The SSS Ranked Villain's Return

[ERROR ### Dawn of Ruin Activated!]

+-----+

[Status]

Name: Neraxis Valen ???

Age: 17

Stigmata: [Fragment of Calamity {24.99%} (Seals Unlocked: 3)]

Affinity: [Eclipsed Abyss {SSS}]

Body Compatibility: 8% → 13%

—Perks:

[Aura of the Abyss] (Basic) → (Supreme)

[Unyielding Vitality] (Intermediate) → (Supreme)

[Cosmic Sight] (Intermediate) → (Supreme)

—Stats:

Rank: C+ → SSS+

Strength: C- → SSS+

Agility: C+ → SSS+

Stamina: C+ → SSS+

Intelligence: B+ → SSS+

Mana Capacity: C+ → SSS+

—Secondary Stats:

Luck: J- → K+ Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Charm: A+ → S-

—Skills:

[Eve of Ruin {B}] → [Eternal Ruin {SSS}]*

[Swordsmanship {E}]

[Stellar Dominion {A}]

[Minor Reflect {D}]

[Sword Dash {F}]

[Restorative Cut {E}]

[Vampiric Dominion {A}]

[Aegis of Eternity {C}]

[Crimson Sovereignty {S}]

[Body Manifestation {B}]

[Phantom Step {E}]

[Aura {E}]

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

[Simple Horizontal Slash]

[Simple Stab]

+-----+

What is with these stats? Neraxis thought with a shocked look, glancing all around.

It did not feel much different from before—he still felt like himself—but just much, much lighter.

But of course, the amount of mana he could control now was nearly immeasurable.

Evangeline? he called out.

[I'm here...] she replied with slight confusion. [Are you all... you know... there?]

I think so, Neraxis said, inspecting his body.

It was fully restored, just as the system note said.

His heart was back and beating as steadily as before, yet his emotions seemed to have dulled further, as the only thing he felt at the moment was emptiness—and, of course, surprise.

[Don't lose yourself. The skill will be over in a minute,] Evangeline said, appearing in her sword form and thwacking him over the head with the hilt. [I'll be here to keep you in line in case something goes wrong.]

Thank you, Evangeline. Neraxis expressed, before bringing his attention toward the Skeleton King, who was standing idly by, frozen in place.

He walked over to it absentmindedly, each of his steps shaking the surrounding land.

The power increase was way too much for him to attempt any sudden movements, as the last thing he wanted was to accidentally wipe out all the people he was supposed to be protecting.

Nonetheless, Neraxis soon approached the Skeleton King, standing right in front of it.

"You don't seem as confident as earlier."

"..."

"What's wrong? Pissing in your boots now that the roles have been reversed?" Neraxis added before expanding his mana outward.

However, he accidentally used too much. The moment he felt the mana escape his body, the Skeleton King turned to dust in an instant.

[1x (S- Ranked Boss Monster) Fral, The Skeleton King Slain! Reward: Stigmata 24.99% → 49.99%]

"Whoops," Neraxis exclaimed, his interest already fading away.

The enemy that had been insurmountable mere moments ago had turned to dust the moment he used less than 1% of his mana.

It was almost comical, the strength difference.

I guess this is what the Skeleton King felt when it was fighting me, Neraxis thought before enveloping himself in mana.

It slightly warped the surroundings, with space cracking ever so slightly around him.

Nonetheless, he used the mana to bring himself into the air, all the while Jane was still in her stupor, not noticing the fact that the fight was essentially over.

Neraxis finally arrived just under the clouds, watching the entire city as well as the surroundings in the distance.

Of course, he saw the Black Knights as well, who, unlike the Skeleton King, had begun fleeing in all directions.

However, they were walking stigmata progress farms. Therefore, Neraxis attempted to do something he would never have thought of doing.

Most of the {Aura of the Abyss} options were invisible, but its proficiency had increased to Supreme, likely the highest possible rank.

So, he decided to interfere with the laws of the world.

With a mere thought, he imagined the Black Knights' heads exploding, and in the next moment, his thoughts came to fruition.

[4x (A+ Ranked Elite Human) ### the Forsaken Slain! Reward: Stigmata 49.99% → 89.99%]

That was pretty simple, Neraxis remarked before focusing on the Skeleton Legion and doing the same.

[35x (B- Ranked Monster) Armored Skeleton Swordsman Slain! Reward: Stigmata 89.99% → 93.49%]

[29x (B- Ranked Monster) Armored Skeleton Archer Slain! Reward: Stigmata 93.49% → 96.39%]

[Skill - Dawn of Ruin Duration: 30 Seconds left!]

Neraxis hummed in amusement before floating down and landing in front of Jane.

She was still in the middle of her focused mana gathering. However, he merely placed his hand on her head and began patting it.

That seemed to be enough to break her focus, as she opened her eyes angrily.

As Jane noticed him—especially his appearance—her eyes widened.

