Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

The demon sneered, his claws tightening cruelly around Hank's struggling form.

"What now, little pest? Your speed won't save you now." Experience more tales on empire

With a roar, he slammed Hank into the ground. The impact was brutal, the sound of feathers and flesh hitting stone echoing through the arena. Black ichor dripped from the demon's earlier wounds, but he ignored them, raising a clawed hand for the killing blow.

Arthur's voice cut through the chaos like a whip.

"Lupin! Sunless! Attack him now!"

The summons surged forward instantly. Lupin darted to the demon's side, his fangs aiming for the demon's arm. Sunless moved with precision, his blade arcing downward toward the demon's exposed back.

But the demon ignored them. His blazing eyes locked onto Hank, who lay crumpled at his feet, weak and barely moving.

Arthur's hand shot up, dark energy crackling around his fingers. His voice was sharp and commanding. "Hank, escape!"

A shadow rippled outward from beneath Arthur, racing across the ground toward the demon.

—

<Shadow Bind>

<Rank: Legendary>

<Active>

<Description: Uses the target's shadow to temporarily bind them. The duration of the skill depends on the difference in strength between the user and the target.

—

The shadow reached the demon's feet in an instant. Black tendrils surged upward, latching onto his limbs with unnatural speed.

The demon froze.

His clawed hand hovered mid-strike, inches from Hank. His fiery eyes flared in shock and confusion as he struggled against the invisible force.

"What... what is this?" he growled, his voice trembling with rage.

The shadows wrapped tighter, locking his arms and legs in place. His molten veins pulsed erratically as he thrashed, but his body refused to respond.

"How is this possible? How did that human pest do this to me?!"

Only his thoughts raced, the rest of his body held in place by the unrelenting shadows.

Arthur's sharp voice rang out again. "Now! Sunless, Lupin, strike!"

Sunless moved first, his blade cleaving down with a heavy swing. The blade slammed into the demon's shoulder, slicing through armor and stopping in the flesh. Black ichor sprayed from the wound.

Lupin darted in, his fangs snapping around the demon's arm. He tore into the molten flesh, leaving deep gashes before leaping away, narrowly avoiding the spray of ichor.

The Goblin King barreled in next, his massive club crashing into the demon's chest with a deafening impact. The force of the blow sent cracks splintering across the stone floor.

The demon roared in frustration and pain, his molten veins flaring brighter.

Arthur's sharp gaze remained locked on the demon. His focus never wavered. "Hank, get out of there! Now!"

The hawk stirred weakly, flapping his tattered wings. With a strained cry, he pushed himself off the ground, taking to the air in an uneven, labored ascent.

Hank spiraled upward, his movements slow but determined, before landing on Arthur's shoulder.

All of the events happened in a mere second.

Arthur glanced at Hank briefly. The hawk was in terrible shape—his feathers were ruffled and bloodied, his breathing labored.

"You're safe now," Arthur muttered, his voice low.

The demon's fiery eyes snapped to Arthur as the effect of Shadow Bind dissipated. Arthur stopped supplying mana, unwilling to waste more of his reserves. Half his mana was already gone.

"I need to conserve energy," Arthur thought grimly. "There might be something stronger waiting after him."

Besides, this wasn't about ending the fight quickly. He was using the demon as a training dummy, sharpening his summons for battles ahead. If he wanted the fight over, Neko would've ended it in seconds.

The demon's molten veins pulsed violently as he roared, shattering the binding with a burst of crimson energy.

But it was too late.

His body was battered, wounds covering his once-pristine armor. Black ichor dripped freely onto the ground. His breathing was labored, each inhale sounding like gravel grinding together.

Arthur's smirk returned. "Are you sure you're a true demon? It seems like your blood is mixed. Tsk, and here I thought demons were actually strong."

Arthur leaned slightly forward, his grin widening. "Don't spout nonsense next time. Well, not like you'll survive to spout anything again."

The demon's fiery eyes burned brighter with rage. "I'll kill you, human," he spat, his voice trembling with barely restrained fury. "I'll tear you apart piece by piece."

Arthur didn't flinch, his voice mocking, cutting through the demon's fury like a blade. "No, I think it's time for you to become my summon."

The demon's fiery eyes flared in anger. "You dare—"

Arthur didn't let him finish. "Sylvaris, put me down. Join the others."

The serpent hissed low, a sharp, menacing sound, before lowering his massive head. Arthur slid off, landing lightly on the cracked stone floor.

Arthur's gaze didn't leave the demon as he gave his next command. "Neko, your turn. Help them, but don't kill him."

Neko flicked her tail lazily, already exuding an air of complete superiority.

The demon snarled, his claws flexing as he took in the feline's presence. "A cat? A mere beast—"

Neko disappeared in an instant.

One moment she was perched at Arthur's shoulder, and the next, she reappeared behind the demon, her speed blinding. Her paw struck his back with power, the blow sending him stumbling forward.

The demon spun, slashing wildly, but Neko was gone again, her movements fluid and effortless. She reappeared on his side, swiping at his arm before vanishing once more.

Arthur's lips curled into a faint smirk as he watched.

The demon roared in frustration, his claws slashing at the empty air as Neko darted around him like a shadow.

"Stop running!" he bellowed, swinging wildly.

Neko's golden eyes gleamed with amusement as she dodged every attack effortlessly, her movements so smooth it seemed she wasn't even trying. Her sharp claws raked across his legs, arms, and back, drawing small sprays of black ichor with every strike.

The demon's molten veins pulsed brighter as his fury mounted. "Stand still! Fight me properly!"

Neko flicked her tail. "He's too weak-nya. Why is this human letting me deal with this insect?"