Digitize: Rebirth of the Silver Death God

It happened in a flash, a speed that even the Tyrant Slime had failed to notice. Yet, by the time it did, its head had already long since soared from its body. Now, it could only stare at the inverted view around it in confusion, gazing at the twenty strong clones bisected into multiple pieces with each passing breath.

With every flash of brilliant silver light in the shape of a scythe's edge, more and more would fall as the blades light danced around the area like a snake striking at unexpected angels.

Eventually, no clones remained as only a handsome silver-haired lad had stood in the field after the silver rays had halted an angle before reforming into a sinister-looking scythe.

The youth's red pupils had a murderous glint despite his calm and indifferent appearance. He gazed at the Tyrant Slime, whose head was still flying as if it was an ant a nothing more.

Noticing this, the Tyrant Slime's look soon transformed into fear. A dreadful kind of fear of a prey akin to its predator, for deep in its mind, it knew that boy it once thought as a punching bag was now an utterly incomprehensible monster. Before long, its consciousness soon started to fade, and the world before it transitioned into darkness.

Nero watched as the Tyrant Slime faded in the dust, his cold-looking face started to smile as his eyes flickered with excitement when he glanced at the scythe in his hand.

"I did it! Haha, I really achieved it. What do you think about this now, huh, old bastard?" Nero said as if talking to himself.

Adult Nero shook his head; usually, this would be the time where he tried to undermine his progress, but he decided to act his age for once and not argue with his childish self.

'Yes, looks like I'm in control today; I must have shocked him with my performance,' Nero thought with a smile, but it didn't take long for him to clear it; he knew that even if he had mastered it, he was still a far cry from comparing with the strongest of talents.

Suddenly a notification sounded in Nero's mind announcing his victory.

____

Ding!

[You have completed the Seventh Stage of the Ranking Challenge, transference to the Eight Stage shall begin in 1 minute!]

____

When Nero heard this, his face turned stern as he hurriedly calmed himself and prepared for battle once more, his eyes having a firm look as he contemplated.

'I wonder, can I truly handle the Eight Stage as I am?'

Adult Nero, who heard Nero's thoughts, shook his head with a sly smile as he murmured, "Heh, it's time for you to curb that arrogance with a brand-new lesson."

As if Adult Nero's words held through, the moment the timer ended, the entire mists began to change as a profound aura was felt from all directions.

Nero, who postured himself for combat once again was alarmed by this energy, especially as he saw the large amount of menacing red eyes that glared at him from all sides.

"Oh, sh—" Nero was about to curse out loud, but sadly, he didn't have the chance as the world before Nero transformed into a sea of silver lights that enveloped all things.

***

Back within the main room, the atmosphere soon changed when everyone who idly chatted saw a sudden change on Nero's battle platform. The lights around the icon that hovered above it soon changed as the number transitioned from seventh to eight. In an instant, their eyes widened in surprise as waves of alarm sounded.

"OH MY GOD! Are you kidding me?"

"This... this has got to be a joke; how can this even be possible?"

"A newbie's first-time ranking can easily take him to the Eight Stage? I wouldn't take this even as a joke!"

As more voices sounded around the room, those were even more surprised where those other rankers.

Thunder's Daughter and Crazy Blade had astounded appearances as they both contemplated with stern-looking eyes.

"Hmm, I've underestimated this human; his growth potential should be no way inferior to Grass Root Sword Child's or that Chasing Arrows," Thunder's Daughter said with flashing lightning bolts in her eyes.

"Heh, such a human, I'm itching to test him myself," Crazy Blade uttered with his shark teeth curving in a smile. He wasn't frightened or scared; he knew of his current power and was only waiting to do the test to confirm it.

Like them, the low-key Bramble Child also had a tinge of surprise, but that was it. He didn't show fear, but only curiosity as he stared at Nero's platform with a smile on his face, his eyes narrowing slightly with his thought unknown to all.

