unleashing their full force.

There was resistance.

The demons on the other side were clearly struggling to bypass the natural laws of the world.

They were trying to cheat the rules of the universe, forcing open gates too small for their true forms. The edges of the portals shimmered violently, resisting the massive spiritual pressure building behind them.

"They’re struggling...do you think they will not be able to enter?" Gates muttered, eyes narrowing.

"No, they will definitely enter, but the question that remains is...what will enter and how many?" Arthur replied, his voice cold with indifference at the sight in front of him.

"They’re clawing to send something bigger."

Through the largest portal, Arthur’s eyes caught glimpses of familiar forms pressing against the dimensional barriers. Creatures that dwarfed the defective demons from the first wave.

True demons. Superior-rank Bosses.

But the portals were rejecting them, reality itself acting as a filter that only allowed certain power levels through.

"Look at the edges," Arthur pointed toward the portal rims where energy sparked and crackled. "See how they’re fighting against expansion?"

Gates squinted at the phenomenon. "What does that mean for us?"

"It means they’ll have to send weaker forces first, or..." Arthur paused as understanding dawned. "Or they’ll somehow bypass it through some unknown means. I’m not sure..."

The calm before the storm.

Suddenly, everything stopped.

The massive forms pressing against the dimensional barriers withdrew completely. The violent sparking at portal edges ceased. Even the writhing energy signatures stabilized into ominous stillness.

Complete silence.

Gates exhaled slowly, hope creeping into his voice. "Maybe they couldn’t break through after all? Maybe the portals will close?"

Arthur shook his head grimly. "No. This is the calm before the storm arrives."

The largest portal pulsed once—a deep, resonant throb that sent vibrations through the building’s steel framework.

Then the flood began.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Dozens of lesser demons poured through the dimensional gateways like water through a broken dam. But these weren’t the massive, corrupted monstrosities from before.

They were small. Clearly younger than the ones in Armageddon.

Arthur’s perception catalogued their power levels. Level 3... Level 2... Level 4... The highest among them barely reached Level 4.

These are Juveniles. Demon children.

They were smaller than their Armageddon counterparts, their forms lacking the size and power corruption that made Epic-rank demons so dangerous. These creatures moved with the uncertain coordination of adolescents rather than the predatory grace of apex predators.

They are fresh recruits. Clearly new to this. It seems like there is a restriction on the power level of the ones that can be sent currently. That’s good.

Arthur’s smile carried genuine relief as the tension he hadn’t realized he’d been holding finally released.

"If these had been Level 10 and above, we’d have serious problems," he murmured.

But Level 4? This is manageable.

Arthur’s hand moved to Aetherion, who was perched on his shoulder. Arthur gently stroked his scales as a smile formed on his face.

"Master! Did you see the pretty lights in the sky?" Aetherion’s voice bubbled with excitement.

"Yes, I saw them," Arthur replied, his tone growing warmer. "What do you think of them?"

"They’re sparkly! Like when you make the space-bendy things, but bigger! Much bigger!" Aetherion’s tail wagged against Arthur’s neck. "Are they presents? They look like presents!"

Arthur chuckled at his summon’s innocent interpretation. "Not quite presents, buddy. More like... unwelcome visitors."

"Ooh! Visitors! Are they coming to play?" The dragon’s enthusiasm was infectious despite the circumstances.

"Actually, Aether," Arthur’s voice carried new playfulness.

"Would you like to play a game?"

The dragon’s void-black eyes lit up like stars.

"Ooh! What kind of game, Master? I love playing games, especially volleyball! Can we play volleyball again? Or maybe that spinning game you taught me? Or—"

"See those little demons down there?" Arthur gestured toward the creatures spreading across the cityscape below.

Aetherion’s head swiveled to follow Arthur’s pointing finger.

"Oh! There are lots of them! They look like the toy demons from that forest with all the trees! But smaller! Much smaller! And they’re wiggling funny!"

"I want you to play with them. Don’t kill them—just bring them close to death’s door."

"Really? I can play with them?" Aetherion’s excitement reached new heights. "Like toys? Real moving toys?"

"Exactly like toys. Have fun."

"But Master!" Aetherion suddenly looked concerned. "What if I accidentally break them? Remember when I was playing with those rock-things and they turned into tiny pieces? You said I had to be more gentle!"

Arthur’s expression softened at the dragon’s genuine worry. "These are different, Aether. They’re much tougher than those rock formations. Just don’t use your powerful attacks, okay?"

"Okay! I’ll be careful!"

"That’s right. Can you show me some of those new tricks you’ve been practicing?"

Aetherion practically vibrated with anticipation. "Can I do the spinny-catch game? Oh! Oh! Can I try that bounce-thing you showed me? The one where things go up and down and up and down?"

"All of those sound perfect. Maybe you could even invent some new games?"

"NEW GAMES?" Aetherion’s voice reached an octave that shouldn’t have been possible for a dragon. "I could make NEW games? With the moving toys? Master, this is the BEST day EVER!"

Arthur laughed despite the chaos around them. "I think you’ll be very creative. You always are."

"Now, are you ready to go play?"

"YES! YES! YES!" Aetherion bounced on Arthur’s shoulder. "Can I start now? Please?"

Arthur grinned at the dragon’s enthusiasm. "Go ahead, buddy. Show me what you can do."

"BEST MASTER EVER!"

Aetherion shouted before launching from Arthur’s shoulder as spatial energy coiled around his form.

WHOOSH!

The void dragon descended toward the demon horde with the grace of falling silk and the enthusiasm of a child at playtime.

Arthur turned toward Gates’s armed personnel, who had emerged from the front entrance of the building, carrying their newly acquired weapons.

Thirty-seven men and women, each radiating determination despite their obvious nervousness.

"Follow Aetherion and eliminate any demons he injures," Arthur commanded with a loud voice that carried clearly to the street below. "Stay in groups. Don’t engage undamaged epic-rank entities. Work as teams. Is that understood?"

"YES SIR!" they responded with an even louder voice, their excitement now matching their determination.

Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m