"Ahhh, where the hell did he go?"
Zack punched a tree standing near him, sending leaves raining down on him. His eyes blazed with frustration.
"I can't believe a mere side character is giving me so much trouble. Just track his damn location. Can't you at least do that? What kind of higher being are you?"
A screen flashed in front of him.
#Keeper of Time: It's not easy. The Battle Royal is a high ground not even the heaven can interfere with. Previously, when I helped you track people, it cost me a lot. Now the main system is watching this place. Give me some time, I am trying to locate him.
Zack rubbed his temples. Two whole days had passed, and he was at his wit's end.
He still had no clue where Skyler was.
His shoulder was wrapped in a bandage, a wound that remained stubbornly unhealed, although he had drunk a healing potion. He had sustained this injury when the cocoon holding the dragon captive broke, and that wretched beast, who remembered his and Max's scent, tracked them down to kill.
Zack had managed to flee the scene using another artifact and survived, but he didn't know what happened to Max and Austin.
"Fuck this shit. Searching for Skyler is a waste of my time. Max will handle him. He cannot hide forever with the protagonist on his trail. So much has already gone awry."
He straightened his clothes. He needs to stay calm and use this to his advantage.
"The only thing I can do now is make sure the new variable in the story doesn't cause a ripple effect and alter the future. Or else, I won't be able to fulfill the job you gave me."
#Keeper of Time: Cannot fulfill your job...? You have just one job in this world: prevent Max from repeating what he did in the first timeline. Beyond that, the possibilities are limitless. If you refuse to do it or fail, you will be of no use to me. Just remember, if I can bring you here in this world, I can just as easily make you disappear.
Zack stared at the message until it faded on its own this time. A cold glint flickered in his silver eyes. The Keeper of Time always spoke to him so casually that he almost forgot the dire circumstances he was in.
"Like I care about that. I've died once, so believe me, dying again is no big deal."
His words were casual, but his clenched fists betrayed his true feelings. Perhaps it was human nature. Now that he was alive again, despite the original Zack's miserable existence, he found himself clinging to life.
The thought of dying again filled him with dread. He couldn't bear the idea that once again, no one would cry at his death.
He had begun to appreciate the simple act of breathing, even though the original Zack, just like him, had been alone all his life.
He wanted to live. A little bit more. Just a bit. Maybe if he continued to exist, he too would find a flicker of genuine happiness.
Zack chuckled at his thoughts. What was he thinking? When did his head become so messed up? He needed to stop thinking at once. Living was just exhausting.
The Keeper of Time was taken aback to hear his next words. No, he was stunned.
"You know my real name, right? Do me a favor. Remind me of it if I start to forget my reality. Or else I might really lose myself."
Zack smiled, humming. Yet, he knew that the seed of doing something to escape the clutches of the higher being, to survive, was already forming in his heart.
"I guess a change of plan would be good to handle this mess. Like adding a new task to my to-do list in this world: Crushing those who get on my nerves before dying."
#Keeper of Time: Who....? Skyler?
Zack's smile vanished. It was a blessing that no one could hear his thoughts. The fact that the higher beings watching from above were too arrogant to even imagine a mortal standing as their equal one day, let alone posing a threat, was also a help.
"Definitely..."
He paused for a second, thinking.
'...not. It's you...'
Then he spoke aloud his next words.
"...Who else?"
With that, Zack left the area in a hurry. He had a lot to do in the first level. Moreover, having lost two powerful artifacts due to the dragon, he needed to find more.
"My work just keeps increasing, tsk."
What he and the Keeper of Time failed to notice were a pair of pitch-black eyes, like obsidian pits, watching him. An unfamiliar cold voice echoed from the shadows.
"You are already doing so much better than the expectations of those watching you, my friend, from another world. So, why fret so much? Maybe I don't have to end you..."
("Host...? Aeik...!!")
"Shhh. Keep it a secret, even from me."
The owner of the voice vanished, leaving behind a few cold, emotionless words.
"After all, I don't exist anymore."
***
In a distant place, Max hissed softly under his breath as Elena secured a new bandage over the wound on his back. She sighed, her gaze drifting towards Austin and Jenny.
"The wound on his back isn't healing. The dragon fire must have contained something that prevent any healing spells, skills, herbs, or potions from working. He's doing alright, but his fever won't break unless he rests."
Austin crouched down with a groan. Frustration etched itself onto his face.
"It's been two days. We can't stay in one place for long with the dragon on our tail and, for some reason, able to sense Max's location. What should we do?"
Jenny peered out of the cave they were in, its entrance concealed behind a cascading waterfall. Her brow furrowed, a crease of confusion etched across her forehead.
"I don't get it. The map Professor Moore gave us has a lot of the information about this level, and we've confirmed it's correct because it led us to many treasures. But why are we unable to find the Gate to the next level according to the map?"
She bit her lip.
"It's as if the map Professor Moore found was a false hope, left behind by some sick bastard who knew about the first level. Or maybe the location of the Gate leading to the next level has been altered."
Max thumped his chest with a smile.
"I'm fine, guys. Don't worry. I think we are probably just going in the wrong direction. The dense forest is throwing us off."
Austin scoffed under his breath.
"Who's worried about you?"
Max rose to his feet, a wry smile playing on his lips. He donned a plain shirt to cover his bare torso, his gaze shifting to Jenny.
"We know the gate's location can't change. It has never happened. Also, Master Moore would not have given us the maps without verifying the accuracy first. He acts crazy, but he would never put us in danger."
Elena sighed at his words.
"Hopefully you are right, like always. Or we know that with the dragon around, staying here for long is dangerous for us."
Her eyes locked with Jenny's.
"It's all because of someone who couldn't keep her younger brother in check."
Jenny's fists clenched tightly.
"What did you say?"
"I'm just stating the facts."
Max quickly moved between them before the situation escalated. He couldn't believe his team was fighting amongst themselves.
"Both of you, calm down! I know, what happened is indeed Skyler's fault. But he's young, and we need to understand that he will make mistakes. We are the ones who need to help him learn from them."
Elena turned away, not in the mood to talk more, and Jenny felt even angrier. Yet, both of them had the same thought.
'Skyler's the one to blame for this! I need to make sure he knows what he did wrong.'
Austin watched them silently, a growing sense of unease settling in his gut. It had been years since he had joined Max, but he had always harbored this strange, nagging feeling that his friends weren't entirely who they showed. And after Skyler showed up, that feeling had only intensified.
'Why does their act of being so good, as if they're saints, feel so off sometimes? Is it just me, or is something wrong here?'
He tilted his head, perplexed. Why did Max and Jenny feel they needed to help Skyler, as if the latter was a pitiful soul in need? And the fact that Skyler never even asked for their help was downright bizarre.
A mirthful glint flashed in his eyes.
'This is crazy. To think I only doubted this and never thought too much about it. Now I understand what my father meant when he told me that those who are too good to be true, are often the most corrupt.'
Max noticed the smile in his eyes.
"What are you thinking about? If it's a good thing, share it so we can all laugh a bit. The atmosphere has been gloomy for a while."
Austin stood up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Nothing, really. Things just became more interesting. I should thank Skyler for this."
Max's brow furrowed in confusion.
"What?"
Austin chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"You won't get it, my friend. Let's just go and find the Gate to the next level. So we can get out of this place soon and you can rest."