Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons
Chapter 364 - 364: Global Fracture (2)

Tokyo - Shibuya District

Yuki Tanaka had spent the past months grinding levels as a player with a B-rank talent. Her Ice Manipulation talent had carried her through countless runs, earned her respect in her village, and built her reputation as someone who never quit.

Until now.

Her apartment building shook as defective demons scaled its exterior walls. Through her window, she watched other buildings fall to the horde. Watched neighbours become victims.

Her phone buzzed constantly. Family messages.

"Yuki, are you safe?"

"The news says Tokyo is under attack."

"Please respond."

Her grandmother lived six blocks away. She was an elderly woman who was helpless and alone.

Yuki's ring stood there like an invitation to sin.

Safety waited in Armageddon's realm.

She looked at her phone again. Her grandmother's contact information glowed on the screen.

Save myself or save her? Can't do both.

The building shuddered again. Closer now.

I worked so hard for this power. Can I really give up my future for my grandma...

Her reflection stared back from the darkened window—a young woman facing an impossible choice.

Some things matter more than levels.

Yuki pocketed her phone and headed for the door.

Arthur's Hospital Room

The countdown timer pulsed with urgency.

Arthur watched through his window as the world held its breath.

His credibility was on the verge of being damaged. And the political consequences were yet to come.

But across the planet, millions faced choices that would define their character forever.

CRACK!

The hospital's reinforced glass spider-webbed under massive impact. Arthur spun toward the sound, the photon weapon in his hand already tracking movement.

They're coming in.

Through the fractured window, burning eyes stared into the room.

"Movement on all vectors!" The team leader's voice cracked through their comms.

"Multiple contacts ascending exterior walls!"

BOOM!

The building's foundation trembled as something massive struck the lower levels. The emergency lighting flickered, making the situation worse than it already was.

They're trying to bring down the whole structure.

Gates raised his photon weapon, energy cells charging its attacks.

"Arthur, we need to—"

CRASH!

Glass exploded inward as three defective demons burst through the weakened window simultaneously.

Their multi-limbed forms moved in various ways, claws carving through air that should have resisted them.

Arthur's reflexes kicked in, the photon beam lancing toward the nearest threat.

The concentrated energy punched through corrupted flesh, burning tissue in microseconds.

First kill. Not the last.

The remaining demons split apart, using the room's furniture as cover. Their tactical awareness suggested that they were no longer reckless; they knew that the humans in front of them were dangerous, not prey like the others outside.

They're evolving their strategies.

"Hostile breach!" The team leader's weapon discharged in rapid succession, each shot painting the walls with brilliant light.

Zap! Zap! Zap!

One demon crumpled, its torso vaporised by concentrated photon fire. The other used its companion's death as a distraction, launching itself toward Gates with killing intent.

Move!

Arthur's spatial instincts tried to activate, meeting the crushing reality of inability.

No teleportation. No dimensional manipulation.

I'm still a mortal...I'm still vulnerable.

Gates dove sideways, his photon weapon tracking the airborne threat. The demon's claws raked across his shoulder, shredding fabric and flesh in equal measure.

RIIIP!

"Gates!" Arthur's beam found the creature mid-flight, energy boring through its skull in a spray of black ichor.

Got it. But Gates is bleeding.

More impacts echoed from the corridor outside.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

"They're in the building!" One of the security team shouted into his headset. "Floors three through seven compromised!"

The whole hospital is under siege.

Gates pressed his hand against his wounded shoulder, crimson seeping between his fingers. "My Shoulder's torn up, but I can still fight."

Adrenaline. The best painkiller.

Through the shattered window, Arthur glimpsed the true scope of their situation. The hospital's exterior crawled with defective demons like ants on a hill. Dozens of them, scaling walls with their powerful grip.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Gunfire echoed from multiple floors as security teams engaged throughout the building. The conventional weapons of hospital guards stood no chance against the large number of demons flooding in, but they bought precious seconds.

Every second counts.

One of Arthur's security team, a young woman with cybernetic arm modifications, cried out as claws found gaps in her armour.

CLANG!

The attacking demon's talons scraped against the reinforced plating, but its secondary arms wrapped around her throat.

She's in trouble.

Arthur pivoted, his photon weapon charging for maximum discharge. The energy cells glowed white-hot as power built.

His shot vaporised the demon's head and most of its upper torso, but the feedback made him recoil.

'That's not sustainable.' Arthur hissed. The recoil had almost damaged his shoulder; luckily, he was fine.

The wounded operative fell to her knees, gasping through an almost crushed windpipe. Her partner immediately moved to provide cover, photon beams creating a defensive perimeter.

Despite being professionals, they are being overwhelmed. The number of demons is simply terrifying.

CRACK! BOOM!

Something struck the building's support structure. Dust rained from the ceiling as the hospital groaned under stress.

They're not just trying to kill us. They want to bring down the whole building.

More demons poured through the window, their numbers increasing despite the constant casualties they were facing. Each fallen creature was replaced by two more, an endless tide of corruption and malice.

Where are they all coming from?

The team leader's voice carried new urgency.

"Sir, we need immediate evacuation! The building's integrity is compromised!"

Running isn't an option.

Arthur's eyes found Charlotte's room through the chaos. His sister lay unconscious, unaware that hell had come calling.

I won't abandon her.

"Negative on evacuation," Arthur commanded. "We hold this position. It's a closed corridor, they don't have much space to hide behind, we can pick them off all together."

Whatever it takes.

Gates wiped blood from his eyes, raising his weapon despite his injury. "Arthur's right. We don't run."

Gates showed loyalty, even in the face of death.