Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 594: Origin Sanctuary [2]

Before they knew it, darkness started forming around them. Not natural shadow, but something deeper—the void-black of Arthur's domain activating, Origin Sanctuary reasserting itself with overwhelming authority.

Then, before they could process what was happening, thousands of beasts started appearing around them.

Wolves materialised in packs of dozens. Bears emerged from the shadows with bone-crushing presence. Demons—superior-rank entities that had terrorised entire cities—spawned in organised formations. Serpents, goblins, wyverns, creatures of every type, Arthur had personally killed throughout his journey.

The bunker that had felt spacious moments before suddenly became claustrophobic, packed with snarling, growling, hostile creatures that surrounded the two hundred humans in concentric circles of teeth, claws, and murderous intent.

And every single beast was under Arthur's absolute control.

The awakeners' desperate hope shattered like glass.

James immediately stepped forward, his mind processing the impossible situation faster than anyone else. Currently at level 21 with an S-Rank Blue Flame talent, he was the strongest fighter present, America's second-best awakener after Arthur himself.

But second didn't mean he was even close to Arthur's level. The difference in strength was akin to the difference between the sky and the earth.

James's sharp eyes catalogued the beasts surrounding them with growing horror. He could see multiple creatures that could shred him individually. And there were hundreds of them. Thousands.

This wasn't a fight. This was an execution waiting to happen.

James's blue flames died completely as understanding crystallised with absolute clarity. There was no winning this. No fighting their way out. No heroic last stand that would save anyone.

There was only one option that might preserve their lives.

Before anyone could stop him, James dropped to one knee, his head bowing in formal submission.

"I pledge allegiance to you," James declared, his voice carrying across the chamber with absolute clarity.

There was no hesitation or pride. Just survival instinct overriding everything else.

The chamber fell into shocked silence.

Their strongest fighter. Their greatest hope. The S-Rank awakener they'd believed would lead them against the "monster" Arthur Fate.

He'd knelt without even attempting to fight.

Seeing James—the epitome of American awakened strength—submit so completely and immediately, the dam broke.

Everyone else dropped to their knees in a cascading wave of surrender.

"WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO YOU, OH FATELESS!" The shout erupted from two hundred throats simultaneously, desperation and terror making them speak as one.

Donald knelt just like everyone else, on one knee. Raymond knelt despite trembling legs. Military officers, government officials, powerful awakeners—all of them dropping to the ground like puppets with cut strings.

Even Ryker Fate, who'd been shouting about killing Arthur moments before, collapsed to his knees with a strangled sound. His face burned with humiliation and rage, but survival instinct overrode pride. His teeth were grinding so hard that Arthur could hear them from across the chamber.

Those who possessed forms that resembled humans knelt; those who possessed forms that resembled beasts lowered themselves to the surface of darkness. All of them kneeling before the young man, as if welcoming a new lord, a new monarch, their sovereign.

Looking at the scene—two hundred of America's elite fighters and officials grovelling at his feet, begging for mercy from the person they'd abused—Arthur laughed.

He laughed until a few drops of tears flowed from his eyes, the sound echoing through the bunker with dark satisfaction.

When his laughter finally subsided, Arthur looked at them—each and every human who'd participated in using Charlotte against him. His expression carried no mercy and no forgiveness.

"Now?" Arthur's voice dripped with mockery. "Now you want to pledge allegiance? After everything you did, after using my dying sister as leverage, after trying to kill me with a fucking MOAB—now you decide submission is the appropriate response?"

He shook his head slowly. "No, no. That's not how it works."

Arthur's smile widened, gaining a predatory edge that made several awakeners whimper.

"How about I give you a chance, oh great protectors of humanity?" His tone carried venomous sarcasm. "If any of you manage to leave even a single scratch on my armour, I'll accept your proposal. What do you say?"

James, still kneeling, raised his head slightly. As the de facto leader of this doomed assembly, the responsibility fell to him to respond.

James didn't answer immediately. Contemplating Arthur's offer. Eventually, James asked carefully, "A duel? Which one of us do you want to face?"

Arthur chuckled, the sound carrying dark amusement.

"Any of you, all of you! It doesn't matter, I won't even use my talent."

The offer hung in the air like a death sentence disguised as mercy.

James's mind raced through implications. Arthur was offering them a seemingly impossible challenge—land one scratch on his armour—while handicapping himself by not using his most powerful abilities.

But there was a catch. There was always a catch.

If they accepted and failed, Arthur would have justification for whatever came next. Not that he didn't know, but knowing that they had a chance to change their fate made it worse.

They'd have proven themselves incapable of even scratching him when given every advantage, demonstrating how completely he'd surpassed them.

And if they refused, they'd be admitting defeat without even trying, accepting whatever fate Arthur deemed appropriate without resistance.

Either way, Arthur had already won.

James looked back at the other awakeners—some still prostrated, others kneeling upright, all of them watching him for guidance on how to respond to this impossible situation. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Finally, he met Arthur's eyes directly.

"If we accept this challenge and fail," James said quietly, "what happens to us?"

Arthur's smile lost all warmth, becoming something cold and terrible.

"Then I'll show you exactly what happens to people who use a dying girl as leverage against her brother. And trust me, James—you'll wish I'd simply killed you all when you first entered this bunker."

The promise carried absolute sincerity, and every person present understood they were facing something far worse than quick death.

James took a breath, then rose to his feet with careful deliberation.

"Then we accept your challenge, Arthur Fate. All of us against you. No talents on your side."

His blue flames reignited, burning with desperate determination.

"If there's even the slightest chance of survival, we'll take it. Because the alternative is unthinkable."

Behind him, the other awakeners began rising as well, weapons appearing, talents activating, coordinating positions as they prepared for the most important fight of their lives.

Arthur simply stood there, arms crossed, waiting with patient amusement as two hundred of America's strongest prepared to fail spectacularly at the simplest possible task.

Landing a single scratch on his armor.

The Fate family's revenge was about to become a lesson in overwhelming superiority.