Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Arthur knew he didn't need to act.

Beside him, Sylvaris, who had been silently observing the exchange, moved with lightning speed. The massive serpent interposed itself between Arthur and the demon, its emerald scales shimmering as it coiled defensively.

The demon's claws collided with Sylvaris's body, sparks flying as dark energy clashed against the serpent's tough hide. Sylvaris hissed, its fangs bared, and its long body coiled tightly as it absorbed the blow.

Sylvaris was an Epic-Grade Boss, just like the demon, but he only held a slight advantage. Not only was he two levels higher than the enraged creature, but Sylvaris also had the benefit of being Arthur's summon, which made him immortal as he would always be summoned back after a day had passed.

The impact forced Sylvaris back slightly, the sheer force of the attack proving that the demon wasn't weak. But Sylvaris held his ground, his body tensing as it pushed back against the demon's assault.

Arthur's eyes glinted with satisfaction as he watched his summon effortlessly block the attack. "Looks like you're not as strong as you thought," he said coolly, addressing the demon.

The Lesser Demon growled in frustration, its claws digging into Sylvaris's scales as it tried to break through the serpent's defences. But Sylvaris responded with a sharp hiss, his body snapping forward in a powerful motion that forced the demon to retreat several paces.

The demon glared at Sylvaris, its fiery eyes narrowing. "A snake? You hide behind a beast?" it spat, trying to mask its frustration.

Arthur chuckled softly, his confidence unwavering. "Hide? No, no. I'm just giving you a taste of what you're up against. If you can't handle Sylvaris, you don't stand a chance against me."

Sylvaris reared back slightly, his tongue flicking out as he stared down the demon. His body was upright and ready for any attack, as his eyes locked onto the Lesser Demon with a predatory focus.

The demon snarled, its aura flaring as it prepared for another attack. But Arthur could see it—hesitation, doubt. Sylvaris's strength had caught it off guard.

Arthur crossed his arms, his smirk widening. "Go on," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Try again. Or are you already realizing you're outmatched?"

Sylvaris hissed again, the sharp, menacing sound reverberating through the arena, his large body coiled and ready to strike.

The demon, however, didn't immediately react. It stood frozen for a moment, its fiery eyes flickering with frustration and doubt.

"Why am I hesitating to attack?" it thought, clenching its clawed hands tightly. "Did I lose my warrior's spirit after being trapped in this cursed place for so long?"

The hesitation lasted only a moment longer before the demon snarled, banishing its doubts. Raising its clawed hands to the sky, it roared, the shadows around it swirling violently as a crimson aura engulfed its body.
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"Demonic Descent!" the demon bellowed.

The red aura spread like wildfire, clinging to its form and amplifying its presence. Its claws shimmered with dark energy, and its movements became sharper, faster. The oppressive energy in the arena grew heavier, the demon's power clearly surging.

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the change. The creature's newfound speed was undeniable, its enhanced aura making it far more dangerous.

"He's much faster now," Arthur muttered, watching as the demon blurred slightly with its rapid movements. "This is at least a rare skill, maybe even very rare."

His mind raced as he processed the implications. "And this is just a lesser demon. What about normal demons? Higher-ranking ones? If even this weakling has skills like this…" Arthur's thoughts darkened, the sheer potential of the demon race becoming painfully clear.

Sylvaris didn't hesitate.

The massive serpent lunged forward, his jaws wide as he targeted the demon with a crushing strike. The demon sidestepped with blinding speed, but Sylvaris adjusted mid-attack, his tail snapping out like a whip.

-65 HP

The tail struck true, slamming into the demon's side and sending it skidding across the arena floor. The impact left a faint trail of black mist seeping from the demon's body as it hissed in pain.

The demon recovered quickly, its crimson aura flaring as it dashed forward. It moved with ferocious speed, its claws aiming for Sylvaris's vulnerable underbelly. But Sylvaris twisted his body, coiling defensively, and countered with another devastating strike.

The serpent's fangs glowed faintly as it struck, sinking deep into the demon's shoulder. The demon roared in pain, black ichor dripping from the wound.

-45 HP

Arthur observed the exchange carefully, his grim expression betraying his unease. Even with Sylvaris landing heavy blows, the demon's relentless movements and newfound speed were proving difficult to keep up with.

"Sylvaris can handle this for now, but this fight isn't going to be easy," Arthur muttered under his breath, whilst watching them fight.

As he observed the exchange, his eyes followed the demon for the entire exchange.

He had seen the demon's attacks and movements clearly, and from the consistent patterns, he had already picked out a few weaknesses in both its offense and defense.

The demon's enhanced speed from Demonic Descent made it more dangerous, but the boost wasn't perfect.

Its movements, while fast, had slight pauses before directional shifts, likely from the strain of sustaining such a powerful skill. Similarly, its attacks were wild and aggressive, leaving small but exploitable gaps in its defense.

Arthur smirked. "Alright, Sylvaris! Let's work together on this one, shall we? I'll call the shots—you just follow my lead."

Sylvaris hissed in excitement, his eyes shining with anticipation. The massive serpent coiled tighter, his powerful muscles rippling as he prepared for the next exchange. Sylvaris didn't just see Arthur as his master—he saw him as a partner. Fighting together was a thrill he relished.

The demon snarled, its frustration evident as it struggled to deal a decisive blow. Its shadowy aura flared, and in a blur of motion, it vanished from its spot, reappearing to Sylvaris's right side.

Arthur's sharp eyes caught the movement instantly.

"Right!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Sylvaris responded without hesitation, snapping his massive tail toward the demon with deadly precision. The attack landed squarely on the creature's torso, the force of the blow sending it skidding across the arena floor, black ichor splattering from the impact.

The demon hissed in pain but quickly recovered, its fiery eyes burning with rage. It wasn't used to being outmaneuvered, and it seemed to realize that Arthur was directing Sylvaris's attacks.

"You…!" it growled, its voice trembling with fury. "You dare to command a beast to fight your battles?"

Arthur tilted his head, a mocking grin spreading across his face. "Why not? Sylvaris and I are a team. You wouldn't understand that—you're too busy grovelling for your 'majesty.'"

The demon roared, its claws tearing into the ground as it prepared another charge. This time, it blurred to Sylvaris's left, appearing with its claws raised high.

"Left!" Arthur commanded, his voice sharp and clear.

Sylvaris pivoted instantly, his long body twisting with fluid grace as his fangs lashed out toward the demon. The serpent's speed and power caught the creature mid-attack, forcing it to retreat as Sylvaris's bite narrowly missed its shoulder.

The demon stumbled back, glaring at Arthur with seething hatred. "You insolent mortal! Do you think you can outwit me forever?"

Arthur chuckled, his confidence unshaken. "Forever? I don't need forever. A few more minutes and this fight is over."