Lukas142

--WSA 2025 ENTRY--

Neraxis saved the people and wiped out the monsters, but instead of cheers, he faced silence and a glowing blue text:

[Task Failed Successfully!]

[Rating Generated: SSS-Rank]

"The hell does that even mean?" he muttered, finding the situation a bit strange.

Before he could process, the so-called heroes—who had hidden while he fought—emerged. He waited for gratitude, only to feel a dagger pierce his back.

The only girl he loved stood behind him.

She betrayed him.

The crowd and heroes? They were staring at him with disdain and contempt.

"You..." he groaned as a spear and sword headed for him, ending his life.  
 
But instead of dying, he was sent back to the past—specifically, to the first day of the academy, year 2367, 8 years before his death.  

However, many things had changed. One of the most significant was the sudden appearance of a Tower, a mysterious structure that had appeared across all the continents, granting power to those brave enough to contest its challenges.

"Not again... With this chance I will end you all" Neraxis vowed to himself, embarking on his path of revenge, while also trying to give his life new meaning.

*****
Disclaimer: MC is not instantly going to be a villain, as his background is that of a hero. The switch will be gradual in accordance with the events that happen along the way. Some snippets of such events have already been teased :)
*****

The SSS Ranked Villain's Return

[Dreamspire - 4th Floor Hard Mode: Forge of Endurance]

[Objective: Survive in each element for 5 -> 10 minutes]

[Beginning preparation countdown!]

Neraxis found he could move and, judging from the countdown, assumed he could pick whichever element he wanted to start with.

Therefore, he would start with the easiest—Earth.

Gravity was not too hard to resist, especially when you coated yourself in mana.

The only reason it had been hard back then was simply because of the tweaks Magnus had made.

Are you here now? he asked.

[I am... All I saw was darkness for a solid 20 minutes,] Evangeline replied, her voice uneasy. [Was everything okay? Did... Did the voices say anything strange?]

The Forge of Endurance