Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 596: Ryker’s Turn

"It appears to me that you failed," Arthur said quietly, his voice carrying absolute finality across the chamber of broken bodies. "It's my turn now."

The words landed like a death sentence.

Those still conscious enough to understand felt ice flood their veins. The summoned beasts that had remained stationary throughout the one-sided battle began moving, circling the defeated awakeners with predatory anticipation.

Arthur's gaze swept across the scattered bodies before settling on one specific figure attempting to crawl away from the beasts.

Ryker Fate, his ribs shattered from Arthur's earlier strike, dragged himself across the floor with desperate, whimpering sounds. Blood leaked from his mouth where internal injuries manifested, his Enhanced Strength talent doing nothing to help him now.

"Start with him," Arthur commanded coldly, pointing at his cousin.

Three massive wolves and two demons responded immediately, their movements swift and coordinated. They descended on Ryker before he could crawl more than a few feet, powerful jaws clamping around his limbs and dragging him back toward the centre of the domain.

"NO! NO PLEASE!" Ryker's scream echoed with pure terror as the beasts hauled him through the assembled awakeners. "JAMES! HELP ME! DO SOMETHING!"

James, still conscious despite his broken arm, looked up from where he knelt. His eyes met Ryker's desperate gaze for a long moment—and then he simply looked away, his expression unreadable. Whether he was searching for an opportunity to intervene or simply too scared to act remained ambiguous.

But he did nothing. Said nothing. Just watched as the beasts dragged Ryker closer to Arthur.

"JAMES! YOU'RE S-RANK! YOU CAN'T JUST—" Ryker's pleading cut off as the beasts slammed him down in front of Arthur, powerful claws pinning each of his limbs to the ground. He was held spread-eagled, completely immobilised, staring up at the cousin he'd tormented throughout childhood.

Tears and snot streamed down Ryker's face as absolute terror overwhelmed any remaining pride. "Arthur! Please! We share blood! We're family! Please forgive me!"

His voice cracked with desperation. "I'll become your loyal dog! I'll do anything! I'll serve you faithfully! Just please, please don't kill me! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry for everything!"

Arthur stared down at his cousin with an expression of absolute coldness, no mercy or sympathy visible in his eyes. He knelt slowly, bringing his face level with Ryker's.

"Family?" Arthur's voice was soft, almost conversational. "You mean like how your father was 'family' when he kicked us out of our home? How you were 'family' when you laughed at us on the streets?"

CRACK!

Arthur's hand moved in a blur—a slap with just enough force behind it to shatter every tooth in Ryker's mouth. The sound of breaking enamel mixed with Ryker's agonised scream as blood exploded from his lips, fragments of teeth scattering across the floor.

"AHHHHH!" Ryker's scream dissolved into gurgling as blood filled his mouth.

But even through the pain and horror, his survival instinct drove him to keep trying. "Pweath! Pweath Arfur! I'll—" The words were barely intelligible through his ruined mouth, blood bubbling with each syllable.

Arthur's expression didn't change. He simply turned his head toward one of the demons holding Ryker down.

"Take his tongue out; his voice is irritating me," Arthur commanded with detachment.

The demon's clawed hand moved, forcing Ryker's jaw open despite his desperate attempts to keep it closed. Sharp talons reached into his mouth, found the tongue, and with one brutal yank—

RIIIIIP

The wet, tearing sound was visceral and horrifying. Ryker's scream reached a pitch that didn't sound human, blood pouring from his mouth in a steady stream as the demon held up his severed tongue like a trophy.

Ryker could no longer speak, only produce broken, whimpering sounds through the blood and destroyed flesh. His eyes were wide with shock and agony, tears streaming continuously as his body trembled with trauma.

Charlotte watched from her position, her expression conflicted but determined. This was horrifying, yes—but she'd promised to stand beside Arthur. To support whatever justice he deemed necessary.

Arthur stood slowly, looking down at his mutilated cousin with eyes that held no pity.

"You know, Ryker, I remember every single time you bullied me. Every push, every insult, every time you stole my things and laughed when I couldn't get them back."

He circled the pinned body slowly, his voice never rising.

Ryker's whimpering intensified, his remaining ability to communicate reduced to desperate, animalistic sounds.

"I remember thinking, back then, that maybe if I just endured it, maybe if I just survived long enough, things would get better. That time would balance the scales eventually."

Arthur's smile was cold and terrible to those watching. "Turns out I was right."

He stopped circling, standing directly in front of Ryker's agonised face.

"Your father," Arthur continued, and Ryker's eyes widened with fresh terror at the mention. "Old Richard, the man who stole our inheritance and condemned us to homelessness while he stole our parents' house." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Arthur leaned down, ensuring Ryker could see every detail of his expression.

"Don't worry about being alone where you're going, cousin. Your father will be joining you very soon. I'm going to find him, and he's going to experience something far worse than what you're about to. He took years from us. I'll take eternity from him."

The promise carried absolute sincerity, and Ryker's broken whimpering took on a note of complete hopelessness.

Arthur straightened and turned toward the assembled beasts surrounding them.

"Eat him alive," Arthur commanded, his voice carrying no emotion whatsoever. "Make sure he experiences hell. Take your time. Keep him conscious as long as possible. I want him to feel everything."

The beasts moved with eager hunger, dozens of creatures converging on Ryker's immobilised body. Wolves, demons, and serpents, all with teeth and claws designed for tearing flesh.

Ryker's final coherent sound was a gurgling scream that cut off abruptly as the first wolf's jaws closed around his throat, not to kill, but to hold him still while others began their work.

What followed was visceral and brutal.