The SSS Ranked Villain's Return - Chapter 418

Chapter 418: Extended Duration
“Again,” Delta grumbled. “How do you fight with swords so well, yet suck with something that works the same as a sword? I fail to understand how you’re so incompetent.”

“Ouch?” Neraxis’s brows twitched. “You can just tell me I’m shit at it and move on. No need for the extra salt in the wound.”

“It’s not about that,” Delta replied. “I just think you’re holding onto something that’s preventing you from getting better. Is it your attachment to your family? Or is it something deeper than that?”

She narrowed her eyes, but then a wave of clarity washed over her as she let out a chuckle.

“Is it that sword you always tend to carry around?”

Neraxis froze for a moment. “And if it is?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it per se, it’s just a slight problem when it gets in the way of whatever you’re doing here. I’m sure you can understand how important anonymity is to us, so if it so happens that you’ll switch to your sword in combat, I’m afraid I’ll have to deal with you firsthand,” Delta said coldly.

It was clear she wasn’t joking around. He had known her for a bit now as she trained him nonstop for the last week. But there was always the problem of him doing absolutely poorly.

It wasn’t even the fact that he wasn’t striking fast enough. It was literally because he couldn’t connect his strikes. Sometimes he would overextend, and other times, he would simply miss the target completely.

By now, even he was annoyed by his own progress. He knew he wasn’t that pathetic, but seeing this simply disheartened him.

But before Neraxis could fall into a deeper pit of self-loathing, Delta walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.

“Take out your sword.”

“Will you do anything to it?” Neraxis asked, taking a single step back.

“I promise I won’t,” Delta replied.

However, he couldn’t tell whether it was genuine or not, but it seemed like someone else thought she was.

[It’s fine. I think I can talk with her just as I’ve talked with Seraphina,] Evangeline said in her usual serene voice.

Really? I don’t want her splitting you in two or something like that, Neraxis replied. It was natural to be cautious, especially when the sword was none other than his lover, and someone he held deep feelings for.

[Neraxis, summon me. I can promise you nothing bad will happen,] Evangeline comforted. [If something does happen, remember that I can regenerate as long as I have blood. My soul is also tied to yours, so in the worst-case scenario, you can directly revive me as long as she doesn’t delete my existence.]

Hearing that, Neraxis couldn’t help but stare at Delta’s calm expression one final time as he extended his hand. In the next instant, a red blade appeared, which was none other than Evangeline in her sword form.

Delta’s eyes gleamed for a moment, but right as she was about to grab Evangeline out of his hands, Evangeline floated away, hovering right in front of Delta. Rather, she was slightly higher than Delta, as if she was trying to look down on her.

But it was obvious that in the grand scheme of things, Evangeline’s strength was only so little. Against a being who could probably snap them both out of existence, they were ants.

And just like ants, they waited for Delta to speak up, until eventually, she did.

“A sentient sword, huh?” Delta hummed. “It seems beyond that. This sword has a soul, doesn’t it?”

“You could say that,” Neraxis replied. “Touch the sword. Evangeline wants to talk to you.”

Delta slightly smiled and did just that.

However, she only held the sword for two seconds before letting go, a look of understanding spreading across her face.

“I see…” Delta mumbled, rubbing her chin. “You’re a bit on the nose with her around, but I can respect relationships enough to not tear them apart.”

Her voice slightly trembled at the last part. Neraxis wasn’t sure why, but a being like her likely experienced her own hardships, and it was only natural she could relate to them in one way or another.

Because of that successful exchange, however, Evangeline floated back into his grasp. But right as he thought she was going to go back inside his mind, she did something shocking instead.

[Body Manifestation {B}]

[Skill Description: Allows the wielder to manifest any soul into being temporarily.]

[Skill Effects (1/1): Manifest Body (Active): Manifest the soul’s true body into existence for a short duration of time. The predetermined soul is (Evangeline Noctis) and will be summoned if the wielder uses the skill.]

Cooldown: 7 days → 1 second

Duration: 12 Hours → 186 hours

Evangeline suddenly manifested herself, activating the skill that was surprisingly different now. Before he could wonder for long, Delta nodded at him.

“I heard the circumstances, and I decided to alter the skill for a moment,” Delta said plainly. “It’s a one-time thing. After that, I won’t be able to do it for another month. But look on the bright side, you can have a week to yourselves now and do whatever you want.”

“However!” Delta raised a single finger. “You mustn’t put training behind you. It’s important, and it’s the only reason why we’re not killing you, Neraxis.”

“I understand,” Neraxis replied, turning his gaze toward Evangeline. “You look lovely as always…”

“Heh, no need for corny lines,” Evangeline replied, extending her hand forward and tapping his chin.

“Dear sir, I’ll be the one overseeing your rapier training. Delta will watch behind me and correct any mistakes I might make while teaching you. Is that going to be a problem?”

“Dear sir…? What?” Neraxis repeated, puzzled. “Never mind that. You’ll teach me? Why?”

“Maybe because you’re more inclined to listen to me than the witch behind me,” Evangeline said teasingly and stepped closer, delivering a kiss on his lips.

Before he could reciprocate the kiss, she suddenly pulled away, a cheeky smile on her face.

“Every time you land a hit on me, I will give you a kiss… Starting now!”