SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 724 3... 2... 1... 0

The massive eyeball turned slowly. Spanning at least ten meters wide, it floated unsupported in the air. Veins of molten gold and inky shadows snaked over its surface. Its sclera gleamed deep gray, fissured like hardened lava, and the iris blazed with concentric gold and crimson rings.

"Huh… ugh… Greetings? Hello?" Damon offered a slight bow, paying some respect to the bizarre unknown entity, hoping perhaps to turn this into a talk, yet the eyeball ignored all such niceties. Damon barely had time to react before a golden lightning bolt erupted from the eyeball. It hurtled directly at him, carrying devastating destructive force.

"Shit!"

Instinctively, Damon contorted his body. The bolt grazed past his skull by mere inches, striking his shoulder instead. Agony erupted within him. His whole arm numbed instantly as he flew backward, scraping across the arena floor and gouging a deep furrow through the luminous runes.

After tumbling twice, he finally halted, hacking up coughs while smoke billowed from his shoulder. Charred flesh sizzled where blood met the golden surface. Indeed, the injury would have been far graver without that shoulder fragment he'd gained from the world forge.

Faster now the eyeball spun. A deep growl echoed, then power surged outward. Lightning aura cloaked the entire space. Before Damon could rise, fresh bolts formed—one, then more. Golden flashes piled up relentlessly, brewing like an imminent tempest.

Damon's eyes widened in alarm. "Yeah, no way I'm tanking that." He knew right away this fight demanded pure evasion. Likely the eyeball's defenses were frail physically or magically, so striking amid dodges was key. Enough hits like that, and he'd fell the monstrosity effortlessly.

Damon assessed the battlefield. His strategy was sound. He pulled it off flawlessly too. Yet… one small snag emerged. His potent strikes barely scratched the eyeball horror.

Minutes later, Damon panted in total fatigue. Every ounce of effort went into evasion, but his counterattacks yielded zilch. Even his poison field buffs failed to apply.

Lightning bolts vaporized all in their wake. That cursed eyeball remained utterly beyond reach. Worse still, dodging grew ever tougher.

Damon found himself utterly overpowered. This pace meant certain defeat in the trial. Relying on the cheat potion to game the system event hadn't proven so useful after all. "Fuck it. There is more time. I am not giving up now."

Damon pressed on relentlessly, weaving through the barrage of thunderous lightning strikes. No relief appeared, and the eyeball showed no signs of weakening. From every angle, doom loomed. Failure was the sole outcome.

Still, he persisted in evasion, hunting for any edge. He unleashed every elemental assault in his arsenal. Every skill got tested, but nothing pierced. The eyeball proved overwhelmingly superior, flawless in every way.

Damon tsked in frustration. He pondered deploying one of La Rocha's lethal poisons when abruptly the timer blazed before his eyes. No longer tracking hours, it ticked down from ten toward zero.

Was the trial finished? Damon stood baffled.

The countdown seared into his sight.

10… 9… 8…

"What?" Damon stumbled during a dodge as lightning singed his ribs. "You've got to be kidding me."

7… 6…

The eyeball's iris ignited brighter, golden rings whirling madly, as if detecting the nearing close. Lightning aura thickened, shaking the arena with pent-up might.

Was this the end? Failure after all his struggle?

Bitterness surged through him, refusing to accept defeat after such efforts. He needed action, a desperate gambit. Inspiration hit, and in the final instant, he concentrated on the bloodline strands flowing in his veins.

Previously impossible, but constant extreme dodges had honed his mind, granting finer essence control. This time, no isolation attempted.

Rather, he commanded them forcefully back into his blood, merging fully with his frame. Success hit, unleashing a sudden power rush. Without pause, he hurled a hellfire-infused blood lance brimming with his elements.

Like a comet of total destruction, the lance rocketed forth unstoppably. Golden lightning arcs failed to consume it. At last, an attack neared the accursed eyeball. Victory might slip in at the wire.

A grin split Damon's face, but celebration proved premature. A golden shield materialized before the eyeball, blocking the strike. A thunderous explosion rocked the arena, shockwaves hurling Damon away.

Before results cleared, the countdown reappeared.

3…. 2…. 1

Time expired.

Damon's face twisted in rage. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I almost had it. Why should I fucking figure out something so important at the very last second? What sort of bullshit luck is that?" Urge to smash everything boiled over when yet another surprise unfolded.

[Ding! Evaluation Complete.]

[Ding! Qualification Granted.]

[Ding! You have proven your worth. The Golden Throne acknowledges you. You may now ascend the heavenly stairs to enter the forbidden realm]

Damon blinked in shock. He passed? How? Certain he'd inflicted no damage, yet success? Perhaps mere survival sufficed? Or did landing a hit count?

Questions swirled unanswered. But exhaustion drowned all curiosity. "You did great, my liege. Rest now. I will heal you and nourish you." Blood Reign's voice rang comfortingly. Damon surrendered fully, crumpling down.

Warmth flooded every fiber, like a soothing soak after brutal thrashing. Blood Reign enveloped him securely. Heat permeated muscles, bones, blood. Pain ebbed away first, fatigue next.

Shoulder burn extinguished. Legs steadied. Body quieted its protests. Breathing steadied.

Then Blood Reign's voice cut through in alarm, "My liege, wake up! You are in grave danger! MY LIEGE!"