Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

General Malthorn stepped forward from the assembled court, his own presence diminished to insignificance by proximity to his king. The displays floating before him showed Earth's current state, nations falling, rifts expanding, human resistance crumbling in most regions.

"My lord, the culling proceeds within acceptable range," Malthorn reported with detachment. "Approximately sixty-seven percent of the human population centres have been eliminated or compromised."

The court erupted in sounds that approximated laughter.

Their laughter was harsh and cruel. You could feel the evil intention taking form, just from hearing them laugh.

"And our losses?" Bael'zarok inquired, though his tone suggested the answer held minimal importance.

"Negligible, my lord," Malthorn replied with the same indifference one might use to discuss the disposal of garbage. "Approximately two thousand units eliminated across all theatres of operation."

The number represented an enormous quantity of supernatural death by human standards, but in the context of the Demon Realm's infinite populations, it was statistically meaningless. More importantly, the nature of those losses made them not just acceptable but actively beneficial to demonic society.

"Excellent," Bael'zarok observed with satisfaction. "The disabled, the weak, the genetically inferior specimens that have been polluting our realm for millennia. Their elimination serves multiple purposes."

The demons possessed no emotional attachment to concepts like kinship or species loyalty.

Their society operated on pure hierarchical dominance where strength determined worth, and weakness justified extinction. The creatures being sent through the rifts weren't valued soldiers; they were the demonic equivalent of disabled children, genetic mistakes, and evolutionary failures that stronger demons viewed as eyesores.

"The Earth realm is providing an excellent disposal service for our undesirable populations. Rather than expending time on eliminating them within our own territories, we simply transport them to die against the other's resistance."

The strategy was brutally efficient from a demonic perspective. Earth's dimensional rifts served as convenient waste disposal systems that eliminated unwanted demon populations while simultaneously weakening human civilisation. The creatures dying in such large numbers weren't losses; they were successful waste management.

As for the prospect of humans getting stronger through the weaklings they sent, well, they can try. No matter how many ants they kill, they can never kill a behemoth.

Prince Malthorn continued answering questions and relaying information about Earth. He hid facts that he deemed beneficial to his development and said the ones that weren't.

Bael'zarok's approval carried through the throne room like a wave of malevolent energy. "Let them exhaust themselves fighting our refuse. When they have spent their strength eliminating our weak, we will send forces worthy of the designation 'army.'"

The true demonic military hadn't even begun mobilising. The creatures currently pouring through Earth's rifts were essentially prison populations and genetic rejects whose deaths served demonic interests better than their continued existence. When the actual invasion commenced, humanity would face opponents operating on completely different scales of power.

"How long do we estimate before the disposal phase concludes?" Bael'zarok asked with the casual interest of someone timing a minor administrative process.

"Conservative estimates suggest a day or two for complete elimination of undesirable demon populations through Earth operations, whilst also making sure that we are getting enough benefit from them," Malthorn replied after consulting the projections. "At that point, we can take over the human realm with our warriors, who will take them like a demonic storm in a dark night."

The demonic court's reaction suggested this timeline met their expectations perfectly.

Two more days to dispose of unwanted populations while simultaneously destroying human civilisation represented exceptional efficiency by their standards.

"Maintain current rates," Bael'zarok commanded with authority.

...

"Continue using Earth as our elimination facility until either human resistance collapses entirely or our undesirable populations have been successfully purged. Also, make sure you notify me of any major changes in the progress. Malthorn, nothing can go wrong. Understood?"

Malthorn nodded his head in understanding, his expression carefully controlled to show appropriate deference. It wasn't like he could say no to the bastard before him—Bael'zarok was much older and much more powerful, his authority backed by millennia of accumulated strength that made resistance suicidal at his point of development.

Although he hated to admit it, the bastard in front of him had unknowingly handed him a golden opportunity on a silver platter.

While Malthorn knew that Bael's purpose in assigning Earth to him wasn't because the assignment was important, but because it would keep him occupied with "minor" duties that would slow his rise through the demonic hierarchy, the reality was far different from appearances. Bael had actually given him access to a hidden gem of unprecedented value.

Earth previously possessed all the surface parameters of a weak, insignificant civilisation—primitive technology, fragmented political structures, and no magical development except for the few that were chosen by Armageddon.

But Earth's actual capabilities were nothing like what the initial assessments suggested.

