Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

They didn't wait for the goblins to come to them. Instead, Arthur and Gates moved forward.

The goblins shrieked and growled as they were alerted by their approach.

Soon, they stood face-to-face with the horde.

[Goblin King (Pseudo-Elite)]

[Level:] 5

[Description:] Every decade, a goblin is born with the strength and cunning to lead its kind. Known as the Goblin King, this creature wields a weapon forged from scavenged metals and commands absolute loyalty from its kin. It is larger, stronger, and far more intelligent than any goblin under its rule.

The Goblin King stood at the centre of the group.

Its green skin was marred with scars, and its eyes shone with a cruel intelligence. It held a massive spear in one hand.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "He is indeed a boss, this is going to be tough, but it's manageable as long as we stick to the plan."

Gates glanced at the horde of smaller goblins surrounding the King. "It's barking out orders," he muttered.

Arthur's smirk widened slightly. "Let it bark, as long as it doesn't bite we should be fine."

Gates rolled his eyes at Arthur.

"Still cracking jokes?"

Arthur chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.

"Jokes are scientifically proven to reduce stress."

...

Arthur raised his hand, summoning Hank whilst Borak stood beside him.

The swirling energy of the summoning portal coalesced, and within moments, the hawk onto the battlefield. The presence of the summoning portal was enough to make the goblins momentarily hesitate, their shrieks growing louder as they adjusted to the new threat.

"Hank, harass the archers on the goblin king's back and keep them from interfering! Borak, follow me. We will go straight for the Goblin King and keep it distracted!" Arthur's voice was firm, cutting through the chaotic battlefield.

His summons didn't hesitate for even a second, leaping into action.

Hank spread his wings and launched into the air, his eyes locking onto the goblin archers on the goblin king's back.

With a sharp cry, he dove down at one of the goblins, his talons gleaming as they raked across the goblin's face.

The goblin screeched, clutching at its wounds as it toppled backwards, falling off the basket with a loud crash.

The Goblin king was naturally not idle, he tried to attack Hank with his spear but failed miserably as the hawk circled around his head.

Hank ascended again, circling before targeting another archer. This time, he aimed for the goblin's bow, snapping it in half with a powerful strike.

The remaining archers panicked, their shots growing wild and inaccurate as they tried to fend off the relentless hawk. Hank's hit-and-run tactics left them disoriented, their attention entirely diverted from the ground battle.

Arthur narrowed his eyes at the towering Goblin King, its snarls echoing through the battlefield. His grip tightened on his dagger as he gave Borak a meaningful glance. "Borak, we're only delaying until Gates reinforces us. Do not take any risks," he said firmly,

The first meaning was clear and simple.

Play it safe and stall the King until Gates can finish clearing the remaining goblins and join them. To Gates, this seemed like a cautious and rational approach, especially given the difficulty of the fight.

But the second meaning was for Borak alone. Borak let out a low snort, his eyes flashing as he understood the hidden message.

Hold back your full power, don't reveal your true strength, and focus on defence.

Arthur smirked faintly. "Let's do this," he muttered, stepping into position as Borak charged forward.

Borak slammed into the Goblin King, locking tusks against his spear with a loud clang. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the small area, and Borak staggered back a few steps. But the Goblin King held his ground, his massive body acting as an unyielding wall.

Arthur darted around the edges of the fight, staying just out of the Goblin King's immediate range. Whenever the King raised his weapon to strike at Borak, Arthur dashed in, slashing at his legs or arms to divert his focus.

-15HP

The Goblin King swung his spear in a wide arc, his movements surprisingly fast for his size. Borak sidestepped the attack at the last moment, retaliating with a headbutt that made him stumble back once again.

"Good, Borak. Stay calm," Arthur called out, his tone calm but focused. To Gates, it seemed like he was giving instructions to coordinate their defence. But in truth, Arthur was carefully managing the fight to ensure Borak didn't get angry and show too much strength.

As the Goblin King let out another roar, several goblins from the remaining group decided to target Arthur. They shrieked, charging toward him with their weapons raised.

Arthur's eyes flicked to the incoming goblins. "Gates!" he called out. "These stragglers are yours. Keep them off me!"

Gates, who had just finished cutting down another goblin, turned toward the new threat. "On it!" he shouted, rushing forward to intercept the goblins before they could reach Arthur.

