Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Chapter 129 Protector of the village, the Knight.

Arthur stumbled slightly as he stepped through the tree, his boots landing on what felt like solid ground, though the air around him was far from normal. The space inside the tree was vast—far larger than its exterior suggested. It was dimly lit, bathed in an eerie green glow that seemed to pulse rhythmically, like a heartbeat.

Thin, twisting branches covered the walls and ceiling, their bark glowing faintly as they intertwined in complex patterns. The air was thick, almost alive, humming faintly with an unnatural energy.

Arthur's sharp eyes scanned the space, narrowing as they landed on the figure at the center of it all.

It's him.

The knight from his vision.

The man was suspended in the air, surrounded by countless glowing branches that wrapped around his body like chains. They twisted around his arms, legs, and torso, holding him in place, while faint green light emanated from within the wood. His once-shining armor was cracked and dulled, his body pale and gaunt.

Arthur's eyes widened in shock. His voice was almost a whisper. "It's you. You're alive."

The knight stirred, his head lifting slowly. His movements were weak, almost labored, but when his gaze met Arthur's, there was a faint smile on his lips.

"Hello, future protector." His voice was low and raspy, but it carried a warmth that cut through the oppressive atmosphere. "Congratulations on passing the trial... and fulfilling the conditions my original self placed long ago."

Arthur blinked, his sharp mind immediately latching onto the odd phrasing. "Original self?" he thought, frowning slightly, but he chose not to interrupt. He crossed his arms and waited, letting the knight speak.

The knight's smile faltered, his head lowering slightly as though the effort of speaking was taking a toll.

"I don't have much time left." His voice was quieter now, each word slow and deliberate. "I've been waiting here... for a very, very long time." He paused, his eyes closing briefly as he seemed to gather his strength.

Arthur stood motionless, his sharp gaze fixed on the knight.

"No one strong enough had come before you," the knight continued, his voice carrying the weight of centuries. "For years, I watched... hoping someone worthy would step forward. But one by one, they all failed. And with every failure, my hope faded. I began to wonder if that was it."

The green light from the branches pulsed faintly, casting shifting shadows across the knight's face. He let out a weak chuckle, though it sounded hollow, tired.

"But it seems hope isn't lost after all."

Arthur's expression didn't shift, but inside, his mind was racing. The knight's words were cryptic, loaded with meaning he didn't fully grasp yet.

Finally, Arthur spoke, his tone sharp but measured. "What do you mean? Why are you here? What is this place?"

The knight raised his head again, his glowing eyes locking onto Arthur's. His lips curled into a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"But there isn't much time left."

The knight's voice grew softer, almost pleading. "I just want you to know something." He paused, his battered body trembling faintly as the glowing branches tightened their hold on him. "Demons... they are never your allies."

Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly, his arms crossing as he listened.

"No matter what they say, no matter how they act, even if some appear different—" the knight's voice cracked, his words heavy with emotion. "Never trust them."

Arthur caught the flicker in the knight's eyes. Sadness. No—something deeper than sadness.

Regret.

The knight's voice dropped to a near whisper, as if speaking more to himself than to Arthur. "Never..."

In the knight's mind, a figure surfaced—a demoness with piercing eyes and a mocking smile. Lilith.

The name echoed faintly in his thoughts, carrying with it the sting of betrayal.

Arthur tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze narrowing further.

He could feel there was more the knight wasn't saying, but he didn't press.

Instead, he asked, his voice low but direct, "What do you mean, 'the world depends on you guys'? Do you mean there are other protectors? Other villages?"

The knight nodded weakly, his head tilting forward as if even that small motion drained him. "So you call them villages, huh?" he muttered, almost amused. "But yes... there are others. Many others."

Arthur's lips pressed into a thin line, the pieces of the puzzle shifting in his mind.

The knight continued, his tone growing heavier. "Not all villages have failed to protect their people. Some of the old protectors still live. But... they paid a steep price." He paused, his glowing eyes dimming faintly.

"Incredible injuries. Unimaginable sacrifice. I don't know what happened to them after..."

The knight's voice trailed off, his gaze distant, as if lost in memories too painful to relive.

Arthur's jaw tightened.

"And the demons? What are they after?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn