The SSS Ranked Villain's Return - Chapter 354

Chapter 354: Lesser Demon Prince
“It sounds like you’re blaming yourself,” Jane remarked quietly. “But you shouldn’t. You had good intentions, so it’s not your fault they did what they did.”

“Oh God, no, I’m not blaming myself in the slightest.” Evangeline shook her head. “I’m more pissed about the fact that I couldn’t control my own vampires. Imagine this… I am the progenitor, and my own vampires don’t obey me. What’s the point then?”

“Well, you still ruled over them in the end, did you not?” Neraxis asked with a sigh.

“Yeah, but it took a long time before I killed off those that disobeyed me. It also took a considerable amount of time for me to actually come into power since everyone thought they were the progenitor. Funnily enough, the more blood they absorbed, the more powerful they got,” Evangeline grumbled.

“It really pissed me off when I couldn’t even beat my own vampires, you know?”

“Nope.” Jane shook her head. “But I can at least understand where you’re coming from. It must’ve been traumatic when you were a child. I feel sorry for you.”

“I don’t need your pity,” Evangeline said plainly. “I was just reminiscing… anyways… look, there’s another room there.”

Neraxis turned to where she pointed and spotted yet another opening.

This time, it was like the main room, and before even stepping inside, Neraxis could tell there were several dozen demons there.

And clearly, so could Jane.

“Wait up… I think that’s the place where all the demons are being hatched,” she commented. “If we can destroy the hatchery… then we might just be able to fight off the demons and retake the Chasm.”

Neraxis tilted his head. “No offense… but ever since we entered this place, I haven’t seen a single demon.”

“Yeah, I don’t think they’re that important here,” Evangeline added. “I’m voting that we should skip them and move deeper.”

“Vote? Are you—”

—SCREEEE

Jane’s words were interrupted by a sudden screech, and when they turned toward it, they saw several gargoyles flying straight at them.

Neraxis sighed and pulled out his sword before dashing in.

Yet as he prepared to slash the two approaching gargoyles, he halted, and with all the strength he could muster, dashed backward.

But even so…

[HP -7,443! 1,307/8,750]

He took the full brunt of an invisible attack and landed right beside Evangeline.

Yet the moment he looked down, he realized that half of his body was missing.

Not even a moment later, Evangeline summoned a single pillar of blood and sent it into Neraxis’s body, quickly mending his injury and accelerating his healing.

Just 10 seconds later, his HP was fully restored.

He nodded at Evangeline in appreciation, then glanced at the being responsible for such an attack.

It was a red-skinned demon with a single horn on its head. It seemed intimidating at a glance, and the pressure it was giving off was even more serious.

But that was also when Neraxis finally inspected it.

—Lesser Demon Prince (Level 250)

Oho… Neraxis frowned. It’s pretty fucking strong.

Even so, he had to kill it one way or another.

“Evangeline, protect Jane and kill the weaker monsters. I’ll try to deal with that thing by myself, okay?” Neraxis stated.

Evangeline seemed skeptical at first but soon nodded. “Just try not to get hurt like that again.”

“Got it.” Neraxis nodded, and without even waiting for Jane’s response, he dashed ahead toward the Lesser Demon Prince.

He ignored the gargoyles, leaving them for Evangeline to handle.

And that was exactly what she did. Multiple blood tentacles emerged and pinned the gargoyles to the ground.

Because of that, Neraxis had no resistance as he finally appeared in front of the Lesser Demon Prince.

It seemed to be inspecting him, but Neraxis didn’t waste any time and struck with his sword.

Yet the demon didn’t just stand there and wait to be hit. Instead, it raised its arm and caught Neraxis’s sword between its fingers.

But Neraxis didn’t panic and activated a single skill.

[MP -500 3,700/4,200 (Illusion Slash)]

The slash went through the demon’s fingers as if it was about to slash it in two.

Because of that, the demon took a step backward and raised its arms forward.

But that was only a feint, as the real blade was right below it, heading straight for its abdomen.

It briefly nicked its abdomen, barely drawing blood. Even so, Neraxis managed to get a hit in.

Yet as he began backing off to reposition, the demon suddenly followed up with a strange attack.

It was the same attack Neraxis wasn’t able to see earlier, and this time was no exception.

He ducked in order to avoid it; however, it still managed to cut off his arm.

[HP -1,500! 7,250/8,750]

Neraxis frowned in frustration as he jumped into the air and grabbed his arm before quickly reattaching it.

Not even a moment later, the same attack flew toward him again.

Just this time, Neraxis was more prepared.

Instead of dodging, he summoned a couple dozen blood barriers in front of him, blocking the invisible attack.

And he was surprisingly successful.

Oh? It only pierced a single barrier? Neraxis wondered, his eyes widening. Wait… it’s a skill that has low armor penetration but extreme damage…

Knowing that made this whole situation easier, and because of that, Neraxis would take advantage of its weakness.

He kicked off the ground, arriving right in front of the demon again. And like before, he struck with his sword.

But unlike before, he used his skills.

[MP -100 2,700/4,200 (Atomic Stab + Expert Stab)]

When he combined skills in this manner, he realized the cost went up more than it should. But even so, as his blade’s tip shone in a bright white color, he knew it worked.

The demon tried to follow up with another invisible attack, but Neraxis was prepared, countering it with a blood barrier.

And before the demon knew it, Neraxis thrust his sword straight toward its heart, piercing clean through.

The demon’s eyes widened, and it slowly began falling to the ground, lifeless.

And yet…

Where’s the notification?