Neraxis walked slowly, moving each time the red light turned off.
The remaining climbers looked at him in horror as he approached, and just as he was about to reach them, the pair spoke up.
"P-Please man, I have a family," the man said, standing deathly still. "A little sister at home, you can imagine that, right? Come on... just let me be, yeah?"
"Me too! I have a sick mother at home!" the girl continued. "Do you know what will happen if I—"
"Shut up," Neraxis cut them off. "You're not the only ones who have family waiting for them back home."
As the last of his words fell, Neraxis gently sliced to the side, sending out an invisible arc of mana, which, upon contact with the pair's throats, sliced them clean through.
<2x (A- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 87.43% → 87.63%>
Their heads fell to the ground, with their eyes wide open in shock.
However, Neraxis didn't even bat an eye.
After all, during his time as Eclipse, he had done far worse.
[They should call you the separator of families,] Evangeline remarked with a giggle.
Neraxis rolled his eyes. That's a terrible nickname.
With 11 people in total remaining, he just had to kill a couple more, and it would automatically put him through to the next trial.
And that was exactly what he did, as he waited until the red light turned off before using {Sword Dash} to appear in front of them.
They waved their hands around in terror, but it was to no avail.
He had set his mind on stuff a year ago.
No mercy for those who stand in his way.
[That's a cringy way of looking at it, but I understand,] Evangeline commented. [Why not, I don't know... kill those who stand in your way?]
Your naming sense is even worse than mine, Evangeline. I don't want to hear it, Neraxis shot back, as he glanced at the pair of notifications.
<1x (A- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 87.63% → 87.63%>
<1x (A+ Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 87.73% → 88.03%>
No one was even able to remotely get close to him, let alone react to his attacks.
Or so he thought—however, despite him not moving a muscle during the red light, an arrow shot right at him.
Neraxis intercepted it with the tip of his sword before redirecting it toward another group, whose brains were pierced through instantly.
<2x (A+ Ranked Human) Slain! (Assist) Reward: Stigmata 88.03% → 88.33%>
Seven left, Neraxis glanced to the side, but was once again met with several arrows flying toward him.
It seemed like they gave up the red light bullshit and decided to just kill him.
However, Neraxis wouldn't sit down and die, as he merely extended his {Domain} forward.
Immediately, the area which was supposed to be murky and black turned golden.
The only thing that remained from his previous domain were the black tendrils which emerged from the dead bodies.
Nonetheless, he was now able to feel everything that appeared in his domain—therefore, as an arrow flew at him, Neraxis grabbed it and, by swiftly tracing the trajectory, sent it back where it came from.
There was a tiny hole in the wall, and due to the added momentum, the arrow broke straight through it, leaving behind a massive hole—and a white room, which was now stained with blood all over the walls.
<1x (S- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 88.33% → 89.33%>
So they're humans, but they're doing some part-time labor shit, interesting... Neraxis pondered.
Nonetheless, he noticed the room that sniper was in had stretched to the side, which meant he could access the other rooms from inside.
So with a leap, Neraxis appeared inside the room, kicked away the corpse, and looked around.
At a glance, the walls seemed firm, but as he placed his hand on them, they parted inward before revealing a pathway.
And the moment it did, Neraxis finally saw the people responsible for these arrows.
They were in some strange golden suits and were hunched over, looking through the peepholes with their snipers.
By the side was a rack of arrows, which they used to reload their sniper every now and again.
It seemed like the masked people didn't notice him—so, with soundless steps, Neraxis appeared behind one of them and grabbed the masked man by the neck.
Neraxis absentmindedly turned the masked man to face him before merely melting the mask with his {Aura of the Abyss}.
The moment he did, the sight of a lifeless-looking person greeted him.
White hair, blank white eyes.
"You still in there, chap?" Neraxis asked in a whisper. "Or should I just end your misery?"
He waited a few seconds for an answer, but it never came.
Therefore, Neraxis tightened his grip before ripping the man's neck clean off.
<1x (S- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 89.33% → 90.33%>
Before the body could drop to the ground, Neraxis caught it and placed it down without making a sound.
However, there were 6 more of these people all in one line, and none of them even checked for what was going on.
Therefore, he decided to test a theory.
"Free candy, anyone?"
Despite his very serious and lucrative offer, not a single person stood up—or even reacted, for that matter.
[Looks like their brains are dead,] Evangeline commented, and he nodded.
Since that was the case, Neraxis walked over to them and, one by one, drove his sword through their heads, instantly killing them.
<6x (S- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 90.33% → 96.33%>
That's it for the snipers, Neraxis remarked, then turned toward the wall and kicked it apart.
The sight of the Elimination Chamber once again greeted him—just this time, the red light was always on.
People panicked slightly, not wanting to move.
However, there was one clumsy idiot who did, and upon not being killed, began running around.
The others soon followed along, as they began to fight one another.
In the meantime, Liza was simply standing there in a corner, acting invisible.
It seemed like it was working though, as not even a single person went for her.
But of course, Neraxis didn't go down just yet—instead, he overlooked the fighting below.
After his killing spree, only five were left, and apart from another girl who was doing Liza's strategy, the others were gathered in one spot.
Which was perfect because...
{Stellar Dominion: Cosmic Cascade}.
Neraxis used his skill, which immediately lit up the room in an aurora, before crashing down on them.
They didn't even have time to let out a scream, as the Astral Flames melted them whole.
Deadly silence descended, with both Liza and the other girl staring at him in fear and shock.
But he was staring at something else entirely.
"Liza," he called out, pointing at the air. "Press yes, we're almost there."
"I-I can't!" she yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't want to be killed! Why are we going through this in the first place!? I just want to go home!"
"Five seconds," Neraxis stated coldly, making her turn to him, just to meet his cold purple eyes. "If you don't accept in the next five seconds, I'm killing you here and now. Choose."
She flinched, and out of instinct, her hand moved toward "Yes."
The same went for the girl in the other corner, as she too pressed the button without hesitation.
Neraxis smiled, as he proceeded to press "Yes."
Immediately, his vision warped much faster than before, until eventually, he found himself in some massive gladiator arena, with the two girls beside him.
And of course, in front of him stood a charming, obsidian-haired woman who was staring at him emotionlessly with her clear golden eyes.