The SSS Ranked Villain's Return

[Dreamspire - 4th Floor Hard Mode: Forge of Endurance]

[Objective: Survive in each element for 5 -> 10 minutes]

[Status: Ready]

[Beginning preparation countdown!]

[9:59]

[9:58]

Neraxis found he could move and, judging from the countdown, assumed he could pick whichever element he wanted to start with.

Therefore, he would start with the easiest—Earth.

Gravity was not too hard to resist, especially when you coated yourself in mana.

The only reason it had been hard back then was simply because of the tweaks Magnus had made.

Are you here now? he asked.

[I am... All I saw was darkness for a solid 20 minutes,] Evangeline replied, her voice uneasy. [Was everything okay? Did... Did the voices say anything strange?]

It was fine, for the most part. He nodded before adding, But you remember the one calling himself the Eternal Sin? He appeared, and it was the real him. He even gave me a system log to view.

[Hm... Only the dead can talk to you there... Voices and stuff, right?] she pondered out loud. [Doesn't that mean he's dead?]

While I don't believe him when he said he isn't, Elara talked to me somehow... The one from the past, Neraxis said and took a glance at the countdown.

[3:22]

[3:21]

Great... I need to prepare myself. My stats might rise a bit after all this is done, he thought before opening his status screen.

+-----+

Status

Name: Neraxis Valen

Age: 16

Stigmata: [Fragment of Calamity {97.4%} (Seals Unlocked: 2)]

Affinity: [Eclipsed Abyss {SSS}]

—Perks:

[Aura of the Abyss]

[Unyielding Vitality]

[Cosmic Sight]

—Stats:

Rank: D-

Strength: E+

Agility: D-

Stamina: D-

Intelligence: D -> C-

Mana Capacity: E+

—Secondary Stats:

Luck: I+ -> I

Charm: B -> B+ Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

—Skills:

[Eve of Ruin {E}]

[Swordsmanship {E}]

[Stellar Dominion {A}]

[Minor Reflect {D}]

[Sword Dash {F}]

[Restorative Cut {E}]

[Vampiric Dominion {A}]

[Aegis of Eternity {C}]

[Crimson Sovereignty {S}]

—Fragment of Calamity Skill Tree (2/???)

[Simple Horizontal Slash]

[Simple Stab]

+-----+

Even after all that, most of my stats didn't change... I guess it's finally slowing down. He pondered, glancing at the intelligence stat. But this did increase. Perhaps because of the talk with the Gluttony Sovereign?

Nonetheless, he had to put his thoughts on hold, as the countdown finished and the trial finally started.

Immediately, the gravity bore down on him, yet as he expected, it wasn't as bad as in the virtual world.

It was bearable, and he did not even fall to his knees, holding on while glancing to the very middle.

A massive tarantula stood, yet there was something off about it.

The monster stared at him, then raised its body.

Neraxis's eyes widened as he barely dodged, evading a web ejected from the tarantula's body

I have to dodge the boss while also surviving 10 minutes in each room... Fuck, he grumbled, the gravity finally showing its effect.

But he still had eight more minutes before moving to the next area. Therefore, he tried his best to persevere.

Out of curiosity, he used one of his skills {Eve of Ruin's: Mark of Decay}

Unsurprisingly, the orb popped up, and all of a sudden, the monster stopped attacking for just a few moments.

Hmm? he hummed in curiosity, watching as the countdown ticked even further down—until eventually, it was time to move on to the next element.

Yet, in that short time frame of 7 minutes, the tarantula did not attack once, merely staring at him with a threatening look.

Out of the three remaining elements, he opted for fire, as right after, he could move on to water and, finally, wind.

The moment he entered the zone of the fire element, Neraxis was immediately bombarded with immense heat, but at least this time, he was able to move properly.

Nonetheless, the tarantula moved again, but this time, the webs it shot out caught on fire, sending flaming projectiles directly at him.

However, this time, they were much faster compared to when he was in the Earth element.

One fireball headed straight for him, and since it was too late to dodge, Neraxis decided to try cutting it in half—just barely succeeding.

Yet, the toll on his hand was immense, so he merely stuck to avoiding its attacks for now.

The countdown lessened as time passed, and soon, the Fire element was finished.

There was a period of grace where he would not be attacked by the tarantula while he headed over to the next element, so he used it as a bit of a breather.

Nonetheless, upon entering the Water element area, the heat he had been feeling earlier was immediately cleansed, yet at the same time, his breathing was completely halted.

But unlike the Wind element—which would likely be the most difficult—Water was the easiest, since before he entered, Neraxis had taken in a deep breath and now had enough air to last 10 minutes.

Of course, it wouldn't be so easy, as all of a sudden, the tarantula's webs came flying at him again.

Just this time, they appeared both heavy and on fire. Colliding with the water, the webs made it boil as they swiftly approached him.

That made him panic for only a slight moment, as in the next, Neraxis used {Eve of Ruin's: Mark of Destruction}.

He expected the tarantula to halt, just like in the Earth element, but it didn't.

If anything, it fired webs even faster.

Nonetheless, Neraxis dodged them like earlier, the webs only barely coming into contact with his skin.

But that small contact was enough to make him flinch and nearly lose focus.

Only a single minute was remaining, and yet, the breath he had taken at the very start was now gone, and he could feel himself suffocating.

Wind is going to be like this... but for ten minutes straight.. Neraxis thought with a frown, just barely dodging each attack until finally, the Water element was done, and now, he could finally move on to Wind.

Any ideas, Evangeline? he asked.

[I think the breathing is fine... I can make you breathe without air,] she replied confidently, making his brow rise.

How would that work? The wind will actively suck out the air from my lungs.

[Not if you're a vampire,] Evangeline giggled. [I can turn you into a vampire for a short moment, but right after that, you're going to be unconscious for a bit.]

He let out a sigh. What do I have to do...?

[It's simple. Just give me all your blood the moment you enter the Wind area, and I'll deal with the rest,] she replied, when all of a sudden, the sword grew even redder. [Prick your finger with the sword's tip whenever you're ready.]

Neraxis nodded in response before taking a few deep breaths and stepping inside.

Immediately, the air was taken out of his lungs, making him gag violently.

He had read a few guides on this floor and knew the transition was supposed to be gradual, but for him, it was instant.

Therefore, he glanced at the sword in his hands and the tarantula in the distance before bringing his finger closer to the tip and drawing blood.

Evangeline, do it, he signaled.

[With pleasure.]