Avollo's mouth curved into a smile as he played with his words while thinking, 'Huhu... Nero, you never cease to amaze me, I suppose you're going to be trying your best to catch and teach me a lesson, but sorry, I'm going to double my training efforts from this day forward.'

Unlike Avollo, Elly's mouth was wide open with shock. She never thought that Nero would have grown to such a level out of the blue.

'No, I've actually been surpassed? This can't happen. I have to get stronger!' Elly said in her mind as a strange thought suddenly overtook her emotions, she didn't know why, but she felt that if she kept a bit complacent, he would only keep walking farther away from her.

With a whooshing sound, Raynas suddenly appeared by Elly's side, it seemed that he was watching the affairs for a good while now.

When Elly saw her brother appear, she grabbed his sleeve and spoke with her adorable but firm eyes, "Big Brother."

Raynas sighed as he knew what she was thinking, his eyes fixed onto Nero's battle platform once again while in thought, 'Truly astounding... I didn't think much of him before, but if it's like this, then maybe mother wouldn't think so bad.'

After finishing those thoughts, Raynas glanced at Elly, who was still looking at him with a pleading look. He rubbed her head and spoke, "Okay, don't worry, I will double. No, triple the effort in your training from this point onward, remember you not only need to be at Level 10 for the Gate of Legends, but all Level 10 have differences in personal strength due to many factors, especially those of the varying alien races. So, worry not about Nero, he won't be able to leave you behind."

When Elly heard this, she sighed, showing a look of relief on her face as she once more stared at Nero's battle platform with unknown thoughts.

Unlike Elly and Avollo, however, Delkan, who seemed to have been forgotten by the world, trembled as he stared at Nero's platform.

'Why? Why can he have this achievement but not me? You've even stolen my woman and now you brought me to shame! Damn-damn-damn! Silver Boy! You better not forget this, for the shame you've given me today will be returned in full!'

When Delkan thought to here, his eyes shone with rich killing intent as he glared at Nero's platform, but soon, he hurried and left the area.

A few noticed when he left, but they merely chuckled and said nothing, thinking that he was only a sore loser that couldn't live up to his bargains.

By now, everyone's attention was cast onto Nero's battle platform. They wanted to know if he would pull off the unthinkable and achieve the Ninth Rank. However, there wishes proved wrong as a few moments after the Eight Stage appeared, the mists on the platform began to fade, and the icon vanished.

"Ah, so he didn't survive even three seconds. Well, it's to be expected, the eighth and ninth stage is on an entirely different class after all," Raynas thought as he looked at the scene with a bit of pity in his voice, but his eyes still kept its respect.

'Nero, I won't stay behind you for long, just you wait; I... I certainly won't let you get away so easy,' Elly said her mind with firm eyes, her manner slightly different from the norm.

Raynas caught a glimpse of Elly but felt her look to be familiar, somewhat like their mother. He had a bad feeling but pushed it down as he concluded, "Nah, she wouldn't show such signs. Father made sure never to let her learn of our mother's true habits. Still, she did inherit her overwhelming emotions to an extent..."

Avollo smirked before he rose from his sitting posture and glanced at Elly and Raynas, he then spoke, "Well, I'll be heading off now; I've decided to call it a night, tell Nero I said Hi."

After saying this, Avollo slowly made his way out of the room with steady steps, his eyes showing a sharp competitive look as his smile only grew wider with each step forward.

Elly gave Avollo a look but said nothing. It seemed that the two of them had similar thoughts in competing with Nero.

At this moment, the mist on the platform cleared as Nero stood silently. However, as this happened, a notification soon resounded everywhere.

____

Ding!

[Congratulations to Challenger Silver Boy and his triumphant ascension to the Eight Stage! Calculating battle performance, the Ranking List has been updated!]

____

When everyone heard this, though they expected it, they all looked at him without saying a word as after seeing his current ranking, a startling commotion soon followed once again...

****

Author's Note:

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