The SSS Ranked Villain's Return-Chapter 200: Entering The Solaris Tower
[If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're about to face judgment,] Evangeline commented matter-of-factly.
Neraxis rolled his eyes. You don't say.
It didn't feel too off, aside from the ominous messages.
If anything, he felt only a faint pull toward the tower, but by utilizing {Aura of the Abyss}, he could easily escape it.
<The Sun God beseeches you to come inside their tower!>
"Pass," Neraxis shot it down. "I don't exactly want to go on another long field trip. If anything, why don't you come down here yourself?"
The idea of gods existing seemed far-fetched. So far, everything he had seen was pretty tame—even the Sovereigns.
But not Seraphina...
<The Sun God points their middle finger at you!>
<The Sun God apologizes and asks if you could come inside.>
"...?" Neraxis tilted his head at the Sun God's stupidity and took a few steps back.
The monsters beside him were basically statues by now, and no one tried stopping him.
Or so he thought, but the moment he made a move, every single one of those monsters turned their heads toward him.
Come on... Can't I just get a break for once? Neraxis thought, sighing.
He manifested his sword and prepared to fight.
However, the monsters weren't exactly engaging him—just staring.
<The Sun God offers you a sanctum to rest! (Lie)>
Oh? I can tell lies through the system screens? Neraxis scoffed as he took more steps back until, eventually, he couldn't feel the tower's influence on him anymore.
That was definitely one interesting scenario, but he would much rather do his duties as an instructor instead.
But as he took one more step, he suddenly bumped into something.
It felt like an invisible wall, and no matter how much mana he poured into it, he couldn't break through.
Naturally, he turned his gaze back toward the tower—and met the eyes of thousands of monsters.
And, of course, the golden system message.
<The Sun God does not mean you any harm, as they merely wish to converse with you.>
"Come out," Neraxis said impatiently. "If you can't do that at the very least, then there's no conversation to be had."
<The Sun God says they understand, but they can't leave the tower unless one clears it.>
"Oh?" Neraxis's curiosity was piqued. "So your real objective is to get me to clear a tower, is that it? What do I gain out of it?"
At those words, a slightly different notification appeared.
<The Sun God offers you a complementary Main Skill: Manifestation of the Sun {SSS}>
<Conditions: Clear the Solaris Tower>
"..." Neraxis rubbed his eyes, making sure he was seeing it right.
An SSS-rank skill being offered to him just like that.
But of course, it wasn't for free.
"How many floors is the tower? It looks massive," he asked.
<The Sun God looks through their manual before holding up 10 fingers.>
"Aha... 10 floors, seems doable," Neraxis replied in a hum as he quickly pulled out his phone to send a few texts.
However, upon noticing there was no signal, he turned toward the tower.
"Can you remove the barrier for a moment? I need to let some people know I'll be away for a bit. After all, I'm working right now."
<The Sun God nods hesitantly as they open their barrier slightly.>
The signal returned immediately, and Neraxis sent a few messages to his family and Ariella.
Since she'd be in charge of the class while he was gone, she needed to know.
As for the other girls, he noticed he was still in the group chat from a year ago, so he sent one simple message.
<Neraxis: Going to sunbathe for a day or two. If you need anything, go to Ariella.>
With that, he turned back to the tower and soon lost all signal.
"I'm ready. That skill of yours better be as good as it sounds," Neraxis said and began making his way to the tower.
The Sun God no longer responded, but since he couldn't detect any lies and his senses weren't going off anymore, Neraxis felt pretty safe.
But of course, the trials were unpredictable, so as he finally approached the tower and placed his hand on the giant golden door, his vision soon shifted.
He soon found himself in a completely white room, with only a few golden notifications that made his brows furrow.
[Climber: Neraxis Valen]
[Records: Astral Tower - 2/12]
[Records: Dreamspire Tower - 10/???]
[Solaris Tower has taken notice of your achievements!]
[Difficulty Increasing!]
[Normal -> Elite]
Of course it's like this... Neraxis thought with a sigh, his eyes slightly lingering on the Astral Tower.
He hadn't entered it in a while, but frankly, he felt like it was time.
So that would be next on the agenda when he came back from this trip.
Nonetheless, a timer of 5 minutes soon appeared, followed by the 1st floor's announcement.
[Solaris Tower - 1st Floor Elite Mode: The Blazing Bridge]
[Objective: Survive intense heat while crossing a revolving stone bridge over a lava lake.]
[Status: Initializing...]
That doesn't seem too hard, Neraxis thought with a tilt of his head.
However, as the trial finally initialized, he was hit with a fierce gust of hot air as his sight was distorted.
And not even a moment later, it felt like he was being suffocated.
Neraxis tried using {Aura of the Abyss} and infused Frost into himself, but that didn't do much.
Nope. Evangeline, do your thing.
[With pleasure,] she replied, and soon...
This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.
[Evangeline, Progenitor of the Vampires, has modified your body!]
[Skill: Vampiric Dominion {A} → Vampiric Dominion {SS}]
[Skill effect: Partial Vampirism (Special Passive) → Complete Vampirism (Special Passive)]
He no longer felt like he had to breathe. However, there was one thing that had slightly caught him off guard.
Usually, the Complete Vampirism skill effect was tagged as temporary.
Now? There wasn't anything like that.
[Uhhhh... Do you want the good news or the bad news first?] Evangeline asked sheepishly.
However, he merely shook his head before looking off to the side.
[10 Seconds Remaining Until The First Floor's Trial Begins!]
Save it for later... I have this to deal with for now.
The trial seemed very old school, as he could see shattered glass on the stone bridge, followed by a certain part of it turning red from the heat below.
And of course, despite him not needing to breathe, the heat really was something.
Finally, the trial began, and the moment it did, Neraxis could feel his feet sticking to the ground as his clothes were being melted.
That meant he couldn't stand still—he had to keep running.
He couldn't see where the stone bridge ended, but one thing set him on edge.
The bridge was like a cogwheel that constantly turned to the right, and now, Neraxis could see the part that had been exposed to the lava the longest now being on top.
And in just a few moments, he would be stepping on it.
That was why Neraxis did something Evangeline hated—something she never let him do.
He threw his sword forward while also jumping on top of it, gliding alongside the ground as it began levitating.
[Neraxis,] Evangeline's stern voice rang out. [I thought I told you not to step on me unless we're in bed. Now what's this? Throwing and stepping? Really?]
Sorry, Evangeline... Neraxis chuckled. I don't want to get burnt. After all, my blood supply is not too great.
[Yeah, yeah, we'll be having a discussion about this later,] Evangeline replied, pouting.
With that, Neraxis shrugged and glanced forward.
As he did, a part of the bridge that had managed to revolve itself several times now began melting, its magma stone shards flying everywhere.
But Neraxis didn't stop there, and Evangeline finally stopped pouting as she increased the speed at which the sword was traveling.
However, as if he was midway through or something, a certain sight made him halt.
You've got to be kidding me...