"D-Did you dye your hair black? When did you have the time...?"

"What?" Neraxis tilted his head and noticed that, indeed, his hair had changed color.

He only hoped it was temporary since he was quite fond of his white hair.

"It's nothing much, Jane. It's over," he announced with a smile. "All the skeletons are dead, and so is the necromancer."

"What...? Weren't there still many left? What happened?" she asked with a shocked expression before suddenly rushing past him.

He turned his head in confusion just as Jane suddenly crouched down.

Below her was the same overly protective guard from earlier, lying on the ground lifelessly.

Neraxis silently paid his respects. However, what happened next startled him.

Jane's mana spread out as a pair of white wings appeared on her back.

Following that, the wings let out a burst of pulsating light, which all began gathering inside her palms. Then, eventually, all the gathered mana was let out into the guard's body.

As it did, the guard's fingers suddenly began twitching, which did not go unnoticed by Neraxis.

Soon, the guard sat upright, a dazed look on his face.

"Saint...? Did you just...?" He began speaking. Then, she sent out another pulse of mana, knocking him out cold.

"You revived him," Neraxis stated the obvious.

"I... Yes. I thought I could do it... but I wasn't sure," Jane replied with a conflicted look on her face. "I want to get out of here..."

"Here? The broken-down city? I'm pretty sure you're not the only one," Neraxis tried to make light of the situation. However, she merely shook her head.

"No. I want to find my origin... Why am I able to do these things when others can't?" She turned to him, tears streaming down her face. "There has to be a reason, right...?"

"I'm sure there is, Jane," Neraxis commented before turning around, facing the desolate land.

"I won't stop you. I think no one will," he added. All of a sudden, Neraxis expanded his entire mana pool outward, covering the entire city as well as the area up to the mountains in the distance.

As he did, Neraxis began interfering with the laws of the world, influencing the properties of his mana while casually rewinding the time of whatever and whoever he wished.

[15% of the total civilians have been killed!]

[11% of the total civilians have been killed!]

[6% of the total civilians have been killed!]

[1% of the total civilians have been killed!]

He kept the number reasonable and avoided the spy he had killed, before adding the finishing touches.

Each building that had been broken down, along with the walls, was restored as though there had been no invasion in the first place.

Yet he was not finished. He decided to tidy up the desolate land as well, making sure water coursed through the soil, while at the same time growing plants, trees, and even whole forests around the city.

It was the complete opposite of his {Aura of the Abyss}, but in the end, Neraxis felt it was worth it despite the searing pain growing inside him.

[Skill - Dawn of Ruin Duration: 10 seconds left!]

Noticing only a few seconds were left, he let out a deep breath and smiled at Jane.

"It was fun, and I wish you luck on your journey. I hope we can meet again."

"Y-You..." She was still shocked by what he had just done moments ago, but before she could protest, his hearing disappeared, followed by the sensation of him moving through something, until eventually, Neraxis found himself sitting on a white sofa.

[Trial Stopped!]

[Prerequisites met!]

[Main Scenario: Pesant Girl {SSS+} - Part 1 Complete]

[Main Scenario: Next Part - 15th Floor}

[Dreamspire - 9th Floor Hard Mode: City Defense - Complete]

[Climber: Neraxis Valen]

[9th Floor Rating Generating...]

[Rating Generated: SSS+++]

[Position: 58,992,337 → 21,002,119]

[Current Progress: 9/? Floors]

[Dreamspire - 10th Floor Hard Mode: Shadow of the Past - Available]

[Do you wish to enter?]

[Yes/No]

Neraxis glanced through the messages, especially the one regarding the main scenario.

It seemed like he would be able to see Jane on multiple floors, which meant that at the end of the main scenario, he would definitely find something important.

Nonetheless, as his finger hovered above the "Yes" button, a voice interrupted him.

[I expected you to wield my powers like a madman and destroy everything in sight. Who knew you could be so poetically righteous?]

A frown appeared on Neraxis's face. Lagus.

[That's right,] Lagus affirmed as the last seconds of the skill finally ticked down. [With each usage of my skill, you will struggle to control yourself more and more, until eventually, your body will become mine—]

Fuck off. Neraxis cut him off. The moment I get strong enough, you will be the first one to die. Count your days.

[Hahahah—]

The laugh was cut off, followed by:

[Skill - Dawn of Ruin - Deactivated!]

[All stats have returned to normal!]

He expected some recoil, but instead, relief washed over him as the pain vanished.

But of course, he felt his body being slow again, a stark contrast to his overwhelming strength mere moments ago.

Nonetheless, Neraxis would not let that get to him as he focused on the "Yes" button and pressed it.

[Dreamspire - 10th Floor Hard Mode: Shadow of the Past]

[Objective: Defeat the copy of your previous self.]

[Note: You will not be able to die during the trial, and you can only leave once you defeat your previous self.]

[Status: Initializing...]