Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

With proper training, he could potentially create weapons that manipulated space itself—blades that cut through dimensional barriers, arrows that traveled impossible distances, shields that redirected attacks into pocket dimensions.

"You look like you've had fun in that class," Elara commented as they left the forge.

"It was fun," Arthur replied.

After the end of their final class, Arthur parted ways with Elara and Sarah.

He had to go back to the village to check on the group of Jasmine, Theodore and the others.

...

Alone in his guild headquarters, Arthur had time to process the day's events.

The Academy curriculum would complement his existing abilities perfectly. Creature Taxonomy would help him better understand and utilize his summons, whilst also learning the weaknesses of certain monsters.

'It could prove useful, although the monsters are too weak to learn about as of now,' he thought. 'I need to know about Legendary-Rank threats, not elite-rank beasts.'

Alchemy could enhance his healing capabilities, providing support options beyond raw power.

'I have infinite storage due to the guild's ability. So in theory, I would be able to concoct almost any potion I need from the herbs and resources I will have stored in the guild.'

The possibilities were extensive—performance enhancers for his warriors,

History provided context for the world's mysteries. He barely knew anything about Armageddon, and it was incredibly hard to learn things that would actually prove useful. The academy provided a good source of information, even if they weren't fully accurate.

And Blacksmithing would let him weaponize his spatial talents.

'Everything is going well...' he thought, as he took out the protector's insignia.

With a thought, he activated it, teleporting back to the village forest. Light enveloped him momentarily, then cleared to reveal towering trees.

He had already switched his mask to that of the Swordmaster. The persona felt natural now—one of three faces he wore in this world.

Next, he checked up on Aether through their telepathic connection.

"How are you doing, Aether? Are you enjoying hanging out with your friends?"

The dragon's response came immediately, bubbling with childlike enthusiasm. "Skyla and Hank are amazing friends! We hunted down some beasts and ate them. Although they tasted slightly yucky, it was still a nice experience!"

"That's good," Arthur replied, a small smile forming despite himself. The dragon's innocence was refreshing.

His choice of picking Hank and Skyla to hang out with Aether had proven wise. The hawks kept the dragon entertained.

Next, he had to go to the village to meet with Charles and the appointed warriors he had chosen. Today was their first practice test.

He could have teleported directly into the village, but chose not to.

'I have to show myself every now and then. Otherwise, the people will not be pleased. I have promised to solve their problems too,' he thought, heading towards the village.

Players leveling up in the outer fields spotted him first. Word spread quickly—the Swordmaster was spotted. By the time he reached the main gate, a small crowd had gathered.

"Swordmaster!"

The players started giving their problems, Arthur dismissed some that were obviously not his duty whilst answering the ones that he could help with.

"Swordmaster, you promised that you would help us!" One of the players, Arthur, had dismissed said with an aggravated tone.

Arthur's lips twitched.

"Are you serious? You want me to help you marry a villager? Can you even hear yourself?" He said, feeling somewhat baffled at the player's shamelessness.

"Just...A few gold coins to help with my dowry..." He said, rubbing the back of his head.

The other players chuckled, telling Arthur not to pay him any mind.

After talking to the players for a while, Arthur continued toward Charles' office.

...

"Protector! Thank god, you are back. The warriors have been...challenging."

"How so?" Arthur asked as he sat down in the wooden chair across from Charles.

"Let's just say some have stronger personalities than others." Charles grimaced. "The twins nearly burned down the training ground yesterday. And that healer, Jasmine? She refused to treat Theo after he criticized her technique."

Arthur frowned slightly.

He had wanted the team to understand that they would be fighting life and death together, but it seemed like these people still didn't take it that seriously, even in training.

"Did she heal him eventually?"

Charles nodded. "She did. But not before he apologised."

"I see," Arthur said, still frowning.

It was good that Theodore had left his ego aside. He could have refused to apologize and simply drunk a healing potion.

They weren't in a life and death situation anyway. The fact that he apologized proved that he didn't do it just for the healing, but to de-escalate the tension between them.

'I chose the correct leader,' Arthur thought.

"Okay." He stood up, adjusting his mask. "Bring me to them."

Charles looked relieved to be delegating the problem.

...

The training ground lay inside Charles' office, it was mainly for exclusivity and to stay away from the eyes of their enemies. He had cleared an area and placed it with practice dummies, archery targets, and basic obstacle courses. The sixteen warriors stood in a loose formation, straightening when they spotted Arthur approaching.

Theodore stepped forward. "Swordmaster, we're ready for your instruction."

Arthur surveyed the group. The twins, Cain and Abel, fidgeted with barely contained energy. Jasmine stood slightly apart, her healer's staff clutched tightly. The others watched with varying degrees of anticipation and nervousness.

"I hear you've been busy in my absence," Arthur said, his voice carrying across the field. "Burning training grounds. Refusing to heal teammates."

Several warriors looked down. The twins shuffled their feet.

"Is this how you plan to face real threats? With petty squabbles and a lack of discipline?"

"No, Swordmaster," Theodore answered for the group.

"When I selected you, I believed you had potential. Was I wrong?"

"No, Swordmaster!" they responded in unison.

Arthur paced before them, letting the tension build. "The monsters are growing bolder and stronger. The village needs defenders it can rely on—not children playing with new skills."

He stopped directly in front of Jasmine. "A healer who refuses treatment endangers the entire unit. Even if you weren't in real combat, and merely in training."

She met his gaze without flinching. "He said my technique was wasteful. That I was using too much mana for simple wounds."

"Was he right?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

The question caught her off guard. "No. He was also condescending about it."

Arthur turned to Theodore. "And a leader who can't communicate effectively endangers everyone equally. I have chosen you as a leader, not to teach your members how to use their talents. But to coordinate them, and communicate."

Theodore nodded, bowing his head in shame. "I've learned my lesson, Swordmaster. I'm willing to take any punishment.

He gestured toward the mountain looming in the distance. "Today, we begin real training. You will stay in the wilderness until further notice. No, returning to the village. No backup. Just your skills, your teamwork, and whatever you can carry."

Murmurs spread through the group.

"Today, I'll re-evaluate your current abilities. Divide into combat pairs. Show me what you've learned with your new skills."

They scrambled to organize themselves, the atmosphere shifting from tense to focused.

The training session progressed better than Arthur had expected. The skills he'd granted them were being put to good use, even if the technique needed refinement. The twins had indeed gotten better, their combination attacks proving strong.

Jasmine's healing was remarkably effective, whilst her combat skills weren't bad in the slightest. She was as strong in combat as some of the main combat units.