Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 278: Lupin’s evolution.

"I almost forgot about my shadow," Arthur muttered, palm smacking against his forehead. He'd been so caught up in Charlotte's rescue that his living shadow had completely slipped his mind.

He reached out with his consciousness, feeling the familiar tether. Still there. Still intact, even after his real-world teleportation.

The shadow remained exactly where he'd sent it.

Arthur established contact, the connection solidifying instantly.

Unlike normal communication, the shadow spoke directly to his mind—not with words, but a different kind, mainly through sensation.

Arthur nodded, processing the information. "Okay, so there isn't a limit to the shadow's range, at least not in the city."

He commanded the shadow to return, already calculating how this would factor into his plans.

As he strategized his next move, a notification pinged—the distinctive chime of his Evolution Pathway talent activating.

A slow smile spread across Arthur's face. "It seems someone has reached their evolutionary requirements."

He checked the notification, unsurprised by what he found.

'Lupin. Makes sense. He was already close, and with him in the village, it would be easy to complete the requirements.'

The system data appeared before him:

<Lupin: Elite>

Focus: Before specialising in a certain field, Lupin must first reach epic grade. The requirements below are to evolve Lupin to become Epic Grade.

<Requirements:>

<Kill 75 Wolves (75/75)>

< Instil fear in 75 Wolves. (75/75)>

—

[Would you like to evolve Lupin?] [Yes|No]

Before accepting, Arthur reached out telepathically. "Lupin. I can evolve you now. Do you want to evolve?"

The response came instantly, eager and hungry: "Yes, master."

Arthur pressed [Yes] without hesitation.

Miles away, in the forest outside Village 420, Lupin began to transform.

Jasmine stopped mid-sentence as the wolf beside her began to shimmer with intense light. She took a step back, shielding her eyes.

"Guys! Something's happening to Lupin!"

The twins, Cain and Abel, jogged over from their patrol position, weapons half-drawn.

"What the hell?" Cain squinted at the glowing wolf. "Is he dying?"

"I don't know," Abel said, scratching his head. "Do I look like a veterinarian to you? Maybe he's constipated or something. I don't know how wolves work."

Cain punched his brother's arm. "Constipated? Seriously? He's glowing like crazy."

"What? It could be a really bad case!" Abel protested, rubbing his arm. "Maybe that's how wolves show digestive distress!"

"By turning into a star?" Jasmine snapped, exasperated. "Stop being idiots and help me figure this out!"

Theodore was about to speak, but the light surrounding Lupin intensified, forcing them all to back away. His form began to change, growing larger, muscles rippling beneath his fur as if moving independently.

Lupin rose up on his hind legs, his body stretching.

[Lupin has successfully evolved to Epic-grade]

Arthur smiled as the notification flashed.

[Race:] Canis lupus

[ID:] Lupin

[Level:] 20

[Talent:] Enhanced Speed (B-Rank)

[Health Points:] 220

[Mana Points:] 190

[Magical Damage:] 19

[Physical Damage:] 22

[Damage Resistance:] 22

[Attributes:] Strength 22, Agility 30, Vitality 22, Intelligence 19

[Skills:] Scent Tracker (Rare), Howl of Fury(Very Rare), Phantom Stride(Epic)

[Attribute Points:] 7

[Skill Points:] 11

"Oh? He got a new skill? It's epic too. Let's see what it's about," Arthur muttered, clicking on the skill details.

—

<Phantom Stride>

<Rank: Epic>

<Active>

<Description: For 3 seconds, your movement speed increases by 150%.You leave behind afterimages that confuse enemies. Killing an enemy during Phantom Stride resets the skill's cooldown (Only once per use). Has a cooldown of 3 minutes.

—

"Not bad," Arthur muttered.

After checking Lupin's new status, Arthur decided to check his too.

'I didn't check my status when i reached level 20,'

[Race:] Human

[ID:] Fateless

[Level:] 20

[Class:] Shadow Monarch (SSS)

[Talent:] Primordial Summoner (SSS), Evolution Pathway (SSS-Rank), Lucky (SSS), Space (SSS)

[Summons:] 18/40

[Health Points:] 240

[Mana Points:] 280

[Magical Damage:] 28

[Physical Damage:] 21

[Damage Resistance:] 24

[Attributes:] Strength 21, Agility 24, Vitality 24, Intelligence 28 (+25% -> +5.25, +6.00, +6.00, + 7.00 )

[Skills:] Ninefold Fortune(Mythical), Living Shadow (Mythical), Shadow Bind(Legendary), Shadow Dweller(Legendary), Blade Whirl(Epic), Shadow Cloak(Epic), Enhanced Senses(Rare), Mana Coating(Rare), Iron Fortress(Rare), Blazing Arc(Rare)

[Attribute Points:] 19

[Skill Points:] 19

[Equipment:] Ring of Darkness (Legendary), Chaos (Pesudo-Legendary), Mana Earring (Epic), Robe of Darkness (Epic), Loki's Mask(Epic), Flame Orb (Epic), Mask of Thousand Faces (Very Rare), Spirit Core x2 (Very-Rare) Platinum Spear (Very Rare), Platinum Dagger (Very Rare), Mana Ring(Rare), Iron Necklace (Rare), Backpack (Rare), Iron Boots (Rare), Iron Armor (Rare), Health Potion (Rare), Mana Potion (Rare), …

After checking his status, Arthur was planning his next steps.

After checking his status, Arthur was planning his next steps.

'The meeting of the guild council is tomorrow...I also have classes at the academy, and I need to head back to the village...so much hassle.' He barely had time to finish the thought when a familiar presence brushed against his mind.

George.

The thief sent him a telepathic message.

Arthur remembered their first meeting vividly: George trying to pickpocket him in Caldera, the quick struggle, the even quicker death.

Most would have left it at that, but Arthur wasn't most people. He'd summoned George's spirit, bound it to his service, and discovered something interesting—the thief had been sent by the bartender Arthur had questioned about land purchases.

'Master,' George's voice slithered into Arthur's mind. 'He's once again visiting that area.'

Another evening, another secret meeting. This bartender had been making suspicious trips for weeks, but Arthur never had time to investigate. Between the academy, guild business, and preparing for the merge, low-priority intel had to wait.

But now...

'I might as well get my payback and check what this bartender is up to.' With a thought, Arthur vanished from the guild hall, reappearing in a dark Caldera alleyway.

...

Outside his now-empty guild hall, five figures dressed in black cursed their luck.

"Damn it! His presence disappeared again!" The leader slammed his fist against the wall. "He hasn't been leaving through normal means. It must be an item or ability inside the guild that lets him vanish like this because he is only able to do it there."

They'd been watching for so long, hoping to catch Arthur outside the city's protection. But he only traveled between the academy and guild, never using gates or roads like normal people.

"We just have to wait," another figure sighed. "We can't take action in the city anyway."

...

Arthur slipped through Caldera's roads, his features hidden behind one of Loki's mask presets, he was just another forgettable face in the city.

George waited at their designated spot.

"Where?" Arthur asked, scanning the street.

George pointed toward a row of buildings. "The one with their house lit."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "There are three houses with lights on in that direction."

"Master, their next-door neighbors don't have their houses lit."

"Alright." Arthur spotted it now—a modest two-story building sandwiched between darkened homes.

As he stepped forward, a familiar presence crept near him. His living shadow had returned, and merged with him.

He refocused on the task at hand. The bartender.

Arthur unsummoned George and walked toward the house at a casual pace. There was no need to rush, it's not like the bartender could escape when Arthur had him in his line of sight.

Stopping at the door, Arthur raised his hand.

Knock-knock.