Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

And then—

It was over.

Arthur looked up as a small mountain of leaves slowly descended in the middle of the training ground.

"You have unlimited tries during the time limit. Good luck."

The instructor's voice was calm, almost indifferent, as if this were nothing more than a formality.

He turned, stepping off the podium—except he didn't fall.

Arthur's eyes widened slightly as he saw the instructor rise into the air, effortlessly hovering above the gathered students. His robe billowed slightly in the air as he floated.

'He can fly… Just like that man on the mountain.'

Arthur's mind flickered back to the memory. That figure, standing atop the peak, when he first entered Armageddon. 'Is this flight a skill? Or is it something else?'

His fingers clenched around a leaf, pushing the thought aside. He had more immediate concerns.

From above, the instructor surveyed the students with a piercing gaze. Then, he extended a hand, pointing at a select few scattered across the courtyard.

"Three of you, pass," he said.

Arthur followed his gesture.

Among those chosen was the girl he had spoken to earlier—the one with the A-Grade talent. Her expression remained composed, but her presence in that group meant one thing—she had already succeeded.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. 'So some people have already passed?'

His competitive instincts flared, but he quickly calmed himself.

Focus.

He turned his attention back to the task.

Picking up a leaf, Arthur let it rest in his palm.

It was a simple thing—thin, delicate, almost weightless. But he knew better than to underestimate it.

From the moment the instructor performed the skill, Arthur had already begun analyzing it.

The examination although seemingly simple, it wasn't.

It was split into two sections.

The first section was the ability to control mana and coat your hands with it. And the second, harder part was coating an external object just enough to do as you desire, which in that case was splitting the leaf in half.

The real challenge lay in the control.

Arthur channelled his mana to his hands. The familiar sensation of energy rushing through his veins made his skin tingle.

His intelligence stat was high, which naturally boosted his mana manipulation. That alone would make this easier for him than for most.

But control wasn't just about raw power—it was about precision.

Luckily, Arthur had a skill that gave him an extra advantage.

[Race:] Human

[ID:] Fateless

[Level:] 14

[Class:] Shadow Monarch (SSS)

[Talent:] Primordial Summoner (SSS), Evolution Pathway (SSS-Rank), Lucky (SSS)

[Summons:] 10/14

[Health Points:] 180

[Mana Points:] 220

[Magical Damage:] 22

[Physical Damage:] 15

[Damage Resistance:] 18

[Attributes:] Strength 15, Agility 18, Vitality 18, Intelligence 22 (+25% -> +3.75, +4.5, +4.5, +5.5 )

[Skills:] Ninefold Fortune(Mythical), Shadow Bind(Legendary), Shadow Dweller(Legendary), Blade Whirl(Epic), Shadow Cloak(Epic), Enhanced Senses(Rare), Mana Coating(Rare), Iron Fortress(Rare), Blazing Arc(Rare)

[Attribute Points:] 13

[Skill Points:] 13

[Equipment:] Ring of Darkness (Legendary), Chaos (Pesudo-Legendary), Mana Earring (Epic), Robe of Darkness (Epic), Mask of Thousand Faces (Very Rare), Platinum Spear (Very Rare), Platinum Dagger (Very Rare), Mana Ring(Rare), Iron Necklace (Rare), Backpack (Rare), Iron Boots (Rare), Iron Armor (Rare), Health Potion (Rare), Mana Potion (Rare), …

→ [Mana Coating (Rare)]

The skill allowed him to wrap mana around parts of his body, enhancing his control over it. And now, it would serve as the perfect foundation.

He let the mana flow into his right hand first. A faint shimmer outlined his fingers as they pulsed with energy.

Step one was simple—coating his own body with mana.

His control was steady, smooth. The flow responded instantly, outlining his palm with a soft blue glow.

Step two—the hard part.

Arthur exhaled slowly as he pushed his mana outward, beyond his own body, guiding it into the leaf.

The moment the energy left his fingertips and seeped into the delicate object, he felt it—a slight resistance.

It was like trying to hold water in his hands without spilling a drop. The mana dispersed too quickly, failing to hold its shape.

'That's the trick.'

It wasn't enough to simply push mana into the leaf. It had to be controlled, balanced—just enough to reinforce it without breaking it.

Too much mana? The leaf would crack.

Too little? The energy wouldn't hold.

Around him, other students struggled with the same challenge. Some grew frustrated, their leaves crumbling in their hands. Others tried to force it, brute-forcing their way through. But it only resulted in breaking the leaf.

Arthur remained calm.

Patience was key.

He felt the leaf, let his mana settle into it gently.@@novelbin@@

Slowly, carefully, he formed a single line of mana down its center.

The leaf pulsed.

And then—

Snap.

It split cleanly down the middle, two perfect halves falling to either side of his palm.

A soft chime echoed in his mind.

[Ding! You have learned the skill 'Mana Control (Uncommon).']

Arthur smirked slightly at the notification. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

He lifted his gaze toward the instructor.

The man was still floating above them, watching. Without hesitation, he pointed at Arthur.

"Pass."

Arthur remained in place, waiting.

The others who had passed weren't moving either.

'We aren't done yet.'

He watched as more students struggled, some failing repeatedly, others making slow progress.

He watched as more students struggled, their frustration mounting with every failed attempt.

Some clenched their fists, glaring at the small leaves in their hands as if sheer anger could will them into submission. Others bit their lips, eyes darting toward the instructor, hoping—begging—for some kind of hint from the students who had passed, some kind of mercy.

None came.

The test was simple in concept but brutal in execution. It wasn't about strength. It wasn't even about speed. It was about control—an attribute far rarer than raw power.

Arthur was observing the students around him since he had nothing to do. He had already passed, his leaf split cleanly in two with ease.

But the others?

They were failing.

The minutes bled away.

Only Five minutes left.