Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

The guard led Arthur deeper into the prison complex, past empty cells carved from solid bedrock.

The village prison had been expanded considerably under Arthur's direction—another preparation for the coming chaos.

They stopped before a heavy iron door at the corridor's end.

"He's inside, sir. Would you like me to—"

"Leave us."

The guard bowed hastily and retreated, keys jingling at his belt as he hurried away.

Arthur waited until the guard's footsteps faded before pressing his palm against the door. A pulse of mana, and the locks disengaged with soft clicks.

Arthur waited until the guard's footsteps faded before pressing his palm against the door. A pulse of mana, and the locks disengaged with soft clicks.

Inside the cell, Adam froze at the sound.

He'd been pacing, calculating the hours until his release—just two more days until the Mayor would be forced to free him. Two days until he could use his city teleportation ticket to escape this backwater prison.

'I will use the short interval between my freeing and re-imprisonment to escape. I had not done that before because I was stupid enough to believe Donald that I would be able to escape with their help, and then retake control of the village.'

'When the merge happens, Fateless will never let me go. This is my only chance.'

The door began to open, interrupting his plotting.

Adam narrowed his eyes. Prison check isn't scheduled for another hour.

A familiar face appeared in the doorway, and Adam's eyes widened.

"Jack? How are you here?"

His subordinate slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind him.

"Lieutenant, shh!" Jack whispered, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "I managed to sneak in using a new potion in the market, an invisibility one."

Adam's face transformed with sudden hope. After weeks of confinement, the possibility of escape sent adrenaline flooding through his system.

"Really? We can escape from this shithole?" He lowered his voice, stepping closer. "Why didn't you tell me in real life?"

Jack nodded, a conspiratorial smile spreading across his face. "Yes, we can! The potion just came out recently. I didn't have time."

"Good! Finally! Jack, you don't understand how much I love you! You saved my life!" Adam whispered, standing up, excitement coursing through him. Freedom was so close he could taste it.

"Let's leave befo—"

The words died in his throat.

Jack's face... shifted. Melted. Transformed.

Where his loyal subordinate had stood moments before, Arthur Fate now watched him with predatory amusement.

Adam's first instinct was to log out—to escape whatever was about to happen.

His lips parted to speak the command, but before he could utter a sound, the air thickened around him. Space itself warped, locking him in place.

Combat state activated. No logout possible.

Fear sliced through him like an icy blade. "A-Arthur?"

"Lieutenant, it's been a very long time." Arthur's voice was pleasant, almost friendly. "How've you been?"

"Arthur, I...I'm..."

"Why are you stammering?" Arthur stepped closer, smiling. "Take a deep breath."

How can I take a deep breath when you have me ready for slaughter?

Adam tried to move, but his limbs refused to obey. Spatial lock—one of Arthur's signature abilities. He was trapped, with his body immobilised, yet his mind painfully alert.

Arthur circled him slowly, like a predator savouring the moment.

"You know, Adam, I've been thinking about our relationship lately." Arthur's tone remained conversational. "About how we first met."

Adam swallowed, throat dry with fear.

"Do you remember?" Arthur stopped in front of him, head tilted slightly. "The day we met in the forest? The day you explained how things would work from now on?"

Arthur's smile never wavered, never reached his eyes.

"You were so thorough in your explanations. So precise about the rules." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "What was it you said? 'Cooperation ensures comfort. Resistance ensures pain.' Such elegant simplicity."

Adam's pulse hammered in his ears. This wasn't happening. Couldn't be happening.

"Arthur, that was just business. Orders from above. Nothing personal."

Arthur laughed.

"Hahaha,"

A sound of genuine amusement that somehow made the situation more terrifying.

"Nothing personal? That's interesting." He leaned closer. "Because it felt pretty personal to find Donald waiting for me, in my sister's hospital room, when I logged out,"

Memories flooded back to Adam—the military facility, the scared teenager they'd brought in, the systematic breaking of his will through his sister's pain.

It had been efficient. Professional. Standard procedure for high-value assets.

And now that asset stood before him, unchained.

"That was Donald's idea," Adam blurted. "I was just the messenger. I never wanted—"

"Spare me." Arthur waved a dismissive hand.

Arthur began circling again.

"You know what's interesting about being trapped in a game world, Adam? The clarity it brings." His voice remained conversational. "When you stripped away my freedom, my dignity, my choice—you thought you were breaking me."

He stopped behind Adam, leaning close to his ear.

"But you were actually teaching me. About power. About what happens when you have none."

Adam felt his breath on his neck, could sense the controlled rage behind the calm words.

"And I learned so much from you, Adam. So much."

Arthur moved back into view, his expression contemplative.

"For instance, I learned that fear is a more effective tool than pain. Pain ends. Pain can be endured. But fear?" He smiled. "Fear is limitless."

Adam tried to speak, but his voice emerged as a strangled whisper. "What are you going to do?"

"Do?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Right now? Nothing at all."

That answer terrified Adam more than any threat could have.

"You see, I could kill you here. It would be... satisfying." Arthur's fingers traced patterns in the air, little wisps of spatial energy following his movements. "But then you'd just wake up in your real body, mildly inconvenienced."

He shook his head. "No, that won't do at all."

"What do you want?" Adam managed.

"Want?" Arthur smiled. "I want you to understand something, Adam. Really understand it."

He stepped closer, until they were face to face.

"I want you to know that I'm not the same scared boy you tormented. That I remember every threat, every 'lesson,' every moment you made me watch Charlotte suffer."

His voice remained soft, almost gentle.

"And I want you to know that soon—very soon—there won't be a barrier between this world and ours."

Adam's blood turned to ice.