SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 723 Open

"Master, here are five potions. We were originally dealt only six because their efficacy is limited to a certain threshold, which is standard for many such trials. Even the members of the secret families remain ignorant of the full scope of this challenge. Most system-generated trials involve this specific type of pressure test, and this potion is standard equipment in other realms for this very purpose."

Magicaa functioned as a drastically different blood thrall compared to Viola, the rune priestess. He surrendered almost immediately, embracing a subservient role from the beginning. Damon realized that the man's damaged soul played a significant role in this rapid submission, compounded by his evident lack of mental resolve.

It appeared that Magicaa had failed to recover from their previous encounter at all. The cycle of death and respawning had essentially shattered the man. "You intended to subject me to this, yet now you are the one in such a pathetic state," Damon smirked while accepting the potions. "Stand your ground here. Engage and eliminate anyone attempting to approach from behind me. Do not hold back. Fight as if your very existence rests on the outcome."

Damon proceeded with his ascent, losing no further time. He bypassed the lower-level doors with ease, arriving at the mid-level vaults. By this stage, the pressure had surged back to full intensity, exceeding his previous experiences. He consumed his fourth potion, but it proved useless; the era of speeding through with boosters had concluded.

Reviewing his timer, he noted that over five hours had elapsed. He possessed less than five hours remaining. This was acceptable, given his substantial progress; he had reached the sector containing the golden doors. He now held the liberty to cease his climb and unlock a door at any moment.

However, was this the optimal strategy? Should he engage a door now, or continue the climb to access those located at the pinnacle? "Hmm…" Damon mused while forcing his legs to persist in the ascent.

Additional intelligence would facilitate a more informed decision. He paused briefly, extending his senses outward. Although the crushing pressure intensified and caused his timer to fluctuate, the exertion proved worthwhile. He promptly detected two individuals situated to his right.

As the mountain grew steeper, physical confrontations became inevitable. Damon resolved to seize control of these encounters to acquire necessary information. He sprinted toward the side, spotting two players struggling to heave themselves along with every labored step.

Damon chuckled at their plight. Finally, every participant was struggling on equal footing!

The duo caught sight of him and raised their hands in a defensive stance, but they lacked the necessary speed. Damon remained in superior condition, swiftly applying mental corruption and blood enslaving to experiment with his abilities.

Two notifications manifested before him immediately.

[Ding! You have successfully created a Blood Thrall]

[Ding! You have successfully created a Blood Thrall]

He had not anticipated a successful subjugation for both, yet the mounting atmospheric pressure clearly acted in his favor.

"Hey, unlock that golden door," Damon commanded the first thrall as he persisted in his ascent. The man complied without resistance, following the order obediently.

He staggered toward the closest golden door. Despite the agony in every movement, he did not falter. Upon reaching the threshold, he pressed his trembling palm against the surface, causing it to ripple like molten gold.

The door pivoted inward, casting blinding golden radiance across the slope. For a fleeting moment, Damon glimpsed the interior, spotting a beast resembling a wolf, yet the aura radiating from it was utterly terrifying.

Before he could discern further details, the man was yanked inside, and the door slammed shut with a thunderous boom that reverberated throughout the mountain. Damon froze, his eyes narrowing. "…Summoned inside?" he muttered. "Not a treasure hall, but a trial hosted within a trial." He had anticipated as much. There clearly existed more to this trial than merely enduring pressure; the true test was likely subjugating the entities within.

Each door likely housed one or more such guardians, presumably protecting a treasure chest. Damon wished for more insight into the interior experience, but his connection to his blood thralls vanished the moment they crossed the threshold. He could not track them beyond that point.

"That is quite enough waiting. It is time to enter one of these chambers." Reviewing his timer, he noted four hours remained. Intuition suggested that a significant duration would be required once inside, so he avoided delaying until the final seconds.

Opting to spend another hour climbing, Damon rushed upward as swiftly as possible. Along the route, he overtook several unfamiliar players but ignored them completely. Since they offered no hostility, he continued his climb.

An hour passed rapidly, and Damon finally halted before a door. He momentarily braced for a multi-directional ambush, yet nothing of the sort occurred.

Lacking the benefit of potions, everyone else was suffering, leaving them no residual strength to challenge Damon. He extended his senses once more, discovering only three other players had ascended this far.

Damon had expected the golden-masked adversary to be among them, but that individual had failed to make the cut, as no blood tag was present. Regardless, he remained certain an encounter would eventually transpire.

Shaking off these thoughts, he focused his intent and reached out to contact the golden door.

Golden ripples emanated from his touch, racing across the door like liquid sunlight. The external pressure spiked aggressively, slamming into his frame as if the mountain itself sought to challenge his resolution one final time.

Damon gritted his teeth and pushed forward. "Open," he commanded calmly. The door trembled. For a breath, nothing occurred. Then… Boom.

The golden portal swung back violently, and a blinding radiance swallowed him completely. Damon experienced a powerful pull significantly stronger than the initial teleportation. His feet lost contact with the ground; the mountain evaporated, and the crushing pressure instantly vanished. The light receded.

Damon landed heavily on solid ground. He stood upright instantly, his blood aura flaring on instinct, senses pushed to their limit. The surroundings bore no resemblance to the mountain.

He stood within a vast circular arena. The air felt heavy with heat and mana, and incandescent golden runes were carved into the floor in massive concentric patterns. Above, instead of a sky, a swirling dome of molten gold rotated slowly like a celestial eye.

And in the heart of the arena… sat a humongous eyeball.