Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Arthur's boots pounded against the forest floor, his breathing seemingly ragged as he darted through the dense forest.

The wolf's crimson eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger and pursued him relentlessly. Its snarls echoed through the trees, a haunting sound that promised death if it caught up.

Further back, the group tailing Arthur watched with amusement and intrigue.

"Hehe, he's running from a wolf," one of the players chuckled, nudging his friend. "And here I thought summoners had all the tricks."

"Looks like he doesn't," another quipped, shaking his head. "That's what happens when you're all magic and no stamina."

The leader of the group, however, wasn't laughing like the rest.

His eyes stayed locked on the wolf's movements.

'There is something off about this wolf—the fluidity of its attacks, the way its muscles coiled like a spring, ready to strike. It didn't move like a regular wolf.' He thought.

"This wolf isn't normal," the leader muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes. "Keep your guard up."

But his warnings went unheard as the others continued to mock Arthur's apparent retreat.

Ahead, Arthur burst through a line of bushes, his pace visibly slowing down as his chest heaved as if he were struggling to catch his breath. His head darted side to side as though searching for an escape.

The wolf lunged at his heels, snapping its massive jaws just inches away from his boots.

Arthur stumbled but managed to stay on his feet.

"Damn it!" he hissed, casting a quick glance behind him. His face was pale with effort, beads of sweat rolling down his temples.

'They're buying it,' Arthur thought, his lips twitching into a faint smirk as his back was facing the wolf before he forced his expression back into one of panic.

He darted toward a narrow ravine, the forest closing in around him.

The wolf's growls intensified as it pursued him, its instincts driving it to corner its prey. To the players and the wolf tailing him, Arthur's choice of route looked like an act of desperation.

The leader's frown deepened. "He's heading into a tighter area. That's not good for someone trying to escape."

"Exactly," another hunter chimed in, grinning. "That's what happens when your stamina is crap. This guy's basically done for, let's attack him and the wolf."

But the leader didn't respond. His instincts screamed that something wasn't right.

Arthur suddenly skidded to a halt near a cluster of boulders, one hand bracing against the jagged rock as his chest heaved with exaggerated breaths.

The wolf stopped a few feet away, its blood-red eyes locking onto him. It let out a low, menacing growl, pacing back and forth as though savouring the kill.

"Come on," Arthur muttered under his breath, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. "Just a little closer."

Behind the wolf, the hidden hunters watched intently, their curiosity peaked.

"He's done for now," one of them whispered. "The wolf's got him cornered. Should we attack now?"

But the leader remained silent, his gaze flicking between Arthur and the surrounding terrain. His fingers twitched against the hilt of his weapon.

Arthur's eyes darted to the wolf as it crouched, its powerful legs tensing like coiled springs. He raised his dagger weakly, his grip visibly shaking. To the wolf and the hidden players, it seemed like a final desperate act before his death.

The wolf lunged.

At that moment, Arthur's lips curved into a smirk. His body twisted with uncanny precision, his dagger slashing upward in a graceful arc.

Critical Hit!

-35 HP

The wolf howled as the blade bit into its flank, blood spraying across the rocks. Before it could recover, a shadow descended from above.

Critical Hit!

-25 HP

Hank had struck, its talons raking across the wolf's exposed back. The wolf staggered, its snarls turning into pained growls as it twisted to face the threat it completely ignored during the chase.

Arthur didn't waste a second.

"Borak! Now!"

The Wild Boar appeared from a bush that Arthur had entered a few seconds earlier, they had thought he entered there due to desperation.

The hunters watching froze, their eyes widening.

"Wait… that's a summoned boar!?" one of them exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"He baited the wolf into that position…" the leader muttered, his face pale as realization dawned. "He wasn't running. He was setting a trap."

Arthur moved calmly completely contradicting his earlier act of desperation. He directed his summons with quick commands, and after ten seconds, their coordinated attacks overwhelmed the wolf.

The group of hunters could only watch in stunned silence as Arthur delivered the final blow, his dagger slicing through the wolf's throat with a swift, brutal motion.

[You Have Killed A Lone Wolf (Pesudo-Elite Boss)]

Critical Hit!

-40HP

A smirk formed on Arthur's face as he glanced at the notifications. 'I seem to be attracting lots of critical hits lately,' he mused. 'Maybe it's because I'm focusing more on the vital points. Or maybe the system just loves me.' He grinned wider at the latter thought.

A small flash of light caught his attention, and his eyes landed on the ground where the wolf had fallen.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

[Mana Ring (Very Rare) Has Been Dropped!]

"Oh, jackpot!" he muttered, immediately bending down to pick up the glowing blue ring. Without a second thought, he slipped it onto his finger. A warm sensation spread through his body as his mana reserves surged slightly, and he could feel his mana regeneration speed tick upward. Continue your saga on empire

"Nice," he whispered, flexing his finger. He had a good guess about what it did, but right now, checking out the stats could wait.

The slight increase in his mana was enough of a hint about what the ring does, and besides, he had more important matters to deal with.

Arthur's smirk remained as he casually turned his gaze toward the trees. "You can come out now," he called, his voice filled with amusement. "Or should I send Borak to fetch you?"