The SSS Ranked Villain's Return-Chapter 308: Killing the Lizardmen, And a Blood Trail?

Neraxis didn't hesitate to dump his remaining free stat points into Mana Capacity, and now his stats looked like this.

Name: Neraxis Valen

Age: 18

Level: 3 → 5

Class: Sun Vampire (Mythic)

—Stats:

HP: 50/50

MP: 90/190 → 150/250

Strength: 5 → 17 (+12)

Agility: 5 → 17 (+12)

Stamina: 5

Mana Capacity: 19 → 25

Free Stat Points: 6 → 0

—Skills:

—Fragment of Calamity Skill Tree (4/???)

Advanced Horizontal Slash (Epic)

Expert Stab (Rare)

Atomic Stab (Rare)

Illusion Slash (Rare)

+-----+

The sword had also given him extra stat points, which were always nice to see.

Therefore, Neraxis took a deep breath and took a step forward before charging straight toward the lizardmen.

They had already entered their stances, with their spears pointing forward. However, Neraxis was a bit too experienced to lose to some mere lizards.

He took a step forward, baited out their spear thrusts, and then, with a simple sidestep, lined them up perfectly.

Then he used one of the many skills that could pierce multiple enemies at once.

[MP -150 0/250 (Expert Stab)]

His sword practically flew forward at them and, not even a moment later, pierced two straight through their throats.

However, the one in the very back managed to cushion the sword.

Neraxis had thought it was because he was too weak, but it was simply because the sword had shattered, crumbling to the ground in many small pieces.

Hm... Shit, Neraxis thought with a small frown, watching as the lizardman began to approach.

The kill notifications hadn't appeared yet, likely because he was still considered in combat.

This is a bit stupid... but I guess it deals with people having some sort of breakthrough mid-fight.

Nonetheless, he circled the lizardman, who continued glaring daggers at him. The spear was adjusted in such a way that if Neraxis tried to approach, he would be pierced in a vital spot.

However...

My regeneration is 10 HP per second... and it's 50 HP/s if I'm under the sun, Neraxis pondered, lowering his stance. Doable.

He dashed toward the lizardman, who was definitely not expecting him.

It raised its spear and thrust it toward Neraxis's heart. But before it could reach it, he shifted his body, managing to redirect the spear to his lungs.

It still hurt a lot, but not as much as it would've hurt had he been pierced through the heart. Obviously.

[HP -43! 7/50]

It was more damage than last time, but Neraxis didn't even bother to check twice as he grabbed the lizardman's spear shaft and then used his leg to break it in two.

He caught the sharp bit, and using it, he thrust it straight into the lizardman's eye, making it come out from the other side.

It didn't look like it had died, but the damage was definitely severe.

Neraxis kicked off, approaching the two lizardmen corpses and grabbing their spears.

Then, without wasting even a single moment, he threw both spears like javelins.

The lizardman didn't even have time to react as the dull spear crushed its skull, and the other pierced its heart.

With that, the lizardman dropped to the floor, lifeless like its friends.

<DING!>

<You have slain: (x3) Lizardman Sand Battler [Level 7] Medium Experience increase. Bonus experience earned for killing an enemy above your level!>

<You have leveled up!>

<Level 5 → 8>

<+6 Free Stat Points Obtained!>

Guess I only got experience last time because they hadn't initiated the fight yet, only stared at me... Neraxis pondered as he dusted his clothes off. Neat system, I guess.

Nonetheless, now that he was done with this, he decided to move on to other matters.

He focused on his body, precisely, the inner part where his Arksteel was supposed to be. However, he couldn't feel the reaction he was hoping to feel.

But just as he thought he might've somehow lost it, another pair of pop-ups appeared, causing him to raise a brow.

<Arksteel has been detected!>

<Skill is too high of a rank!>

<Initializing...>

<Skill generated!>

<Arksteel (Legendary)>

—Replicate the form and properties of any weapon you have interacted with. Effects increase the higher the level of the user.

<Current Arsenal: Shabby Sword (Common), Lizardman Bronze-tipped Spear (Common)>

<Notice: All replications have infinite durability!>

Neraxis tilted his head and then imagined his body forming the Shabby Sword he had wielded earlier.

The moment he did, it suddenly manifested. It wasn't as shabby as he remembered, likely because it had full durability this time.

Without wasting a moment, he inspected it.

—Shabby Arksteel Sword (Common)

Durability: Infinite

Damage: 11–14

+12 Strength

+12 Agility

It had a slight glow that he had not seen before. However, it was obvious there weren't any added effects, so he simply stashed it back inside his body.

That's not as overpowered as I'd hoped, but it serves its purpose, Neraxis thought with a hum as he looked around.

All five of them had been standing guard, and Neraxis knew for a fact they weren't here for no reason.

There had to be something here.

But what...? he pondered. The sword had a bit of blood on it, so that likely meant it belonged to someone who tried fighting back against the lizardmen...

If he followed that same logic, then the body should be somewhere near. After all, lizardmen didn't usually eat humans. Probably.

At least, this group didn't. Their skin was green, scaly, and clean. Definitely not feral or tribal.

But he couldn't rule out that possibility just yet, so instead, he decided to look around.

His wounds had healed by now with practically no trouble, so he simply hummed with each step he took, until he eventually stumbled upon something.

There was a jagged rock in the very middle. It didn't stand out as much due to the towering trees; however, when Neraxis got closer, he saw a single bloodstain marked on it.

It was a hand imprint, and from what he could see, it brushed across it while running away due to the spread of the fingerprint.

Hmm... they were heading... Neraxis trailed off, trying to determine the direction.

In fact, the more he looked, the more he saw, as he finally spotted droplets of blood on the ground, leading him in a particular direction.

Neraxis sighed and swiftly followed after the blood trail.