The SSS Ranked Villain's Return

[Uhm...] Evangeline's concerned voice rang out. [I know you want to test the effects and all, but you might kill Liza in the process. If what I feel is right, you're about to create a solar flare.]

Hearing that, Neraxis flinched and decided to maybe lower his strength a bit.

Soon, golden threads began shooting out of his hands, and of course, they were his blood.

It felt weird controlling them, but of course...

[15,512x Blood Constructs Summoned! Type: Combat—Sun Threads]

Hmm? he thought in wonder, feeling his fingertips begin to heat up.

Therefore, he decided to simply lock on to a few people, and by merely willing the golden threads to move, they flew out of his fingertips.

In the very next moment, the people he had aimed for now had holes clean through their heads, cauterized instantly on impact.

[11x (B+ Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 85.60% → 85.93%]

[6x (A- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 85.93% → 86.53%]

[3x (A+ Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 86.53% → 87.43%]

It all happened in the blink of an eye, and honestly, even Neraxis was surprised.

But the number of threads was starting to get a little concerning.

[482,154x Blood Constructs Summoned! Type: Combat—Sun Threads]

Evangeline... Where exactly are they being stored? And how do I stop them, you know, from forming? he asked.

[They're being stored inside your body. Think of it as like a retractive spring, but just folded millions of times,] Evangeline explained softly. [In your case though... I'm not sure, just stop...? I guess...?]

That's definitely not what I've been trying to do for the last half a minute, Neraxis replied, and when the count finally reached a million, he felt a bit of pressure inside his body—specifically, his heart.

Almost as if pumping such a massive amount of golden blood outward was too taxing.

[I think you need to expel all that mana at once,] Evangeline commented. [I understand it's hard given how the skill turned into a passive, however, just explode outward, and then you'll see a small gap in the skill's connection. You should be able to see the window to turn it off then.]

I hope you're right, Neraxis remarked, as he looked around.

Of course, dispersing all those threads here would kill everyone present.

However... there was one place he could go to.

Tapping on his necklace, space suddenly cracked, and under the surprise of both the climbers and the trial overseer, Neraxis vanished.

<Leaving Solaris Tower!>

<If you do not return in 10 minutes, you shall forfeit all progress and rewards!>

No need to worry about that, Neraxis thought, as his vision finally stabilized.

In front of him was a giant ice house, mimicking his own.

And inside—Seraphina, who was idly sitting on the balcony and seemingly enjoying one of the instant coffees he had brought her.

He still hadn't managed to figure out how to free her yet, but he felt like he was getting close.

"Darling? What brings you here on this fine evening?" Seraphina asked, a bit shocked. "I thought our next meeting would happen in a month or so, just like last time."

"Unfortunately, I'm not here to play around," Neraxis said with a sigh. "Could you summon one of those arenas like last time? You know, the impenetrable ones?"

"I see, darling. But what can you give me in return—"

Before she could finish her words, Neraxis took out a white circlet from his dimensional ring.

It was one he had tailor-made for her, and it was made completely out of diamonds—the most expensive kind that money could buy.

He had bought it with some rich official's money while he was out doing missions as Eclipse, since spending 150 million Crowns didn't seem very fun, even if he was rich.

"It's beautiful..." Seraphina exclaimed, as she jumped down from the balcony and landed in front of him. "Could you put it on my head?"

Neraxis understood her intentions, so he leaned slightly, patted her gently, then placed the circlet on her head.

"I'm sorry I don't come around often. Especially the past year. The only things I've been doing—"

"I know, darling, I can see," Seraphina cut him off softly. "I also know why you've come here, so I'm sorry for beating around the bush."

As she said those words, Seraphina merely glanced to the side—when all of a sudden, a large ice monument appeared, with chains tightly wrapped around it.

A shiver went down his spine as he remembered his first time here, but nonetheless, Neraxis nodded at Seraphina before proceeding toward it.

Once he arrived, he grabbed hold of one chain, and the moment he did, his vision went blank as an ice dome appeared around him.

It was extremely cold last time.

Now? It felt like a gentle breeze.

I guess being a Sun Vampire has its benefits, Neraxis chuckled, before wrapping the chains around his arms, letting the cold fully seep into him.

Finally, he was ready.

[2,841,009x Blood Constructs Summoned! Type: Combat—Sun Threads]

The number was high, but before it could get any higher, Neraxis stretched his fingers out, and in the very next moment, the entire dark dome of ice lit up in a golden light.

Immediately, the threads that had been holed up inside his body shot out, piercing through the dome—but were covered up in the very next instant.

The intensity increased, as thousands—soon, millions—of golden threads began shooting out of his body, until eventually, it demolished the dome entirely.

However, Seraphina wasn't a pushover, so she merely used her powers to create another dome—and then another, until finally, he felt the number of threads decrease to hundreds.

Now, a feeling of emptiness appeared, and as it did, Neraxis noticed where the skill was originating, and instead of his heart, it was originating from his spine.

Therefore, with a quick motion, he cut off all the mana which had been traveling out of his spine, and in the very next moment, the threads began turning hollow before seemingly shattering.

Neraxis waited around for something to happen, but once he realized it was done, he let out a relieved sigh.

"That's some power you got there," Seraphina remarked as she walked up to him and unchained him. "If you get more powerful, you might even be able to contest with me one day."

"I hope so..." Neraxis trailed off, looking to the side.

<Leaving Solaris Tower!>

<If you do not return in 28 seconds, you shall forfeit all progress and rewards!>

"Thank you, Seraphina," he expressed. "I'll make sure to get you something nice. Also, after this trial is over, I might be able to help get you out."

"Is that a promise, darling?" Seraphina asked with a warm smile.

"It's a promise," Neraxis replied, before quickly stretching and turning to look at her. "Can you summon the exit now? If I don't come back in the next 20 seconds, I'll lose out on some stuff."

Seraphina walked up to him and gently hugged him, and he hugged her back.

And in the next moment, she pushed him backward—making Neraxis collide with the portal behind him.

He was slightly shocked at her boldness, but nonetheless, closed his eyes, and a few seconds later, reopened them.

<Re-Entered Solaris Tower!>

Neraxis looked around, and upon noticing the silence, he was slightly confused.

However, he soon felt a tap on his shoulder, followed by the trial overseer's stern gaze looking over him.

"What have you done?"