The SSS Ranked Villain's Return - Chapter 211

Chapter 211: Becoming A Sun Vampire
So are we just supposed to start crafting, or what? Neraxis thought before glancing around.

Everyone seemed to share the same sentiment, as they didn’t exactly understand what was going on.

He turned toward the ores by the side and noticed they were pretty hot to the touch.

Nonetheless, since he knew this was likely a timed trial, he began moving.

Instead of using the tongs, Neraxis picked up the ores with his hands—by infusing them with Frost, of course.

“W-Wait, isn’t that hot?” Liza asked, concerned. “The others’ tongs seem to be melting on touch.”

Neraxis shrugged. “They just don’t know how to use them—”

—AAAAAAAH!!!

He turned toward the scream and noticed a man whose hand had completely burned off.

At the same time, there was a piece of ore on the ground, meaning he had tried to replicate Neraxis a moment ago.

[What a smartass,] Evangeline giggled. [Did I miss anything? I went to make a snack.]

Oh, no wonder you were so quiet, Neraxis replied as he threw the ore into the forge.

His hands stung a little, but that didn’t really matter much.

The mold was already prepared, and the hammer beside him seemed extremely sturdy.

So the only thing left to do was…

“Liza, can you follow the blueprint here? It details the heat that’s needed. I want you to keep it like that. I’ll deal with the rest afterward.”

“Okay,” she agreed instantly. “Don’t worry, I won’t mess it up. My father used to forge items, so I picked up a trick or two.”

“I like the confidence.” Neraxis chuckled as he stepped away.

“Where are you going?” Liza asked, puzzled.

He merely pointed toward the people nearby. “It says we have to finish forging, and if we want to have less competition in the other trials, then it’s best if I eliminate a few people.”

“E-Eliminate? Are you going to kill—”

“Nope,” Neraxis cut her off as he approached a nearby workstation.

“The fuck do you think you’re doing here? Go back to your own forge,” the man protested, shooting Neraxis a fierce glare.

But instead of responding, Neraxis merely summoned his sword, and in the very next moment, slashed their workstation in half, mold included.

Even the ore that had been in the forge wasn’t spared.

“H-Huh!? You fucking bastard!” The man pulled out a pair of daggers. However, before he could even use them, the being that looked similar to Heliara floated down to the ground.

He glanced between Neraxis and the pair before letting out a sigh.

“I can see why she called you unfit for this trial. However, it is my fault for expecting morals from someone like you,” the being stated, scorn clear in his tone.

“I don’t quite give a shit,” Neraxis scoffed. “You didn’t specify a single rule, therefore…”

Neraxis’s sword traveled to the male climber’s throat. However, before it could pierce straight through, the being caught the tip of his sword with a single finger.

“You’ve made your point,” the being said, narrowing his eyes. “It is my fault, and therefore, I shall alter this trial slightly.”

As those words fell, a system prompt appeared.

<Solaris Tower – 7th Floor Balanced Mode: Sunforge Arena>

<Objective: Craft the specified item, or hone your abilities to the point where the rays of the Sun God shine down on you. (NEW) Killing is allowed.>

<Status: Started!>

Hmm… he hummed in amusement, and as the being let go of the tip of Neraxis’s sword, he immediately cut the necks of the climbers in front of him.

[2x (A- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 85.17% → 85.37%]

Neraxis had no problems with them. However, one thing was certain.

Only two people would be able to pass the trials of this tower.

Therefore, he wanted to make sure only he and Liza would make it.

He wiped the blood off his blade before turning toward a nearby pair, who flinched upon seeing him.

Nonetheless, Neraxis used {Sword Dash} and appeared right behind them.

“No hard feelings.”

He slashed horizontally, cleaving their heads clean off.

[1x (B+ Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 85.37% → 85.40%]

[1x (A- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 85.40% → 85.50%]

But just as he was about to head to another pair, he realized someone was approaching Liza, daggers drawn.

