SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 718 The trial begins

Screens materialized before Damon one after another, layering so rapidly that they seemed to merge. Blinking, he felt taken aback. "...You really did not hold back," he remarked softly.

A snort escaped the old emperor. "Hesitation has no place for a true ruler, my boy. Now, go conquer this challenge and return as a monster that will make this entire world tremble in fear!"

Damon gazed upward. The emperor stood with newfound posture, casting aside his prior exhaustion for a fierce, unyielding resolve. Damon finally understood why this man had successfully commanded the desert lands for such an extensive time.

Alzara stepped forward, enfolding her father in an embrace that seemed even tighter than the last. "Make sure to keep yourself safe," she urged with intensity.

The emperor released a chuckle, patting her crown. "The same applies to you. If I see even a scratch on you, I shall haunt him from beyond the grave."

Damon flashed a grin. "I would prefer to avoid that complication." Giving the emperor an affirmative nod, he stepped into the portal with Alzara by his side. It took only a few moments before they emerged back into the wilderness.

Damon had hardly any time to explain the situation as the event countdown commenced precisely on schedule. Instantly, he recalled his blood avatar, closing his eyes as a rush of memories, sensory impressions, and hard-earned experiences surged into his consciousness. His two inner blood avatars followed, their collective insights blending perfectly with his own. His aura gained stability, and his foundation became refined.

Just as the timer hit zero, a surge of golden radiance enveloped him. [Ding! The Golden Throne stirs. You are summoned to answer its call.]

A familiar tugging sensation from the teleportation skill took hold, though it felt significantly more intense this time. Space warped. The environment splintered into streaks of shadow and light, and Damon felt as if his entire existence were being ground into oblivion. Despite the recent enhancements to his strength, for a fleeting moment, he felt disconnected from his own form. He was but an insignificant insect facing an overwhelming, divine power. Even the pressure he once felt when meeting those mysterious eyes paled in comparison to this force.

It possessed an absolute authority that rendered any glimmer of resistance pointless. Submission was mandatory; it was a fundamental law that every living creature—God or mortal—was compelled to follow.

Damon’s knees gave way. His soul cried out in agony. Every fiber of his being shook violently. His mind spiraled into blinding pain before fading to black. Just as he hovered on the edge of utter collapse, the teleportation ceased and he felt solid earth beneath his feet.

Damon waited for the world to stop spinning, taking a moment to reclaim his balance. He was forced to shut his eyes again, drawing in long, steady breaths. By the time he gathered his senses and felt a semblance of normality, over fifteen minutes had already elapsed.

Damon remained acutely aware of the passing time, for in the corner of his sight, a massive timer bar ticked upward from zero toward a ten-hour mark. This presumably meant he was restricted to a ten-hour window in this realm.

Scanning his surroundings, he found the world remained somewhat blurry, save for a distinct path stretched out before him. As he focused his gaze on the trail, a vision struck him: a towering mountain adorned with magnificent, lustrous golden doors. Those higher up the slopes glowed with an even greater brilliance, as if they were nearing the sun itself.

The vision dissipated as quickly as it had manifested, leaving Damon standing stationary. While the true meaning or his specific objective remained unclear, one truth was undeniable: he had to climb, and he had to do it quickly.

Damon sprinted up the mountain trail. The upward slope confirmed that this was indeed the mountain from his vision. The trial likely centered on reaching either the summit or one of those beckoning doors.

As for the contents hidden behind those doors... only by opening one would he discover the answer.

Damon lost no time and began his ascent. Yet, before he progressed many steps, he caught sight of a familiar figure in his periphery. It was the golden-masked nuisance from the Canadian Northern Frontier guild. Unlike Damon, the man remained in a stupor, his body swaying unsteadily while his face twisted in clear distress.

Damon continued his climb without pausing. Simultaneously, he launched a miasmic bullet toward the rival. It was a prime opportunity to neutralize him. However, as the projectile struck, a golden shield materialized to negate the attack.

To Damon’s astonishment, the defensive barrier remained pristine and shimmering, regardless of the volleys he fired. Scowling, he raised his own hand to inspect it.

There it was—a faint golden gleam.

Though the mechanics remained a mystery, Damon realized a restrictive barrier existed here, preventing combat between challengers. He could stay and exhaust himself trying to shatter the shield, but his intuition warned him that such an effort would be a futile drain of time. The trial clearly emphasized ascent and reaching the golden doors over player-versus-player conflict. Damon accepted this as a core law of the realm.

Regardless, he would investigate later. For now, his priority remained reaching and unsealing one of the doors. Possessing a current lead, he was determined not to squander his advantage.