The SSS Ranked Villain's Return-Chapter 203: Breaking Yet Another Trial

Mirages, huh? Evangeline, do you notice anything off? Neraxis asked.

[I can't say for certain, but I'm glad the sun isn't affecting you,] Evangeline remarked with a giggle. [For a moment, I thought that the only reason you burned in the first place was because you became some low-level vampire.]

Well, thankfully, I didn't. Neraxis chuckled as he looked all around.

The only thing he could see was sand, and due to him currently being naked, it felt like he was burning alive.

Not literally—the sand was just that hot.

But where are these so-called mirages—oh. Neraxis stopped and looked forward.

There was a whole city in front of him, and better yet, it seemed like a complete replica of Argon, his home city.

Since there wasn't anything around him, Neraxis decided to head inside the city.

He walked through it, and of course, it was completely empty, with not even a single car in sight.

However, food was still in the stalls, and he could see occasional flowers dropped to the ground.

This trial is playing the last memory I had of the city, right as I went back home, Neraxis pondered.

Just as he was about to try walking back to his house, however, he suddenly ducked, avoiding some kind of beam of light.

Neraxis stood back up with a frown on his face and looked around.

However, he couldn't spot the attacker.

A light attack from behind... It came at this angle... Neraxis calculated the possibilities until, finally, his gaze landed on the building beside him.

It was the only one with massive windows to show for it.

Surprisingly, in one of the windows, he could see a pair of golden, specter-like eyes.

They reminded him of what he had seen in Ariella's static realm, but if this was similar, then that meant these specters used light and reflections to attack.

Therefore, Neraxis took out his sword and, with a single slash, shattered the windows.

Not even a single shard of glass fell to the ground, thanks to {Aura of the Abyss}.

But that was only a temporary solution, as this entire city was covered in windows, and he had only just entered.

Naturally, the only way around it was either to finish the trial before he was killed or to kill the specter responsible.

As Neraxis was lost in his thoughts, his sword suddenly shot forward, dragging him alongside it.

In the next moment, a hole appeared in the place where he had stood a moment ago, still emanating some burning light.

[Don't let your guard down, Neraxis,] Evangeline said sternly. [If you have your back turned toward them for too long, then they will attack. I personally would wait for the timing and then attack them.]

Without my domain, it doesn't seem like I'll be able to feel them, though, Neraxis grumbled.

Suddenly, he saw a flash of light in the corner of his vision.

Neraxis raised a brow as he waited a few moments.

Soon, a beam of light shot out, which he merely sidestepped.

If I can isolate it, then I can kill it, Neraxis deduced.

With that, he decided to gamble a little.

Neraxis dashed up a building and then infused his mana with {Aura of the Abyss}.

He made sure to use only the Frost as he began making a neat little bridge and then surrounded it with several clear walls of ice.

They acted as mirrors, and with his control, he added a little something extra to them.

And just like he thought—as he had his back turned toward the specter—it had no choice but to go inside his ice before shooting a beam of light right at him.

However, Neraxis sensed it the entire time, and the moment it entered, he infused the ice with Decay.

Now, he could feel exactly where the specter was, and at any moment, he could kill it.

Neat as always. Neraxis chuckled.

Since he was so high up, he was able to see the entire city.

Of course, there was one thing in particular that had caught his eye.

That was the golden gate where his house stood.

So that was the solution all along.

[Yep, you need to get this done fast so we can get back to class,] Evangeline added. [Also, I bought a cute little outfit for later...]

I'm looking forward to it. Neraxis replied with a smile and crouched down before kicking off the building.

As he did, the building's rooftop collapsed, but at the same time, he was able to get pretty high up.

But just as he thought this trial was about to be finished, several forks of light shot out from the nearby windows—all of them heading straight for him.

Since he couldn't dodge in midair, Neraxis simply swung his sword sideways, infusing it with {Aura} to perform the {Advanced Horizontal Slash}.

It messed with the surroundings just enough to cancel the incoming spells, and with that, Neraxis finally plopped onto the ground.

His home wasn't far away now, but he could feel the specter from earlier gaining on him.

Therefore, he merely accelerated the decay to several thousand times its regular speed, and soon...

[1x (S- Ranked Construct) Solar Wraith Slain! Reward: Stigmata 76.82% → 77.82%]

Not as strong as the ones in the previous trial. However, it seemed like they all stopped hiding and, in unison, sent out bolts of light, which combined into one giant ball of light heading straight for him.

But like most of his problems, Neraxis merely brought his sword back and, with a full-powered thrust, used {Expert Stab} and {Atomic Stab} together.

It was not concentrated; therefore, it dissipated the ball of light and traveled outward with a sonic boom.

Due to the strength of the attack and the wind blades it let off, he managed to sever some of the wraiths in two.

[4x (S- Ranked Construct) Solar Wraith Slain! Reward: Stigmata 77.82% → 81.82%]

Now, he took one good look at their bodies, which were skinny and hollow, with only golden armor shielding their vitals.

But then again, they were see-through.

If not for the combination of his {Aura of the Abyss}'s Decay and Frost with his {Aura}, he'd be screwed.

Nonetheless, they couldn't stop him anymore, as he took hurried steps toward his house—specifically, toward the golden gate.

Surprisingly, the closer he got, the farther away the gate appeared, until finally, he halted and turned around.

The city was gone, and he once again found himself in the desert.

But unlike the previous times, the golden gate was simply stationed there, practically waiting for him to go through it.

<The Sun God says you broke the floor, as the solar wraiths are supposed to be unkillable.>

<The Sun God blushes as they begin pacing around their room, muttering your name.>

"...?" Neraxis tilted his head. What the fuck?

<The Sun God shakes their head, saying you weren't supposed to see that!>

"My bad... I guess?" Neraxis replied absentmindedly as he approached the gate and went through it.

[Solaris Tower - 3rd Floor Elite Mode: Mirage Sands - Complete]

[Climber: Neraxis Valen]

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

[Current Progress: 3/10 Floors]

[Solaris Tower - 4th Floor Elite Mode: Trial of the Twin Suns - Available]

[Do you wish to enter?]

[Yes/No]

<The Sun God looks on worriedly as they wave a miniature flag with a sun in the middle, cheering you on!>

What a strange god... Neraxis thought. I wonder why it's worried, though?

Putting those thoughts aside, his finger landed on the "Yes" button, and soon, he was transported to the 4th floor.

The shifting kept getting faster and faster. However, as he looked around—specifically at the sky—he understood why the Sun God was cheering him on.

This might be a bit troublesome...