[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons":3,"chapter-online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-chapter-302":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1650511,2114,"Chapter 302: Winning the People's Favour","online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-chapter-302",302,"\u003Cp>A space cleared around him as he walked, players stepping aside with expressions ranging from awe to uncertainty to desperate hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it true?\" someone called. \"Is the merge really happening?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur stopped, scanning the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of eyes fixed on him, hunger for reassurance naked on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had abandoned their jobs, their certainties—all on his word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Now I must give them something to believe in.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" he said, voice carrying across the hushed square. \"And we have work to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind rustled through the village, carrying whispers. Faces turned toward him—hundreds, then thousand, as word spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, follow me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Authority resonated in his voice. \"I'll be making an announcement that every player in this village needs to hear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't wait for acknowledgement. He didn't need to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur strode toward the central plaza.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd parted before him like water around a stone, then closed to follow in his wake. A living current of humanity, drawn by desperation and hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veterans recognised the path he chose. The oldest players exchanged knowing glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beginning place. Where it all started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plaza opened before them—the heart of Village #420, where Arthur had first established his merchant stall a month and so ago. A simple wooden platform had been erected in the centre, likely by the Mayor's staff, anticipating this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur climbed the steps without hesitation. From this vantage, he could see them all—a sea of faces upturned like flowers seeking light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many weaklings. Too many unprepared souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd's murmurs died as Arthur raised his hand. Silence fell, heavy and expectant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm sure you've all seen my video.\" His voice carried without shouting. \"I'm not here to repeat what I've already said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let his gaze sweep across the gathering, meeting eyes, establishing connection. Some nodded. Others clutched weapons with white-knuckled grips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm here to tell you that we are one community.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breeze stirred his hair, cooling and soothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place, this world—each person was placed here for a reason. We've fought together against monsters. We've leveled up side by side. Some have shared meals in the inn; others have shared life and death experiences.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nods rippled through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur continued, although his expression had darkened. \"Yes, I know you can't die in this world—not permanently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let the words hang in the air, a prelude to what came next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But soon, you will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock rippled through the gathering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman gasped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burly warrior crossed his arms, scepticism and worry written across his features.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your death after the merge will most likely become real.\" Arthur's voice hardened. \"No—in fact, I'm certain it will become real.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tension coiled tighter. Fear spiked sharp enough to taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did any of you ever think about how you teleport here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question hung in the air, unexpected. Players exchanged confused glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you vanish from the real world and appear here? Yet when you die, you wake up back in your body?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence stretched, heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke. No one moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur stepped to the edge of the platform. \"I'll tell you why.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, gathering their attention like a physical force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Though I can't be completely certain, I believe your death here is the death of a certain part of your soul.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whispers erupted, quickly stilled as he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whenever you die here, you lose a level, correct?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nods throughout the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was known. This was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur's next words shattered that certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your soul is split into two when you enter Armageddon. One part enters this world. The other exists... elsewhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze grew distant, as if seeing beyond the physical realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not certain where that other fragment resides, but it remains safe. When you die here, your soul fragment returns to Earth, which is why you wake in your physical body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur's voice dropped lower, forcing them to lean forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But when the worlds merge, your damaged soul will reunite with your physical form.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence that followed was absolute. A thousand breaths held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thousand minds were racing about the implications. How many had died in the past month, how many had ignored it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Most of you are asking yourselves what this means.\" Arthur's eyes scanned the crowd. \"I wish I could tell you with certainty. But I can't—because I don't know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He straightened, voice strengthening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, if my hypothesis is correct—and I believe it is—then your levels represent more than just status in a game. They represent the integrity of your soul. The more you died, the more damaged your essence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horror dawned on faces throughout the crowd. Particularly those who had died repeatedly. Those who had treated death as inconsequential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every person in this place should prioritize increasing their level as quickly as possible.\" Arthur's tone brooked no argument. \"Before the merge completes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A player near the front—a veteran with a scarred face—called out, \"Why tell us this now? Why not before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair question. In fact it was a dangerous question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur's expression shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because I couldn't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The admission hung in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know this comes late. Some of you have already died many times.\" His voice grew quiet, yet somehow carried farther. \"But I couldn't speak earlier because I wasn't free to do so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd leaned closer, tension building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since I disappeared from the village weeks ago, rumors spread. Some thought I'd gone to the city. Others believed I'd abandoned the village or died in real life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur's hands gripped the edge of the platform, knuckles whitening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The truth is far darker.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up, meeting their eyes directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was a hostage of the military.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gasps rippled through the crowd. Shock. Disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The same military I warned you about in the video.\" His voice hardened. \"They tried to force me to use my power, my items to help them. At that time, i came to know about their plans to weaponize awakened individuals.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oldest players—those who'd known Fateless from the beginning—looked most shocked. This wasn't the merchant they knew. This was someone else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They held me captive. Experimented on me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1017,"2026-06-06T12:00:36.157Z",1,"novelbin.me","3f37546b2419d339063045bb79c88c54e4609bd7b823de7e00873de2c01eda69","online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-chapter-303","online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-chapter-301",601,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fonline-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-cover.jpg"]