Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 579: Charlotte’s First Fight [1]

Charlotte eagerly grabbed the Light Shield book, and it too dissolved into radiance—this time golden-white motes that represented protective magic rather than destructive flame. The knowledge integrated seamlessly, adding itself to Charlotte's growing magical repertoire.

"I have attack and defence skills now," Charlotte said with growing confidence. "This is incredible, Arthur. I actually feel like I could fight something."

"You could," Arthur confirmed. "Though we're starting you with supervised training rather than throwing you into combat immediately. Your infinite mana means you can practice these skills endlessly without worrying about exhaustion, so you'll master them quickly."

He reached into his storage again. "But before we test them, you need a good staff."

---

Arthur withdrew an elegant weapon from his spatial inventory—an epic-rank staff he'd been saving for exactly this purpose. The wood was white, fitting for Charlotte's beautiful silver hair, with intricate silver runes carved along its length that pulsed with magical energy. At its top sat a crystal that gleamed with inner light, designed to amplify spell power significantly.

[Staff of Eternal Flow]

[Rank: Epic]

[Details:

+45 Intelligence

+30% Spell Damage

+25% Mana Regeneration (Not that Charlotte needs it)

Special Effect: Reduces casting time by 15%]

"This should suit you perfectly," Arthur said, offering the staff to Charlotte. "It's designed for mages who focus on sustained casting—which is exactly what you'll be doing with infinite mana."

Charlotte accepted the staff with reverent care, her hands wrapping around the smooth wood. The moment she made contact, the runes flared briefly as the weapon bonded with her, recognizing its new wielder.

"It feels... alive," Charlotte whispered, sensing the magical currents flowing through the staff. "Like it's responding to my mana."

"Because it is," Arthur confirmed. "Epic-rank equipment has rudimentary awareness. It'll help you channel your spells more efficiently and amplify your damage output substantially."

Charlotte gave the staff an experimental twirl, surprisingly graceful despite her recent recovery. Aether chirped encouragement from his perch on her shoulder, clearly approving of the weapon choice.

"So... can we test it now?" Charlotte asked with barely contained eagerness. "Please?"

Arthur smiled at his sister's enthusiasm. "Yes. Aether, take us to Village #420. The starting area where I first entered Armageddon."

"Ooh, going to the place where Master started his adventure!"

Whoosh!

Reality folded as Aether teleported them across vast distances, the guild headquarters dissolving into streams of spatial energy before reforming into the familiar clearing outside Village #420.

Charlotte looked around with wide eyes, taking in her first real view of Armageddon beyond the medical room where she'd been confined. The forest stretched in all directions, ancient trees rising toward a sky that seemed subtly wrong compared to Earth—colors slightly more vivid, air carrying traces of ambient magic.

"This is where you started?" Charlotte asked, her voice carrying mixture of curiosity and concern. "Fighting monsters alone with nothing?"

"More or less," Arthur confirmed, dismounting and helping Charlotte down carefully. "Though I had the aloof cat that you saw earlier, Hank, that you will meet soon and some basic equipment. The early days were... something."

He led her through the village quickly, pointing out key locations—the safe zone boundaries, the merchant stalls, the respawn point where players appeared after death. Charlotte absorbed everything with sharp attention, her mind clearly already working despite her lack of combat experience.

"The village is safe," Arthur explained as they passed through. "But once we enter the forest, monsters will be hostile. We're going to find you something to fight to gain a good amount of experience from."

They ventured deeper into the woods, Arthur's spatial senses extending outward to map nearby threats. His enhanced perception detected dozens of creatures—rabbits, wolves—but most were too high level for Charlotte's first real combat experience.

Then he found what he was looking for.

A lone wolf, level 8, prowling through the underbrush about fifty meters ahead. Strong enough to provide a real challenge, but not so overwhelming that Charlotte would be in genuine danger with Arthur present.

"There," Arthur pointed, and Charlotte followed his gesture to spot the wolf emerging from behind a tree.

The creature was larger than Earth wolves, easily reaching Charlotte's waist in height. Its fur was dark grey with hints of blue, and its eyes glowed faintly with the unnatural awareness all Armageddon creatures possessed. Muscles rippled beneath its pelt as it prowled forward, and its teeth gleamed sharp when its lips pulled back in a snarl.

GRRRRR...

The wolf spotted them immediately, its predatory instincts identifying Charlotte as the weaker target. It began approaching with deliberate menace, paws silent on the forest floor.

Charlotte's grip on her staff tightened, but Arthur noted with approval that she didn't panic. Her breathing remained controlled, her stance steady despite obvious nervousness.

"Remember," Arthur said quietly, his spatial manipulation ready to intervene at the first sign of actual danger. "You have infinite mana. Don't conserve it. Cast as many fireballs as you need. Focus on distance and accuracy."

Charlotte nodded, raising her staff as the wolf broke into a charge.

SNARL!

The beast accelerated, covering ground rapidly as it lunged toward the seemingly vulnerable mage.

Charlotte's staff glowed as she channeled mana through its focus, the Fireball skill activating instinctively.

FWOOSH!

A sphere of concentrated flame materialized at the staff's tip, roughly the size of a basketball, burning with orange-red intensity. Charlotte thrust the staff forward, and the fireball launched with surprising speed.

BOOM!

The projectile struck the charging wolf directly in its shoulder, exploding on impact. Fur ignited, flesh burned, and the creature yelped in pain as it stumbled, its charge disrupted.

But it wasn't dead.

The wolf recovered quickly, shaking off the burns with impressive resilience. It circled to the side, trying to flank Charlotte from a different angle.

Charlotte didn't freeze or hesitate. She immediately backpedaled, creating distance while her staff glowed again with mana as she prepared to launch her skill once more as the cooldown finished.

FWOOSH!

Another fireball launched, this one aimed at the wolf's new position.