[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-sss-ranked-awakening-i-can-only-summon-mythical-":3,"chapter-sss-ranked-awakening-i-can-only-summon-mythical--sss-ranked-awakening-i-can-only-summon-mythical--chapter-515":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","SSS-Ranked Awakening: I Can Only Summon Mythical Beasts",{"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},1327216,1762,"Chapter 515","sss-ranked-awakening-i-can-only-summon-mythical--chapter-515",515,"\u003Cp>The forest was quiet. Not the kind of quiet that came from peace, but the kind that followed fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mist hung low between the trees, drifting through shattered trunks and claw-marked earth. The scent of blood and burned bark still lingered from the previous days of relentless hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corpses had long since been devoured or absorbed, leaving only scorched ground and gouged soil as proof that something monstrous had passed through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of a small clearing stood Damien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him, Luton quivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Stellar Slime's once deep violet body now shimmered with streaks of darker indigo, faint motes of light swirling within its semi-translucent form like distant stars. Its size had increased slightly, but more than that — its presence had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel the dense, heavy, and contained every within the Stellar Slime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grade Two,\" Damien muttered quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luton rippled proudly in response, a faint pulse spreading through its gelatinous body before settling into stillness again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The breakthrough had not been explosive. There had been no violent shockwave or thunderous roar. Just compression. Condensation. Power folding inward and stabilizing into something far more dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien crouched and extended a hand. The slime rose slightly to meet it, cool and smooth against his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've become stronger than most things in this forest now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luton responded by forming a small tendril that wrapped gently around his wrist before retracting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien stood and surveyed the trees around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For weeks, he had hunted relentlessly — mana beasts, demons, anything with a core worth absorbing. It had been necessary. He needed growth. His summons needed growth. Strength was survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now something had shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't surviving anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was dominating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel it in the forest's behavior. The way lesser beasts avoided certain regions. The way demonic signatures no longer prowled openly near his established hunting grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had noticed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien's eyes sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they've noticed me,\" he said quietly, \"then it's time I return the favor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his gaze toward the deeper parts of the forest — the older regions. The places where mana grew thick and heavy. Where trees were broader, shadows darker, and presence stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was where the intelligent demons operated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the feral ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the mindless attackers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thinkers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The organizers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ones who sent others to fight while they observed from the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien had encountered two already. Both capable of speech. Both capable of strategy. Both far more dangerous than ordinary demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And both had hinted at something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sort of structure with a purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren't merely invading. They seemed to be stationed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a network. And networks could be dismantled. Actually, they needed to be dismantled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien raised a hand, and mana surged lightly at his fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aquila.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A circle of summoning light formed in the air before him, wind spiraling upward as the great griffin emerged in a controlled burst of golden radiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive wings unfurled, feathers glinting in filtered sunlight as Aquila landed gracefully upon the earth. Its golden eyes locked onto Damien immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're scouting,\" Damien said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aquila lowered its head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien extended his senses outward, recalling the faint demonic signatures he'd encountered during his recent hunts. He isolated three distinct directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northwest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And slightly east — closer, but denser.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed toward the east first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"High altitude. Wide circle. Don't engage. Just observe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aquila launched into the air without hesitation, powerful wings slicing through the mist as it ascended above the canopy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien watched until the griffin disappeared beyond the treetops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luton settled beside him, spreading slightly across the ground like a quiet guardian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His senses extended outward — not fully, not recklessly — but enough to feel the forest's rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scattered demonic traces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long moment, everything felt… normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a faint flicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coordinated movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two demonic signatures moving in parallel formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed to be patrolling rather than wandering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien's eyes opened slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they really were organized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" he murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He preferred intelligent prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes passed before a sharp gust of wind announced Aquila's return. The griffin descended in a smooth arc, landing silently before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien didn't need words. The bond conveyed enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three clusters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eastern one was the smallest — but active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five to seven demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two intelligent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern cluster was fortified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The northwestern cluster… different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stationary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eastern first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the closest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smallest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cleanest starting point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't going to rush blindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would dissect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed a hand on Aquila's side and vaulted onto its back in one fluid motion. Luton leapt upward, adhering to his shoulder before flattening itself comfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Low glide,\" Damien instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aquila lifted off again, this time maintaining a controlled altitude just above the canopy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest passed beneath them in a blur of dark green and shifting shadow. Damien kept his presence suppressed, essence tightly condensed within his core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't want to be sensed yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they approached the eastern region, the air subtly changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not overwhelmingly so — but enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aquila banked slightly, circling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through gaps in the canopy, Damien saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charred earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crude structures made from bone and bark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One paced slowly near the edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two sat near what appeared to be a central pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another stood guard near a narrow pathway leading outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And near the center, there were two figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien narrowed his eyes. 'Intelligence confirmed.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched for nearly ten minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patrol rotations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Communication gestures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't random. It was disciplined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant someone above them existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien felt a flicker of excitement. This was no longer hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was dismantling a command structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tapped Aquila lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pull back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The griffin withdrew without drawing attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they were safely beyond sensory range, Damien signaled for descent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They landed in a secluded patch of forest, well away from the clearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien dismounted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luton dropped to the ground beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood silently for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No reckless charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No dramatic assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would isolate and capture if possible. Then he would proceed to extract information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elimination was last resort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward the direction of the clearing, eyes calm, focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're organized,\" he said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luton quivered in anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damien flexed his fingers once, essence flowing through his limbs like controlled current.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We begin tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest breeze shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somewhere far deeper within the woods, something stirred faintly — almost imperceptibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Damien didn't notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already planning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once he started, he would not stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apex predator of Twin Disasters had made a decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the purge was about to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>",1150,"2026-06-05T19:29:03.455Z",1,"novelbin.me","e4f85a5d17f98c82b36fc410af9b967bc68d7e5c0c57d17b2d266f3357f3a02d","sss-ranked-awakening-i-can-only-summon-mythical--chapter-516","sss-ranked-awakening-i-can-only-summon-mythical--chapter-514",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsss-ranked-awakening-i-can-only-summon-mythical--cover.jpg"]