Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

The decision clearly went against established military doctrine, but Arthur's casual immunity to small arms fire and sudden appearance in a helicopter had convinced command that conventional protocols were inadequate for dealing with such individuals.

"We'll contact Leroy immediately and arrange a meeting at his current operational location," Command continued with resignation that reflected their lack of viable alternatives. "Please understand that appropriate security measures will be implemented regardless of your cooperation with identification procedures."

Arthur's smile carried satisfaction at achieving his immediate objectives despite their security concerns. "Acceptable terms. I appreciate your approach to unusual circumstances."

After the communication ended, the higher-ups immediately activated priority channels to reach Australia's champion, their conversation carrying obvious stress about the unprecedented nature of the situation they were coordinating.

"Leroy, this is Command with emergency priority communication," the voice transmitted through his enhanced equipment. "We have a... complex situation requiring your immediate attention. An unidentified individual possessing extraordinary capabilities has demanded a direct meeting with you. He claims diplomatic intentions but refuses standard identification protocols."

Leroy paused his training of other awakeners as he processed this information. An unidentified individual powerful enough to compel command cooperation was dangerous for sure.

"Extraordinary capabilities?" Leroy asked with growing interest. "Can you be more specific about what we're dealing with? What rank is his talent? A-Rank? or even S-Rank?"

"His talent rank is currently unidentified. He refused to give out information. However, he has complete immunity to small arms fire; he possibly has the ability of stealth due to his ability to suddenly appear in a helicopter," Command replied with obvious concern. "Our personnel describe his presence as... intimidating beyond normal."

Leroy's eyebrows rose with genuine intrigue. Such capabilities suggested someone operating at levels that approached his own S-rank abilities—a rare encounter that could prove either threatening or beneficial depending on the individual's true intentions.

"Interesting," Leroy mused with the confidence of someone who had never encountered a threat he couldn't handle. "I'll accept the meeting. Arrange coordinates for a neutral location near my current site."

Command's relief was audible as they began coordinating meeting logistics. "Confirmed. We're also dispatching several A-rank awakened to your location as security support. Given the individual's refusal to provide identification, this could potentially be a hostile action from international sources attempting to compromise your safety."

Leroy's laugh carried the assured confidence that had made him Australia's designated champion. "Understood and accepted."

The meeting arrangements proceeded despite everyone's concerns about the mysterious individual's true identity and ultimate objectives. Australia's leadership had little choice but to accommodate someone whose demonstrated power exceeded their ability to resist effectively.

...

Australian command centre immediately began coordinating security arrangements for the unprecedented meeting, their protocols demanding maximum protection for the nation's most valuable awakener.

"Dispatch five A-rank awakened to Leroy's current training site," the commanding officer ordered with tactical precision. "Priority deployment—use emergency transport to ensure they arrive before the unidentified individual reaches the location."

The selected A-rank operatives represented Australia's elite supernatural forces, individuals whose capabilities had proven themselves through Armageddon's events. Their combined presence would provide substantial defensive capability if the meeting proved hostile rather than peaceful.

"Confirmed, sir. Strike Team Alpha is mobilising immediately," came the rapid response from deployment coordination. "ETA fifteen minutes to target location."

Command then transmitted the meeting coordinates to both Leroy and the helicopter carrying Arthur, ensuring all parties could converge at the designated neutral site near the active training grounds where Australia's champion had been developing the next generation of awakened defenders.

"Coordinates transmitted to both parties," the communications officer reported. "Meeting site selected at Grid Reference Tango-Seven-Seven, approximately two kilometers from primary rift containment zone."

Receiving the coordinates through the helicopter's navigation system, the pilot immediately adjusted their flight path toward the designated meeting location. The aircraft banked smoothly as its trajectory aligned with the new destination.

"ETA ten minutes to target coordinates," the pilot announced through the aircraft's internal communication system.

Arthur settled back in the helicopter's passenger compartment with apparent patience.

While Arthur could certainly have teleported directly to the meeting site—a journey that would have taken mere milliseconds rather than the ten minutes required for helicopter transport—such a demonstration would have almost definitely compromised his carefully maintained identity concealment.

Despite his physical transformation through the Mask of a Thousand Faces, Arthur recognised that his spatial manipulation abilities were too distinctive to remain anonymous. There weren't many people operating at his publicly apparent power level, and certainly not many with publicly known space talents that matched his capabilities.

The combination of spatial teleportation, power, and the causal immunity to conventional weapons he had just demonstrated would create a profile that intelligence analysts could match against his very well-known profile.

Arthur's supposed death at Installation Seven had been widely reported and apparently accepted by most international intelligence services, but his survival would become immediately apparent if he displayed the exact combination of abilities that had made him globally infamous.

The helicopter approach provided necessary cover for maintaining his anonymity while still demonstrating sufficient power to compel cooperation from Australian military leadership. They knew he was extraordinarily capable, but they didn't yet know exactly who he was.

This balance was crucial for Arthur's broader strategic objectives. He wanted to recruit Leroy through displays of power and opportunity rather than through the complications that would arise if his true identity became known immediately.

International politics surrounding Arthur Fate's apparent death and subsequent activities would create complications that could interfere with straightforward recruitment negotiations.

It was better to keep his identity hidden, not because he was afraid or because he needed to. But simply because he wanted to. He wanted his enemies to feel at peace, to feel safe. Then, when their time came, they would feel true helplessness and true despair.

The helicopter continued its steady approach toward the meeting site, carrying Arthur toward what could prove to be either a valuable recruitment success or the beginning of more complex international complications, depending on how smart the people he was meeting were.

Was Leroy going to pick the right decision and follow Arthur?