Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons - Chapter 169

Chapter 169: A-Rank Talent?
Even the examiner hesitated, his stern expression flickering with surprise. He narrowed his eyes at Arthur before silently reaching into his inventory.

With a subtle motion, he produced another crystal and set it down.

“Again.”

Arthur placed his hand on the fresh crystal, maintaining a calm facade.

This time, the colours settled much faster, gradually shifting until they landed on a light green hue.

A-Grade talent.

The crowd buzzed with speculation.

“An A-Grade talent… no wonder something was off.”

“Still, breaking a crystal? That’s not normal! The girl from earlier also got an A-Grade talent, but hers didn’t break the crystal.”

“Maybe the crystal was overloaded since thousands have tested their talents in such a short period of time. Also, I’m pretty sure the same crystal has been used for a very long time, so maybe that contributed to it’s breaking.”

The examiner studied Arthur closely before nodding.

“Next test,” he said, his tone neutral, but his gaze lingered for a moment longer than necessary.

Arthur remained composed, but he knew—his display had drawn the attention he needed.

A bright glow flickered across the smooth surface before numbers materialized.

15.

The examiner’s voice was flat.

“Pass.”

Arthur exhaled, already prepared to move forward.

But—

The examiner did not say, Proceed through the gate.

Instead, a barely audible whisper escaped his lips.

“Ocean Domain.”

A heavy silence fell over the students.

Then, in the blink of an eye—BOOM!

A surge of energy exploded outward, the very air twisting and warping as if reality itself had been submerged underwater.

A translucent, massive sphere of deep blue formed around Arthur and the examiner, swallowing them whole. It wasn’t just some ordinary skill.

This was a Domain.

The air outside the barrier rippled—like the surface of a disturbed lake—warping and refracting light, making everything within seem distant and obscured.

The students watching had their eyes wide in shock.

“He used his authority…”

Someone whispered in disbelief.

A stunned voice followed, “No way… that’s the Ocean Domain. The famous skill that talents above B-Rank receive when they achieve level twenty-five.”

“He actually activated his Domain just for a student?”

Murmurs spread like wildfire.

“Does that mean…”

Arthur barely had time to process their reactions before a sudden weight slammed down on his entire body.

His lungs felt heavy.

His movements became sluggish.

Then—

[Ding! You are inside ‘Ocean Domain.’ Your vitality has been decreased by 20%. You are 20% weaker towards water-based attacks.]

Arthur’s eyes widened slightly.

Debuffs?

No wonder he felt a creeping sense of weakness pressing into his very bones.

It wasn’t just mental—it was real.

The scenery around him had completely transformed.

Where the academy once stood, there was now nothing but an endless, vast ocean stretching into the horizon.

The sky above had darkened, thick with rolling storm clouds.

Yet… despite the boundless sea below, Arthur was somehow standing atop the water, as if it were solid ground.

This…This was no illusion.

The examiner stood a few feet away, his stance relaxed, but the authority in his gaze was unmistakable.

Arthur clenched his fists subtly, keeping his posture neutral. The difference in power between them was overwhelming.

He knew, without a doubt—If this man wanted him dead, he wouldn’t even last a second.

The examiner finally spoke, his voice smooth but carrying a commanding tone.

“Why are you wearing that mask?”

Arthur felt every ounce of power behind the words.

But he didn’t falter.

Arthur met Lucas’s gaze head-on.

The weight pressing down on him was suffocating, but he refused to show weakness.

“Do I need to give a reason?”

The examiner didn’t blink.

“Yes. You do.”

A single command. A demand for the truth.

Although the examiner could see that Arthur was wearing a mask, he still couldn’t see his real face.

Arthur exhaled slowly, his fingers brushing against the edges of the mask.

He knew this was coming. Knew that hiding wasn’t going to last forever.

So—he decided to face it.

With a slow movement, he pulled off the mask.

His dark, eyes gleamed under the flickering, stormy light of the domain.

His expression remained composed.

Silence stretched between them.

The examiner’s gaze flickered.

The ocean around them churned ever so slightly, the waves shifting beneath Arthur’s feet as if the very world was reacting to his presence.

Lucas Ashencroft.

The examiner Infront of Arthur was Lucas Ashencroft. Arthur had found out from the gossips in the line as they waited to be tested.

One of the four elite families of Caldera—the Ashencroft.

Their bloodline was tied directly to the royal family.

He was powerful.

A key figure in the city’s ruling structure.

Which made his interest in Arthur even more dangerous.

Arthur cleared his throat, keeping his voice steady.

“First, let me introduce myself.”

Lucas remained silent, watching. Arthur continued. “My name is Arthur. As you can see, this is my real face.”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if committing his features to memory.

Arthur pressed forward.

“I wore the mask for one reason. I have enemies.”

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Lucas’s gaze.

Arthur didn’t let the silence drag.

“I don’t want them to know that I’m attending the academy.”

For the first time, Lucas’s head tilted slightly in consideration.

Arthur kept his posture firm.

“I apologize if I came off as rude. I wasn’t trying to deceive the academy—I was expecting my mask to be detected. I’m not arrogant enough to believe I could hide it from someone like you.”

Lucas remained quiet. The ocean around them stilled.

Then—he nodded.

‘Cautious. A good trait.’ Lucas thought.

Arthur exhaled, but only internally.

He hadn’t been dismissed.

That meant he still had a chance to control this conversation.

Lucas’s gaze sharpened.

“But you do know that this mask you’re wearing… every instructor in the academy will be able to see through it.”

Arthur didn’t hesitate.

“I know.”

Lucas let a pause settle between them.

Then—he spoke.

“How important is your identity being kept a secret to you?”

Arthur didn’t hesitate.

“Very important.”

His voice was steady, absolute. There was no room for doubt.

Lucas studied him for a long moment.