Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 358: Preparing for the merge

After giving his speech, Arthur turned towards Jasmine and gave her a nod.

Jasmine smiled, returning the gesture with a smile that radiated her confidence.

Arthur then turned towards the players and spoke.

"Does anybody want to return to Village #420? If so, come to me."

Around fifty people gathered around him, their faces mixing relief with anticipation.

Arthur raised his hand, space itself beginning to respond to his will. Reality tore open like silk, revealing a swirling vortex of dimensional energy.

The assembled players stared in fascination at the spatial tear.

The raw power required to rip through dimensions and transport them seven hundred kilometres was beyond their comprehension.

"Step through," Arthur instructed. "It's perfectly safe."

One by one, the players entered the portal. Their expressions of awe never faded—witnessing such a casual display of overwhelming power left lasting impressions.

After the last player disappeared through the dimensional gateway, Arthur closed the portal with a thought.

Space sealed itself, leaving no trace of the transportation.

Time to check on the guild, I need to talk to Gates before we return and prepare for the merge.

Arthur withdrew his city token. This would take him directly to Caldera's central plaza.

No need to waste energy on long-distance jumps when I could use the city token.

Space wrapped around him as the token activated. The familiar sensation of dimensional travel carried him across vast distances in an instant.

When his vision cleared, Arthur stood in Caldera's bustling plaza. But something had changed during his absence.

The traffic has stopped.

Players who had been in the queue for his guild had decreased by a large portion. More importantly, many wore a familiar symbol on their chests.

The black flag of the Power Guild. Interesting.

His recruitment efforts were bearing fruit faster than expected. The global announcement of the first recognised player guild had drawn significant attention, and Arthur took advantage of that.

Arthur made his way toward the guild headquarters, noting how the crowd's behaviour shifted in response to his approach. Players stepped aside respectfully, recognising his authority.

His face had become known in the city of Caldera, the face of Azarel. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

The massive doors of Power Guild headquarters swung open at his approach. Inside, the marble reception hall buzzed with activity, new members registering, quests being assigned, the organised chaos of a thriving organisation.

This is what success looks like.

Arthur spotted Gates immediately. The man stood near the central quest board, directing a steady stream of new recruits.

He's been busy.

Arthur approached, noting how Gates's subordinates formed a protective perimeter around their leader.

Oliver Blackthorn stood to one side, also handling the recruitments.

"Gates," Arthur called out.

His partner turned, relief flooding his features. "Azarel! Perfect timing. We need to talk."

Gates gestured toward a private alcove away from the crowd's attention. Arthur followed, curious about what developments had occurred during his absence.

"How many new members?" Arthur asked once they'd found relative privacy.

"Over five hundred applications in the past hours," Gates replied. "We're processing them as fast as possible, but the volume is overwhelming."

"We have already accepted three hundred, many of them had also taken the daily quests, wanting to complete them so they can start gaining the benefits of being guild members rather than guild recruits."

Three hundred. That's... significant.

Arthur nodded, impressed by the rapid growth. The guild was expanding faster than even his thoughts had suggested.

Three hundred active members. That's a proper organisation now.

"Alright. I want you to bring some weaker subordinates of yours to handle the recruitment for now. Try and bring them now, because the merge is coming soon..."

Arthur's perception picked up the familiar countdown notification in his peripheral vision.

[01:05:20]

Only an hour left on Earth before the merge happens.

The reality of their timeline hit him like cold water. Whatever was coming would arrive within the hour on Earth and two here, and they needed every advantage they could gather.

Gates's expression shifted to solemn understanding.

"I'll get them immediately."

Without hesitation, Gates activated his logout sequence. His form shimmered before dissolving into particles of light.

Arthur used the brief respite to survey the guild hall's activity.

New members clustered around quest boards, forming parties for their first missions. The energy was infectious—hope and determination radiating from every conversation.

A few minutes later, Gates materialised back into the guild hall. His expression carried the satisfaction of someone who'd accomplished their task efficiently.

"They will be coming shortly," he reported. "It will take them a few minutes to arrive."

Good.

Arthur positioned himself near the entrance, watching as the massive doors responded to approaching presences.

His spatial senses detected multiple figures outside—five distinct aura signatures moving toward the guild headquarters.

Gates ordered five people.

The doors swung open, revealing Gates's reinforcements. Four individuals entered with confident strides, their movements suggesting familiarity with high-stakes situations.

But the fifth figure stopped at the threshold.

What's wrong?

"I can't enter. Why?" The man said, confusion evident in his voice.

He was young, perhaps mid-twenties, with sharp features and expensive gear. His repeated attempts to cross the threshold met invisible resistance.

The guild's automatic screening system.

Arthur frowned, turning toward Gates. "Is that your subordinate?"

Gates nodded, but seeing Arthur's expression, understanding dawned in his eyes. "Yes, that's Joseph. He's been with the company for—"

Something's wrong. Very wrong. Gates thought as he suddenly felt a bad feeling in his heart.

Arthur's mind turned cold, running through possibilities. The guild's screening system was absolute—it prevented entry to anyone with genuine malicious intent toward the organisation.

If he can't enter, that means...

Arthur activated his administrative privileges, temporarily overriding the guild's security restrictions. The barrier dissolved, allowing the young man to stumble forward.

"There we go," Joseph said, relief evident in his voice. "Must have been some kind of glitch."

No glitch. The system worked exactly as designed.

Arthur moved closer to Gates, his voice dropping to barely audible levels.

"You made a mistake," he whispered.

"One that could have been fatal had he gotten closer to your inner circle."