Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 444: Golden Mane (2)

"I didn’t understand at the time, so I asked her why. Her words still echo in my memory: ’The pack will come. That man is already dead and doesn’t know it.’

She was right.

A few days later, right here in this very region, that same human was found and ambushed. The entire pack had come for him. Not one or two, but all of them. Males, females, even the old battle-worn alphas. He tried to run. He tried to hide. It didn’t matter.

They knew.

They tracked him with a precision that defied logic, and when they caught up... he didn’t stand a chance. He was torn apart, not just for vengeance, but as a warning to others.

That’s the Golden Mane way."

Arthur nodded thoughtfully, though he wasn’t particularly worried about the Golden Mane pack. The beetle’s description suggested they were pack hunters who relied on numbers and persistence rather than individual overwhelming power. Unless their leader was a powerful superior-rank or legendary-rank creature at level twenty-five or higher, dealing with them would be as simple as eating cake.

...

Arthur nodded thoughtfully, though he wasn’t particularly worried about the Golden Mane pack. The beetle’s description suggested they were pack hunters who relied on numbers and persistence rather than individual overwhelming power. Unless their leader was a powerful superior-rank or legendary-rank creature at level twenty-five or higher, dealing with them would be as simple as a walk in the park

However, the pack’s persistence could present logistical complications. If they truly hunted their targets across unlimited distances, engaging them might create ongoing problems that could interfere with his primary mission objectives.

"Tell me more about these Golden Manes," Arthur requested. "What do they look like? How large is their pack? And most importantly, what level of power does their leader possess?"

The beetle’s mental voice took on the tone of someone recounting dangerous legends. "They are massive feline predators, master, each standing nearly as tall as myself at the shoulder. Their manes are literally golden, not just in colour, but composed of metallic fibres that can deflect most physical attacks. The pack contains approximately twenty to twenty-five individuals, though exact numbers are difficult to determine since they rarely gather in one location."

Arthur’s interest sharpened. The fact that they had metallic fibres proved that they had strong defensive capabilities.

"As for their leader," the beetle continued with obvious reverence, "the pack is commanded by what the forest creatures call the Mane King. I have never seen him directly, but his roars can be heard from my territory when he becomes angry. The sound alone causes lesser creatures to flee in terror, and even I feel compelled to retreat deeper into my domain when I hear it."

This was more concerning. A creature whose mere vocalisations could intimidate a superior-rank beast suggested power levels that demanded serious consideration.

"The Mane King’s roar carries such force that it actually damages the surrounding vegetation," the beetle added. "Trees crack, smaller creatures are stunned unconscious, and the very air seems to vibrate with lethal energy."

Arthur processed this information carefully. A creature capable of weaponising its voice indicated either specialised sonic-based skill or raw power that exceeded normal. Either possibility suggested the Mane King operated at a strong level, possibly approaching legendary rank.

"What about the other territories?" Arthur asked, his gaze steady. "You mentioned the Golden Manes dominate the north. What lies in the other directions?"

The beetle’s mental voice changed, its tone lowering as it surfed through layers of instinctive memory. "To the east lies the domain of the Thornback Matriarch," it said. "A colossal creature—imagine a fusion between a porcupine and a bear, but far more aggressive and far less forgiving. Her body is covered in razor-edged quills that secrete paralytic toxins, and her strength is immense."

It paused before continuing, the weight of ancient fear leaking through its mental projection.

"Her territory is easy to recognize. The trees are stripped of bark, their surfaces covered in claw marks so deep that even my mandibles couldn’t match them. Bones litter the forest floor, many of them arranged in strange, deliberate patterns—possibly warnings, or perhaps trophies."

Arthur’s brow furrowed slightly at the mention of the Matriarch. "You said anything that enters is found later—drained of fluids?"

"Yes," the beetle confirmed. "Every living creature that crosses into her territory uninvited ends up the same—paralysed, slowly drained of all bodily fluids. It’s unclear whether she feeds like that out of necessity or cruelty, but either way, she leaves nothing behind but husks." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Arthur’s mind turned over the information quickly. The drainage pointed to either advanced vampiric physiology or the use of paralytic venom combined with slow metabolic feeding. A predator with patience, intelligence, and a pathological need for control. Dangerous.

"She’s solitary," the beetle added, "but her reach is wide. Even the Golden Manes avoid her forest edges. They’ve learned—better to face a pack than walk into the Matriarch’s silence."

Arthur nodded, understanding what the beetle meant.

"What about the west? Who holds control of the west side?" Arthur asked, interested.

"To the west," the beetle continued, its mental voice taking on a tone of genuine disgust and wariness, "lies the territory of the Laughing Death pack, a collection of hyenas that have evolved far beyond their natural cousins."

Arthur’s attention sharpened at the mention of hyenas, his mind immediately recalling the Crimson Hyenas he had encountered in Regulus’s hidden realm. If these creatures were related, they could prove significantly more interesting.

"These are not ordinary hyenas, master," the beetle emphasised, its compound eyes reflecting a mixture of revulsion and wariness. "Each individual stands nearly four feet at the shoulder, with jaws capable of crushing stone and teeth that seem to regenerate endlessly. Their fur ranges from deep crimson to black, and their eyes... their eyes glow with an intelligence that suggests they understand far more than they should."

The beetle paused, clearly accessing deeper memories that somehow disturbed its normally composed demeanour.