Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons - Chapter 286

Chapter 286: The Mysterious bud
He summoned Skyla briefly to confirm his theory. Like Hank, she had no memory of being controlled and showed no symptoms outside the Verdant Maw.

“New plan,” Arthur announced, pulling equipment from his inventory. “We’re dealing with something in the air—some kind of spore or toxin that affects minds.”

Aether’s scales rippled with interest. “How do we counter it?”

“I’ll create a spatial bubble around us,” Arthur explained, fingers already weaving complex patterns. “My space manipulation should filter whatever’s in the air.”

“And if it doesn’t work? I don’t want to attack you, master,” Hank said, his wings tensing.

Arthur’s eyes hardened. “Then we find another way. I’m not leaving that forest empty-handed.”

With a swift gesture, he teleported them back to the edge of the Verdant Maw. This time, Arthur immediately established a protective spatial barrier around them—a shimmering distortion that separated their breathing air from the forest’s.

“Test time,” Arthur said, watching his summons carefully.

He intentionally left a gap in the barrier near Skyla while keeping Hank fully protected. The results were immediate and dramatic.

Skyla’s eyes clouded over within seconds, pupils dilating unnaturally. Meanwhile, Hank remained perfectly clear-headed, glancing between his first love and Arthur with concern.

“Master, what’s happening to her?” Hank’s feathers bristled with alarm.

“Confirmation,” Arthur smirked, unsummoning Skyla before she could attack. “It’s definitely airborne.”

He expanded the protective bubble to encompass their immediate area. “Now the real question is: what exactly is in the air causing mind control, and where’s it coming from?”

Arthur needed a specialist. His fingers tapped a sequence into the air, establishing a telepathic link.

‘Lupin, are you with the team?’

The wolf’s response came immediately: ‘No master. I’m only with Jasmine right now, we are resting.’

‘Perfect. I’m going to summon you. Need you to do something real quick.’

‘No problem, master. I’m ready when you are.’

A swirling portal opened, and Lupin emerged with graceful confidence. The wolf had changed since Arthur last summoned him—his silver fur looked more mystical with new evolution, and his body had filled out more, his muscles rippling beneath his silver coat.

Aether blinked at the newcomer. The void dragon had never met this particular summon.

[Race:] Canis lupus

[ID:] Lupin

[Level:] 20

[Talent:] Enhanced Speed (B-Rank)

[Health Points:] 220

[Mana Points:] 190

[Magical Damage:] 19

[Physical Damage:] 22

[Damage Resistance:] 22

[Attributes:] Strength 22, Agility 30, Vitality 22, Intelligence 19

[Skills:] Scent Tracker (Rare), Howl of Fury(Very Rare), Phantom Stride(Epic)

[Attribute Points:] 7

[Skill Points:] 11

“Lupin,” Arthur commanded, “use your Scent Tracker skill. Tell me if you smell anything unusual in the air.”

The wolf nodded, his eyes glowing as he activated his skill. His nostrils flared, taking in complex scent molecules beyond what ordinary creatures could detect.

After several deep breaths, Lupin turned to Arthur. “Yes master, I smell something different. It’s actually… quite pleasant.”

Arthur’s eyes lit up with sudden insight. “Pleasant how?”

“Sweet, but not like food,” Lupin explained, head tilting thoughtfully. “More like flowers, but wrong somehow.”

“Can you trace it?” Arthur pressed, excitement building. “Find the source?”

Lupin’s muzzle lifted, sampling the air currents. “Yes. I have the trail. I can lead you there now.”

“Perfect,” Arthur turned to Hank. “You should return for now. I’ll summon you if needed.”

The hawk nodded in understanding before Arthur unsummoned him.

“Aether, Lupin—stay near me,” Arthur warned, already moving in the direction Lupin indicated. “If either of you feels your thoughts becoming unclear, tell me immediately. Especially you, Aether.”

Arthur shuddered at the thought of Aether losing control of his body. His skills were so overpowered that he would most likely kill Arthur before he could react.

Lupin took point, silver form weaving through the ancient trees with deadly grace. His nose remained lifted, following an invisible trail through the increasingly dense forest.

“Master,” Aether rumbled from behind, “if this toxin affects minds, why wasn’t I affected?”

“Not sure. But it might be because you are very strong, it might also be related to our intelligence stats, and yours is quite high.”

They pushed deeper into the Verdant Maw, the forest growing stranger with each passing second.

Lupin suddenly froze, hackles rising.

“Master,” he growled softly, “we’re close. The scent is much stronger, but…” he hesitated.

“But what?” Arthur pressed.

“It’s coming from everywhere now. Like we’ve entered the source itself.”

Arthur expanded his senses, studying their surroundings with enhanced perception. They stood in a small clearing surrounded by trees that seemed to bend inward, as if watching them.

At the center grew a single plant unlike any Arthur had seen before—a twisted stem supporting what looked like an enormous closed flower bud, easily the size of a man.

“That’s it,” Lupin confirmed, keeping his distance. “The scent is strongest ther-”

The wolf’s voice cut off abruptly. His silver eyes clouded over, pupils dilating unnaturally wide.

Arthur caught the change instantly. ‘He’s getting affected.’

Without hesitation, he unsummoned Lupin, the wolf vanishing before he could turn hostile.

Arthur glanced at Aether, who remained unaffected—the void dragon was studying their surroundings with child-like curiosity.

‘He’s completely fine. Good,’ Arthur thought.

After studying the direction Lupin had indicated, Arthur made his decision. “We need to check that plant. Follow me, but stay alert.”

At the center of a small clearing stood the strange flora—a twisted stem supporting an enormous closed bud easily the size of a man. Even from a distance, Arthur could see faint pulses of light emanating from within its tightly-closed petals.

“That’s no normal plant,” Aether growled softly.

Arthur activated his shield talent, a shimmering barrier of spatial energy forming around his body. “Do the same,” he ordered Aether. “Create a space shield around you.”

The dragon complied, space energy wrapping around his massive body.

‘Just in case. Better safe than sorry. The concentration is clearly increasing as we get closer to the plant,’ Arthur thought, carefully approaching the massive bud.

Twenty meters from the plant, the ground trembled slightly. Arthur paused, his senses heightened.

Seventeen meters away, he heard a cracking sound.

At fifteen meters, all hell broke loose.