Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons - Chapter 558

558: Level 25 has been reached!

[2] 558: Level 25 has been reached!

[2] The transformation was tangible; he could feel the increased power flowing through his body, his muscles responding with more power, his mind processing information with enhanced clarity, his mana reserves deepening substantially.

“This explains why second-order represents such a massive power gap,” Arthur murmured, flexing his hand experimentally.

“It’s not just about gaining a domain.

The fundamental stat increase creates a multiplicative effect that makes first-order opponents almost irrelevant.” “Ooh!

Master feels different!” Aether observed with his characteristic enthusiasm.

“More strong!

More powerful!

Like Master ate a super-duper power-up mushroom!

Even I feel stronger too, I can also feel something buried in me…waiting to awaken.” “That’s your domain, Aether.

We need to awaken our domain through something called a trial.” Arthur smiled at his companion’s innocent analogy, but his mind was already calculating the implications.

With doubled attributes and domain awakening imminent, he had crossed a threshold that separated ordinary powerful beings from true apex predators.

The Wind Hawk, despite being level 27, had fallen before him.

The Tidal Flamingo, the Winter Beast, the Golden Mane King-all legendary creatures that now served him rather than opposing him.

“What is that trial, Master?” Aether asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Arthur shrugged before turning towards the Winter Beast.

“Can you explain?” The Winter Beast nodded its massive head, ice crystals falling from its horns as it prepared to share knowledge gained through its own second-order awakening.

“Domains are awakened after the person who reaches the threshold successfully passes the trial of comprehension.

A domain is essentially the higher understanding that you gain of your talent-the fundamental understanding, not the shallow surface-level knowledge you possessed before.” The Winter Beast paused, allowing Arthur to process this foundational concept before continuing.

“What you’ve been using until now represents basic applications of your talents.

True mastery requires comprehending the underlying principles, the deeper truths that govern how your powers interact with reality itself.” Arthur’s eyes widened with sudden recognition as understanding crystallised.

He immediately pulled up his status screen again, focusing on a detail he’d noticed before but not understood.

[Talent:] Primordial Summoner (SSS) [0%], Evolution Pathway (SSS-Rank), Lucky (SSS) [0%], Space (SSS) [0%] The percentages.

The zeros that had appeared next to three of his four talents.

It finally made sense-these numbers represented his comprehension level, his fundamental understanding of each talent’s true nature.

“The percentages,” Arthur said aloud, realization flooding through him.

“They’re measuring how deeply I understand my own abilities.” “Correct, Master,” the Winter Beast confirmed.

“Once you reach the 10% threshold in any talent, you will awaken a domain related to that specific power.

The trial of comprehension is essentially a catalyst-a booster that allows you to enter an enhanced state of understanding to help you achieve this breakthrough for the first time.” “If you fail to awaken your domain during the trial, you can still achieve it naturally during your lifetime through constant meditation, combat experience, and gradual enlightenment.

Most second-order beings awaken their domains through this slower natural process rather than succeeding in the trial.

However, even those who fail the trial gain substantial benefits-the experience pushes them significantly closer to the 10% threshold, making eventual awakening much more achievable.” Arthur absorbed this information carefully, his mind already calculating strategies for maximising his chances of success.

But one critical question remained.

“What if you have more than one talent?” Arthur asked, gesturing at his status screen where four SSS-rank abilities were listed.

“Do I face multiple trials?

Can I awaken multiple domains?” The Winter Beast looked at him with an expression that might have been amusement if its features allowed such subtlety.

It shook its massive head slowly.

“I don’t know, Master.

I genuinely don’t know anyone who possesses multiple talents, nor do I have them myself.

Every being I’ve encountered throughout my existence has awakened a single domain related to their one inherent ability.

Your situation is…

peculiar.” The admission carried weight-even legendary creatures with decades or centuries of experience had no knowledge that could guide Arthur through what he was about to face.

“So I’m in uncharted territory, interesting,” Arthur muttered, though the prospect seemed to excite rather than concern him.  “Ooh!

Does that mean Aether gets a trial too?” the void dragon asked with sudden excitement, bouncing on Arthur’s shoulder.

“Aether wants to do the comprehension thingy and get a super cool domain like Winter Beast friend!” When he had levelled up to 25, the experience hadn’t just affected him-it had cascaded through his summoning bond to all his contracted creatures.

Every single beast he commanded had levelled up to 25 alongside him, receiving the same attribute boosts and unlocking the same potential to awaken domains of their own.

His summons had simultaneously reached the second-order threshold.

Aether.

Bloom.

Cackle Queen.

Mane King.

Neko, everyone who hasn’t awakened their domains.  They’ll all need to go through their own trials, Arthur realised with growing comprehension of the massive transformation about to occur.

Every beast I command is about to potentially awaken their own domain.

“Yes, Aether,” Arthur confirmed, reaching up to gently pat his companion’s small head.

“You’ll face your own trial of comprehension.

All of you will.” The implications were staggering.

If even a fraction of his summons successfully awakened domains, Arthur would command an army of second-order beings-each one capable of territorial manipulation that could reshape battlefields.

The Winter Beast’s telepathic voice carried something approaching concern.

“Master, you should be aware that the trial is intensely personal and often dangerous.

It forces you to confront the fundamental nature of your power, including aspects you may not wish to acknowledge.

Some fail not because they lack comprehension, but because they cannot accept what their talents truly represent.” Arthur nodded slowly, understanding the warning but feeling no hesitation.

He had built his entire strategy around accepting uncomfortable truths and exploiting them ruthlessly.

Whatever the trials revealed about his talents’ true nature, he would face it without flinching.

“When do these trials begin?” Arthur asked with some excitment.