The SSS Ranked Villain's Return-Chapter 205: Deceit, Elimination, And Danger?
Neraxis steadily walked back to the center, where most of the people were gathered.
This time around, they weren't trying to do anything drastic like the first girl.
However, there was one person in particular who didn't seem amused.
"You're the fucking Whisperer, aren't you?" he grumbled, holding up some scrawny man by the collar.
"C-Come on, man! What do you think I-I can do with a f-fucking stutter!?" the scrawny man shot back.
However, that didn't seem to appease the man, as in the very next moment, he brought the scrawny man's face straight down toward the table.
As he did, a loud crack resounded throughout the entire prison, making everyone nearby flinch.
<Climber #27 Eliminated!>
<Role Distribution: 1 Warden; 26 → 25 Citizens; 1 Oracle; 1 Whisperer>
"Tch, guess I was wrong," the man grumbled, his gaze darting around the room until eventually, it landed on the person beside Neraxis—Liam.
"You, you look like the—"
To everyone's surprise, the man's arm suddenly caught on fire.
The situation was similar to how Neraxis had been burned by the sun.
"AAAH! What the fuck!? Put it out!"
The man panicked, but of course, it didn't stop there, as his entire body slowly turned to ash, until finally...
<Climber #22 Eliminated!>
<Role Distribution: 1 Warden; 25 → 24 Citizens; 1 Oracle; 1 Whisperer>
Neraxis stared speechlessly.
He had been planning on killing them so he could finish the trial faster. However, it seemed like there was no way around it.
While he was pondering that, a familiar set of system messages appeared.
<The Sun God says they are sorry, but they can't alter the trial.>
Neraxis rolled his eyes. Of course not.
<The Sun God flips open their manual and explains that they gather climbers from wherever they can, as the Solaris Tower is not in one fixed location.>
Basically, what it was saying was that it lured people in with riches.
Though I guess I fell for it too. Neraxis chuckled innocently as he glanced around the entire prison again.
Everyone was quiet, but based on body language alone, he could figure some stuff out.
So far, Liam was on his suspects list, and whether he was simply an edgelord or a Whisperer, Neraxis wouldn't know.
There were simply too many people to tell, and no one was exactly going around trying to manipulate someone.
Neraxis's gaze darted toward the girl beside him. All with the exception of Chloe.
He wasn't sure if the Whisperer was even human, but considering this trial was all mental, he could make it through.
Neraxis glanced at the timer, which seemed like it was going to run out soon.
<00:14>
<00:13>
Obviously, if they didn't vote, then a random person would get killed.
But if even a single person voted, then that would be a problem.
And if it was a draw? Neraxis didn't know.
Nonetheless, as he thought everything was going to be fine, someone couldn't take it anymore.
"I-I'm voting for number 10! You guys should do it too! She was staring at me suspiciously the entire time!" the woman exclaimed, pointing fingers.
The moment she did, the gazes of everyone in the prison landed on her.
Number 3, Neraxis noted with a sigh.
<Everyone, get to the cells matching the numbers on your bracelets.>
<If you haven't entered your cell when the timer runs out, you shall be eliminated.>
<00:30>
<00:29>
He walked back to his cell in silence, but it seemed like everyone had already reached a mutual agreement.
<Vote on who to eliminate>
<00:15>
<00:14>
The numbers 22, 27, and 4 were grayed out.
But of course, that didn't matter much, as Neraxis's finger traveled toward number 3.
<Vote Cast>
He sat back down on the bed and let out a sigh, and soon...
—AAAAH!
The distorted voice rang out, followed by the elimination message.
<Climber #3 Eliminated>
<Role Distribution: 1 Warden; 24 → 23 Citizens; 1 Oracle; 1 Whisperer>
Of course not, Neraxis thought as his door shot open again.
And just like before—
<Round Three Started! Find the Whisperer!>
<02:40>
<02:39>
The limit of the timer seemed to decrease by ten seconds each round.
Whoever made this trial is a sadist. Neraxis grumbled as he walked back to the middle of the prison, right next to the table.
The body, as well as the ash, was gone, and the floor was squeaky clean—just like when he got here.
Of course, the atmosphere was even gloomier than the last round.
But everyone knew they couldn't stay silent forever.
Therefore, some people began walking around, whispering with each other, just as Chloe had done in the first round.
"I'm going to gather more people," Chloe announced as she turned to her brother. "Get along with Neraxis, please."
"Yeah, yeah, get moving. Don't act like a total pushover." Liam waved her off, and with a scoff, she left.
Neraxis raised his brow as he decided to initiate the conversation first.
"You're a bit strange, you know that?"
"Strange?" Liam tilted his head. "You're the one who has been staring down people since the first round. If anything, I believe you're the Whisperer."
"Don't you think a Whisperer would go around, I don't know, whispering?" Neraxis shot back, amused. "I did realize one thing, though. You only evaluate strong-looking people, not the weak. Whereas I do the opposite, as the weak are more likely to be traitors."
Before Liam could reply, Neraxis continued, "That leads me to believe you're either cautious, a Whisperer, or an Oracle."
A triumphant smile appeared on Liam's face as he looked straight into Neraxis's eyes.
"You didn't say Warden, which either means you are the Warden, or you're trying to trick me. Either way, I don't think you're my enemy just yet."
Neraxis nodded with a shrug. "Likewise."
He tried confirming whether or not Liam would react to his obvious provocation, and it seemed like he had.
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Also, the speed at which he reacted made it seem like he wasn't the Warden.
As for the Oracle? Neraxis was one.
That only left him with two possibilities.
A Whisperer or a Citizen.
Nonetheless, he put those thoughts aside as he glanced at the timer.
<00:38>
<00:37>
Time was running out, and soon, Chloe walked back to them, two girls beside her.
She pointed at the taller girl and then at the orange-haired one. "This is Liza, and that's Emma. I already told them the names of you two, so no need to introduce yourselves."
Neraxis glanced at the two for a moment, and at face value, he couldn't tell much about them.
They were anti-social and extremely shy.
Even worse than Aurelia.
Nonetheless, no one decided on who to vote for. Therefore, Chloe gathered the four of them in a circle and whispered.
"I don't know who to vote for... but number 11 seems to be the only one who hasn't joined a group. Maybe we should get rid of him?"
Emma shook her head aggressively. "B-But why don't we just go recruit him? I can—"
"If you want a target on your back, then be my guest," Neraxis said with a scoff, making the entire group quiet down. "We don't need to vote. Just let the others eliminate themselves."
"Neraxis..." Chloe looked at him strangely, and finally...
<Everyone, get to the cells matching the numbers on your bracelets.>
<If you haven't entered your cell when the timer runs out, you shall be eliminated.>
<00:30>
<00:29>
"See you in a bit." Neraxis waved at them and began making his way back to his cell.
Surprisingly, along the way, he saw a few people flashing glances at him. Finally, he entered his cell.
The door closed right behind him, and Neraxis furrowed his brows, getting a bad feeling about this.
<Vote on who to eliminate>
<00:15>
<00:14>
He picked number 11, even though he said he wouldn't.
<Vote Cast>
However, the next pair of messages made him halt.
<Someone has voted for you!>
<Someone has voted for you!>
<Someone has voted for you!>
"...Fuck."
