Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 392: The Military’s Arrival

Detroit

Maria Jayne pressed herself against the rusted shipping container, her heart hammering against her ribs. Lightning still crackled between her fingers, residual energy from her recent attacks on the defective demons.

A-Rank Lightning Manipulation...I never expected myself to be so talented. But either way, thank god for this blessing.

Several defective demons prowled through the abandoned warehouse district, their corrupted forms searching for human prey.

No more running...I can’t run forever. I need to face my fears, otherwise...I won’t survive for long in this new world.

She stepped from cover, electricity dancing around her hands like captured starlight.

"Hey, ugly ones, do you want big sister to give you a taste of some lightning? I’m sure it will get you all excited...maybe too excited."

She chuckled inwardly. This was her way of facing her fears by being sarcastic and tossing out inward jokes.

The nearest demon turned, its burning eyes fixing on her position.

GROWL!

It was a Level 2 defective demon.

Very manageable for someone with her abilities.

Time to get used to my new power.

Lightning lanced from her fingertips, striking the demon centre mass. The demon shrieked as electrical energy coursed through its corrupted flesh, muscles spasming uncontrollably.

And just like Maria had said, the demon was really too excited, performing an electro dance with his spasming muscles.

CRACK!

Another bolt found its mark, dropping the demon in a shower of sparks and black ichor.

[You have slain a Level 2 Defective Demon]

[Basic Wand (Uncommon) has been dropped]

Maria’s eyes sparkled as they landed on the small item that dropped near the demon. She immediately ran to pick it up as the system notification flashed before her eyes once again.

[You have levelled up to Level 2]

The remaining demons charged as one, their predatory instincts overriding the caution they should have had for someone with Maria’s talent.

They clearly had low intelligence, unable to differentiate between danger and safety.

Maria’s talent kicked in once again, electricity building to dangerous levels.

Double strike.

Twin lightning bolts split the air, each finding its target with perfect accuracy. The demons collapsed simultaneously, their corrupted forms smoking from electrical burns.

[You have slain a Level 1 Defective Demon]

[You have slain a Level 3 Defective Demon]

Not bad for a beginner. Although I could get better...

Maria wiped sweat from her forehead, adrenaline still coursing through her system. The district stretched before her—abandoned buildings and twisted metal creating a maze of destruction.

Where do I go now?

In the distance, she spotted something unexpected.

A large portal hung suspended above the downtown core, its edges crackling with energy. But the area beneath it wasn’t filled with fire and chaos.

There is no smoke or any kind of major destruction that demons would have created by now...There is a group handling that rift. I should go check it out.

The alternative was wandering Detroit’s ruins alone, picking off demons one by one until something stronger arrived.

There’s safety in numbers. And with my talent, the logical choice is to join them. As long as I play my early cards correctly...I would be able to survive this calamity.

Maria began moving toward the downtown core, lightning still dancing around her fingers, reading for any sort of danger that could arrive at an instant’s notice.

Whatever was happening near that rift, it offered her a good chance for survival.

Time to find some strong allies.

Gates Corporation Headquarters

Arthur frowned as the distant rumble of helicopter rotors grew steadily louder. Multiple aircraft approached from different vectors—some clearly information helicopters carrying broadcast equipment, others sporting military markings.

Special forces. Finally showing up.

Through his perception, Arthur catalogued the approaching aircraft.

The military helicopters carried personnel equipped with cold weapons rather than conventional firearms. There were swords, spears, and all kinds of items that were clearly filled with magical energy.

Armageddon equipment. They aren’t some weak team. They must be either highly talented to be given this equipment, even if they were only uncommon rank, or they are beta players...

The latter thought was immediately distinguished as his eyes studied the soldier’s fingers. There was no black ring that signified a player’s status as a beta tester.

The soldiers rappelling from the aircraft moved in rapid motions. Despite being new awakeners, they had been trained to become strong combatants..

Arthur didn’t interfere as the aircraft descended toward street level.

His spatial manipulation could have swatted them from the sky like flies, but direct confrontation served no strategic purpose, at least not yet.

Let them come. We’ll see what they want...I will decide based on that.

Gates approached, concern evident in his face.

"Arthur, those are military aircraft. They are armed forces."

Obviously.

"Should we—"

"No." Arthur’s voice sounded soft. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"Let them land. There is no need to engage with them...just yet."

Besides, watching their reaction should be entertaining.

Arthur turned toward the building’s interior, spatial energy coiling around his form. "Let’s head down. We’ve got visitors."

Gates nodded, though his frown deepened. The military’s arrival had definitely complicated their operations.

Below them, Aetherion hovered in the air, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and mischief. The void dragon was always eager to try new things, even if he didn’t fully understand them.

From the battlefield below, Sarah called up to him while striking down the injured demons.

"Hey, Aetherion! Ever heard of a game called Jenga?" she shouted over the chaos. "You stack things carefully so the tower you created doesn’t fall!"

Aetherion tilted his head, intrigued. "Jenga? What’s that?"

Sarah ducked a swipe from a clawed demon and yelled, "Imagine stacking those injured demons like blocks! Then you try to remove a single demon at a time without making it collapse too soon."

With a wide grin, Aetherion began piling the injured demons into a wobbling tower, his space talent placing each one.

A minute later, he was done.

"Will this tower hold?" he mused aloud as he readied a precise projectile.

The structure trembled, then collapsed in a shower of limbs and dust.

"WOAH!" Aetherion shouted with delight.

Sarah laughed, panting as she wiped sweat from her brow. "Although he didn’t understand what I meant...but at least he’s having fun"

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