Proposition 6.3.6.9. Let $f: X \rightarrow S$ be a universally localizing morphism of simplicial sets. Then $f$ is surjective.
Proof. Let $\sigma : \Delta ^ n \rightarrow S$ be an $n$-simplex of $S$; we wish to show that $\sigma $ can be lifted to an $n$-simplex of $X$. Assume otherwise, so that the inclusion map $\operatorname{\partial \Delta }^{n} \times _{S} X \hookrightarrow \Delta ^ n \times _{S} X$ is an isomorphism. We have a commutative diagram of simplicial sets
where the vertical maps are weak homotopy equivalences (see Remarks 6.3.6.7 and 6.3.6.5). It follows that the inclusion $\operatorname{\partial \Delta }^{n} \hookrightarrow \Delta ^ n$ is also a weak homotopy equivalence, which is a contradiction (since the relative homology group $\mathrm{H}_{n}( \Delta ^ n, \operatorname{\partial \Delta }^ n; \operatorname{\mathbf{Z}}) \simeq \operatorname{\mathbf{Z}}$ is nonzero). $\square$