Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

The house was sparsely furnished, with a single wooden table, a few chairs, and an unlit fireplace.

John gestured for Arthur to sit, setting his bottle down on the table.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"What's this about?" John asked, his voice low, his eyes narrowing suspiciously as he leaned forward in his chair.

Arthur mirrored his movement, resting his elbows on the table as he locked eyes with John. "The serpent you asked me to kill..."

"What about it?" John interrupted, his tone sharp, carrying an edge of dread.

Arthur paused for a moment, before speaking.

"It evolved."

John's reaction was immediate.

His chair scraped harshly against the wooden floor as he bolted upright, his hands slamming down on the table.

"What!" he barked. "What do you mean it evolved?"

"I'm telling you," Arthur said, leaning back slightly. "That serpent evolved into an epic-rank boss. It's no longer a pseudo-elite."

John's disbelief was painted all over his face.

His mouth opened, but no words came out. He finally sank back into his chair, his hands gripping the edge of the table tightly.

"How is that possible?" he muttered, shaking his head. "How can it evolve from a pseudo-elite to an epic rank? That... that doesn't happen without a reason."

Arthur shrugged, feigning nonchalance, though his tone remained sharp. "I don't know how, but I do know this isn't the quest I agreed to. So..."

He pushed his chair back and stood, brushing his hands off as if dusting away the topic. "I'm out."

John's head shot up, his expression panicked. "Wait!" he called out, his voice almost desperate as he reached a hand toward Arthur.

Arthur paused mid-step, turning slightly, his lips curving into the faintest smirk. "What is it now?"

John's hands trembled slightly as he gripped the edge of the table. "You're telling me it evolved into something that dangerous and you're just walking away? Did you even try to kill it?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow, his tone calm but with a hint of frustration. "Try? No, John. I value my life. You sent me after what was supposed to be a pseudo-elite. This... this was a whole different beast—literally." He gestured vaguely. "And unless you're offering me something more, I'm not risking my neck for a suicide mission."

John's eyes darted around the room as he processed Arthur's words. He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "What do you want? What will it take to make you finish this?"

Arthur hid his satisfaction, keeping his expression controlled. "For starters, double the reward. No... triple. Do you want me to take on an epic boss? You better make it worth my while."

John hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Triple? That's insane!"

Arthur turned fully, folding his arms. "Is it? Or is it insane to send someone after an epic-ranked beast with pseudo-elite rewards? Think about it, John. That serpent isn't just sitting there waiting. It might already be evolving to get even stronger, and when it does, how many lives will it take before someone stronger comes along?"

He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "This is your chance to fix it. Right now."

John's breathing quickened as he considered the stakes. Finally, he nodded, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Fine. Triple the reward. But you better kill it this time."

Arthur tilted his head, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Deal," he said, extending his hand.

As John shook it, Arthur's mind raced smugly. 'This is perfect. Once I give him the fang and prove it's already dead, I'll walk away with triple the original reward and no extra effort.'

But as he turned to leave, John spoke again. "One more thing."

Arthur stopped mid-step, turning his head slightly. "What?"

John's eyes narrowed, his tone colder. "I'll check whether that monster has actually evolved into an epic rank boss. And if I find out you're lying... you'll pay for it. Triple—no, quadruple the cost."

Arthur's smirk spread wider, his confidence unshaken. "Don't worry, John. You won't have to charge me anything. Just make sure my reward is ready by tomorrow."

With that, Arthur walked out of John's house, shutting the door firmly behind him.

As he headed toward the forest, a mischievous grin played on his face. 'This will buy me just enough time.'

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Arriving at the edge of the forest, Arthur checked his surroundings for any players. After making sure no one was around, he raised his hand.

A summoning portal shimmered into existence in front of him.

Moments later, Sylvaris slithered out, its enormous silver form glinting.

The serpent coiled itself around a nearby tree, hissing softly as its sharp eyes met Arthur's.

"Sylvaris," Arthur began, crouching slightly to meet the serpent's gaze, "I need you to go back to your cave for a day."

"Just act as you always did, eat any monster that comes near and make your presence felt. No one should question that you're the same terrifying boss you were before—no in fact I need you to become a more terrifying boss than before."

Sylvaris let out a low hiss in acknowledgement, its massive silver body coiling tightly as its piercing eyes glinted with understanding.

Arthur stepped back, watching as the serpent turned and slithered silently into the forest, its movement graceful yet terrifying.

"Good," Arthur muttered under his breath, a small smile tugging at his lips. "If John tries to investigate, he'll get exactly what he is looking for."

Turning back toward the village, Arthur's mind was already on the next step.

"Time to make some money," he muttered, a small smile curving on his lips as he envisioned the money that he would soon receive.

The village plaza was bustling, more packed than usual. Players crowded the area, their chatter filling the air with speculation and anticipation. Most of the talk centred around the auction that Arthur had announced.

"Do you think the rare item he teased is actually in his hands?" one player asked, his voice filled with excitement.

"Of course! This guy has been dominating the marketplace with his uncommon gear," another replied. "If he's claiming he has a rare item, it's gotta be legit."