Neraxis had received the typical questionnaire one gets whenever they do something suspicious.
She asked about Delta, the Obscura, and even some things regarding the timeline.
Since he didn't have much to hide, he simply answered it all. In the end, it seemed Amara let him off the hook.
"You're going to stick with me until this trial is over, you hear me?" Amara stated. "If I let you get away, then for all I know, you're going to disappear."
"I am going to disappear," Neraxis corrected. "I don't belong to this timeline, and right after I'm gone, the previous, trashy Neraxis will take place. You can probably kill that guy then if you want."
"Delta can probably fix him," Amara remarked. "I just need his compliance."
"You're not getting it," Neraxis added with a chuckle. "If I know myself, then for a fact, I can tell you he's going to go out kicking."
Probably not. Neraxis was just making an assumption.
But despite that, they finished their small talk and turned to the girls.
For some reason, he seemed a bit weaker. It was hard to pinpoint why, but it almost felt like his strength was being zapped.
So he went on to check his status.
However, the sight shocked him.
Class: Sun Vampire (Mythic)
—Fragment of Calamity Skill Tree (4/???)
Advanced Horizontal Slash (Epic)
Illusion Slash (Rare)
"...?" Neraxis's eyes widened with each line he read. Not only was his strength gone, but it had also been converted into a game format.
He didn't panic too much, since he remembered reading up on the tower, and past Floor 10, every floor followed a leveling system to make it fair.
In this case, however, he was in a bit of a pickle. Not only did he lack any skills aside from his Calamity ones, he also had no affinities.
He felt stripped, but at the same time, hopeful. He wouldn't be the strongest in this world anymore, and because of that, he could actually build up his strength.
Then there was the added benefit that Neraxis had read about.
The people who complete each floor regain a portion of their original stats. It's not numerical—it's flat, he thought. Skills are also obtainable, and you can select to bring one home every once in a while.
Nonetheless, since he would be stuck here for a bit, he decided to check out his Race—or rather, his class.
—You've become the pinnacle of the Sunfire Vampires!
"Ha...." Neraxis moved on to the other skills.
Advanced Horizontal Slash (Epic)
—Slash horizontally and deal 100 +10% STR Physical Damage
—Perform an Expert Stab and deal 150 + 25% AGI Physical Damage
—Perform a Molecular Stab and deal 250 + 50% STR True Damage
Illusion Slash (Rare)
—Twist the myriad blade and perform a Feint attack on command, dealing 100 + 100% Agility
The skills were pretty neat and all. Rather, they'd been adjusted to match the game counterpart, which he found quite odd.
But just as he thought he'd have to go through his hell alone, a voice rang out inside his mind.
[Neraxis? Is everything okay?] Evangeline asked, worried. [I can't even feel you anymore, but I do know you're out there somewhere.]
Evangeline... Neraxis focused. Can you try traveling into my body? I'm inside Dreamspire right now.
She let out a deep sigh. [One sec, I'll try.]
A few seconds passed, and even then, there was no response.
But then, she finally spoke up.
[It says I need to finish the prerequisite tower Floor 1 through 10. So I basically have to pass the tutorial, as it didn't count when I did it with you,] Evangeline said plainly. [...Are you stuck?]
Yep, Neraxis replied. I'm really stuck here. Also, I found out where the Eternal Sin's hideout is, believe it or not.
[Don't worry that pretty little head of yours about that. I'll be coming to you,] Evangeline stated. [The girls are going to do some decorating, and as for Seraphina and Amaterasu, they're going to protect the place while you're gone. Don't worry about them.]
You really don't have to come... Neraxis sighed. I was just trying to test whether or not you'd be able to.
[Nope~] Evangeline giggled. [Your first mistake was trying to tell me not to come. Now I'm going to be there tomorrow. See ya, Neraxis. I'm at the tower, and... I'm gone—]
A moment of silence ensued, followed by snickering.
[I thought it would be a grand exit... turns out we can still talk to each other,] Evangeline said sheepishly. [Anyways... I won't bother you much, aside from all the time.]
Neraxis stared at the air for a few moments as he felt his chest tighten.
I'll be waiting, Evangeline.
With that, he focused on his surroundings. It seemed like no more people were appearing—in fact, it seemed like there were fewer of them now.
Neraxis glanced at the girls one final time and separated, only to be followed by Amara.
Eris was also trailing from not too far away in the distance, so that meant he'd have a party of three people.
One didn't trust him, and the other held a grudge for nearly being killed by him.
Eris is going to try killing me while I'm asleep, isn't she? Neraxis chuckled, and as his foot reached the edge of the platform, his vision suddenly shifted.
It was similar to teleportation—just a lot more forceful.
And then, he found himself in a forest, with the humid wind hitting his nose.
Amara and Eris appeared beside him soon after, their expressions mirroring his own confusion.
However, he didn't have to wonder for long as he looked to the side, spotting a boar running straight for them.
—Deerhide Boar (Level 5)