The SSS Ranked Villain's Return-Chapter 227: Crumbling Tower

<Solaris Tower - 10th Floor ??? Mode: Brilliance of the Sun - Complete>

<Climber: Neraxis Valen>

<Current Progress: 10/10 Floors>

<Solaris Tower - Complete>

<Do you wish to enter the 11th floor?>

<Yes/No>

Just a moment, Neraxis remarked as he kicked aside the severed corpse in front of him.

That was the last person alive, and supposedly a protector, but he was extremely weak.

It was so bad, he couldn't even tell he was cut until his body collapsed.

[I'm glad it's over,] Evangeline said, and just as he was about to ask something, she interjected. [16 minutes.]

That's...

[Yep,] Evangeline giggled. [That's a new record.]

Pfft... yeah, that definitely deserves a drink after we're out, Neraxis replied nonchalantly.

It had become a game for him, since whatever happened in the Tower stayed in the Tower.

Nonetheless, he approached Liza and Fiora, who were tapping away on the massive array of computers.

"Did you find it?" he asked.

Liza shook her head. "Not the full picture, but I have something..."

She clicked on a few folders and opened up an interesting recording.

It was dated back to 1192, and from the looks of things, the people were burning each other while chanting the name of the Sun God, Amaterasu.

So they knew her, somehow... Neraxis noted. "Any later?"

"Nope," Liza shook her head again. "This is still during the age when technology first emerged, so I can't exactly trace things back any further."

"Wait, what's that?" Fiora said with furrowed brows as she tapped on the monitor a couple of times.

As she did, the image enhanced itself, and Neraxis's eyes widened upon seeing the sight.

The mask of a blue dragon, belonging to the Sovereign of Pride.

"That's some trippy mask. He doesn't look like someone from their age, though," Liza remarked, as she began enhancing the image more and more, until eventually, Neraxis was greeted with the same sight he saw back in the Astral Tower.

It's him... Neraxis thought, as rage began boiling inside him. It's been so long since I last saw them, I almost forgot they existed... But like always, they're somehow tied together with all the messed-up stuff that happens.

He wasn't sure what kind of roles each of the Sovereigns had, however, as initially, he expected them to be managing their respective sins.

But it seemed like that wasn't the full picture.

"Hm... Can you cross-reference him with anything else? Maybe the future?" Neraxis asked, and with a nod, Liza proceeded to do so.

After just a couple of minutes, another vivid picture popped up, then another, until finally, it totaled five.

The same blue-dragon-masked man was in the background, watching each historically tragic event unfold.

<The Sun God urges you to come to the 11th floor as soon as possible.>

"Just a sec," Neraxis muttered as he noted down these events.

After I'm back, I'll have to check out the past as well, see if there's any connection. I might be able to get Aella to do that.

"Liza, Fiora, that's it for me. Are you ready to head out?" Neraxis asked, and the two girls nodded before pressing "Yes" in unison.

Neraxis swiftly did the same, and soon, his vision distorted as he finally reappeared in another place.

I'm out of that shithole, thankfully, Neraxis thought as he looked around the room.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

However, unlike last time, Amaterasu wasn't on her bed.

In fact, there was no bed to begin with.

Instead, there was a massive black throne, and on it sat Amaterasu in a beautiful black dress, looking down on them confidently.

"Welcome to my throne room, I'm happy you all made it here shafely—" Amaterasu bit her tongue as her cheeks began turning red.

"..." Neraxis facepalmed. Every time...

"Amaterasu, just a question..." he trailed off, pulling out the white knife he had taken from Amaterasu's clone back on the 9th floor. "If this tower is really going to disappear, do you want to come with me?"

"W-What?" Amaterasu's eyes widened. "In that little knife...? I don't know if that'll work."

Neraxis nodded, then, all of a sudden, thrust the knife right into his blue castle-like necklace.

But instead of either of them breaking, the knife simply went inside the necklace, and then, the entire necklace's color changed, emitting a faint golden light.

"I had a talk with the person inside, and after some negotiations, she said she'd be up for a roommate. So, what do you say?" Neraxis asked with a smile, startling Amaterasu.

She definitely didn't expect this, and likely had some grand speech prepared, which she obviously butchered by biting her tongue.

Nonetheless, Neraxis was prepared to bring her back, as she definitely didn't deserve whatever kind of fate awaited her after the tower was gone.

And he thought right, as in the next moment...

<Solaris Tower: Self-Destruction has been initiated!>

<Self-Destruction Timer started!>

<00:29>

<00:28>

<Solaris Tower: The Sun God, Amaterasu, has bestowed upon you her promised blessing!>

<New Main Skill Gained! Manifestation of the Sun {SSS}>

So many pop-ups, but he ignored all of them as he began making his way over to Amaterasu's throne.

The moment he arrived, Neraxis gently placed his hand over hers, and with his other hand, held her chin and made her face his eyes.

"Amaterasu, come with me."

Her golden eyes sparkled as she looked around, hesitant.

"B-But if I abandon my post, then there will be an imbalance... My father is going to hunt me down..." Amaterasu muttered, as her eyes lingered on his necklace.

"Amaterasu, I promise that if your father comes after you, I will beat his ass," Neraxis said with a smile, taking a glance at the timer.

<00:08>

<00:07>

"I know it's urgent and probably out of nowhere, but if you really want to be free, then come with me," Neraxis finished, as the timer began ticking down.

Yet just as he thought she was about to deny him, she suddenly stretched her trembling hand toward his necklace and gripped it firmly.

"S-See you in a bit," she announced, when all of a sudden, she vanished, her mana traveling straight into his necklace.

And soon...

<Solaris Tower: ERROR!>

<Solaris Tower: The Sun God, Amaterasu, has abandoned her post!>

<Commencing Search Protocol!>

<ERROR!>

<Solaris Tower: Self-Destruction Imminent!>

Neraxis let out a sigh as he glanced toward the two nonchalant girls who didn't even react to this farce in the slightest.

"I can't say we had a lot of fun, but I'm glad you two were with me," Neraxis said with a smile, earning giggles from both of them.

Yet as they opened their mouths to speak, the two suddenly vanished, and then not even a moment later, so did he.

<Solaris Tower: Self-Destruction Commencing!>

<Solaris Tower: All climbers have been ejected to their respective worlds!>

<Warning! You're Leaving Solar—ERROR>

Neraxis ignored those messages, bearing through the surprisingly scorching pain, until finally, it all disappeared.

He opened his eyes, feeling the natural breeze, and as he looked around, he was met with the familiar desert, the crazed monsters, and also...

A falling golden tower, which began breaking and sinking into the ground, causing a large earthquake to spread out around the wilds.

Nonetheless, Neraxis merely flew up into the air with his frost wings as he let out a relieved sigh.

I'm finally fucking back.