Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons - Chapter 167

Chapter 167: Academy Entrance Exam
[You have slain Level 15 Poisonous Painted Serpent (Epic-Boss)]

[Blood Drain Activated! 0.9/100]

[ Spirit Core (Very Rare) has been dropped]

Arthur exhaled sharply. The adrenaline coursing through his veins finally settled.

Sylvaris uncoiled from the corpse, licking his fangs clean before slithering back to Arthur’s side.

Arthur stepped forward, kneeling beside the fallen serpent. He retrieved its fangs adding them to his growing collection. The blood-drenched ground steamed from the residual heat of his attack.

Sylvaris, sensing his master’s approval, opened his maw wide—

And devoured the corpse whole, before devouring the Serpent’s child.

Arthur glanced at the notification with slight interest. Based on the trend so far, he had expected the level 15 Serpent to drop an epic-grade item. But it didn’t, it had dropped a very rare item. Very Rare items were items dropped by level 10 beasts up to level 14, or at least that’s what Arthur thought, before the recent drop.

“Maybe, the threshold had increased. It should be around level 20 to drop epic-grade items.”

After thinking about it for a while, Arthur had come to a conclusion.

“Since it had always been a multiple of five, this should be a multiple of 10,” Arthur muttered.

—

<Abyssal Devourer>

Focus: Offensive combat specialization. Gains increased size and venom potency, capable of devouring entire foes.

<Requirements:>

<Kill 100 Serpents (77/100)>

<Devour 100 Serpents (76/100)>

<A Spirit Core (1/1)>

—

[Ding! You have killed a level 7 wolf(Pseudo-Elite)]

Arthur glanced at the message, it had become a normal thing for him to randomly receive notifications of killing low-level beasts. It had been happening for a while, and he knew it was Jasmine and Lupin helping her get the kills.

He wasn’t complaining, he was getting a share of the experience and he would level up idly.

“Talking about levelling up Idly.” Arthur muttered, “Let me summon the poisonous serpent, then send out a sunless and the others with it to farm some experience for me.”

In regards to the equipment, Arthur had realised that he didn’t need to waste any. After some trial and error, to avoid the issue, he tried making Sunless wear a backpack and use it. And…it worked. Sunless was able to store items inside, without any issues.

His summons were able to use magical equipment and backpacks, without any issues. This is why he had given Sunless a rare sword to fight against the demon Aamon, which was also his summon now.

Arthur activated his third talent effect, and his consciousness once again appeared in a dark void, without any sound or smell. His eyes landed on multiple beasts that he had killed during his stay in Armageddon.

His eyes scanned for a brief moment before he found what he was looking for, the Poisonous Painted Serpent, he didn’t hesitate and summoned it immediately.

The portal appeared in front of him, filled to the brim with energy, and soon the serpent emerged and slithered towards him before lowering its head in respect.

[You have summoned the Poisonous Painted Serpent. They are now completely and utterly loyal to you. They will do as you instruct them without fail. You have the right to name them.]

[Would you like to name the ‘Poisonous Painted Serpent’] [Yes/No]

Arthur pressed No.

As soon as the prompt disappeared, Arthur used his talent once more and summoned Sunless, Borak, Hank, and Neko. Soon enough, they all emerged from the portals, each of them exuding their own unique presence. The silver glow of Sylvaris contrasted sharply with the dark, undead form of sunless while Hank stretched his wings and flew into the air.

The only ones he left unsummoned were the Lesser Demon and Aamon, the True Demon. He wasn’t stupid. The city was crawling with adventurers and patrol units. If he unleashed a demon near the city, it would cause immediate panic, and the last thing he needed was unnecessary attention. The investigation that would follow could lead to complications he wasn’t ready to deal with.

Arthur’s gaze swept across his assembled summons.

“I want you all to go out and enjoy yourselves…” His smirk widened as he crossed his arms. “…by leveling up.”

“Kill every monster you see. Without discrimination.”

The orders were clear. His summons were an extension of himself, and he needed to grow stronger. The fastest way to do that was to let them rampage through the wilderness, accumulating experience in his stead.

“However.” Arthur’s tone sharpened. “Avoid touching adventurers at all costs. But—” his eyes darkened slightly, “—if they insist on killing you… if they attack first, and you’re able to eliminate them, then do it. Don’t leave them alive.”

The others didn’t hesitate.

With nothing but nods of understanding, his summons scattered into the forest.

Hank launched into the sky, his piercing cry echoing across the trees. Sunless melted into the shadows, disappearing from sight.

Borak stomped off, causing the ground to tremble beneath them. Sylvaris slithered forward with a low hiss, vanishing into the dense foliage.

And finally, Neko gave Arthur one last disapproving glance before leaping into the treetops and vanishing without a sound.

Arthur exhaled, watching them disappear into the wilderness.

Talent Effect #5: Grants the ability to communicate with all summoned beasts, allowing you to hear their thoughts. Summoned beasts are compelled to follow your commands, regardless of their will.

With his summons out hunting, his own experience points would surge. He wasn’t the type to sit back and rely on others, but this was efficiency at its finest. Letting his creatures do the dirty work while he focused on more pressing matters was the smartest move.

Now, it was time to head back to the city.

Arriving inside the city, Arthur headed toward his destination—the Academy of Mera.

The academy wasn’t just an institution; it was a fortress of knowledge and power, standing as one of the most important, most protected, and largest structures in the entire city. It represented the future of the kingdom.

The greatest talents of this generation studied here, and those who graduated often became the most powerful figures in Mera’s history.