So with a few quick, silent steps, Neraxis appeared behind that person, and just as they were about to attack Liza, he thrust his sword upward, stabbing clean through the neck and into the brain.

[1x (A- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 85.40% → 85.60%]

Despite the chaos happening around her, Liza was too focused on the forging. After several minutes, the temperature of the ore reached a melting point, and she soon took it out before casting it in a mold.

The tongs were slightly better, as before he left, Neraxis infused them with a little bit of Frost.

Nonetheless, the message he had sent to the other climbers was clear—he would kill them all.

But it was almost as if with every single move, he felt himself growing stronger.

Out of instinct, he turned toward the massive sun in space, and it felt like it was looking back at him.

<The Sun God waves their hands around in excitement, but upon noticing you won’t see them, they turn gloomy.>

“Seriously…” Neraxis held back a chuckle before taking a step and reappearing in front of another group.

[2x (A- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 85.60% → 85.80%]

Then another.

[1x (A+ Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 85.80% → 86.10%]

[1x (A- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 86.10% → 86.20%]

He was about to approach another pair, however…

<Vampiric Dominion Is Evolving!>

What? He stopped, puzzled.

<Skill: Vampiric Dominion {SS} → Ancient Sun Vampirism {SSS}>

<Skill: Crimson Sovereignty {S} Absorbed!>

<All previous skill effects from these skills have been removed!>

<ERROR>

<Evolving Skill into a Passive skill!>

<Complete Vampirism (Special Passive) → Sun Vampire Bloodline (Special Passive)>

<Sun Vampire Bloodline (Special Passive): You become a Vampire blessed by the sun. Sunlight greatly enhances your regenerative properties, and with proper mastery, can completely replace blood. Absorb solar rays to gain greater power. Since you are the first being of this race, you are deemed the Progenitor and can turn others into Sun Vampires at will.>

<Note: Possibilities are unexplored due to limited information on Sun Vampirism.>

<Note2: This skill counts as a weaving skill, therefore, everything the user was able to accomplish with the skill effects can now be done at will.>

Despite the shocking changes, Neraxis felt much, much stronger—surprisingly so.

That was why, he checked his status.

[Status]

Name: Neraxis Valen

Age: 18

Stigmata: [Fragment of Calamity {85.20%} (Seals Unlocked: 4)

Affinity: [Eclipsed Abyss {SSS}]

Body Compatibility: 13%

—Perks:

[Aura of the Abyss] (Advanced)

[Unyielding Vitality] (Master)

[Cosmic Sight] (Master)

—Stats:

Rank: A+ → S-

Strength: A+ → S-

Agility: A+ → S-

Stamina: S- → S

Intelligence: S- → S+

Mana Capacity: A- → S-

—Secondary Stats:

Luck: P- → Q+

Charm: SS+ → SSS-

—Skills:

[Eve of Ruin {B}]*

(NEW) [Ancient Sun Vampirism {SSS}]*

[Ancient Moon Swordsmanship {A}]

[Stellar Dominion {A}]

[Minor Reflect {D}]

[Sword Dash {F}]

[Restorative Cut {E}]

[Aegis of Eternity {C}]

[Body Manifestation {B}]

[Phantom Step {B}]

[Aura {B}]

[Domain {A}]

[Eyes of the Vampire {S}]

—Fragment of Calamity Skill Tree (4/???)

[Advanced Horizontal Slash]

[Expert Stab]

[Atomic Stab]

[Illusion Slash]

+—–+

Neraxis’s eyes shot wide open.

He had actually grown significantly stronger in such a short amount of time

What surprised him was that the skill had turned into a main skill despite being a passive one.

Nonetheless, he wasn’t disappointed, as he stretched out his hands, keen on testing the effects.

<Caution!>

<Due to the boundless solar energy in the area, your skill’s power will be enhanced beyond normal parameters!>

A grin appeared on Neraxis’s face.

Is that so…?