Malthorn's private intelligence reports told a story that differed dramatically from what he shared with the court. The deaths weren't approximately two thousand as he had reported. No, the real numbers had crossed that threshold long ago, and the casualties were now approaching tens of thousands of demon units eliminated.

Which meant one thing that sent excitement coursing through his consciousness: There was a powerful champion on Earth. A champion so extraordinarily capable that if Malthorn could bring him under his wing for the right price, his own power would skyrocket beyond his wildest ambitions.

The implications were staggering. Champions were theoretical possibilities that rarely materialised into practical advantages. Although in theory every world should produce a champion when blessed by mana, reality proved far more disappointing.

Most died during early encounters, others couldn't handle the pressure of their responsibilities, and various other factors eliminated the champions before they could reach meaningful power levels.

But whenever a world performed like Earth was performing—elimination of epic-rank demons like they were nothing, it meant that world had produced a genuine champion. And not just any champion, but one who possessed not only powerful talents but also accumulated resources, advanced equipment, and intelligence that transformed theory into devastating reality.

Malthorn's mind raced with possibilities. Although his own talent ranked at S+ rather than the SS rank typically reserved for champions, he felt no fear of Earth's champion. On the contrary, anticipation burned in his consciousness like liquid fire.

The level difference between them would be like the difference between sky and earth—incomparable gaps in fundamental power that transcended talent rankings entirely. No matter how strong the human champion's talent might be, their levelling progression and soul power development couldn't possibly match someone who had spent his life accumulating strength in the Demon Realm's brutal hierarchy.

Malthorn was confident he could crush any newly awakened champion with his fingers, regardless of their talent's theoretical potential.

But crushing the champion wasn't his objective. No, his ambitions ran far deeper than simple elimination. If he could capture this champion, study their methods, perhaps even corrupt them into willing service, the knowledge and resources gained would propel him past rivals who had dismissed him as irrelevant.

Let Bael'zarok and the other older princes continue believing Earth was a disposal operation for unwanted demons. While they focused on maintaining their positions within existing power structures, Malthorn would be building relationships with forces that could reshape the balance of power entirely.

The champion represented more than just individual strength, they were proof that Earth possessed hidden potential that could be harvested and exploited. Resources and techniques could be converted into assets serving Malthorn's rise through the demonic hierarchy.

His assignment to Earth hadn't been a punishment. It had been destiny delivering opportunity disguised as exile.

Malthorn's smile was predatory as he contemplated the future, his mind already crafting strategies for making contact with Earth's champion under circumstances that would serve his long-term interests rather than merely achieving conquest.

...

As the demons plotted in their distant realm, Arthur had already begun making his way towards the Winter Beast's territory, his mind focused on the final territorial search for the elusive Pyro's Lotus that Charlotte desperately needed.

With both Pride, the former King of Golden Manes, and the Cackle Queen now serving as his guides, Arthur no longer required the Golden Beetle's territorial knowledge. He had recalled the creature back to his summoning space.

The legendary duo led him through the forest with their combined knowledge of regional boundaries and fast travel routes. Pride's golden form moved with regal grace through terrain he had dominated for decades.

With their supernatural speed, they covered the distance to the Winter Beast's domain in approximately five minutes of steady travel. The journey felt remarkably brief considering they were approaching what was potentially the most dangerous encounter Arthur had faced.

Arthur had deliberately chosen not to teleport directly to their destination, despite his spatial manipulation abilities making such travel effortless. When facing an opponent capable of wielding domain abilities, arriving on foot provided crucial tactical advantages that instant transportation couldn't match.

Teleporting into unknown territory risked materialising within the Winter Beast's domain itself, where Arthur would immediately face the creature's environmental advantages and reality-warping capabilities. Ground travel allowed him to detect the domain's boundaries before crossing them, providing opportunities to assess the supernatural effects and plan appropriate countermeasures.

Moreover, approaching gradually would give Arthur time to observe the Winter Beast's territory, identify potential weaknesses in its territorial control, and coordinate tactical approaches with his summons before committing to direct confrontation.

As they neared the edge of the Winter Beast's frozen domain, Arthur could already feel the temperature beginning to drop unnaturally, indicating they were approaching the threshold where normal forest gave way to supernatural winter that defied natural climate patterns.

The final hunt was about to begin.