SSS-Ranked Awakening: I Can Only Summon Mythical Beasts

Wooooongg ~

The glow of the teleportation array dimmed behind them as Damien, Arielle, and Lyone stepped out into the open.

What greeted them wasn’t the bustling order of a capital, or the rigid formations of a fortified town. It was… something in between.

Greshan.

It stretched wide before them like a mismatched quilt of a dozen different places—loose market rows beside towering watchtowers, ancient stone bridges over alleys of tents and makeshift homes, roads paved with marble that abruptly gave way to cracked earth.

To call it a city would be a lie.

To call it a wild land was also inaccurate.

It was a pathway.

A massive, semi-anarchic junction at the heart of five nations, two borderless merchant coalitions, and an empire that liked to remain secluded. Greshan had no king, no council, no fixed guards.

It was ruled by necessity.

Cooperation without loyalty. Order without trust.

Even its laws were unwritten, passed down through whispers and reinforced with blade and spell.

Damien could already feel the tension in the air—not fear, not quite danger, but a constant watchfulness.

Every person they passed had eyes that lingered a little too long. Every merchant smiled too widely. Every road had too many exits.

They stopped near a food stall at the edge of the plaza they’d just exited and spoke to the first merchant they saw—a young woman with a soft voice and bright yellow eyes.

“We’re looking for a place to stay,” Arielle said casually. “Somewhere not too loud. Out of the spotlight.”

The woman tilted her head. “Depends. You want quiet or safe?”

“Both.”

She smiled, just a little too knowingly. “Then you want the Hollow Shade. It’s quiet and quite safe. Should work for you three seeing how you all are newcomers here. You should trust everyone but no one.”

“Well, we’re not exactly newcomers but I thank you for your recommendation.” Arielle nodded, thanked her, and they moved on.

It was true that they were newcomers but the way Arielle answered made it sound like this wasn’t her first time being here.

However, since she didn’t tell him, he also didn’t bother to ask. Their journey continued down the road path they found themselves.

Damien repeated the question two more times—once to a tired caravan leader and once to a group of playing children. Strangely, all three gave different opinions, different suggestions.

But all three mentioned the same name by the end.

The Hollow Shade.

It stood out. It meant something. Maybe it was indeed a safe place or maybe it was a trap. They would either have to find out the hard way or find a different place to stay.

Each time they were told of the Hollow Shade, they were warned with the same expression and the same exact phrase, no matter who said it.

“Trust everyone. But trust no one.”

Even the children whispered it.

Arielle raised an eyebrow at Damien as they passed through a very shady quarter of the northern path. “That rule sounds like something you’d say.”

He didn’t smile. “That’s why I’m beginning to like this place.”

~~~~~

It didn’t take them long to find the Hollow Shade.

It was built into a low rise in the terrain, carved partially into the base of a cliff. The exterior was plain—a series of worn stone arches, modest banners, and a door that opened without a single magical ward visible.

It was a building that seemed too unassuming, which in Greshan… was the best kind of camouflage.

Inside, it was dim, calm, and oddly warm.

A single receptionist greeted them with the barest glance. No questions. Just prices.

Damien paid in coin. Not too much. Not too little. Just enough to say they weren’t poor—but not rich enough to draw eyes.

They were given a private room in the back, far from the thin hallway windows. A corner unit. Only one door. One entrance. No obvious back window.

Exactly what Damien had expected in such a place.

After settling in, Damien stood near the wooden wall beside the small bed and addressed Lyone seriously.

“We’re heading out for a few hours. Just a supply run.”

Lyone’s mouth opened to protest, but Damien held up a hand.

“I’m not leaving you unprotected.”

He spoke out, a blue portal appearing in the air. “Summon: Fenrir.”

Damien’s magiv essence surged flowing I to the portal, and from the rippling blue portal stepped a massive creature—snow white fur, piercing blue eyes, and teeth like carved blades. Its paws padded softly, but every movement carried a terrifying weight.

His trusted summon, Fenrir.

Lyone’s eyes widened.

“He looks… stronger than Aquila.” This was his first time seeing the wolf after all.

“He is,” Damien said. “And smarter.”

Fenrir padded forward and sat beside Lyone without needing instruction.

“He’ll keep you safe. Even from me—if I don’t give the right knock.”

He turned toward the door and thudded it twice. Pause. Once more. Then three short taps.

“That’s the pattern. If someone knocks differently, you don’t open.”

Lyone nodded seriously. “Got it.”

Damien looked him over once more. Then knelt briefly in front of him.

“You’re not weak,” he said softly. “But you’re still learning. This is one of those times when staying behind is just as important as going forward.”

Lyone nodded again—eyes bright, but steady. “I’ll await your return.”

Arielle was already waiting at the door, adjusting her satchel.

“What’s your route?” she asked as they stepped into the street.

“Two stops. First, the merchant strip along the sapphire road—east of the crystal plaza. I’m selling.”

“High-grade essence cores?”

He nodded. “Grade Four and some Grade Threes. Greshan’s neutral. I’ll get better value here than in any territory-run town.”

“And the Grade Two?”

“I keep it. It’s for me.”

Arielle didn’t argue.

“And you?” Damien asked.

“Potion supplies. Stronger healers. Some stamina boosters. Maybe pick up a refining gem if I find one.” Refining gems were a special type of gem that helped talent holders practice that talent and control their talent as well. It aided some kind of proficiency in it.

They passed under a hanging banner depicting an ancient guild sigil—faded red and silver—and split off down opposite lanes at the next fork.

As they disappeared into the Greshan flow, neither noticed the eyes watching them from the high balcony.

Not a guard.

Not a thief.

Just one shadow draped in a velvet coat, murmuring into a rune crystal.

“She’s here.” The shadow paused for a brief moment before hmut continued. “And she’s not alone.”

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