Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Arthur walked alongside Lupin, his steps slow, every crunch of leaves under his foot deliberate. His eyes moved constantly, scanning the terrain for anything out of place.

The forest was alive with tension, an almost oppressive atmosphere that was wrapped in the air like a predator waiting to strike.

"This place feels... different," Arthur muttered, his voice barely audible as his gaze swept the area.

The deeper they ventured, the darker the forest grew.

The thick canopy above blocked out the sun almost entirely. The branches above interwove like a fortress, creating a labyrinth designed to trap visitors.

"It's too quiet," Arthur muttered, his voice a low rumble. "Feels like we're walking straight into an ambush. Thanks, nature. You're doing a great job of making this feel like a death trap."

Lupin moved beside him, every muscle coiled and ready for action.

His ears swivelled sharply at the faintest sound, his predator's instincts fully engaged. Arthur glanced down at him. "You feel it too, huh?" he said with a wry grin.

As they ventured deeper, a flicker of motion cut through the edge of his vision. Arthur froze, his eyes narrowing. Lupin stiffened beside him, a low growl rumbling in his chest. Two shapes darted through the dense foliage, moving with startling speed.

Arthur's head snapped toward the movement, his focus honing in on what had just passed up ahead. "A deer? I've never seen one in this world before," he muttered, his brows furrowing.

The creatures were unlike anything he had seen before. They moved with an unnatural urgency, their jagged, uneven horns twisting at odd angles. Their patchy coats glistened with sweat, and their yellowed teeth jutted out at weird angles, more akin to a predator's maw than a herbivore's.

Arthur wrinkled his nose in disgust. "That's a face only its mother could love," he muttered. "And even that's a stretch."

"Yeesh. Forget killing it for loot. That thing needs dental care."

As the malformed deer bolted past from a distance, Arthur tilted his head, his mind racing. "They're running hard," he said, his voice low. "But not from us. So what's spooked them?"

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Lupin growled softly, his sharp gaze fixed on the direction the deer had fled. Arthur's grip on his dagger tightened as he looked at the area where the deers fled from.

Before he could puzzle over it further, his question was answered in the most obvious way possible—a pack of wolves burst from the underbrush, their eyes locked on the fleeing deer.

Arthur's gaze followed the wolves, a mix of curiosity and wariness creeping into his expression. "Oh," he said flatly. "That's why."

Lupin growled softly, ready for action. Arthur patted his head. "Relax, buddy. Let's see how this plays out before jumping in. Who knows? Maybe they'll run straight into a tree, and we can just loot their bodies."

The wolves, however, showed no sign of clumsiness. Their movements were fluid, and intelligence shone in their eyes.

Arthur's smirk faded as he observed them. "They're fast and coordinated. Definitely not your average mobs. As expected from the wolves in this area."

The deer veered off suddenly, disappearing deeper into the woods. The wolves followed suit, their pursuit relentless.

Arthur shook his head, his grin returning faintly.

"Alright, change of plans," he muttered, glancing down at Lupin. "Let's tail them. I want to see what happens when the pack gets their prize. Worst case? We'll learn a little more about how they fight. Best case? Free loot."

Lupin let out a soft growl of agreement, his eyes trained on the direction the wolves had gone.

Arthur chuckled. "That's the spirit. Let's move."

Arthur and Lupin began moving carefully through the forest, trailing the path where the wolves had disappeared.

Arthur kept his steps light, his eyes scanning the dense canopy and exposed forest for any signs of danger.

"You know," Arthur murmured, breaking the silence, "I've never really stopped to think about it, but this game's ecosystem is way more complex than I thought. Packs, dens, hunting patterns... it's almost like the wolves have actual lives."

Lupin let out a quiet growl, his nose twitching as he caught the faint scent of the wolves ahead. Arthur glanced at him. "You don't understand what I mean do you? But anyway, let's focus."

The two moved in tandem, their pace slowing as they approached a clearing where the wolves had gathered. Arthur crouched low, peering through a dense cluster of shrubs.

The wolves had caught one of the deer, its awkward frame crumpled on the ground. A few of the wolves had already begun tearing into it, their sharp teeth and claws leaving little to the imagination.

