Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons
Chapter 438: Severing ties.

Chapter 438: Severing ties.

The quick test he had conducted against the beetle had proven to be far more enlightening than he had initially expected.

Relying solely on his raw physical strength, without activating any talents or calling upon his powerful talents or skills, Arthur had still managed to overwhelm a creature that belonged to the superior rank.

This alone was telling enough about his physical power.

Superior-rank beasts were not only more powerful than the average monster, but they also retained fully functioning talents that often turned the tide in battle. The beetle, in particular, had possessed an S-rank defensive talent, something that should have made it nearly impervious to physical attacks. Yet, Arthur had managed to overpower it with ease, using his body and items only.

His body and equipment had worked in flawless synchrony, cutting through the creature’s natural resilience and talent-based defences without requiring any of his more advanced techniques. That alone confirmed something important: his base attributes, enhanced by the bonuses granted from his gear, far outclassed what was expected of even superior-rank creatures at the same level.

The realisation brought a small, satisfied smile to his face.

This wasn’t just a matter of being strong. Beasts were notorious for their superior physicality, often surpassing humans of the same rank and level by a wide margin. The fact that Arthur could defeat one without even dipping into his full power said everything.

He was no longer operating within the boundaries of normal humans; in fact, he never was. Especially when the creature in question had been a superior-rank boss, a category feared for its heightened stats, refined instincts, and ruthless combat power.

The implications were clear. Arthur’s foundation was solid, his growth exponential, and his current strength already positioned him well above everyone else. The test hadn’t been a challenge.

It had been a confirmation.

Arthur walked to the dead beetle’s body, his footsteps crunching softly on the scattered fragments of golden carapace that littered the forest floor like discarded treasure. The massive creature lay still, its once-pristine armour now a patchwork of cracks and missing pieces that told the story of its swift defeat.

He knelt beside the fallen beast, placing a hand on its still-warm chitin as he prepared to add it to his collection of summoned creatures. Although the beetle’s defensive capabilities and superior rank would make it a valuable addition to his forces, that wasn’t the reason he was summoning it, the reason he was summoning it was mainly for information about the area.

However, as Arthur attempted to activate his Primordial Summoner talent, he encountered an unexpected obstacle. The familiar sensation of dimensional space opening refused to manifest, and a system notification appeared before his eyes.

[Summoning capacity reached: 42/42]

Arthur frowned slightly before immediately realising that he had indeed maxed out his current summoning slots. He had used all of his available summoning spaces earlier when dealing with the demon invasion on Earth. Sixteen superior and epic-ranked demons were currently scattered across various places, working alongside his guild members to eliminate demonic threats and protect civilian populations.

But the problem was easily solvable.

Arthur closed his eyes and extended his consciousness across the dimensional barriers that separated Armageddon from Earth. Through the mystical connection that bound him to his summons, he could sense the exact location and status of each creature under his command, despite the enormous distance that separated both of them.

The sixteen demons were all in different areas—some in major cities, others patrolling the rifts, all following the directives he had given them before departing for Armageddon.

His mental scan revealed their current activities with crystal clarity.

Ten epic-ranked demons moved in coordination with his team in Detroit, their presence ensuring that his new guild members stayed safe. A superior-ranked demon was also stationed with Gates and his daughter, ensuring their safety.

The remaining demons were distributed across Michigan, heading to different gates.

But among them, Arthur chose a superior-ranked demon. The demon was operating alone, just like the others, but his operation wasn’t high priority in Arthur’s eyes.

Arthur focused on that particular summon, a creature that had been assigned to patrol the rural areas between major cities, saving isolated human settlements from demonic incursions. While its work was valuable, Arthur’s mind quickly assessed that this demon was the most expendable of his current forces.

His reasoning was simple and coldly logical: the epic-ranked demons were all moving with the captains who were now part of his guild, ensuring that his most valuable subordinates remained safe against extraordinary threats that might appear during the ongoing crisis.

Their protection was paramount, as these individuals represented significant investments in training, equipment.

As for the solo, superior-ranked demon? While it was indeed saving human lives in its assigned area, it wasn’t irreplaceable.

Most of Arthur’s other summons were performing similar humanitarian functions, and the loss of one wouldn’t significantly impact the overall effectiveness of his Earth-based operations.

Whilst removing the demon from his work would undoubtedly stop him from saving more human lives, it was still a necessary sacrifice. He hadn’t levelled up yet, and he still needed more information about this place. He wasn’t going to wait to level up before summoning it.

Arthur made his decision with the same coldness that had carried him through countless battles. He severed the mystical connection to the distant superior-ranked demon, his will cutting through dimensional space like a blade through silk.

On Earth, hundreds of miles away from any major city, the demon that had been travelling through a devastated landscape suddenly paused mid-stride. Its eyes, burning with infernal fire, flickered with confusion as it felt the bond that tied it to its master beginning to dissolve.

The creature looked skyward, as if seeking some explanation for the sudden abandonment, but found only empty clouds and falling ash.

Then, like a mirage fading in desert heat, the demon’s physical form began to lose cohesion. Its edges blurred, its substance became translucent, and within moments it had dissolved completely, turning into nothingness that was quickly scattered by the wind.