Arthur didn't waste the opportunity. He pivoted smoothly, dodging one goblin's spear thrust by mere inches, then sliced upward with his dagger, cutting across its chest in a clean strike.

-20HP

"Don't let them surround you," Arthur added, glancing over his shoulder at Gates. He noticed Gates was holding his own well, dispatching goblins in groups with his Sword Slash skill.

Arthur returned his focus to the Goblin King, who was now pushing harder against Borak. The massive goblin thrust its spear forward, aiming for Borak's side. Borak twisted at the last second, using his tusks to parry the attack and knock the spear away.

Arthur seized the opening, darting in to deliver an accurate slash to the King's exposed arm.

The King bellowed in rage, swinging wildly in Arthur's direction, but Arthur was already gone, retreating back to the safety of Borak's defence.

"Patience," Arthur muttered under his breath, his eyes shining slightly. "Let Gates finish his part first. Then we can deal with you properly." He watched as Borak continued to play his role perfectly, deflecting attacks and creating openings for Arthur to land accurate, but weak strikes.

The Goblin King bellowed again, this time louder and more guttural, its roar shaking the very ground beneath Arthur and Borak.

Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly, observing the subtle changes in the Goblin King's posture. The way its massive hands tightened around the spear, the faint glow now radiating from its weapon—it was clear as day to him. Find more chapters on empire

"He's going to use a skill," Arthur muttered under his breath.

Arthur considered his options in a fraction of a second. A boss's skill was no joke—it would deal heavy damage and could easily kill normal players. Still, Arthur made no move to command Borak to retreat. If they dodged it too easily or reacted too quickly, it would raise suspicions.

'This isn't about showing off,' Arthur thought, the wheels turning in his mind. 'If Gates sees us avoid this without a scratch, it'll look unnatural. Gotta keep it realistic, he isn't stupid after all.'

Arthur raised his voice, keeping his tone casual but with a subtle tone of urgency. "Borak, keep pestering him. Don't let up. Do not move away from him!"

The hidden meaning wasn't lost on Borak. The massive boar snorted, pawing at the ground as if preparing for another charge.

Arthur smirked inwardly, the plan unfolding perfectly in his mind. 'Tank the hit, Borak. Show Gates just enough struggle to make this fight look believable.'

The Goblin King raised its spear high, the glow around it intensifying into a blinding crimson aura. The ground beneath it cracked and splintered, the sheer force of the skill's charge-up sending vibrations through the air.

Spearquake Slam!

Arthur grimaced outwardly, shock and fear creeping into his voice. "Borak he activated a skill, Damn it! Brace yourself!"

Borak let out a loud roar, standing firm as the Goblin King slammed its spear into the ground with a deafening impact.

A shockwave rippled outward, sending jagged cracks through the earth. The force of the skill knocked Arthur back a step, his feet digging into the dirt to regain balance.

Borak staggered his bdoy buckling under the sheer force of the Goblin King's Spearquake Slam. Dust and debris scattered in the air as he stumbled back, his tusks scraping the ground to steady himself.

To any person observing the fight, it looked like Borak had barely managed to recover, his health bar flickering ominously.

Arthur turned toward Gates, his face a mask of urgency. "Borak's almost done for! We can hold this guy for another ten, maybe fifteen seconds max!" His voice carried a tinge of frustration, designed to further sell the illusion of their desperate struggle.

Gates frowned, visibly unsettled by the situation. The change in his demeanour was subtle, but Arthur caught it. The flicker of doubt, the momentary hesitation—it was exactly what Arthur wanted.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I'm working on it!" Gates barked, his tone darker now.

With a grim expression, he tightened his grip on his sword and plunged back into the fray, his attacks becoming more ferocious as he cleared the remaining goblins.

Blue arcs of energy from his Sword Slash carved through the small, shrieking goblins, reducing their numbers with each swing.

Arthur's lips curved into a faint smirk that he quickly concealed. 'Caught you, Gates. You were holding back to gauge me, weren't you? Trying to see how strong I am?'

The thought amused Arthur. 'You're not as subtle as you think, Gates. We are both playing the same game."

Arthur's mind raced as he maintained the façade of struggle.

Borak let out a growl, pretending to charge forward while deliberately pulling his strikes just enough to seem sluggish and weakened. Arthur darted around the Goblin King's flanks, his hits barely chipping away at the Goblin King's health.