"Ugh," Arthur grimaced, watching the gruesome scene unfold. "That's... definitely not going to make it into any nature documentaries."

But something felt off. Arthur narrowed his eyes, his focus shifting to the wolves not eating. They weren't joining in the feast. Instead, they stood at the edge of the clearing, their ears flat, their postures stiff.

"They're guarding," Arthur muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "What could they be—?"

The answer came quickly. A low, guttural growl echoed from deeper within the forest, sending a chill up Arthur's spine. The wolves that had been eating immediately froze, lifting their heads and backing away from the deer carcass.

Arthur's heart rate spiked. "That's not good."

Lupin tensed beside him, his growl vibrating through the air. Arthur reached down, resting a hand on Lupin's back. "Easy, buddy. Let's not do anything stupid just yet."

The growl came again, louder this time, accompanied by the sound of heavy steps. The trees on the far side of the clearing seemed to part as a massive figure emerged—a wolf larger than any Arthur had seen before.

'It's even larger than Lupin.' He thought as he compared the two.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Its fur was a deep, inky black, and its eyes glowed with an eerie crimson light. Scars crisscrossed its body. As it stepped forward, the other wolves lowered their heads in submission, their tails tucked between their legs.

Arthur's breath hitched. "An alpha."

The creature's gaze swept across the clearing, landing briefly on the carcass before shifting toward the direction where Arthur and Lupin were hiding. Arthur felt its stare and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Okay," Arthur whispered, his voice barely audible. "Change of plans. Again."

He glanced at Lupin, whose growl deepened, his body coiled and ready to spring. Arthur placed a firm hand on his companion's head. "Not yet. Let's see what happens next."

The alpha sniffed the air, its gaze narrowing as if it had caught a faint whiff of their presence. Arthur's mind raced. 'I don't want him to find us just yet. I need to move, but not too fast. Slow and steady...'

As he started to retreat, a twig snapped under his boot.

Arthur froze.

The alpha's head snapped in their direction, its crimson eyes locking onto him with a predatory intensity.

"Well," Arthur muttered, his voice dripping with dry humour. "So much for subtlety and stealth."

The alpha let out a bone-rattling howl that echoed through the forest, and the other wolves immediately snapped to attention, their ears twitching as they awaited their leader's orders.

Arthur sighed. "Lupin, remember when I said we wouldn't do anything stupid? I think that's off the table now."

The alpha crouched low, its muscles rippling beneath its dark fur as it prepared to charge. Arthur's grip on his dagger tightened. "Alright, Lupin, time to prove that revenge isn't just a dish best served cold—it's also a dish we're not going to be served as."

Lupin let out a furious growl and stepped in front of Arthur, his body low and ready to pounce. Arthur quickly surveyed the area. 'Five regular wolves, plus the alpha. This is going to get messy fast.'

Arthur did not wait a single second before he activated his talent.

The summoning portal appeared in between Arthur and the pack wolves. The wolves who were about to jump into attack mode stopped and eyed it carefully.

Their snarls softened to uneasy growls, and their sharp eyes darted between the portal and Arthur.

"Not so confident now, are you?" Arthur muttered, his lips curling into a smirk.

The swirling energy grew denser, pulsating faster until, with a sudden eruption, the portal expanded outward, releasing a shockwave that swept through the clearing. The wolves waited, their hackles raised as figures began to emerge from the portal.

Soon Hank, Sylvaris and Borak emerged from the portal.

The Alpha's eyes narrowed as he watched them emerge. He let out a howl, and the wolves immediately started moving.

The smaller ones spread out in a coordinated formation. "These guys are indeed way smarter than I expected. Sylvaris focus on the flank!"

"Borak, attack the other wolves. Hank, Fly high my boy!"

The Hawk screeched, taking to the air immediately.

"Scout and distract—go for their eyes when we engage!"

"Lupin you take care of the alpha of the pack, you've been eyeing him for some time now." He said, with a soft grin on his face.

Lupin let out a soft howl, immediately facing off with the black wolf.