Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 428: The Draketowers

The Draketower family held command over the military not through bloodline entitlement, but through generations of proven merit. Their authority was earned, not inherited. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

At the head of the family stood General Raemund Draketower, a man whose reputation was etched into the very foundations of Caldera’s military tradition. His rise had not been handed to him; it had been forged through strategic brilliance on the battlefield and acts of personal valour that inspired both loyalty and fear. Soldiers followed him not because they had to, but because they believed in him.

His exceptional service to the kingdom had earned him more than just military honours. In recognition of his competence, unwavering loyalty, and formidable strength, the crown had granted him the noble title of Duke, a rare honour bestowed only upon him. Who transcended class and proved their worth through action.

With his next quest looming, the descent into the Grieving Hollow, Arthur took a moment to assess his options.

Rather than rushing headlong into the quest, he chose a more measured approach. There were still potential leads within the city, and it would be foolish to ignore them.

The Grieving Hollow was far, and the journey itself would take some time. Worse, he had no way of knowing how long it would take to locate the epic-rank Pyro’s Lotus once inside. Every hour spent unprepared was a blade that slowly cut him.

To be efficient, Arthur redirected his attention to a more immediate opportunity: the estate of Caldera’s most formidable military family, the Draketowers. If anyone within the capital, other than those he had already visited, possessed the kind of rare physical-enhancing herbs he needed, it would be them.

Arthur’s spatial manipulation carried him near the Draketower compound, a fortress-like structure that blended defensive architecture with noble grandeur. Guard towers provided overlapping fields of fire while maintaining the aesthetic elegance expected of ducal residences.

The guards stationed at the Draketower estate were well-trained and alert. They detected Arthur’s approach the moment he turned onto the estate’s main road. He made no effort to hide himself. His steps were deliberate, his posture calm, and his gaze steady as he walked directly toward the towering iron gates.

There was no alarm. No raised weapons. Just a quiet ripple of attention.

They recognised him instantly.

Azarel.The name had quickly become one of the most whispered and respected among the city’s elite. His rise had been sharp, and his presence now carried a weight that only fools ignored. Power, influence, and dangerous potential surrounded him like a mantle.

But today, he did not come with hostility. He came openly, and his aura remained composed and non-threatening.

That was enough for the Draketower guards to keep their hands.

There was no tension, only readiness.

The gate captain stepped forward, his armour polished and posture rigid with discipline. He gave Arthur a respectful nod.

"Guildmaster Azarel," he said, voice firm yet courteous. "How may we assist you today?"

"Azarel of the Power Guild, requesting an audience with General Draketower," Arthur stated.

The gate captain tapped a thin crystal embedded in his gauntlet and waited briefly as a soft pulse of light flickered across its surface. A voice responded on the other end, too faint for Arthur to hear.

After a moment, the captain looked up. "The General is currently stationed at the eastern wall fortifications," he reported. "He’s overseeing defensive preparations in case of any sudden attacks by hostile creatures or demons."

The general was still on active duty despite holding a noble title. People at his ranks, like Seraphina and Sauron Ashencroft, mostly focused on their own families and organisations, but the general was looking for the whole city’s well-being.

Arthur gave a slight nod. That level of commitment wasn’t common among those of the upper ranks.

"Despite achieving ducal status, the General maintains frontline leadership responsibilities," the guard said, his tone carrying a note of pride. "He’s been stationed at the eastern wall for the past week, overseeing reinforcements and training rotations personally."

Arthur nodded slowly, a flicker of respect passing through his eyes. So the stories hadn’t been exaggerated—General Raemund Draketower truly did lead from the front.

He had seen many noble figures who commanded from distant halls, sending orders through layers of subordinates, never risking their own skin. But Raemund was different. He walked among his soldiers, stood on the ramparts, and bled beside the men and women he commanded.

Leaders like that didn’t need titles to be followed. Their authority came not from birthright or crown, but from action, earned and reinforced every day.

Loyalty bought with words was fragile. Loyalty forged in shared hardship was unbreakable.

Arthur’s lips tightened into a faint, approving smile.

Leading from the front.

A timeless principle. One he understood well.

"I’ll meet him there," he said, his voice firm with quiet resolve.

Without waiting for further formalities, Arthur turned and began heading in the direction of the eastern wall, his pace steady. If Draketower was a man of action, then meeting him on the field was only fitting.

Eastern Wall Fortifications

Arthur arrived at the eastern wall, where General Raemund Draketower was stationed. The towering fortifications loomed ahead, and even at a distance, their scale and complexity were undeniable.

As he walked along the stone path leading up to the command post, Arthur’s sharp gaze scanned the surrounding defenses with quiet curiosity. What he saw impressed him.

The ramparts had been reinforced not only with high-grade materials but with intricate magical lattices woven directly into the stone. Pulsing sigils hummed faintly with mana, likely tied to barrier generation or impact dispersion. Lines of enchanted artillery stood ready—some traditional ballistae with elemental cores, others far more unconventional, including modular turrets that appeared to be powered by crystal batteries and mana converters.

It was more than brute defense. It was a fusion of military discipline and arcane craftsmanship.

Arthur gave a slow nod of approval.

These weren’t just walls. They were layered deterrents, capable of stalling even a superior-ranked assault. Any creatures thinking to break through here would find themselves walking into a grinder.